Tag: workshop

  • Back To School

    IP - Back to School

    Since I wrote about being filled with doubt about my poetry, I've been going out every day for bike rides and spending time at the lake watching the birds and drinking in the sky and the clouds. I was going to say breathing in the fresh air except I'm not doing that at the moment as I have to wear a mask as part of the stage 4 lockdown requirements we currently have in Melbourne. However, I am very grateful that we are still able to go outside for an hour each day to exercise.

    We're in the middle of a cold snap at the moment as winter gives its last gasp but the days are getting longer, the trees are blossoming and the birds are going nuts. It's hard not to get caught up on the excitement of all the new growth and life around me. It feels like spring is just around the corner and so is the time for new beginnings.

    I decided I could sit around moping all day about the sorry state of my poetry and my perceived lack of writing skills or I could do something about it. I'm at my best when I'm taking action and doing something positive to change my circumstances. I'm not really the kind of person who can sit still doing nothing for ages. Far too boring when there is os much to learn.

    And that's exactly what I'm going to be doing – learning. I've signed up for a couple of poetry courses to improve my skills, learn new things and have something to occupy myself for the next little while of lockdown.

    The first class is Sharpened Visions with Douglas Keanney over on Coursera. A fellow poet from my poetry writing group put me on to this one. The good thing about it, is you can do it whenever works for you. I've done the first lesson so far and it was amazing. Douglas is very funny and he has a great way of explaining the structure of poetry. Thanks for the tip, Lee!

    The second class is What the Light Tells, an online poetry class with award winning Ausralian poet Mark Tredinnick. He's running a Monday evening and a Wednesday morning class starting next week. Can't wait to start!

    With any luck the learning and daily bike rides should keep me sane. Are you learning anything new right now?

     

  • Promoting Your Poetry

    Promoting Your Poetry Workshop

    I'm chuffed to be taking part again in this year's Melbourne Spoken Word Festival Online. This time I'll be running a Promoting Your Poetry workshop for poets and writers who are looking to find an audience for their work. There's no point scribbling away madly in your garret if there's no-one wanting to read your work.

    Come and join me via Zoom on Saturday 1st August 2020 at 2pm and I'll show you how to find the eager readers waiting to devour your words.

    Book now!

     

  • Unleashing Your Poetic Voice

    Art Is Workshop

    I attended this amazing workshop on Saturday, facilitated by Melbourne spoken word legend Amy Bodossian. The workshop was part of the Art Is… Festival based in Horsham, Victoria. Like most events, the festival has reimagined itself and gone online this year with a great series of events and workshops.

    I've got a soft spot for Horsham and the Wimmera. My mum is originally from Jeparit and I spent a lot of time under those huge skies when I was growing up. I'm hoping I can get to the festival next year in person once all the restrictions are over.

    With the beauty of the internet the poets and writers came from all over Australia for the day. It's not the same as being in the same room or chatting over a cuppa in the breaks but it was still good. And perhaps in some ways it's easier to feel brave about sharing your work when you are in your own home, your place of comfort. With a screen separating you it doesn't feel as intimidating to read your work as when you are face to face.

    It was soooo good to spend a whole day with other poets, writing and sharing our poetry. There is an incredible energy that happens when creative people get together to make art. Amy was a wonderful facilitator and she created a beautiful, safe space for everyone to feel confident and comfortable with sharing their voice. 

    And I have to say a huge thanks to Sarah and Alistair, organisers of the festival for creating such an amazing program of events. I'm also going to be doing the Get It Out There poetry slam on 25 June.

     

  • Events

     

    IP - Beit e'Shai Sunday Teahouse Session #1 copy

    Featured Poet

    Event:  Beit e’Shai Sunday Teahouse Session #1

    Time: 5.00 pm – 7.00pm

    Date: Sunday 17th  November 2024

    Venue: Beit e’Shai Pop-up Teahouse & Gallery, 372 high Street, Preston, Victoria 3072

    Cost: Free for Aboriginal friends and community; sliding scale tickets + tea on arrival

    BOOK NOW!

     

    IP - The Last Dance 3

    Open Mic

    Event: Radio Laria

    Time: 7.30 – 9.45 pm

    Date: Wednesday 6th November 2024

    Venue: Open Studio, 204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: $5 – $10

     

    Humanitix 2024 Sonic Poetry Festival Workshop (2160 x 1080 px)

    Beyond the Page Poetry Workshop with Indrani Perera

    Do you find it hard to put your feelings into words? Are you struggling to find ideas? Has the muse left you and inspiration fled? Are you stuck in a rut with your writing — revisiting the same metaphors and line breaks again and again?

    It’s time to neurohack your writing and get out of your poetry rut!

    In this two hour workshop with Indrani Perera, author of pas de deux and editor of the Pocketry Almanack, you’ll learn how to get out of your head and creep into the cracks by exploring the spaces in between. Through exercises and writing prompts you will:

    • use movement and drawing as part of your writing practice and to access different parts of the brain. 
    • write poems from different points of view, including insects and inanimate objects.
    • write using senses other than sight — especially those of sound and hearing.

    Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play!

    Proudly part of Sonic Poetry Festival 2024: poetry that sounds like all of us.

     

    Event: Sonic Poetry Festival 2024

    Time: 10.30.00am – 12.30pm AEST

    Date: Saturday 7th September 2024

    Venue: Activity Room 2, Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre

    Address: 251 Faraday Street, Carlton VIC 3053

    Cost: $30

    BOOK NOW!

     

    Perc.u.lations

    Featured Poet

    Event: Perc.u.lations

    Time: 3.00 pm

    Date: Saturday 10th August 2024

    Venue: Kafé on Hemmings, 86 Hemmings Street Dandenong, Victoria

    Cost: pay as you feel

     

    IP -Cherry Tree Poets 3

    Open Mic

    Event: Cherry Tree Poets

    Time: 1.30 pm

    Date: Saturday 6th July 2024

    Venue: Cherry Tree Hotel, 53 Balmain street, Cremorne, Vic 3121

    Cost: free

     

    IP - The Last Dance 1

    Open Mic

    Event: Radio Laria

    Time: 7.30 – 9.45 pm

    Date: Wednesday 3rd July 2024

    Venue: Open Studio, 204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: $5 – $10

     

    IP -Cherry Tree Poets 3

    Open Mic

    Event: Cherry Tree Poets

    Time: 1.30 pm

    Date: Saturday 29th June 2024

    Venue: Cherry Tree Hotel, 53 Balmain street, Cremorne, Vic 3121

    Cost: free

     

    Litttlefoot & Co 16 May 2024

    Open Mic

    Event: LittleFoot & Co

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Thursday 16th May 2024

    Venue: Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, 3805

    Cost: free

     

    PPF 2023 Finale

    Featured Poet

    Event: Festival Finale, Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 6.30 pm

    Date: Sunday 17th September 2023

    Venue: Switch Theatre, 555 Wellington Street, Perth, 6000

    Cost: $15 conc, $20 full

     

    PPF 2023 Crossing Borders - Multicultural Soiree

    Featured Poet

    Event: Crossing Borders – A Multicultural Soirée, Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 7.00 – 8.00 pm

    Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

    Venue: Planet Royale, 12 Lake Street, Northbridge, 6003

    Cost: $15 conc, $20 full

     

    PPF 2023 Perth Poetry Club

    Featured Poet

    Event: Perth Poetry Club

    Time: 2.00 – 4.00 pm

    Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

    Venue: Moon Cafe, 2/323 William Street, Northbridge, 6003

    Cost: by donation

     

    IP - Liminal Spaces Beyond the Page Workshop

    Beyond the Page – A Liminal Spaces Workshop with Indrani Perera

    Get out of your head and creep into the cracks with a workshop that explores the spaces in between. Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play. Through movement, sound and drawing you’ll discover how to write poems that move beyond the page.

    As a tool to tap into those spaces between our thoughts, this workshop will also explore different ways of using pen and paper. Bring along any art supplies that feel inspiring (coloured pencils, textas, watercolour paints, pastels) as well as journals, sheets of blank paper etc. It’s an excuse to go wild in the stationery section!

    Event: Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 9.00 – 11.00am AWST

    Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

    Venue: Centre for Stories. 100 Aberdeen St, Northbridge, WA

    Cost: $25-35

     

    PPF 2023 Gala

    Featured Poet

    Event: Festival Gala, Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 7.00 pm

    Date: Thursday 14th September 2023

    Venue: Planet Royale, 12 Lake Street, Northbridge, 6003

    Cost: $25 conc, $30 full

     

    Littlefoot 20 (June 2023)

    Open Mic

    Event: LittleFoot & Co

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Tuesday 20th June 2023

    Venue: Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, 3805

    Cost: free

     

    IP - Littlefoot May 2023

    Open Mic

    Event: LittleFoot & Co

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Thursday 25th May 2023

    Venue: Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, 3805

    Cost: free

     

    IP - World Poetry Day 2

    Workshop

    Event: Word Play

    Time: 10.30 am – 12.00 pm

    Date: Tuesday 21st March 2023

    Venue: Harkaway, Victoria

    Cost: $15 per student

     

    Shoot the Breeze Launch @ radio Laria (February 2023)

    Anthology Launch

    Event: Shoot the Breeze anthology at Radio Laria

    Time: 7.00 – 9.30 pm

    Date: Wednesday 1st Feburary 2023

    Venue: Open Studio,204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: 0 – $15

     

    Mother Tongue Spoken Word Logo

    Open Mic

    Event: Mothertongue

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Friday 9th September 2022

    Venue: The Crucible, Fairfield Uniting Church, Fairfield

    Cost: 0 – $15

     

    Girls On KeypngFeatured Poet

    Event: Girls On Key Featuring Indrani Perera and Helen Bradwell

    Time: 7.00 – 9.30 pm

    Date: Wednesday 7th July 2021

    Venue: Open Studio, 204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: $11.50 / $9.00  (only 30 available)

    Buy Tickets

     

    Motley bauhaus

    Open Mic

    Event: P-Word Sessions

    Time: 4.00 pm

    Date: Sunday 4th July 2021

    Venue: Mötely Bauhaus, 102 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North

    Cost: free (donation to support the Motley Bauhaus’s relocation)

     

    Motley bauhaus

    Open Mic

    Event: P-Word Sessions

    Time: 4.00 pm

    Date: Sunday 2nd May 2021

    Venue: Mötely Bauhaus, 102 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North

    Cost: $5 cover charge

     

    Littlefoot & Co April 2021

    Open Mic

    Event: Littlefoot & Company

    Time: 7.45 pm

    Date: Thursday 22nd April 2021

    Venue: Bunjil Place Studio, Narre Warren

    Cost: Free

    Book Launch Postcard (148 x 105mm) -Front PageBook Launch

    Book: pas de deux by Indrani Perera

    Time: 7.00 pm

    Date: Tuesday 30th March 2021

    Venue: Zoom

    Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6014563938

    RSVP: hello@indraniperera.com by 23 March 2021

     

    IP - Littlefoot & Co (March 2021)

    Open Mic

    Event: Littlefoot & Company

    Time: 7.45 pm

    Date: Thursday 11th March 2021

    Venue: Bunjil Place Studio, Narre Warren

    Cost: Free

     

    Motley bauhaus

    Open Mic

    Event: P-Word Sessions

    Time: 4.00 pm

    Date: Sunday 7th February 2021

    Venue: Mötely Bauhaus, 102 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North

    Cost: $5 cover charge

     

    EVENTS Page Image - Single Photo

    Promoting Your Poetry Workshop

    You’ve written a book. Yay you! Now what? This workshop will show you how to promote your poetry online and in person so that people will learn about you and want to buy your work.

    You’ll learn how to create an online presence, how to find a writing community and how to build your reputation and get your work known by fellow poets. The workshop will also touch on branding and creating promotional materials. Promoting Your Poetry is aimed at poets but the content applies to all writers seeking to promote themselves.

    Facilitator: Indrani Perera

    Organiser: Melbourne Spoken Word Festival Online

    Time: 2.00pm AEST

    Date: Saturday 1st August 2020

    Venue: Online

    Cost: $20

     

    Words Out Loud Podcast

    Podcast

    Event: Words Out Loud – Melbourne Spoken Word Festival Online Edition

    Organiser: Words Out Loud Ballarat

    Date: from 30 July 2020

    Venue: Online

    Cost: Free

     

    Events page - Get It Out There Slam Image

    Poetry Slam

    Event: Get It Out There Poetry Slam

    Organiser: Art Is… Festival

    Time: 7.00 – 9.00 pm

    Date: Thursday 25th June 2020

    Venue: Online

    Cost: Free

     

    EVENTS Page -  MSWPF Fresh Voices Feature

    Featured Poet

    Event: Fresh Voices for Melbourne Spoken Word Poetry Festival

    Time: 6.30 – 9.30 pm

    Date: Wednesday 17th July 2019

    Venue: Bargoonga Nganjin, 182-186 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

    Cost: free

     

  • Events

     

    IP - Beit e'Shai Sunday Teahouse Session #1 copy

    Featured Poet

    Event:  Beit e’Shai Sunday Teahouse Session #1

    Time: 5.00 pm – 7.00pm

    Date: Sunday 17th  November 2024

    Venue: Beit e’Shai Pop-up Teahouse & Gallery, 372 high Street, Preston, Victoria 3072

    Cost: Free for Aboriginal friends and community; sliding scale tickets + tea on arrival

    BOOK NOW!

     

    IP - The Last Dance 3

    Open Mic

    Event: Radio Laria

    Time: 7.30 – 9.45 pm

    Date: Wednesday 6th November 2024

    Venue: Open Studio, 204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: $5 – $10

     

    Humanitix 2024 Sonic Poetry Festival Workshop (2160 x 1080 px)

    Beyond the Page Poetry Workshop with Indrani Perera

    Do you find it hard to put your feelings into words? Are you struggling to find ideas? Has the muse left you and inspiration fled? Are you stuck in a rut with your writing — revisiting the same metaphors and line breaks again and again?

    It’s time to neurohack your writing and get out of your poetry rut!

    In this two hour workshop with Indrani Perera, author of pas de deux and editor of the Pocketry Almanack, you’ll learn how to get out of your head and creep into the cracks by exploring the spaces in between. Through exercises and writing prompts you will:

    • use movement and drawing as part of your writing practice and to access different parts of the brain. 
    • write poems from different points of view, including insects and inanimate objects.
    • write using senses other than sight — especially those of sound and hearing.

    Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play!

    Proudly part of Sonic Poetry Festival 2024: poetry that sounds like all of us.

     

    Event: Sonic Poetry Festival 2024

    Time: 10.30.00am – 12.30pm AEST

    Date: Saturday 7th September 2024

    Venue: Activity Room 2, Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre

    Address: 251 Faraday Street, Carlton VIC 3053

    Cost: $30

    BOOK NOW!

     

    Perc.u.lations

    Featured Poet

    Event: Perc.u.lations

    Time: 3.00 pm

    Date: Saturday 10th August 2024

    Venue: Kafé on Hemmings, 86 Hemmings Street Dandenong, Victoria

    Cost: pay as you feel

     

    IP -Cherry Tree Poets 3

    Open Mic

    Event: Cherry Tree Poets

    Time: 1.30 pm

    Date: Saturday 6th July 2024

    Venue: Cherry Tree Hotel, 53 Balmain street, Cremorne, Vic 3121

    Cost: free

     

    IP - The Last Dance 1

    Open Mic

    Event: Radio Laria

    Time: 7.30 – 9.45 pm

    Date: Wednesday 3rd July 2024

    Venue: Open Studio, 204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: $5 – $10

     

    IP -Cherry Tree Poets 3

    Open Mic

    Event: Cherry Tree Poets

    Time: 1.30 pm

    Date: Saturday 29th June 2024

    Venue: Cherry Tree Hotel, 53 Balmain street, Cremorne, Vic 3121

    Cost: free

     

    Litttlefoot & Co 16 May 2024

    Open Mic

    Event: LittleFoot & Co

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Thursday 16th May 2024

    Venue: Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, 3805

    Cost: free

     

    PPF 2023 Finale

    Featured Poet

    Event: Festival Finale, Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 6.30 pm

    Date: Sunday 17th September 2023

    Venue: Switch Theatre, 555 Wellington Street, Perth, 6000

    Cost: $15 conc, $20 full

     

    PPF 2023 Crossing Borders - Multicultural Soiree

    Featured Poet

    Event: Crossing Borders – A Multicultural Soirée, Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 7.00 – 8.00 pm

    Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

    Venue: Planet Royale, 12 Lake Street, Northbridge, 6003

    Cost: $15 conc, $20 full

     

    PPF 2023 Perth Poetry Club

    Featured Poet

    Event: Perth Poetry Club

    Time: 2.00 – 4.00 pm

    Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

    Venue: Moon Cafe, 2/323 William Street, Northbridge, 6003

    Cost: by donation

     

    IP - Liminal Spaces Beyond the Page Workshop

    Beyond the Page – A Liminal Spaces Workshop with Indrani Perera

    Get out of your head and creep into the cracks with a workshop that explores the spaces in between. Bring your child-like self, a sense of adventure and a willingness to play. Through movement, sound and drawing you’ll discover how to write poems that move beyond the page.

    As a tool to tap into those spaces between our thoughts, this workshop will also explore different ways of using pen and paper. Bring along any art supplies that feel inspiring (coloured pencils, textas, watercolour paints, pastels) as well as journals, sheets of blank paper etc. It’s an excuse to go wild in the stationery section!

    Event: Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 9.00 – 11.00am AWST

    Date: Saturday 16th September 2023

    Venue: Centre for Stories. 100 Aberdeen St, Northbridge, WA

    Cost: $25-35

     

    PPF 2023 Gala

    Featured Poet

    Event: Festival Gala, Perth Poetry Festival 2023

    Organiser: WA Poets Inc 

    Time: 7.00 pm

    Date: Thursday 14th September 2023

    Venue: Planet Royale, 12 Lake Street, Northbridge, 6003

    Cost: $25 conc, $30 full

     

    Littlefoot 20 (June 2023)

    Open Mic

    Event: LittleFoot & Co

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Tuesday 20th June 2023

    Venue: Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, 3805

    Cost: free

     

    IP - Littlefoot May 2023

    Open Mic

    Event: LittleFoot & Co

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Thursday 25th May 2023

    Venue: Bunjil Place, 2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, 3805

    Cost: free

     

    IP - World Poetry Day 2

    Workshop

    Event: Word Play

    Time: 10.30 am – 12.00 pm

    Date: Tuesday 21st March 2023

    Venue: Harkaway, Victoria

    Cost: $15 per student

     

    Shoot the Breeze Launch @ radio Laria (February 2023)

    Anthology Launch

    Event: Shoot the Breeze anthology at Radio Laria

    Time: 7.00 – 9.30 pm

    Date: Wednesday 1st Feburary 2023

    Venue: Open Studio,204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: 0 – $15

     

    Mother Tongue Spoken Word Logo

    Open Mic

    Event: Mothertongue

    Time: 7.30 pm

    Date: Friday 9th September 2022

    Venue: The Crucible, Fairfield Uniting Church, Fairfield

    Cost: 0 – $15

     

    Girls On KeypngFeatured Poet

    Event: Girls On Key Featuring Indrani Perera and Helen Bradwell

    Time: 7.00 – 9.30 pm

    Date: Wednesday 7th July 2021

    Venue: Open Studio, 204 High Street, Northcote, 3070

    Cost: $11.50 / $9.00  (only 30 available)

    Buy Tickets

     

    Motley bauhaus

    Open Mic

    Event: P-Word Sessions

    Time: 4.00 pm

    Date: Sunday 4th July 2021

    Venue: Mötely Bauhaus, 102 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North

    Cost: free (donation to support the Motley Bauhaus’s relocation)

     

    Motley bauhaus

    Open Mic

    Event: P-Word Sessions

    Time: 4.00 pm

    Date: Sunday 2nd May 2021

    Venue: Mötely Bauhaus, 102 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North

    Cost: $5 cover charge

     

    Littlefoot & Co April 2021

    Open Mic

    Event: Littlefoot & Company

    Time: 7.45 pm

    Date: Thursday 22nd April 2021

    Venue: Bunjil Place Studio, Narre Warren

    Cost: Free

    Book Launch Postcard (148 x 105mm) -Front PageBook Launch

    Book: pas de deux by Indrani Perera

    Time: 7.00 pm

    Date: Tuesday 30th March 2021

    Venue: Zoom

    Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6014563938

    RSVP: hello@indraniperera.com by 23 March 2021

     

    IP - Littlefoot & Co (March 2021)

    Open Mic

    Event: Littlefoot & Company

    Time: 7.45 pm

    Date: Thursday 11th March 2021

    Venue: Bunjil Place Studio, Narre Warren

    Cost: Free

     

    Motley bauhaus

    Open Mic

    Event: P-Word Sessions

    Time: 4.00 pm

    Date: Sunday 7th February 2021

    Venue: Mötely Bauhaus, 102 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North

    Cost: $5 cover charge

     

    EVENTS Page Image - Single Photo

    Promoting Your Poetry Workshop

    You’ve written a book. Yay you! Now what? This workshop will show you how to promote your poetry online and in person so that people will learn about you and want to buy your work.

    You’ll learn how to create an online presence, how to find a writing community and how to build your reputation and get your work known by fellow poets. The workshop will also touch on branding and creating promotional materials. Promoting Your Poetry is aimed at poets but the content applies to all writers seeking to promote themselves.

    Facilitator: Indrani Perera

    Organiser: Melbourne Spoken Word Festival Online

    Time: 2.00pm AEST

    Date: Saturday 1st August 2020

    Venue: Online

    Cost: $20

     

    Words Out Loud Podcast

    Podcast

    Event: Words Out Loud – Melbourne Spoken Word Festival Online Edition

    Organiser: Words Out Loud Ballarat

    Date: from 30 July 2020

    Venue: Online

    Cost: Free

     

    Events page - Get It Out There Slam Image

    Poetry Slam

    Event: Get It Out There Poetry Slam

    Organiser: Art Is… Festival

    Time: 7.00 – 9.00 pm

    Date: Thursday 25th June 2020

    Venue: Online

    Cost: Free

     

    EVENTS Page -  MSWPF Fresh Voices Feature

    Featured Poet

    Event: Fresh Voices for Melbourne Spoken Word Poetry Festival

    Time: 6.30 – 9.30 pm

    Date: Wednesday 17th July 2019

    Venue: Bargoonga Nganjin, 182-186 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

    Cost: free

     

  • Leather Craft

    IP - TVC Leather 1

    IP - TVC Leather 2

    IP - TVC Leather 3

    A couple of weekends ago I was back at the Village Continuum Festival, teaching a lovely and keen group of people the basics of leather craft. It's my third year of teaching at the festival and the second time I've run the Introduction to Leather Craft workshop. At my first Village Continuum Festival I taught a two day shoe making workshop.

    It was lovely to be running the same workshop again – I felt as if I had a much better idea of what I was doing, how I wanted to run the workshop and what I wanted to teach. Of course the things I was teaching aren't necessarily the same as the things that the people in the class wanted or needed to learn from me. Sometimes a chance remark can spark a huge realisation and we don't even know.

    I love seeing people mastering a new skill. Megan from Canberra didn't have any sewing or crafting experience before the workshop. She chose to do the most difficult stitch and she nailed it. It was a good lesson for me in letting people do what they want to do without too much emphasis on how hard it is – sometimes if we don't know something is meant to be difficult we do it without any trouble at all!

    As usual, all the finished pouches were gorgeous and reflected the unique personalities of their owners. My favourite part of any workshop is seeing what people come up with using the same basic raw materials. There's always such a variety in the finished product even though everyone started with the same two pieces of kangaroo skin leather.

    We even had some cross crafting going on again with the calendula balm made by Sue in the Herbalism workshop being used to oil some of the pouches. Other pouches were burnished or waxed and some were left natural. Over time the oils from their owner's fingers will darken the leather.

    Thanks to all the lovely people who came to the workshop. It was such a joy to be working with you all!