Woodworking can be a solitary activity with the woodworker stuck in a workshop all day and only ever producing work which is seen by a familiar albeit appreciative family. Those who make items such as fitted furniture at least have an opportunity to visit clients, although even they can end up spending most of their time in a workshop with only a radio and a dog (if they're lucky 
) for company.
There's something about having contact with other people who you can discuss your work with. That was apparent from the recent thread about scroll saw shows. Obviously, we'd all wish to have someone like Bruce or Frank living next door but that's just too much to hope for. For some time I've felt that it would be helpful to have access to a supportive group, which is one of the reasons why I pressed for this section of the forum to be set aside for scrollers and other 'artistic' forms of woodwork. It's good that we can all meet up here, but cyber groups do have their limitations.
There's a group of local craft workers near me, the Waseley Hills Craft Guild, who meet monthly. They often get invited to show at local events and although some of them sell their wares, there are also retired people who are happy to just discuss their particular creative obsession. It's an eclectic mix of individuals with talents as diverse as lacemaking, Tiffany glassware and jewellery. What they all have in common, however, is a love of the creative process and a drive to share that love with others.
I'm sure there are many similar craft groups throughout the nation. They'll probably comprise mostly ladies doing cross stitch or making cards, with the occasional elderly woodturner showing his face now and again . That's how the Waseley Hills Guild appeared to me last night but nevertheless I laid out a few of my pieces to show them that I was a bona fide craft worker and I was stunned by the reaction I got. Although they're seasoned craft workers who travel throughout the region attending craft fairs, none of them had ever seen anything like the sort of work I produce! To my great surprise and delight, I rather stole the show with my range of segmented pieces and fretwork portraits. After only a few moments the membership secretary told me the Guild had already considered my work and wanted to invite me to join them. I joined with alacrity! This was quite an honour.
Membership of the Guild will bring me several benefits. Not least is there the social aspect, but it will get our sort of work out into a wider community. This may lead to financial rewards but more importantly it will get our type of woodwork some publicity. As I mentioned earlier, my scrolling came as a complete revelation to these seasoned craftworkers so I suspect it will be equally novel to the general public. I'm hoping that more people will see my work and say to themselves, "I want to make something like that".
Another important advantage of membership which I hadn't considered is that of insurance. As a member, I've got full product and public liability insurance.
At the next meeting, one of the Guild Members is going to give a presentation on her Tiffany glass. It should be very interesting, especially as this form of craft is so similar in form to scrolled segmentation. Next in the programme is a lecture from someone who couldn't be at last night's meeting about how to set up a display stand for a craft fair. Why wasn't she at last night's meeting? She was selling her wares at a craft fair :lol: !
It's funny but when I'm at home in the same old familiar settings, my woodwork just looks like something I knocked out. When I laid it out alongside the other craftwork last night, it magically became something more potent and desirable.
Joining a craft group might not suit every scroller, but I think it's going to suit me just fine .
Gill
) for company.There's something about having contact with other people who you can discuss your work with. That was apparent from the recent thread about scroll saw shows. Obviously, we'd all wish to have someone like Bruce or Frank living next door but that's just too much to hope for. For some time I've felt that it would be helpful to have access to a supportive group, which is one of the reasons why I pressed for this section of the forum to be set aside for scrollers and other 'artistic' forms of woodwork. It's good that we can all meet up here, but cyber groups do have their limitations.
There's a group of local craft workers near me, the Waseley Hills Craft Guild, who meet monthly. They often get invited to show at local events and although some of them sell their wares, there are also retired people who are happy to just discuss their particular creative obsession. It's an eclectic mix of individuals with talents as diverse as lacemaking, Tiffany glassware and jewellery. What they all have in common, however, is a love of the creative process and a drive to share that love with others.
I'm sure there are many similar craft groups throughout the nation. They'll probably comprise mostly ladies doing cross stitch or making cards, with the occasional elderly woodturner showing his face now and again
. That's how the Waseley Hills Guild appeared to me last night but nevertheless I laid out a few of my pieces to show them that I was a bona fide craft worker and I was stunned by the reaction I got. Although they're seasoned craft workers who travel throughout the region attending craft fairs, none of them had ever seen anything like the sort of work I produce! To my great surprise and delight, I rather stole the show with my range of segmented pieces and fretwork portraits. After only a few moments the membership secretary told me the Guild had already considered my work and wanted to invite me to join them. I joined with alacrity! This was quite an honour.Membership of the Guild will bring me several benefits. Not least is there the social aspect, but it will get our sort of work out into a wider community. This may lead to financial rewards but more importantly it will get our type of woodwork some publicity. As I mentioned earlier, my scrolling came as a complete revelation to these seasoned craftworkers so I suspect it will be equally novel to the general public. I'm hoping that more people will see my work and say to themselves, "I want to make something like that".
Another important advantage of membership which I hadn't considered is that of insurance. As a member, I've got full product and public liability insurance.
At the next meeting, one of the Guild Members is going to give a presentation on her Tiffany glass. It should be very interesting, especially as this form of craft is so similar in form to scrolled segmentation. Next in the programme is a lecture from someone who couldn't be at last night's meeting about how to set up a display stand for a craft fair. Why wasn't she at last night's meeting? She was selling her wares at a craft fair :lol: !
It's funny but when I'm at home in the same old familiar settings, my woodwork just looks like something I knocked out. When I laid it out alongside the other craftwork last night, it magically became something more potent and desirable.
Joining a craft group might not suit every scroller, but I think it's going to suit me just fine
.Gill
