Wild Knitting

Hullo fellow ladycrafters!

Following on our very successful meeting last month with Marietha, we are sending the year off with a big bang this month.  Linda Tacke from the Wilderness is giving a workshop on Wild  Knitting.  The class is full and we have had to add second one on the Friday before our meeting!  Even so, there is still a waiting list so I am going to arrange with Linda to do another workshop next year.  Watch this space for details.

Even though the class is full there is still plenty of space for those who just want to come and peace out as usual.  Just let me know for catering purposes please.  The date is the 15th November.  I look forward to a really great day - again!

I will advise the dates for next year in due course so that you can all add them to your diaries.

   

Sri Lanka Applique

Hullo fellow crafters!

On Saturday, I decided to spend a little time sitting at my work table doing some beading.  This table is under the window which looks out towards the Magaliesberg mountain.  Every time I look up from my work this is the view which "attacks" me!

No, the aliens have not landed on my back lawn - it's the reflection from my lamp.  As I have said before, I am not going to win any prizes for photography!  Looking at this picture, is it any wonder that I look for excuses not to have to go out anywhere?

On the 18th, Marietha arrived bright and early to set up for her workshop on Sri Lanka Applique.  Now, my favourite crafts at present are knitting, crochet and beading so I was vey happy to have received positive response from enough ladies who signed on for the workshop.  Then Marietha packed out all her stuff and the participants started arriving and choosing their designs.  I was hooked and decided to join in.  What fun!!!!  We each chose a kit which contained the design already appliqued onto the fabric and all the embellishments in order to complete the pretty picture.  This suits me down to the ground because I always "overthink" everything.  With this kit, all I had to worry about was what colour thread to use on which embellishment!  Here are some of te WIP (works in progress) from the workshop.

I love the guinea fowl and I think that if I decide to make another kit, that is what I will choose.  Thank you Marietha for a super day doing something absolutely different.  Hopefully, we can do it again sometime.

Our last workshop/meeting for this year will be on the 15th November.  Linda from Treehouse Knits in the Wilderness will be showing the ladies how to do wild knitting.  I have experienced a workshop done by this amazing lady and am sure that the participants are going to have a great time.  The class is fully booked but I will definitely twist Linda's arm for another workshop next year so let me know if you are interested.  There is, of course, lots of room for the rest of you to come and enjoy the day with us even though the class is full.  Visit Linda's blog for insight into her work - http://www.themilkwoodtree.blogspot.com/.  It is amazing.

Sri Lanka Applique

Hullo all

I am so blessed!!  I have been incredibly busy the last couple of weeks doing shows and stuff with my beads.

First we had Crafty Ladies on the 15th of last month.  It was a small meeting but very relaxed and everyone worked on their own things.  Welcome to Ansie who attended for the first time.  Ansie missed the turn into our gate and so she did a little bit of sight-seeing of the area.  That's not a bad thing to experience although the gravel road might not be the best in the country.  Perhaps one day, the Council or Province will do something about it but I am not holding my breath.

Then from the 26th to 28th September was the Centurion Craft Show.  We had to move the venue this year and Petro was able to negotiate with the agent of a shopping centre in Clubview to use one of the vacant shops.  In my opinion, we had an amazing vibe and the show went off very well.  Brigette flew up from Cape Town to exhibit her jewellery and for the first time, she had very good sales.  Well done you!!!  Exhibiting at these shows is an advertising/marketing strategy for me and I was very pleased to have made some sales as well.  Thank you to everyone especially Petro and her hard-working team.

Then this past week on Thursday and Friday I exhibited at the Needlework Carnival which was held at Moreleta Park.  Once again, I was pleasantly surprised at the sales which I made.  Thank you to Jeanette for organising this event.

At both these events, I made a lot of contacts and I am sure that we will be seeing more of each other during the coming months at Crafty Ladies and also beading workshops which I hope to give.  For those who do not know me, I have a beading business which is operated under the name of The Bead Diva and the website is www.manique.co.za.  Orders for beads can be placed online and I can also be contacted through the website.

Now to what is going to be happening  over the next couple of months.  Firstly we have our next Crafty ladies on the 18th of October.  We will be having a workshop on Sri Lanka Applique which will be presented by Marietha.  Marietha will bring with her kits which will be prepared so that we only have to do the really fun stuff at the workshop.  The cost for an A5 size kit is only R250 which includes her class fee.  There will be bigger kits as well which will cost a little more.  As usual, I will serve refreshments and a light lunch - cost R100.  I still have a couple of places left for this interesting craft.  Again, I re-iterate that all are welcome even if you do not which to do the workshop.  Remember, Crafty Ladies = NO PRESSURE!

Our last meeting for this year will be on the 15th November and the workshop on that occasion will be presented by Linda from the Wilderness who will show us her take on knitting.  She calls it Wild Knitting.  Linda also dyes yarn by hand and will be bringing some to the workshop.  Visit her blog at http://www.themilkwoodtree.blogspot.com to see some truly amazing stuff.  Her class is fully booked but space is available for those who just want to come out and enjoy the day doing their own thing.  We have started a waiting list and the good news is that I will try and twist Linda's arm to do another workshop next year.

I know that the blog is very bland without pictures but bear with me - I will eventually become less technologically challenged and learn how to add images which are not from my camera or phone.
A N D  I will try to remember to take more pictures at these events!!! 

Can you believe how fast this year has flown?  It is almost time for the end of year rush - Matric exams, other exams, Christmas and year end functions.  I hope lots of you can find the time to get to Crafty Ladies and feed the soul in the country!

Enjoy crafting
Love
Sharon

Wild Knitting Adventure

Hi Everyone

Before I go into the details of the plans I have for the November meeting, just a quick update of our last one.  Once again, we were only a few ladies but it was very pleasant and relaxing.  Thank you to all who were there for making my day special.  I hope to see a lot more of you in future.  Again, I had such a good time that I forgot to take any photos.  Barbara is vey busy getting samples ready of her Loom Knitting for Petro's show.  Also working on that craft were first time participant Juanita - welcome to her - and Erika who later changed to working on her embroidery project.  Petro also worked on embroidery for her website.  They are gorgeous.  Sue and Ouma worked on beads and I knitted.

Petro is hard at work with her team planning for this year's Centurion Craft Show which is planned for the last weekend in September.  I do not know how to upload the flyer to this site so I will attach it to the email which I will send as usual.  Brigette and I will share a stand with our beadwork and I hope that you will all diarise the event and pop in for a visit.  I can assure you that it is very worthwhile.  All the exhibitors show genuinely handcrafted items.  Nothing mass produced and everything is BEAUTIFUL.  Trust me!

Can you believe that we only have 3 more meetings this year?  What has happened to TIME???  Please diarise the last 3 dates:  13th September, 18th October and 15th November.  This is what will be happening.

September - nothing definite is planned but I am prepared to do beads if enough show interest.  I can also twist Barbara's arm to do some Loom Knitting again if the interest is there.

October - this is going to be magic.  Marietha will be giving her workshop of Sri-Lankan Applique.  Please send me lots of acceptances for this one.  I will forward more detail closer to the time.  Marietha will also be at Petro's show.

November - Wild Knitting Workshop.  My friend Maynette told me about Linda Tacke who has a blog which you absolutely have to visit at www.themilkwoodtree.blogspot.com. My mouth literally hung open!  Maynette invited me together with some other friends to a weekend workshop at the end of July which was run by said Linda who hails from Wilderness.  Linda dyes yarns and then makes them up into these amazing projects.  I am waiting for delivery of lace weight yarn which she has dyed red for me to make another Orenburg shawl and my impatience is growing by the day!  Another friend who was at that workshop was Marita who is running with the suggestion that we do a follow-up workshop.  It has been decided to do it in conjunction with our last meeting of the year.  Please visit Linda's blog and I am sure that you will be as excited as me about this last meeting.  The workshop will cost R400 and the cut off date for payment is the 1st November.  Linda needs to pay for the air fare before then.  Let me know if you are interested and I will forward you the banking details.  When Marita's flyer is finished, I will forward it on.

Fondant Workshop

Busy, busy, busy is what I have been since the last post..  Not that I am complaining because if I am not kept very busy my mind does terrible things to me and I start worrying and panicking over the smallest irrelevant stuff.  So busy I intend to keep.

I am still battling with my computer although for the moment the internet connectivity seems to be fairly stable for which I am VERY grateful.  It is in other areas that my good intentions get frustrated.  The camera on my cell phone stopped working as did some other stuff on the device so sometime in June I went onto Vodacom's website and asked when I was due for an upgrade.  The website said that an upgrade was not due but that a message had been sent to my phone.  The message said that my upgrade was due on the 23rd May 2014. Really??!!!!  Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am now the proud owner of a new phone which is working well. 

The reason that I am telling you all of this is not to bore you to distraction but simply to tell you that I am not able to download the pictures from the last Crafty Ladies day from my camera yet so this post is sorely lacking in that department.

However, that should not stop us from enjoying the days when we meet here on the farm and just peace out doing what we do best - our crafts.  Speaking of which, our next meeting will be next Saturday the 16th August and Tanya is waiting to hear from me regarding numbers for her fondant workshop.  Please let me know ASAP if you will be doing the workshop.  To remind you, this is what is on the cards.  It looks really cool, I think.










 







       
The cost for the workshop is only R350 all inclusive.  I am waiting for the acceptances to pour in!!!

Please also let me know if you will be coming even if you do not want to do the workshop.  You are nevertheless very welcome.  (Refreshments cost R100).

Well, that's it for now.  Hope to hear from lots of ladies that will be coming to visit on the 16th!!

Fondant Workshop

In a previous post, I told you that we are going to be doing a fondant workshop in August.  Tanya has sent me these pictures of the goodies which we will be making.  They are just SO CUTE!!

                                            
                                                                                    



                                      
                                           




                                                     

                                          
                                         

                                         I am sure that this has picqued lots of interest amongst you.  The workshop takes about 4 hours and costs R350.  The first 6 places are guaranteed!!  Please let me know ASAP if you are interested.

A quick reminder that there is no workshop planned for this Saturday so everyone just bring your own.

Let the emails flow telling me that you are coming to both or either of the events!!

Next Meeting

Hi Everyone

Yes, it is time to start thinking about what projects to bring with to our next Crafty Ladies Meeting.  This will happen on next Saturday, 19th July.  No special class is planned.  My friend, Megan, is recovering well from the outsize surgery of a few weeks ago.  Maybe, we can persuade her just to come out for the day and relax with us.  We are going to reschedule her workshop to make a polymer clay bead when she is completely well.

Our last meeting which happened on 21st June went well as usual.  I forgot to take any pictures but do have these of my Orenburg Shawl which I eventually finished.  I can't wait to find the right yarn to make another one

                                       .

This is the back view.

                                                        

                                                                  




I am battling to put these picture where I want them and also to make them a litte bigger.  You will have to try and view them as best you can!!

Oh well,  maybe one day I will be clever enough to work these things out.

Remember to let me know if you will be coming to the meeting.

Computer gremlins!

Hi everyone

Is it not very scary how fast time seems to pass?  Once again, I have just realised that our next meeting is on Saturday coming and I have not been posting as I actually want to.  Oh well ..........  AND  the year is half way gone!

On Saturday we are having another "free" day.  In other words, no workshop is happening.  Our friend Megan, who was going to show us how to make a polymer clay bead, has had a bit of a set back and is unable to make it.  I am sure that you all join me in wishing her a speedy recovery after the major surgery she had to endure.  Hang in there Megan we hope to see you at Crafty Ladies soon.

We may be having another free day in July (the 19th) all depending on how Brigette's arrangements pan out for her visit to Gauteng to attend a conference round about the same time.  I will keep you informed.

In August (16th), Tanya Singleton is going to give us a workshop on Fondant.  That's cake icing (more or less) to those of us who are not as well-informed as others!  Please keep the date in mind as I am sure that this will be a really interesting class.  I will let you have details closer to the time.

Back to Saturday, I am available as usual for anyone wanting to do beads.  You just have to let me know if you want to do this and which project takes your fancy.  Otherwise, we just do the usual relax and enjoy day.  Soup is on the menu for the cold weather.  Please let me know if you are coming so that no one goes hungry!!

I am working very hard to get my webite neat and tidy but it seems that there is always a gremlin to make it a little more difficult.  To start with, I am quite technologically challenged so everything takes me a lot longer to do.  Secondly, on Friday afternoon my notebook/laptop died.  It absolutely refuses to switch on.  So I phoned Nolan in desperation and yesterday he set me up with a brand spanking new computer. YaY!  BUT  I cannot access any of the data on the other machine.  I know. I know, where are my backups?  Well, the external hard drive which I was using also crashed a couple of weeks ago and so now I am seriously in trouble regarding the files on the old machine.

I just received a big order of fire polished crystals which now needs to be added to website but the figures are all - you guessed it - in the old machine.  So now I must go and rework the prices before I can input them onto the website.  Please excuse me while I attend to that and end off this post now.

See you on Saturday!!!

Polymer Clay Postponed

Hullo to everyone

Jut a quick update of workshops planned for the next couple of months.

I am sorry to have to tell you all that Megan will not be able to do our workshop on the 21st June as planned due to health issues which have cropped up.  Megan has given all the details on her blog at http://meganstinytreasures.blogspot.com.  Basically she has been admitted to hospital today and will undergo major surgery after which there will be a long recovery.  We wish her everything of the best and will re-schedule our date when she is feeling better.

I am still waiting for confirmation from Brigette regarding the possibility of a bead embroidery workshop on the 19th July.  It all depends on the travel arrangements for the group for the conference which takes place around the same time in Jozi.

All you ladies who love to be in the kitchen making sugary things, Tanya Singleton will be giving a fondant workshop on the 16th August.

Marietha van der Merwe will be showing us Sri Lankan Applique on the 18th October.

A cardmaking day is also being planned so watch this space.

I will post more details of all the workshops closer to the time.

Polymer Clay Bead

Yes - this is the project which we are going to do at our next meeting on the 21st June.  I have been in communication with Megan Wallace from Tin Soldiers who will be presenting the workshop.  Visit Megan's blog at http://meganstinytreasures.blogspot.com to see what amazing things this lady does.  We will need to be at least 6 ladies to take part so please get back to me soon so that I can confirm with Megan that we will have enough participants.  The cost will be R50 (if we are 6 ladies) plus the cost of the clay kits which are R22 each.  I will send further details closer to the time.

Now for all my outstanding bits and pieces.

The meeting on 15th March was great as always.  Thank you once again to all who made the trip between the athletes taking part in the Om-i-Dam Marathon.  Welcome to our newest lady, Marcia.  I hope we will see you at many more meetings.

Even though our workshop on quilting was cancelled, we had a most pleasant day.  I had some beading kits available and so the void was filled.  Sandra S learned to make the Canadian Spiral Necklace and  Patricia started making a Crystal Cuff Bracelet with a lot of help from Petro.

Here is a picture of Sandra's completed necklace.

I am sure that you agree with me that it is stunning.  Patricia is still working on her bracelet.

Our meeting on  12th April was very small.  Only Felicity and Denise came out to enjoy the day with me.  It was Denise's first time so we welcome her to our special group.  We are trying to convince her to give us a workshop on fabric painting.  I will let you know how well our nagging of her is progressing!  Denise brought with her some UFO (for those who do not understand, this means unfinished objects) beading projects which we worked on during the day.  Felicity also started the Crystal Cuff Bracelet.

I know this is not anything to do with crafts but Charlie looks very cute wearing his dad's glasses - almost like an absent-minded professor!!  I am not sure that it improves his "intelligent" look though.

Isn't this blanket gorgeous?  It is another of Felicity's creations.  My sister really is one clever lady!

Our last meeting was on 3rd May and I have to admit that I only took a few pictures on the day.

Sandra S started a new beading project - she has really grasped the beads easily.  Michelle brought along some knitting as did Merle who finished off another baby jersey and bootees.  Merle also got caught up in the beads and purchased a kit.  I hope to see the finished necklace soon.

 This is Denise who brought along her beads again.  After the previous session, both she and Felicity went  home and unpicked their half finished projects that they had been battling with.  Denise then remade the one bracelet and it looks stunning.  Well done to her.  Here she is making the Cellini Spiral.

Felicity brought along the Cork Screw Necklace which she has been fighting with for a long time.  This picture shows Ouma sorting out the different beads after the attempt had been unpicked for the umpteenth time!  However, my determined sister went home a fought with it some more and look at this picture below.  SHE MADE IT!  you go girl!

Work in progress - really looking good

And the finished goods!!!

Last Sunday morning, I was invited to bring my beads and have a table at the open day at the International Doll Makers Convention.  The dolls were all on display and my jaw fell right down to the floor.  I don't think that I have ever seen such absolutely phenomenal hand work in my life.The dolls are made totally from scratch.  The porcelain is done in moulds and painted and the clothes are all made by the maker.  Some are stitched, some are knitted and some are crocheted.  I have never seen such fine work before.  Thank you for including me in your show day.  It was an absolute privilege.  I am not putting up a photo here, as my photographic talents do not do these dolls any justice at all.

Knitting Tour

Hi Everyone

It seems that my intention to write more often has fallen by the wayside!  This month since the last get together has been quite hectic so once again I have to apologise for the delay in sending out some news.

Firstly, a big thank you again to all the ladies who came to our first get together for the year.  It was a great success and I am sure that the girls who all did the pearl knotting had a great time.  Many thanks to Merle G for doing this for us.  What really impressed me was the fact that this project could be finished in a couple of hours.  Several of the ladies could wear their new neckware home.  Well done to all of you.  Next time I will join in the class to learn the technique.  There were too many ladies at this event so I decided to wait as there are members who were unable to attend but want to learn how to do this.

                                           Work in progress of a pretty pastel pink necklace.

                   Barbara chose her pearls to match a pendant which she will attach to her string.

                            Merle G making sure that the ladies are doing the knots correctly!

In "show and tell"  Ronel made this very cute baby blanket which got a lot of positive comments.

From the 19th to the 28th February I and 10 friends (some new) went on a wool/knitting trip to the Eastern Cape.  We stayed at various places on our way to East London and then made our way back to Pretoria.  It was absolutely fantastic. I took a few pictures but will do a big post on the trip when I get more pictures on a CD as promised by Andriesa.

Here are a few tasters:

 The morning sun reflecting on the Gariep Dam - so beautiful.

 An interesting welcome at a very cute gift / coffee shop in Middelburg Cape.

 We found a lovely little coffee shop in Willowmore where I ordered savoury mince and salad without the "roosterbrood" which was the speciality of the shop and served with every item.  The salad was arranged around the outside of the plate and the savoury mince was put in a polystyrene cup in the centre.  Very different but it tasted great.

As you know, our next meeting is on the 15th March which is on Saturday.  Unfortunately, Neeske has  sent me an email cancelling her participation so the quilting demo will not happen.  Time is too short to find someone else so we have a choice.  Either we can just have a free day or I can do a workshop on another beading project.

 Perhaps the Canadian Twist Necklace or the Baroque Bracelet.

 Baroque Bracelet Kit costs R410.

Canadian Twist Necklace kit costs R310.

Which would you like to do?  Drop me an email with your colour preference. Also, please let me know if you will be attending but not doing the beadwork as I need numbers for catering purposes.

That's it for now.
Love
Sharon

Pearl Knotting

Hi everyone

Preparations for the workshop next week on Pearl Knotting are progressing full steam ahead.  I know that I for one am seriously looking forward to seeing how the craft is done.  There is still time to put your name down if you are interested.  You are also welcome to the day even if you do not wish to do the workshop.  The class costs R395 which is payable on the day.  Refreshments cost R100 which includes lunch.

Like most other places in North West and Gauteng, we have had lots of rain here on the farm.  According to our rain gauge we had in excess of 150mm between Friday and Monday morning which was great as things were getting quite dry.

I am really looking forward to our first meeting of the year and hope to get a lot more replies before then.

Keep crafting
Love Sharon

First Workshops 2014

Hi All

I have been busy sorting out workshops for the first couple of meetings and am pleased to tell you that I have very interesting things lined up for us.

  In February Merle G is going to show us how to do pearl knotting.  She has given me the cost details which are as follows:

We will be doing a necklace about 45cm long and using pearls of approximately 5mm in diameter.  Merle will provide all the supplies and the kit will cost R395.  Should you wish to use larger diameter pearls this cost will escalate by R120.  Note that these larger beads are irregular in size and shape.

Please let me know if you will be taking part as we need at least 3 ladies to make up the class.

Make a note of the March date (15th) when Neeske will be giving us a workshop on quilting and in April (12th) Marietha is going to show us how to do Srilankan Aplique.  Wow!  Details to follow closer to the time.

I have arranged with Megan from Tiny Treasures Bears to come and show us some stuff on the 21st June.  In the meantime visit her blog at http://meganstinytreasures.blogspot.com.

Whilst you are looking at blogs visit Brigette's which is a mixture of beading and paleantology.  The address is http://africanabeading.blogspot.com.

That's it for now.

Love
Sharon

New Year

Hi Everyone

I am not big into New Year Resolutions but I have made a mental note to try and post more often this year even if it is only a line or two at a time.  Let's see how well I can keep to it.

Before I go any further, please take note that the date for the meeting in August is the 16th not the 6th.  My thanks to Sandra S for picking that up when updating her diary and letting me know.

Our Christmas season was uneventful.  Brigette was home for a whole 3 weeks and it was of course really great to have her here.  She gave me a lot of help in sorting out my store for The Bead Diva.  I am up and running with the beads and enjoying every moment.  Thank you very much to my friends who have helped me make samples of the items which are available in kits.  This is a big undertaking as Manie asked to keep his samples and so I have to make new ones.  I am not complaining because I enjoy doing the beadwork and also I need to be able to make them so that I can teach my students.

Nolan and family spent Boxing Day with us and we had a great time with them as well.  Nolan left on the Saturday after Christmas to join a group of other "crazies" who all went to Argentina to climb Mount Aconcagua.  He did it and we are all very proud of him for this achievement.

I am busy getting workshops and demonstrations arranged for this year and will of course keep you all up to date as developments happen.

Okay - I am going to keep this post short and sweet.