Carly and I have been having the most fabulous time teaching our sewing class at Artlife these past few weeks! Suffice to say we were pretty darn nervous on our first day but we soon got the hang of things- our students are just darling and absolutely thirsty for sewing knowledge! It is a privilege to share what we know with these wonderful women who are so eager to learn and create.

However it’s with a tinge of sadness I write this post; the morning of our last class, 23rd July 2011, my beloved Nan, Nellie Lorraine Wright, passed away at the age of 90. The feelings that come with losing a loved one are always inexplicable, but it is just impossible not to smile when you think of her. My nan was such a firecracker, sharp as a tack and so quick to laugh. In her heyday she was strong as an ox and had the resilience that can only come from having lived through the war years and the depression. She was resourceful, a brilliant cook and so deft with her hands, a talented knitter, seamstress and crocheter– in fact she taught herself to crochet by examining existing stiches, because she couldnt figure out how to decipher the crochet patterns! (Oh i am a girl after her own heart)!

My nan taught my mother Lynda to sew, and she in turn taught me. So on the day my Nan passed away, I was so proud to turn up to the day’s sewing lesson, shoulders back and a smile on my face, ready to give the class my best and to pass on the skills and knowledge she had learned from her mother before her. Isn’t that a wonderful legacy?

Love you always, Nannie x

In Memoriam
Nellie Lorraine Wright 1920-2011

Left: I love this photo of Nan in “the wash house”.  Check out that vintage washing machine!
Right: 2 year old Paula with Nan & Pop

Hello lovely readers, it’s been a while hasn’t it! Well I can assure you that the Dames have not been idle since our last post. VTEC Kalgoorlie have asked us to host a 6 week sewing workshop as part of their new exciting Artlife initiative,  so we have been busily sourcing our materials and preparing our patterns. Naturally vintage-inspired accessories are our theme for the workshop and the fabulous projects our students will be making include a domestic goddess gathered half-apron (with matching pot holder of course!), an eco friendly foldable shopping tote, beautiful buttons and embellishments, hand stitched fabric flowers,  and a fabulous floral headband and brooch. We are rather excited, and a little bit nervous too! It’s the first workshop the Dames have hosted so wish us luck!!

If you are interested in coming along to the workshops it’s not too late, it starts this Saturday so get in quick! Check out the artlife website for more details http://artlifevtec.com/courses/sewing/

Felt Urchin Nesting Bowls. Made with 3mm designer felt. You can buy the pattern here

Felt Feather Headbands using 100% Merino Wool Felt

Back: Felt Feather Headband. Front: Nanna Doily Brooch made with wool felt, a hand dyed doily, yarn and self covered button.

More Nanna Doily Brooches

Us dames are quite partial to a wee bit of afternoon tea, so naturally we were delighted to be invited to a rather scrumptious High Tea over the Easter Weekend. There were baked treats a plenty, plates and plates of delicious dainty finger sandwhiches and cup after cup of lovely piping hot tea. Suffice to say, we were rather happily stuffed by the end of it and treated ourselves further to a well earned nap once we had rolled on home. What better way to spend Easter Sunday? I’ll let the pictures do the talking…

Left: Darling little easter themed mini carrot cupcakes. Right: The cutest tea cosy you ever did see (you can buy one just like it here).

Lolly coloured macarons made by Miss Paula. Flavours included Vanilla and Rose, Lime and Jasmine Tea, Passionfruit and Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate and Cranberry.

Left: Tasty little Lime Meringue Pie morsels. Right: Strawberry and Cream Sponge Friands… these were to die for!

These retro little beauties are known as Sponge Lillies.