Maleny Knitfest 2017… it’s on again!!

Hello everyone, the Maleny Knitfest is on again… Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th July, so, mark these dates on your calendar.

The theme for this year is “Under the Sea”

There will be trade & market stalls, yarnbombing, competitions, workshops & demonstrations… all things fibre – a fabulous feast for all of us who love the tactile fibre & yarnie Arts & Crafts: crochet, knitting felting, spinning & weaving & everything in-between & beyond.

I will have a trade stall selling my freeform pieces, my books & patterns & holding workshops on both mornings:

1) Crochet Spiral – The BasicsSaturday morning 8th July 10am to 12pm

2) Crochet Bullions DemystifiedSunday morning 9th July 10am tp 12pm

You can find out about presenters here & book into workshops here or enter a competition here

Bookings are essential as workshop spaces are limited so, don’t leave it too long to avoid disappointment.

Whether you choose a workshop, enter a competition, would like to see some talented fibre artists & their work or, just want a golly good day out with family & friends, I hope to see you there….

The following is quoted from the knitfest site

“Knitfest 2017 is an exciting weekend Yarn & Fibre Arts Festival held on 8th and 9th July, 2017, celebrating winter arts and crafts, embracing the whole community of Maleny. We will be yarnbombing and decorating the main street of Maleny which will come alive with yarnbombing, workshops, Guest Speakers, music and craft markets. It is a magical celebration for families and a time for young and old to discover new skills, talents and creativity with the use of yarns including knitting, crochet, basket weaving, spinning and weaving, felting and lots more. Get involved and join one of the many workshops. The town will literally be wrapped in art, as 7 high sculptures made from fibre decorate our street!

The town will feature competitions for community groups, art associations and skilled artisans as they decorate posts and trees in our beautiful streetscapes with handmade art installations made of yarn and fibre. There’s prize money too!  There is also several competitions for the Best Beanie, Scarf, Shawl/socks, Tea Cosy etc. Ride the Mystic bus as it travels up and down the Festival Precinct and out to the best tourist locations Maleny has to offer. It’s yarnbombed of course. 

We encourage people to bring their knitting needles, crochet hooks and basket weaving skills for random acts of art in the street with the many demonstrations and art involvement in our cafes and Trade stalls. We want to expose the many Fibre artists, arts and crafts groups, knitting for causes groups, artisan groups and craft suppliers in a fun filled family weekend.

The theme for this year is “Under the Sea”.

We will celebrate all that is winter on the mountain.

Knitfest is a not For Profit Community Group run by volunteers. We rely on our wonderful sponsors and Community Grants for funding each year. The Knitfest Yarnbombing Team meet each Tues at 10am – 12pm at ‘The Garden’, 34 Mountain View Rd, Maleny to work on this year’s projects to decorate the town during the event. To sponsor the event, donate yarn or knitted/crocheted  pieces, please contact knitfest@hotmail.com

Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2015….

Fire & Flood felted beanieHi everyone, it’s been quite a while since my last post… time is just flying…

So, it’s that time of year again… The Alice Springs Beanie Festival… & all the excitement that it generates across Australia… I did find the theme ‘Opposites Attract’ a bit challenging this year but, as it so often happens, in a quiet moment the ideas slowly emerged… These are my 2 entries that I know have safely arrived in Alice Springs, thanks to Aussie Post’s tracking system…

I’d like to wish all contestants much success &, all those lucky enough to be at the festival, a fabulous time…

1) Fire & Flood ~ Wet Felted & beaded Beanie.

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2) From Coral Reefs…to Tropical Beaches…to Forest Hinterlands ~ Hand-spun beanie, embellished with freeform crochet & wet felted motifs.

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50 Years of Flower Power – a freeform crochet & knit artwork – Call out…

Flower power1This post is a call out for Prudence Mapstone who is inviting creative crocheters & knitter to join her in creating a unique piece of wall art for an upcoming Sydney (Australia) textile art show. Freeform crochet or knit contributions are sought worldwide: be part of a joint creation to be exhibited at Fibrefest, Sydney, May 1-3, 2015.

You’ll find all the details here

if you’re on Ravelry… check out what other folk have been doing so far

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This project grabbed me the moment I came across it on Facebook… as a ‘matured’ hippy it’s right up my alley. And, I’m sure, for those of you old enough to remember: the flower power Combies & panel-vans, caftans & tie-dyed Tshirts, Peace & Love, ‘Make Love Not War’ posters… & what a carefree time it was, it will bring a knowing smile…

Flower power 3So… dig deep into your stash & pulled out all those long forgotten hot pinks, iridescent oranges & lime greens & begin.  Patterns aren’t necessary but can be a good place to start, make a scrumple or just a motif, let the colours lead the way…. it’s the best fun I’ve had in ages & I’m hoping many of you will take up the invite… whether young, ‘mature’ or somewhere in-between… & have a go… trust me, you’ll really enjoy yourself…

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Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, Sunshine Coast Queensland, Australia…

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Hello everyone, this is a community project that I’m so excited to be participating in & thought I’d share some of what I’ve been doing so far…

Here’s a link to where it all began http://crochetcoralreef.org/about/index.php

& here’s a link to the ‘Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef’ that I also contributed to in 2009  http://sydneyreef.blogspot.com.au

The launch of ‘Spawning of the Sunshine Coast Satellite Reef’, part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef Project and created by the Institute for Figuring, took place at the ‘World Environment Day Festival’ on Sunday, 8th June 2014 at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

This large scale community program project will culminate in an exhibition at ‘Caloundra Regional Gallery’ from May 20 to June 28, 2015… so there’s plenty of time for anyone interested in reef awareness to participate… here’s the link to the Caloundra Regional Gallery

http://gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=exhibition-coral-reef

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So… these are some examples of my efforts… I’ve used yarn from my stash, yarn that people have given to me, yarn purchased from Op shops, plastic string & old video tapes… It’s the most fun I’ve had in ages watching the pieces grow… &, I still have heaps of ideas for experimenting with these wonderful shapes & forms that are so easy to create & come to life with every stitch… Enjoy!

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Reversible Freeform crochet, knit, felt & beaded scarf….

CarnivalThis piece is one I originally created for a competition for the Embellish Magazine in 2010. No… I didn’t win but did make it in the 1st 50, the photos of which were published in the June 2010 issue. The scarf, (I called it ‘Carnival’), has been sitting idle in a box since then & I was delighted to rediscover it. There & then, I decided that it’s time for it to see the light of day again so I’m offering it for sale in my Etsy shop.Carnival 2

Now… this freeform crochet, knit felt scarf wrap is not for the faint-hearted. This is a OOAK, never to be repeated scarf, wrap… A Unique piece of wearable art for someone with attitude & who dares to be different.

A pain white silk scarf has been ornately embellished incorporating felting, beading, freeform crochet & knitted motifs. I used all sorts of yarn from acrylics & metallic to cotton & pure wool & all sorts of techniques: crochet, knitting, felting, beading, tassels & even a little hand-dyeing. It’s double-sided with each side being different so it’s totally reversible.

I know, I know… it’s absolutely ‘over the top’…. but, enthusiasm sometimes has no bounds. I’m so glad I found it… it made me smile… I hope you enjoy it too…

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