To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - March Newsletter

It is now a year since our last meeting and still the lockdown goes on -  or as my cousin calls it lockup! Not quite, when the sun shines, we are able to go out into the garden and become excited by all the new buds, Spring flowers and birds singing. There is hope and we are beginning to be able to make some plans. We now have a date for the end of restrictions on 21st June so hopefully we will be able to have our special Afternoon Tea in the Summer, as I told you about last month, and begin our programme of demonstrations in September.

In the meantime there is still a lot happening within NAFAS.   I have just been looking at the new NAFAS website that is vastly improved with news and results of the Chairman’s Challenge and events that are happening online.

Please have a look as I am sure you will find it interesting with details of:-
The National Virtual Competition that starts on 1st April with 3 weeks of demonstrations, talks and workshops, followed by the pictures and results of the 12 competition classes. I am pleased to say that our club is represented in the competition.

Resilience and Spring Back Floral Art Demonstration by Gill McGregor that will be on Zoom so that it is just like sitting in a theatre watching Gill’s expertise with even the invitation to chat to friends and share a glass of wine and nibbles!

The Chairman’s Challenge continues with A Spring Bonnet in March. I hope you will be inspired to make one and send me a photograph.

National Flower Arranging Day 7th May. This is to inform others of our love of flowers and to encourage them to come to a Flower Club – especially ours! Members are asked to make a design to hang on a door, gate , wall or post or to go in a window  to be seen by neighbours and those passing your house.
Next month I will send you a notice to go with it explaining all about our Club.

​You may be aware that the organisation of NAFAS has experienced financial problems due to losses with National Shows but compounded by the effects of the pandemic and loss of income from affiliation fees as well as The Flower Arranger subscriptions. The Board of Directors have made the decision to sell Osborne House, the Headquarters in central London. It is a listed building in Devonshire Square with offices, meeting rooms and accommodation. This will release capital and provide funds to secure the future of the organisation. A decision on where to base our headquarters has yet to be made but changes are needed to be made to adapt to the times. Many people are sad to let Osborne House go but many club members would rather have a lively club and Area to cater for their interest and a national organisation that is suitable for present times.   If you want further information on this please give me a ring or email me.

I hope to see you before too long. Keep well, safe and enjoying all the exciting things in your gardens and on your walks,                                                                                                                                           

To all my friends at Clophill and District Flower Club - February Newsletter

The evenings are getting lighter and the Spring bulbs are now beginning to flower but as I look outside the snowflakes are swirling around. I hope that if you are ‘of an age’ that you have had your first vaccination and are feeling relieved to have a little peace of mind.  Life is still rather dull with very little on the calendar as we can’t plan for the future in these uncertain times.  All we can do is hope and look forward to the time when we can go out,  go on holiday, meet family and friends and of course go the a Club Meeting.

As I mentioned last year 2021 is our 45th Sapphire Anniversary.  It is amazing to think that in 1976 my friend Barbara Hudson and I decided to start a Flower Club. She was a demonstrator and had started Buntingford Flower Club and then moved to Clophill.  I had been flower arranging since my mother-in-law to be booked me into classes 10 years before.  We held our first meeting in the Old School in Clophill with Barbara doing a demonstration and a good number of people attended.   Barbara was Chairman until she moved to Hampshire and I took over.   Later, Judy Pitts served as Chairman until I returned to the Chair about 25 years ago!   In the early days most of us were young mothers with small children (my youngest was 50 last Saturday!) and it was good to go out and meet friends.  Some of the original members are still active in the Club, whilst others have joined over the years and we are now one of the largest clubs in the Home Counties Area.

​The Committee and I are planning to celebrate our special Anniversary in the Summer with an Afternoon Tea at the Village Hall using the outside area, as well as the facilities in the Hall.   You will be invited and we hope that by then you will feel comfortable coming to meet friends and getting back to some normality. When it is possible we will resume our programme of demonstrations.

​Some clubs and Areas are organising demonstrations and workshops online and you can find them on the new National NAFAS website – www.nafas.org.uk .  The new National Chairman Katherine Kear is continuing with her Chairman’s Challenge of which I gave details last month.   Each month she challenges all NAFAS members to create a design that is photographed and sent to Club Chairman, who passes on one entry per club to the Area, to then be forwarded to Katherine. Points are awarded to the Area and the designs are put onto the websites.  February the title is Valentine Time. March is A Spring Bonnet.  So, if this inspires you please email your photograph to me by the 20th of each month.

Thank you to Kate for sending The Flower Arranger magazine to those who have ordered it and thank you to Celia for sending my Newsletter to members each month by email and post to those without computers.

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - January 2021 Newsletter

On New Year’s Eve John and I stayed up as usual to see in the New Year but this time it was more to make sure that the old one was really behind us so that we could look forward to a better, brighter and healthier year. I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year when things will get easier,  we will have more normality and we will be able to meet again at our Club.

The Year has begun well in spite of the new lockdown. This afternoon I have taken an old friend for her second vaccination at the Health Centre in Shefford. This is a positive sign even though we are all feeling very restricted. This week we have company as we have my son’s cockapoo, Marmite, to stay – you can guess what colour he is! He is such a joy, very entertaining and affectionate and keeps us active with long walks each morning. I will miss him next week when he goes home but we will still go for our walks hoping we may meet some friends on the way.

This evening, 7 January, should have been our Club AGM at the Village Hall when we reflect on the past year and look forward to the new one, with a glass of sherry and some tasty nibbles provided by Joan ( the mince pie lady). Of course, that isn’t happening but I can assure you that as soon as we are able we will start again with the Programme organised by Joan P,  the same excellent Committee and no subscriptions to pay, as you paid them last year

 




I am delighted to tell you that Linda O’Toole, one of our very talented members won 3rd Prize in the Area Christmas Competition with her exhibit entitled ’It’s Christmas’.  I was very proud of her again and she represents the Club very well.

​
Incidentally, she and her husband light up their whole house at Christmas for charity and Father Christmas entertains the children. They were busy every evening and raised over £13,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.   Well done Linda – that was amazing.

​

The new National Chairman Katherine Kear is very keen to get us to be creative and has organised a Virtual National Show in April.  I am attaching the Schedule and all the details, see below.  There are some lovely classes and it is ‘stress free’ as you can create at home and submit a photograph of your entry.  

​Katherine has also introduced her Chairman’s Challenge.  Each month we are given a title and each club chooses one entry to be sent to the Area Chairman to then be sent to the National Chairman and points are awarded each month to each Area.  It can be an arrangement or a collection of items in an assemblage.  The title for January is Burn’s Night, so if you would like to have a go on behalf of our Club please let me know as I think it would be good to take part.

Class 1 FIRST BLUSH OF DAY An exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60cm, Height 90cm

Class 2 A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE An exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60cm, Height optional

Class 3 SIMPLE BEAUTY An exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60 cm, Height optional

Class 4 AS YOU LIKE IT An exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60cm, Height optional
Confined to members who have never entered a NAFAS National Show

Class 5 EQUINOX An exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60cm, Height 90cm

Class 6 ADORNED BEAUTY A Craft Exhibit of floral jewellery
Space allowed: Width 45cm, Depth 45cm, Height optional

​Class 7 A MOMENT IN TIME A Still Life exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 40cm, Height unlimited

Class 8 SPRINGTIME An exhibit
8a) 7 - 12 years of age
8b) 13 - 17 years of age
Space allowed: Width 30cm, Depth 30cm, Height optional

Class 9 A NEW AWAKENING A Petite exhibit
Space allowed: Width 25cm, Depth 25cm, Height 37cm
In this class ONLY, please include in the photograph a recognised coin
such as the £1, $1, or €1, to indicate the sense of scale.

Class 10 BELOW THE SURFACE An exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60cm, Height 90cm

Class 11 TRANSFORMATION An exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60cm, Height optional
The only rules are that plant material must be in water retaining material

Class 12 GEOMETRICAL CONVERSATION An Exhibit
Space allowed: Width 60cm, Depth 60cm, Height optional

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - December Newsletter



Last week we should have all been together for our special Christmas Demonstration with Lee Berrill and having a glass of mulled wine and some of Joan’s delicious mince pies to get us in the Festive mood. Once again that has been postponed and we will have to wait a bit longer. At least there is some light at the end of the tunnel and HOPE that things may get back to near normal.  In the meantime I will continue to keep in touch and give you some updates.

In November the Area AGM was held via Zoom. This enabled all the Clubs to meet and listen to the reports from the Area Officers. Of course all the exciting events that we planned for 2020 were postponed or cancelled but hopefully they will take place next year. Everyone was encouraged to enter the Area Christmas Competition that is online and the entries are being judged this week. I hope there was more than one entry from Clophill!  
The results will be on the Area website:  flowershomecounties.com



​Everyone is missing watching a Christmas demonstration so I am attaching details of a special event by Gill McGregor. It is on Zoom and takes place in a theatre, featuring Gill fantastic designs and I understand the stage looks amazing at the end.. All the details are on Gill’s website. Unfortunately you won’t be sitting with all your friends and you will have to make your own mince pie!!

We are spending Christmas at home this year on our own as my family have other ‘ bubbles’ or there is too much risk with grandchildren all at University. It will be different but we will still have a lovely time.

To get in the festive mood I have been decorating my house more than usual and John is brilliant with fixing up lights, in fact he calls it ‘Santa’s Grotto’ but in a tasteful way.   




​

 
​As my Christmas message to you I am sharing some of my decorations.



I think we can all look forward to next year with more hope and as soon as the Committee
feels it is safe to do so we will resume our monthly meetings. 
In July 2021 we will celebrate the Club’s 45th Anniversary and,  in August, 
​the Area’s Diamond+1 Anniversary with a very special Afternoon Tea.
We all need things to look forward to.

Wishing you and your families a very peaceful Christmas and a safe and healthy year in 2021.
With my best wishes
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club
​

Christmas Cheer and Creativity
 
You need to go on my website www.gillmcgregor.com - you will hear the trailer as you scroll down.
 
After the trailer there are boxes weeks 48-51 if you click on a box they will see dates and times when there are performances available. Just like going to the theatre.
 
If you wish to attend a performance they click on the button add to cart and then pay for the ticket.


 
After the purchase of a ticket there are 2 steps to follow:
 
1/ A link will be sent to you so you can download the latest Zoom app(which is free) e.g.
https://us02web.zoom.us/..................... to click on. It usually downloads very quickly. This  link also gives them access to their login details for the meeting event, which will be an ID and Passcode.
 
2/ On the day of the performance start the zoom program and click join meeting and follow the steps using your email address you joined zoom with , the bespoke performance meeting  ID and Passcode you will be able to  enter into the performance (no earlier than)half an hour before the show starts (start video, start audio).
 
PLEASE NOTE: You should only attempt to join the event half an hour before the appointed date and time – not at the time you receive the email with the booking details.
 
Attendance is one ticket per person per performance as this is also a fund raising event for 2 Cancer related Charities. Each £7 ticket purchased will provide a £1 donation to the Nightingale Cancer Support Centre, Enfield and a further £1 to Cancer Research UK, 2 charities, close to my heart, who need support.
 
When you arrive you can see and chat to audience members and once the show starts we ask you to mute yourself , much like a real world event, no phones ringing etc.
 
Have your favourite nibbles and tipple ready to enjoy the performance.
​

*************************************************************************
Home Counties Area of NAFAS
Christmas Competition

An exciting new event to inspire your creativity ready for Christmas.
We are holding an on-line flower arranging competition for members of Home Counties.

Entries should be emailed to Rekha Naidoo  (Media Officer)
to the email address below by 30th November.

The photographs will be collated into a file and sent numbered anonymously
to Lesley Sturdy who will judge them.
 The winners will be informed and the results will be published on the Area website.

The Title:  ‘It’s Christmas Time’

An exhibit:  Fresh plant material should predominate but artificial material is permitted.
Size:  60cm x 60cm x 90 cm height
The design should be photographed with a plain background.
 
Please email to homecountiesflowers@gmail.com  by 30th November
using Christmas Competition as the Subject
Please include your name, telephone number and your Flower Club

​*************************************************************************​

​You may remember that one of our members Linda O’Toole was very successful in the photography Competition at the National Show last year with pictures of her creative work. She has recently gained a First Prize in another National Photography Competition that was announced at the online AGM. It was a surprise to hear our Club mentioned and a surprise for Linda too!

​The Flower Arranger magazine for the Winter and Christmas has now been delivered. It is packed with ideas and information. It is now the time to renew the subscriptions through the Club. The special member’s rate is £12.80 for 4 issues. If you would like to receive this excellent publication please contact Kate or me.

​John and I had a really relaxing holiday in Scotland and Northumberland, in beautiful surroundings and places to walk. It helped to set us up for the Winter and whatever may happen in the next few months.  It is a shame we will be missing our Christmas demonstration but of course we must keep safe.

With my very  best wishes
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club​

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - September Newsletter

Here is my latest update to keep you informed, to let you know that you are not forgotten and one day we will meet again as we have always done to share our love of flowers and also friendship. The days are getting shorter and things are still not looking good but I hope my news will give you some hope and things of interest.

In August the Committee met for the first time since February. We had a lovely afternoon in Ann S’s garden – socially distanced of course. We began with Pimms and lots of chat.  Then we held a meeting to discuss Club matters, followed by a delicious afternoon tea. We discussed future meetings and decided that the Club will not resume until February 2021 at the earliest due to the Covid-19 restrictions and the risks to all our members. Joan has rebooked most of this year’s demonstrators in 2021 and 2022, so you haven’t missed them!  Our Charity fund that we had started at the beginning of 2020 will be carried over to next year.

I know that some clubs in Home Counties Area have begun to meet but they have fewer members and larger halls than us but now I think the latest restrictions will make a difference to their plans. The Area has now got a new website flowershomecounties.com. Please look on it for all the latest news and the Area News (usually a booklet) is now published on there.

​

Last weekend the Club was asked to do wedding flowers for
a small wedding.  Two members,  Ann S. and I spent
Friday morning in Silsoe Church arranging blue, yellow and
white flowers for a rustic styled wedding.


We all enjoyed to be arranging and working together.
This is the beautiful pedestal that Ann S. created.

​
The profits will be donated to the Club funds for our charity fund.

           


​                                                                                                                          
​Noreen, one of our active members, has challenged us to make
an Autumn wreath or something seasonal that gives us pleasure.
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                           
 This is her design.
               
                                                                                         
If you are inspired to make something please send me a picture 
so we can put it on our Club website                
                                                                                                                           

​

                                     
Linda, another very talented member, has been busy
during 'lockdown' making tiaras and necklaces using
dried plant material.

                                    
They are absolutely beautiful as you can see
( although rather small!!)


​

​Take care and keep safe.     With my very best wishes    
 Carolyn                                                         
 Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club                                                                  

To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club  -  August Newsletter

Here we are yet another month without meeting, but August is the only month when we don’t normally meet as it is a time for holidays and meeting up with families. I hope you are beginning to see more people and having days out and even venturing on a holiday.  I am so pleased that many of our members have visited Coton Manor Gardens after my last letter – in fact I think I should get some commission!  Thank goodness for our gardens, plants and flowers.

I am still unsure when we will be able to resume our Club meetings. One problem we have is that it will be difficult to socially distance 75+ members in the Village Hall. I would love to welcome everyone but would hate to restrict numbers or anyone to feel uncomfortable.  One day it will be possible and we will be able to flourish again.

I am still busy dealing with issues and uncertainty about NAFAS as COVID-19 has forced re-organisation at Headquarters. Our Area has agreed to pay a proportion of the Affiliation fees in order to keep clubs affiliated but will not be asking Clubs or members for Affiliation fees for 2020 in order to help smaller clubs. Therefore, there will be a reduction in our subscription for existing members, like you, next year to compensate for a losing a year of fun, friends and flowers.

In the meantime we will continue to keep in touch. I am sure you are aware we keep this website updated regularly. If you have an item of interest that you would like to share please send it to me by email and I will put it on the website and Facebook page.  Home Counties Area is launching a new website later this month, so check that for more information from a wider view – www.flowershomecounties.co.uk .    NAFAS is also having a new website designed, as this is recognised as the way to communicate in the future.   So, watch this space!!
​
We don’t have to rely on social media as NAFAS continues, even through lockdown, to publish The Flower Arranger magazine. This is always full of ideas, inspirations and news for all those interested in floral art.  As a member you receive a discounted subscription - £12.80 for 4 issues each year. Kate will be taking orders in October and will inform you how to renew a subscription with your next copy, but information will be on our website too if you would like to begin to subscribe. It is excellent value and remains the UK’s leading magazine in Floral Design.

I am so pleased the heatwave is over and we are now getting some rain.   My garden is really drinking it up!
​                                                                                                                                     
With my very best wishes
​Carolyn
​Chairman Clophill & District Flower Club
                                                             

We are really in unprecedented times that we have never experienced before. This evening we should all be meeting again, on a lovely Summer evening to watch a demonstration by Rekha Naidoo and to meet up with friends. I know we are all missing chatting to one another, sharing news, looking at the items on the charity and sales tables and hoping to win a prize in the raffle! Once again that is not possible and at the moment we don’t know when it will be. I like to keep in touch with all of you and pass on any news.

There has been great concern for the national organisation of NAFAS during these difficult times. The CEO Steven Lane says that ‘NAFAS is facing enormous challenges that are needed to transform NAFAS into a healthy, vibrant association that members will be proud of and that will attract a new younger generation of floral designers’. These challenges are of concern to all Areas of NAFAS and the Officers of Home Counties wish to support them but recognise that there will be changes at Area level. I am your Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Area. My priority is Our Club and will ensure that it stays in excellent shape and good hands with an experienced Committee.

The Home Counties Area of NAFAS was to celebrate its Diamond Anniversary this year. Unfortunately all events that had been planned, including a Special Afternoon Tea, a trip to Cumbria and a Flower Festival at Hatfield House have been cancelled. Hopefully they will be held in 2021. Clophill and District Flower Club will celebrate our Sapphire 45th Anniversary in 2021 so we can look forward to some special Club events, when we can all be together again. You will all need new blue outfit!

I have always enjoyed our Club trips that Celia and Gillian organise. This year they have had to cancel three trips. I am sure we have all missed them and hope that we can get back on a coach and have a good day out. One of the first trips they organised was to Coton Manor Gardens, which are inspirational. Last week John and I went to visit them again for a day out. They were open, not crowded, the café was serving take away food and drinks and the toilets were open! The gardens were looking beautiful with colour themed beds of perennial plants, lots of roses and clematis, streams and ponds and many interesting areas. I can recommend a visit as it was a bit of normality, relaxing and full of ideas and of course I bought some more plants! Check the website for details www.cotonmanor.co.uk
​
I hope you are keeping well. I am sure your garden looks great. Perhaps you have tried a new hobby or skill during the lockdown but don’t forget about flower arranging. Keep looking at the You Tube videos as they are full of ideas.

​With my very best wishes
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill and District Flower Club

To all my friends at Clophill and District Flower Club - June  Newsletter

The sun is still shining, the birds are singing and everything in my garden is growing well. This is due to lots of attention and regular watering. I find that it is very therapeutic to go around in the evening and water all my special plants but it also makes me see more jobs to do the next day. I am sure you are doing the same and hoping that soon there will be some rain as we desperately need it.

This week we should be meeting again for our June demonstration but unfortunately that did not happen.  All the NAFAS clubs are waiting to hear when we can hold large gatherings of members and that will depend on the Government, the Village Hall but mainly on the confidence of all our members.  It will be ‘sometime in the future’ and I am sure we will all look forward to that.

If you are missing watching a demonstrator I can recommend the short demonstrations from the Wessex and Jersey Area of NAFAS. Each Saturday there is a new 20 minute demonstration given by National demonstrators and they are free to watch on their website. The first one is by Angela Turner using lovely rustic and natural materials – the second one is by Michael Bowyer who does a Constance Spry design and a beautiful parallel design using garden plant material. I am looking forward to the next 9 weeks that they have planned. Go to www.nafaswessexandjersey.co.uk – click on Enter site – View videos.

Each week I have a lovely friend who gives me a flower arranging challenge. I get some supermarket flowers and some random accessories that I have to incorporate into my design and then photograph it. The items have included some flower pots and a length of copper tube, some Lego and little dolls, 5 pairs of spectacles and this week 2 rubber ducks and a ceramic swan with pink roses and spray carnations. It is not easy covering little yellow ducks in silver foil to compliment the pink flowers.  Oh well – it keeps my skills up!

I would just like to end with a thought which a flower arranging friend of mine once shared with me:

“There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.  Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness, when shared, is doubled.  If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.  Today is a gift, that’s why it is called the present.”

With my very best wishes
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill and District Flower Club

Dear Members,  
We have received this information from our Area Chairman, Audrey Balderstone, to share with clubs in the Home Counties area.    I am sure many of you know Gill McGregor and she has certainly demonstrated at Clophill & District Flower Club on many occasions.  However, Gill is also on the NAFAS National Education Committee and has devised this information to help with school work.  We thought it would be good to share this with you all, please see what Gill has created:
 
Help with school work; let’s Explore and make Craft projects at home
To help entertain young children whilst schools are closed, I have devised a range of free “How to” Educational, Craft worksheets focusing on different subjects.  I originally made these for our niece’s 3 children, but as more friends asked for these worksheets; we thought they should be offered to all who are looking after young children at this time. I am developing more but currently the topics are:
 
Let’s look at . . . . .
Parrots
Frogs
Lizards
Ancient Egyptians Key Stage 2
Seahorses
The Nile Crocodile
The Farm
 
Each worksheet has facts, templates, “How to” make instructions and examples and even some written tasks and research ideas which all or some of the worksheet can be completed by young children with adult supervision.  
​Please pass this information on to anyone you think may find these work sheets useful.

​Go to my website to download the worksheets:  www.gillmcgregor.com
To share go to my Gill McGregor or Gill McGregor College Facebook pages.
To visit my website for Free flower Arranging Videos www.gillmcgregor.com
​
I hope you are all finding enjoyable the emerging colours in the garden, as well as the warm weather. To all, please keep safe and well.
Gill