Basket weaving with Hatton willow

The September meeting welcomed Sarah of Hatton Willow. She gave an entertaining explanation of her basket weaving business. As well as weaving beautiful and intricate crafts, she also grows and harvests her own willow on her land in Caerphilly.

Her website says:

'In 2012 with a myriad of baskets filling her house she set up her business, Hatton Willow, which she began to grow attending local craft fairs and running courses. Sarah started selling her baskets, willow cuttings, bundles of willow both dried and fresh and living willow.

'In 2015 Sarah took the huge personal gamble to leave her career in IT to focus all her passion and energy into basketry. Since then Hatton Willow has gone from strength to strength and continues to grow.' 

 

Sarah has worked on some exciting and interesting projects, such as Country File and 'The Repair Shop.' She also teaches workshops and details can be found on the Hatton Willow website.

 

Newsletter 174 - September 2023

Welcome back! 

Did you have a good summer? Or did it go so fast you didn’t notice?

At September's meeting we are delighted to welcome Sarah, from Hatton Willow. She will be talking about willow basket making and there will be a demonstration. 

Trip to Abergavenny Food Festival. Saturday 16th September 2023. 

The coach will pick you up at 9.15am outside Ararat.
Departure from Abergavenny at 5pm 

Whitchurch W.I. ‘Blog’  

‘Blogs” are not something most of us are familiar with, but they are useful these days for letting people know we exist and what we do. You will hear about this today from Nor’dzin but also have an opportunity to look at it, and find out how to access and use it during our tea break today. 

The Glamorgan Newsletter 

A reminder of some of the activities that you might be interested in. It’s a great opportunity to try something new. Forms are at the front by the noticeboard. but all bookings for Glamorgan events should be made through the treasurer, with payment in advance.
Please note the closing dates for application to participate. 

Closing date : 2nd October (a variety of crafts for you to try)
Activity : Seasonal Dabble Day (£20)
Location : Murton Methodist Hall
Event date : Saturday 4th November 

Closing date : 31st October
Activity : Tai Chi Taster Day (£5)
Location : Pencoed Welfare Hall
Event date : Saturday 11th November

Fundraising for our charities - at the 2024 fete 

The Committee would welcome your ideas for fundraising for next year’s fete. It might seem early, but, depending on our choice, some things need quite a few months preparation. We may even need to get started before Christmas! 

It would be good for the Committee to have several ideas to discuss! 

Groups: Dates for your diaries 

St Mary’s Gardens: Tuesday 12th Sept 2023 10.00 am.
A working party, suitable for all activity levels. 

Book Group: Wednesday 13th Sept 2023 at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara 

Poetry and Prose: Monday 18th Sept 2023 11.00am at Ararat 

Craft Group: Monday 18th Sept 2023 at 10.30am 18 Heol Stradling 

Family History: Thursday 21st Sept 2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road 

Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 24th Sept 2023 at 1.00pm at Llanishen Golf Club 

Our next meeting: 

Monday 9th October at 2pm.
Speaker: Debra John.
Subject: Amy Dilwen, Edwardian Philanthropist

July 2023 meeting

The last meeting before the summer break was most enjoyable. There was a quiz, cake, and entertainment from the twins who call themselves CL Raven.

 

 

They entertained us with their 'Pole Fitness' routine, using a suspended hoop, and a silicon pole.  As well as practising and teaching pole fitness, they are also acclaimed authors.

 

 

Their Amazon profile describes them as '... mistresses of the macabre. They're horror writers because 'bringers of nightmares' isn't a recognised job title. They write novels, short stories, comics and film scripts. Their work has been published in magazines and anthologies in the UK, USA and Australia. In their spare time, they hunt ghosts, host a horror radio show, look after their animal army, and try to look impressive with polefit. Their attempts at gymnastics should never be spoken about.'

Newsletter - July 2023

A warm welcome to our last meeting before the Summer break.  We hope you enjoy today and take the opportunity to buy cards and the good quality pre-loved and unwanted items you have brought along.

Trip to Abergavenny Food Festival.
Saturday 16th September 2023.      
This is the last chance to join this trip; only a few places left.  The total cost for the coach and the ‘stroller ticket’ is £28.  Please see Gill TODAY.

Points to notice from the Glamorgan Newsletter:

One of our members, Jane Patten, has again got one of her photographs featured in the 2024 Glamorgan Calendar.  Congratulations Jane.

Among other activities, the Glamorgan Federation is holding a quiz on Tuesday 24th October at the Hi Tide, Porthcawl.  If you would like to be one of the four members  of a team representing Whitchurch WI,  please let a member of the committee know.

** If you would like to participate in any of the activities, notices and forms are on the noticeboard at the front.**

Whitchurch Fete Saturday 1st July.

What a lovely day we had ; the sun was shining and lots of people came along to the Common.

The big news is that we raised a magnificent £400!!  It is our main fundraising event for our charities so that is a good lift towards what we will be able to donate to them.  Thank you very much to all our members who nurtured plants, helped with the arrangements and worked on the day with transportation, setting up, serving on our plant stall and clearing up afterwards.

Groups: Dates for your diaries

St Mary’s Gardens:  Tuesday 11th July 2023 10.00 am.  A working party,  Suitable for all activity levels.    

Book Group:  Wednesday 12th July  2023  at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara

Craft Group: Monday 17th July 2023  at 10.30am 18 Heol Stradling  

Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 23rd July  2023 at 1.00pm at Ffynon Wen. Llanishen,  CF14 9UA

 
Advance notice!   
Family History: Thursday 21st Sept 2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road

Don’t forget  …   to fill  the tube of Smarties you have received today. with 20p or £1 coins during the summer.  This is part of the fundraising for our charities.  Please bring them back to:

Our next meeting:  Monday  September 11th at 2pm.
Speaker: Sarah  of Hatton Willow, Caerphilly with a talk on willow basket making, including a demonstration.

Hope you have a lovely summer!    

Whitchurch Festival - July 1st.

 Whitchurch WI had a stall at Whitchurch Fete on the Common on July 1st.

The gardeners had worked hard to produce a wonderful selection of plants for sale.

It was a great success and raised £400 for our charities. The left-over plants went to the St Mary's Gardens project.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who raised plants and to those who helped on the day.

Show the Love exhibition

Many thanks to John Lewis in Cardiff for displaying these excellent and inspiring fabric squares.

National Gardens Scheme

 

On the 17th April Bob Priddle gave an interesting and informative talk about the National Gardens Scheme.

The piece of information that I found most useful and memorable was about coping with slugs. Bob said always water plants in the morning, before 11am. That way, they get the benefit, but the soil has dried out by the time the slimy beasts are ready to come out and feed. He also suggested, for those who feel okay about killing slugs, to put a few slug pellets in the soil underneath a new plant.

Report by Nor'dzin Pamo