My weekend at Denman College

What a fabulous weekend, spent in the most beautiful setting (imagine a National Trust House where you can use all of the facilities and make yourself thoroughly at home!)! The grounds were looking stunning, especially in the morning sun with the frost glinting! 

I stayed in the Warwickshire room ( each Federation has furnished and decorated a bedroom, so it feels as if you are staying in a friend's en suite guest room!) and my friend was in 'Devon Moors' so I was able to have a quick look at hers, too! The Devon quilted bedspread was exquisite! Wow! Also there was some really delicate and beautiful Honiton lace framed on the wall. There are books and leaflets in each room giving information about each county and about the WI Federation in that county, so it's all very interesting!

I spent the weekend on an Inspiring Women craft course with three friends from my previous WI in Leigh on Mendip, Somerset. Their WI has a Denman bursary which they were able to share between them. 

Here is my Warwickshire room, fully equipped for maximum comfort and very warm! Although there wasn't much time left to spend there! 

There was a wide selection of courses to choose from: on Friday evening we all watched a flower arranger, one of the staff members, create some beautiful designs, which were added to the raffle. (It's the WI, there's always a raffle!) the proceeds of which go towards the travel fund which assists the members who live more than 150 miles away from Denman. 

This one was created using glossy aspidistra leaves, roses and carnations. 

I hope the people who were lucky enough to win them in the raffle were not travelling home by train! Tricky!

The food was very good- waitress service for the evening meal, plenty of choice and, of course, lots of good company! 

I chose to do mosaics: 

Here it is, now that I've grouted it:

The tutor was excellent! So very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and very patient! She sells kits, too - I was very tempted to buy the gecko kit,  but she had sold out... Probably a good thing! I may have a look at her website... Lily-mosaics.co.uk. She used lots of different tiles and glass, as well as buttons and millefiori glass, too, which we applied to our choice of MDF shape, there were 20 or so to choose from. It was very inspiring! 

Then I did the Scandinavian Craft workshop - apparently this is really on trend! We made a felt brooch, then some shapes from white  Fimo clay. I now need to add some colour to the raised sections of mine, using pen or thread in the case of the heart. It was a bit like sugar craft, apparently! The tutor was Natalie Green. 

On Saturday evening there was a folk band, so we all had a chance to join in with a variety of country dances!  It was lots of fun, and so typical,of a Denman weekend in that everyone joined in together and made new friends from all over the country. There was one lady who must have been in her 90s and about a third under 40 I would say. Plenty of people had come by themselves, but very soon found loads of people to talk to! (No surprise there on a WI weekend!) 

 My final workshop was lantern making - I wasn't quite sure what to expect! It was great - once again, excellent tuition and a very achievable result. 

They have a battery operated 'tea light' inside, so very safe but still giving the effect of a candle inside. You can use whatever fabric you choose to match the decor of your room - or garden! You can find this tutor on Instagram and Facebook : shadesbynatalie 

What a fabulous weekend! We were very well looked after, and so well fed! We had tea and coffee breaks during every workshop - with home made biscuits or cakes! Also free access to hot drinks at all times! We were wondering about stopping on the way home for tea and cake - withdrawal symptoms kicking in already! There is always a WI host on hand, in addition to the Denman staff, to minister to our every need, and available throughout the night as well as during the day! Ours was a lovely lady, Sally, from Cambridgeshire Federation, so chatty and friendly! 

A date for your diary!

A bright idea for the Spring Council Meeting: 

Devon FWI has organised an inspiring speaker for our Spring Council meeting - so mark 12th April in your diary right now! 

Resolutions

Resolutions: Make your voice count

Every resolution passed throughout the WI’s 101-year history has stemmed from a concern put forward by members. This uniquely democratic model offers the opportunity for you to combine your voice with 220,000 others to make a real difference on important issues. This year, 85 resolutions were submitted. These were narrowed down to six by representatives from federations at a shortlisting meeting in London on 29 September.

The next step is for you to consider all six and select the one you would most like to go forward for further discussion and final voting at the Annual Meeting in June 2017. The selection process is open to all WI members and you can make your selection by filling out the selection form found in the November& December issue of WI Life. Submission forms need to be submitted to county by our secretary after our next meeting.

Do you want to find out more about the six resolutions? Go to thewi.org.uk and look for 'Resolutions: make your voice count'. 

Notice to all of you craft folk!

"Here is the Dart Bay programme and a message from the organiser, Tracey:- 

I thought I would let you know about the big Food and Garden Festival we are organising for Saturday 11th March at Rattery Village Hall. 

Following a theme of “plot to plate”, this will be a gathering of Gardening and Culinary professionals with demonstrations and events taking place all day from 10am – 4pm. Organised, publicised and catered for by the WI and Dart Bay FCS, this will be a great event attracting hundreds of gardening and cooking enthusiasts. There will also be a programme of talks and demonstrations on the stage throughout the day from Local well known Chefs, Food Artisans and gardeners/speakers. £2 entry includes admittance to all of the talks/demonstrations. It is open to the public too but we are really hoping you and your WI members will support this event. 

There is also a competition especially for WI members where you can design a set of four seed packets suitable for Bee Friendly plants. The winning design will not only get a great prize but their seed packets will be printed and sold at various locations and events. Full details and an entry form is attached. Please start planning your designs and get your entry form in soon, It will be great to show the public what fabulous crafty talented ladies you are and also raise awareness for Saving our Bees too. 

I have invited lots of plant/garden and food related stallholders, but if you wish to have a stall, please let me know. Dart Bay are also running a book stall so if we could have your unwanted cookery and garden related books ASAP that would be great. Please let one of our Dart Bay committee have them or you can drop them round to me at 216 Barton Hill Road, Torquay. 

2017 Events:-

• Sat 25th February 2017 - Vintage China mosaic hearts, St Martins Church Hall, Barton. 10am-1pm OR 2-5pm, £18 includes all materials and refreshments
• Thurs 2nd March 2017 - 5th Annual Meeting, 7-9pm, venue St Mary Magdelene Church, Torquay, FREE entry. Cheese and wine included. Competition is 'Our 5th Anniversary' - Handcrafted item with the theme of Wood or Daisies, (please ensure your entry fits within a 12" (30cm) square piece of paper - no maximum height restriction)OR a plate of 6 Hot Cross Buns (as per our recipe, available on request)
• Sat 11th March 2017 - Dart Bay 'Plot to Plate' Big Garden Event - Rattery Village Hall - 10.30am-3.30pm, £2 admission, open to the public. Lots of plant and food stalls, demos, talks, competitions and much more.
• Friday 28th April 2017 - 'Naughty but nice' Chocolate and truffle making day, South Devon College Kitchens, 10am - 4pm, £35 includes all materials, refreshments and a 2 course lunch FEW PLACES LEFT
• Wed 17th May 2017 - Fused Glass Jewellery Workshop, Seale Hayne, 10am-1pm OR 2-5pm, £18 includes materials and refreshments
• Thursday 15th June 2017 - Dressmaking/Scarf Top Day, Halwell & Morleigh Village Hall, 10am-4pm, £25 includes materials and refreshments, packed lunch

Happy New Year!

Best wishes to one and all for a healthy, happy and wealthy 2017!

News from the Brixham bunting bingo evening before Christmas: we had lots of fun, and most of us won prizes using our skill and judgment... (Or was it just luck?). Mary has received news from the organiser to say that the evening raised £400, and to thank us for our support and for our cakes! The next step involves designing the motif we feel will represent Brixham WI best, and actually making the bunting! 

Merry Christmas!

Kingswear Group of WIs held the Carol service today in the Methodist Church here in Brixham. It was a lovely service with plenty of members singing the traditional carols. The minister, Doug Rix, asked us to think of Mary as a role model, especially during the Christmas period. He enlisted the help of some of Brixham WI Drama group to illustrate his points. It was very entertaining and memorable, a good Christmas message.

The collection and proceeds from the tea and delicious mince pies (with clotted cream!) went towards the 'toilet twinning' project currently being supported by the church. They have already helped to provide toilets in several poor communities across the world as well as in a school. The benefits are not simply in improved sanitation, but also, very importantly, in helping to ensure the safety of women. We raised over £120!

Here are some of our beaded Christmas baubles in action:

I'm hoping that other members of the craft group who spent a very enjoyable September day with Sandy, creating the baubles, will send me their photos, too.

Would you look at this! We are truly ahead of the craft game at Brixham WI! 

This photo has just been posted on Facebook by Denman College: 

What a way to round off our year of meetings!

Brixham WI welcomed plenty of guests from neighbouring WIs as well as our members to a rather spectacular Christmas party! How lovely to see friends and to be able to chat and have a few laughs! As always the food was delicious and plentiful! The drama group put on a splendid show and the craft group created a wonderful snowman for each guest to take home.... with a number of spares! 

Our collection of gifts for the Women's Refuge is amazing! Thank you everyone! If you would like to donate, please bring your wrapped gift to our Carol service on Wednesday. This is what we have collected so far!