- 06/03/2013 - Signatur March 6 2013 Newsletter 38
Signatur March 6 2013 Newsletter 38
Wed, 6 Mar 2013
Winter Downunder 2013
I'm really looking forward to winter. I know 'up north' you're longing for spring and packing up the winter woolies.
Avid knitters and non-knitters who just love to wear their knits are always happy to explore what's new! I try to explain to non-knitters' that a good project is like a good book: as you finish one you're wondering what's in the next! We did a photo shoot of 2013 designs with Amanda (at mum's place) mid-February: some great new designs with quite a fresh feel. I showed you the swatches last newsletter, and they're in again below, so you can see how I've gone from swatch to garment.
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My new Coley A Line coat looking gorgeous in grey and flowing beautifully on Amanda
Li River & those amazing limestone karsts!
Husband Brett had to go to Honk Kong, and took a couple of days break, so I joined him for a side-trip to Guiilin in Yunan Province, south-west China. I just wanted to go to'the river with the mountain tops sticking out of the water'! We saw spectacular scenes often used in traditional Chinese drawings. And those floating mountains in the film, Avatar, reminded me of the landscape. When I tell Chinese friends where I went they mention honeymoons or family visits to Li River and Yangshao years ago and thought how pretty It was. it still is!
It was Sunday afternoon in Guilin. We came across a group of ladies and one was knitting! I'm never without my knitting, even on holiday (above I'm knitting the sleeve for the Lace Cable you'll see photographed below). With no common language we worked out that I was knitting the sleeves. She was also knitting a sleeve circular on 4 needles. Above right I got my Avatarmountains along the Li River on our cruise. I've popped a few more images below. Brett takes many photographs when we travel - his have more people, mine more scenery, but I did take a picture of him looking very continiental - lets see if I can fit it in somewhere!
For one who was mildly reluctant to design in lace I seem to have embraced lace texture with a passion - and I'm really happy with the results. I love how the hemlines take journeys of their own!
So, very top left is the Coley A line in light grey with the high round neck, which is then continued into the collar, and turns back to a high Vee.
Right shows the back of the coat, in cream, with the decreasing leaf lace and the centre back split in this the shawl collar version.
The Fitted Lace Leaf in Rust and Plum (above) has the ribbed shawl collar, but the high Vee can also be applied to this design. This commences with a deep rib hemline, which is then decreased as the first leaves are increased, bringing the slight shelling to the hemline.
It's not as distinct as the fluting on the hem of the A line coat, which can be seen on the cream A line to the right.
Below left is the original swatch of the Lace Cable Jacket pattern. In the jacket I have used two different scales of the pattern (over different numbers of stitches).
The placement of the lace has allowed me to create the wave in the hem of the jacket.
This is the short length. I have another photo shoot next week so I hope to have the longer A Line version completed - that's in a jacket length, not a coat length.
Above and below. This brings together the Tally Ho Jacket for the fronts and the back Mitre panel from the Tuscany Drape into this hip length jacket or vest. The shots where the vest fits Amanda it sits into her waist, whilst the size up has a less fitted look.
The Buckingham Vest design is knitted sideways, cast on is from centre back neck to hem, the shelled edge is created from the decrease of the Bell stitch, which is taken into the back hem.
TheJester A linewas completed last winter but only photographed on a dressmaker's dummy. It's great to be able to show the line of this coat.
This is knitted as a bodice, then bodice down, allowing a choice of lengths. Longest length is shown here. It also comes in more sizes than the Harlequin Swagger from the cover of Swing, Swagger Drape.
The highlight colour shows more clearly in the black and grey with the pale grey highlight - stepping down the Mitres. The blue/red colourway has brick highlights.
We will have more shots to share with you shortly, as well as a couple of more designs.
It's great to finally have the Wave Wrap photographed on Amanda below, as this really shows this fun wrap at it's best and most versatile. The pink Zebra colour Amanda is wearing flew off the shelves, new stock arrives monthly. MultiBrite (left) and Sorbet (right) are also extremely popular.
Canberra
March 8th - 9th Hyatt Hotel Designers on Show March 10th Old Bus Depot Market Sydney
March 22nd - 24th - Designers on Show at Turramurra USA
April 5th - 7th - Yarns by Design Neenah WI - knitting classes
April 10th - 13th - Stitches South - Atlanta GI - knitting classes Melbourne
July - Art & Quilt Fair UK
Knitting and Stitching Show
Canberra Hyatt Hotel Fri 8th & Sat 9th March
Fri 11am to 6pm, Sat 9.30am to 4pm
Sydney Turramurra Masonic Lodge Fri 22nd to Sun 24th March
Fri & Sat 9.30am to 6pm Sun 9.30am to 4pm
Designers on Show is growing every year and brings together between 6 and 16 Australian Designers and Makers at various venues in Sydney & Canberra. I organise the Sydney (Turramurra) show. Left shows an Abstract Stain Glass piece from Turramurra exhibitor Jeffery Hamilton
Help promote Australian Design so we continue to grow by printing this poster and putting it up at work - here's the link to download a poster - or an EMAIL Flyer if you have a notice board at work please pin a copy up for me. I also have flyers, which I am happy to mail to you too.
Jeweller and Artist John Hablitschek joins Designers on Show for the first time this year, I met John and his wife Lissie when I was a stall holder at Sydney's Paddington Market. Lissie and John attend craft shows in Australia, Singapore and Germany every year.
2013 line up for Turramurra include above left Dave Jones bespoke Australian timber furniture, Adelaide's Jan Ditchfield with her hand-dyed pure wool shirt (middle left), Canberra's Sonia Burke's Silk 'n Things clothing (middle right) and also from Canberra, Nullabor Nights Knitwear.
Below hand knitted and felted bags and hats from Lynette, Aharoni Jewellery - stunning jewelery and photography!
North coast NSW Pamela (lino print of gum blossom and hand embellished. Blue Mountains artist Jane Stapleford are amongst this years exhibitors.
Jeffery Hamilton glass artist joins us again this year, his work involves both restoration and modern bespoke installations, as the abstract piece above left and the kookaburra shows
Belisa Cashmere joins us at Turramurra as well as stunningly colourful leather bags from Mark Jones and pottery from Susan Skilling, who is manly working on a new range.
Sydney Studio Tel: 9453 9091
My studio is attached to the house, so I am pretty flexible for studio visits.
If you are planning a trip to Sydney and you'd like to drop in to my Aladdin's Cave, please email or phone to make a date and time, which can be day, evening, weekday or weekend.
Made to Measure at your Leisure
Sometimes when shows are really busy it can be challenging for me to really help you with made to measure sizing. There are some great garden centre restaurants and cafe's nearby, so bring a friend, sister, mum or daughter and make a day of it!
This fellow with his cormorant was waiting when our river cruise docked. His hat was just stunning look at the curls around the inner brim.
Our tour guide was so good we joined the afternoon visit to the Glass bridge, which has been used in several movies. Under the bridge we climbed aboard bamboo rafts and we were punted down river to see water buffalo. This was so tranquil, in summer the river can be cruised, since it was more than a little chilly we choose the bigger boat. Had it been spring or Autumn to do the river on a raft would being an amazingly calm day admist the bussel of China. You can see the front of our vessel below! Left I kept seeing these stunning brush brooms being used, we may be polluting the world with plastic brooms but many people in China follow some very simple and beautiful ways - when was the last time you swept? I used to enjoy sweeping the yard at my last unit, before watering the pot plants.
If you'd like to ask a question about anything in this newsletter - or anything all, please email Jane. Thanks for your support - Laura, Petra, Brett, Merrin, and I look forward to seeing you in the knitting circle!
Canberra
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