Wednesday 10th December 2014 - Christmas Celebrations at TOG

Hi Everyone, hope you enjoyed yourselves.

For those who were unable to attend let me tell you we had a real fun afternoon.

A team of volunteers treated us to a superb lunch.

Others prepared the room for the afternoon, giving it a very warm Christmassy atmosphere.

Nicola had a ' Live Craft ' table. She decorated personalized baubles for people to take home. We also exhibited some of the things we had done in the few weeks leading up to our ' Festive Celebration '

There was a lot of chatter, cracker bangs, silly cracker jokes, a Raffle.  All the usual delights you would expect around a Christmas table.

The ' Church Caretakers '  Yong Shik and Evelina were given a gift from TOG for being so kind to us during the year.

It was Mina's Birthday what a great way to spend a special day.

The Guitar Group performed for an hour. Everyone sang along making the afternoon go with a swing !!  Even saw a few people dancing !!  How about that !!

There is also some video footage elsewhere on the website.

Marilyn finally had a chance to play the piano. A number of people gathered around her and sang some carols'  What a great way to end T.O.G.  ' 2014 '

Memorable days like these cannot happen without our volunteers. No names..... as there are too many to mention. But a Big, BIG 'Thank You' each and every one of you for giving your time so generously.

Feliz Navidad, Prospero año y Felicidad  (Remember the Christmas Song !!!)

Happy Christmas, a Prosperous Year and Happiness xx

We are back on the  14th  January  2015.

Wednesday 26th November 2014

Nice to see a few old faces pop in to see us. After our wonderful lunch we were raring to go. 

Since it was the last day that we could do any more  ' Christmas Crafts ', we really went to town. To refresh...... In the last few weeks we have been busy making  'Hand Printed Christmas Cards '  ' Christmas Crackers '  and  ' Christmas Jewellery '  

We meet up again on the 10th of December for a ' Christmas Celebration '. 

Jennifer set up her usual ' Watercolour Class '. I managed to get a sample of Naresh's work at the end of the afternoon.  Everyone else had packed their paintings away.  Thanks Naresh for letting us exhibit your excellent painting.

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Marilyn and her team made a few more ' Christmassy Bracelets ' . We have accumulated a lovey selection to put inside our specially Tog-made ( Hand-made } crackers. Somebody will crack open a gem this Christmas!!

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David was supposed to do this next project, but he found a job. ( Good for you David hope all goes well !! ) . So, who better than mum to step in !!  Elaine had to get things together at the last moment. But, what a wonderful outcome.  ' Cake in a Mug '. was one of the highlights of the afternoon.  Chocolate cake mixture poured into a mug. Put in the microwave for 2 mins. Decorated and wrapped ready to give as a gift. Have a look!!

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And what about these for a Christmas decoration.  Pieces of colourful paper were salvaged and given to our group a while ago. Today we made them into these delightful paper baubles  Just a bit of fun on a cold grey rainy day. 

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Have a good week Toggers.   

Wednesday 19th November 2014

We had a wonderful afternoon. It was  'CRACKERS'  Yes literally!!  We made loads of Christmas Crackers. A team of us sat at a very large table and made 60 of them from scratch. It was great fun filling them up with the usual silly Christmas jokes, balloons, sweets and attaching snaps for the 'bang'. Lot's of laughter reading the jokes.

Marilyn and her team made  bits of jewellery for us to put into some of the crackers. So there will be a few people who get lucky.

Elaine and Rena made some pin cushions on the sewing machine. They seem to have made quite a few at the end of the day. Maybe they will sell them at a later date.  

Christiane brought in some pine cones to spray gold. It was quite a messy job but they looked very attractive, and will make great Christmas table decorations. Looks as though we have another project looming. 

Well as you can see we hardly had time to take a breath. 

Besides all this going on.  Jennifer made us a wonderful spread, and thanks Naresh for the ' super duper ' apple crumble. Also thanks to Mary and Ann the washing up got done. What would we do without the guys in the background!!!

Catching Up on stuff done in the last few months......with more to come.

Some Jewellery made by Hamida.  These are so delicate, so beautiful. 

David teaching us how to work with fondant icing. I think we need a few more lessons. The theme was a   'Football Field'   but it looks as though our footballers were having a day off.   You will have to come back again David!!

That's all for now fellow Toggers.

Wednesday 12th November 2014

Hi everyone hope all is Hunky-dory. Just a few words explaining the long gap.   

There have been a lot of changes. We have now acquired our own Website. Miguel is our main man. Our very own ' Website Manager ' in fact.  He has put in an awful lot of hard work getting this Website off the ground.

Lisa is also on hand to offer her expertise. She also has a lot of experience in this field, and has already been showing off her skills.

Nicola has volunteered to help with any artwork. So I think we have a great little team.  

There is still a lot to do, but everything will emerge organically ( a word we use a lot in TOG ). We do not have a structure as such. Things just happen. Good that way. NO STRESS..... Phew!

Now I'd like to tell you a little story. No! it isn't bedtime yet.....

A while ago we were into making Rag Rugs.  We have displayed them in our Art Shows. They usually take a good few months to make as they are a good size (23ins x 35ins or 50cm x 90cm). They are quite impressive and are definitely a long term project.   But.... there was this' one rug '  that seemed to go on and on forever.  I wondered if this person would give up. It took over a year to complete. The original goals weren't met but still this person would not give in. The sheer determination to finish it was admirable. Bet you are all wondering who this person was.  Well.... I can't keep it a secret any longer.  It was our very own ' Website Manager '  Miguel. And below is the finished product. The picture doesn't really do it justice.  But I can tell you this wonderful piece of work was a real achievement.

Well Done !!  

Wednesday May 14th 2014

Back with a BANG!!

People had donated some lovely items for the raffle. It was well worth buying a ticket or two, and supporting the group at the same time.

There was lots of banter during our wonderful lunch,and then back to business.

So much good work was produced this afternoon.

Sometimes I'm speechless!    Take a close look!    Toggers you are amazing! 

Working with Acrylics. This was today's subject.

Managed to capture Charlotte nearing the finish of her painting. What a great attempt!

Kevin decided to work in his own colours. Good for you Kev! 

Theresa hasn't painted for many years, and thought she would give it a go. She certainly hasn't lost her artistic skill. 

David this painting is spectacular! 

And yet another wonderful attempt at Jennifer's subject today. The colours in this painting are dazzling!

Hamida decided to do a pencil drawing today. Isn't it great?

Liz helped Jaysree to make this gorgeous necklace

Marilyn that is superb! 

I think Leonard is trying to tell us that he made this bracelet for Laura. Isn't that sweet of him!!

Caught Elaine making this colourful bracelet.

Just a sample of some of the magnificent bits that the jewellery that the group made today.

Hansa worked on some applique. Beautiful colours and so well presented. She is making a pair, so will show the finished result later.

The poem above was written by one of our talented poets. It is in our big ' TOG Journal '.  I decided to include it in today's post.

There were so many items that needed to be included today. I hope you enjoyed taking a peek.

Wednesday 30th April 2014

What did we get up to this week?

As usual lots of laughter and chatter as we gathered around for yet another lunch. Now and again Jennifer makes the most scrumptious trifle.  Today was one of those days.  If you don’t come for anything else you have to come for the trifle. But, you’d better move fast.  You know the saying  ’The early bird…’

Christiane arrived full of the joys of spring.  So, we were treated to a half hour of ‘Tai Chi’.  Gosh!  it makes one feel so good after.

The Watercolour Class and The Poetry Group were in full swing.  The picture seen today is a  watercolour half way through. Hope we can show the finished product at a later date.

T’was good to see the sewing machine being put to good use once again.  A very elegant black skirt was altered to a perfect fit for one of our Toggers, and our cushion covers are coming along fine.

We are making good use of our recycled fabric. (Please donate any good colourful cotton/polycotton  shirts, dresses, blouses, sheets etc. that are gathering dust in your cupboard!

The Highlight of the Day was our nationally acclaimed ‘Nail Technician’.  Well, tell a lie, it was Nicola really!  The ladies were lining up to have their nails beautified.  There is now a backlog.  But don’t despair.  Nicola is coming back to make our nails the Pride of Harrow!

Keep a look out for the next episode of the TOG Saga.

Wednesday 23rd April 2014

Beautiful lunch – Beautiful Day – Beautiful People.

I feel like bursting into a song!     What about “Everything is Beautiful” or “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”?  We’ll have to use this in one of our quizzes: “How many songs can you think of with the word BEAUTIFUL in the title?”

Well, well, well!

What an engaging lot we were today. So engrossed!  Ann found it hard to get people to buy a raffle ticket. ‘In a minute,’ ‘Come back later,’ ‘Just want to finish this bit,’ was all one could hear as she went round the room.

Rena is our Sewing Machine Expert.  Today she helped repair yet another pair of trousers.  What’s going on?  What IS everyone doing with their trousers these days?

She also recycled some old cushion inners ready for new covers. The next job is to look in our fabric basket to get some ideas. That’s for another day!

  The Psychiatrist

The next one please – and there’s my bill
as I came in with shaking knees,
he said be calm, unfreeze,
I’ve got an hour or so to kill.

What are your innermost thoughts’ desires,
be frank don’t hedge, I can’t stand liars.
I wandered off in childish muse
Leaving behind a wealth of clues,
I’d make sure I had my money’s worth
explaining how I felt at birth…..

At the end of this long exposition,
he said he comprehended my condition,
take aspirin tablets twice a day.
You’ll find the symptoms fade away,

So here am I in mind and body sound
repressions well hidden underground.
Take my advice, be firm, be brave
and think of the money that you’ll save.

Written by one of our members.

Disheartened, one concludes…

Is this how Freud can leave you?!

Wednesday April 16th 2014

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon.  Too good to be indoors really… In fact, not that many people turned up.  How could you blame them!

However those that did were treated to another wonderful lunch – Pizza, Croquette Potatoes & Salad with a luscious  ‘Chocolate Passover Cake’  for afters.

The sewing machine was put to good use today.  1) Take ‘up’ a pair of trousers.  2) Take ‘in’ a pair of trousers.  3) Refit a broken zip in a dress.  Bravo to those willing to have a go!  Nice to learn a few new tricks!

Nicola showed the Glass Painting Group how to use ‘faux lead’ using hand made cones. It’s a rather delicate procedure which requires a steady hand. Quite similar to doing Henna Art.

Hansa gave Marilyn a big box of beads.  The Jewellery Group had fun sorting through them.  If anybody wants a bracelet or necklace made I am sure this can be arranged!  Also, while on the subject…  Please donate your old costume or broken pieces of jewellery. We love to recycle.

One of the Poetry Group wrote this poem about TOG a while ago. I thought it might be a good idea to let others know what a talented bunch we are.

The bubble and hum of voices -
Tea, coffee and lunch ready.
Finding wonder in a first painting,
astounding – lady thrilled.
The poetry in ourselves and in the books
we chat about.
Cutting glass and eggshells in the beauty
of a glorious picture.
Sewing, drawing – an afternoon of finding
something extra in our lives.
Away from a quiet room.
A life on hold.

A Togger

Wednesday 9th April 2014

The afternoon began with a delightful lunch. One of our members made a delicious “flat cake” for us to share (sooo yummy).

After filling our faces and chatting (which, as usual, takes a whole hour) we divided up into various groups.

Jennifer decided to do Acrylics instead of her usual ‘Watercolour Class’. Nicola headed a ‘Glass Painting Group’. Marilyn and Liz (our expert) did a ‘Jewellery Workshop’ The ‘Poetry Group’ retreated to the hallway (away from the main room with its chitter-chatter.)
Another mat nearly finished!  Over a year’s work.   More about this at a later date.
At about 2pm Debbie Dye came to take a few photos of the group’s activities for her project ‘Overcoming the Rift’.  She put the group members at ease with her relaxed, friendly approach.  She had great respect for those who did not want to be photographed.

Phew!  That was a ‘Busy, Happy Day!’