On Friday afternoon, I headed west on the train to Lithgow, then changed to a coach service to take me out to Parkes in Central West NSW. It was a journey of about 7 hours, but it was quite relaxing. I really should have taken a little personal light with me so that I could stitch on the bus, as the lighting was very inadequate. It would have been hard to read, let alone embroider, but embroider I did… just very slowly.
I was warmly welcomed by a member of the Parkes Group of the Embroiderers’ Guild of NSW. On the Saturday and Sunday I taught Portuguese Whitework to members of this group and also a few from the Dubbo Group. We had a lovely time. At times it was silent with concentration, and at other times there was raucous laughter. We had fun!
The students were each making one of the ornaments from Portuguese Whitework. They made great progress, with at least two finishing their ornaments including the construction, in class, and a number of others were quite close.
One of the highlights of the weekend, for me, was learning a “new stitch” which arose from a student thinking she was following instructions, but adding her own little twist. We named the resultant eyelets, Dianne’s Eyelet (or Di’s Eyes for short!). They sat flatter and were more stable than regular buttonhole eyelets. It was a pleasure to learn this new stitch.
I flew home (quite a bit quicker than the train/bus, at only one hour duration!) late on Sunday afternoon, and was treated to a simply gorgeous sunset as we climbed out of Parkes.
Thank you so much to the members of Parkes Group for your generous hospitality. I felt so welcome and was well looked after. I hope to see you all again soon! I do love visiting country groups of The Embroiderers’ Guild.
Today, from 12:30pm, a large group of Norwegians and their friends and families gathered in Hyde Park, Sydney, to celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day. A man who sat next to me on the garden bed wall told me that the numbers were really down this year. Usually they get between 800 and 1000. Today I would estimate there were several hundred.
I bet you didn’t know that Norwegian flags on sticks make excellent swords. This group of young boys were exercising their fencing skills. 😉
My first experience of kransekake (almond biscuits) fingers – it won’t be my last!
While not many were dressed in their folk costumes, some were, and it was delightful to see them so proudly wearing their bunads. Many featured beautiful embroidery on the shirts, waistcoats and skirts.
Many of the children were dressed in traditional clothes, and they looked wonderful.
I’ve started a new project, just for fun. The technique I am using is new to me. It is smøyg, which is a Norwegian form of pattern darning. It is used in black and white as part of the Hardanger vinterbunad (winter bunad) and with the addition of colour as part of the Øst Telemark beltestakk, which is their bunad’s name.
Looking at the tracking records, there is a possibility that they will arrive today, but I’m not going to get my hopes up. I think tomorrow is more likely.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
