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