Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

Each year, on the Saturday close to the beginning of Advent, we hold an "open house"  Handmade Treasures Sale for charity. My husband takes care of morning tea/lunch, and I ask my creative family and friends to contribute to the sale. Last Saturday, we held our fifth sale and although the heavy rain probably kept many away, those who came seemed to have a good time . Most popular were the home made palmiers, chocolate cake and freshly made sandwiches , marinated mushrooms and feta cheese prepared by Jim. Other than the food,  there was an amazing display of really beautiful work by local artists, embroiderers and talented artisans - all handmade with love ... quilts, handbags, clothing, jewellery, cards, mixed media art, embroidery, dolls, crochet, smocking, knitting, textiles, sewing accessories, Christmas decorations, kitchen accessories, jams, pickles, home made chocolates, rum butter,  Christmas puddings and cakes .... and lots more. ...

Last week I said I was not ready for Christmas. This week I don't think I ever will be - not this year anyway.   While I have been distracted this week from Christmas preparations, it has been worth it. A  very talented textile artist friend Wendy Scott had the opening of her solo exhibition, Rainbow Journey, at Timeless Textiles Gallery on Thursday night. I really recommend that you take the time out to see this one - a magical visual journey of colour, excitement and pure joy.  The exhibition is open until 7 December at Timeless Textiles Gallery, 7 Beaumont Street, Islington  (Newcastle NSW) - just a 2 minute walk from Hamilton (NSW) Railway Station.  Congratulations, Wendy - it is an absolutely beautiful exhibition and a wonderful testimony to your artistic talent.  Wendy Scott and self portrait  We are very fortunate to have opportunities to exhibit and see great textile art here in Newcastle. The next textile art exhibition op...

These extraordinary Easter Eggs have  so  much to recommend them -  handmade, non-fattening, safe for children, quick and cheap to produce, lots of leftover bits and pieces are used. I have really enjoyed making these and I was so happy with the finished products. These eggs start with a plastic filler, with a bell inside to make them "rattle", and then  they are covered with wool roving and wrapped with woollen yarn. The wrapped " egg" is then wet felted and  surface embroidered for decoration. Here are the raw materials Little fillable plastic egg shapes from a bargain shop ( 8 for $2)  Little bells (leftover from Christmas projects ) This packet  is one I bought today - not exactly what I used before but as they were  25 for $2 ....)   Scraps of wool roving ( leftover from other felting projects) Scraps of woollen yarn.( leftover from knitting and crochet projects)   Lengths of embroidery thread , also leftover fr...

 My annual Handamde Treasures Sale is over again for another year - a lot of work setting up but worth it. Thanks to very talented friends and family there was an array of high quality beautiful work for sale and we raised a substantial amount as a donation supporting the women's and children's refuge and domestic violence centre here in Newcastle. The first customer arrived on the dot of 8.30am and the last left at 5pm. We served tea and coffee throughout the day with delicious home made treats - crispy coconut cookies,Anzac biscuits and one of Jim's specialties -  olive palmiers. Even the creative need sustenance! Thanks to the many valued supporters for making it a great day - Christmas shopping for a Cause. ... And a happy birthday to our youngest grandchild, Amy - one today!