We’ve all enjoyed a relaxing break – and we hope you have too,  it’s back to work for us preparing for the upcoming SooMee Kim workshops in March.  Tracey’s been dyeing some gorgeous summer garden colours in superfine merino wool.Mulberry silk mix, and some soft boiled off cocoon silk fibre for adding texture.  Do visit us if you are in Melbourne, visit this page http://www.beautifulsilks.com/pages/about/where.html to link to our map, and transport options.

Dearest Silkaholics,

We have the most amazing 100% recycled giftwrapping string.  This is one of the most amazing pieces of materials re-use I have ever seen, it’s about 3 mm twine made of torn strips of Indian newspapers – made by a village co-operative in Bihar, one of India’s poorest regions.  If anyone else in Australia has it I would be amazed, I haven’t seen it before even in India.

 

Speaking of gifts I was in the bakery just now and the baker said to a customer, “These hot cakes are selling out like silk scarves”.  And by the time I got the afternoon tea back to work, we’d sold out of nearly all of the scarves we had in stock.  Luckily we have a new shipment of scarves being unpacked as I speak (well, type).   There’s also a quarter of a TON of bamboo knit, this is one of my fastest selling and most popular lines, as my vegetarian friends say, get in for your carrot before it’s gone.  And silk broadcloth, very tightly woven 30 momie – here’s a piece as dyed up by India.

 

It’s taken everything I have to get here, and it’s all been worth it. I get to do what I love every day, and I want to share it with every one of my loyal customers.  So come in on Beautiful Silks’12^th birthday on Wednesday January 11^th, spend $200 or more in cash (full priced lines only) and I’ll give you $20 cash back.  (Does not apply to card sales).

 

Our workshop participants are busy in the basement, getting started on the wrap dresses, following a pattern designed by India Flint. The whole shop smells of lemons. It sure is wonderful to have India here.

For more photos check out the album on our facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002179115742#!/profile.php?id=100002179115742

India’s first December workshop finished a couple of days ago with many impressive results. On the first day participants bundled up their lengths of fabrics.
On the second day they were unbundled and hung to dry. Then the dress making began.
On the third day participants completed their dresses and got some more bits of fabric dyed and ready for future projects. India also presented her “magic potion” to alter the colours of the fabrics.
To see more photos from the workshop please visit our facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002179115742

The Estonian Lace Knitting workshop resulted in some gorgeous delicate beginnings. The small workshop size meant plenty of time with the tutors for everyone.

We have our last knitting group for the year tomorrow. Starting back mid January.

This Saturday the 26th of November, Glory Toom and Aime Metsar return to Beautiful Silks to teach some more techniques belonging to the art of lace knitting passed down by their ancestors. There are still a few places available in the workshop. It’s not too late to make a booking.
Here we have an interview with the knitters themselves:

For more information on the workshop please visit our website: http://www.workshops.beautifulsilks.com/Estonianlaceknitting.html

Our new yarn colour way, ‘Pistachio’ is creating an airy art deco atmosphere in the shop.

India Flint

With spring in the air, and our new garment room underway, we are moving onto bigger things. Literally! One-off hand dyed fabric lengths are being created, and added to our collection.