How to walk your dog, and other things we discovered during Learn from a Local week at Stephanie’s this July.
10 presenters, back to back workshops, and a raft of great ideas – textiles, travel, painting, lifestyle and book writing. It was a jam packed week of fun and frivolity, but some seriously good ideas too. We explored new pastimes, or received extra know how on existing hobbies. You didn’t have to be good, to be good. Our tutors made us look good!
Ok, what about that dog walking tip? Energetic Ellie Kelso told us that she lifts 2kg weights, whilst walking her dog. Dog lead in one hand, 20 reps with the other arm, then change sides. Time saving and bicep toning. What could be better?! We loved hearing about Ellie’s busy daily routine, how she clips minutes off her schedule that means she gets things done, but stays mobile and toned and fit. We loved getting up and dancing with her, as she led us through some easy moves for staying mobile and building muscle. Ellie is part of the WIRAC team running daily dance, pilates, aqua aerobics and more. Try her out soon!
Our painting workshops were run at a different pace, but we were absorbed, and skilled up to achieve beautiful results. Regardless of experience in the medium, we started with the basics, and produced satisfying results in watercolour with Judy Currie, pastels with Susan Shaw and gouache with Jayde Clacy. Three talented local ladies, who conveyed their enthusiasm for their art, but didn’t phase us because their demos were relaxed and do-able. We chose achievable targets – starting with a simple botanical drawing – and went home with our very own painting. And a desire to get our own palette, and start creating.
Then in came Pat van Kempen. Also a painter, Pat is an avid traveller, who eschews a travel diary, in favour of a sketch book. She showed us her inspiring collection of pocket sized art sketchbooks, that she has taken around Australia, and to Europe, South America, and more. Pat says when you are on the move don’t waste time with pencils and rubbers… just get some ink sketching on the page, and colour it up with portable water colour paints. Half an hour with Pat, and we were wanting to pack our bags and go to Tuscany. In two entertaining classes, Pat found our inner artist, and channelled our tentative first steps into finished drawings.
Textile tutor, Kim Siebenhausen made us fall in love with the granny square all over again. The shapes and variety of this humble classic when created by Kim, starts with the fancy magic circle at the centre, and then moves out and around in captivating colours and patterns. Crochet beginners were shown how to join squares together in a seamless movement that will avoid going back and joining all the squares at the end. Much chat and laughter during this challenging and fruitful class.
Something different to everything else was rustic floral art with Pam Hockings. We started with a swag base, hand made from vines, and started adding native floral flourishes. A satisfying feeling grew on us (pardon the pun) as we wired and wove sweet smelling gum, wattle and other acacias into floral decorations. Pam supplied her ingenious and delicate dried and dyed plants and flowers to add zing and polish to our finished creations.
It was rather a quiet and thoughtful bunch who gathered for the last workshop of the week – non fiction book writing. Tutored by Lyndall McCormack, we brainstormed working titles and chapter headings for our books. We discussed finding a readership, and the message of our book – what would we be really saying, when we finally do get our thoughts down on paper. We poured over the best examples of non fiction books from established authors to newcomers to the literary world. As with all the workshops, the time together with friends, discussing our favourite topic, flew by.
So, Jumpers and Jazz wraps up for another year. The usual festival highlights were enjoyed by locals and visitors: the St Mark’s precinct with art and the amazing yarnbombers, the Gallery, the suitcase rummage (a roaring success at the old Rivers building), the cars, the music, the food and the fun. If you would like to be one of our tutors at future workshops, please get in touch.
Also see the link to the JJJ committee request to fill in a survey. It will help with future funding and ideas for the festival. Filling in the survey puts you in the draw to win a $100 voucher from the JJJ Committee.