crochet tea light holder workshop

Upcycle your old jars edward & lilly style with beautiful crochet designs. I will be back at The Craft Nest for another gorgeous evening of chatting and hooking. This meet up is not a learn to crochet class but for those who already know how to chain and either single, double or treble crochet. Start your crochet jar cosy and go home with the pattern.

Date: Tuesday 8 July, 6-9pm
Venue: The Craft Nest, 30 Fallon Cottage, Fallon Street, Everton Park
Cost: $5 payable at the door.
RSVP is essential to brisbanebrownowls@gmail.com

See you then!

brisbane finders keepers

I will be at The Finders Keepers Brisbane this weekend with some new work including tiny woven basket necklaces and kantha fabric beads with macramé details as well as some embroidered crochet bangles.

All one of a kind, all hand-stitched by me, very limited edition.

Details for The Finders Keepers Market can be found here.

There will be a small range in the shop from August.

brisbane laneway festival workshop

In between prep for Finders Keepers this weekend I've also been whipping up some stamps and stencils for a fabric printing workshop at the 4 July Laneway Festival this Friday night!

If you're in Brisbane come along and celebrate this 4th July with a country hoedown on George St!

Wayne and I will be running a bandana making workshop including fabric stenciling, stamping, painting and drawing.

Bring your picnic blanket, cowboy hats and dancing boots for a country music shindig. Make your own bandanna (free and materials supplied) and hit the dance floor with Australian Bluegrass legends THE COMPANY.

This is a FREE event (food & drinks for sale).

Friday 4 July, 5-9pm
George Street Laneway (QUT/Parliamentary Annex)
Map and more information can be found here.

See you there!

taking a moment

Everything is moving at such a fast pace and I keep making promises to myself that I will document all of the amazing workshops and events that flit by as well as my own creative practice.

So here is June which kicked off with our usual macramé workshop at Jungle Bar in West End, we are loving these fun little get togethers and have met loads of new people over cocktails and knotting!

Then the most amazing creative collaboration between myself, Jules & Jon and Trudy as we kicked off the month with the Etsy craft party which you can read about here and watch here.

Soon after we had Maryann Talia Pau along to Brown Owls to teach us star weaving for the one million stars to end violence against women project. It was a beautiful and memorable morning.

 

Our stars above and I've been trying to make a star a day since...

Our first evening meet up at The Nest was so much fun, lots of treats to eat and giggles. I ran a little cosy crochet cowl workshop and everyone did an amazing job especially the beginners.

Another beautiful day spent teaching macramé at the World Refugee Day Community Festival in the Brisbane City Council intercultural tent. I've been tutoring a refugee family for over 3 years now so it was great to be able to contribute to the community in a super creative way.

I became Enews Editor/Publicity Officer (and joined the committee) of the Australian Textile Arts and Surface Design Association (ATASDA Qld). Joanne Borgatti, a truly inspiring fashion designer gave a talk at our social meet up and I got to shop up a storm directly with Prudence Mapstone.

And to end the month Dyani of Little Deer Studio taught us all how to make paper beads from junk mail at Brown Owls which was loads of fun and so good to end the month with a catch up with Dyani.

And these two of course who make my heart sing, wearing their cosy crochet cowls from our meet up earlier in the month!

In between all of that I've been prepping for Finders Keepers which is on this weekend, details are here.

Another beautiful month passes and another one begins, I treasure all of these creative moments and couldn't do it without the support of Wayne (aka Country Boy) who is building me a new market stall display for this weekend as I type ;)

Back to it!

Brisbane Etsy Craft Party 2014: The Pics

Just popping in to share some pics from our Etsy Craft Party, a global event where everyone gets together to craft. The video, if you missed it sums everything up and can be viewed here. The amazing cake above was made by Cake Tart.

The theme for the night was Recapture: Bring new life to your old photographs.

The stitching table above was my zone for the night and everyone did an amazing job of adding detailed stitches to their pics.

Zombified parents, love this one!

The paper cutting, illustrating, calligraphy, collage table.

Our make-shift photo booth :)

The gals behind the scenes, I loved working with Jules (and Jon) of Sconnie and Jam and Trudy of Trudy Florence on this amazing event.

Everyone received a super crafty goodie bag at the end!

Here's a few photographs I worked on in the lead up to the event as examples, I really enjoyed creating these, it's always nice to stitch in a different medium:

That's my Pop on the right.

 I thought I'd have a go at creating a loom weaving on this one, a little trickier than stitching but I like the results, this one is still a work in progress... and that's my Pop on the right again :)

Country Boy strawberry picking in Stanthorpe.

And I'm super happy with this one of my nieces (well 4 of them), I think it definitely inspired some rainbow stitching after doing the rounds on Etsy in the lead up. I think I'll be gifting it to rainbow niece in front for her birthday and I have plans for variations on this pic for the other three too.

If you're in Brisbane you do not want to miss the next MAD craft party, you can keep updated here. I can't wait!!

Brisbane Etsy Craft Party 2014: The Video

It was so much fun working with Jules and Jon (Sconnie and Jam) and Trudy (Trudy Florence) on the Etsy Craft Party this year. This video Wayne (aka Country Boy) put together sums it all up. This was the first MAD Craft Party in Brisbane, to keep updated on future events check out the Facebook page here.

brisbane: crochet cowl workshop

 

Join me and the Brisbane Brown Owls at The Craft Nest for a fun little crochet workshop.

A great looped scarf project for absolute beginners or for those of you wanting to whip up a new accessory this Winter. Use up your yarn and wool scraps or larger balls of yarn tucked away in your stash.

OR Bring Your Own Craft for a fun night out.

Date: Tuesday 17 June, 6-9pm
Venue: The Craft Nest, 30 Fallon Cottage, Fallon Street, Everton Park
Cost: $5 payable at the door

What to bring:
- Yarn or wool of your choice: Anything from 8ply upwards works well, the thicker the better for beginners. You can bring full balls or left over bits and pieces for interesting texture and colour.
- Crochet hook. 4.5-5mm and larger is great for beginners but check the tag on your wool or yarn for recommended size.
- Tea and coffee will be provided but you are welcome to bring along a plate to share for supper.

A note for beginners: I will have some extra wool and yarn available for gold coin donation to get you started if you're not sure what to buy. Please bring along a 4.5 or 5mm hook as I only have a few of these.
 

RSVP essential! Email brisbanebrownowls@gmail.com

See you there!

Star Weaving with Maryann Talia Pau

Photo: Martina Gemola

Star Weaving workshop with Maryann Talia Pau this Sunday 8 June for the 1 million stars to end violence project. Check out all of the details here.

 

  Photo: Nik Harrison

creative skills at homeless connect

Last week Wayne and I attended Brisbane City Council's Homeless Connect event to teach macramé.

We had a great day at this very important event where loads of services are available like doctors, hairdressers, dentists, vets, etc as well as housing, youth and lots more community services; plus clothing, toiletries, books, blankets, swags, food and much, much more. All free and all in the one location for people who are homeless and/or at risk.

The spirit of the event was amazing and brought home a lot of things for both of us about what we personally try to achieve in the community through sharing creative skills and empowering people through creativity.

Homeless Connect is on every year and anyone can volunteer and take part in the day.You can find out more information here.

Brisbane Etsy Craft Party

My stitching prep for Brisbane's Etsy craft party!

I'm so very excited to be joining forces with Sconnie and Jam, Trudy Florence Paper Cutting and more talented crafters, designers and illustrators for the 2014 Etsy Craft Party on Friday 6 June!

Trudy Florence Paper Cutting

Presented by Brisbane Brown Owls and Makers and Designers Australia it will be a huge night of stitching, paper cutting, illustrating and collaging to bring life to your photographs! Plus nibbles, drinks, lucky door prize and goodie bags bulging with crafty goodness.

 

Sconnie and Jam

For all of the details and to RSVP (essential!) head here.