Craft

At first glance it's easy to presume that Melanie Allan’s polymer clay jewellery is made by painting on pictures or sticking on patterns. Nothing could be further from the truth. Melanie’s highly detailed works are actually made using an ancient technique known as ‘Millefiori’ ...

If you haven’t had the chance to visit the poppy installation at Naracoorte Town Square, you’re truly missing a stunning display of craftsmanship. This powerful tribute, featuring around 1,500 hand-knitted poppies arranged on a five-by-five-metre net, was created by Naracoorte’s heartfelt group known as the “Poppy Girls” in honour of the courageous ANZAC soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom.

Mario Sanchez Huertas wasn’t able to get to the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year but the bag he made did. At his leather studio in Kyogle, Mario didn’t know his bag was a winner until he was sent a message.

Elizabeth James has her artwork featured in the first embroidery exhibition at Cassino Gallery, Casino. Elizabeth lives in Casino and is part of the Lismore Group – Embroiderers’ Guild NSW that meets regularly in Lismore.

For a small town, Narrandera has some amazing and unique small businesses providing services and products it is lucky to have ... The good news is, there is now a new place where they can buy their yarn and associated items - Mon Repos Narrandera.

Victoria Mathew reckons her name should be Mrs Christmas. She really loves Christmas – the mother of six children and grandmother to six started making Christmas decorations when she had her first child. “Christmas is my passion,” Victoria said. “I love everything about Christmas. It’s when I shine brightest.”

...Windmill Stitchers of Kaniva held their 11th Biennial Exhibition in the Kaniva Shire Hall ... The Stitchers first held an exhibition 20 years ago in 2004. Over the two days of the exhibition, people came from all over the district, surrounding towns and further afield, along with several travellers, to admire the beautiful quilts on display...

Madison Eastmond. Barmera craftsman Owen Cash was able to finally lay down his hammer and paintbrush on a nine-year project of three doll houses last month. Hoping the identical houses now become family heirlooms, Mr Cash began the venture in 2015 for each of his granddaughters, Shelley, Jessie, and Lainie, who are now 19, 17, and 12.

Quilts but not as you know them. Kyogle Quilters Group has an exhibition at the Roxy Gallery in Kyogle that is full of colour, intricate stitching, imagination and a few surprises. Everything you thought you knew about quilting will be upturned at the  Quilts – we’ve got you covered  exhibition running until October 13.

In his first photo story for Australian Rural & Regional News, professional photographer John Krutop features wood artisan Andrew McPherson at his gallery 'Ride the Wild Goat' in the picturesque Gippsland town of Fish Creek.

The annual Fibre Show at Blue Knob Gallery is one we look forward to every year. Fibre artists and artisans in the area showcase their work in the endless variety of materials we call fibre. What holds us together? Family, kith and kin, community – the fabric of life.

Brisbane artist Elena Churilova had no idea where Bentley was ... She was worried she was going to be late and miss the announcement of the winners. Luckily, she made it in time to win four major categories scooping $4350 in prize money.

Jess Liddy. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And Moonta Bay’s Bev Dry sees beauty in almost everything and anything in order to create magical pieces of artwork.  

From little things big things grow and when Mark Hewson made a stained glass window for his new home in Torbay back in the early 1980s he was unaware that it would mark the beginning of a career that would span more than 40 years.  Mark, and his equally-talented wife, Paris Johansen, have now designed, sculptured, moulded and soldered literally thousands of glass artworks.

It's the time of year when many people start wearing beanies. The Alice Springs Beanie Festival is almost here, and we recently had a visiting tutor, Tanya Hattingh, conduct workshops at various venues to help create entries for the festival.

Thirty-seven years ago, a group of women came together at Mallanganee Memorial Hall and created a huge applique of a bullock team to honour the village’s timber history. It started in 1975, when Katina Larsson came to Mallanganee from Casino one day a week to teach a TAFE fashion course at the hall.

Broughton's local craft group that meet Thursday fortnightly at the Salvation Army have been very busy and have put a collection of beautiful quilts together ... made from mostly donated fabric and are available to purchase with all proceeds going to the local Days for Girls group.

Make Christmas memorable and creative by spending time crafting, dining out, decorating, giving and having fun with your friends and neighbours this December at the Birchip Neighbourhood House.

Chris Johnston. Announcing the launch of our new membership program, everyone is invited to come along to the Newstead Arts Hub ... Newstead Arts Hub Inc is a vibrant creative space run by our community for you – locals, artists and visitors – and located in our historic train station.  

The  Ballina Contemporary Art Market (BCAM)  is a free, one-day, fun-filled arts and cultural event taking place on Saturday 14 October ... come and meet the Australovenatordinosaur, baby Muttaburra dinosaurs, and help the deep-sea diver discover treasure!

Creativity comes naturally to Cassie Goodwin, who with the support of Centrecare FNQ, has taken her craft to a new level, capturing the attention of local therapists, and creating a market for hand-sewn, bright, and characterful, weighted cats ... "One of Cassie’s long-term goals was to establish a small stall of her arts and crafts so in 2019 she began sewing classes to hone her skills": Centrecare FNQ’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager Nathan Lee.