Intention

This time of year, I think about intention a lot. In the busy last few weeks of throwing this thing together, I spend a lot of time thinking about the people who are coming; where they come from, why they come, what we can do to make this thing as special as we can. My gorgeous women and I spend a fair bit of time together, doing the bits and pieces that need to get done, to make it happen. And there is real intention in that. There is quite a lot of hand making that goes into putting this together. We hand sew the programs, we hand make your gifts, we forage for the flowers. We do most of it ourselves. We could outsource it but we choose not to, because the beautiful thing about it is that we get to do it together. The five of us, sitting around, chattering, making and sorting out the detail. It's like my community sits in the intention around the intentional bringing together of our larger community. And to me this makes it really special.

A big part of the joy of putting this together for me, is the fact that we get to sit together making. And that I can feel everyone else remotely making, whether you are pinging me on instagram about your preparations (which I love!), or watching from afar, I can feel the excitement around the fact that we are coming together to share. I treasure those nights with my girlfriends in the leadup to the event. 

I also spend a fair bit of time thinking about mistakes and imperfection. And how intention is way more important than those two gems. In the leadup to the retreat I miss the odd email, the odd seam on a gift is a little wonky, this blog post is a day late, and there is a typo in the program (don't tell Anna!!). Because there is a temptation to get stuck thinking about that stuff. About the fact that what we are making isn't perfect.

But then I come back again to intention. We could style the shit out of this event. We could spend time making it perfect down to every minute detail - but then the event would have never got off the ground. Our focus would have been in the wrong place and we would have been stressed, and anxious, and got stuck.  The joy would be lost. Instead I remind myself that the intention of this event is to "bring together people who craft for joy and foster a love of hand making". That is all. Not to create the most perfectly styled event ever seen. Perfection would destroy the spirit of the event. A spirit where we celebrate community and learning, rather than doing things perfectly. 

Anyway - coherant post this is possibly not, but I wanted to share where my head is. Outside of worrying about whether I can find all the power boards for the sewing machines that is. They are in the shed somewhere....

See you Friday either in person or online. And if you are only able to join us online then we have an ace giveaway to make up for it. Details will be in Friday's post. 

Felicia  xx

12 Days to go

So we are totally full!! And we are totally busy preparing. Last night - when I normally write the blog post - was filled with wine and making. Making for the retreat, running through the details. So I have no words for you as I am a little tired and have a head full of busy.

I do, however, have some pictures from last year. There are so many of them that I never get to share them all. As I know you guys like to see them, then today seemed like the perfect day for it. 

See you Friday xx

Saying goodbye at the end of 2014's retreat.

One spare spot at this year's retreat!

Great News! A single spot has become available to this year's retreat in the beautiful Yarra Valley. We know it's short notice, but we wondered if any of you would like to come along? 

If you were interested (and available on the weekend of September 11th to 13th) then we have spaces available in the following workshops only. 

Friday Arvo
Patchwork Pattern Play with Anna Farago
Smocking with Anna O'Brien
Knitting Your First Sock with Georgie Hallam

Saturday Morning
Handquilting with Anna Farago
Overnighter Bag with Beattie Lanser
Design Your Own Hat with Georgie Hallam

Friday/Sat All Day
Kid's Wardrobe in a Day with Felicia Semple

Sunday All Day
Beattie Dress - Sewing with Beattie Lanser
Textile Collage - with Elizabeth Barnett
Embroidery 101 - Project Bag with Melissa Wastney
Knitting - Introduction to Lace with Ophelie Lechat
 

You can find full details of all those workshops on the workshop page. For the Friday afternoon/Saturday morning classes then you need to either choose one workshop for each time OR you can choose the "all day" class.

The Price
The weekend is all inclusive - great food, twin-share accommodation, yoga, workshops and great company - and costs $869. And then there is all the extra stuff that comes along with it; a gorgeous handmade gift from us, a welcome drink, cosy fires, and lots of joy! It starts at 2pm on the Friday the 11th and finishes up at 4.30pm on Sunday the 13th. 

As there is only one spot, we are offering it on a first come, first served basis so you need to get back to us quickly. 

You can grab the spot by emailing us first at admin@thecraftsessions.com with the subject title "I want the spot!"

Hope you can join us for this very special weekend.

warm regards

Felicia x

Simple Sewing 101 - I'm in love with Lou!

I LOVE this pattern - the Lou Box Top by Sew DIY. I made one the other day in the gaps between the washing and cooking and my goodness it's simple. In the original Simple Sewing 101 - Tops post I gave you my six step program to building your simple sewing skills. Step 2 was the simplest garment. My suggestion was a woven version of the free Hemlock Tee by Grainline.  The Lou Box Top is the same stage of sewing. Super dooper simple. 

Now you all know I love my Hemlocks but The Lou Box is something else. It has this really neat shoulder shaping that just adds a little zing. Simple zing but zing none the less. And the shape falls beautifully, especially in the linen. I was originally inspired to make one because of this lovely specimen but now that I've made one myself I'm already planning about 4 more. 

The plan for the next one is to use a fabric I've been saving (hoarding) for the perfect project. I have some of the linen that I used in this quilt left. It's going to be lovely. The only thing I'll change is the neckline. I already hacked it a little with this version but next time I'm thinking of doing a hack - a Lou Box with a Wiksten Tank neckline raised by an inch or so. I love the scoop of the Wiksten and as it stands the Lou Box is showing just a little too much boob for the school run. In my part of town anyway.

The photo isn't really showing the boob flashing as I pulled it up a little for the photo.

Let me walk you through how simple this thing is to put together and then I'll sign out because there really isn't anything more to say.. 

• Two pieces - a front and a back. If you use the larger neckline then you don't need the split in back of the neck. So a front and a back. Can't get simpler than that.
• Sew together your shoulder seams and your side seams.
• Finish your seams - I just used a zigzag. Nothin' fancy here.
• Hem the bottom and the sleeves using my super hem trick.
• Bind the neck using Jenn's binding tutorial for perfect binding. 

Make a Lou Box. You know you want to!

Felicia x

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