May 2026
The Group have spent the last two sessions revisiting the use of felt and painting pottery at Clay Art on the Barbican. It's a good way to use up a stash and also kind donations which come our way. It's amazing how inventive we can be making attractive brooches. Hope it may give you some inspiration!!

January 2025
Christmas is always a busy time for Craft Group. After all the makes throughout the year, we are having a break in January to give us a chance to reflect and think about planning for 2026. Having run the Group for a number of years, the challenge is to come up with something new and original. I notice that there are so many Craft Fayres being held locally and therefore we need to up our game!! Our members will rise to the challenge I'm sure.

The small workshop at the Christmas General Meeting generated a bit of interest and we raised £25 to be donated to a Children's Hospice in Devon. Thanks, Jan, for taking some photos and also to those of you who had a go at the serviette flowers!

With so many more members joining Plymstock u3a, I do urge any of you who enjoy dabbling in some craft to think about starting another group. Although I have a waiting list, it's a popular group and it's rare to have a vacancy. All we do is have a look on You Tube and Pinterest to get ideas, it's really not that difficult. Often one of our members will make a suggestion and together we research and find out how to do it. Perhaps a group could begin with members bringing their own ideas (knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, macramé, weaving) and share with others. You will find the social side of crafting so beneficial. We started with very basic ideas and have progressed over time. Please contact me if you and maybe a friend are thinking about a new group, I am happy to give any tips /advice.

Some of our ideas for the coming year - air dry clay with gold leaf, knitted novelty chocolate covers, bottle lights with a difference, paperback book craft, resin crafts, playing card holders etc

December 2025
2025 has been a good year for the Craft Group. We have enjoyed trying so many different and sometimes challenging makes (they don't always go smoothly).

I have included a messy photograph of the soaps in silicone moulds just to show you a part of the process. We begin with a block of what they call 'Melt and Pour' Goats milk soap. The block is cut into very small cubes and melted very slowly (microwave or saucepan). It gets to a high temperature very quickly, avoiding boiling. Essential oil is added, colouring and any other additions to enhance the soap (we used poppy seeds). It sounds easy, but the soap can go 'lumpy' and too many additives can spoil the process. However, it is something you can try at home.

November 2025
We have been busy this year trying new projects. Soap making was a challenge and took a while to get the right consistency, but it was well worth our efforts. Mainly due to the patience of Kate and Elaine who took turns to keep the stirring going!

2025 started off with going back to basics.  The Group are delving into the age-old pastime of embroidery.  Each member has created their own design and using a variety of stitches we are enjoying sitting round a table stitching and chatting. 

For our March session, we visited Clay Art on Southside Street.  What fun creating and painting designs on pottery, to then be fired in their kilns.  I think the Great Pottery Showdown has inspired us all!