Category: News

Important news about Urchfont Manor

Some of you may already know that Wiltshire Council have decided to close Urchfont Manor and sell it in the very near future.  This will mean no more wonderful courses, no more use of the wonderful grounds, and no more of that wonderful and delicious food.  They have decided this with no public consultation, and if someone hadn’t got ‘wind’ of it and begun a fight, probably without anyone knowing.  There is more information here, which just happens to be the Liberal Democrats Wiltshire Council website.  From what I have been told there has been the inevitable manipulation of figures, and, as in most cases like this, everything is being kept secret.  It is possible that it is already a ‘done deal’, but in the hope that something can be salvaged an online petition has been set up.

Anyone can sign the petition.  Urchfont was the very first  Residential College for Adult Education in the country.  It has been attended by students from all over the country, and also from all over the world.  This year alone I know that students have come from as far away as New Zealand and the USA.  The petition states:

‘We the undersigned petition the council to Retain Urchfont Manor as an adult education facility, or support any bid by a purchaser for the property that intends to maintain it as a residential adult education centre.

There has been very little public consultation on the proposal to sell Urchfont Manor, please lend your support.’

You can help by registering your interest and signing here.  This might be more important than you think because local business men have already expressed an interest in buying the property and continuing Adult Learning at the site.  This would be very good news, and your signature could help persuade the council that this is a good idea.

New Year Greetings

Well, yes, this is being published on the last day of the old year, but if I leave it until tomorrow the day will almost be over for some of you!  Are you celebrating tonight?  Will you have an early night instead, and sleep through as though it’s a night like any other?  We have something planned, and I’m sure I’ll blog about it here on Sunday, although if it’s a late night  it probably won’t be until later in the day….

I’m really looking forward to 2012.  I’ll be popping up in some unexpected places, but I’ve also plans to do more of my own work in the coming year too.  The last two years have been busy, and to a certain extent that has had to be put on the back burner.  Thanks to ‘One a Day Collage‘ I have plenty of design material waiting to be exploited and expanded.

Many of you know how much I enjoy working with paper and colour.  We have had some fun workshops around the country in 2011, and there will be more in 2012.  For some time now I have been adding a colour inspiration each day here, this too will continue for the next year, with one addition.  On some days there will also be a link to a download of an adapted page.  This is free, on the basis that it is not offered for sale in any shape or form.  The first one will be published tomorrow.  It could be used as part of a journal page, printed or laminated onto fabric, etc.  If you do use it I’d love to know what you do.  Don’t be shy about leaving comments……

Lastly, I hope you all have a peaceful and happy 2012, and I want to assure you that this site will be a totally Olympic Free zone this year.  This is the first and last mention I will make.  One of the reasons I have several blogs is so that you only need to subscribe to the content you want.

Don’t Delay! Do it Today

Textile in Focus is in February.  Details are ready now, and if you want to book your workshop etc you really need to do it NOW!

Held just outside Cambridge over three days, this year’s event is scheduled for 17th, 18th and 19th February.  You can download the  TEXTILES IN FOCUS – Official Programme 2012 by clicking the link.  Decide what you would like to do and send off straight away.  I’ll be there with Winifred Cottage – so don’t forget to come and say ‘hello’

Now, if you can’t wait that long for something creative you could always sign up for this

I know that Christmas is a busy time, but that will be gone before we know it and then you can make a start.