After Jenny Hopper's excellent explanations of intimate blending (even arrangement of colours) and random blending (uneven colours) the day was devoted to colour blending on handcarders, board carders, drum carders and using a picker, for both wool and hair fibres, and spinning the results.

Keeping in mind the upcoming Designer Yarn of the Year competition, we left with a challenge bundle of fibres, tencel/merino 60/40, cotton, tussah silk, tow flax, huacaya alpaca, suri alpaca, mohair and 26µ merino, half of each we are to dye our chosen colours, before next meeting when we will blend and spin the fibres. The other half of the fibres will be blended and dyed after spinning. The yarn results of the dyed-before-blending, spinning and the dyed-after, will be evaluated at the next meeting.

Caroline Baker

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Our little group is working away under the guidance of Joyce Smith. Last year we became adventurous and worked on a tribute to Nancy van de Linde, a long time member of the guild. Nancy is now living in Wauchope a little too far to travel to our weekly weaving sessions but her influence and encouragement is still felt. During 2005 the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council ran a project called Her Story to encourage the documenting of stories about local women. Nancy was an obvious choice having led such an interesting life and contributing so much to others.

The Port Macquarie Family History wrote a story, based on interviews with Nancy and Patrick. To go with the story the weavers told her life in woven panels. Nancy joined in the project and wove a depiction of her life in China where she was born a daughter of missionaries. June Burges wove a scene from England to represent the period in Nancy's life when she went to school there and completed her nursing training. Her love affair with Patrick began there where they were married at the beginning of the Second World War.

After the war Nancy, Patrick and their first child moved to Hong Kong where their other four children were born and raised. Joyce Smith wove a scene of the familiar harbour to depict that happy time in Nancy's life. Nancy and Patrick's move to Australia was represented by Rosalie McIlrick, who showed the different environments in which they lived from the sea to the mountains and plains.

The panels were displayed at an exhibition of the Her Story Project held at the local library in November. Together with the panels a DVD was produced with Nancy and Patrick talking about weaving and the way it has been a constant source of pleasure in their lives as a hobby they can share.

The booklet is called Weaving: A Life Thread and is available from the Port Macquarie and Districts Family History Society.

Port Macquarie Weavers

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Mleak, a Flickr user, recently learned to crochet. Not having any yarn to hand didn't stop her from whipping up some funky sandals out of plastic shopping bags.

Crocheted grocery bag shoes — craftster.org (via Boingboing)

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Just wanted to let you know that the Country Women's Association in Hornsby is holding its Australiana Beanie Competition again this year and hope that your group will put in some entries.

There are 8 categories this year.

1. Australiana
2. Cutest Girls Beanie
3. Coolest Boys Beanie
4. Most entries from one person
5. Most entries from a group
6. Novelty
7. Peoples Choice
8. Maddest Tea Cosy - Just For Fun

The Tea Cosies will be on display at our Australia Day Tea Cosy Exhibition which will be held in our rooms in Hornsby next to Hornsby Park.

All beanies will be donated to cancer patients or auctioned and the money donated to Cancer Research. Hopefully we will be brightening up some lives and keeping heads cosy - so to speak.

The closing date is 30 June and any enquires just give me a call on 04 1260 6686 or email me [margyure@gmail.com] and I will get back to you within 24 hours - I am an efficient emailer.

Looking forward to you entries.

We are still in the process of looking for sponsors so if you can help us out there in any way it would be greatly appreciated.

Margaret Ure — CWA Publicity Officer

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