Eco dye workshop at the Sydney Botanical Gardens

Fancy spending a gorgeous day at the Sydney Botanical Gardens, playing with textiles and plant matter, exploring colour and pattern? I'm thrilled to announce that Friday 6th March 2015 I will be running a one day eco dye workshop in this fantastic setting. Come along and have some fun in this magnificent setting. What a way to spend your day.

Click below to find the link:

http://www.thankq.net.au/event/V233/EventDetail.aspx?ref=5617662807&Event=215AU%2007

Christmas creations

Goldie comes for a sticky beak at what I've been up to...

Christmas bundles ready for Gallery Lane Cove

Burnt orange eco prints on woven wool

Wild silk beauty

Wild silk beauty

My friend gave me a cream silk singlet that she didn't want. I popped it in the dye pot and out came a butterfly...

I think she wants it back now...

Meri Peach random weave workshop

I had the pleasure of attending a workshop in random weave basket making with Meri Peach.

It was at the botanical gardens in Sydney, doesn't come much nicer than that!

Great instuctions by Meri and I fell in love with this technique.

Here is my random weave light shade, looks a little like a possum's drey...

But I love it!! Thanks Meri!

Nuno felt clothing course

Here are some beautiful nuno felt tunics being made in my advanced felt making course at Mosman Community College this term. 



I love the way each person expresses themselves so differently and finds such hidden talents within themselves that they didn't always know was there!

These students began the term with no experience in felt making. Each week we explored new techniques, building up knowledge and skills through the introduction classes, to then finale with the tunic. Next term they can come back to create a nuno felt jacket if they would like to explore further.

Mosman Community College is a great place to take short courses or longer, in many subjects and is open to anyone. For more information on term 1 of 2015, click here:
http://www.mec.nsw.edu.au/categories/list.html?page=1%26SubcategoryID=14

The finished works, beautiful original wearable art pieces to be flaunted to their friends!

Each piece is reversible, with its wonderful textured silk side contrasting the colourful woollen side. 



I love watching the amazement and wonder of the students as they learn these expressive techniques and see what they are capable of creating themselves. A lovely way to spend our days.

Eco loco at Mosman

Finding colour in our experiments

Leafy splendor

Seductive silk

Triptych

Dyeing wool with leaves

Sap surprises

Leafy felt hat

A lovely day at Mosman, gathered around the cauldron. Students explored plant colour with samples and then a scarf and length of fabric. Great surprises.

Felt a hat or bag at Mosman

Here are some of the lovely items being made at the felt making course at Mosman Community College.


A wonderful bag showing great texture and natural tones...

 

 A colourful abstract bag with lovely contrasting inside patterns...

Here is my hat which I then eco dyed in the workshop last week. 

Eco dye course in Sydney

Term 4 Eco Dye course at Mosman Community College is next Wednesday the 12th November 2015. If you have been looking for a course in Sydney then be quick, there are still a few places available. To book and find out more, click here:

https://www.mec.nsw.edu.au/tutors/details.html?ModuleID=40155

Just in time for Christmas creativity!

Thank you

While I was teaching nuno felt making yesterday to some lovely enthusiastic ladies, something important was happening in this city of Sydney. It was the memorial service for one of Australia's past prime ministers, Gough Whitlam. For those of you overseas who read this blog, as well as my fellow Australians, I would like to share a couple of amazing youtube recordings from this memorial. Noel Pearson's speech is incredibly moving and educational in its synopsis of how important Whitlam was in creating contemporary Australia with its aboriginal rights, not to mention endless other achievements. In a day and age where it is hard to find politicians to truly respect and support, it was incredibly cathartic to hear and reflect on Pearson's words and Whitlam's achievements.    

highly recommended viewing 

In Full: Noel Pearson remembers Gough Whitlam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsXmYHiuJ8s

followed by 

"From little things, big things grow": Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody remember Gough in song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAONlfoNVuY

Like my heirloom seeds that keep reseeding and becoming stronger and stronger, I hope these sentiments of tolerance and equality will also reseed and grow stronger with new and current generations. 

Mosman Community College advanced feltmaking course

 Students designed their own creations in this two day course. Nuno felt tunic for some and jackets for those who had already created a tunic the term before. Skills built upon lesson by lesson, with the freedom to come for another course to refine techniques and create in confidence more complicated pieces. This is a wonderfully friendly atmosphere, small classes and great coffee within the heart of Mosman!
Come surprise yourself.


http://www.mec.nsw.edu.au/categories/list.html?SubcategoryID=14

Nuno felt jacket

White alpaca and merino tunic


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Felt making courses at Mosman Community College

Here are some of the lovely scarves made in the beginners felt making course this term at Mosman Community College.

 I love the way each person brings out their own ideas in this quick to learn medium.

For term 4 courses from beginner to advanced felt making, click here:
 http://www.mec.nsw.edu.au/categories/list.html?page=1%26SubcategoryID=14