Open Day Goodies!

Posted on 27 June 2015 by MelsNattyKnits

Okay, so Open Day is over but now is the time to show you what I came home with!! Needless to say I went a little crazy and bought a bit but I also managed to find some bargains. What do you think of this gorgeous basket which I can use to take to spinning with all my bits and pieces in it?

It was on the Southside Spinners table and I immediately picked it up. At $14 it was a bargain plus these two balls of 2ply yarn for a combined total of $3.20.

From Desley’s table I picked up these four cups and saucers with little sheep motifs on them. $12 for the lot!

Aren’t they so cute?

Plus this 1,000 piece sheep puzzle for $20.

Desley makes these beautiful sewn mug bags. At $6.50 they’re ideal as a gift for someone who goes to spinning. We all take our own mugs.

I picked up these books from the Gold Coast Spinners table. Around $20 for all of them.

Plus this fibre.

This is carded alpaca…all ready to spin!

This gorgeous merino from our members’ table.

Plus this lovely little scarf.

These gorgeous soaps, lotion bar, lip balms and a ‘spinning wheel’ pendant from VivianneK Handmade Soaps.

Vivianne also very kindly gave me this beautiful wooden box with my name engraved on it. It is simply stunning and I am using it to store my ‘sheepy’ jewellery.

And of course there are my three cute little sheep mugs from Earth & Stone Creations.

They are now proudly sitting on a shelf with my sheep cups and saucers. This rather handy notions case from Chantelle’s Fiberific table.

This Natural Plant Dyes book written by Vivianne’s mother (who also had a small table). She kindly autographed it for me.

These two shawl pins from Shorn Fibers.

Some soaps from one of our members’ tables.

Plus these old copies of Spin-Off magazine from our second hand baa-gains table. All for the grand price of 20c each!

I think I managed to pick up quite a few lovely goodies.

I am now in the process of sorting out some projects to take on holidays with me. Yes, my Noosaville trip has snuck up on me quite quickly. I’ve been winding wool and sorting patterns as I’ll be away for three weeks so I’ll need plenty to keep me busy. Can’t wait to drop into social knitting at Sheep Thrills in Noosaville. I discovered this little yarn shop in July last year and I can’t wait to get back there!

To finish off I’m going to show you more of these little sheep mugs that I am totally besotted with 🙂

Until next time…

Melanie

The BEST Open Day!

Posted on 20 June 2015 by MelsNattyKnits

Oh my gosh I don’t know where to start. It was the most amazingly successful Open Day at a terrific venue. We had an increase in over 75% attendance. The event was simply buzzing with so many people. 99% of the publications I approached to print our Open Day notice obliged so word got around Brisbane-wide! Spencer Howson even mentioned it on his radio show on 612 ABC Brisbane.

Owen, who’s known as Wheelsmith on Ravelry brought along some of his antique spinning wheels (that’s a wheel that is 100 years or over in age!).

I was still not 100% well but as I am part of the Open Day Committee I had my duties to attend to. I couldn’t do too much talking as I’d nearly lost my voice but I did manage to re-acquaint myself with Owen and told him about my recent trip to New Zealand where I met Mary Knox who’s the ultimate guru when it comes to New Zealand spinning wheels. Owen’s face lit up as he knew exactly who I was talking about. So, Mary if your ears were burning on Tuesday morning that’s why 🙂

We had some amazing traders at the event. These are the gorgeous pottery sheep mugs made by Kimberly from Earth & Stone Creations. I know you’ve heard me talk about Kimberly’s work quite a bit but trust me, it is beautiful. If you’re after a present for a knitter, why not consider a pottery yarn bowl? You’d be loved forever!!

I am the proud owner of these three little beauties. Kimberly very kindly gave me one of the coloured ones.

Now this photo is a little blurry but I’m trying to show you that under the coloured mugs Kimberly has engraved “Mels Mug” and under the white mug there is a number as only 20 were made; this is 1/20.

Kimberly’s pottery yarn bowls were selling like hotcakes. I believe she brought along two of these huge three-ball bowls and they both sold!

Vivianne was there with her gorgeous soaps.

One of our members was also selling her soaps so we’re all going to be smelling like roses!

One of our members is in her mid 90s and made these two knitted blankets and entered them into the fashion parade. They are simply amazing! Well done Grace.

Our members had their own table where we sold our wares. I sold some mug hugs and spinning/yarn/sheep charm keyrings as well as my Cream Leftie. I won’t despair as I have enough yarn to make another one exactly the same!

What made the day really interactive is that, as well as three of our members demonstrating spinning, one also had a little workshop teaching others the traditional craft of ragmatting. This table was never empty!

We were also lucky enough to have Carly Kotynski, a local weaver of natural fibres holding a small workshop too.

Honestly, there was so much happening that I was in a constant whirl! I was taking as many photos as I could, whilst shopping, trying to talk, having a quick coffee and something to eat. It really was the best day.

Desley had a table filled with her gorgeous had sewn goodies.

We also had our Ashford distributor who is also a member of our club.

Contemplating this Ashford Traditional before the crowds arrived!

The eating area was packed…no spare seats to be seen.

This is just a snapshot of the traders that attended on the day but if I uploaded all my photos you’d be here all day reading this post 🙂 You can see more photos on the Redlands Spinners & Weavers website here.

Next week I’ll show you what I bought from those traders!

A couple more pics of those happy people shopping for a bargain!

Our gratitude goes to our local Council who provided the venue for our Open Day. It is so much larger than our previous venue and traders were able to really spread out and show their wares to full advantage. We received so much positive feedback from our visitors about the venue and the actual day. Congratulations Redlands Spinners & Weavers! What a mammoth team effort!

Until next time…

Melanie

WWKIPDAY

Posted on 14 June 2015 by MelsNattyKnits

Yesterday was World Wide Knit In Public Day and a new record was set. In total there were 882 Knit In Public events in 56 different countries. Ten new countries joined this year:
Japan, Indonesia, China, Kuwait, Philippines, Cyprus, Faroe Island, Ecuador, Gibraltar and France. This year there were also more than 200 events than last year..that’s also a record. Doesn’t this show that the world really needs knitting – and the mission with this project is: “Better Living Through Stitching Together”.

The Redlands Spinners & Weavers Knit and Knatter group registered for WWKIPDAY. Eleven of us turned up with our knitting, crocheting and I brought along my spinning wheel and did some spinning and some knitting too.

Heads down and busy knitting!

This is my wheel with one completed bobbin of spinning (on the table). I still haven’t been able to identify the maker of this wheel.

Unfortunately for me, but maybe fortunately for everyone else 🙂 I had just about lost my voice yesterday. On Friday, I started feeling a bit odd, on Friday night my throat was so sore and on Saturday morning when I was shopping at my local deli I opened my mouth to tell the sales assistant what I was after and nothing came out!! Oh no!! This is not what I need when I have a few busy days ahead. Consequently, today I was supposed to be helping out sorting and wrapping raffle baskets for our Open Day which is on this Tuesday!! I’ve had to pull out and try to rest today as tomorrow I will have to go into work for a short time. If I’m not feeling well enough I’ll come home early and then hope on Tuesday I wake up feeling a lot better.

To finish off I’m going to show you this lovely cardigan I bought not long ago. One of the ladies at spinning was wearing one and I just loved the colour so I asked her where she bought it from. I rang my local Rockmans and they managed to track one down for me in my size and now I have one!!

Of course, you knew it would either be orange or green didn’t you? It’s acrylic but that’s okay as it fits beautifully and I’ve worn it to work already and received some positive comments.