Another good Saturday morning.
I had my lathe set up by the time Keith arrived, no Andy today, probably on holiday, very soon the others arrived and very quickly and casually everything was ready, Mike called dead on 9am to see how many members there were to justify him coming all the way over from Southampton, and yes come over was the answer.
No good morning and chat today, I knew there were more to come and didn’t want them to miss the info I had so did that bit in the break. 14 members there this morning, very good turn out, I have big hopes for this junior club and for some reason I’m always relieved to see lots of them turn up, may be its because we get so much help from the seniors I don’t want them to feel there time and efforts aren’t needed, if that makes sense, I’m very confident this will go on growing for years to come but I always get that feeling.
Having said that well before the 9am start Dave walked in with Sarah, Kirsten, Amber and Zoe, all 4 girls were full of energy and the hall instantly filled with excited Crafty Turners, lots to say, and lots to ask, all very helpful and rushed out to help Angy in with her materials, and with all the help we are easily set up by 9am.
Tyson turned the arms of our Hayling Scarecrow with Eric, Keiran and Hugo made bowls with Don, Don has since emailed to say how much he enjoyed the morning, Keiran made a cannon barrel with Mike. Barbara, Grant and Bill were with Dave, key rings and Bud vases, Thomas stated making an acrylic pen with Dave H in his workshop and he finished it with Dave J this morning, he’s had that blank since West show 2007. Sarah turned a Bud vase with Mike, Angy did mostly Forest (as in our new character) associated craft work on cotton bags and other stencil type work, some bead work and some cutting out and spray mounting them.
The usual computer work from David with Ron desperately trying to make sure nothing important is changed, these juniors are so switched on and so quick its really testing Ron, good job he’s good natured, Ron does admit he’s learning lots from them, and very happy to help straight away when somebody needs to find something from the files, print something or save something, I’m sure he lies down in a dark room for a while when he gets home from a busy morning, and I’m sure he’s doing more than I see in the 3 hours, plus he works on the website at home updating things.
Some pyrography work and lots of banana cake and juice at the mid way break. Pretty much everybody here today helped clear away everything and run the vacuums around, brilliant, we are very fortunate to have brilliant juniors and seniors at our meetings, everybody gets on so well. So apart from going home to unload my van its all done, and there goes another brilliant junior meeting.
PS….forgot my camera today so no photo’s of the meeting so I’ve put in a picture of Kieran’s piece he turned at my workshop called “Differences” a beautiful Maple bowl on a scorched/burnt softwood base, an incredible piece I think, all came about from young Kieran trying various creative techniques, all his own ideas…….that’s the bowl shape, the base and the title, very impressive stuff……just some help with the tool work on the lathe and the rest is all Kieran.
Mick June 2009