THERE were two art societies meeting in Haslemere Museum at the end of last month.

One was the Haslemere Art Society, one of the oldest art socities in the country, which meets every Tuesday.

“We are a group of amateur and professional artists who get together with their art projects and work in a relaxed atmosphere,” said spokeswoman Kaja van Walt.

The other was The Arts Society of Haslemere (formerly NADFAS), which was running a well-being workshop in conjunction with the museum and using Asian patterns.

Rubber stamps were specially created by artist Diana Burch who led the sessions with the museum’s education officer Kay Topping.

Artefacts from the museum’s Asian collection provided the source material and other stamps were made of intricate jewel-like designs.

Participants were able to create mandala-like patterns and try out quilling – curling and pinching paper strips and gluing them to backing paper.