Hobart Brown Owls gather again - but what should we do?

Our little parliament of owls is meeting again in Taroona after skipping our last meeting.

We know this is a duck, but it's outside where we meet, so just pretend, OK?

The scheduled February meeting was (I think) our hottest day this summer, so we all went inside our little bird boxes and wilted (well, I did anyway...).

So far our group has been kind of feeling it's way a little bit - we have had 6 gatherings so far and we have been getting to know each other and working out when we can make it and what we do and what we make and all that jazz.  Now some of us were thinking it is time to get a bit of focus going for the group.

We already learn from each other - last time we met I learned that a machine I had decided should be invented, was already in existence (a yarn ball spinner thing...yes, I am a noob at some stuff...); but maybe now we take an idea from many other groups and do some team activity of some kind.  I am guessing charity, but who knows?  We have a pregnant owl, so perhaps our first team effort should be focused on the impending smallest one?  Or maybe we make some stuff to sell to buy other people sewing machines via kiva?  Or perhaps we make stuff to give directly to someone; in the Softies for Mirabel vein?  I know this is seasonal, but we might take a while to be organised :)  Or maybe something more locally inspired - such as the Alannah and Madeline foundation buddy bags.

Anyway - we meet, we talk, we decide.  Maybe.  Advice from other groups who have organised such efforts is most welcome!   Our group is here if you want to join us - looking forward to some crafty goodness on Saturday :)

Launceston Brown Owls - Quilt for Kiva

Hi to all Launceston Crafters!

It's July Meeting Time.

When: Tuesday 12 July, 7-9pm
Where: Nanna's Cafe, 7 Coulter Court, Launceston (Park outside by driving down driveway next to Toyworld off York Street, OR Park in Brisbane Street and walk through arcade)
Refreshments available for purchase.
What: We are still working on our quilt for Kiva (http://www.kiva.org/). We are going to raffle the quilt in November -December to raise money for this amazing organisation. For the quilt each Owl is asked to complete 1 x 4 inch square and 1 x 8 inch square. The squares should be in black and white with one other colour of your choice. As for each square ... You can embroider it, piece it, applique it, embellish it ... do what ever you like to it .... and then they will all be quilted together and the completed masterpiece sold, with proceeds going to a charity of our choice (TBA). Never fear if you are not a quilter and it remains as a dark art to you ... there are plenty of quilters in our group who are willing and able to lend a hand! If you would like to start on your squares ... bring them along.

Or else bring your handheld project. There are still plenty of Granny Squares going ... so if you are at a crafting loose end there are a whole army of crocheters ready to lend a hand if you want to have a whirl. All newcomers more than welcome! We are a friendly bunch! Haven't been for a while? We would love to see you.

Please RSVP in the comment section here or over at our facebook page is here

ALL welcome!

Yours in craft
Gemma and Georgia x

Brown Owls Launceston - Uthando Project

Hi All,

Our next meeting will be at the beautiful Design Centre, Tamar Street, 7.30 till 9.30 on Thursday 2 September. We will be making dolls for the wonderful Uthando Project.

For info and specs for the doll check out the web site - http://www.uthandoproject.org.

Of course, if you have something else you are working on, feel free to bring that along instead.

Late Arrivals - Someone will wait at the door till 7.45 after that you can ring my mobile. Email me if you would like the number, Georgia

Brown Owls Launceston is now a Facebook Page. If you would like would like to check meeting dates etc and for what's on in town in the way of craft, join up! Search for Brown Owls Launceston!

Please RSVP below and the first 20 are in!

Look forward to seeing you on the 2nd September,
Georgia. Gemma and Eve.

What's going on up in the North?

The Finnish Brown Owls report about the past two months. February's theme was learning a new skill, tatting. The beginning wasn't too encouraging, but after the idea had matured some time, the secret was revealed:

I hope to show a small finished project some time this year.

In March the Brownie activity was sewing. The Charity of the Month was Unicef, and I made two dolls for adoption. Because I also gave the dolls as birthday presents to blogging friends, I paid the adoption fee to Unicef, securing two real children the necessary 6 vaccinations to save their lives.

 

April's charity project is the Chemo Cap Campaign spreading rapidly all over Finland. I started crocheting and knitting in the last week of March, and yesterday I mailed these 7 caps to the local campaign office:

 

Being a single Brown Owl in this country makes it a bit lonely business, but following the blog posts of you other owls down there on the other side of the world inspires me. If I had a group here, I would definitely include tea and biscuits to the meetings. It would be lovely to chat while working! Should any one of you happen to visit Helsinki some time, we could arrange a meeting as I'm only 50 km away. Just let me know!

Report from Brown Owls in Finland

Hi Brown Owls on the other sides of the world,
This is the lonely Finnish Brown Owl reporting about January activities. Unlike you summer girls, we are having the wonderful winter of childhood memories with lots of snow:

January's theme was charity, and learning something new. The charity project this time was summer camps for children with long term illness. Jackie is one of hopefully many who organizes pillowcases to be sewn and donated to the organization Hole in the Wall Gang. Each child coming to their summer camp can take his or her pillowcase back home to keep.

The new thing I learned was the way of sewing the pillowcase after Jackie's tutorial like this:

The finished pillowcases look like this:

Now the 10 pillowcases are waiting to be mailed to Jackie, who will then take them to the camp when the time is right.

The theme for February will be tatting. I will try to learn this skill which is completely new to me, so there is a good chance to make mistakes as well.

If you are in Finland and want to join me to make this a real chapter, you find my e-mail on the left sidebar!