CRAFTS -- Over the three days of the recent bank holiday weekend, members of the Golden Valley Craft Society staged an exhibition in Skenfrith Parish hall. The craft society has been coming to Skenfrith for several years, sometimes twice a year. Members of the group like coming to Skenfrith, so they tell us, even though it is often quiet. This year there were one or two new members, which made it more interesting for everyone. Longtown Spinners and Stitchers have joined the craft society and their stall was full of interesting items. Two of the spinners manned their stall on each of the three days and interested children and young people were allowed, even encouraged, to have a go on the spinning wheel. Their faces were a picture of concentration! They all did well and were thrilled to have a piece of wool spun by themselves to take home. There were some lovely items for sale, many rather different from the usual run of things. One of the group was spinning a lovely creamy coloured fibre that turned out to be Soya, it felt much like silk. Apart from the Longtown Spinners, John Fitzpatrick had a display of his 'pictures from nature', using leaves and seed-heads mounted on fragments of hand made paper. This description doesn't do John's work justice. Maureen Brereton had some of her beautiful silk scarves on display, Mary Bagley had bead necklaces and decorated items for sale, there were furry animals and bears and hand puppets, sitting alongside kits for making felt. Graham Maxwell, who always has interesting items in wood, had several intriguing clocks, pot-pourri bowls and beautiful smooth wooden fruits. Geoff Hollom, who used to make wooden toys and sea-grass stools and chairs, has diversified into photography, producing some very striking cards. His wife also had a stall with cards and pictures using fleece and felt. Another exhibitor makes small, padded patchwork quilts for babies and pretty, decorative items such as a horseshoe for a bride. During the three days of the exhibition, members of the hall committee and friends made sandwiches and served tea-cakes. Business was not exactly brisk but even so it was a pleasant weekend and good to see the Golden Valley people in Skenfrith again.