'Buda' Traditional Arts Fair at Castlemaine

Anne and I spent a warm day at Buda yesterday, talking to people and demonstrating our rug making.
I managed to get some bad photo's of the rugs inside the old homestead. The tour of the house was taken by an Enthusiast of the history and she described a family of largely unmarried girls who were encouraged and educated in anything they fancied and led a very adventurous life. It's worth a read here, and definitely worth the tour, although I'd like to go back and look at my leisure (knowing the story). The whole place, inside and out, has been donated to the Castlemaine Art Gallery, which also hold a fabulous collection and is worth a visit.

These Hooked Rugs are made on the old latch-hook canvas (which is so much harder to use than hessian or linen). A lady did a demonstration in the garden but we had to admit it was hard not to butt in! It was suggested you Must Put Latex or Thinned Glue on the Back to keep it together! Exclamation Mark! We politely didn't say anything and at least there was a bit of interest.
She did use a latch-hook with the latch sticky-taped shut, which isn't a bad idea and they are easily found in op shops. 
But I wanted to say how much Cheaper and Easier it is to work on hessian. And they don't fall apart. And come inside and look at ours!

Here I am working on the footy rug.

Anne with her newest proddy, started for the show (I think).

This one was behind a cabinet and in shadow. I really like it! 

Traditional Arts Fair at Castlemaine

 Are you at a bit of a loose end this weekend? Nothing to do maybe? Why not head out to Castlemaine and attend the Traditional Arts Fair. 
And while you're at it take in the beautiful sights along the way.
You'll find Robyne and Anne from the Yarra Valley Rugmakers demonstrating rug hooking there. 



Traditional Arts Fair
Buda Historical House, Castlemaine
Sunday 26th November.

Weekend spinning retreat at Greenhills in Canberra.

Leaving home on Friday, 5 am, we drove through the beautiful country side of South Gippsland in Victoria, to attend a most wonderful spinning retreat in Canberra, the capital of our great land, Austalia. My friend who accompanied me, spent the weekend with her grand-daughter, who lives in Canberra.
After lots of stops and cuppas along the way, we travelled through beautiful country side, into NSW and the Capital territory and to Greenhills.
My dear friends Anne, Miriam and Jacqui had already arrived and lots of die-hards were already spinning away to their hearts content. I shared a room with Anne in bunk style rooms. We were spoiled with delicious food, snacks and drinks throughout the weekend, as we spun away at our wheels. There was a fashion parade on the Saturday morning and a raffle on the Sunday and I was blessed to win 200g of the most gorgeous dark brown, fine fleece which I shall enjoy spinning into yarn.

Alison, an Australian woman, and married to a Macedonian gentleman is showing a photo of her Macedonian wedding outfit. The red vest she is holding is worn over the undervest and under the apron, as on the dressed mannequin  you see in the photo at left, which is a 19th century day outfit for Macedonian women. Unfortunatly it did not fit the mannequin, and thus she is holding it here.

This exquisite home spun mohair capelet was modelled and made by Ulli, one of the women modelling the garments.

 

Our rug hooking friends Miriam and Anne 

Anne, Jacqui and Maggie chatting away

More gorgeous handspun garment modelled by some of the ladies. 

 After a wonderful three days of yapping, spinning, eating, drinking and making new friends, each went back to their own corner of the world to continue their daily lives. God willing to meet up again next year, same time, same place. Cheers- Chris