The Craft Sessions - Part 3 - We made!

My apologies for the break in blogging. I went on a much needed holiday, bush camping for a week with the small people, and thought I would be able to blog around it but it was not to be so......I have been known to engage in an unrealistic expectation in my time.

So today I wanted to show you some pictures from Leslie Keating and Melissa Wastney's classes. So many beautiful things were made. So many! .......

Scrap that. I think there are just too many pretty photos, and after trying to write this post for half an hour and only covering block printing I think I am going to have to break it up into more posts. 

So starting again...today we will be looking at some pictures from Leslie Keating's Block Printing and Freeform Patchwork classes. 

On with the show..... 

Block Printing with Leslie Keating

People loved this class. First time for most of them printing on fabric and they loved it. Did I mention that there was love?? 

And Leslie - well she was just an enthusiastic supportive bundle of joy! She loved it as much as they did.

The lovely Leslie

Leslie Sorenson's lovely work...she is halfway through....it got even better. 

Jenny in action doing a gorgeous fan print

Freeform Patchwork with Leslie Keating

So my friend Siri did this class and I don't think she would mind me paraphrasing what she said. I found her later in the afternoon, wagging her afternoon class so that she could keep doing more on her freeform patchwork quilt top..... She said something along the lines of "So I went in with a clear plan of what I wanted to do ......but then I realised within a minute or two that that wasn't what the class was about. I took a moment, went with it, and now I LOVE it. I can't stop, it's totally addictive. And so freeing!! So much fun."

Leslie brought baskets of scraps to use - so much joy!

One of Leslie's class samples which I really wanted to run off with...

Siri's lovely work

Go and have a look at Leslie's website. Her fabric is just stunning! We were so lucky to have her teach. 

I'll be back again soon with some more - promise! 

Felicia x

How does crafting nurture your creative self?

How does crafting nurture your creative self? 

That's the question we are asking on the beautiful blog Che and Fidel this week. Together with the lovely Jodi, we have put together a giveaway with offerings from our teachers. In order to enter you need answer the question in the comments section of that post. We can't wait to read your answers.

I love the question. It is the reason we have created The Craft Sessions - because of the community and connection we feel through crafting together. We wanted to bring together a group of people with the aim of immersing ourselves for a short time in the joy of craft. It is not often we get to set aside the time and space in our busy lives. So excited.....

In other news....we wanted to let you know that our free Big Hearted Cowl pattern is up on the website and on ravelry. Go have a look. We can't wait to see what you make with it!

Have a great weekend x

Felicia

New Teacher Announcements

Exciting news today. We have two new - fantastically talented - teachers joining us for The Craft Sessions. One you will know - the amazingly talented Kirsten Johnstone and the second you probably won't know but you really should - the stupendously clever Anna O'Brien. 

So let's chat a bit about Kirsten Johnstone - a stunning knitwear designer from Melbourne who is also an architect and just has incredible style. I love her work! Beautiful, simple shapes in knitwear patterns are often the trickiest to find and Kirsten has this covered. She has incredible attention to detail - her patterns contain simple details that result in knitwear that is really special. Her design stripes are so incredible that her work has been included in collections from Shibui and the always amazing Brooklyn Tweed. We are lucky enough to have talked Kirsten into teaching the Beyond Beginner Knitting class - she has a wealth of knowledge about knitting - so take advantage people....

The second teacher is a friend of mine in real life - the ever lovely Anna O'Brien. Anna would hands down be the most incredibly beautiful crafter I know. She would scare me a little, as the things she makes are just so beautiful and perfect, were it not that she is incredibly open and generous as a human, and with her crafting knowledge. Actually she is fabulous at more than just crafting. She is also an amazing cook; the woman can make croissants - who does that???? Anna runs workshops in Melbourne and I keep hearing report after report after report of how amazing she is as a teacher. I'm so excited she will be joining us to teach both the Beyond Beginner Knitting and Anatomy of a Quilt. 

Anna O'Brien - her blog is called Swallow Tail and Spool 

I cut some words out of Anna's bio for space reasons but I thought I would post them here as they say a lot about how she teaches and what she loves. 

"I really do feel that anyone can learn to make things with their hands. I think craft is mostly a combination of practice and, like most creative endeavours, a little bit of courage. It is so satisfying the first time a new skill or technique ’clicks’ and something that started off feeling awkward and clumsy suddenly feels natural, or when an idea that has lived in your imagination becomes real at your own hands." Anna O'Brien

{C}

Anyway enough descriptive words (they are all true!)  for one morning. If you want to read a bit more about them - like their bios - I have updated our Teachers page with all their details. Enjoy!

Do you craft for joy?

In putting together The Craft Sessions we thought a lot about who it was for - and the simplest answers is that it for those people that craft for joy! Who craft for the pleasure they get from making something with their hands. For people who love seeing an idea come to life; who feel compelled to make and love getting into the flow of creating.

And it is a bit tricky to explain but it is for exactly the same reason that we put this event together. The idea for The Craft Sessions wouldn't go away. And in the end we felt compelled to do it, compelled to create it. Because there isn't anything like this in Australia - and there should be! We should have the opportunity to get together with other people that make for joy, share, be inspired and learn things. 

Yes there are markets for makers and small crafting groups and wool shows and workshops but nothing that had all the good stuff in the one event. That would bring together people that craft for the fun of it, where there was time to really get to know and be inspired by others outside our immediate crafty circles, super inspiring teachers with great tricks, great food, tea and a bit of scenery thrown in.  

So if you identify with the "I craft for joy!" mantra or something like it - we would love you to join us. Your level of crafty-ness doesn't matter. Beginners who are trying to include more creative time in their lives are looked after as our teachers are all super encouraging. The most advanced crafter is covered too as there is a varied program that allows you to work at your own level. The Craft Sessions is for crafters of all levels - those who know what they are doing already and those who want to know more. I know I'm a bit of both....you?

So why do you craft? For the joy? Or does it give you something else?

I would love to hear your thoughts. 

Felicia x

Registration Update

Registrations have been going really well with the quick-off-the-mark types getting in and locking down their preferences. At this stage we still have space in all classes as people have been choosing classes right across the spectrum. Which is great!

Teacher Feature - Georgie Hallam

If you are Australian knitter on Ravelry you are sure to know of Georgie! Her Milo pattern (which she is teaching in the Intro to Seamless class) is an iconic pattern that has over 6000 gorgeous versions on Ravelry. It's iconic for a reason - a sweet and simple vest that is super fast to knit up and is keeping little bodies warm around the world. At the farmers market in Castlemaine a few weeks ago I saw two versions of Milo before I had even ordered my coffee. 

As well as writing gorgeous patterns, Georgie is also incredibly helpful and participates regularly in the forums answering people's knitting questions, and taking feedback. I recently made one of her latest pattern's Granny's Favourite  (I love it so much I included a picture of it below!) and it is one of my all time favourite things I have ever ever made. The pattern is traditional and sweet but beautifully finished with gorgeous detail. What I really love about how Georgie writes patterns is that she is really thinking about how people read them. She tries to make patterns that give people plenty of information as well as opportunities to extend their knowledge.  

I'll hand over to Georgie now so we can hear a little bit about her history and process. Enjoy!! 

1. What brought you to craft or make?

I honestly can remember a time when I didn't craft or make. I think I am really a product of my mother, who is one of the most talented crafters I know. She's sewn, knit, crocheted, quilted, made porcelain dolls and teddy bears, made lampshades and goodness knows what else. We were brought up in a household where that was normal, her crafting material was always in sight. I guess it just sort of seeps into your consciousness, and it seems more or less odd to not make. 

I've knit ever since I was really young. Knitting was my mum's time out at the end of the day, so I'm not sure that she ever really taught me or I taught myself from watching her. I suspect it was a bit of both! I used to have a little notebook with these patterns that I'd written for barbie doll clothes, and I'd knit them up for our barbies. I so wish I still had that notebook.

I continued to knit as I got older, I don't think there was really ever a time when I didn't knit. I also dabbled in cross stitch and embroidery and spent a lot of time sewing. 

2. What do you love about your chosen craft?

I love its portability. I can take my knitting anywhere and steal a few rows anywhere I am. I take my knitting everywhere either in my bag or bicycle basket, to swimming, to school pickup, to theatre lessons, in the car, to the park and the beach. I steal a few rows when I'm knitting dinner. 

I also love the flexibility and forgiving nature of knitting. No mistake or error is unfixable or can completely ruin your project. You just frog and redo. 

I used to sew a lot when the kids, particularly Lily, was really young. For a while I ran my own business which specialised in organic denim pants designed to fit over cloth nappies. Now, I barely get time to sew. The knitting is partly to blame, but I'm often just not at home.... and my machine won't fit in my bicycle basket unfortunately!

3. When/how do you make time for craft in your life - do you have a process?

Anyone who knows me well will know that process and routine aren't words you'd use to describe me. I steal time for craft whenever I can! I have a rule that I don't do housework (apart from the dinner duties) after midday, which supposedly means I have the afternoon to work amongst the kinder and school pickups and after school activities.

Generally, I have a couple of hours in the afternoon three days a week where I do the business side of my craft; emails, pms, pattern writing. Each night after the little ones are in bed, I will usually knit. My youngest, Toby is a bit of a bedtime truant, so my window of opportunity there can vary greatly. 

My kids also love love love to craft. They are very imaginative and messy crafters so often when they get stuck into something they don't need any guidance, they like to follow their own ideas and don't want any outside help; and that gives me the chance to do my own thing. 

My version of Georgie's lovely pattern Granny's Favourite.

4. Where do you find inspiration?

I think it's pretty much the old stereotyped answer, everywhere!

It might be stitch pattern books, vintage magazines, a garment, be it sewn or knit that I see on someone somewhere in public. It might even be a colour that sets of an idea or even the need for something purely on a functional basis. I like to challenge the conventions of structure, so often it might be me looking at the shaping of a jumper and thinking how could I do that differently, how could I challenge the way that's come about. Or maybe even just, how can I play around with idea to create something new and different.

5. Who are your top 3 crafting heroes and why?

I don't think you could be a knitter and not mention Elizabeth Zimmermann. She really is responsible for bringing seamless knitting out of the dark. I love her relaxed approach to knitting and her willingness to challenge such long standing traditional conventions. Her Baby Surprise Jacket is pure genius! I learnt so much about design and construction initially from reading her books. 

My mum. Not only is she all-round talented crafter but she intuitively brought me up to believe that hand-made is special. I loved it when she knit jumpers for us as kids, I actually still have a couple of my favourites.  She also made our deb dresses, which were all absolutely amazing. I remember even as a teenager, thinking how special those hand-made items were.  I hope to teach my kids the same thing, I think it's really sad when crafters view their handiwork as inferior to bought mass-produced items; when they'll sew their child a dress but say it's just for around the house, it's not to be worn in public.

My third one would have to be the previous owner of WOOLganics, Mel, as well as the new owner, Susannah. WOOLganics is an amazing yarn. It has everything I want in a yarn; organic, ever so soft, beautiful stitch definition, great colour range and it is a delight to work with. When people describe yarn as being like butter through your fingers, that's WOOLganics. It is an AMAZING effort that both these ladies have gone to to get such a company off the ground in Australia. We might be renowned for our fine merino but so much of it is shipped offshore for scouring and processing. I love the dedication of WOOLganics to produce such a sustainable product that is true to its origins. It's so important to work with good quality products, the best you can afford; whether it be needles, fabric or yarn. 

Check out Georgie's website here http://www.tikkiknits.com.