Brisbane: Upcycled Christmas Cards

At Brown Owls we love upcycling so we're very excited to have Felicity from Bearly There Creations generously donating her time and showing us how to upcycle aluminium cans into fun and interesting Christmas cards and decorations! 

Felicity will show how to cut down cans safely, create your own designs by hand embossing and a little cheating by using commercial embossing plates to make decorations. Each participant should leave with at least 1 card and 1 decoration, or more, as its highly addictive. 

If time allows Felicity will demonstrate colouring methods as well, using alcohol inks and pens.

When: Saturday 30 November, 10:30am-12:30pm

Where: Carindale Library, Westfield Carindale, 1151 Creek Road, Carindale 

What to bring:

- Aluminium cans, they come  in interesting colours and shapes these days, bring some favourites along to play with!

- Old scissors (not your good dressmaking or fabric ones)

- An old ball point pen for embossing

RSVP: This meet up is now fully booked however to be included on the waiting list email brisbanebrownowls@gmail.com

Be the first to find out about meet ups by subscribing to the Brisbane Brown Owls newsletter here http://eepurl.com/tTVZv

Awesome cuteness by the Brunswick Brown Owls FINGER PUPPET FIESTA

Cute critters!

Yes, we had lots of fun making these new finger puppet friends last Wednesday at the Sporting Club. 

It was super easy and so much fun researching what sweet critters we wanted to make, so we're sharing!

Save the date for 4 December and the 18th December for our last Brunswick Brown Owl sessions and our Christmas craft finales! If you haven't been for a while, we hope to see you there!

Thank you to our dear Brunswick Brown Owls for these gorgeous creations.

Yes, we had lots of fun making these new finger puppet friends last Wednesday at the Sporting Club. 

It was super easy and so much fun researching what sweet critters we wanted to make, so we're sharing!

Save the date for 4 December and the 18th December for our last Brunswick Brown Owl sessions and our Christmas craft finales! Hope to see you there!

Canberra Owls :: November meeting

Hello Canberra owls!

This Saturday 23rd November we're holding our last crafty get-together of 2013 - and it's a super special one!

We're teaming up with the lovely ladies at Canberra Creatives for a craft de stash market!

Come along between 2pm-4pm to pick up some craft supplies bargains!

We'll also be running a limited number of stamp carving workshops - this is a fabulously easy and effective craft so do come along to try it out.

And of course as always you're welcome to bring along whatever project you might be working on - and a plate to share for arvo tea if you'd like - and join us for a cup of tea and a chat.

Don't forget we love show and tell too!

Hope to see you there!

Xo

Brisbane: Amigurumi

We’ll be learning the basics of amigurumi to crochet this cute little penguin.

Please note that this is not a learn to crochet meet up, all participants must know how to do single crochet. Crochet basics and more amigurumi meet ups are planned for next year so if you’re new to crochet don’t worry you won’t miss out!

Meet up details

When: Sunday 24 November, 10:30am-12:30pm

Where: Brisbane Square Library, 266 George Street, Brisbane CBD

What to bring:

- 8ply yarn in 4 colours for the penguin, any colours are fine. If you are fairly new to crochet it might be better to do the body of the penguin in a colour other than black so it’s easier to see the stitches. If you have yarn other than 8ply you would like to bring that’s fine as long as you have a crochet hook one size smaller than what is recommended on the yarn label.

- 2.5mm, 3mm or 3.5mm crochet hook. If you have a full set of crochet hooks bring them along as you may like to test out different sizes first depending on your gauge. The aim is for the gauge to be tight enough so that you can’t see the stuffing.

- Wool needle (I’ll bring some extras)

- Two 12mm black animal eyes. I will also bring some black felt and thread to make eyes to stitch on if the plastic eyes are difficult to find.

- A few handfuls of toy stuffing.

- Scissors.

 RSVP: As soon as possible by emailing brisbanebrownowls@gmail.com

The penguin is from the fantastic Fresh Stitches Free Beginner's Guide to Amigurumi

Mitcham Brown Owls

Hi There Owlies,

Here is our last blog for this year.
Christmas has crept up again, and the end of the year - I'm still getting over last Christmas!

For our last meeting, please bring along anything you have finished to show off, and whatever you are currently working on.  Would you like to also bring along something vintage for show and tell, and no, it can't be you...I've got a flapper dress from the 1920's.

Would you also like to bring a plate of something to share, and we can start at 1pm and have lunch.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Lianne.

The details:  Gallery One, 1 Torrens Road Mitcham PH:  Gallery - 272 4504  Lianne 0431 297 258

When Saturday 23rd November  1pm until we go home.

Brunswick Brown Owls have a FINGER PUPPET FIESTA! 7pm 20th November 2013

Wednesday, 20^th November 2013

Handmade Charlotte

Got some hand made gifts to make? That gift-giving season creeping up on you? Want to give some sweet, thoughtful, clever critter to a friend or family member? Well, do join us for a FELT FINGER PUPPET FIESTA! This Wednesday! Not sure how to do it? Then Stacy (that’s me) will help! FOR FREE! We love to share our skills!

I’ll bring tiny felt scraps, but you could bring a basic sewing kit of

• ·      needle,
• ·      thread (floss is best, but I can share)
• ·      scissors
• ·      felt or fabric
• ·      some ideas for your critter, drawn or printed
• ·      your finger! For puppet theatre fun!

Come and join us, Wednesday 20^th November at 7pm at the Sporting Club, Weston St, Brunswick, Victoria for a FINGER PUPPET FIESTA!

Don’t have any ideas? No problem, visit our Pinterest page for ideas or pin your own. You may want to do some PAPER PUPPETS, AMIGURUMI PUPPETS, or CROCHET or KNITTED PUPPETS! The possibilities hurt my head!

Or you could visit Handmade Charlotte for her current finger puppet post. It’s got an owl in it!

If you’re not into fingers or puppets, feel free to bring your own crafty project and carry on with that, there will be lots happening in the fine Ladies Lounge.

We’d love you to come and say HIDEE HI to the Brunswick Brown Owls! If you can’t make it, we’ll pop up photos of the evening on our Brunswick Brown Owls Facebook page so you can join in the fun too.  We have over 170 members and you can be a part of our crafty community too! Come along and learn some new skills with us!

The Sporting Club still has delicious tapas and discounted cider jugs! Tasty. Bring your friends! We like your friends! We like you! Did I mention we’re friendly?

St George and Sutherland Brown Owls at Finders Keepers!

Merry Christmas - To Market We Go 

For our Christmas celebration this year we will be heading to the Sydney Finders Keepers Markets!

We will be meeting on Saturday the 7th December at 10am in the foyer (at the entrance) - we will be having a look around before we settle into lunch and a present swap!

If you want to be a part of the swap please bring something crafty / handmade to the value of $20!

I can't wait to see you at our first crafty excursion! 

All new and old friends welcome!

If you need any more details please drop me a line HERE!

Thanks Thouraya

November Meet: Melbourne Brown Owls CBD

'Tis the season.... (well almost!)

After skipping October (my sincere apologies for the lapse), Melbourne Brown Owls is back at the lovely Madame Brussels ready to celebrate the festive season!

A festive extravaganza will definitely be on the cards for our December meet, however I thought November would be a great time to get started on those Christmas presents and decorations!

Some inspirations are below:

Baubles Yay - http://meetmeatmikes.com/2010/11/pips-crocheted-christmas-baubles-as/

Yum - http://www.planetjune.com/blog/free-crochet-patterns/christmas-pudding/

Trees - http://takosan.pl/en/little-christmas-tree/ (I plan to have a go at these - see above!)

Or for more: Google Christmas crochet for a mass of cute projects!

Details are:

Date:               Tuesday 26^th November

Time:               6.30pm (usually run til about 9pm)

Location:         The Parlour @ Madame Brussels

                        Level 3, 59-63 Bourke St Melbourne 3000

Bring:              Christmas Project of your choice

Cost:                No fee for attendance, but you may like to sample the delicious food and drinks on offer as a thank you for the great space

RSVP:             In the comments section below

If you are in the middle of a project feel free to bring it along and continue, or if you are apprehensive about starting something new, there are very talented ladies on hand to offer advice and support!

Some holiday dates for your diaries:

Tuesday 17th December
Tuesday 28th January

Very much looking forward catching up with you once more!

Lee x 

Brisbane: Advent Bunting

 Make your own advent bunting with pockets for sweets, little notes or holiday activity suggestions. This would look great hanging in anyone’s home and could become a treasured part of your family’s Christmas traditions.

Select your own fabric for the flags and header tape and combine it with the hand stamped numbered panels (1 – 24) from Ministry of Handmade. At the workshop, cut your own fabric pieces, learn the basics of how it goes together and start stitching your bunting. This project will take slightly longer than two hours allocated but can easily be finished off at home.

When: Thursday night, 14 November,  7.00pm – 9.00pm.

Please bring:

.4m of fabric for header tape

.5m for flag backs

.5m for flag fronts (Can be the same as the backs if you wish or contrasting)

Matching thread

Rotary cutter and/or mat if you have them

Scissors, tape and pins

Please note – the fabric requirements are based on fabric that is 110cm wide

Also please bring something small to share for supper.

Provided:

Sewing machines but you may bring your own if you wish

Hand stamped numbered panels

Mood music and scintillating conversation!

Tea and coffee

Cost:

$42.00 

RSVP: By registering here, numbers are strictly limited so be quick!

Come to the second last Southside Owls night of the year!

Yep, it’s November already. I know everyone feels the same way when I say the old cliche – seriously where has this year gone?!

So it’s our last time this year to host Brown Owls – next month it’s Shannon’s turn:)
Let’s just do a BYO this month, what do you think? Bring along whatever project you’re working on and we’ll sit, chat, drink and have a lovely time. Is it too early to have champagne – has the festive season not started yet? Let’s do it anyway! I’ll have some delicious champagne for us all as well, why not!

Date: Thursday 14th November 2013
Time: 7:30pm onwards

Venue: Frankie and Swiss, Ground Floor, 199 Toorak Road, South Yarra. It’s the building on the corner of Toorak and Claremont Street. Right on the #8 tram or a 2 second walk from South Yarra station. I’ll also have parking available underneath the building. You’ll need to call me (9826 4261) to buzz you under:)

Craft: BYO a project.
Goodies: We will have the usuals, like tea and biscuits – and because it’s nearly the festive season, a little champagne as well! Feel free to bring something along if you would like to show off your baking skills!

RSVP: You can leave a comment here or email michelle[at]frankieandswiss.com.au or call me:)

See you all on Thursday!
xx Michelle

Preston Brown Owls November Meeting

Dear Preston Brown Owls,

It is our month of the sewing machine.  Pick up your machine and your project and head to

GJ's Discount Fabrics

Upstairs

443 Lygon Street, Brunswick East

on 

Saturday 16 November

12.30pm - 3.45pm

Cost: $5 room hire payable to the ladies downstairs.

There are cutting tables and mats, ironing boards, tea and coffee and lots of light and us of course, in all of our frenzied sewing glory.  So if you have been meaning to cut something out or finish sewing that skirt, now is the time.  Everyone is welcome.

Any queries, contact me at rebecca@needleandspindle.com