Last weekend at Craft Lab we had a large number of people visit the Mining Exchange in Ballarat. I demonstrated skills by splitting NZ flax into a fine “flax floss” and stitching it onto a chicken wire framework to finish a double basket. I also invited the audience to contribute to brainstorming the theme of Craft Lab (Light and Dark) through writing and drawing. Through the week I ran a 3 hour coiled basketry workshop for a group. There was a glamorous dinner called “The Great Takeaway” where diners got to take home their handmade crockery and napkins. This weekend I am coiling a basket using recycled and preloved shoelaces! I will assist visitors to coil a community basket and we will continue brainstorming Light and Dark. Not to mention the Back-to-Back Challenge happening on Saturday that will see the shearing of some sheep, wool carded, spun and knitted into a jumper all in one day! I hope you can join us. How could you resist?
Jodie Goldring 
Jodie, your Craft Lab weekend projects and workshop look brilliant! Sorry I won’t make it to Ballarat for the Festival this year. Looking forward to seeing what magic you create with everyone this weekend!
It has been fab! So great to spend 2 weekends chatting all things sculptural basketry! Really enjoyed tossing around ideas about Light and Dark as well. I had a community coiled basket on the go yesterday and many people created a few stitches using buttonhole stitch…