Greetings fellow crafters!
Joburg is getting cold. I am so not a fan of winter, but at least we have glorious sunny days even if the air temperatures are dropping. It really is the perfect time of the year to begin knitting and crocheting if you haven’t already.
An update on my quilt. I have just given it in to be professionally quilted, and I should get it back by mid-June. I can’t wait to get it back.
Now to share with you what some of my students have been doing: Bohlale Letlhaka has been learning all sorts of crocheting skills and is mastering the craft beautifully. On Friday last week, she arrived with a gorgeous hat that she had designed herself, using granny squares. I was most impressed. She then proceeded to show me some hair-scrunchies that she had crocheted. They were brilliant. At the lesson itself, she produced an excellent corner-to-corner square. This student is growing in leaps and bounds.
Narayani Mahale comes up with all sorts of amazing creations. This week she brought some coasters that if you roll up become posies of flowers. How cool is that! She also crocheted some heart centred granny squares for fun. The enthusiasm of my little crocheters is contagious!!
Lana Sanderson took her first-ever embroidery and used it as the front panel of a tea cosy. What a beautiful idea. It is vibrant and beautiful.
Norah Doherty has embroidered the most remarkable pair of rhinos; a mom and baby rhino. Norah is getting this made into a French quilt. What a work of art. It is exquisite.
Nellie Breedt challenged my embroidery skills. She embroidered a young lady on a balcony. The test for me was the lady’s hair. I have never done this before, but I am thrilled with what we achieved. Nellie is delighted with her project.
Anita Bouwer’s daughter designed a magnificent picture of Cape proteas and fynbos species. Anita then embroidered it onto a light green linen. The final result is breath-taking. I am sure many students will want to replicate this design. It worked perfectly.
Conor Hughes continues to inspire me with her paintings to which she adds a touch of embroidery. How these concepts have grown and developed on the canvases, and materialized into wonderful forms of multi-media art has been incredible. I just love working with Conor on these designs. One picture depicts an aerial view of a bush camp in Botswana, the other is of three tiny snails on blades of grass. Stunning!
So what am I currently working on you may ask? I am three and a half sides away from finishing my cushion covers for my lounge. Once these are done, I will post photos. I have also taught myself to finger knit, although it is really easy if the truth be known! I am almost finished making a blanket with the extremely thick wool one uses for this art form – just in time for winter.
I give lessons at Ribbonsfields in Bordeaux every Thursday morning, so if Kyalami Estates are too far for you, please consider this option. Lessons at Kyalami are on Wednesday and Friday mornings and Tuesday afternoons every alternate week. I’d love you to join me so I can share my passion for crafts with you!
The stock at Threads of Joy is building up. If you are needing items, especially for your embroidery projects – from DMC and Chameleon threads, to Roseworks Embroidery kits, to sewing needles, to embroidery hoops or scissors please give me a call. If I don’t have the items in stock, I will try my best to get them for you. Just call me before hand to arrange a suitable time to do your shopping.
Join me if you want to learn a new skill and meet some like-minded friends! Be inspired. Begin a new project. Bring a friend along too. Contact me if you are interested in crocheting, knitting or doing some hand embroidery. Remember, you are never too old or too young to learn something new!
Yours in craft, Lindsey
