Cambridge Quilters have their Christmas party on Wednesday 14th December from 7.30pm at the Recreation Ground hall.
Membership is inclusive and ranges from absolute beginners to professional quilters, with their work ranging from traditional to modern quilting and everything in between.
Please email marion.curtis@ntlworld.com for more information.
Cambridge Quilters have a Zoom talk on Wednesday 9th November at 7pm.
Gillian Travis’s “A Journey in Stitch” will lead us around the world illustrated with photos of her work. Images from her travels inform her research into ethnic embroidery and often develop into new quilts using fabric, paint and stitch.
Visitors can attend the meeting at the cost of £5 payable on the door.
Cambridge Quilters are holding a Bring and Buy Sale on Wednesday 14th September at 7.30pm at the Recreation Ground hall.
Turn out those cupboards and drawers, bring along unwanted fabric, books, gadgets etc. Have a coffee and catch-up with friends.
The recent Bank Holiday Fun Day at Histon Smokehouse saw ten year old Cece Southgate launch Cece’s Accessories, her personally designed range of jewellery, and at the same time raise hundreds of pounds for charity. Amanda Borrill caught up with Cece to hear how it all began.
The middle child between her two brothers Barnaby and Rex, ten year old Cece has lived in Histon since she was just four months old. A student at Histon and Impington Junior School (now Brook Primary) she heads this autumn into her final year there. Creative and artistic, it seems Cece’s passion for making has always been a big part of her life and the opportunity to showcase her work and help her favourite charity, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), has brought her great joy. Cece takes up the story:
“When I was younger, I wanted to be an inventor and I’ve always had my own tools and liked taking things apart and putting things back together. I also love any kind of art and crafts. One day this year, I was off school sick and I decided to start making some beaded bracelets which I sold to some friends and family. Then, from doing that, I realised that I could make other things. My grandparents sent me some silver chain and I got some cute sweetie charms, clip-on backs and a whole jewellery making kit with earring hooks, jump hoops and lobster clasps for Christmas.
“I started making necklaces, bracelets and clip-on earrings for fun. Then, a few months ago, I started looking in charity shops for charm jewellery in good condition that I could take apart and make into new pieces of jewellery. I especially love to find things I can turn into something else that someone can wear – it gives them a whole new life. I steal a lot of my mum’s old jewellery and both my aunties have said they’ll send me some as well. It feels good to recycle as it’s better for the environment. Lots of my friends, and my mum’s friends, liked my accessories and that’s where the idea for having a stall came from!’
Supporting the Independents
For several months now, community spirited Simon Morrice of Histon Smokehouse has been hosting a variety of independent pop ups behind the Smokehouse. A keen supporter of fellow independents, when approached by enthusiastic young entrepreneur Cece about a stall at the planned Bank Holiday event, he not only warmly welcomed her in but offered to donate the usual stall fee to a charity of her choice. Simon told me: “Cece was an inspiration at the Fun Day – her business acumen and determination to succeed is phenomenal. She helped raise several hundred £s for EACH. Her parents must be very proud”.
Read also: working-from-home-is-so-2020-this-is-the-year-of-the-shed/
Future Maker
I visited Cece and her mum at the stall on Sunday and was surrounded by others all equally keen to browse her colourful and unique creations. Totally unphased by the many visitors to her stall, Cece quickly and very capably tailored three charms into different length necklaces for my own teenage daughter and it was obvious this young girl is one to watch.
I asked Cece what she enjoyed most about this creative hobby:
“I’m lucky that I get to share my mum’s garden office. I have a making desk in there with all my tools and bits and bobs and I can get really messy and creative (though she does make me tidy it up a lot too!). I really enjoy the whole process of making jewellery, looking at an old piece and seeing which bits will make a nice charm on a new chain, or beads for a pair of earrings and I find it really easy and satisfying to take things apart and make something pretty. I have spent most of this summer making jewellery in there!”
Big Ambitions
Having taken this one small step into the world of business, Cece has no intention of stopping there and talks are underway for bigger steps in the months ahead:
“I’d love to keep selling my jewellery to friends and at the Smokehouse and would love to have a jewellery business when I’m older too. When I first asked about running a stall at the Smokehouse and said that I would donate a portion of the profits to charity, I also asked Simon if there could be a Kids Day, maybe in half term where all the stalls are run by local children who make their own stuff. He said it was a great idea and we are currently having discussions so watch this space! It would be so much fun to sell alongside other kids too!’
Going on to sum up what she enjoyed most about her her experience at the Fun Day, Cece enthused:
“I had so much fun running my own stall at the Smokehouse. It was hard work as it was very busy – I took a book but didn’t have any time to read it! I loved knowing that every sale was making money for EACH. Alan and Zoe who ran the Scalextric stand also kindly donated their profits and Smokehouse owner Simon donated all stall fees from the entire event! We raised £354 for EACH, and I can’t wait to present them with their cheque!
“I really loved helping people find what they were looking for, making things on the spot for people was fun too as I took my making trolley with all my tools and spare materials. And I really loved the free milkshake from Smokehouse that I got in the afternoon!”
Cece’s Accessories is on Instagram. You can follow her here.
Smokehouse stalls run every week Fridays – Sunday. More information can be found on their website or Facebook. To book a stall, email smokestalls@gmail.com