The Tandridge Handicraft Society was founded seven years ago. Its aim is to encourage crafts in the area. The membership consists of both experts and amateurs and provides inspiration and guidance for all to create both beautiful and practical things. Some of the crafts which members are working on include patchwork, knitting, quilting, beading, tapestry (or canvas work), textile art, embroidery, appliqué, lace making and crochet.

The membership comprises all ages and the society is keen to keep the crafts alive in the Tandridge District by passing them down to younger members. It's a very lively and friendly group.

Weekly meetings are held during the school year. They last three hours. There is always someone there to help anybody who becomes stuck on a problem or who wishes to learn a new skill.

Talks & Demonstrations. Monthly talks and demonstrations are given by experts in their fields. These are well attended by members and visitors.
Fee for visitors is £3 at the door which includes tea and biscuits.

Workshops. During the year, Saturday Workshops are held when members can learn new skills.

Society Outings. Each year an outing is organised to a place of interest and inspiration for the members.

Projects. Often the Society organises a specific project for members who are interested to work on over days, weeks or months.

Where and When. The members meet every Monday from the beginning of September and the end of June between 1.30pm and 4.30pm at The Woodhouse Centre, opposite Tandridge Leisure Centre, Oxted.

Membership fee. Yearly membership fee is £43, which includes all talks and demonstrations. Visitors are invited at £3 per Monday session/talk. Please contact the Chairman for more details.

Contact
Chairman: 01883 714658

Autumn Term Programme Monday 7th September – Monday 30th November 2009

The meetings are held each Monday and include the following additional events

7th September Autumn Term starts

14th September THE ART OF EMBROIDERY a talk by Jenny Bullen, Hampton Court tutor, author and embroiderer who uses print/dye and hand stitching inspired by the landscape.

5th October AGM. Tea at 3 pm followed by AGM at 3.30 pm

26th October STAINED GLASS PATCHWORK WINDOWS a talk by Gail Lawther, an award-winning quilter who is especially well known as a teacher/demonstrator and is the author of many craft and quilting books.

9th November TO BEAD OR NOT TO BEAD a talk about bead work on canvas including theatrical anecdotes by Eliza McClelland, an actress, lecturer and author who started stitching in theatre dressing rooms.

30th November End of Term & Christmas Cheer

Spring Term Programme Monday 4th January – Monday 28th June 2010

4th January Spring Term starts

16th January SATURDAY WORKSHOP 10am–4pm. Silk Scarf Painting with John Farmelo

25th January TOKYO TO KYOTO Quilts, shibori, shrines and a Kimono. Slides, show and tell of two amazing trips to Japan by Janice Gunner, a leading textile artist particularly known for her quilting and her shibori. She was President of The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles 2005 – 2008 and is an author and tutor.

8th February CREATIVE CREWEL a talk by Thelma Cooper. Thelma is an Embroiderers' Guild member and the vice chairman of the S.E. Region of the Young Embroiderers'.

8th March GLORIOUS GLASS a talk by Philippa Martin, a contemporary artist who uses antique and float glass, acid etched, fused, slumped, painted, enamelled and silver stained glass.

April Project. FUN WITH FABRICS. Thelma Cooper

29th April (Thursday) CLUB OUTING TO Kelmscott Manor

8th May SATURDAY WORKSHOP 10am–4pm. Fabric of Nature with Janice Gunner

17th May ALL THE RAGE – 20's & 30's Lee Ault, costume historian, will be telling the story of ladies costumes in the 1920's, reflecting a new found freedom that some women found by working in the first world war, filling many male occupations. The talk will be illustrated with clothes and accessories of the period.

28th June End of Term – Usual meeting & Display of Work by members