Too much of a challenge

I enjoyed a day of craft lectures today. In the company of two friends I listened to three remarkable craftswomen telling us about their achievements.

Can you imagine the challenge involved in making embroidered curtains for the theatre on a cruise ship? Our first speaker, Wendy Dolan did just that - she actually made curtains for two cruise ships. She told us in detail all the technicalities of making such huge pieces and described the techniques of the embroidery.

Our second speaker was Stoney Parsons who is an artist in glass. She makes large glass panels and particularly enjoys creating works for hospices and hospitals. Many different techniques were described.

In the afternoon we heard Jo Mabbutt talk about how she gilded antique lace and made it into into pictures and jewellery.

All three speakers were inspiring and made us want to get busy with projects when we got home. Theatre curtains however are probably beyond my capabilities!

It was stuffy in the hall so at lunchtime we went outside for our picnic lunch. We were intrigued by this amazing piece of play apparatus but felt that this too was beyond our capabilities!