Today I had to trek down to Geelong for a work meeting, and after the meeting I popped into the National Wool Museum and caught the Scarf Exhibition.
The theme was 'Coastal' and there was some amazing works of art. Knitted, Crocheted, Felted, Woven, Stitched, Painted, and some interesting scarf under the sub theme of recycled..... now just the thought of using cigarette buts would turned even a smokers stomach, this was actually rather creative and effective..... wearable... well not for me, but it certainly caught my eye. (make sure you go to the last photo to see this little gem)
Here are just some of the scarves.. and link with info.... but you had better be quick if you want to check it out, as it 'wraps up' this weekend.
http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/nwm/calendar/item/8cfa6790ec73f1f.aspx
My first sewing machine was a toy chain stitch machine that worked, I do not know how young I was, but I must have been young, as I do not remember not sewing.... from here I dabbled on my mum's Messerschmitt. (Neither of these photos are ours, but they are there as an example and to confirm that Messerschmitt indeed was a sewing machine brand and not just and German aeroplane from WW2).
Between mum and I we have then both had Husqvarna's, Pfaff's, a Lemair, and I now have a wiz bang Brother that can also convert to an embroidery machine.... oh and I did have an industrial machine that I loved and only did straight stitch!!!
So sewing machines have come a long way, and from someone accustomed to making do with the basic straight stitch, was dazzled by the Embroidery component, and I managed to overlook a great feature that I stumbled across today while running a sewing workshop.
My brother machine made great buttonholes, and have been using the great automatic buttonhole with the pull down sizing thingy.... but low and behold, if one puts in the button at the end, it makes the buttonhole the right size.... brilliant!!! That being said, it is brilliant and perfect for thick fabrics such as woollens, but for thin cotton, it is my opinion that the buttonhole is a little big. I like snug buttonholes that do not pop open.... but hey this is a great feature, and I cannot believe it has taken me close to 10 years to utilize this feature.
I now have to put aside my current novel and take the instruction book to bed for my night time reading to see what I am missing out on, as since I came home to test out on my machine, found that the button foot that came with the machine is pretty darn good too, with the option to increase the tightness or looseness of the button, again great for varying thickness!!
I have been very busy Sewing at the moment, and have not had much time to spend on my own crafty pursuits. However, I have a little something to share from the wise Uncle.
Back when we went to the Miss Fisher expo, we were talking crafty bits, op shops, sales, all very bad for hoarders. Now my Uncle was an electrician, and loves to dabble in all things electrical, and I love to dabble in all things craft, very different, but one very similar aspect, is having all the right materials and tools for any given job on any given day, and any time you might feel like it.
Yes, you guessed it, it means you need to have all the materials and tools, and what better way to get these, is specialist stores(especially at sale time) op shops, warehouse sales, wherever we can find them. Yes, you may not need it, but one day you may... and my Uncle likens the buying of all this stuff as an 'Insurance Policy' you might never need it, but when you do, you have it!
Great life motto.... like I need any encouragement!!
It is just as well I already think like this, my husband and I were cleaning out the glass shelf and thought maybe it was time to throw out some mismatched plastic cups.... he was just about to put them in the donation box, and I had a change of heart and decided they might just come in handy.
Just as well I used all of them when I tried out some newly purchased 'Landscape Dyes' and here are the results. So glad I had plastic containers handy!!!
Last week I picked up my Uncle and took him off to see the Miss Fisher Exhibition at Ripponlea. The Photos are not that great as the lighting was low to set the mood, and they were taken on my Phone with no flash, as no flash was allowed.
The exhibition was wonderful and the costumes were brilliant! The 1920 style was another great moment in fashion history and designer Marion Boyce puts together wonderful garments and accessories for the heroine Phryne Fisher. There was also a room to design your own 1920s garments, and there was some wonderful contributions up on the wall!
My Uncle loves Miss Fisher, and it is just as well she was not at the exhibition or I would have him swooning!
The tour was completed with a Miss Fisher inspired menu at the back in the stables that has been decked out marvellously!! The Exhibition is on until September. http://www.ripponleaestate.com.au/
On the last day of 'Intro to Spinning Workshops' I attended, we had a go at a drum carder. What fun it was too!!!
Now I am trying to work out how I can justify the spend on more equipment to fill up the house that already has bulging walls.
First I tried some washed fleece, and that was just brilliant, and sure beats hand carding!
Then onto a little blending with tops and some sari waste.... found at an op shop.... clearly I do not have a knack for finding these treasures at Op shops so big thanks to Jane!
So I went off to the Hand Weaver's and Spinning Guild Bizarre today, and am now a little poorer. I have been wanting an upright spinning wheel for a while now, but with 3 traditional wheels cluttering up the house, thought better of it.
But this is a piece of Art!!
Now I am very new to this spinning caper, but here is the info on the web.
'Jim de Castella made these heavy and powerful wheels in
Gladysdale Victoria for about 20 years (until approximately 1997). A self-taught woodworker, he made around 1500, and sold some to Japan and America. All his wheels are uprights, made from either pine or locally sourced blackwood. He used ball bearings everywhere.' From the other notes, and a pictures on the Australian Wheel site, this could possible be a blackwood one, but I had always though blackwood darker, and is it not overly heavy, so maybe it is a pine one.
Now to take it for a test drive, and try and get the hang of this double drive business!
Back on Australia Day, I was lucky enough to be first in on a Showcase Purchase of a Beer & Skittle's hand dye.
https://www.facebook.com/BeerSkittles?fref=ts
So blended it, spun it fine... the finest I have managed to spin so far. Plied with Guterman's Sulky variegated, then I made some lovely fabric (well I think it is lovely), on my Rigid Heddle loom. The result is 80 x 170cms, now I just need to make something with it....but for the moment I will just admired it.
The colours are divine!!!
