Victory for quilling ... an update

Yesterday I attended the Autumn Council Meeting of the Hampshire County Federation of Women's Institutes (HCFWI) where I received an award certificate in respect of my quilled pin brooch which had been selected as one of four entries to represent Hampshire in the 2011 Inter-Counties Craft Competition for jewellery. (The other selected entries were made using beading and silversmithing techniques, so it was great to see quilling represented for the very first time!) Collectively, these four entries went on to achieve the highest score in the competition final, making Hampshire the overall winner. One of the Hampshire judges said that I had "stunned" them with my entry, adding "who would believe rolled paper could be used in this way?" I'm hoping this will help to raise the profile of quilling amongst WI members, and I already have two enquiries about bookings for demonstrations, so this is very good news indeed!!

Here's a photo of the four entries that were chosen to represent Hampshire, all on display yesterday at The Anvil theatre in Basingstoke. You can see my little pin brooch in the centre. I was so pleased that quilling had earned its place alongside such superb examples of the better-known arts of silversmithing and beading.


I had used black strips edged with gold to create my pin brooch, which you can see in more detail here against the backdrop of my award certificate. Many people asked me about the materials I used, and found it hard to believe that the piece had actually been made from paper and not rolled gold!

Yesterday's meeting filled the theatre in Basingstoke, and a huge cheer went up from my WI colleagues when my name was announced. Above the stage there was an overhead projection screen where the names of the four Hampshire winners were displayed. Alongside the names was a single photograph of one of the entries ... and I'm very proud to say that it was mine!