Jacob's Join

The craft group from The Fold/Ground UP project had a group outing to the SAMS scrap store in Blackburn. They returned with lots of materials and ideas for future projects, and we joined them as they gathered for lunch back at the Fold.

It was an 'ideas lunch' with the community, and ideas were shared about future plans. It was also a 'Jacobs Join', which meant everyone brought food with them to share. One of the artists hadn't heard the term before, and we realised it was a specifically Northern term. If you use the phrase where you live, let us know so we can see how local it is! Wikipedia refers to 'potluck':

'A potluck is a gathering of people where each person or group of people may contribute a dish of food prepared by the person or the group of people, to be shared among the group. Synonyms include: potluck dinner, spread, Jacob's join,Jacob's supper, faith supper, covered dish supper, dish party, bring and share, shared lunch, pitch-in, carry-in, bring-a-plate, dish-to-pass, fuddle. It is also referred to as a smorgasbord or potlatch'.

We filmed some of the meet up, shared food and ideas and looked at old photographs that one of the artists was drawing inspiration from.

Our youngest lunch member was little Phoenix!

Caroline and Dave, Huckleberry Films

Sorting and Creating

After the excitement of our visit to SAMS last week, we met this week to sort though our goodies and divide the spoils.

It was a quieter session this week and was definitely affected by the school holidays and childcare needs, but we are a strong and friendly group and what began as a deliberately unplanned session became a fun and companionable creative couple of hours.

Our painted pottery was ready for collection and everyone was really happy with the final results. Half will go to Iain for his Stoops Mobile Souvenir Shop and half went home with the makers. I was so impressed by people's generosity in donating their work to the project and that everyone was enthusiastic to hear that they won't be sold for money, but exchanged for ideas, memories, songs or jokes 'more valuable than money'.

 

While we were sorting through the wool for rug making, Fi remembered that Jo at SAMS had said that the wool tufts were great for making quick and easy pom-poms. Part of our mission that session had been to support Annette with ideas for the summer of craft sessions she will be doing with children at the community centre. Excited by the possibility of quick and easy pom-poms (and who wouldn't be) we set to work creating examples for Annette to show the children and experimenting with different techniques. I remembered I had a bag of googly eyes in the boot of my car (of course) and our mini monsters/aliens/creatures came into being.

 

We've decided to have a break over summer. When we talked about holidays, childcare and other commitments it seemed to be the best idea. We will all keep seeing each other though as we have the two residencies underway and Iain will be out and about with his mobile souvenir shop.

 

Cath

Cabin Craft Group Visit to SAMS

Jo explores the many potential uses of a carpet tile

The Tuesday morning craft group took a minibus to Blackburn to visit the wonderful SAMS (Scrap Art Material Store) this week. We've been meeting for a few weeks now and it seemed like a good time to make the trip, stock up on some materials and seek inspiration. Both Jonathan and Annette make wool rugs and I know SAMS generally have the materials in stock as well as felt, which Christine fancies using to make a rug.

Right, let's split up and get the whole place covered!

Jo gave us a brief tour, explaining about the ethos of SAMS and how the majority of things they source from industry would otherwise have gone into landfill. I, and I think the group, were really inspired by what SAMS do and also the possibilites presented by the range of materials - it isn't about what it was or is now, it's about what it could be.

This could be a wig (well someone had to do it!)

Annette and Chris also picked up some resources for the summer arts and craft programme at the Community Centre and the craft group will be supporting Annette by making examples and trying out different techiniques and ideas over the summer that she can then do with the children.

Thank goodness we went in a minibus!

A couple of people couldn't make it, which was a shame, but also a relief as we bought so much stuff I doubt if we could have all fitted in on the way back.

We returned to the Fold for an al fresco jacobs join lunch and Caroline, Kelly and Caroline and Dave from Huckleberry Films joined us in the sunshine to share ideas and talk about our SAMS goodies!