Ten months and counting ….

Goodness me … it feels like only yesterday we started this little project … and it’s now been a whole year since we went public. Just looking back to my very first post on 14 June last year.  And look how far we have come.

So … good morning poppy friends.  I hope you have made the most of your knitting and crocheting exploits over the weekend for World Wide Knit in Public Day.  I did not manage to get to a KIP … but did sit on the deck in the sun at Portarlington overlooking the water with a crochet hook in hand yesterday … it’s kinda public … does that count?).   So, it’s been another really delicious long weekend in Melbourne … and I just love it when my Monday Fed Square workshop falls on a public holiday … it means people who would normally be working get to come visit and make some poppies with the regulars at Fed Square … which is such a vibrant hub in our city …  and it creates so much interest and I really love being able to use the space for our Poppy making.

This photo was taken by Janet Welch currently on holiday in Darwin … Janet is an integral member of the 5000 Poppies team, and has supported the project from the start.  She is is involved in many of our activities … and has certainly been a really valuable contributor to the cause … as well as providing a collection point at Textile Offcuts in Lilydale, Vic.

So just a quick update … we are up at 15,839 poppies as at this morning … a whisker under 16,000.  And the workshops program and guest presentations are starting to step up a notch for me.  Marg is off sailing up the East Coast of Australia on a much needed break until September (praying for great weather).  No doubt she will spread the word wherever she goes and there will be some poppy making on her travels.  We have so much coming up and I am really hoping to meet many of you at the various venues we will be at.  If you are Melbourne based (and even if you are not) we will be at the Craft and Quilt Fair from 26-29 June at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre … or as we know it … Jeff’s Shed (that’s very soon) with a couple of guest poppy designers … Rosalie Quinlan from Rosalie Quinlan Designs and Leanne Beasley from Leanne’s House (that is SO exciting for Marg and I) designing poppies (and hopefully making an appearance on the stand).   You will be able to make a poppy or two on the stand as we will have some kits available (or feel free to bring your own makings and join us (or drop off any poppies you have stored away).  PLUS Don’t forget to mark in your diary our regular monthly workshops at Fed Square … 2nd Monday of each month from 12-2 p.m.plus our new workshops at the Boyd Library Hub in South Melbourne, 4th Wednesday after work from 5-7 p.m.  And if you manage to get yourself to Bendigo for the Wool and Sheep Show (a must for those yarnaholics among us) in July … we will be there making and chatting. Check the workshops page for more information on what’s going on … There are many libraries involved in the project so contact your local library if you would like to join a group or start one if there is one not happening.  Libraries are a great place to meet and make.   There will be more workshops coming up at Open Drawer in Camberwell (this weeks one is FULL) and at Wondoflex in Malvern (watch the workshop page for details).

Are  you on facebook and not a member of our facebook group yet?  Join our rapidly growing group of facebookers … it such a wonderful opportunity to share images and stories, celebrate each other’s poppy making exploits and ask questions … just search for 5000 Poppies in facebook and ask to join the group.