The Handicraft Group meet at Day Luncheon Centre, Caldicot
on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month
from 10am to 12 noon.

"We are a group of 28 members, our meetings are happy social occasions.

New members will be most welcome to join us, and contribute new ideas".

*Please click the images below to access larger photographs

 

Some of our members work on display at an exhibition in the choir hall, October 2008

 

10th Anniversary Pageant 2005

*Click the photograph above to access a photo album of the 10th Anniversary Pageant

 

Made by our members especially for the 10th Anniversary Pageant

The following report is a little different from the normal Group Activity report:"

Oscar and I were determined, despite physical handicaps, to attend the opening ceremony of a unique textile museum in the town of Achim, near Bremen in Germany. The exhilition consisted of my large "Mola" collection and work by Christel Walter, related to the mola applique technique of the Kuna Indians of Panama.

 

"Mola" is a Kuna word for cloth; it is the front and back panel of the Kuna womens' blouses which are still their everyday wear. The features on the colourful layer applique are like picture writing, describing everyday and special events, their mythology and the flora and fauna around them.

*Please click the below thumbnail images for larger photographs

After lifelong world travel, the wheelchair flight was quite an experience, much easier than we had expected With the help of friends we enjoyed five glorious days in Germany. The highlight was the opening on 20th March of the exhibition in the museum. For me the fitting end of a lifelong research project."

Herta Puls.

Herta added the following note to her report:-

"Marilyn thought members might be interested to see how collecting textiles can be a very enjoyable and successful pursuit."

 

 

Donation of Comfort Quilts to the Ambulance Service for children in trauma

When the Caldicot and District branch of the U3A was launched ten years ago a few ladies were keen to start a craft group, over the years their membership has grown to 28. One of the on-going projects undertaken was the “Comfort Quilts” these were made for infants and children who were traumatised in some way or other, either through illness or accident. It was decided to approach the Ambulance and Fire Services, resulting in batches being given to these organisations on a regular basis. As the quilts were somewhat bulky to store “WISCO” a local company came to their rescue and have continued throughout the years to “Vaccu-pack” them so that only a slim package is stored, but once released it becomes the cosy wrap for an unhappy child and we hope brings a degree of comfort.

*Please click the below thumbnail images for larger photographs

Paramedic Barrie Duffield and U3A member Jean Imrie loading the quilts into the ambulance

Paramedic Barrie Duffield with some of our members that worked on the quilts

Group convenor, Marilyn Bond said, when funds were low The Loyal Order of Foresters came to their rescue and gave them a donation It has enabled them to resume making the quilts and with this latest batch of 40 going to the Ambulance service, makes in total 225 made since the scheme was started.

Paramedic, Barrie Duffield who came to accept 40 new quilts on behalf of the Ambulance service, said, “we would like to thank all your wonderful ladies for the skills, dedication and love put into these quilts.” When asked if the children liked them, Barrie said, “they must, because they never give us them back"

 

The group have received a very generous donation of £600 from The Loyal Order of Foresters. This money will be used to buy materials for making quilts to give to the Emergency Services for the use of children in trauma situations.

This is a major project of the Group and we will be kept busy for some time to come. A very big ‘thank you’ to Andrea for putting us on the right road to apply for a grant.

Marilyn Bond

Maeve Tierney

Recently the ladies in our Handicraft group had a visit from Maeve Tierney who spent the day teaching them how to hand paint on pure silk, some of the results can be seen in our photographs.

*Click the photograph above to access a slide show of the Handicraft Group visiting Maeve Tierney