NEEDLES IN WRECKAGE.

Here is another pin story from Kirsty Hall, our pinning artist in residence.

"When the Lockerbie disaster happened, the airplane was carrying a consignment of one million needles in it's hold. When the rescue teams arrived, there were needles scattered all over the crash site. As the sun came up on the carriage, the needles glistened, dangerously beautiful amidst the wreckage."

If you have a pin story, Kirsty would love to hear from you.  Kirsty's Pin Ritual is showing at PYF until the end of February.

GET RUGGING WITH YOUR RAGS!

Get your toes into a bit of rag rugging. It's a brilliant way to use up old clothes and Jenni is the best person to teach you. See her work at http://www.jenni.ragrugs.freeuk.com

'Raggy Bags and Eco Rugs' at Hackney City Farm 14th February 10am-5pm £60 (concessions) 01568 750229 to book.

WOMAN'S HOUR.

A PYF sewing party was featured on Women's Hour this morning!

Hooray for Anna MacNamee for her lovely piece.

Anna came for tea and recorded us back in the summer. 

It was impossible to fit all us busy bees in the program, but you can hear Eithne Farry, Ian Thompson, Louise Harries, Rosemary Haddon and me.

To listen again go to-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/02/2009_05_tue.shtml

For sewing parties at PYF this spring/ summer, make sure you are on our mailing list!

BUTTONS ON GEORGE IV.

I have been enjoying Kenneth Baker's 'George IV a Life in Caricature'. 

George was the dandy Prince Regent at the time of George III's madness before becoming George IV. He splurged huge amounts of money, building the Brighton Pavilion, Regents Street and much of our country's fine arts collection.

This cartoon was drawn in 1830 and the caption reads;

"There was general industrial and agricultural distress in 1830, and Wellington was reported as being indifferent to families' suffering - there were prints showing him surrounded by starving men and women. George alluded to these economic problems in a speech.

Birmingham, a growing industrial centre, sent a deputation of journeymen button- makers to visit London and give a gift of gilt buttons to George. He helped them by making buttons fashionable and setting a new trend. Many benefited from the 'dandyism' of George. On his death the trade of button-making was 'plunged into a desperate condition.'"

I can only conclude, that the thing to do in a recession, is make more buttons, wear more buttons, and on the whole, dress up.