This year we met at The National Trust Headquarters in Swindon. It was
an excellent venue since there were other activities around, especially
The Steam Museum(Isambard Kingdom Brunel).
Over 150 membersattended for the entire weekend, with day members and
visitors as well. The latter included members of the public who were
attracted by our demonstraters and mounted exhibitions from these
groups.:- Salisbury and Spire and Sarum, Wyvern and Chipping Sodbury
Lacemakers. Together with Bristol Leisure and Great Western Embroiderers.
Besides the suppliers attending, we had Lace Guild sales of patterns,
calendars,beginner booklets on a number of varying lace techniques e.g
milanese, needlepoint, torchon etc.. A 50/50 sale with many tempting
bargains, surplus books from the Guild Library. The Guild also
displayed some treasures from our Lace Archives.
On the Saturaday afternoon the business meeeting was held with a lively
discussion on the problems of recruiting new members. This is made more
difficult in the current financial situation with Further Education
classes being either cut or made too expensive across the country. It
was agreed that it was important for us:-
1. to get out and about to demonstrate lace on every possible
occasion, with a beginner's pillow availabe for people to 'have a go'!
2. to approach schools where we could teach lace, possibly as an
after school activity/club.
I also delight in attending the AGM for a number of reasons. Yes,
because one should be involved in the running of the Guild even in this
small way, but for the joy of meeting friends who live many miles away
(in UK terms) and the exchange of ideas on designing, making, mounting
etc. of lace. It is a melting pot from which new ideas are created and
our craft can move onwards.
There is another reason, that rarely gets mentioned, and that is the
support and friendship from lacemakers far and wide when one is ill or
loses a partner and that is something which has helped me enormously.
Sheila, in Sawbridgeworth where the sun is still shining!
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