www.nadfas.org.ukNADFAS REVIEW / AUTUMN 2010 59SOCIETIES NEWSPewsey learns the art ofTurkeyworkThe elegant 17th-century Merchant's House in Marlborough provided aninspiring setting for Pewsey Vale DFAS Heritage Volunteers taking part ina Turkeywork project. Turkeywork, a type of stitch originating in a villagein Asia Minor, first appeared in England in the 1500s.The project began in 2000 after the Friends of the Merchant's Housebought a Turkeywork chair from Christie's. A further 12 replica chairswere commissioned. An enthusiastic group of Heritage Volunteersattended a Royal School of Needlework training day and work on thechairs started in 2004. Volunteers attend whenever they have time toundertake the painstakingly detailed work. The public can watch them atwork when the house is open. To date, two carvers and a chair havebeen completed. Another chair is about to be delivered to the upholstererand four more canvases are being worked on. Leeds DFAS supportschildren's centreA donation from Leeds DFAS has helped to provide disabled childrenwith a free arts activity holiday. The Leeds DFAS donation, matched by funding from the Patricia FayMemorial Fund, has been used to buy art materials for Lineham FarmChildren's Centre. Every year 1,400 disabled local children benefit from abreak at Lineham Farm. A bright art room offers children the opportunityto design and make colourful items, including mosaic mirrors and batikand screen-printed T-shirts.It's been a busy year for Leeds DFAS as the Society celebrated 25years of Church Recording in April. Jane Hedley, NADFAS ChurchRecording Chairman, joined the celebrations and all nine Records thathave been produced by the Leeds group were on display. The festivitiescontinued at All Saints' Church, Otley, where members and guests took atour of the church and enjoyed a buffet tea.Kids have amonster timein RichmondSince 2008, Richmond DFAS has been workingin partnership with Orleans House Gallery tosponsor arts activities in local schools. Thelatest project was at Collis Primary School withthe artist Bessie Turner. Drawing on their studyof the effects of diet on the evolution of animals,the children designed and built monster skulls.The children's creations were wonderfullyimaginative and they also produced somebeautifully illustrated thank you letters.

High standards on show at Oakham YA exhibitionYoung artists from Rutland,together with their proudparents and teachers, crowdedto Oakham DFAS's third YoungArts exhibition. Work by morethan 150 young artists from 18schools and colleges was puton display at the event in June.Leading Oakham artist AlanOliver judged the paintings andcommented that many moreworks were worthy of prizesthan could be awarded. TheHigh Sheriff of Rutland, SarahForsyth, presented the prizes.The prize money was donatedby East Midlands Area and the Goldmark Gallery,Uppingham. 60NADFAS REVIEW / AUTUMN 2010www.nadfas.org.ukSOCIETIES NEWSIn its Young Arts programme thisyear, Windlebrook DFAS has been supporting children affected by bereavement. TheSociety has sponsored Footsteps, an organisation basedat Woking Hospice that offerstherapy to bereaved childrenthrough arts and crafts. The YoungArts programme has funded artsand crafts materials for monthlysessions at Footsteps andsponsored a drama teacher towork with the children. Footsteps leadthe way for WindlebrookHelmsley DFAS Young Arts getswith the beatHelmsley DFAS's Young Arts team haslent its support to two worthwhileprojects this year. In the spring, MikeAmatt, a presenter on TV channelCBeebies, visited a school for childrenwith special educational needs. Mikeentertained the students at Welburn HallSchool with songs, music, and larger-than-life cartoons. Audience participation was encouragedand some of the more daring studentstook part. Later on, students, staff and NADFAS members took partin a workshop, drawing andmaking shapes using colouredchalks and crayons. HMP Northallerton YoungOffenders Unit also benefited fromthe support of Helmsley DFAS. Onrequest from the Unit's music tutor,and with additional financialassistance from Wensleydale DFAS,the Society donated a pair of congadrums and stands. Right: Children at Welburn HallSchool join in with the musicalentertainment