My new studio!

I have a new sewing room/studio in my house. Its really nice to have the extra space as a lot of my 'stuff' has been left stored in the little room I had previously. Hopefully both sons won't want to come home to live at the same time as we now only have one spare room.

Anyway, to celebrate the new room I have started teaching private beginners patchwork, collage/ appliqué and machine quilting classes. I also hope to run some very small classes during the week and some play days for small groups who want to try out different techniques. I'm also happy for people to do 'studio visits' (just ring first) or can arrange a short private class for overseas visitors who want to make a memento of New Zealand. Just get in touch to let me know what you would like.

The first small group play day is Indigo dyeing and shibori.

If anyone is interested in indigo dyeing while the weather is warm ( indigo likes warm weather) . Possible dates are
Saturday 20th February
Friday 18th March
Saturday 19th March (nearly full)

Email me at smith_c*actrix.co.nz for further details or reply to this post.

Note to Chyfly who commented on my previous blog post, I'm sorry I don't seem to be able to answer your comment so I left a message in the previous post! Thanks for letting me know about the tatters in relation to the barge-man's clothes, that was very interesting and I'd love to know more but couldn't find anything on Google.

I'm not a student any more!

For the last two years I have been a student. In 2011 I was a Costume Construction student and I loved it. Then last year I did the Graduate Diploma in Applied art at Whitireia Polytechnic at the same time as working their part-time. This year I signed up for a Post Graduate Diploma in Design and after 2 weeks I dropped out. So in the weeks since I last posted a message on this blog I have attended full time lectures with a group of masters and PGDip students, and in the middle somewhere I drove to Auckland twice. Once to drop my son and his drum-kit off for the start of his university year, and back again 3 weeks later to pick him up when he found he couldn't play the drums this year because he needs to rest his arms for longer (he has OOS or RSI).

So now I am reassessing what I want to do. I love teaching so I am going to revamp my workshop list. I'm going to explore what I think 'Modern Quilts' are and a group of us are going to start a Modern Quilts group in Wellington. I'm going to make more fabric badges for sale (currently for sale at Minerva gallery in Wellington), and try and find some white fabric to dye because I feel like dyeing a whole load of fabric.
I'm also in the process of redecorating my son's bedroom - I was going to take over part of the room for a design wall - how was I to know he would come home so soon!

So I hope to post more messages as I reassess what I want to do.

I am also hoping to travel to Japan again and am thinking of taking a small group with me - let me know if you are interested - the kind of person who might be interested would be someone who is fit and likes walking (and textiles of course) but is a bit nervous to travel to Japan for the first time.

In the meantime, here are some pictures from the last few weeks

 This is part of a very long 'shoe fence' on the back road between Wanganui and Waitomo. There are all sorts of shoes so if you ever lose a jandal (thong/flip-flop) go there and find another or leave your odd vandal on the fence.

 This is one of three old cars in the garage underneath a student flat in Auckland. from the outside you would never know that they are in there.

Tourist information office at Matamata

Sunset over Lake Taupo

Hobbit holes at Hobbiton