One of the fab samples from one of my workshops at Excel. The Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycrafts Show at Excel was splendid. It was very busy. I haven't seen a show that consistently busy every day for a long time. It was interesting to see and meet so many new visitors. Roughly half of the visitors were aware of the more experimental side of textiles and the other half were well informed. It was a fascinating mix - I have never known this before and I have done a lot of shows.  Apart from having my own stand, I also ran The Vilene Workshop as I did the previous weekend at the NEC. At this show the tutors were, myself, Fran Holmes, Tina Francis, Jayne Routley and Wendy Dolan.  I was given extra space for a small part of the end of the year show of Experimental Textiles that was at the NEC the previous weekend. It was very well received and I had several enquiries about enrolments. Some of my students work on my stand. Getting my stand ready, this is Jayne

   A section of the the Journeys from the Thursday/Friday group.  Well we have begun - and there are TWO courses running this year. One on Thursday and Friday and one on Saturday and Sunday. Experimental Textiles was originally taught as a four year course that I had to stop teaching after twelve years as it got - just tooo much!!! So I wrote the book of the course. After having sworn I would NEVER teach a long course again, I found I missed supporting students through a long course with an exhibition at the end. So . . as a happy medium - I now teach a nine weekend version of the course from June to March. This shorter version teaches VERY basic techniques and skills that we all need - but rarely spend the time on - unless we are 'encouraged' to!    Kate, Caroline and Marilyn  . . . . .     . .  and Suzie and Jane from the Thursday/Friday group.     Alison, Mary and Val . . .    . . and Melissa, Tricia and Rachael from the Saturday/

Claire's wonderful zingy ginger cookies.  The weekend was fast and furious and started on Friday night with The Old Needle Works Christmas/New Year party. It was great to see everyone again - it had been quite a while since we had all been together. There was lots of excited chat and of course fabulous food created by The Crafty Cafe. Our wonderful leader - my dear friend Brenda Killigrew.     The wonderful Linda Lavin who does her best to keep the office (and Brenda) under control.     The seemingly inexhaustible Sharon of The Crafty Cafe,     . . .  and the lovely Joan who does more than anyone realises for everyone else - she is a STAR!!!  The party finished at a reasonably sensible time as we all had a busy weekend ahead with several classes due in. The Old Needle Works like many thousands of businesses was flooded not once but twice - the second time just after the the floors had been made good from the first flood. This has been