Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

And so all good things come to an end .... "Where's Wooly? " is now over, having celebrated the first week of  the  Lunar New Year  -  Wooly, the sheep in eight different locations in Newcastle East.  Thanks to all the participants who so graciously lent Wooly a space in a prominent spot in their shops, galleries and studios.  Day 8, the last day, Wooly very appropriately spent at Wolfe Studios Building, Hunter Street Mall. Wofe Studios is a hub of creative activity, home to  artists working in various media . It is one of the projects of Renew Newcastle . Renew Newcastle is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. Renew Newcastle has been established to find short and medium term uses for buildings in Newcastle’s CBD that are currently vacant, disused, or awaiting redevelopment. Renew Newcastle aims to find artists, cultural projects and community groups to use and maintain these buildings until they become commercially viable or are r...

Wooly's  Chinese New Year celebrations are coming to an end.... Today, Day 7, Wooly enjoyed a great day with friends at Hand to Hand Crafts, 1 Wolfe Street  ( corner of Hunter Street), Newcastle Here's an extract from a  great story  about Hand to Hand Crafts,  published in the Newcastle Herald, about a year ago.  Hand to Hand Crafts amid shelves lined with neat bundles of wool in an array of colours, ... Established two years ago by the support service, Response, the handicraft and haberdashery store provides training and employment for people with a disability who are aged over 18. Nearby businesses in the Hunter Street Mall support the store by ordering specially made tags and bags...  Part of the appeal of the store is its extensive range of Jo Sharp, Patons and Sublime English wool, as well as a variety of embroidery threads, but there's no doubt that (trainee) Hely and his co-workers, such as Angie Cox and Mandy Moore, enhance a vi...

Wooly was looking a little nervous today. She spent the day with Tony Rufo - Barber and Hair Designers, 64 Hunter Street , Newcastle East. Wooly shouldn't have been concerned .... here's one the reviews from a happy client...  A wonderful old Italian barber and son combo. Great prices for men's cuts, and a decent hot shave. The man's shave is going extinct - men reclaim what's yours and see your barber for a shave from time to time. Tony is a great and much-needed local presence in an inner-city neighborhood that is only slowly building a life again. Where will Wooly be tomorrow ,25 February, Day 7 of the Chinese New Year celebrations...  Here's a clue for Novocastrians - another long established business in the heart of Newcastle  Where’s Wooly? Click go the needles -  today Wooly is ready to give a hand. 

Wooly has been up and down Hunter Street, Newcastle Where's Wooly ? Day 6 : 24 February Such an easy clue , you are sure to find her ......   It’s not a wool shed, but here you will find Tony Baa Baa at work.  It will be a change from Day 5 when Wooly was amongst the latest fashions at Hunter 81, Shop 2 , 81 Hunter Street, Newcastle. 

crowds gathered on the foreshores for "Light Up Newcastle"  Light Up Newcastle - Lantern Walk for Chinese New Year 2015 ..... lanterns, lanterns, lanterns everywhere and a rare moment when the family was in one place at the same time ..... and harbour views... Postscript:  Wooly spent a lazy Sunday at Timeless Textiles, but will be found in a new location on Monday morning ( 23 February) - Day 5 clue for Where's Wooly? Wooly 9 times 9 - no mutton dressed as lamb here. 

Today, Day 3 of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Wooly visited My Souk Drawer ....Shope 102, 160 Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle....    Entering My Souk Drawer you are confronted with row after row of spice buckets and display cases that hold a vast array of your typical curries, salts & peppers. Scattered amongst these are the blended varieties such as the Ras-el-Hanout a Morrocan spicy twist of rich sweet flavours that perfectly accompanies pretty much any dish.   ( text and photos from www.hunterhunter.com.au)  Wooly has had a very hectic few days, so will be having a day of rest on Day 4. You can still post a photo of Wooly any time on 22 February resting up for another big week, Post on Instagram or Facebook to win a chance in the draw for a lucky red envelope at the end of eight days.  Clue for Day 4 :  Where’s Wooly? At home today where woolly felt fibre abounds. 

Day 2 ... Wooly spent the day at the City Pharmacy  where Bob is the pharmacist who obviously "likes Wooly's greasy wool and other products medicinal " ( that was the clue to her whereabouts)  Now , she 's wagging her tail behind her  to her next location ... hope you can find her ... here 's the clue  Where’s Wooly? It’s Spicy Wooly today -mmm, perhaps chermoula slow roasted lamb shanks?  

"Where is Wooly?"  is a Chinese New Year event sponsored by Timeless Textiles Gallery in Newcastle, NSW.  This wool felted animal ( sheep/goat) appears each day for eight days in different locations. Anyone who posts photos of Wooly in her various locations on Instagram or Facebook will go into a draw for a lucky red envelope ( containing a Timeless Textiles gift voucher) Day 1 was very busy. Wooly started the day off with an interview with Jill Emberson on the Morning porgram of ABC radio 1233.  Then, off to location 1. The clue was " Wooly wishes you a Happy New Year and wonders artistically what's around the curve? " Of course, Wooly was at Curve Gallery, 61 Hunter Street, Newcastle East. Where will Wooly be Day 2 - 20 February? Here's a head's up with the clue.... Old Bob loves Wooly's greasy wool an other products medicinal.  Good luck and Happy Chinese New Year

MEDIA RELEASE                 Chinese New Year celebrations in Newcastle, with ‘Where is Wooly? ’ The Chinese Year of the Sheep starts February 19 th ….and it seems that the sheep (goat, or ram) is among the animals that people like most. It is gentle and calm. Since ancient times, people have learned to use its fleece to make writing brushes and skin and wool to keep warm. As it is white, people describe delicate and precious white jade to be 'suet jade'. Thus it is close to the meaning of good things.
 To celebrate the Year of the Sheep, a hand crafted felted sheep will be peeping out where least expected in very iconic locations around Newcastle. Local Chinese fibre artist, Wilma Simmons says “Chinese New Year is the most important celebration, focusing on the family in Chinese culture. While there will be many events celebrating Chinese New Year in Newcastle, Timeless Textiles will be welcoming the good fortune ...

Art doll/photo : Rose Keemun by Wilma Simmons Quote by Han Suyin  I love this saying, by Han Suyin . It probably sums up her life as much as any of her writings. Han Suyin, 1916-2012 ( Elizabeth Comber ) physician and author, had a Chinese - Flemish background. She is best known for her  strongly autobiographical fiction with a bi cultural setting , a clash of  values, traditions and ideas.  Her novels were   A Many Splendoured Thing, My House has Two Doors , and The  Crippled Tree.  Younger  Han Suyin Xiangwei, her editor writes:  I n the 1970s and 1980s, Han Suyin was frequently mentioned in the news in China. At least one hundred million people were aware of who she was. Before I become the editor of her books, her name only meant to me as a political figure. Every person of my age knew she was the biographer of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. But the publication of 'A Many-Splendored Thing' presented a rather different personality...

Valley Girl Tag series.  The Tag Tuesday group challenge blog is up and running again this year - each person in the group creates and posts  a tag interpreting the weekly allocated theme . For last month, I chose the one digital image of one of my dolls, Valley Girl and challenged myself to use the same image for the four themes. All the images are printed onto cotton fabric. Winter Wonderland - free form machine embroidery  Diva - paint and beading   Texture Tuesday - stitching, novelty yarns, heated painted tyvek and hot glue gun motif.  Feathers - stitching feathers and handwritten saying And here is the original image.... Valley Girl - mixed media art doll.   Original art doll  in Timeless Textiles Gallery, Newcastle NSW