Glastonbury

Monday, May 28th, turned out to be a typically cold and damp bank holiday and more rain was forecast for the rest of the day. On arriving at the Rural Life Museum our little band comprising myself, my wife Ellen, Carol Mellish and Fay Wilks found that it had been decided, because of the weather, we should share the gallery room with another exhibition to demonstrate our craft, instead of outside as originally intended.

The day started slowly, but it soon picked up and the three ladies each spinning a different fibre, soon had a group around them asking all sorts of questions. Meanwhile, I was busy introducing young children to the art of Japanese Braiding with my little cardboard kits, while parents became intrigued with the different braid samples on show.

By the end of the day 38 children and two adults had tried their hand at weaving and went away happy, and our three spinners had their photograph taken which appeared in the June edition of the Fosse Way Magazine. Many of the visitors who came to see us, wrote some very nice things in the visitors book which had been intended for the exhibitors with whom we were sharing space. It would have been interesting to see their faces when they read the comments.

Saturday, July 28th, the weather forecast was for rain in the morning drying up in the afternoon but as it turned out it was dry all day if a bit windy. Our intrepid 'Quartet' settled down ready to receive a rush of visitors but, although we had a steady stream of people throughout the afternoon, visitor numbers to the museum were less than expected.

Sunday, 29th, turned out to be much the same as the day before and we met several interesting people who were overseas visitors. The main interest of the day was in the spinning and the different fibres being worked or on display. Carol showed one of the visitors how to use a drop spindle and gave her some fleece so that she could go home and practice on the one she had bought but had never used!!

At the end of the day the museum staff told us that they regularly have telephone enquiries asking when we will be demonstrating next, which is very encouraging.

Jim Doust


e-mail the Guild
Demonstrations at Glastonbury 2007
Monday, May 28th, turned out to be a typically cold and damp bank holiday and more rain was forecast for the rest of the day. On arriving at the Rural Life Museum our little band comprising myself, my wife Ellen, Carol Mellish and Fay Wilks found that it had been decided, because of the weather, we should share the gallery room with another exhibition to demonstrate our craft, instead of outside as originally intended. The day started slowly, but it soon picked up and the three ladies each spinning a different fibre, soon had a group around them asking all sorts of questions. Meanwhile, I was busy introducing young children to the art of Japanese Braiding with my little cardboard kits, while parents became intrigued with the different braid samples on show. By the end of the day 38 children and two adults had tried their hand at weaving and went away happy, and our three spinners had their photograph taken which appeared in the June edition of the Fosse Way Magazine. Many of the visitors who came to see us, wrote some very nice things in the visitors book which had been intended for the exhibitors with whom we were sharing space. It would have been interesting to see their faces when they read the comments. Saturday, July 28th, the weather forecast was for rain in the morning drying up in the afternoon but as it turned out it was dry all day if a bit windy. Our intrepid 'Quartet' settled down ready to receive a rush of visitors but, although we had a steady stream of people throughout the afternoon, visitor numbers to the museum were less than expected. Sunday, 29th, turned out to be much the same as the day before and we met several interesting people who were overseas visitors. The main interest of the day was in the spinning and the different fibres being worked or on display. Carol showed one of the visitors how to use a drop spindle and gave her some fleece so that she could go home and practice on the one she had bought but had never used!! At the end of the day the museum staff told us that they regularly have telephone enquiries asking when we will be demonstrating next, which is very encouraging. Jim Doust


visit Somerset County Council's website, for further information about the Musuem, opening times and how to find it.

Demonstrations at Glastonbury 2007