Knitting at the NGA

Here is a chance to have your work shown at the National Gallery of Australia!! They are calling for knitters to contribute pieces for an installation to be created at the front of the gallery during the Soft Sculpture exhibition on at the gallery now. The work will be created by Knitta who were responsible for this lovely (and toasty warm) bus. To get involved see the gallery site for details. It looks like there may be other events over the Knitta Please week 5 to 12 July too!

I am looking forward to the Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913 - 2008 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery next week. I haven't visited the new gallery yet so will be a good opportunity and looks like a great exhibition.

Morning mail

Morning mail, originally uploaded by stujo.

This arrived early this morning - before I went to work! Lovely fat quarters and bias binding from Belsize Square, so I can finish my little quilt this weekend. Handmade Market was great on the weekend, I was restrained and only bought 4 items, all gifts. It was inspiring and it is good to know there are so many talented designers around. I was glad to find a list of exhibitors in an old paper when I got home as it was so busy I only glimpsed some of the lovely wares. Some of my favourites (in no particular order): Rockstars & Royalty, Emma Kidson Jewellery, Bornagain Books, Created For You, Fock Space Toys, Quirk Creations & Handle With Care. As I say, I missed a lot of stalls and can't recall some of the names....

Ode to Canberra

There have been a few pleasant surprises since my return to Canberra.

1. It isn't as cold as I expected - YET
2. Canberra Handmade Market - next weekend at Albert Hall
3. Treasures gallery at the National Library - went last weekend
4. Book shops, I found one near my bus stop tonight - Smiths Alternative Bookshop and a Borders upstairs in the Canberra Centre near work that has heaps of magazines, books and music. Shame about the Gloria Jeans coffee.......
5. Next to Borders is an Eckersleys - yay. Not the best one I have seen, but will be useful for paint and other supplies.

I think that is enough praise for one week, so here are the cons.... Action Buses! Always guaranteed a seat but that is only because the buses take an hour or longer to do a 20 minute trip into the city and there are only two in the morning and one coming home, if I miss them it is two buses and an hour and a half trip. The cost of parking in the city and the fact that the roads are scooter unfriendly leave me little choice but to use the buses. Oh and coffee is ridiculously over priced here compared to Sydney and Melbourne!! Go figure.

Delivery

Stash stock up, originally uploaded by stujo.

This arrived at my temporary address today. Duckcloth had a 20% off offer, how could I resist. Some lovely red 100% linen and some prints AND a red heart shaped lollypop!! I just need to get my sewing machine and accompanying things up from Melbourne now so I can make something with all this.

More granny squares

Granny squares, originally uploaded by stujo.

These are my second to fifth squares and quite useable I think. I am at the stage where I can do them without reading the instructions. I had better keep up the one a day or I'll forget. Not sure whether to introduce more colours or keep it simple. I'll see when I run out of this wool.

I saw a blanket today at a local craft market where they had crocheted the squares together - I liked that and also mixed squares of differing sizes - innovative!

I got good photos of my niece finally today, shall post one next post.

Granny square

Granny square, originally uploaded by stujo.

My first attempt, it took me a couple of hours over two evenings. It was frustrating at first but by the end it all made sense and I got into a rhythm. Hopefully the next ones will be better. I bought more wool today in bold colours. I can see how it'd become addictive!

Well our house didn't sell at auction today :-( Hopefully we'll get an offer soon and I can move on.....