Open door

A warm welcome awaits visitors to the WI College, Denman, and people like me who have been before can't wait to be part of the welcoming atmosphere, the fellowship and buzz that we get at the college. The College is near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

i have come to learn how to make jewellery out of silver clay. On the first evening we learnt that silver clay is a malleable substance made from silver dust reclaimed from photographic plates, with water and a binder. When the clay is fired the water and the binder evaporate leaving 99% pure silver, more pure than sterling silver.

The college has modern accommodation with rooms adopted by various counties, all furnished with beautiful crafts. My cosy bedroom is on the top floor of the main Georgian house, and it is one of the few bedrooms adopted by an individual WI. It is special to me as it has been furnished by my own WI and I was responsible for some of the crafts there.

There was a buzz of anticipation on the first evening.