Another good Saturday morning.
The hall was set up on the Friday night, Keith who helped for the first time last month couldn’t make it but Andy a new helper did, all done it 35mins or so, we’ve got this off to a fine art now. In the morning the juniors arrived excited and full of ideas of what they would like to do, some turning and some just crafts, either way we encourage creative thought which, when they are older and have their own lathes should produce some interesting pieces perhaps.
I make the usual desperate attempt to call to order and make some announcements; I got a chorus of 21st of March when I asked when the next meeting was so I figured that was a plus! And with the usual reminder “it’s a workshop not a playground” away they went.
James turned some knobs, the St John chairs have one on each arm for the elderly to pull themselves up with, some were missing, we had a reply from them later thanking us for a brilliant job, well done James. Others made pin cushions, French knitting tools and some bowls, Kayleigh and Emily started to copy a rather nicely shaped china pot I brought in. Some did sewing with Angy, a follow up to a previous meeting and some new projects. Keiran & Thomas, well, when they weren’t turning they hot melt glued a Mrs Liberty statue from large lollipop sticks and a fine piece of cloth, which was ceremonially burnt in my garden the day after, the torch was an egg cup, very imaginative when you take time to look, and listen to what the boys are telling you, Kieran also PVA glued some sticks to a base to make a candle holder, a bit of assistance cutting the sticks from Keith.
Dave Jenkins took Dave Hutchins lathe today and turned pens with Bill and Grant, this is a very popular project. Eric I think turned some pin cushion bases and Sam turned a lovely bowl with Mike. We had the usual mid morning break with banana cake, ginger bread men and some chocolate bites, plus there were some Quality Street sweets left in a large tin which the boys passed round, all good stuff at our club meetings.
Myself, well I didn’t turn at all today because we were fortunate to have Mike with us again, so I just moved around getting in the way were I could, see, even I enjoy myself. Ross managed the Pyrography and Ron was kept busy on the computer, one of our senior members is a member of the camera club and popped in to give us some useful advice. Nikky was busy as usual and looked after the kitchen at the break.
As usual the time goes far to quickly, almost forgot….must mention the gallery table, it’s the first thing Jordan mentions when he arrives, he always brings something to show us, while I’m here, I got caught out by young Jordan, some time ago he turned 6 juggling balls, after the meeting I took him to my son’s house to be shown how to juggle, so today I very boldly said, when you can juggle with 3 balls I’ll get my son Calum’s dog and we’ll all go for a long walk somewhere, with that he picked up 3 balls and juggled…..ahhhhhh ok, so that afternoon we as in Kayleigh, her mum Jordan and I took the dog Crunchy down to the East end of Hayling Island, it was a beautiful afternoon and a good walk, you never know with these juniors, they are so unpredictable, its great isn’t it.
I think I’m pretty much there now, don’t think I’ve missed anything out! Lots of help clearing away and very soon my van is full and the hall clean and tidy and there goes another brilliant junior club meeting.
Mick February 2009