Getting Ready

I have been busily getting ready for a weekend of dyeing up at Main Creek. Here is a picture of 100 meters of crispy white cotton that will be transformed into a virtual rainbow over the weekend. Little did I know that the elements would be against me when I started washing all this in preparation, first rain, then gale force winds, I know what your thinking - winds good for drying right - but not 10 meter lengths that just get them selves into knots and wrap around anything slightly grubby, and to be honest I think I would have been hunting the neighbourhood for them. This was followed by a once in a life time dust storm, yes just what you want on pure white cotton, red dust! So my house has been drapped like a shroud all week trying to get it dry and folded, what a relief, it is finally done.

We were listening to the news this morning, wake up alarm :( about a terrible dust storm in Sydney and when I opened my eyes enough to have a squint at the window, this was the eerie sight that greeted us.

The rest of the day remained pretty much like this, which did very strange things to the street lights ect, making them look either green or blueish. This isn't uncommon in outback Australia, but apparently is a first for both Sydney and Newcastle. Made for a very strange day.

I will take plenty of photo's over the weekend and show you the results of a colour filled workshop. Lets hope the weather is kind to us.

Dungog Quilt Show

I have just spent a lovely weekend up at the Dungog Quilt Show, meeting up with some now familiar faces and meeting lots of new ones. It's nice to know that people are coming back to stock up on their hand dyed fabrics and threads. It was a beautiful, sunny weekend with lots to see and do in Dungog, with a travelling quilt exhibition and art show in town too. It was also good to meet with the winner of last years raffle prize, a $200 voucher for a weekend retreat, she will be attending the new Doll making workshop next March which I am really looking forward too.

Here are a couple of pictures of my very bright stall.

Main Creek is looking absolutely beautiful, with all the usual spring happening, Marions wisteria is stunning and full of blue bees which I had never seen before. The chickens have outdone themselves this year and there are little fluff balls all over the place. Unfortunately I didn't have the chance to take any photo's, but lucky ol me will be back up there in two weeks time for a dyeing workshop and hopefully it will be just as lovely and I will make sure I take some pictures. I have also got to remember to take appropriate clothing for cow pooh collecting for my garden. I did come home with two bags of premium chook pooh in the back of the ute, ready for the veggie patch.

I don't think my gourd seeds are going to germinate, I have put some on wet paper towel in a plastic bag to form a mini greenhouse, but they show no sign of doing anything, I think they are just too old, luckily I can buy some new seeds locally if these don't work.

Back from Beyond

Well I am back from a wonderful trip, refreshed, rejuvenated and more importantly back out in my studio, with a hundred and one ideas flowing through my brain which will hopefully soon to come to fruition.

I am starting here where I left off last time, back in the garden. Today is the first day of spring, so gardening is going to take up some of my time over the next few weeks. I have made a spot for my big black tub and planted the gourd seeds that I saved from that beautifully shaped gourd I used for Pandora, in the hope that the seeds will produce the same beautifully shaped gourds. Very boring picture I know, but I'm hoping that by the end of the summer I will be able to show you garden shed covered in amazingly "beautiful gourds". Fingers crossed.

My spinach and cabbages done there thing while we were away, we've had some delicious spinach inspired dinners already with plenty more to come, how much spinach can a person eat before they get sick of it? I think I'm about to find out LOL, and I have finally got some good stuff into the other end of the garden ready for my summer veg, which I hope to get this weekend.

While we were out trying to find Organoil for our outdoor furniture, I came across a lovely little shop selling "collectables". Everything was half price and I couldn't resist this old shopping basket, a steal at $14 I think. I'm imaging this full of my home grown veggies, ideal for collecting dinner in. It's sitting on my nice new table, as now the weather is warming up, on those mornings when I don't have to rush off to work, I can sit with my morning coffee and toast and watch everything grow.

That's it for now, holiday pics to follow but my alarms gone off and I have two heads and two sets of hands in the oven. If they work out as I'm hoping, I might actually get to post pictures of what this blog was originally about - textile stuff - but variety is the spice of life:)