Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! In the hopes of finding a hobby totally outside of my studio area, I got a spinning wheel for Christmas. I finally got a chance to get it together this week. Here is a photo of my first skein. Pretty 'arty', but I'm not in a big rush to perfect my skill...as always, I'm just enjoying the process! It is very relaxing and all the contact with the fibre is very soothing. I am desperately trying not to become to addicted and forget about real work. This skein is merino roving dyed with logwood and indigo. Going to try some acid dyed merino I have left over from a felting workshop, could be wild! Thanks to Linda Lewis of Baynoody for selling me the wheel and for guidance with my spinning. Check out her place on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoX-WgBRUI 

Operation Homespun Reprinted!

Collection of traditional NL knitting patterns available

for the first time since the 1980’s.
Almost 30 years ago a group of knitters, Craft Field Instructors and their students, gathered together a collection traditional knitting patterns. Hoping to inspire others to knit with pure homespun wool, the booklet of patterns also included information on the fundamentals of knitting and tips for completing socks, mitts, and sweaters for every member of the family. That booklet – Operation Homespun - became a valuable resource for all knitters.
At the time, it was feared that a child may grow up and never see anyone knitting mitts or socks. Miss Templeton organized Operation Homespun to preserve the patterns and traditions for future generations – and it is in this spirit that the Anna Templeton Centre for Craft Art & Design has reprinted this booklet.
The original booklet, with its introduction written by Miss Anna Templeton, is now available for purchase. It will be available at the Anna Templeton Centre’s Christmas Tea & Sale, Friday, 12-8 pm, December 11, and Saturday, 9 am – 4 pm, December 12, 2009. The booklet is $20 and the first one hundred sold also includes a skein of Briggs & Little homespun wool. All proceeds support the Anna Templeton Centre.

Comfort and Joy at the Craft Council Gallery

The Comfort & Joy opening reception will take place in conjunction with a HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE at Devon House on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, from 1 – 5 p.m. This event replaces “Starry Night” and promises to be an afternoon of celebration, music, food, three floors of shopping, prizes, raffles, and fun for everyone! Admission is FREE. For more information contact the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, 709-753-2749.

Join me at the Fine Craft and Design Fair, Friday, November 13th, 12 - 6pm

Join me at the Fine Craft and Design Fair demonstration booth on November 13th from 12 - 6pm.  Stumpwork, an embroidery technique popular in the 17th century, brings images to life using padding, dimensional hand stitches an needle lace. I will demonstrate the magic of stumpwork through the creation of a holiday-themed wall hanging which, hopefully, will be a part of the Craft Council's annual 'Comfort and Joy' Exhibition. While at the fair be sure be to check out the student booth for Textiles: Craft and Apparel Design. The second year students have been working hard on their craft fair project again this year!

Its that time again!

Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
Fine Craft and Design Fair
New venue!!!! The Fine Craft & Design Fair is moving to the Arts and Culture Centre. Running for two five-day stretches November 4th - 8th and November 11th - 15th, 2009, you can come and meet our makers, experiencing the joy of the handmade.
Come join us at the Fine Craft and Design Fair as artisans from across the province demonstrate their craft. We have demonstrations in silk painting, rug hooking, clay, glass work, painting, felting, book-making, sculpting, spinning and jewelry making. Demonstrations will be happening throughout the 10 days of the fair.Reaching it’s peak in the 1650’s, stumpwork embroidery brings images to life using of padding, dimensional hand stitches and needle lace. Award winning artist, Susan Furneaux will demonstrate the magic of stumpwork through the creation of a holiday-themed wall hanging. Demonstration Schedule for the second half of the fair:

Wednesday November 11
4:00 - 6:00 pm Janet Peter begins construction of a life size papier maché mummer
6:30 -9:30 pm Printmaker Anita Singh will demonstrate styrofoam relief prints, fun for all ages
Thursday November 12
12:00 – 2:00 pm Jason Holley constructs something fashionable using chainmail
2:30 – 4:30 pm Laurie Dempster will demonstrate rug-hooking which will include both punch needle and hand hooking,
4:30 – 7:00 pm Janet is working on her mummer
Friday November 13
10:00 – 12:00pm Janet Peter begins the day with papier maché
12pm – 6pm Susan Furneaux will demonstrate a 17th century embroidery technique-- “stumpwork -- which brings images to life using padding, dimensional hand stitches and needle lace.
Saturday November 14
10:00 – 12:00pm Tim Rast,”Elfshot, professional archaeologist and artisan will demonstrate ‘flint knapping”
3:00 – 5:00 pm Elias Semigak, Inuit carver with demonstrate his technique
5:00 – 10:00pm Janet Peter
Sunday November 15
10:00am – 12pm Trine Schioldan will demonstrate “wet felting” using sheep’s wool
12:00 – 2:00 pm Darka Erdelji, from the Queen of Paradise Garden makes masks using
multi- media
3:00 – 5:00 pm Carolyn Morgan will show you how to make a doll
Throughout the fair, Janet Peter will be working on a life size papier mache mummer—watch her progress as she begins the piece Wednesday November 11th at 4pm and completes it Sunday November 15th at 6pm…

400 - Celebrating Cupid's Anniversary now online!

"A group exhibition of contemporary craft that reflects the 400th anniversary of Cupids in dynamic and diverse ways."

On exhibit at the Annex Gallery during the summer, this exhibit is now open for view on the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador'sonline gallery. http://www.craftcouncil.nl.ca/gallery/current_show.asp?show_id=113

"See Gentle Patience Smile on Pain, See Lingering Hope Revive Again"

Hand Embroidery, natural dyes on silk, collected oak leaves, collected magnolia leaves, acrylic paint, historic photos and stamps. Eric Walsh Photo

Fall workshops!!

Check out my upcoming Fall Workshops as the Anna Templeton Centre. The listing is below to the right. Please contact the Anna Templeton Centre at 709-739-7623 to register for these workshops.
I will also be hosting a weekend of workshops at the Commissariat House in downtown St. John's on October 4th and 5th. Natural dyes on Saturday and embroidery on Sunday. I will be posting more about these workshops later.