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With a focus on heritage homelife, come along and meet:
Wool, wheat, & fibre weavers:
Basketweaver – Basketry artist Julia Kitto combines nature’s inspiration, imagination and the beauty of raw plant fibre with traditional basketry techniques. Her woven works are mainly created from locally sourced plant life such as lomandra, philodendron, cordyline, palms, cats claw, jacaranda, agapanthus, lilies, banana, flax and more, creating and playing with a wonderful mix of fibres and natural dyes. Julia is an award-winning artist who enjoys sharing her craft through tutoring, exhibiting and also commissions Australia-wide.
www.facebook.com/Juila.kitto.9
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Corn Dolly Making (Wheat Plaiting) – The art of Corn Dolly making goes back thousands of years, when it was thought that a “Spirit of Fertility” lived in, and protected the cornfields. To preserve this spirit at harvest time, and ensure the success of next year’s harvest, a corn dolly was made for the spirit to take refuge in over the winter months. Today, it is nearly a forgotten art.
Accomplished craftswoman, Shona, taught herself this ancient craft, also known as Wheat Plaiting, while living on a wheat farm in the 70s… all her materials were right at her door!
Over the years, she mastered a variety of techniques, including checkerboarding, twining and rope-making, and now is in great demand as a tutor and demonstrator. Her achievements include repeated guest appearances at a number of Bribane’s Chelsea Flower Shows, and a guest spot on a Channel 10 documentary.
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Spinners & Weavers – Ros Evans, the Foxy Felter, is a keen spinner and weaver, using wools from her own alpacas raised by hand on her Gympie property. Interesting mixes of wools create lovely soft weavings, like the scarf pictured below made from alpaca and bamboo.
www.facebook.com/Gympie-Spinners-Weavers-and-Crafters
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Eco-Dyeing – Using a natural eco-dyeing method, felt textile and mixed media artist Rhonda Rettke (RR Creations) produces the most stunning silk scarves and notebooks with local flowers, leaves and plants.
Rhonda will be demonstrating the techniques used in eco-dyeing onsite at the event – it’s a fascinating process with a WOW result!
There is always a surprise element in eco dyeing, with so many variables that affect the outcome. It is like opening a present at Christmas as you never know what will emerge from the pot. Come and join Rhonda thoughout the day to see the process and the unveiling of the eco dyed cloth and marvel at the colours and prints that nature provides. Expect to see beautiful examples of botanical alchemy.
I: Rhonda Rettke (@rhonda.rettke)
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Natural Hand-Dyeing, Hand-Printing – Founder of Imprint Corner, Susan Sinclair, based on the Fraser Coast, is passionate about ecological sustainability, slow fashion, slow living and slow food. Through Imprint Corner, Susan aims to promote and to continue to evolve her artisan-crafted ecologically sustainable textile homewares.
All of Susans’s designs are handprinted on natural fabrics, using Australian made, water based ecologically safe inks, with only one or two colours in a minimalist style.
She also hand-dyes fabrics, using natural dyes (particularly indigo), incorporating shibori and Katazome techniques to provide unique products.
Come and see Susan at work, hand-dyeing onsite and be inspired to create, learn, laugh, explore, share and celebrate slow living.
There could even be a cheese-making demo or two!
Lacemakers – with it’s exact origin in dispute, historians at least agree that the late 16th century marked a rapid development in lacemaking, when lace came into it’s own, dominating trendes in both fashion and home decor. The Fraser Coast Lacemakers will be exhibiting and demonstrating this exquisite art form all weekend in the Pavilion.
Ahhh – the brewers and distillers!
Amrita Park Meadery – Mead has own it’s own distinct category, somewhere between beer and wine. Like craft beer, this age-old beverage, dating back to around 7000BC, is versatile and can be flavoured with fruits, spices, grains, vegetables – mead makers can really get creative and experimental!
Maker Andy continues a long family tradition of quality boutique mead making. With his partner, Nicola, he has created Amrita Park Meadery, located in Pomona in the Noosa Hinterland – Queensland’s first Meadery, Cellar door and tasting room. They are strong believers of the benefits of Mead and together, they are in the forefront of Australian Mead Makers.
Amrita Park Mead flavours include Avocado Honey, sweet Caramelised Banana, spiced Citrus & Chai, Ginger & Lime, Passionfruit, Semi Sweet Jaboticaba, Semillon Pyment and now, Pink Grapefruit Sparkling Mead…. wow! can’t wait to sample one or three at the event!
Craft Beer Open Door
DISCOVER – EXPERIENCE – ENJOY!
While onsite, take a moment for some R&R – and discover, experience and enjoy new flavours in the age-old craft of brewing at the Craft Beer Open Door, a celebration of craft beer diversity and creativity.
With tasting paddles, tasting notes and a range of quality craft brews to try – from gentle to WOW! – the event caters to both the already-devoted lovers of craft brews and those who are curious and want to discover a different style of beer enjoyment.
Come one in and meet the boys from Your Mates, brewers of a pale ales, lager, session, IPA, dark ale, ginger beer and good times – get to know Larry, Tilly, Macca, Eddie, Sally and Donnie.
With profits going to Little Haven Palliative Care, why not join us for some great camaraderie in a convivial atmosphere and enjoy sampling, tasting and discovering some interesting beer alternatives. Come on in!
www.yourmatesbrewing.com
Beekeeping
A balance between all bees
The commitment of Valley Bees is to nurture and maintain the population of all bees in the local environment. To achieve this, a community-centred network is necessary to support the individuals and groups who want bees in their locality, and this includes all bees: Honeybees, Social Stingless Bees, and Solitary Bees.
This commits us to be aware of management strategies to support the bees, to create an environment conducive to their on-going sustainability, and to focus on the nurturing of the Australian native bee populations in balance with the management of the honey bee, as all are needed to pollinate the extensive diversity in native flora, and native and introduced food plants.
www.valleybees.org.au
Where to find the Domestic Arts:
This project received funding assistance from the Gympie Regional Council’s Community Grants Program 2022/2023