Queer Beanie competition 2010 - the very first winners!

The first ever entries in the Blue Mountains Queer Beanie competition were fabulous, creative, innovative and outright queer!

We had knitted, felted, quilted and crocheted entries from beginners through to skilled and long term crafters and all of them are amazing!

The inaugural Queer Beanie competition was run in conjunction with the first ever Blue Mountains Pink Fest and the long standing Winter Magic festival.

It was a fabulous gala night in The Library of  The Carrington on Friday 18th June, one of our six fabulous sponsors along with:

Hazelbrook Healthfoods
Katoomba Collectables
Offbeat Ceremonies ~ Giving you the Alternative
Renommee: Quality recycled contemporary and vintage fashion and accessories 02 4784 3487
Summit Gear 


Our judging team of Judith Maitland, Rosie Mann, Rachel Mann, Jenny-Lee Heylen, Angela Lougheed and Mark Jarvis took their task very seriously and we thank them for their efforts.

Thanks also to our professional photographer, Elizabeth Walton of Who Needs a Secretary, however, the following photos are MINE as we haven't had a chance to GTG since Friday evening, LOL!

The entrants impressed the judges with their creativity and skills and it was a hard call to choose winners from such a wonderful selection.

 ... and the winners are ......

Queer category-Beginner: 

First prize: Julie Bargenquast "Baby of Twin Towers' - Prize $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended: Julie Barganquast 'Twin of Queers - MV'

Queer category-Intermediate:

First prize: (two winners in category) Sharn Arcus 'Extermiknit' - Prize: $50 gift voucher from Katoomba Collectables
Highly Commended: Susan Robbins 'The Sorting Beanie'

Queer beanie: Intermediate

First prize (two winners in category): Lorna McKenzie 'Queer Battle Helm' - Prize $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies

 

Queer beanie category: Advanced

First prize: Lynn Burnett 'We are Family' - Prize: $50 gift voucher Summit Gear
Highly Commended: Gillian Hand 'Freeform'







Classic category-Beginner: 
First prize: Tilly 'Beyond the Fringe' - Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended: Susan Robbins 'First beanie'

 

Classic category: Intermediate

First prize: Sharn Arcus 'Fair Isle'- Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended 1: Sue Guy '12 ply classic'
Highly Commended 2: Kathleen MacDonald 'Landscape'

Classic category: Advanced

First prize: Lynn Burnett  - Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies

Reuse, Recyle-Intermediate (no entries in any other categories)

First prize: Lorna McKenzie 'Empress Dream' - Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended: Judith 'Impromptu'
 

People's Choice:

Susan Robbins 'The Sorting Beanie' - Prize: a beautiful silk/wool Pashmina from Renommee: Quality recycled contemporary and vintage fashion and accessories 02 4784 3487

And here are all the entries in all their clever and skillful glory.....

Winter Magic in Katoomba 2010

Mid-winter revels in the Blue Mountains would not be the same without the fabulous, spectacular, dress-up spectacle of Winter Magic!

The gods and goddess of Yule blessed us this year with bright sunshine and blue skies, though the wind gave us a serious chill factor to contend with, but nothing that rugging up warmly didn't solve.

My 1880's Saloon Girl outfit worked perfectly, though I was more SteamPunk than authentic, the lime green leg warmers are definitely NOT period and my Scottish 'Laird' looked extremely smart.

My beanie was hand made by me as part of the inaugural PinkFest/Winter Magic Queer Beanie Festival 2010 and it was a WINNER in the Recycle, Reclaim, Reuse category - very chuffed indeed. A separate post is in order for the competition and the marvellous beanies that everyone entered.

Our day was hectic, breakfast with friends, then off to pick-up a Sydney arrival, then to watch another perform with the BlueMUGS, our very own Ukulele band, then the fabulous parade:

The best thing about Winter Magic is that it is a local event and we all participate, we all dress up and join in the fun, families, people of all ages and walks of life, celebrating the darkest time of the year and encouraging the sun's return!

May this Yule bring you peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Winter Solstice: celebrate with feasting, peace and charity

The depth of winter is here!

In the Blue Mountains, the chill winds blow rain and sleet while the frost chills us to the core. We are rugged up in our winter woollies and the days get shorter and shorter, heading to the shortest day, Winter Solstice, the 22nd June.

 Solstice means ....

Standing-still-sun


but... while Winter Solstice marks the darkest time of the year, it heralds the return of the warmth of the sun.

From now on, the days get longer and we can encourage the return of the sun and the light with the fun of the Yule festival, which includes lots of feasting, pleasures and games around the warmth of the fire and don't forget the kisses under the mistletoe!

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown ...

Evergreen trees are sacred to the Goddess and in Australia we are blessed with beautiful evergreens, acacias, gums, angopheras, turpentines, wollemi pines, bring the Goddess into your house with a branch or two of the Australian bush (not from a national park though!).

peace, love and goodwill to all ...

Most importantly, Yule has always been a time of peace and charity so bring this into your celebrations as well. Donate to your favorite charity and ask yourself what you can do to create peace in a world full of war. Join Amnesty perhaps or GreenPeace? Remember, 'from little things big things grow'!

... Happy Winter Solstice 

and merry Yule all!