Visible Mending as an art form.

I’ve been known to swear about the mending pile. I’m sure many of you are with me. I avoid it and wait till it builds up – aaaand finally get around to it when it is absolutely necessary.

However after years of having little kids I have come to love the fact that a bit of creative mending means that I am able to extend the life of their clothes in a way that non-menders can’t*. One way that I do this is to add cuffs to things like the top below. This was a size four that I purchased for him when he was 3, that he is still wearing at 7. I call that a win. It's longevity has come with a very small price and that is maintenance. Small boy puts a hole in it and I put a patch. You will notice the difference in the pictures between the top patch and the bottom. Same fabric for cuffs, patch on the sleeve and patch on the bottom but each patch has a different type of mending. There is a third that you can't see.

*What do people do about leggings in real life. Those cheeky things seem to breed holes. Do they just chuck them? Btw - All photos today except for the top two are new and were thoughtlessly taken in the tent. The tent is blue inside - which means we have super whacky light that no amount of creative Lightroom work could fix. Squint a bit maybe. It might help?

The fact that I can extend the life of their clothes so much, means that I am able to love the product that comes out of the process of mending. However, I admit that I still struggle with the process. Which leads to today's post - I have just read about a new way to think about it….

It came from something I read on the Fringe Association the other day about a course Karen did on "Boro and Embroidermending". And as part of that course she talked about the idea of visible mending. And those words - visible mending and embroidermending changed something for me. Karen's post is about a shift in her thinking, which in turn has caused a slightly different shift in mine.  

Fix #1

Different leg - slightly blurry Fix #2

Two down and one (still) to go.

Now I generally do visible mending as I am a little bit too lazy and not skilled enough to do invisible mending. But what I love about this idea, is that it is taking visible mending and with a little shift to my thinking, making it a thing of beauty rather than simply ease or utility. I started thinking about the idea of visible mending as crafting - or as another art form if you will. Rather than a mending as a hassle, I could make mending part of my craft. Thinking about enhancing a garment as part of the mending process should ultimately make it more enjoyable? I'm going to try it and see.

These were favourite small person jeans (that are BRIGHT red) that have been fixed once about 9 months ago. I have avoided this one quite a bit second time around.

Patches on top of patches on the super messy back.

If you need a little inspiration for your mending pile have a look at these lovelies on pinterest. Especially these as they are amazing!

How do you feel about mending? Avoid it, love it? Swear about it or does it make your heart sing from the sheer utility of your work?

 Felicia x

PS. My apologies (again) - today was supposed to be a post about the extra workshops at the retreat this year. Unfortunately we have had a little car trouble this week and I haven't had time to finalise the post. Soon I hope - Rex is fixed and we are back on the road tomorrow.

Classes are filling up….

Apologies for the quietness of the blog. I am finding that getting to instagram is about my limit most days at the moment in terms of social media. Some weeks are like that though. When wifi means sitting in the dark, on a bench near a campground reception, after putting the kids to bed, then I am giving it a pass.

Thanks to an afternoon off today, next week I have two posts ready to go. I'm feeling like a champion! The first is normal post with some ramblings on craft and the second is announcing the three "Extra" Saturday afternoon classes.

As most of you are aware we have changed the format of this year's event to give you some extra "free" crafting time.  But if you feel an urge for more learning, then we wanted to offer something more structured. These workshops are completely optional – you should feel free to sit and sew with new friends in front of a fire if you like, or go for a walk in the stunning Yarra Valley bush instead if that tickles your fancy. They are shorter one hour workshops and you should feel free to just turn up on the day if you feel like it. Because of this they aren’t limited in size like our normal workshops are.

Thanks to all of you who completed our survey a couple of weeks ago about what class three should be. The result was resoundingly one sided. So keep your eyes out for that blog post next week.

Registration Update

While we have now fully booked some knitting classes, we still have some space in the amazing Kirsten Johnstone's Seamless Hat class. If you are wanting to improve your knitting then this is the class for you. Kirsten is an amazing knitwear designer who designs for the likes of Brooklyn Tweed and Shibui. She has designed a hat specifically for this workshop (which I don't have pictures of yet - coming soon!) but if you want to learn more about seamless knitting or techniques such as a provisional cast on then Kirsten's class is a perfect fit. She is also a top woman! I really like her and you get to spend the day with her. Picking her brain about all things knitting….

There are a couple of classes that are almost completely full - Belinda's Weaving has just a few spots left as does Sophie's Leggings class. There is only one or two spots in Jules' Steeking class and a couple in Melissa's Embroidery. So if those workshops were on your must do list then you need to get your registration's in. 

I also meant to mention Mel Tonzig's crochet classes. I have been meaning to do a proper post on her work - just because I think she is so amazing but haven't got there yet. I planned to post an image or two for you to see what you could get up to if you learnt to crochet but I'm about to post four as I couldn't decide on just two. How gorgeous is her work….

All photos by Mel Tonzig.

You can see more on Mel's blog but also check out this interview with her on Wholehearted Journal.  

Most other classes still have some space but all are filling up daily so get your skates on my friends if you are interested in coming.

See you next week.

Felicia x

The post where we get a little personal

So here is the thing. I'm actually overseas and will be for a few months. I had big BIG plans to be able to continue to post like nothing is happening. I was going to answer emails in a timely fashion, and peruse and chat on instagram as normal. I was planning on working like I wasn't away. Not sure why I thought that was necessary to keep everything going as normal. I'm guessing it was ye oldy friend ms.perfectionist trying to do it all. 

Anyhow, it isn't working. I have been away a month and trying to find time to reply to emails quickly, and keep totally on top of things is causing me a little spot of stress. So I wanted to explain where I'm at, rather than confusing you with pictures of a Danish field and a wool shop in Croatia*. Or frustrate you by posting in a totally random fashion....

And this is where the personal comes in. I don't often get personal on here so here goes.

The long and the short of it is that we have been planning and hoping for many years now to go on an adventure with our kids. A big adventure. I like them. Always have. But I kinda screwed up 13ish years ago and met a corporate fella while I was travelling. And he is/was super corporate, so we got stuck in the life. A lovely life - but one that lacked time and had plenty of stress. 

Fast forward ten years and three kids and we start talking about adventures. We weren't sure of the when and how, but we had plans. Lots of plans. Maybe we drive from Australia to England in a camper van. Maybe we spend 6 months in South America. Maybe. Maybe. Anyway late last year we got super lucky and he was made redundant after nearly 20 years. And we booked some tickets.... 

We decided to start a bit smaller and so now we are camping our way around Europe - with a tent and three kids seven and under. We left at the start of April. Got to my MIL in the UK. Bought a second hand Land Cruiser and top box and off we went.

We are only a week or so into the camping part, but I can see that life will not quite be what I thought. We have adventure, but adventure means that I can't be sure of wifi access and/or how many kids will throw up on the ferry and/or if there will be the time and space on any given day to take a photo and write a post. Two days ago I thought we were headed for Spain, but we are now heading down through Germany into Prague. We actually have no plans and nothing booked. I can't tell you how exciting that is…. 

So before you get concerned…. The Craft Sessions September 2014 is all good to go. We are completely sorted and I will be back in plenty of time :) (and we still have some tickets left!). The blog will keep going and emails will be answered, classes assigned, etc etc. The only thing is - it might take me a day to get back to you sometimes, and somedays it may take me three. 

I'll be back later on in the week with a post on some inspirational nordic knitters and hopefully another one on patchwork. The next post in the Secret to Becoming a Great Knitter/Learn To Read Your Knitting series has just been photographed and hopefully will pop up next week. 

Hope things are good with you and yours.

Felicia x

*If anyone has any wool shops etc that I should check out in Europe please let me know :)

More (new) teachers and a workshop list!

I'm so chuffed to be able to finally tell the full lineup of teachers joining us this year. I have updated the Teachers page with the new bio's so go have a look....or stay on this page and I will tell you about them....

I announced yesterday via facebook that the very talented Georgie Hallam is joining us again. Her classes were much loved last year and this year we have topped them. She will be teaching three classes - something for each level of knitters. For beginners/intermediate knitters she will be teaching The Secret To Becoming A Great Knitter which is a whole class about learning to read your knitting. For a taster of the types of things she will be addressing have a look at this post. But she will be taking you through it personally - the best way to learn! - and she will be taking it to a whole new level. 

Georgie Hallam is teaching our brand new workshop on Grading. Knitting by Me. Pattern by Veera.

She is also teaching two knit design classes - The Beauty Of A Circular Yoke - of which she is the master - and you will be too after doing her class. Have a look at the little mustard cardy on our instagram feed on the right. It is one of my all time favourites. And the next one is for people who are looking to really skill up their pattern making skills. She is doing a class simply called Grading. The trickiest part of design is often not coming up with the idea for a pattern but it is translating into different sizes. This class takes you through the process.

I am also thrilled to announce that Sophie from Cirque Du Bebe will be back. And I love what we have come up with for her to teach!! Two beginner type projects - one with knits Leggings. So practical especially as you often can't get what you want in the shops. She will teach you the skills to make them! And because we have this class scheduled for the Friday afternoon then you can wear them to yoga on Saturday morning. Talk about a winner!

The other beginner class is the Grainline Scout Tee. I have been on a bit of a Scout kick lately and I need to tell you that these things are a beautiful everyday garment. The kind of thing that you will wear every-single-day. And you can do this if you are an adventurous beginner. Really you can!!

And the final class Sophie is teaching is the beautiful Wiksten Skirt. I LOVE this pattern. It is the most worn handmade thing I have ever made - really flattering. Beautifully finished details, button placket, waist ties, hand sewn waistband and pleats. This is pitched at the intermediate sewer who wants to try some garment sewing or wants to improve their skills.

New Teachers 

Belinda Evans

I first came across Belinda via her stunning instagram feed and quickly went to have a look at her beautiful website and shop. I LOVE her feed and find her overall aesthetic one of calm beauty. Good for the soul methinks. And she has agree to come and teach!

An exceptional weaver, I am thrilled that she has agreed to come on board. Weaving is one of those things that I would love to try but don't feel confident to try alone. You really need a good teacher and Belinda really knows weaving. And making in general for that matter. I am so very very excited about her workshop Weaving - Modern Weaving using Traditional Techniques. More information is available if you follow the link but I really love the fact that you leave this class with a beautiful loom so that you can keep weaving as soon as you get home.

Mel Tonzing

I came across Mel when I was looking for a crochet teacher for our 2013 event. Unfortunately at the time she had just started a business and had a baby and so turned me down. And so I waited - which makes me even more excited to have her on board this year!

She is a beautiful natural talent. Again have a look at her instagram feed if you want to be inspired. Not just by her crafting and her crochet but by her photography. So beautiful.

She is teaching two classes - Beginner Crochet where she will be taking you right from the very start. Then for those of you with some experience we have planned a full day of making one of her favourite patterns - the Blossom Cowl. The full day format will enable you to really get into the swing of things. 

Anyhoo. It is very late and I need to get to bed. But I wanted to add one final exciting point. The full workshop list has been posted. Go have a look. I know you will love what you see.

Next week I will post the class schedule - and then registration opens on April 2nd at 5pm. Exciting times!!

Felicia x

Registration dates, new format and 1st class announcements!

So today is the day my friends. We are organised. Classes are locked down, teachers are locked in and we have dates for registration! Pretty exciting for us and I hope for you too.

Rather than giving it all to you in one go I'm going to release information over the next few days to give you some time to think about it before we launch registration next week - more details about that at the bottom of this post!

So where to start....maybe some classes? The full workshop list will be up on the web on Friday, along with some new teacher announcments, so today I am just going to give you a bit of a taster. 

We are very lucky to have many of our teachers from last year joining us again - the feedback we got about them was just so good, and we had more we wanted them to do. So with the exception of two classes (Embroidery from the Natural World and Block Printing) we have all new classes.

I did wonder whether it was going to be possible to beat what we put together last year. I loved the workshops we ran. But, I really really think we have topped it. My class-idea-tester friend Jenn did the "and I would do that one", "and I'm going to do that one", "and that one", "oh oh oh and I really want to do that one"...."and I might try that"....

Ever done a "steek"?

I'm going to start with Julia from Woollen Flower - those of you that have had Jules as a teacher know just how well prepared and organised her classes are. And man is she clever. And lovely and ever so encouraging.

So this year she is going to be running three new classes. A dyeing class which is a full day where you have a single dyepot and get 25 colours out of it. That is right - 25 Colours From One Pot. This extended dyeing class will allow you to really get into the process under Jules' expert guidance. This will be a very fun day.

I also asked Jules to redesign one of her classes from last year (because it was just so popular) but in a different half-day format. So Knitting - Colourwork is now a half day class. She is designing a special 10ply colourwork hat pattern for those of you that want to try colourwork. 

The redesigning of colourwork was so we could fit other things in - Julia's other half-day class will be on Steeking. For those of you that don't know what this is - it is the process of cutting your knitting to make a jumper into a cardigan or for armholes or a neck after knitting in the round. There will be a better description in the workshop page on Friday, but if you are a curious kind of knitter and haven't yet gone to the knitting extreme's of steeking then this is the class for you. I have done it once many years ago, and I can't tell you how much fun it is. To knit a jumper and then pick up your scissors and start cutting into it - well it is one of the biggest fibre thrills around. Can't beat it.

Freedom patchwork - I'm so loving the name Melissa gave this class.

So the lovely Melissa from Tiny Happy is joining us again from New Zealand, with her wonderful Embroidery from the Natural World class. The photos from this class, and the feeling in the class for that matter are one of my favourite things from last year's event. The results were just so varied and so very very pretty.

Her second class I love - Freedom Patchwork. It will be a day for exploration - of colour, form and shape - starting with a classic star. We are going to be bringing it back to the basics and then expanding on them. This class if for beginners who want to try to put together their first quilt block but also for those of you that love to patch in a group environment. And you will come out with either a cushion cover or a set of quilt blocks. Up to you!

Next up we have the lovely Leslie from Maze and Vale - have a look at her new website. Super pretty. Her block printing class last year was so popular we are putting it on again for those who missed out. But then we are taking it a step further. 

We have a second half-day block printing class that is specifically about how to create a repeat of your print. Leslie will lead you through the process of making a repeat fabric design and you will come away with fat quarter samples of each different type of pattern. Whether you did the Block Printing class last year or you plan on doing it this year - the second course will extend your skills way beyond simple block prints.

Leslie's final class is one I asked her to do after seeing a tote she had made on her blog. You will be making a beautiful foldover tote bag using Leslie's pattern, with an internal pocket and leather strap. If you are a bit unsure of your sewing skills or simply a bit rusty then this is the workshop for you. Or if you want to know how to work with leather or you just want to make a beautiful bag. Bring a beautiful fabric of your choosing and make something you will wear everyday. 

So .....I think I have talked about three of them. Maybe one more for today?

Sev[en] Circle Neckpiece by Kirsten Johnstone

OK. So what about we talk about knitting superstar Kirsten Johnstone. Kirsten will be taking two classes for us this year. A full-day relaxing and enjoyable, technical knitting class where we will be making a seamless hat, working with a new pattern she is designing for the class. The workshop will cover skills such as seamless knitting, provisional cast-ons, i-cord bindoff (one of my favourite finishes) and shaping the crown of a hat. If you are an advanced beginner and know how to knit and purl, cast on and off but are wanting to extend your skills a bit further then this is for you. 

And the second class she is running for us uses her Sev(en) Circle neckpiece as a basis. This wildly popular pattern will see you create a neckpiece, or bracelet using your own special yarns, colours and ideas. Under Kirsten's guidance you will learn some technical knitting skills while creating something unique and very wearable. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

Format change - more time!

At the end of last year's event we asked everyone who came, how long they thought the event should be - and the resounding majority wanted more time. More time to be in the space. More time to relax and more time to spend with their new friends. 

Around half of the people who came last year, came by themselves - and the resounding feedback was that wasn't at all how it felt. It was such a friendly group that it felt like people already knew one another. 

So we have made a change. This year we will be starting at 2.00pm on the Friday afternoon. After afternoon tea, we will have our first workshop on the Friday afternoon and the second on the Saturday morning. This enables us to have all of Saturday afternoon free for relaxing in the beautiful surrounds of the Yarra Valley, crafting and spending time with friends, new and old. We have arranged activities - bonus workshops and yoga - if you are the kind of person who likes doing stuff. But if you want to do some relaxing, the time and space are now there. Sunday will consist of a full day of workshops before we say our goodbyes at a late afternoon tea. 

Registration Information

Registration is an all inclusive package that includes

• Two nights accommodation in the stunning Yarra Valley
• Two full days of workshops (over 2.5 days) with our very talented and super encouraging teachers
• All meals including a delicious organic afternoon tea each day
• Morning yoga on Saturday and Sunday 
• Free time on the Saturday afternoon to spend time with your new friends relaxing and crafting in the beautiful environment OR partake in activities including optional extra workshops or restorative yoga
• A gorgeous arrival and departure gift

Registration will open on April 2nd at 5pm through the registration page on our website. 

Lots more to tell you later on this week. We have four more teachers to tell you about including some new (super talented!) teachers and many many more classes.  The full workshop list including descriptions and photos will be up later on this week, as will the workshop schedule. So keep popping into the blog....

Sound good so far?

Felicia x