Wessex Quiltmakers is a small (38 members) but very friendly group meeting twice a month in the Winchester area. They are coming up to their 40th birthday so the Chairman's challenge was "Nearly 40", resulting in many small quilts depicting just that - numbers, not quite 40 small blocks, etc.

There were about 25 or so large quilts hung in the centre of the space and were varied in style, almost all traditional, and very colourful, with a variety of hand, self-machined and long-arm quilted. They made a very pleasing display on entering the hall.

The group supports Linus and their main distribution is to Southampton Hospital. There were many (60/70) little quilts hung around the upper balcony rail of the hall, again making a very col-ourful display. Their raffle was in support of SERV Wessex, which is an emergency blood deliv-ery service provided by volunteers.  

There were two traders, one of which, Pins and Needles from Grayshott near Guildford, was too tempting to resist - well at £6 per metre and two metres for £10 of very good fabric ..... For the stash, of course!

There was the usual array of home-made delicious cakes etc., plus a stall of makes by members, similar to our gadgets table, and second-hand books. I did buy a small book which will come in handy for this Tuesday's meeting!

Altogether a very enjoyable day - not too hot - including meeting two sisters whose parents lived in a road very close to me but moved to Hampshire in the thirties and another woman whose daughter lives in Sydenham. Small world and chatty quilters.