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Art & Craft Day 2011 This wll be hosted by the Helmdon Stitchers   click for information                             Art & Craft Day 2009   .... so much lovely art and craft to talk about   We would like to thank all who supported our day of Crafts in the Church on Saturday 7th November. Visitors and stall holders alike had a most enjoyable day and we were delighted to also raise £350.  We shall donate £50 to St Mary Magdalene Church and £300 to 'SIlver Star'.  This is a charity supporting a unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford which gives special medical care to pregnant mothers and their unborn babies who have serious or difficult problems.   Thank you to Rev. Will Adams for allowing us to use the Church as our venue, George and Jane Beyts for parking space and particularly the ladies of Helmdon W.I. who provided excellent refreshments and lunches throughout the day. Perhaps we'll hold another Craft Day in two year's time!   Louise Stothard and the Needlework group.  Art & Craft Day 2008   Last minute touches before the craft display opens to visitors   Thank you to everyone who supported this day. There was a great atmosphere in the Church and everyone enjoyed themselves. Thank you to Helmdon W.I. for supplying us with excellent refreshments all day! We were amazed and delighted to raise £362 which will be shared between Katharine House Hospice and St Mary Magdalene Church, Helmdon. Thank you to you all for your generosity.  Louise Stothard and Helmdon Stitchers

                        Art & Craft Day 2006

The September Craft Day was a great success.  We had a wide variety of skills and crafts on display, from sewing and knitting to a model railway engine, to ceramics, pillow lace and jewellery, as well as preserves, paintings and cards!

There was a steady stream of interested visitors throughout the day and the WI kept us all well supplied with excellent refreshments. 

We were very pleased to raise approximately £250, which will be shared between St Mary Magdalene Church and the charity SANE.

Thank you to all who took part in so many ways and perhaps we'll get together again in two year's time!

Louise Stothard

Val Miles finishes a jar, ready for firing

In 2002 Louise Stothard organised an arts and crafts event that was so popular that a rerun was inevitable.

"Crafts in Action 2004" took place on Saturday 6th November in St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, again organised by Louise Stothard and friends.

Artists and artisans from Helmdon and surrounding villages displayed their talents including ceramics, jewellery design, card making, model making, cookery, flower arranging, painting and needlework.

DEBRA UK

The money raised this year will go, as in 2002, to the charity DEBRA UK, the national charity working on behalf of people with the genetic skin blistering condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). One in 227 of us has a defective gene that causes EB. One in 17,000 live births will be an infant with a form of EB with the condition affecting both sexes and all racial groups worldwide. There are around 5,000 people in the UK living with EB. EB is currently an incurable condition and there is no effective treatment for the disease.

Apart from the charity aspect, the event is a showcase for the incredible wealth of talent that exists in the village. This year participants were allowed to sell their goods, with 10% of the proceeds going to the organisers.

Judging by the attendance, this event looks likely to become a permanent fixture in the Helmdon calendar!

For more examples of the work on display, visit the gallery >>>

See the report from 2002 >>>

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