Wanganui has started the year well with our three groups meeting weekly.  Our Monday evening group does mainly embroidery, Wednesday evening patchwork and embroidery and the Friday morning ladies do mainly embroidery.   

Last year seemed to go very quickly (don't they all!) but we had a variety of classes.  One of our members taught us to make a 'Poser' bear in February and then Daphne Chambers, Hawera, took a blackwork class in March.  At our March workday Carol taught us how to make a pinecone Christmas decoration.  A carload of ladies went to Ashley Park in March for a regional weekend (always good fun) and then in May Diane Lithgow, from Stratford, took a beading class in beaded Christmas decorations. 

Our regional workday was held at St Peter's Church Hall this year in June which went very well with about 70 ladies attending from around the region. 

In July two of our members went to ANZEG Conference at North Shore.  This was excellent - great venue, great classes and great fellowship.  We are now looking forward to going to Gore next year. 

In August we hosted Siân Martin, who was here from Great Britain.  She had classes over four days in wrapping and drawn thread. Very exciting and different. We had a ribbon embroidery class in August and our own exhibition in October. We had over 100 people go through in just the one day. We will do the same this year. 

Our members have been working on all sorts of projects - stumpwork, cross stitch, samplers, patchwork and appliqué etc.  At our AGM in November we had some lovely pieces presented - every one different in the annual challenge, which this year was an outline shape which could be interpreted in any way or technique.  

This year we have already organised a traditional goldwork class which one of our experienced members, Valda Dixon, will take.  

Shirley Watkins