End of Year Report

Ever since I came back from Summer School at Urchfont Manor I've been trying to stick to the resolutions I made there.  (Evelyn, my table partner was such a help in this, Daneila too.)  The first was to try and do some work every week, daily if at all possible.  This I would say I've managed for blocks of time -- so still some room for improvement there.

What about other thoughts I had?  For the last two years Monday mornings meant photography class.  My preparation done, my bag packed the night before ready to compare notes, learn yet more and begin the weekly cycle once again.  I knew I didn't want to the unrelenting pace, but I did need some face-to-face contact with fellow travellers.  With this in mind I joined a local group, who meet monthly to work on whatever craft is currently obsessing them, ably guided by Jean Hart, who used to teach City and Guilds.  This helps as much for the chat as what I do there.  Finally, becoming an occasional member of the Norwich Embroiderer's Guild has also stimulated my mind.  The talk by Mary Crehan both amused me and introduced me to darning.  A talk on The Foundling Hospital by Jean Bright picked up on an interest I'd explored some time ago.  These supports together with the Distant Stitch blogs I enjoy following should keep me going.

Add to the above visits to Love Is What You Want, Origin and the V&A, a talk by Victoria Hall on marbled papers, The Bronte Parsonage and reading Aoife Maniz's touching poetry followed by my first experience of The Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate (seeing  the Textile Study Group's work and so enjoyably meeting up with Jan Evans, Mary Sleigh and, amongst the stunning pieces by Korean artist Jiyoung Chung, Viv Estill and her husband, Steve).  What wonderful inspirations!