ColourSpun Yarn Clubs

At the begining of this year, I started the ColourSpun Yarn Clubs. The first offerings of the mohair and cotton clubs have been sent and now it is the turn of the ColourSpun Bits & Bobs Club.

The inspiration for this offering comes from the night sky, which made me think of Vincent von Gogh's painting, Starry Night.



Read more about the club offering and how you can join on my ColourSpun blog.

1000 Travelling Names and a Donkey

Jo, Gene, Shan and Heehaww-Dan will hit the road on the 23rd July 2011 when they embark on "the greatest adventure on earth" - all in aid of charity and they need your help!

Read all about the epic journey they have planned and how you can help them make it a reality on their website and in return for your help, you could be a hero and one of the 1000 Travelling Names going along for the ride. Share this with your friends so that they can go along too.

I will be posting a simple pattern for a knitted soft toy donkey here soon, one of the items on their wishlist is lots of soft toy donkeys, to be given to needy children in Mongolia. If you have your own pattern, or prefer to stitch a fabric donkey, please feel free to start immediately - the more we can make the better. I'll be posting the address in London for them to be sent to in the next day or so, and I'm putting together a prize for the person who sends the most adorable donkey.

Sedgefield Slow Festival

GET HERE... GET SLOW 2011

---

info@slowfestival.co.za

Easter 2011 | 22-27 April
The event offering real experiences, naturally.

The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquility to make meaningful connections... with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds.

Prepare for Sedgefield 'Slow Festival 2011' !!!

Set in the heart of abundant natural beauty, Sedgefield has for years remained poised for a social event that is a fusion of nature and the relaxed standard of life enjoyed by it's inhabitants. Blessed with sea, beaches, dunes, lakes, river and a mountainous skyline it begs for an outdoors event. The Slow Festival from Friday 22nd to Wednesday 27th April 2011 will launch a well balanced series of events to fit into the lifestyle of Africa's first official Slow Town. 

While most people live by their watches, the Sedgefield Slow Festival will offer the time to enjoy, appreciate and savour. Follow the event developments and program on Twitter by following SlowFestival and on our website at www.slowfestival.co.za

Contact Us

If you would like more information on various events and activities, please contact us..... or drop us an email at info@slowfestival.co.za for any general enquiries.
Telephone Enquiries: Amanda Dixon @ 072 949 3002

Sock Knitting Workshop

You are invited to attend a Sock Knitting Workshop at ORION,  Knitting & Stitching Studio, on Saturday, 16 April 2011.

Carlé, of NURTURING FIBRES, will teach the  ‘toe up cast on and turning the heel’ method of sock knitting.   If you wish to participate kindly RSVP studio@orionwool.co.za to reserve a place.

Time:  10am for 10.30am

Place:  ORION STUDIO,  12 Woodburn Crescent, Cape Town.

If you are not able to participate but will be visiting the studio that day, Carlé will be available throughout the morning to advise , instruct and demonstrate.

ORION will be discounting all NURTURING FIBRE products purchased on the day.
For further details or enquiries please contact Roger.

021 4239782

SEW TOGETHER

 Here is a list of workshops that will be presented at Sew Together in April 2011.

NOTE

Our classes are becoming very popular so they must now be booked and paid for in advance. A requirements list will be given for all classes as receipt of payment.

Fri 15

PFAFF FOCUS

– with Sue – FREE to all PFAFF owners. –This month we ‘Quilt with PFAFF’ Learn

about the different ‘feet’ and stitches that can be used to make quilting a breeze.

Booking essential. 2 – 4pm.

Machine Class

Sat 16

Quilting Basics’

- with Sue – R320 (4 classes). Part 4 of a 4 class course held every fortnight for those

wishing to start quilting and make a fashionable bed runner or small quilt. 9 – 12 p.m.

Machine Class

Sun 17

Quilt for Japan

’ – Give half an hour of your time to help sew a quilt to be sent to the survivors of the

earthquake in Japan. Machines and everything you require will be provided by ‘Sew Together’. |

Just bring yourself! 9 – whenever!

Tue 19

Sewing Basics

’- with Sue- R80 – A regular monthly class aimed at those new to sewing.

This month’s project focuses on sewing a Make-up bag with zip’ 9 – 12 p.m.

Machine Class

Wed 20

Quilting Basics

’- with Sue – R320 (4 classes). Part 3 of a 4 class course held every fortnight for those

wishing to start quilting and make a fashionable bed runner or small quilt. 9 – 12 p.m.

Machine Class

Sat 23

Quilting Basics

’- with Sue – R320 (4 classes). Part 2 of a 4 class course held every fortnight for those

wishing to start quilting and make a fashionable bed runner or small quilt. 9 – 12 p.m.

Machine Class.

Tue 26

Hand Appliqué and Quilting

– with Babette Greyling – R300 (part 3 of 3 classes) – Learn this peaceful

art and fi nd out many tricks of the trade whilst creating a small, unique wall hanging .9 – 12

Hand Class

Wed 27

Welcome Amandawe!

– This development group will be learning to apply their hand embroideries on to

a PFAFF designed bag constructed during the day.

Thur 28

Machine Embroidery Fun Day

- Held regularly every month for those with computerised embroidery

machines this course offers you the chance to fully explore the capabilities of your machine. Monica

will be unavailable today so Sue will direct operations!. 9 – 3 p.m.

Machine Class.

Fri 29

Quilt for Japan

’ – Give half an hour of your time to help sew a quilt to be sent to the victims of the

earthquake in Japan. Machines and everything you require will be provided by ‘Sew Together’.

Just bring yourself! 9 – whenever!

Sat 30

‘FUN WITH PHIL’ (FREE kit)

– R50 -Have fun experimenting with freezer paper, glue, paint etc. to

achieve different effects on fabric. A.M. or P.M. No machines required

MAY COMING IN MAY

– Thursday 5th

 – Sashiko (Japanese Hand Quilting);

Wednesday 11th

– All in a Spin ( Kaleidescope Quilt); Thursday 12th – Bagmaking,;

Tuesday 31st

– One Off Wearables ( quilted waistcoat)

DID YOU MISS ONE OF SUE’S CLASSES

Phone and book for a morning or afternoon ‘STUDIO’ class with personal attention in

peaceful surroundings. Cost R80 for three hours. Choose from;- Basic Quilting, Beading

on Fabric, Japanese Braiding on a Disk, Make a Pincushion with Thread Catcher,

Pieced Baby Ball, Fabric Journal Cover, Beginners Baby Quilt, Log Cabin Foundation,

Paper Piecing, Cathedral Window Pincushion, Quilted Make–Up Bag, Little Landscapes(creative quilting), Make Fabric Beads, etc. or Your own quilt project.

REMEMBER

all classes must be booked and paid for in advance. A requirements list will be given as a

receipt for the cash payment. Our classes are becoming very popular so book early.

First come, first served!

Rob and Sue Stevenson

315 Kingsway, Amanzimtoti • sewtogethercc@gmail.com

Tel. 031 903 2939 • Rob 082 5253 911or Sue 084 519 0912

with love ...to Japan

Japanese Quilt Initiative

The quilters of South Africa have received a plea for assistance from Naomi Ichikawa, the editor of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin Magazine.  She has asked if we could send “comfort quilts” to those that have lost everything in Japan.

Our plea to each of you – and each of your friends, is that you would consider making a quilt to comfort those that have been left with literally nothing after the devastating earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.  We are looking for quilts of any size – from small to large (not wall-hangings…), new or old (in good condition).  It would be great if you label includes a South African flag.

We have been given an opportunity to help individuals unconditionally.  If you would like to take this opportunity, it has been made very easy for us through the generosity of Yamaha.   

Yamaha has very generously offered to help us, nationally and simplify the process by setting up drop off points in all the major centres.  Unfortunately, these are not available at the time of going to press, but we will get them to you as soon as possible.  Yamaha will then ensure, at their expense, that the quilts are delivered to Naomi in Tokyo.  All we have to do is make them and drop them off.

We do need the assistance of guilds, shops and/or individuals who would like to assist as more local drop off points and take on the responsibility of delivering to the Yamaha drop-off points.  If you are able to help, please contact Twig on  twigg@telkomsa.net She will compile a list of these for KZN and ensure the information is circulated.

Your quilts are to be tightly wrapped in plastic, with a label on the bag as follows:

RELIEF GOODS FOR THE AFFECTED PEOPLE OF TOHOKU KANTO EARTHQUAKE

Attention: Naomi Ichikawa

TOHOKU KANTO EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
PATCHWORK TSUSHIN CO. LTD
2-21-2 YUSHIMA
BUNKYO-KU
TOKYO
JAPAN
113-0034

Please note, the value must be noted for customs, but limit to between 50 and 100 dollars to avoid import duty.  Please do not mention that they are quilts.

The deadline for all the quilts to be at the Yamaha drop off points is 20 May 2011.

Please spread the news – talk to as many people you can about this initiative.  Quilts are physical manifestations of love.  Let’s respond to the plea and warm someone who is trying to deal with this awful situation.

Wakkerstroom Natural Fibre Handcraft Fair 2011

Date: Saturday 28th May 2011
Time: 9.00a.m. - 2.00p.m.
Wakkerstroom NG Kerk hall.

What the Fair is all about:-

To create awareness of all the “old skills” that are still being practiced today. This is an excellent opportunity for the exhibitors to sell their creations. To promote as many NATURAL fibres as possible, so we can also do our bit in lessening our “carbon foot-print”. Anyone who would like to demonstrate their skills as well will be a most welcome exhibitor. All weavers, lace makers, quilters, knitters, embroiderers, spinners, fabric painters etc., are welcome. Anyone with cleaned and carded fleece has an opportunity to sell their fibre and an event for the Guilds to attract new members and to network with like-minded people.