Making An Elevated Life

So about six months ago I included a PS. on a blog post about how I had written an article for the absolutely beautiful Making Magazine. The article was entitled Craft As An Elevated Life and was all about how craft elevates us from the everyday by supporting us, and connecting us.

Fast forward to the Dots version of Making coming out. At the time I was in America, and was two days away from meeting the lovely Carrie (the founder of Making) who is going to be my roommate at Squam. I've never met her before and was so bloody excited, as we have "known" one another since the early days of Ravelry.

Anyhoo, on my way to Squam I stopped off in California to see my lovely friend Kellen, and one of the many fun things we packed into our two days was a trip to the beautiful Cattywampus store in Ojai. They have Making Mag and the Dots issue has just been released! I pick it up and start flipping through, once, twice and then again. No article. 

I tried to be brave, but I was thinking Oh My God!! She! Didn't! Like! It!

It seemed like she had when I sent it to her. She sent me back a lovely enthusiastic email. What could have gone wrong???

When I got to Squam I met Carrie and adored her from the moment I met her. And not in an internet "I ADORED her" kind of way but in a real "She is ace!" way. She's funny - a good woman with an eye twinkle.* The conversation eventually came around to Making and I bravely asked about the article trying to keep any trace of sadness from my voice, being super casual..... "oh did my article not fit what you wanted". I'm laughing as I'm writing this because I actually have no idea exactly what I said. I do know that somehow I managed to sound not too crazy.

Anyway Carrie looks and me a little shocked and says "Of course! I loved it!! But it was always meant for the next issue!!".

Queue massive relief from me, as I love the article I wrote for her. The article was my best shot at describing how craft elevates our lives and gives us meaning, because it really does!

Anyway it appears I didn't read an email properly and got the wrong issue.

If you haven't picked up Making yet, then please pick up a copy of this one. It is such a beautiful magazine - each project, image, recipe and essay are written with such intention. You can see the love Carrie (and now the lovely Ashley!!)  are putting into it.

The photos below are from my week at Squam. I was doing some work on my book, writing at the beautiful Tamworth Lyceum, and got lost on the way back to camp. I love getting lost and this is such a beautiful place to get lost in - it feels a little surreal as it feels like you have stepped into a movie set. The houses and the setting of Squam lake are all so picture perfect it is ridiculous. All white paint and green lawns. That said, my favourite houses were the ones that were a little ramshackle-ish and falling down.

Most of these photos were taken out the window of my car as I wandered through the wilds of New Hampshire.

If you've seen the article what did you think? Did it capture how craft fills you up?

Felicia x

* My friend Kellen has that too!

Old school community.

A family bout of hideous gastro luckily ended just in time for me to head to the Bendigo Sheep Show a few weeks ago. I dutifully waited my 48 hours - ending Saturday night - which meant that I got to head up to Benders on the Sunday with two of my smalls on the quietest day of the show. We were chuffed to get to go this year, as we have missed the last few years, and it is a total treat.  Making that drive up the Calder is like stepping back into my childhood. All ironbarks and rocky ground.

I spent my formative years in a variety of towns in country Victoria. A few of those years were spent in a little town called Numurkah. My dad* was the local ambulance officer, and part of his ambulance job was to attend the local agricultural show. We kids got to go with him. Now, he is a friendly guy who loves a chat, which meant much chatting and hand shaking. It was a day that I looked forward to. Full of people and conversation. I remember the joy of being there and feeling like we were a part of something. Part of a group of people that had come together to share their year. It was community grounded in place.

As an aside I also remember that the best part of that special day was that one year we all got to ride home in the back of the ambulance totally freestyle. Ahhh the 80s. So unsafe but totally thrilling for a small kid.

Being at the Bendigo Sheep Show a few weeks ago reminded me of the feeling of being part of a country community. I felt the contrast between the life of my childhood and my life in the city. In a way there is less diversity in my city community in terms of age group, personality, values and type of people. Now don't get me wrong. I'm incredibly grateful for my community. They are generous, present and supportive, but these days my community has been created through friendships that have occurred by choice around shared values. We aren't thrust together in the same way that you are when you live in a small country town.

But being at the Sheep Show reminded me that there is something glorious to be said for a broader community. One that is more diverse and includes greater difference maybe? I can't put my finger on exactly what the difference is but I felt the richness in it. It was nice to be reminded of it and feel a part of it.

Now all that said, at the Sheep Show there were two distinct groups of people; the fibre lovers and the farmers. The outfits were totally different. Farmers wore polar fleece and the fibre lovers wore wool. It was like a uniform for both teams.

I took the kids in to watch the shearing for a bit, and the kind of community I was part of on that day long ago in Numurkah was clearly visible, farming families of multiple generations. Then we headed into the sheds selling the yarn and could clearly see the broader crafting community feeling the joy of being surrounded by likeminded souls.

Half Baked Hand Dyed - I was totally in love with their shell/cream/pink colour which is not even in this photo but trust me - so gorgeous.

Pirate Purls beautiful colours.

Beautiful yarn and knits from Great Ocean Road Mills.

More Great Ocean Road Woollen Mills goodness. I fell totally in love with their yarns. Didn't purchase obviously, but the love was there.

My kid purchased this with her pocket money from Great Ocean Road Mills. Her plan is to dye it with avocado and then knitting herself a scarf. Her process is one that takes time ....

My kid trotted around in her handknit cape that we found in an op shop, her cowl and playtime dress..... looking very much the child of a maker. She did photobomb many of my photos making them unusable. I'm sitting here trying to be forgiving. ;)

Beautiful Wild Nature Yarn - I can't find their webpage but look them up.

The biggest treat of the day was that Kylie from The Purl Box showed me a yarn colourway she had named for me after the first retreat. It was truly gorgeous Kylie x

Our only purchases were socks from the guild. There was a third kid/pair but there was too much wrestling to have all three in the one frame. #twoouttathreeaintbad#notasockknitter

I wore my Riddari so a couple of kind people recognised the sweater, and came up and said hi which I totally loved. I don't get to meet you lot very often, and so really I have no idea who it is that reads my rambles. It was a total treat for me, so thanks to you brave souls who introduced yourselves. x

Being at the sheep show on the weekend reminded me of how grateful I am to be part of this crafting community because in a way it is similar to the country community I grew up in. It's diversity is part of the joy; all ages and all types. There is space for our quirks and our crazy. Having a passion around craft means being able to strike up a conversation with women I don't know, who are decades older than me, in the queue and know that we share a connection.

This is something I love about the retreat as well. I never know who will be there and I can't wait to meet them. It's a group of women coming together around a simple shared understanding of the meaning, and the joy, of using our hands to create.

Felicia x

* not the photographer dad but my other dad - I'm lucky enough to have two.

Bali Baby

Bali I hear you ask? Bali? Haven't you already been away this year? Didn't you just get back?

Well yes - but normally, as we are one of those half Australian/half British couples who live a bit of split life, we travel as a family. And normally travel for us involves car seats, and three small people, and camping. Well, not this time!

I have this very clever friend who happened to have a significant birthday not long ago. Way back when, on a sunny afternoon in February, she cleverly suggested her birthday trip to six of us lucky ducks. Then only four short hours after having the idea, she had managed to call us and suggest it, get everyone's agreement, and purchase tickets in the time window given for the flight sale. This is no small feat when you consider that between us we have 17 children! The idea was so crazy, that without her suggesting and arranging it, I don't think the rest of us would have ever proposed such an audacious plan (so big love to you my friend for making it possible xx). She is a total genius.

It was a week like nothing I've experienced since having kids. We didn't really do anything - except read a book or two, have a swim, do some yoga, eat raw chocolate and drink a few caipirinhas. And laugh. The happiest of days that none of us will forget for a long time. 

Yoga at (the magical) Desa Seni.

Sunset in Canngu.

Rice paddies near Ubud.

Offering on our doorstep. 

And Bali - well we all totally fell in love. I'd never been there before and really didn't know what to expect. It was beautiful! I can't wait to go back. 

Anyway let's talk Threads Of Life. They are an amazing fair trade textiles shop that I went to visit on a day trip to Ubud. In their own words....

“Threads of Life is a fair trade business that works with culture and conservation to alleviate poverty in rural indonesia. The heirloom-quality textiles and baskets we commission are made with local materials and natural dyes to an exquisite standard usually seen only in museums.

We work directly with over 1,000 women on 11 islands across Indonesia, helping weavers to form independent cooperatives, to recover the skills of their ancestors, to manage their resources sustainably, and to express their culture identity while building their financial security.”

— Threads Of Life website.

Our trip to Threads of Life involved leaping out of our taxi at 6.50pm (they shut at 7) and running as as fast as our sore-as-hell-due-to-lots-of-yoga-muscles would carry us. We had been  stuck in hideous Ubud traffic, which was at a total standstill, and yet so determined were we to get there that Jenn and I sprinted (ha!) the last few blocks. They were closing the door as we arrived and we shamelessly begged. Begged and pleaded to be let it as we could see the goodness held within.

And I'm so glad we were so shameless. This place is magic. The most beautiful textiles with information on each piece of fabric about it's origin and creation. I've included a few photos but much of their work is available direct from their website. Supporting them is supporting communities of women and traditional handcraft. What could be better.  They also have a beautiful instagram feed if you are looking for some inspiration.

Naturally dyed silks.

Part of the Ikat process.

Amazing work by the Timorese.

From it's tag - This Balinese handspun hand woven shawl is designed by Breeze, a small cottage industry of balinese artists. The natural dyed threads are from plants such as indigo. It is hands-on cotton too.

This cushion was from Jawa. The textile used in making this pillow cover is made from hands-on heirloom brown cotton and woven on a backstop loom by the community of weavers, Sekar Ayu, In Tuban Java. It is also naturally dyed. 

This woman's shoulder cloth called Po'uk Bife is from Baum, Amarasi in the southern part of West Timor. Textiles from this areas share similar designs, and share many of the same motifs. 

Any other Bali hot tips around textiles for those considering going?

Felicia x

Rogue photography and Squam.

I just got off the phone with my dad and he mentioned that he had had a look at my blog (Hi Dad!). I'm not sure he has ever visited before so that's pretty ace. But then he told me (with his usual cheeky tone) that he had wanted to leave a comment saying "depth of field, depth of field, depth of field" - as in, he is a little horrified by how I use depth of field in my photos.

And it's not like it's the first time he's mentioned it. He worked as a photographer way back in the dark ages and is, y'know, trained at this stuff. He knows what he is talking about. On the other hand, I'm a self-taught* dabbler who breaks quite a few of the photo-taking rules set down in the photo-taking bible. To be totally honest, I know that he is totally right about my depth of field issues, and I'm glad he reminds me to think about it more carefully. I'm still learning. I know I'll get better with practice and mistakes, because mistakes are how you learn right?

When I got off the phone, (because I know he has a valid point and knows what he is talking about) I scrolled back over the last few posts to figure out which photos in particular were really annoying him. And I came across the Aragon photography post. Excitingly eleven of you had clicked on the "Like" button for the post! Eleven of you like my photographs enough to tell me! Made my heart feel very happy - even if some of them would have annoyed my dad's eyes. So in honour of my dad, I'm going to pull the post I was planning for today and give you a few more I took on my trip away!**

Anyway I took these photos at the ever lovely Squam this year. It was my second time going and it really is such a warm, welcoming and renewing experience. Elizabeth is such a gorgeous, generous host. I talked about my experience at Squam in 2013 in this post called The Magic of A Craft Retreat and it was really more of the same magic! I feel very lucky to have got the opportunity to go again.

Photos start out on a grey day in the forest, before moving onto the Boro class run by @agatheringofstitches. They finish with the perfect golden light on the last day of the retreat. Happy days. 

Grey day at dusk.

Some of my lovely cabinmates. 

And some cabinmates on our dock.

I totally agree that this has depth of field issues - BIG ones. But look at the pretty light Dad!! :)

I also have a really dusty filter that is leaving red splodges everywhere. I kinda like them. 

Enjoy x

Felicia 

*  except for a couple of day-long workshops

**  I'm such a juvenile :).

Natural dyeing in the Basque Country.

To ease on back into blogging I thought I would post some photos from a market we happened upon in the Basque country near Bilbao in Spain. I previously showed a photo or two on instagram of a stall of naturally dyed yarn and socks. They were dyeing at the market in these gorgeous massive copper pots. Our language barrier means that I know nothing about them except what you can see from the pictures. Enjoy and I'll see you in this space as normal later in the week. 

Felicia x

That pile of white wool was wet and ready to go.

Nettles one side and onions the other.

And just because they were so pretty, here are some photos of the mushroom stall from the same market.