Cram Jar Dyeing!

I had a day last week to enjoy a Dyeing workshop with friends. It was such fun! I am still trying to find the time to rinse all my fabric - 24 jars each, with 24 different colours! That's a lot of jars to find for 7 ladies!

We had the perfect venue, outside but under cover, as it decided to rain. We were not deterred as we mixed our potions according to the recipe. 

We are now so well organised that I can't wait for our next day when I will dye some yarn, muslin and crinkle cotton!

Some of the pieces drying on my Mum's old clothes horse.

The first few dry, ironed and folded. Just gorgeous, vivid colours with subtle colour variations, just the way I like it! Now!! What will I do with them?

UPDATE: The completed Rainbow! How Delicious!

A bit heavy-handed on the blue end of the spectrum, but it is my favourite colour range!

Meanwhile, back at Precious Purl!!! We had a Crochet workshop yesterday with Penny O'Neill.

I was so busy I forgot about the photos. Everyone seemed to have lots of fun! 

Please Note: Our next scheduled workshop- Cobweb Felting with Pam Goble is booked out. I hope we can persuade Pam to run another later in the year!

We still have vacancies in Jude Skeers Knitting workshop on 14th May - see 22nd Feb post on this blog or email me for details if you are interested.

A Reminder: There is still time to get a ticket in our Birthday giveaway! See the previous post!

Another Birthday & Another Giveaway!!

Precious Purl is celebrating its 2nd Birthday during March and the customers are receiving the gifts!
No cake, candles or balloons, maybe some lollies, but there's more........................

We are launching a Reward Scheme for all our loyal customers (more details available in the shop - needless to say, the more you spend the more rewards you get!) and also offering this gorgeous box of goodies as a gift to the lucky customer whose number is drawn out on Friday 1st April.This will appeal to Felters, Knitters, Spinners, Sewers, Quilters, Embroiderers or would make a lovely gift for that special crafting friend, if you could part with it!!

How to be in with a chance to win this crafting delight! 

1. Leave a comment on this blog. If you also become a Follower of the blog, I will give 2 entries into the draw!

2. Send an email to the Lara Downs email address- see sidebar (check out the great pattern offer on the website at the same time!)   OR

3. Visit Precious Purl to collect a ticket (do check out our lovely products too!)

Thank you to all our customers - without you there would not be a 2nd birthday to celebrate!

Don't forget our workshops! - see 22nd February post.

A great workshop!

Participants in Precious Purl's  "Introduction to Wet Felting Basics" workshop were most industrious on Saturday.

Robyn Steel-Strickland our tutor, (in the red) kept the girls working very hard all day! They learnt heaps, and so did I,as I watched on, between customers and shop business.

They produced beautifully felted samples.

The gorgeous flowers were a lovely way to use their newly acquired skills.

 Adding the stem, was tricky!

 Note the Jelly Beans! Always on the worktable for Precious Purl workshops, helps with the occasional sagging energy levels.

We will run further felting workshops. See the previous post for details.

Crochet, Knitting, Felting Workshops.

Workshops have commenced at Precious Purl for 2011. Our first class will run this Saturday 26th February 10.30-4.30 This is an introduction to Felting with Robyn Steel-Strickland and is booked out, but if you are interested in such a class, let us know and we will plan to run it again.

On Saturdays 19th March and 26th March we have planned 2 workshops with the fabulous, outrageous, Crochet Queen, Penny O'Neill. Penny has run classes for us previously and all participants have had a "ball!"
                                 

On 19th March 2.00-4.00 Penny will run her Bower Birdz class.Crocheted flowers and treasures embellish a "stitch holder" to adorn hair,bags,scarf or wrap.Cost will be $55.

On 26th March 2.00-4.00 a crocheted Scarflette that can also be worn as a head band embellished with crocheted flowers that are used as fastening. Also $55.

These fun classes are designed for both beginners and experienced crocheters.

Saturday 30th April, Pam Goble of Lara Downs will run a Felting workshop using her hand dyed Merino/Silk laps to produce cobweb felt. Get in quickly as numbers will be very limited!

Saturday 14th May Jude Skeers, well known knitwear designer of Moebius Wrap fame will take you through the process of knitting his latest vest design using our Superfine Kid Mohair.

Register your interest by email now (go to my profile for address) and all details will be sent to you or visit Precious Purl to see Samples.

Geelong Patchwork and Quilters Guild

What a great day we had yesterday as the invited guests of the Geelong Patchwork and Quilters Guild at their monthly meeting! This is a vibrant group of around 120 women who are passionate about many crafts.

Pam gave a fabulous talk about the evolution of Lara Downs/Precious Purl  over the years and displayed some samples of work by our talented Artists and Knitters that were lovingly fondled as they were passed around!     
Sorry about the fuzzy zoom shot below!

Our Trade stand was enthusiastically received and many treasures purchased for the next project or just because they were irresistible!! 

Thanks Geelong for inviting us! We would love to come back again and thank you Lisa for minding the Store!

My next post will be all about the exciting workshops happening at Precious Purl - stay tuned!!

This is Melbourne, not Brisbane!!

WOW!! I really feel even more for all those affected by our unbelievable weather in Australia this summer!

The tail end of cyclones Anthony and Yasi  hit very close to home on Friday!

This is the view out our bedroom window at the height of the torrential downpour. This raging waterfall was running down the hill from the back of our half acre block, taking everything in its way, including our driveway!! Fortunately it stopped just short of flowing in the back door!

But this was nothing compared to my son's brand new house.

 Pride and joy of he and his partner for the last 6 months!

Workers from the insurance company came very quickly to remove the soggy plaster and insulation and secure what was left. Just heart breaking for them, but all can be repaired. Gives perspective to the huge losses and damage, others have had to endure. 

I am crocheting Granny Squares with new fervour as I join in with Crochet a Rainbow for all flood victims!

http://sarahlondon.wordpress.com/ 

Crochet a Rainbow

Precious Purl has joined the growing list of participants aiming to Crochet a Rainbow to bring comfort and colour to those affected by the floods throughout Queensland and Victoria.
Donations of Granny Squares of 5 rounds in wool or acrylic will be joined together into blankets. Completed "Grannies" can be left at Precious Purl and we will forward them to Sarah London in NSW. We hope our customers will want to join in such a wonderful way to show their support.
All information can be found at "Crochet a Rainbow" or Sarah London on Ravelry or http://sarahlondon.wordpress.com

Precious Purl resumes normal trading tomorrow Wednesday 2nd February 11-4pm