On Saturday Merete and Sandy swiftly dispatched the AGM duties (and I'm sure a few efficient Danes would be a help in Westminster!) so we could get to the exciting and enjoyable part of the day with Mary Crabb.

Mary introduced us to her career from her childhood influences through to her discovery of traditional willow basketry and on to the contemporary and innovative work that she produces today.

Sadly for us we were unable to see some of her most recent pieces but this is because they are currently on show at Horsham Museum until December.

After lunch we began the practical workshop where we learnt the basics of the twining technique to create flat pieces or even 3-d vessels.

I was so busy during the workshop, and enjoyed myself so much that I forgot to take photographs during the session. If I get a moment I'll take a snap of my attempts and post them. Please send me any pics of creations made or developed from the session ... Thanks, Jane.

The final outing for the Whatever floats your boat... exhibition was to the National Needlework Archive in Newbury where they had 160 paying visitors, plus numerous others who attended the Archive as volunteers or for the various workshops and sewing clubs that take place there. The Archive were so happy with our exhibition that they would like to have new work from our group in the future.

Some of the visitors were part of organised groups, including sixteen from Oxford Quilters' on 12th October. Sheila Dunscombe, Ros Crouch and Kate Murrell are exhibiting artists in the show and are also Oxford Quilters' and so were able to talk about the project and their pieces to the rest of the group. They also came prepared with relevant props such as research sketch books and photos and Sheila took the dolls shoes and patchwork coverlet that inspired her work.

Also at the Archive is the 'The Country Wife' mural by Constance Howard and the group enjoyed the talk about its restoration.