WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 53, 4 March 1939, Page 3

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

ENGLISH FEDERATION HANDCRAFT EXHIBITION PRESENTS FOR PRINCESSES LONDON, Nov. 21. A mahogany Victorian workbox for Princess Elizabeth, a finely worked handkerchief sachet for Princess Margaret, and a coat made for 3d from sacking—a replica of others presented to Cabinet Ministers—were among the interesting exhibits at the handcraft, exhibition of the National Federation of Women's Institutes. Princess Elizabeth's workbox was made by Miss Colby, who managed a 130-acre farm in Somerset, and who does most of (he farm work herself. Some 200 minute pieces of silk and cretonne go' to make up the patchwork padding. The lining of the lid was embroidered with tiny flowers from a piece of glazed chintz over 100 years old. It. was admired by the Queen when she paid a visit to the exhibition. Her Majesty said the workbox would be just in time for Princess Elizabeth to make her Christmas presents. Coloured floral embroidery for the handkerchief sachet, with a Queen Anne design in fine chain stitch, with miniature roses, marguerites, thistles, and oak leaves in coloured silk, was much admired by the Queen, who said that it would delight Princess Margaret. The Queen was also much attracted by the glove exhibits, and ordered a pair of each for the princesses in brown and white speckled lamb, with lambswool lining. Threepenny Sack Coat A 3d sack goat was the work of a member, whose husband farms 1000 acres in Warwickshire. It was originally a sugar sack, and now it. is a well-tailored gardening suit, and a replica of coats presented Io the Minister of Health. Mr. Walter Elliot, the President of the Board of Trade. Mr. Oliver Stanley, and the Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood. When Mrs. Chamberlain visits the exhibition it. will probably he offered to her for the Prime Minister. The exhibition is the ninth to he organised by the National Federation, which has 5600 institutes in England and Wales, with a membership of more than 310,000. In the three years which have elapsed since the last exhibition the members appear to have improved greatly in the designs, and in some crafts, also i<n the quality of the v.Ak. Their touch seems lighter and not so serious, and beauty and skill appear to come easier to them than in the early days of 1915, when the movement started. Among the exhibits are canework by crippled workers from Devonshire, weaving by crippled girls of Strat-ford-on-Avon, and lace made by disabled women. Spinners from the Shetlands, toymakers from Cornwall, weavers, lace workers, basketmakers, potters, cottar quilters, all brought their work to London. Two of the exhibitors were women who have turned their family seats into centres of village industry. One was Lady Hart Dyke, who has turned Lillingstone Castle into a silk farm. The other was Mrs. Thackeray, of Elsing Hall. Derenham. Norfolk, who has transformed her 13-century moated grange into a weaver’s shop, where she has taught the craft to scores of local people. She is so enthusiastic that she will wear .nothing that is not woven, even her shoes are of woven leather. Royal Member*? The Queen and Queen Mary both paid visits as Institute members, since they both pay their 2s a year subscription to the Sandringham Women's Institute. One of the many interesting exhibits to attract, the Queen's attention was a beautiful toy theatre, which showed a Victorian Christmas party. The thrill exhibits made from odd pieces also interested the Queen, and one of the demonstrators who goes round the country visiting the institutes, explained how some pretty shoes for children haa been made. Chairs from casks were another thrift exhibit, and aprons for field work made from sugar sacks. These came from Lincolnshire, wJiere there are three federations. Queen Mary was much attracted by a child's bedstead, beautifully carved from sweet, chestnut wood cut from a tree in the garden of a member living at Westerham, Kent. This bed, together with the bedding, coverlets, a chair, a dressing-table, and a rug. was the combined work of women living in the villages of West Kent. Her Majesty's purchases were an embroidered cushion and a set of raffia baskets. On leaving. Queen Mary said that she thought the design of the exhibits had greatly improved this year, and that the staging of the whole exhibi-' tion was belter than in previous years.