Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. ( Ralph Waldo Emerson) … I chose this quotation as a theme for last weekend’s workshop at the Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists Retreat. The air was “wild” with inspiration, activity, enthusiasm, fun, friendship, colour and creativity – such an invigorating atmosphere for all who love working with textiles and fibres. The talented textile artists, Jan Clark and Trevor and Beth Reid were also tutors at this retreat. I had a wonderful group of women in my class who created dolls from found objects, polymer clay and upcycled fibres and fabrics to produce really imaginative and meaningful creations. We each started with a quotation to inspire our work and from then on, there were no restrictions … a stick in the garden will never be looked at in the same way and a shapely bottle will never find its way to the recycling bin again. Here are a few images of my students' creations.... very satisfying to see such ...

Last Saturday, my daughter celebrated her birthday, and on Sunday, our family gathered at her place not only to wish her a happy birthday, but also to wish both her and her husband a happy wedding anniversary. A few weeks ago I was very happy when I found this Michael Miller fabric panel online, and I thoroughly enjoyed making it for my daughter whose nickname is Nome (gnome). This particular fabric gnome carries a baby in a sling on his back. Our Nome had a baby daughter last December so the gift was received with great laughter. Even baby Amy and Aunty Kellie enjoyed the joke.   On Sunday too, our Rotary Ambassadorial scholar Mayuko organised a Japanese party for our Rotary club and friends. Mayuko and friends, including fellow Ambassadorial scholar Steffen, from Germany took over my kitchen and cooked for 30 guests. We enjoyed many traditional Japanese dishes – Is that cake really green … yes of course, green tea! Then, we were privileged to be the audience of a performan...

This week I finished knitting a shawl from recycled silk. I just had to have this yarn and the circular pattern which were at the Craft and Quilt Fair in Newcastle last February in Prudence Mapstone's stall http://www.knotjustknitting.com . The pattern is called Tapestry Shawl by Jill Vosburg , Just One More Row. http://www.justonemorerow.com . It is a very easy pattern, knitted in short rows with very large gauge needles. As I seem to wear mostly black especially in winter, I thought I needed a bit of colour in my life this year. Jim made me a beautiful Huon Pine button and I sewed it on as a clasp with a piece of carnelian. Carnelian is said to promote peace and harmony, dispel depression, strengthen self confidence, and confer eloquence to a speaker. With this mind, I wore the new shawl with the wood and carnelian button to the Model United Nations Assembly this weekend. I needed all the colour of the recycled silk and the powers of the carnelian as I was the Secretary Ge...