looking for ideas - seriously looking for ideas

i haven't written anything in this blog since may; very derelict of me.

the thing is, i complete 70 years on 30 december, and since the summer have been wondering where and how i am going from now on.

don't want to do many workshops.  if any.  other than the cape workshop in february as part of the wimmins' dinner & variety show.  funded by neighbourhood small grant, vancouver foundation.

i want to spend more time making, that i know.  for example, where did this lovely woman get to?  i want to make her using fabric.  

and i want to continue the mending and darning thingy, but how without workshopping it. this is where ideas/suggestions would be most most welcome.
if only to keep me out of trouble:)

karenza

MEND, DARN, MAKE - THURSDAY AFTERNOONS

   

    FREE FABRIC WORKSHOP

AT CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTER

  CHINDI NATION MENDING,

      DARNING & MAKING 

          AFTERNOONS

JOIN US AND USE THE FREE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES TO START A PROJECT

OR BRING WHAT YOU ARE WORKING ON

                everybody welcome

every thursday

2:30 to 5:30 pm-ish :)

3rd floor atrium gallery

carnegie community centre

401 main street

vancouver

for more information email karenza@chindi-nation.net

phone: 604 708 6304

thank you to carnegie community centre for providing us with the space and for 

allowing us to use their sewing supplies

SEWING CIRCLE - 9 APRIL 2015

l to r - amy, shelley,
anne k.

the first of the new form of chindi sewing circles.

it was kind of harrowing for me, being the first completely self-motivated session.  and so happy to have input of the women about the structuring of the circle, and how to communicate this.

wen zhu

my friend wen zhu, the master seamstress of our group,  did not want to receive an honorarium for the first thursdays "we will all just help each other" she said. 

and, my dear friend anne, suggested having the guidelines written out; sterling idea.   and i thought to get it translated into mandarin/cantonese script.

anne & laura

new member amy

anne brought some fabric to make a cushion cover, laura made the wonderful bag you can see, and amy made a tablecloth.  ruth worked on a nightie; and i continued embellishing my african print tunic.

next session, thursday, 16 april 2015, at carnegie center.  2:30 to 5:30.  bring your ideas, we have the materials and supplies.

TWO MARCH HAPPENINGS......

 adrienne mac came by with some lovely fabrics for chindi nation

and her best beau, jim, wanted to be included, so here he is.....

and these, these, are the lovely, long, dangly earrings, original design

made for me by
star casement,
who comes for our
thursday afternoon
sewing circle at carnegie center, in case you would like to meet her.

MARCH MENDING, DARNING & MAKING SESSIONS

free sewing drop in 

 picture from a 2014 session

open to all - mend, darn, make...

bring a project of your own, continue with something you started at a previous session, or start something new.............

thursdays - 12, 19, 25 march 2015

2:30 to 5:30 pm-ish

3rd floor atrium gallery

carnegie center, 401 main street

all materials and supplies free

for more information:

karenza@chindi-nation.net

604 708 6304

- this is a chindi nation drop in        hosted by carnegie

- materials and supplies donated     by carnegie, chindi nation and         women of east vancouver

BEAUTIFUL BAG/PURSE BY LAUREL BURCH

last summer my friend jane k and i met for brunch at eternal abundance on the drive, (scrumptious buckwheat blueberry pancakes).  after we took a stroll to grandview woodland park and browsed the sidewalk vendors displays.

and there was this beautiful bag which i just had to get for myself.  it was $12, a steal.  

and made in india, which sealed the deal.

on thursday after the chindi nation sewing workshop at carnegie, my friend ruth mcgibbon and i (myself? whatever) went to the cafeteria and she remarked about this beautiful purse.  

ruth said it looked like a laurel burch design, and we looked, and yes, so it is.


ever since i got this it has been my intention to share this piece of art on this blog.  

but first thought to google laurel burch, and kind of weird here people, she was born on the 31st december 1945, only a day later than me.  

unfortunately this beautiful, talented woman died in 2007.  you can see more of her work on google images.

and, i am so going to steal ideas from her.  oscar wilde said, 'good writers borrow, the best writers steal'.  

her work is kind of like mine, or mine like hers, so it's not that great a leap.

ciao
karenza

WEN ZHU TEACHES AWESOME BAG MAKING

this is the amazing wen zhu who taught two people to make her awesome ipad case.

and shown below is the bag, outside.......

 and inner pockets - 3 pockets with a divided pocket in the middle.  lined.

made with such artistry..and love and attention to detail.............

this is 'anonymous' starting on her bag....

and lai fong who is making the outer structure of the ipad case.


in the fall of this year wen zhu will give a workshop to teach a larger group to make this bag, which can be used for things other than an ipad case.  i'm definitely going to attend this one.

and, here is the talented deirdre with her yoga mat bag made from sample drape material; with a zipper yet.  and she made it look so simple. the topic for another workshop in the fall.

what say you?  good idea?

the materials for this workshop were donated by women of the eastside and all cloths are reclaimed or remnant materials.  

thank you to carnegie center for providing us with the space and for providing us with notions and small tools.
ktw

THE NEXT THING ON THE LIST IS

a tunic made from brown cotton pique; a medium weight, sturdy fabric that will stand up to a lot of wear.

the brown is kind of in between these two images

and i am going to use this pattern

easy, simple, no darts and tucks and pesky curves.  

if there is enough cloth left over it will be used to make trousers; or if not then a vest maybe, or perhaps i'll just throw it into the chindi nation clothing workshops box.

rather uninspiring color, brown.....but i intend to just pop it up by block printing and embroidering on appliqued pieces that match the prints.  

thinking of purple and gold, or purple and copper.  nice deep, rich purple.  hmmm.  yummy.


ta ta
karenza:)

february workshop photos

some photos from our february workshops.

12 february people worked on their own projects, some photos from that session

L - R - lisa, teresa, ruth, deirdre, nobby

same crowd, add karenza

lisa's ipad case

nobby's 2 small pouches & a valentine card in fabric

wen zhu's girl bag

on 19 february lisa, wen zhu, louise, wendy and karenza met and only one photograph was taken..............

ta da!

web zhu made a beautiful pair of blue silk trousers, with a back patch pocket yet.

next session, thursday 26 february
people work on their own projects.

hope to see you,
karenza

boho curtains

the boost came from pinterest
one of the neatest social media sites ever.  

ever

the fabrics are a skirt i don't wear
any more but couldn't bear to give away

add an old bedspread that got ripped in the dryer, and i couldn't bear to give away,

put them together, and 

ta da ..... my boho style bedroom
curtain.






in all it's glory

diy topsheet & pillowcase

free fabric workshop

make a topsheet and pillow case or

curtains for a small window, or cushion covers, or.......

thursday, 5 february 2015

2:30 to 5:30 pm

3rd floor atrium gallery

carnegie center, 401 main street

all materials and supplies free

limited supplies as shown, registration suggested, space held until 2:45 

register at

karenza@chindi-nation.net 

or phone 604 708 6304

a chindi nation workshop sponsored by carnegie community centre

time to start making again

these beautiful lengths of fabric were 
donated by my dear friend vicki.  who has 


been my strong supporter, if not the strongest, in my work.  





so, this is the idea; there are six lengths - each should be sufficient to make a top sheet and a pillow case or two...............

or curtains, or cushion covers.....................  

scrumptious colours, i salivate:)

first sewing session on thursday 5 february at carnegie center............details will follow....................

karenza

the end of another year

so, it's the 'end' of 2014.  i associate with this because my birth date is 30th december, and my own personal cycle begins on the 31st.

it's the time of winter festivals, all having to do with some system of belief, none of which i subscribe to.  none of to which i subscribe? whatever.

this was the invitation to 2008 craft exhibit at carnegie.  the pic was taken on the 2008 holiday lights tour organized by carnegie center.  

but, acknowledging friends and others who do have a belief system attached to this time of the year i wish you happy hanukkah, happy solstice, merry christmas, and happy buying frenzy.  covered everybody?  

anyway, realized that workshops are hard work....just discovered this?  yeah, slow about some things, especially when connected to body awareness.  but, better late than never. so have decided to organize a workshop kit, all ready to go, always near the door so, when the call comes, bob's your uncle (wherever did this come from?  google it, google it, gloo, 99, oops) and away we go.  then will replenish supplies a day or two later, and be all bob's your uncle for the next workshop.

what do you think?  

shalom
shanti
peace

karenza

winter festival decorations at carnegie center

we had our first winter workshop at carnegie community center on thursday 6 november 2014.  and i thought to share some of the images with you.  out there.

tried out a slide show, but new things scare living daylights out, you tube, iphoto, imovie.........

we had great fun, lots and lots of laughs, sharing of information, and acceptance.  thank you to the women who joined in and contributed to the spirit of the workshop.  they are, in alphabetical order,

alana - from toronto

anne

cade's stockings

chris desigining

chris' pouch

denise

kelty's heart

mandy - of toronto

martine visiting

ruth ironing

ruth making tree

savannah

savannah's star

serena

cade, chris and a lovely young woman, sara, did not want their photos taken.  i forgot to take a photo of kelty.  and also of teresa v who visited us. 

thanks to lisa who made signs, and hamish who let us into the art room to get our supplies.  and sheila who guided people to where we were.

xo k