a fond fare thee weel to Vibusha

With a golden dragon and his chick, a co-creative felt poach depicting a sunny Scotland (golden like the autumn nature's corner she did with the kids),

a co-creative cake and many pictures to remember us by,

a special card from wee Andrea,

and a special Watercolour Felt book, Vibusha is now on her way back home to the sommer beaches of New Zealand.

If truth be spoken she would have loved to stay here, part of this caring sharing community of fibrecraft enthusiasts of all ages. Esp as by some fluke no kids were part of the party this Saturday - probably all gone to the Panto in same building?

We will all miss her sorely, her calm creative presence and caring sharing. The picture to remember the last session with her by are here, at the end of this album; And we hope we have learned enough from her ways of being and working with the fabulous fibres inherent in children and in wool, ways that bring out the best in all.

And here are some more of her gifts today for us:

And remember - you can also watch Vibusha in videos on  "Felted Friends"  and "Mother Earth weaves her autumn blanket"

Best wishes, Bushy, for your summer weaving down under. We are looking forward to some warm wind from there as nature wraps her white blanket round us now!

NEW: a calendar

We have added now a calendar to this blog.

 You can access it from left panel, or from the 'what's on' page, or just here now.
See it Ok?

If you have any events you would like to log and be see here, too, - just let me know

The BANKMILL appeal

READ MORE HERE

about the full picture and give us your feedback: what do YOU think? What appeals to you?

The meeting in the townhall tonight was very well attended, and there will be another meeting soon building upon what the PCDT initiated with your input. You can see that this intensive longterm project can go a long way to build more pride of place here as well put Penicuik back on the cutting edge of our transition times:
it is all part of the greater picture of today and joined-up effort with fun and fibre as well as soundness in building and planning is how community in times of economic crisis can become very inventive in sourcing solutions.

Wnat to see how other communities are doing it at present? Well, have a look here, in Ireland, where the UK and IMF, etc is bailing out yet another bank, and where there vibrant other things happen, too:
http://www.fada.ie/
"Here you will find a wide range of views and inspiring activities, sobering information and fiesty discussions representing the growing number of initiatives around Ireland."
http://transitiontownsireland.ning.com/

Why am I posting Ireland links here? Well, I just find their websites a very good blend of fun and soundness, and folks in full action...
Have a look and lets hear what you think.

and,  by the way, the draft lease for the Penicuik Community food project is on the PCDT table!
Hm, now where the snow comes! Well, gives us time to put some extra spice into Bankmill clearing, both physically and financially. So, come along to townhall on Saturday, and sign up for a different Making Space, the space for making Bankmill work for you and your children.

We'll keep you posted as best we can - meanwhile have a look at the embedded and uploaded document below or go to here http://www.makers.org.uk/paper/bankmill

THANK YOU

at the Edinburgh Steiner School Christmas fayre

Vibusha managed at last to visit the Steiner school and wow what an occasion this year's advent market was! We had only very little time, but saw some very precious and practical clever things out of wool!

Hear and see the full story here on the Craftfayre album from pic #36 to No #65.

Spinning and stringing

The intricate art of stringing tiny beads was well mastered by Toni and his 3 girls, and a number of people young and 'old' got stuck in under their guidance (and the playful eyes of dinosaurs!)

At same time another circle gathered around Catherine spinning by drop spindle and wheel
Can you be einticed enough now to check out the full story via our photoalbum, pics #64 - #82 ?

Catherine brougt many different kind of fleeces to show and share

Lucie mastered the art of drop spindle spinning  in less than an hour!

Special Saturday this week: beading and spinning in Townhall

This Saturday, the 20th of November, we will have two special guests making a contribution to our Making Space Penicuik Sessions in the townhall from 11.30 am to 1.30pm:

Catherine Freeland, local spinner and weaver (seen above in Valleyfield house at one of the recent Arts Festivals) will demonstrate and teach handspinning on the wheel and on the handspindle.

And Tony Dore

has prepared his beading loom to make beautiful things with you like these:

bookmarks

bracelets

ear rings

Beads will be provided at material costs!

Do come along and have a go at making space for making beautiful things, discovering the magic of ancient crafts, and weaving community.

PCAA Craft fair in Penicuik

Poppy from Peebles and her felt galore stall

The halls upstairs and downstairs were buzzing today as local crafters and artists got busy displaying their goods for the eager crowds. Check it out a bit in our Craft Fayre album pictures # 26 to # 35.
Lovely and inspiring to see all their works. Shame Poppy doesn't sell in the PCAA, though!

A wee Making Space contingency gathered downstairs on stage with a playful display of felt creatures (and need I mention the stars of the show? Wooly Dinosaurs which Sarah could have sold by the dozen!), the spinning wheel and god's eye weaving, as well as spontaneous dry felting.

See the full set of snapshot on the "Now in November" Album from picture #40 to picture #62. We were actually quite busy as well as able to catch with lots of folks at last.

Awakening the sculptors in you - through wool

The last Saturday of October fully established the creation of Dinosaurs in our Making Space.

Sarah, seen above on the right embarking on a new branch of crocodile creation, is a curator of fossils at EH museum and specialises in in depth research of these ancients creatures.
You can see more of them walking about on the end of our October photoalbum http://picasaweb.google.com/the.weaver.here/TheMakingSpaceOctoberGatherings#, and in the November album of course http://picasaweb.google.com/the.weaver.here/NowInNovember#.

There is something magical about sculpting with wool. Please visit and enjoy the above photoalbums and let them tell the tale of Making Space entering November, and let us know what you think!

Happy New Celtic Year to you all.
And come back for reading more once I get a pair of free hands to write more here :-)
(It is that season again!)