Back from Harrietville

The annual Handweavers and Spinners Guild weekend at Harrietville at the Mountain View Retreat, proved to be slightly different from the past few years. This year, my photographer friend, Leanne, was asked to take a class teaching us how to take photos of our work. This encouraged me to take my photography a little more seriously, so each morning I took a quick walk to get some exercise and take in the surrounds.

We also stayed on an extra night and went off to Lady Bath falls in the Mount Buffalo National Park, Leanne, to take photographs, me to sketch and Rhonda wandered further on. A lovely afternoon, that was terminated by the impending storm. Funny sitting in sunshine, listening to thunder!

I liked my photographs, you should see Leanne's, but had a frustrating weekend with my spinning. Note: DON'T drop oil on your drive band, it will slip for the rest of the weekend! It's my new wind wheel and it's still not quite right, nearly.

We drove back through Milawa where we stopped at Brown Brothers and I tasted and bought some wine for my husband. Oh, and I managed to stop at First Editions going up, to buy, and going down, to introduce my friend Rhonda to their wares!

My new image

There's so much to blog about: Harrietville, spinning Samoyed, the guild group exhibition, 'Home' exhibition, Herring island and so much more. There needs to be a lot of catching up.....

But I'm ignoring all that, I'm so excited, I've just picked up my new business card:

and my new swing tag:

They were done by a local printer: Copies R Us and the lovely graphic designer, Michelle. 

I can still write on the inside of the tags, as I have done. I like to give each article I make a history and a personal touch, so that the recipient knows exactly what has gone in to producing the item. But I have thought I needed to update the image to something more professional.

It was a difficult decision as the picture is of my 'Empty Nests' sculpture, which is artwork, but the tags will be attached to more practical items. It is also now the image on my Etsy shop. It shows handspun paper, woven into nests with copper wire.....it's me!

 

Driving to Warrandyte

I'm currently in the unenviable position of having two boys learning to drive....The youngest has been keen since before Christmas and as he's about to turn 18, this is a good time. The oldest (21!) hasn't been that keen, but I think I've just got him in the right mood. Don't get me wrong, I'm not forcing him to learn to drive, he tells me he wants to learn, I just had to get him motivated.

Anyway, I decided that a lovely drive to Warrandyte would do the trick. It's half an hour from here each way, with lots of interesting traffic to negotiate, lovely scenery and a gorgeous town centre on the River Yarra, with coffee shops galore. Just right for a Saturday afternoon.

It was, but imagine my delight, when it seems I've managed to pick the weekend when the pottery expo is on! Yeah!

I have been meaning to go for years, I love pottery and have a pretty good collection of handmade teapots. But I bought this!

It's on again tomorrow, and it's well worth the trip!

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Buttons

I've been sorting through my buttons.

I just love buttons!

Trying to find the perfect match.

Now, I have to sew them on.....

Weaving Rag Rugs

I've been weaving rag rugs.

It's fun, but cutting strips of fabric into 4cm strips is a bit slow. I have a rotary cutter, but I do need to get more efficient.

And, I just want to know, how is it that I use up fabric from the stash box and it's still full? Does the fabric breath out into the emptied space?

3D Sustainability exhibition

After a break from the Contemporary Sculpture Association....through lack of attention, by myself!....I've rejoined and have been accepted into the 3D Sustainability exhibition.

The work I submitted is 'High Rise', my crocheted video tape work!

I'm looking forward to seeing it alongside other sculptures.