Parchment Guild, Plymouth Guildhall – 10th November 2008

My friend and I made the journey from Bristol to Plymouth in good time, and found the Guild Hall very easily.  There is parking outside, but only for a couple of hours, so if you are planning to stay in excess of three hours you need to park at the N.C.P. where the cost was a staggering £10.50 for over four hours.

We made our way into the Guild Hall and were greeted on the ground floor by the Centagraph stall selling practically everything a parchment devotee could need, but we swept past and up the stairs to the next floor.  Having bought our ticket in advance for £5 – no financial advantage – we entered the hall to find a whole array of demonstrators.  The works on show were exquisite and innovative,  and oh so delicate, just like lace.  There was even a working clock!

Christine Coleman to the left, selling some of the most beautiful patterns happily relieved me of £4.50 for some Christmas patterns, and Alison Yeates of Kingfisher sold me a very useful battery powered pencil sharpener and a magnetic board, both absolute essentials for good pattern tracing with pencil.

Many of the ladies were selling items for charity; neo natal, breast cancer and Poppy Day.  All extremely worthwhile causes and which have, no doubt, touched each one of us in one way or another.

The Severn Beach class, which is barely a year old and run under the skilful tutoring of Veronica Jones, had made a lovely little Christmas themed table showing how they are progressing in the skill.

Advice, laughter and friendship was on offer on every table.  The Parchment Guild had a table to encourage learning, and even the uninitiated would find something to whet their appetite and have them reaching for tools.

I bumped into so many ladies I had only met in the virtual world, but yet were friends, and many that I had parched with at classes or workshops.  The whole ethos was about fun and support, and whilst money did change hands one didn’t feel one was amongst traders, but enthusiasts.  Who better to give your money to!

Tags | Jackie Rainbow, parchment, parchment guild