QSWFA

10:30 am 30 November 2024

Join us as we honour our talented members who have excelled in their respective fields. This special event celebrates those who have achieved excellence in their craft and generously shared their skills with our members and the community.

Hear the inspiring stories behind their artistic journeys. This is a unique opportunity, occurring only once every five years. Spend the morning with our Masters, learn what motivated them to pursue their artistic paths, and take home valuable skills and tips they will share. This celebration marks their significant contributions to the public, the arts and crafts community, as we commemorate 55 years of the Queensland Spinners, Weavers and Fibre Artists (QSWFA) supporting skill-sharing and knowledge.

We are proud to recognise the incredibly skilled Masters joining us: Karen Alpert, Robert Astill, Joan Apthorp, Wendy Bailye, Jill Brose, Paula Cockle, Belinda Daniel, Janet De Boer, John Hains, Isobel Harvey, Pam Healy, Myrna Henderson, Gillian Hume, Jenny Jackett, Karlene Lewis, Geraldine McGovern, Millie Radovic, Tricia Smout, Marion Standfast, and Helen Walters. While others have been invited to this event, some are unfortunately unable to attend.

These Masters specialize in Spinning, Weaving, Felting, Dyeing, Paper Artistry, Basket Weaving, Crochet, and Knitting. Many have been influenced by, or have studied under, other Masters, and have forged their own paths. They have taught and demonstrated for QSWFA both nationally and internationally.

In addition to a delicious morning tea, you will have the chance to chat with the Masters, ask them questions, and view live demonstrations. We will also feature a display of books written by our members, past and present, in our library. Our Emporium will be open for business as well.

To commemorate our 55th anniversary, we will offer a Folio of Biographies written by our Masters, along with their special instructions or patterns, available for order.

Limited spaces are available for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

We have been working all year making lovely natural fibre beanies, scarves, shawls and more! We have so many handmade goodies to sell! All the proceeds go to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Qld Section). You will find us on the lower level of the RICC in the Channel 7 Pavillion, Agriculture and Education Hall.

Open Day was such a lovely way to share our lovely members with our community. Thanks, Jonty Bush for making this video on her visit.

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A post shared by Jonty Bush – Member for Cooper (@jontybush)

We open our doors and welcome everyone to meet our amazing members and see their work.

Great for Mother’s Day presents!

Join us on an adventure to visit Ray Cross our long-term (40 years) gardener at his Miniature Belted Galloway Stud at Yarraman. On the way, we plan to visit Ottoba Llamas who have previously brought their lovely llamas to Open Day.

Tuesday, June 11 2024 9 am departure, expected return 5:30 pm.

After exploring Ray’s farm and some cow cuddling, Ray will treat us to a delicious homemade lunch.

On our journey home we will visit Rosabella Yarns at Crows Nest. Rosabella is a goat farm and they hand-dye Meriel’s (Full Circle Fibres) Queensland-grown cotton.

It will be a day of fun, animals and yarns.

We are running a series of workshops where we share how to make a little bento bag, a rope bowl, a tie-dye shirt, a crochet necklace and a felt brooch. We are having a delightful time with this great multicultural community at Inala.

Yes, your favourite house of fibre is a polling place!

We will have the ubiquitous democracy sausage sizzle and an assortment of baked goodies from our members. We will fire up the barbie at 8 am and cook until we run out of our delicious butcher (Gordon & Luxton) sausages.

So come, get a sausage, a cake and a cold drink…. oh and you had better vote too!

Pop in and see us at Richard Randall Studio at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha. Our members have been very busy making beautiful work to sell. You can buy handspun, handwoven, felted, dyed, sewn, knitted, crocheted, and all handmade yummy items.

Join us in making beanies for ABC’s Kat Feeney’s project for the charity GIVIT. We are knitting and crocheting beanies to keep Brisbane heads warm. Acrylic yarn is best to use as it’s easiest to care for. Drop off at ABC studios at Southbank or our premises at Auchenflower by or on 30 June 2023.

Need a beanie pattern?

There are lots of free patterns on the internet. Google is your friend! For example, if you can knit only plain (knit) stitch, try googling “garter stitch beanie pattern free beginners” or something like that. 

Also, if you’re unsure of a technique, do a search on YouTube where you will find many helpful videos.

In the meantime, here’s a pattern for beginner/intermediate knitters.