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This was written in
2007
so is now very dated
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Chapters |
A new library had been built close to where we live and the librarian felt that the walls were rather bare. She asked if we would be prepared to exhibit one or two of our hangings in the library, and change them every few weeks. We readily agreed and went to look at the space where she wanted them. When we got there we discovered that this modern library did not have flat walls. The large circular brick pillars would certainly have benefited from being adorned but it was impossible to hang something on a pole, four or five feet long, on a curved surface. We explored all the possibilities, such as the metal struts that went into the roof but there was nowhere that we could reach that would be suitable. The librarian was still very keen to display the hangings and had a change of plan. The library also had a balcony area that was used for a variety of purposes. In a storeroom she had several large display boards and they could be brought onto the gallery area. We arranged to go back the following weekend to put up a display which would stay for a month.
We left about twelve pieces hanging there for the month then got another phone call asking if we could leave them for another month. We agreed.
A week or so later, we got home one evening and answered the phone to a very excited man who insisted he was coming to see us immediately. Steve had to go back to school for a Parents’ Evening but this did not deter him. He still wanted to come to see me. He would not be persuaded otherwise. All we knew for certain was that his name was Mark Barnes, he had been to the library, he was something to do with the British Hand Knitting Confederation, and he was bringing his secretary with him.
Steve went off to school and, a few minutes later I got the first surprise. I had pictured the companion as a lady who was coming along to take notes but the secretary tuned out to be a rather elderly gentleman who was the Company Secretary. The two men were equally excited. Mark said he had no idea why he had come but he was so excited by what he had seen he had to know more. He was convinced that he could do something to help us and that we could work together in some way.
We spent the entire evening discussing what we had done in the past and what we had lined up for the future and eventually they left with several booklets and photographs to take back to other members of the Confederation. Over the next few days there were many phone calls and emails and the outcome was that Mark would arrange for free yarn and needles for any school who wanted to make their own wall-
It all worked well in our heads but we had been working like this for years and had to be sure that it was equally easy for anyone who had not seen what we did, how we did it, or what the outcome might be. Enter Julie!
18a. AFGHANS & MATHGHANS