Swindon in the Past Lane

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/

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 seventh seller is ‘Crafted by Ruth’ and she will be selling crafts, jewellery, decoupage items and paintings. Ruth says: I started painting on retiring from work a little over 3 years ago although sewing and beading is something I have always enjoyed. The decoupage items have increased over time and is very relaxing. Ruth recently took part in the Swindon Open Studios and exhibited her work at Willows Counselling Service on Prospect Place alongside Marilyn Trew and Lisa Lane where they saw more than 60 art-lovers come through their doors on the first Saturday. You can see some examples of Ruth’s artwork here  http://community.saa.co.uk/art/artist/23980874.html… For more information about the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale see Swindon Suffragette.

If you have a sweet tooth you’ll want to check out Ceri’s Cupcakes, our sixth seller. We asked Ceri about her motivation and experience: I have two passions in life; cars and cakes (apart from my gorgeous family of course!). I have come to the realisation that I will unfortunately never be a racing car driver so I have decided to concentrate on baking and decorating cupcakes instead (much to the annoyance of my waistline!). I gave up my career as a Showroom Manager at a local sports car dealership after giving birth to my beautiful daughter Leah in May 2015. I really wanted to be with her as much as possible and returning to work full time was really not as appealing as spending all day with my little girl, watching as she develops into a bright, inquisitive child who seems to learn and develop new skills every day. I thought long and hard about what I could do to try and bring in some extra pennies and then one day I went to my local WI meeting where we had a cupcake decorating d...

Another update on the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale November 12 Christ Church Community Centre. For more information visit the Swindon Suffragette facebook page. Our second seller is Cynara Jewellery and owner Rosie Leather told us the following about herself and her jewellery. I learnt silversmithing whilst living in north India in 2014 and I now work with many different materials including precious and semi-precious metals, epoxy resin and clay in my home studio in Swindon. In the past 18 months I have developed a style that is based on natural forms and textures. I enjoy recreating and capturing organic textures; playing with contr ast to present them in an original way. For example in my collection of brooches, I have set foraged seaweed from the wild Jurassic coast in clear epoxy resin. The resin frames and accentuates the coarseness of the seaweed, whilst making it more vibrant and wearable. In my metalwork, I hand forge rings, pendants and earrings from sterling...

You will soon be seeing our beautiful poster (designed by Swindon Heritage editor Graham Carter) round town, advertising the Women's Exhibition and Craft Sale on November 12. And in March 1909 members of the WSPU were busy organising their Women's Exhibition too. ‘Just before her arrest and imprisonment for taking part in the deputation to the Prime Minister on February 24, Mrs Pethick Lawrence was at work on a beautiful piece of embroidery in the colours intended for the Woman’s Exhibition. And Mrs Pankhurst, having a long railway journey before her between two meetings, considered what she could do for the Exhibition, and, following Mrs Lawrence’s example, also plied her needle at embroidery. With the leaders of the movement thus filling in every spare moment in working for the cause they have so much at heart, it is not surprising that the rank and file follow suit. And at the present moment, with one of its leaders and many brave comrades in prison, and, in co...