Part 1 - I was totally wrong about patchwork!

I'm often wrong. Which I love. I love the fact that there is always more to learn and that I don't already know everything. And that sometimes things I have believed wholeheartedly turn out to be complete piffle. And that sometimes you have to learn things slowly, rather than just being taught. And so today, because all those statements are true, I want to say that I was wrong about patchwork. Totally wrong.

I didn’t think I liked patchwork. In fact I have been known to say that I h#%e patchwork. I want to interject in my own post and say I now realise my previous statement is total blasphemy (Anna just looked at me and sighed, bless her). Patchwork is obviously not one thing, and there are so many styles and tastes that there is something there for everyone. Yet again, one woman's water is another woman's wine..... 

But back to where I started. I thought patchwork was way too busy and too bright and messy and loud. It just seemed too much. And then on top of that I really hated the idea of taking a beautiful print and chopping it into little pieces. That didn't make sense to me. And that is not to say that I didn’t see the a quilt here and there that I liked, but for the most part I thought they weren’t for me. 

That said, I liked quilts – their function and the feeling of them. We sleep under one in the summer rather than a doona. I even made a few – wholecloth quilts of course - where I didn’t need to snip up the pretty pretty fabric. And I also think there was also some kind of avoidance of patchwork hidden in my dislike, in that I was also a bit scared of trying it. It seemed like a different science to making a frock. One where colour choice was oh-so-important. The same quilt pattern can look so vastly different – stunning or super-ugly based on this simple but complicated thing called colour and fabric selection. Learning how to do that felt a little bit impossible. 

And then it happened - slowly but surely I was shown the error of my ways. About two or three years ago quilts started popping up on the web and pinterest that I didn’t just like - I LOVED!  And they were sometimes quilts where pretty fabric was chopped up, and still I loved them. And then I started seeing people who were making quilt making into an artform with their incredible talents in composition and form, and their deep understanding of colour.

Quilt by Lindsay Stead. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Stead

Quilt by Lindsay Stead. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Stead

And I really did fall in love. 

So I thought that today I would share some of my favourite quilt makers - the ones that have made me fall in love. Then in the next post, I'll tell you a little bit about what I think they have in common that makes their quilts oh-so-special. 

Denyse Schmidt

First up there was Denyse Schmidt. For those of you who haven't heard of her she is a quilting pioneer and really the first person whose quilts spoke to me. I first saw her work about five or six years ago and I loved her Sonic Blue/Deep Blue quilt. A bit improv-ish, still simple but stunning. (There is also the Tangerine version). Pretty fabric was cut up but I wasn’t forced to shield my eyes from the busyness. I can picture this quilt in my mind so easily as I have looked at it so many times. And then she did a range of quilts called the Mount Lebanon series. Go and have a look at them. They are really beautiful and even more quiet. And at the time I hadn't seen anything like them. 

My dislike shifted a little, and I purchased a couple of quilting books - the super one from Purl Soho and both books by the incredible Denyse. And there were some beautiful things. Things that I felt could be adapted to my taste. I started to see the potential.

And I started pinning things on Pinterest. And slowly, but surely have built a whole board of quilts I love. 

Maura Grace Ambrose of Folk Fibers

So then, about two years ago, I came accross Maura Grace of Folk Fibers. Wow. I fell so hard and so deep - as did the rest of the world. I think it was the Colorado Quilt (shown below in reds and pinks) initially and then the Georgia (dark one) and then the Idaho (yellow). Totally different quilts but all with something totally interesting and stunning about them. Maura uses naturally dyed fabrics, machine piecing and then hand quilting producing these amazingly tactile looking quilts. I adore the yellow Idaho one so much I think I dream about it.  And at the time Maura was blogging a little more, and I had just joined instagram where she documents her process. Maura has made one amazing quilt after another for years now - developing her style and her techniques over that time. It has been truly amazing to watch.

Colorado Quilt - Photo courtesy of Maura Grace Ambrose

Georgia Quilt - Photo courtesy of Maura Grace Ambrose

Idaho Quilt - Photo courtesy of Maura Grace Ambrose

And through watching I became a little obsessed with learning more processes. I had to learn how to do a sashiko type stitch on a quilt. I made a wholecloth quilt or two for my small girl in order to teach myself how. And then progressed on to my imperfect quilt which I loved making almost as much as I love it finished. It was definitely a process as well product thing for me.

Sawtooth quilt. Photo courtesy of Maura Grace Ambrose.

Flying Geese Quilt. Photo courtesy of Maura Grace Ambrose.

Making a few quilts and planning many more has meant that I have become even more curious about other makers. So in the last few months I have gone out looking for more. I have been looking for people who make quilts that I love, so that I can analyse them to figure out why I love them so much. What is it about them that speaks to me - and once I understand that - what it is that I want to make. It is all part of my visual diary process for quilts. 

I have found another three modern quilt makers that I LOVE (and I can't wait to find more). I love watching their work and their process (often via instagram) and anything they want to give me really and I have come to the conclusion that I actually LOVE patchwork (and them. I really love them - they are so inspiring!) 

I'm going to show you a few bits and pieces from my three latest loves in no particular order, but please follow the links and have a look at their work. There is so much more to their work than I am able to show in one post. 

Hopewell Workshop

Hopewell Workshop – wow! They have been popping up all over the interwebs. Claire and Eliza really understand simple composition, colour and form. The simplicity of those three things in their quilts really make my heart sing. I adore their use of simple prints mixed with plain fabrics,  and simple arrangements. Unlike many of the other quilt makers they aren’t solely making one-of-a-kind pieces and the quilting is done on a machine. Which makes their quilts more accessible. They are true masters of fabric choice.

Tell Tale East - Photo courtesy of Hopewell.

The Lakehouse Quilt - Photo courtesy of Hopewell

Lavender Horses - Photo courtesy of Hopewell.

Pink Little Courthouse - Photo courtesy of Hopewell.

Lindsay Stead

I first came across Lindsay Stead on pinterest. The amazing quilt below right won First Place in the Minimalist Design Category at QuiltCon 2013. And was all over the place. But it was only after finding her through instagram and then her website that I realised how amazing she is as this quilt as not a one off. She is a master of mixing up a traditional pattern in new ways. The one below left won the Judge's Choice Award in the same year.  The two quilts towards the start of the post are also hers. 

Quilt by Lindsay Stead. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Stead

Quilt by Lindsay Stead. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Stead

Her latest series of quilts explores scale - enlarging quilt blocks to full quilt size. I love these. 

Photo courtesy of Lindsay Stead

Photo courtesy of Lindsay Stead

Meg Callahan

And finally Meg Callahan - the quilter about whom I know the least but again I found via pinterest. I didn't even realise the quilts I was pinning were the same person until I went through the wormhole and found her website. I actually didn't realise initially that they were quilts. I thought they were blankets that were printed. Again I was wrong ;). And wow! Her patterns aren't traditional. They are more detailed than a common traditional quilt pattern and more geometric. And they are unlike anything I have seen before.

I mean c'mon. Look at those things. I could have added a heap more of Meg's quilts but this is already a photo heavy post. Go and have a look at her site.

So next post I'll tell you about the things I have learned about why these quilts are so special - other than just their genius. I've looked at them a lot and they have some things in common that we can all learn from. I'll also give you a bit of a list of other wonderful work I've seen you might want to check out. 

If this post has sparked your interest in what patchwork might do for you, you might consider joining Melissa Wastney at our Freedom Patchwork course in September. She will be teaching a day of patchwork exploration, where you will come out with the skills you need to start making for yourself. Imagine the possibilities.

If you have other people that you think I should look at please leave them in the comments. I am hungry for more. Or maybe you just want to tell me about things that influence your quilting and patchwork. I'd love to hear. 

Felicia x

Part 2 and Part 3 of this post are now up on the blog.

In praise of a hack job!

So things have been a little busy around here. With workshops being finalised, and this year's retreat to be launched, and registration to be opened. Which means the normal rambling that goes on around these parts has been a little bit sparse. But hopefully I am back.

The point of today's post is to talk about an oft overlooked tool in your crafty arsenal - the hack job. Loud and proud, I want to say that in spite of my perfectionist tendancies that I LOVE a hack job! Not as an everyday way to operate but as a way to move forward in times of trouble. Let me explain....but first a definition.

The Hack Job: A project in which the finish is the only goal and to get there there is only one speed - fast, and only one direction - forward. While achieving a wearable/useable outcome is still a priority, finishing is the true destination. 

With all the busy around here lately, has come some frustrating times re crafting. I have found that either my head is too full to start something. OR if I have a project on the go, then it needs to be simple, or it sits there and sits there and sits there. So what to do....

The first thing I've done is gone back to old favourites like Granny's Favourite and the Geranium Dress because I can make them without-a-single-thought. Because really that is where it is at at the moment - there are no brain cells left for crafting. What is needed is totally craft as comfort!

But I have another tactic that I use in tricky times I thought I would share today and that is where the hack job comes in. It is the perfect antidote to the perfectionist procrastination. Hack job energy often comes on suddenly after a long period of thought/stalling. All of a sudden you just want to get it done. It's almost a feeling of exasperation that I have let it sit for so long. I just want to get it done and out of the sewing room. All the normal rules get thrown out. No going back to fix things, no worrying about a beautiful inside, no worrying about doing my best.  

Inside of Eva.

I've talked about my ability to do dodgy craft before, but today I'm going to show you just how dodgy my dodgy craft gets. There are those of you out there who would not feel at all satisfied doing this kind of craft. It would make them twitch. Actually sometimes it makes me twitch... but for those of you who like the idea, I want to say that this kind of sewing is valid. The projects that come out of it are valid and can sometimes be just as satisfying and fulfilling as ones where you have laboured over every stitch. 

Two examples for you today. 1. Although things are hectic, I really need some clothes and really really want to finish a dress that has been sitting in the basket for probably six months. Eva is a lovely newish pattern from Tessuti that is an unusual shape for me. One that I hoped would be flattering, loved but after cutting it, felt nervous. The procrastination has been due to fear mainly - all about the perfectionism. Fear that I will have cut the Nani Iro, spent the time sewing it and then won't like it. Fear about the unusual shape. I guess it is about stepping into the uncertainty. And so to get it done I got to the point where I just needed to get it done. I started and was super careful not to loose momentum. I didn't neaten seams. I didn't worry when the pockets were a total mess. I didn't unpick and I didn't redo. I did grimace and occasionally I had to shield my eyes from the mess. But Eva is now a totally wearable garment. A gorgeous dress that has got compliments wherever I wear it of the "what a gorgeous dress" kind. Win.

Total hack job of the pockets. They are actually appalling.

Visible holes if you look up close - but who does that?

Inside of the dodgy pocket. See the big lump....play on!!

And the second example is the tutu in the photo at the top of the post. It sat in the basket for a good few months. It was an old tutu given to us by a friend, that my small person kept trying to wear and get to stay up. She loved it but it was totally unwearable. And I kept thinking I had to fix it properly - maybe redo the shirring and put on some delicate straps before I realised that was insane. And really all I needed to do was to put something together so the kid could wear it. I decided to do it there and then. And all I had on hand was this rather wide elastic.

But it works so well. She loves it. It is super comfortable, super wearable and perfect for twirling. This project has the added advantage of providing joy to others around her. Anyone who sees this schmozzle smiles at her. What is not to love about it.

Perfect for dancing.

Now a hack job is completely contrary to how I normally sew. but it is also an incredibly good way to get going again after getting stuck. It ensures that the stuckness doesn't linger and turn into a drought. Performed once in a while, a total hack job really shifts something in me. It shifts the fear it won't be perfect. It gets me sewing again. It reminds me that it doesn't need to be perfect for me to love it. It is incredibly freeing. It is sewing with no rules (other than seam allowances obviously ;)) and sometimes it is what is needed.

Dodgy iphone photo of the half finished frock. 

So how about it? The hack job  - something you might try? Something you find horrifying? Love to know your other strategies for continuing to craft in times of stress and busy....

Felicia x

PS. I just want to say thanks for all your registrations. I have been blown away by the response. It is going to be a special weekend. x

Registration - Opens Tonight at 5!

So today is the day. We will open registration tonight from our registration page at 5pm.

Now for a quick bit of housekeeping -

• The registration page has also had a bit of an update to include information about how we organise your preferences and also our cancellation policy. Please have a read if you are thinking of coming. 
• This year's retreat is running from 2pm Friday 5th September until 5pm Sunday 7th September with a slightly different format to last year based on some wonderful feedback from last years participants. More information about the changes is also on the registration page. 
• Please be aware that we assign workshop preferences based on the order in which you register (it was the fairest way we could think of!!) so if there is a class you really want to do then the sooner the better. 
• For those of you that missed it yesterday - we have posted our workshop schedule here and for a full list of the nineteen workshops we have running this year please have a look on the workshop page. 

I have heard via email from some of you enthusiastic lot, that you are planning to register at 5pm on the dot which is pretty exciting. It will be great to see who is coming this year!

Felicia x

P.S. For those of you that come to the blog for other reasons we will get back to normal really soon. Promise!

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