favourites

Hello, whats your fave stuff? I have very wide ranging tastes but generally lean towards things which are old and worn, books that have soft corners and slightly yellowed pages, old printed rusty tins, driftwood...

I love green and blue colours, anodised kitchen ware, also grey-the kind you'd see on plated metals which have worn thin...

I love tiny little details and expanses of blank space...

my latest creations feature lots of my favourites- tiny stitches, green thread, blue felt, space(!)...and I am very pleased with them!

These new favourites are available in one of my fave places, Reverse garbage which is having a grand opening, Saturday Feb 26th at thier new location 20 Burke street,

Woolloongabba, 9 a.m -5.

And no, not telling what my new favourites are, you'll have to head in to see!

xKate

wet weather events

Hello! Sorry I have not been posting much lately-my home computer internet connections is on the blink, and relying heavily on my iphone and wireless cafes is not working out so well...I hope to get it all fixed soon.

Anyhoo-today I am online with my trusty usb stick at my lovely friend Sams! Thanks dear one!! LOTS and LOTS going on...will start with the good news...

The fundraiser at Reverse Garbage went brilliantly-the organisers did an amazing job; the space looked wonderful and the food was delicious and presented so creatively!

The whole feel of the night was so good natured, the live music and the auction was exciting-its a thrill to see the crowd joining in the fun and chipping in towards the fundraising! The event kick starts the fundraising process-for the the purchase of a permanent home, a purpose bought Reverse Garbage building. I would love to see this come into fruition!
I am thrilled to have a selection of my dash robin pieces in the gallery store.

I chose some Christmas style items;, some of my partridges, jacaranda brooches and few other good gift giving ones. Reverse garbage receives a percentage for these
sales, I am really happy to know that commission fee is going to a good cause!




So that was the highlight of the week. The rest though was more like a series of lowlights! Yesterday I spent some time reflecting and regathering my spirits with the help of this little love, curling up on my lap, purring and basically letting me be quiet and down. The disheartened feelings I had when two highly anticipated weekend markets were totally washed out left me very flat. This is the not so cheerful part! My hope and optimism about this business is at a low point.
Saturdays Christmas Brisstyle market was hit by such extreme weather, high winds whipping up and absolute down pouring of rains. Unfortunately quite a few of us had wet stock but the efforts of the organisers are appreciated. Helen was racing around with plastic sheeting and trying to keep every ones spirits up despite how frustrating it must have been for her, it was nothing short of spectacular and inspiring.

On Sunday I did not have high hopes for a clear skied day. I gathered at Northey street with the few brave souls who had travelled to our market site. Bob soothed our souls with some amazing music, the acoustics of playing under food connects huge new tent and heavy rain was so moving it raised goosebumps.

I felt negative and bitter and without the kindness and gentle support of everyone around me I would have felt worse-this was the site where one of the stall holders was meant to be!

Can you believe it?!?!
These feelings pass, Buddhism and counselling have given me some small seeds of patience and in some ways I know I am and even
feel lucky. Knowing this is passing disappointment, not genuine depression. I hope and work towards never facing depression again, I had a terrible time in the past with it and am thankful to have mental stability.

So instead of surrendering to feelings of failure I am cherishing simple little happy tasks, one at at time, and holding fast to moments of joy,

xoKate.

market days

Brisstyle eco market was so lovely. Setting up stall under a big shady tree was perfect and before the market officially started I zipped around the market and collected a few special goodies.
I have just about ticked off my entire Christmas shopping list. In the photo above you can see a beautiful silky oak owl brooch from Jettas nest, first edition of Bespoke magazine, plushy turtle toy from little jellygnite, air plant by Nell of feybles
and little soaps which will be perfect stocking fillers from warm sigh.

I will be spending some time this week working on brooches and toys, photographing them, etc because happilly I need to make more stock. It's really a joy and so satisfying to be making and selling what I love, that my little dream for dash robin of using materials (which I adore)-organic hand dyed yarns and special vintage remnants is being realised. Thanks to all the supporters of independent eco friendly craft who make this happen!

My music collage suitcase worked brilliantly for displaying my brooches and I have also just found out my lovely friend Nerida has grabbed a vintage blue suitcase for me which will be joining my eclectic collection of props and stands :o)

I had such a great day Saturday, loved sharing the eco stall with Vanessa, of little original who is back on the scene after a small break from the market scene-with very good reason!
I had a delightful morning meeting her adorable new bubsy.

It's really wonderful to display dash robin creations alongside her works, our items are unique and distinct from each others yet seem to really work well together. We will be sharing again soon at the upcoming Brisstyle designers market and I can't wait.

I think its true to say we are 'fans' of each other..we have down a couple of swaps and I am happy to have a few stunning little original vintage fabric and doily chickens and ducks decorating my house. They look gorgeously warm and friendly and children love them so much.

I will be updating soon about Village life too,
so please check back later in the week, won't you!
xKate

close knit finale

After what felt like an impossibly long wait the Brisbane festivals Close Knit program finished up in a big way this Saturday with a cherry picker reaching to the high limbs of this gum tree to create the most spectacular sight- a knitted tree!

The Close Knit project has been a beautiful community project-life affirming,
joy giving and funI know a few people who think yarn bombing is a waste of resources and time but for me it's a way of elevating the status of both womens work and yarn work.
And I just love the way the colours work, it's such fun to see people noticing, seeing, stopping and examining something familiar because it's been wrapped up in wool.
I love yarn bombing!

It was amazing to look up and see all the individuals work joined together to form a whole.
Knitting and crochet were the traditional skills which provided for the various communities involved in the Close Knit project to come together, to share conversation, create, learn and reach out.
The tree is a perfect symbol to me of the beauty of healthy close knit communities-they are well grounded but also extending, growing and a part of larger systems.

Who(hoooo?) would think yarn could be so useful? ;o)
xKate

French knot success!

I would love to be able to pop a few French words in here just to celebrate learning a new thing! Champagne! Croissant!
All lovely things and about the only French words I know, so they'll have to do.

They might be clumsy and over sized take a peek above, my first ever french knots!
So excited to have cracked them!A sprinkle of them over things just adds a bit without adding too much...
(this flower hair clip is an old woollen dressing gown, washed until thoroughly felted then cut and shaped.)

Now sorry to rudely interrupt my stitching ravings but I have some nice news now for Brisbane locals who have some time up there sleeve this weekend!
Please feel very welcome to join me
either on Saturday from 2.30-4.30- Lido cafe at 120 Racecourse road
or on Sunday at Vagelis Cafe and Bar- 1 til 3, at 30 Racecourse road.

Bring a hook, needles and some yarn and we can swap tricks...beginners welcome!
I am attending to promote- the diversity and craftyness of the Brisbane Festival ( a great job)
and also to gently remind all that it's Breast cancer awareness coming up in October
-so pink yarn only please...
Happy crafting,
XKate
To creative space travel this way or more recent stitching here or here

My creative space

You can still enter my giveaway here, so do that, then read on...

All of us women in the back row of this photo are wearing a scarf...one very long scarf!!
We all contributed to it, part of our efforts towards the Close Knit project,
for the Brisbane Festival.
(I am fourth from the left wearing a a black top and happy grin!)

Brisbane readers may want to keep the 25 of September free because we will be presenting our crochet creations as yarn bombing artwork at the 'Into Africa' event in Yeronga.
There will be a market, dancing, a choir of 200 singers, cute sleepy babies in slings to fuss over and more...I can hardly wait!

And with her big blue dancing gumboots and blue crochet hat on Petronias' angelic daughter sure looks excited and ready too!

On the dash robin crafting side of things I am heading in for the Village life market at Northey street in Windsor this weekend.
I love the place and am rapt to be able to attend. I will be there my lovely friend Angie, who some of you will know from the Avid market.

Over the next few days I am going to use some more of the caramel coloured wool (dyed with gum tree bark) to make more brooches to take in.
I have been busier than ever and thought I might like a break today from crochet, an actual day off from all work related pursuits...

but the beauty of loving what I do means I still yearn to do it in my spare time too.
I am absorbed by the fun of coming up with new ideas, trying different techniques and I get to keep myself busy, contented and my creative mind active.


Oh and Brisbanites also keep an eye out for an upcoming TV special-its a Great South East episode on the close knit project.
I may possibly be in it, in a blink and you'd miss it kind of way, the real draw card is the lovely women of a Sandgate aged care place.
I have been volunteering there and enjoy working beside these amazing women, some in thier nineties, striken with arthritis yet the knitting they do makes me green with envy. Hopefully the show will highlight how thier beautiful, wrinkled, soft and delicate hands can still wield knitting needles or crochet hooks with amazing results.
xKate
P.s-if you do watch it let me know what you think...I have no interest in TV so never hooked mine up, ha, ha, irony!
I also slept through my abc radio interview (it was on at 5.30 a.m) so I have to rely on more reliable viewers to keep me up to speed...:o)
more creativity here

Tricycle pop up shop

On Saturday Chrissy, Bec and I set up our first Tricycle pop up shop!
Michelle who runs the lovely shop 'nook' supported us and graciously let us use her sweet courtyard and garden out front of her store.


We placed our eco friendly crafted goodies amongst the plants, on our vintage beloved suitcases,
tiny antique cupboards and anywhere else we thought looked 'right.'
It was a lot of fun, thanks to all who visited!


my new nest brooches...


Chrissy's jewellery


Bec's Beautiful clothing


Hmm...if you are wishing you had come along, don't worry!
There's even more crafting goodness to be found...
Come along to Avid Reader bookstore, Boundary Street, West end, this Friday night.
Yep, it's the 'lovely thing makers' monthly craft market,
hope to see you there!
xKate
p.s- this month will be extra special as the band 'muddy tutu!' are playing!

sunny day...

Latest bag with some crochet squares, just for fun!

I have been busy at work all week, with different workshops, craft meet ups and making new bags, so it's great today to be able to take some time out...I am spending time with my eldest son who is having the day off school. It is a day off for him because there is an event on at the school which would make him uncomfortable but I will have to let him have more of these days off here and there.

One thing I long for as a single parent is to be able to spend one on one time with my kids so I am signing off now to go soak up the glorious sun with my beloved boy...hope to see some locals at the pop up shop tomorrow,

xKate