ARTS AND CRAFTS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26855, 7 October 1952, Page 2

ARTS AND CRAFTS

EXHIBITION AT WOMEN’S CLUB There was hardly standing room at the Canterbury Women’s Club rooms yesterday, when the annual exhibition of work done during the last six months by the art circle and the basket-making circle was held. It was not surprising that the display aroused unusually keen interest because, in addition to the varied types of work generally shown on such occasions, members of the basket circle had, this year, broken new ground. Their work was excellent both in quality and in quantity. Novelties included a very tall basket set on wheels and provided with a handle. It was designed to help the harassed woman-shopper and was large enough to hold the week-end supply of goods for an average family. In it parcels of many shapes and different. sizes could be wheeled comfortably through city or suburban streets. Another new idea was carried out in cane trays with ply-wood bottoms. Each tray was divided into sections 7-one round to accommodate a large jug—and six or more smaller divisions in which glasses could be held firmly. To add to the convenience of these trays, each was provided with a serviceable handle by which it could be carried safely. Then there were sturdy shopping baskets, daintily finished work-baskets with covers, wood baskets, clothes baskets, dolls’ prams, dolls’ cradles on rockers, trays, sandwich dishes and cake plates in great variety. The circle, directed by Mrs R. F. Kellaway, assisted by Mrs F. W. Gurnsey, has 42 members, who meet weekly from April till the end of September. During this year’s session they used 125 pounds of cane and spent £25 on three-ply. ‘‘The outstanding point about our display.” said Miss D. E. Lane, director of the arts and crafts circle, ‘‘is the beautiful needlework and painting done by two of our oldest members—one aged 91 years and the other more than 80 years of age.” In this circle there are 20 members who meet weekly during six months of the year and they certainly use their time well and usefully. On the wall hung many examples of their work —paintings and black and white _ pictures—and on tables were arranged painted fruit bowls, toilet boxes, trays, card trays, handkerchief and tie cases, and candlesticks, all beautifully French polished under Miss Lane’s 'upervision. and many table mats finished with enamel paint. As a charming novelty there were crocheted necklaces.

Members of the bridge, 500, and canasta circles, and of the garden, drama and music and year circles, conducted stalls for the sale of cakes, sweets, flowers and vegetables, and did very good business. Added interest to the gathering was given by an exhibition of Indian work lent by Miss Marjorie Head, a nurse who returned to Christchurch early last month after working for five years at the Frances Newton mission hospital in the Punjab. Examples of wood carving, of exquisite needlework and of different kinds of em, broidery and hand-painting on textiles were greatly admired. In the evening Miss Head gave an address at the club.

Mrs G. H. Watts presided at the gathering and the exhibition was opened by Miss H. K. Lovell-Smith, who, with her sisters, joined the club about 1913.

Songs were sung by Mesdames Kay Swallow, Thelma Christiansen and J. Colthart, and vocal duets by Mesdames Swallow and Colthart. Humorous recitations were given by Mrs Pashby and piano duets by Mesdames Christiansen and Hilda Reeve. The accompanist was Mrs Reeve.