October 2, 2011

Fibre Fun Day

My friend Ayako, Lynda and I were at Geelong Fibre Forum yesterday. It was an open day at the end of a week long fibre forum. It was an exhibition day where you could see what everyone was making in their workshops during the week. I have been there before and still enjoy it every time I visit. A few workshops impressed me including the Ikat weaving by Monique van Nieuwland and Wild knitting - The Tea Cosy by Loani Proir. The trader hall is always interesting. Each year the vendors are from different fibre suppliers. Today I met  David Doyle with his indigo fabric, batik and hemp from North of Thailand and a lady trading in Indian embroidery on used saris. I bought small pieces from each of these vendors. 


You can also find interesting installations around the venue where the Forum is taking place. This all crocheted bicycle was park in front of the trader's hall. I would love to see DD Kit riding it for her video... 


Another installation found in the garden were these two random-weave pears by Basketmakers of Victoria which I am a member of.


The button lady was there as well. She always has amazing buttons. I particularly love these giant wooden buttons. They are great adding to any basket creations. The button lady is also at Camberwell market, Melbourne every Sunday.


These scarves were the result of the Ikat weaving workshop. This is something I'm looking forward to learning on the Japanese Textile Study Tour in April 2012.


Meeting up with Loani was the highlight of my visit today. Loani and I have been blogger friends for quite sometime now. Here is Loani and Ayako posing for me with her tea cosies. For a beginner knitter Ayako did a great job and Loani gave her approval today. 


Beautiful spot for a picnic after the Forum, if only it was a lovely day, but today it was cold, windy and  not to mention that it rained while we were there too. Thanks to a hot cup of tea that kept Lynda and Ayako's hands warm. 


This is the courtyard of Geelong Boy Grammar where the forum took place. A lovely school right on the bay. It was the school that Prince Charles studied in when he was young. He must have been a naughty boy for his parents to send him down under to Australia like they did to the convicts many years ago...!

I'm afraid there is no stitching to show you this week. I actually started on a new project, something blue ha, surprise surprise! Hopefully I might make enough of it to show you next week. Have a great week everyone and thanks again for visiting. 


Enjoy
Nat


26 comments:

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Hey Nat...a whole new world here, and fancy meeting Loani...how cool is that!!! And I see Lynda there too...is she still moving here? A cold wet Sunday here today...Love Dzintra

deanna7trees said...

looks like it was a fun day despite the weather. love that crocheted bicycle and that ikat weaving is gorgeous.

sheila at shecological said...

Wow Nat! That looks so fabulous! Love that bike! all of your photos are great to give us a full picture of the event. I love the buttons too. I want to go to that next year. I will keep my eye out for dates.

Nedra said...

That bike is fabulous! And those buttons. How did you not buy them all?

Penny said...

Hi Nat, I was there too and I saw you having your picnic in the cold, we smiled! My son was taking us around. What a shame I didnt know who you were!! I had a lovely couple of hours catching up with friends. we are in Melbourne until Tuesday when we go home for my Birthday.

Kim said...

Oh thanks for taking us along......picnic whenever you can.......cold and windy here today with short periods without rain!
That bike is too cool!

Happy Sewing

Jeannie said...

Wow! What a wonderful day you had! The pears are beautiful, and the buttons are gorgeous. I am so glad you met up with friends and had such a fun day. The bike is amazing.

Terry said...

The last morning of Forum is always great weather you were a participant or a visitor. Cool Bike
I'm sure you'll enjoy the ikat I saw some intericate examples in france also have done some for inkle weaving (in another life)
sorry about the weather good friends thuogh

Erika Lee @ A Tiny Rocket said...

how awesome is that bike :)

Nancy said...

The bike...the weaving...the pears...the buttons...oh my! And a picnic & friends too! Wonderful :)

blandina said...

How nice that you posted about this event, it is not really like being there in person but...better than nothing!
I visited Loani's blog and I marvelled at her tea cosies, I will have to knit one sooner or later.

QuiltSue said...

I loved the bike, and the pears were great too - just what I need for my front garden which is about to be remodelled.

ria vogelzang said...

Looks like a great trip to me!! ;)), Thanks for sharing your beautiful adventure and enjoy your sunday!
Love, Ria.

Anonymous said...

what a fun filled day, love it all. the buttons are bea-u-tiful. Do you really think we are going to do ikat/kasuri on the tour? it's what I spent 6 months doing at Kawashima and I'm still not very good.

antique quilter said...

sounds like the perfect day to me! I LOVE those pears!!!!
ok those buttons are to die for...
just beautiful. glad you had fun!
Kathie who can't wait to see your new "blue" project!

kaiteM said...

thanks for showing us some of Geelong Open Day, you would have had fun there.

Betty said...

WOW, what wonderful pictures. It amazes me what people can create. That is some bike.

Marie said...

It looks like it was a lot of fun and what fabulous inspiration!
The crochet bike gave me a smile.
Those wooden buttons are just lovely.
<3

Bev C said...

Hello Nat.

Love those pears and buttons. Don't think I will tackle crocheting a bike.
happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Astrid said...

Nat, thanks for sharing! I love the bike and the buttons and the pears are fun too. Delicious cup of tea to heat you up, the weather looks cold!

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

Hey Nat
It was just so lovely to meet you in person, you and your two lovely friends. What a treat you are. My first Forum was a Very Big Adventure in lots of ways. I didn't know there were so many ways to fabric a picture, or a sculpture.

You are on my Melbourne list of people now. Lovely jubely.
Loani

Lis Harwood said...

Such interesting stuff there, love those buttons and the scarves especially but boy it looks chilly downunder! Your comment about HRH being a naughty boy made me smile. Have a great week, hugs, xx

Moon Goddess said...

That bike is way cool!

Unknown said...

Agreed! The bike is unbelievable and the pears are so cool too, aren't they?

Meeting other bloggers is such a neat thing. I've only ever met one other. Of course my sister is a blogger too (but I knew her before). I think it's great to get to know the real people behind the blogs. It adds so much to the experience.

Peggy said...

Nat, I've left one comment already but it didn't go through, I guess. Anyway, I really liked reading about this fun fiber day you had and I also really liked Kit's video. How cool! The bicycle movement is fabulous, in my mind.

Anonymous said...

Nat looks like you had the most wonderful day...it was a rainy awful day wasnt it...but looks like you made the most of it.
Lovely to meet Loani too!

Jacky xox

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