Swindon in the Past Lane

I have just received the most extraordinarily thoughtful present. For many years I have been researching and writing about Swindon Suffragette Edith New, who ranks as one of the most influential suffragettes along with the Pankhurst family and the Kenney sisters. She scored a number of Suffragette firsts - the first to chain herself to railings as a form of protest, the first to break a window (at 10 Downing Street, no less) and the first Suffragette to go on hunger strike in a Scottish prison. My research into the life and times of Edith New has involved giving talks and tours of the places associated with her here in Swindon and I was part of the Swindon Heritage team who installed a blue plaque on the house where she was born in North Street Swindon. Edith was born on March 17, 1877, the youngest surviving child of Frederic James New and his second wife Isabella. Frederic died before Edith's first birthday, struck by a train while walking along the railway line t...

Alongside the work of the Friends of Angel's Orphanage supporting the 21 orphaned or abandoned children under their shelter, the charity also creates projects to empower women, to increase their skills base and to give them independence so that they can support themselves and their children. In April 2015 nearly 9,000 people were killed and 22,000 injured when an earthquake measuring a magnitude of 7.8 hit Nepal. Eight million people were affected and many remain homeless a y ear on in what has been described as 'a country of tarpaulins, tents and tin roofed shacks'. We are supporting the Friends of Angel's Orphanage at the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale. Please visit their stall and if you have some spare coins, please drop them in the collecting boxes. Thank you. The Book project and the women it helps. Himalayan Adventure Girls  is a non-profit organisation with the unique purpose of encouraging young Nepale women to participate in th...

Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale next Saturday, November 12 at the Christ Church Community Centre 1-4pm. Members of the Kennet Decorative Fine Arts Society will also be exhibiting and selling at our craft sale, they are part of a national registered charity for anyone interested in art. They told us: You do not need to know anything about the arts to enjoy our varied programme of talks from Lord Byron to pub signs! The original society was started by Patricia Fay in 1965 and became a national Registered Charity ‘NADFAS’ in 1972. As well as talks, visits and days of special inter est we also volunteer to help heritage areas, locally that is St Mary’s Lydiard and The Merchant’s House Marlborough. We also support young people in art. We meet at The Ellendune Centre, Wroughton on the third Monday of the month, September to June; December is the second Monday. Refreshments are available from 10am, talks start at 11am. More information on our website:  www.kennetdfas.co.uk ...

We are on countdown to the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale, now just six days away. Meet our 18th seller Dona Bradley with her cards featuring hand-drawn landmark views of Swindon celebrating the 175th anniversary of the town. Printed without colour detail so it can be coloured by either the sender or recipient. Dona also takes commissions to commemorate events such as a graduation, a wedding, moving into a new home or another big event in life: a hand-drawn architectural portrait of the building where it happened. Dona creates the drawing by hand from photographs or sketches, colours the drawing digitally for a modern finish and adds a beautiful hand-watercoloured sky. You can then add personal elements, including text of your choice and a photograph of you, your family or your friends. See her website for more information:  http://www.dona-b-drawings.co.uk/ Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale Saturday November 12 1-4pm Christ Church Community Centre, Old Town. ...

With just a week to go until the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale here is our 17th stall holder, the ‘Friend’s of Angel’s Orphanage’ who said: Our products are handmade in Nepal by women. We buy from the women to help them stay economically viable and we sell them to make money for our 21 children. This way it is a win/win for us all including people who buy them as beautiful handmade items and help women and children across the world. Please see the website  http://angelsorphanage.com/  or search on facebook to find out more about the orphanage and the work being done to support them. Come and see all our fantastic sellers at Christ Church Community Centre, Swindon next week November 12, 1 - 4 pm.

Two more sellers joining the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale on November 12 are Emily May Designs and Carter Collectables. Emily says: I'm an artist with a BA Degree in illustration from Bath Spa University. I love to paint with rich colours and vibrancy whereas my illustrations are more delicate using a fine tipped pen line. If you want to buy Emily’s cards online check out her folksy store here:  https://folksy.com/shops/EmilyMayIllustrator Carter Collectables produce their own exclusive range of retro-themed decoupage craft items. These include small items of furniture, bowls, pictures, sculptures, boxes etc. Each one is handmade and therefore unique. Everything is lovingly crafted using 100% genuine and original materials such as comics, sheet music, stamps, games, dress patterns, maps etc. See the facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/CarterCollectables/

For more information about the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale visit the Swindon Suffragette facebook page. The Swindon Society will also have a stall at our sale, with a display of old photographs of Swindon and an opportunity to meet some of the team and ask them questions about Swindon’s history. From its very beginnings the Society has attempted to record the social history of the area as shown by the camera since the 1850's. The collection contains photographic material on many subjects including the GWR Swindon, Swindon Tramway system, Wilts & Berks Canal, Swindon in both World Wars, school groups, areas of the town including Old Town, Gorse Hill, Rodbourne, surrounding villages and much more. The collection now numbers 15,000 plus images and is used to illustrate presentations to local groups. For more information see the website  http://theswindonsociety.co.uk/  or search facebook. The Swindon Society in action!

Seller number 14 is Tikara’s Trinkets selling miniature, framed, cross stitches; wire and bead jewellery; and dreamcatchers. Tikara says: I create handmade, individual pieces, using a range of materials and textile processes. Handmade dreamcatchers, created with crocheted doilies, coloured wools and glass beads- a perfect gift for any occasion. Quirky, twisted wire, and bead jewellery, for people who like to stand out from the crowd! Miniature, framed, cross stitches, inspired by superheroes and unicorns! Can also be made to order, with a name and design of choice. I enjoy combining traditional and contemporary textile processes, to create beautiful, one-off, items, for both the home and person. For more information see her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Tikaras.Trinkets/ Meet Tikara at the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale November 12 1-4pm Christ Church Community Centre.

For more information about the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale visit the Swindon Suffragette facebook page. Lucky number thirteen is Gill Thomas Art with original art featuring contemporary botanicals and animals – both humorous and pet portraits; greetings cards and prints. Gill told us: I started painting properly about 11 years ago when I joined an evening class to learn how to paint watercolours. One evening the tutor gave me a picture of an anemone to paint and suddenly the flood gates opened - botanical art became my passion! Since then I've attended lots of courses with  professional artists and practised, practised, practised. My preferred media are watercolours and acrylics, on paper, on canvas and on vellum which is very special. My take on the subject is modern and a little bit different which you'll see if you look at the examples in the website  www.gillthomasart.com  I have recently undertaken pet portraits and these are a delight – I know that I’...

Yet another talented craftswoman who will be at the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale November 12 at the Christ Church Community Centre. Visit the Swindon Suffragette facebook page for more information. Seller number twelve is Dappled Dandy, with upcycled items for the home such as frames and trays, handmade candles in vintage glassware and upcycled furniture, who says: Inspired by 30 years of designing and creating a home for the family, I have now developed into upcycling furniture, and creating one-off pieces, for the home. Using a range of self-taught decorating techniques, I turn old, unwanted pieces into something new and unique, but without losing their individual style. These are pieces I would love in my own home and would be honoured for others to want them in theirs. You can see more by searching facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dappled-Dandy-1130329263657344/

For more information about the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale visit the facebook page Swindon Suffragette. Poppy Seed Kitchen is our tenth seller providing handmade, bespoke wooden height charts; relaxation gift sets; delicate clay butterfly artwork, and personalised work. Sammi told us: I started Poppy Seed Kitchen after having my first daughter, Poppy, and wanted to spend as much time as I could at home. I left my job in Clinical Trials, moved to Swindon and started Poppy Seed Kitchen as more of hobby than anything else. It’s now become more than a hobby and I love creating bespoke items for families all over the UK and coming up with new and exciting ideas. But more importantly, it has given me the opportunity to take control of my own life and given me a bit of ‘me’ time back. If you can’t make our sale you can buy through etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PoppySeedKitchen…

Latest update on the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale taking place at Christ Church Community Centre on November 12. The ninth person joining us is Marilyn Trew who will be selling paintings, crafts, decorated stones, plaques and greetings cards. She most recently exhibited her work as part of the Swindon Open Studios. Marilyn says: My inspiration comes from nature, I love colour and form. I like to experiment with different techniques just to test myself! I live in Wiltshire with my husband and I like gardening, reading, walking and seeing other creative folk at work. To see some of her work please visit her website: http://www.marilyntrewart.com/ Stop press: Marilyn may also have some Edith New portraits painted by members of an art class she supports.

Our Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale takes place at Christ Church Community Centre on November 12. For more details visit Swindon Suffragette . Here is a brief profile of one of the sellers who is taking part. Witchy Crafty, our eighth seller says: This is the first time that I have ever tried to sell items that I have made. I have been producing art and crochet items for many years now so many in fact that I need to sell some. If my items prove to be popular then I will look into selling more. I’ve lived in Swindon and the Swindon area for over 30 years now. I have three children and am a reasonably active feminist. She will be selling arts and crafts crochet, tea cup candles, jewellery and original art works so do look out for her stall on the 12th November.