Friday, September 28, 2012

If it's Saturday, it must be Canberra...

I'm off to Canberra first thing tomorrow, to teach a couple of classes.  Amid the prepping and packing today, I remembered to finish and photograph this bag, which was started weeks (or months?) ago.
I'm getting good at this mass-bird-slaughter-with-a-single-stone thing.  This bag was made to demonstrate one of  the zippers styles we'll be doing in the class on the weekend (and in other Zippers for Bags classes).
 
It's also an example of how to manage bulky fabrics, as it's made from a felted jumper, some heavy denim, leather and polypropylene webbing straps.  I'll be focusing* on this sort of troubleshooting in the workshops at Grampians Texture in February, and it will get a mention or two in the new book. 

*Shame I couldn't manage any sort of focus in the photo above... but it's the only one I took of the felted jumper side of the bag, so there it is.

I'll be in Canberra this weekend, teaching the Zippers for Bags and a class in making Hats.  Next weekend I'm back here, teaching something else (bags?) and then I'll be back in Canberra the following weekend. 

If you want to see if there are any last-minute cancellations which might allow you to jump in, or if you want to go on the waiting list for next year's classes, contact Addicted To Fabric.  Apparently the classes book up quickly, but you never know when a last-minute vacancy might appear.
Other travellers this week are the two baby quilts I started at Sewjourn and then put together in Apollo Bay.  An unannounced visit from my US-living sister prompted a quick binding and packaging.  The quilts will be winging their way to some special little girls in the USA, any day now.

I just wish that today had been anything other than a grey, rainy one, so I could have taken a decent photo of this one before it was sent off.

There has been more scheduling and phone-calling and emailing and form-filling and route-planning and networking (...!!..)  and the US trip for me is coming together a bit more clearly.  It's now looking like I might be able to stay a few weeks with family and come back via a nephew's wedding in Hawaii.  Hooray.  It'd be a great opportunity to throw in a few teaching gigs, and there has indeed been correspondence about possible classes, but nothing has been confirmed yet. 

Tonight, I'm taking it easy, eating ice-cream and considering going to bed with a good book.  I'm calling it the weekend.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I love (or should I say <3) that quilting. The bag is inspiring. How handy to have family to help you out. Hopefully you manage to get in some relaxing time amongst all the busy-ness whilst you are over there.

Kathy P said...

That bag is gorgeous Nikki!!! Love the mix of heavy fabrics and zippers! Wish I lived closer to Portland :(

Annie said...

I love the bag too, but those quilts are what capture my heart. Enjoy Canberra. Love ya work!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh I'm a HUGE fan of hurling one great boulder at a flock of project birds :oD I think you may have outdone me with that bag though, and it looks fab! (I do love the look of felted things, however in focus they might be, but alas, the wool allergy means look but don't touch!)

The quilts looks very cute, I'm sure they'll be appreciated, and who could pass up a stopover in Hawaii?! Hope you enjoyed your evening :o)

A Peppermint Penguin said...

did your sister bring you yarn?

I was reading your book last night and no, it isn't just beginners that worry about having to unpick stuff, it's people with deadlines that are cross with themselves for making stupid mistakes too.

Shame there isn't an international whosit in Scotland.... But then I'd want you all to myself!

the bags with the panels in (fur instance) denim and quilt cotton.... will you be addressing those in your books/ have addressed in a pattern somewhere - does one interfacing med/heavy first, then attach the panels, or attach the panels and interfacing over the seams.....

IA Interfacers Anonymous anyone?

Jenny from Ohjoh said...

Not out of focus darrrling, its an art shot!
Love your work - you're a good chick.
I hope those frequent flyer points are going to be used to do something nice for you....

velosews said...

I'm looking forward to the zipper workshop!