Registration Information and a Winner

We want to start today's post by saying a big big thank you to all of you who have signed up to our mailing list, liked us on facebook, messaged and emailed us to let us know that you like The Craft Sessions. We are loving all the enthusiasm and are so pleased that you seem as excited about it as we are!

We have just updated the registration information on the website including information about the price and what's included (almost everything!!). There is also a bit of a FAQ and information about class preferences. 

One big change!! We have decided to delay the registration opening for a few days until Monday July 15th. Our apologies! We are just finalising the last couple of classes and want to make sure you have time to think about the class list before choosing your preferences.  

Finally today we have a winner of Melissa's gorgeous project bag. Beatrice Iezzi - that lucky person is you! We will send you an email. Congratulations!

Some new photos from Sophie of the tee she will be making in her Sewing with Knits class

Giveaway and Teacher Feature - Melissa Wastney

So today we start a series of posts about our teachers. To share a bit about the crafters they are - what they love and what inspires them. 

We kick off with Melissa from Tiny Happy. I can't remember when I originally came across Melissa's blog but it was love at first sight. She has a kinda calm in her images that gets me every time - makes me want to grab a cup of tea. And her crafting? Well it is stunning, simple and sweet and you can see her style carrying through to each one of the different disciplines she plays with. Love it. 

So we asked her a few questions about her love for crafting and here is what she had to say. 

What brought you to craft or make?

My Grandma was a serious knitter- lots of yoked fairisle jumpers and matching accessories and even skirts and dresses. My Mum knitted constantly for all her 5 kids as well as made quilts, embroidered samplers, wove blankets and spun yarn. She still does! It was just expected that I would make things too and I got my first sewing machine when I was ten. 

What do you love about your chosen craft?

I don't know that I really have a 'chosen' craft as I love to sew, knit, paint, design and embroider. I just like making things and being creative. I like the idea that something beautiful can come from just an idea and a few textiles. I also like to have a few projects on the go. Keeps me happy.

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

It can be hard to make time but I think it's always possible if the will is there. I knit on the bus on the way to work and in my lunchbreak. I love doing a bit of crafting with friends and a glass of wine. And I try and do a bit of sewing and embroidery sometime on the weekend. It's both easier and harder to do now that the kids are older (10 and 8).

Where do you find inspiration?

I find it all around. People watching at the bus-stop. From blogs and magazines. Also libraries and shop windows! And of course the constant: the colours and forms of nature. 

Who are your top 3 crafting heroes and why?

I really love how Kaffe Fassett puts together colours and shapes in such ambitious ways. He's been a lifelong inspiration- Mum knitted all his garment designs throughout my childhood and I'd stare at the pages of 'Glorious Knits' and dream about the beautifully dressed families and well-decked houses.

Naomi Ito (Nani Iro) is an inspiration- I love her aesthetic and calm yet energetic patterns.

I also love Lotta Jansdotter and the way she captures the essence of something natural and special in her designs and colour choices.

Melissa is teaching three classes for us. Embroidery From The Natural World which is an all day workshop where you will explore freeform embroidery and the way we can use it to express natural forms. Vintage Baby Shoes which is a pattern from Melissa's recently published book, Sweet and Simple Handmade and finally a Modern Sampler which is a half day workshop which is a great class for those wanting to learn a variety of embroidery stitches and come home with a piece of stitched art such as the one at the top of the post. 

Giveaway

Lucky for us - Melissa has kindly offered to give to one of our mailing list subscribers a gift of the project bag pictured below. Perfect for holding a small knitting project. We will randomly draw a name from the list on Monday morning. So if you're not on our mailing list already and you'd like a chance to win (and hear all The Craft Sessions latest happenings) please sign on up! 

Workshop List Has Been Posted!

Hi All, 

So the workshop list is up on the website and looking pretty special. The teachers have put together a fabulous set of diverse classes for you to enjoy over the weekend.

A few things on offer include;

* Georgie Hallam is teaching knitwear design.

* Melissa Wastney is working her embroidery magic.

* Leslie Keating will be sharing her fountain of knowledge about printing on fabric.

* Jules Billings will be dyeing with natural dyes.

* Sophie Parslow will be helping you with that fear of sewing knit fabrics.

Something for everyone we hope. We do have one or two other classes to announce early next week so check back in....
We have had some really positive feedback already and would love to hear what you think! What do you like the look of?

Who is teaching at the Craft Sessions?

We are so excited about the truly amazing group of talented and exceptional crafters we have to lead our workshops. We are bringing you teachers who are known for the beauty and skill they bring to their particular discipline. And if skill wasn't enough, each one of them also has that encouraging and joyful "have a go" spirit that makes them natural teachers. 

While we will be posting the class descriptions over the next week or so, today we just wanted to give you a brief introduction to who is joining us as teachers at The Craft Sessions.   

First up - our knitting teachers are the very talented Georgie Hallam of Tikki Knits and the lovely Jules Billings of Woollen Flower. Their offerings will cover beginner knitters who are just dipping their toes into the wonderful world of knitting, to those who truly already know what they are doing. Teaching embroidery and a spot of sewing is Melissa Wastney of Tiny Happy fame. If you haven't seen her work then please have a look - simply stunning!! We are also incredibly pleased to say that Leslie from Maze and Vale is coming to share some of what she knows (which is a lot!) about printing and patchwork. The work that has come out of her block printing swaps is incredibly inspiring. And finally we have Sophie from Cirque du Bebe coming to us to teach garment sewing for kids and adults. She recently won a online sewing competition called Project Sewn with some really impressive work. Have a look at the sundress she made. Beautiful!

We will have another teaching announcement or two in the next couple of weeks so please stay tuned... Please consider joining the mailing list to be kept up to date or RSVP to the facebook event page which you can find here.  

We also just wanted to say hello and welcome if you are joining us from one of our teacher's websites. Have a look around the site and let us know what you think. 

We are thrilled they are all onboard and so very excited they will be part of The Craft Sessions. 

More details about them can be found on our  Teachers page here.

So what do you think of the lineup? 

Felicia x

The Craft Sessions is launching!!

We are totally thrilled to be launching The Craft Sessions. The Craft Sessions is a weekend retreat of creative workshops, delicious food, quiet moments and inspiring people. It is being held Friday October 25th to Sunday 27th in the Yarra Valley near Melbourne. 

Over the past 5 years, we have gathered in kitchens and living rooms across Melbourne to craft. The idea of The Craft Sessions has grown out of those gatherings -  a collective love for making things, sharing stories and recognition that there is a spirit in the craft revival that involves both the beauty of the product and also the shared process that is making. The Craft Sessions are based on the simple idea that craft can build community.

We created The Craft Sessions to provide a space for crafters to come together; to share ideas, to learn from, and be inspired by one another. We wanted time to retreat together. To connect over more than just craft -to meet others who also value handmade and the joy that creating brings to our everyday life.

We wanted to create an event where enthusiastic beginners could come and learn to make beautiful things with simple techniques. Where old-school crafts could be taught in new-school ways. Where already skilled crafters could come, be inspired and walk away with some new tricks or skills. Everyone loves a new trick - yes?

After tumbling round in our heads and conversations over the last 5 years it is a joy to see it come to life. Have a look around the site. We hope you like what you see! 

More information will be coming soon (the class descriptions will be up next week!!) on the website and the blog, but if you want to be the first to know please join our mailing list. And let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you.

Felicia x