Rag Rug Goodness

It's extremely hot here in summer. Some days we hit the high 30s. It's also quite chilly in winter in comparison. We are still trying to align ourselves with our new climate having spent almost a whole year here.

Many of the new homes in Queensland have tiled floors throughout which are cool in summer but cold in winter. I wanted some beautiful rugs underfoot. The cost of lovely handmade ones was beyond us, secondhand ones were in bad condition and I can't stand the cheap acrylic ones. I'm a natural fibres girl wherever possible.

Luckily for me I was invited to a craft group who were making rag rugs. Thank you Varni for sharing your skills and passion.There are lots of online tutorials. Youtube was especially helpful. Learning to make yarn from t-shirts and bedsheets was awesome.

Mine are crochet and made from thrifted or gifted recycled bed sheets. I love them and loved teaching other families how to make their own beautiful bespoke rugs for next to nothing. My favourite was by my nephew Nathaniel who is only ten years old. Give it a go! Fill your home with beautiful things you make or find.

Here's a couple of useful link to get you started ... http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2010/02/rag-rug-tutorial.html and http://youtu.be/CRqsG1YqWVU but there's lots of links so look around. You can braid, knit or even hook a rug. Keen to try that. Have fun. x

Nathaniel and Tamira proudly displaying Nathaniel's work. 

Holes

I lost my handmade silk dress this weekend. Easily a hundred hours or more patching and stitching her surface. I carry my work with me everywhere and while doing a photoshoot put my bag down on a table at a local community event. Someone picked it up. My silk bag holding my silk dress, the last of my silk thread and my needle case holding my favorite hand sewing needles. I don't hate but I really miss my work. And now there is a wee hole in me. Because I loved that piece of cloth and had almost resolved the work I was doing. I cannot remake those autumnal leaf markings nor the memories it holds. Time however to let her go with the only image I captured. x

Maunga Tambourine

I went up the mountain to see what taonga I could find.

My skin sister India. A new tribe. Magic cloth. Royal feast. Liquid black gold from Jindaloo. Stitching hands. Autumn leaves. Iron river stones. A fragment of 'my Australia'. Peace. X

Click HERE for India's website

(Follow me on Instagram. #ahiparagirl to find me.)

Dreamcatcher

Its Autumn, its cooler thank God and we're crafting of course. I've run a couple of workshops, taught myself how to make rag rugs, attended a craft group and slowly am building a circle of artistic and creative friends here in Australia.

I've also started a small craft group and craft ups on the Gold Coast and have been approached by the local community centre to run a group. I've yet to figure out the logistics for this including how to make it pay for itself and whether I want to run a community group or create paid work for myself. In the meantime, I continue to love making for the sake of making itself.

Today I started to make dreamcatchers using things I already had. Our youngest son claimed the first one for himself. It was the opportunity to remind him to pray and ask God for good sleep. There is no power in feathers and mummy's makes. I love children's prayers. Their faith is so uncomplicated. Unlike this first attempt at a dreamcatcher which surprisingly took me hours to figure out. I'm happy with it and more importantly, my boy reckons its awesome. x

(Photos via Instagram. Trialling Andriod blogger app.)