Ruskie AGM & Monthly Meeting
Tuesday 12 May 2026
On a beautiful, bright evening, with a rainbow over Thornhill Hall, Anne rang the bell to start our meeting and AGM process. After Anne confirmed everyone has voted, and approving last years minutes, Helen briefly summarised the annual accounts including membership, visitors, raffle, donations (in and out!) and costs of outings. There is a surplus for the year which is positive and offsets the costs we incurred which are slightly up on the previous years as all costs have increased. Overall the accounts are in good shape.
Anne then provided the presidents report and updated us on the circumstances around the temporary move from Ruskie Hall to Thornhill (with support from Heather); the summer trips we have taken and then our speakers and entertainment for the year. From Ally Logan, to games nights, cooking demonstrations, donations to the foodbank, Lion and Unicorn for Christmas with Santa (who unfortunately Liz Black never gets the opportunity to meet!), welcoming in the New Year with haggis, neeps and tatties and entertainment from Iain and Marsha, a visit from Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (that we hope not to need); the inspiring rewilding story from Tom Bowser and encouragement from Dr Julie Harvey to become less sedentary. In addition we have participated in the Federation quiz, outings to the FADS Pantomime amongst other adventures including a cruise to the tulip fields in the Netherlands. SCWP celebrated 100 years in June with a trip on Loch Lomond and a meal, with cake, in the Oak Tree Inn. A further meal at the Stirling Court with notable guests and more cake. Our own committee have contributed skills and time, ensuring the smooth running of the rural. Ruskie is famous for its teas and our amazing members make this possible – thank you for your good nature and kindness. 2026 is Ruskie’s 100th birthday and we will celebrate with events and, undoubtedly, even more cake!
Anne then mentioned the Sashiko Fest on 23 May as an alternative to the World Textile Day, and Wild Fox Stewarding in July and September. There are national competitions for Writing (Theme, All Things SWI) and Photography (Theme, Hands at Work) later this year too.
For Ruskie’s 100th birthday we will have a special lunch on 11 October at Vennacher Lochside; other events include walking 100 miles, knitting baby hats and making up ‘Story Seed Sacks’ for RHET.
Anne then introduced Mary Mitchell, our speaker for the evening who shared her passion for stained glass. Although she claimed not to be experienced at demonstrating the skills from her hobby she expertly told us the story of her own journey with glass from being injured as a child (touching what she had been told not to!) to a reluctant exploration of working with glass (even though it clashed with curling!) where after 10 weeks of classes, the product was a very small butterfly where the grain did not even match! This highlighted the importance of a good and interested teacher when starting out but Mary persevered and moved onto the art of fused glass (not leadwork which is the traditional recognisable way of working with glass which is painted and baked before being leaded). Tiffany glass is also a recognisable method and Mary shared the distinctions between different types of tools to oil & score glass before breaking it for simple designs, or using a specialised saw for more complex styles. There are different types of lead (H or C came) which can be used to fit the glass and create a design, or a frame outside a finished piece. Soldering requires a ‘flux’ to make the lead stick (at either 360 or 410 degrees) and Mary is experimenting with stripped copper wire to get a green effect!
Usually a project begins with a pattern and a few pieces of glass while learning about the ‘art of the possible’ – Mary really learned from another Rural Member who ‘knew a good thing and passed it on!’ during trial and error in studio time rather than in through a specialist class. When lead is soldered and silvered then you can add a patina – either black or copper – but the results are evolving over time as the chemical composition of the products changes, and chlorination of our water impacts the results. Opaque glass is the foundation of many designs for contrast but translucent and iridescent glass is more interesting – some can even be textured. Glass can be a piece of art in itself even if it is not cut, but more modern glass is less appealing than older items. Working from a pattern, and learning the techniques is simple, but practice is essential to being successful. It is not important to be artistic and Mary claims she simply has a good eye for colours. There can be about 30% wastage in glass and reusing smaller and smaller bits ultimately results in glass mosaics to use every last piece (a very Rural fondness not to waste anything!)
Mary passed round examples of her work, including fundraising angels, or SWI Hearts for the summer school. Geometric shapes and garden ornaments. Mary reminded the Ruskie audience to always keep one of their early pieces as a reminder of how far your skill has progressed. When projects are a hobby then there should be no time pressure, but just enjoy the process and clear your head through concentrating on the details (and make sure you don’t get burned!) – it is a great craft to learn to help relax and forget the day to day!
Anne thanked Mary and encouraged the members to come up over tea and look at the glass close up and ask questions! Another amazing Ruskie supper (including lovely fluffy sponges) was served courtesy of Anne Artis, Heather Millar and Mary Muirhead.
AGM: Blairingone Rural counted the votes and shared the results and confirmed our president or the new year as Anne Artis. The committee members were also announced as Liz Black, Seona Michael, Pamela Deans, Sharon McRobert, Linda Gibson, Mary Woods, Sheena Gibson, Christine Bauer – positions will be confirmed and circulated at the first committee meeting.
Competitions: Home made coaster (any craft) – 1) Sharon McRobert 2) Liz Dykes 3) Anne Artis
3 suggestions for the syllabus – 1) Anne Artis 2) Mary Muirhead 3) Liz Dykes
To wrap up the meeting the raffle was drawn, including some of Mary’s stained glass art which she kindly donated as prizes. Anne thanked the tellers for travelling from Blairingone and shared a token of our appreciation, before she closed out the meeting, and the year, looking forward to meeting up at events over the summer and restarting our meetings again in September.
