Artistic Display by W.I.

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 41, 25 February 1949, Page 1

Artistic Display by W.I.

FASCINATING ENTRIES I On Friday last in the A. and P.' Hall was given a display of handiwork, arts and crafts by the Northland Federation of Women’s Instit- i utes. During; the whole of the time the ' exhibition was open for inspection,j there was i good crowd in attendance, | though it is felt that more of the j public as a whole would have been j appreciated, but members from all . ove r the county made good effort in being present to witness that which their associates had entered for their admiration. The exhibits were tastefully displayed in courts, each court being representative of some branch of the organisation, and it was left to the ; members of that branch to arrange their own exhibits. All this was done with care and assiduous attention to detail, no member doing the thing in half-hearted manner, and the whole tending to give an air of gaiety combined with taste of refinement that one would expect to see in a home. Articles displayed ranged from full - sized carpet - squares down through the gamut of all things decorative to tiny bead brooches. There was not one article which lacked merit, and the quality of the | material and workmanship was far [ away above average. Toys of all description, including ! life-like dogs, dolls representative of various countries and nationalities, a j realistic monkey, and Humpty Dump- i ty perched on a wall of match boxes j were all to be seen.

High quality needlework, slippers, belts, clothing, household articles, preserves, cooking, produce, vases, varied types of boxes and containers, and other items too numerous to mention made the hall a place of interest, and perhaps wonder, and to say the least, extremely colourful. It would not be proper to mention one court as being better than another and as this was s 0 it is better to refer to the whole and not the individual, for whilst individuality was shown, so did this trait blend to make one perfect whole. At l.dO p.m., the exhibition was officially opened by Mrs. E. G. Sawyer, the Dominion President, and her opening words congratulated the north on its work and utmost enthusiasm. Mrs. Sawyer endeared herself to all members, and after the ceremony she mixed freely with all those present. Mrs. Shalders, Northland President, presented Mrs. Sawyers with a shoulder spray. Mrs. Sawyer in her opening address said : “The most noticeable thing about this display is the finish in the articles which is the hallmark

of quality in handiwork and needlework.” Mrs. Sawyer went on to say that in these days when mass production was so rife, it was the work, the individual work of the housewife, that gave the home the individualistic touch that lentfor charm. MTsl C Sladrffm, Aria and 'Crafts tutor who gave classes in the north last year, was also present, and spoke in terms of the woik on display, expressing herself as more than pleased to see some of the remits of her efforts so ably displayed. Morning tea, afternoon tea and lunch were served, and a trading stall operated, giving proof of the gardening and cooking abilities of the members of the Institute. Such a display can have only one result, and that will be a sharp increase in enrolments for membership.