the quilting and artisan fair

As I mentioned in my last post, two weeks ago I stopped in at the Quilting and Artisan Fair at the Quilting Arts Studio. The fair exhibited the work of local quilters and members of the quilting guild, which had me awestruck! 

There were amazing details and vibrant colour combinations. 

This one was made by a friend of mine.

Funds were raised for various charities via the sale of some products, a raffle and even a silent auction of these beautiful pieces. 

Local individuals had an opportunity to sell their handmade wares too.

There were cakes and beverages, of course!

And I won something! 

I met some really warm and wonderful ladies. Some had been quilting for years and others were beginners. They were from different parts of the globe, of various ages, yet came together to stitch, chat and share. One lady has said that the guild has even saved her marriage! Debra Dennis, the creative soul and proprietor of the studio saved a space for trocheted items to be displayed and took the time to chat with me about her ideas and thoughts on trocheted products! 

What an amazing little place! The studio itself, is jam packed with beautiful, high quality fabric that can be purchased and lovely items on display. 

This was my daughter's favourite: a miniature sewing room!

There are classes held at the Quilting Arts Studio. So if you are in Jeddah and have a love of all things quilting, you should check out their facebook page. 

Recently my days have been busy! Work was chaotic, my in laws came and went and now my parents are in town! Ma sha Allah! I'm looking forward to a little rest and relaxation and spending time with them. I have been keeping an eye on the Dubai Art Week Yarnbombing efforts on instagram though! Amazing stuff! Magda Sayeg is involved! And yes, I could spot some of my hexagons in amongst those pics!

More creative spaces here!

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my creative space - a mix of crafts

It has been a busy work week and we have relatives visiting, so carving in time for "luxuries" has been difficult. 

Nevertheless, we got to have a peek at the Quilting and Artisan Fair held at The Quilting Arts Studio. What an amazing place! 

They made room for some trocheted goodies too! 
I'll tell you more about it soon in sha Allah.

We also had a quick trip to Madinah. 

 I loved seeing the roof slide open above me as I walked through the mosque.

I finished the Virago shawl on our 4 hour road journey. 

And I hooked up some hexagons too to send off to Dubai!

Three are trocheted, two are your usual acrylic yarn and one is made out of paper! 

And oh, google reader says it's retiring in July! What to do! Any suggestions on a good reader I can use? 

More creative spaces here! 

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my creative space - in the papers!!!

On Wednesday, I came home from work, to a message from Diana saying that the Arab News, one of the two English language newspapers of Saudi Arabia, had published an article about the Trochet project! They gave the project a whole page! I had to see it for myself and sure enough, there it was, a whole page on the project! What a surprise! I'm so happy for everyone involved, especially the ladies that have been crocheting the items. And I'm so pleased that I could be a part of this before I leave this lovely city.

Do check out more creative spaces here. 

Have YOU had any surprises?

ETA: I forgot to link up to the online article! It's right here!

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my creative space - easing back in ...

... to work and school and attempting to plan meals and sleep and seeing friends and a bunch of other things!

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my creative space - cravings

This week there has been more unconventional crochet and unconventional filling of said unconventional crochet. The plastic to fill the bean bags came from various sources (ie. construction sites and companies with plastic packaging to dispose of).

There were nine women involved in the birth of these babies! They were HUGE, H.E.A.V.Y. and 100% plastic!!!

As amazing as it is to be involved in the trochet project (a project that aims to give financial aid to needy women by recognising some of their creative talents), this weekend, comfort crochet was in order. The mindless, mindful kind (because yarn crafts can never really be mindless!), the kind that has you appreciating the feel of yarn fibres, the kind that calls for colour play and the kind that's easier on the wrists. Our household is trying to get used to schooling and working outside of the home, we're trying to ease in to it, and we share our woes about missing being at home more, surprisingly. At times like this, I find crafting especially therapeutic and I crave it!

I'm working my way through some serious de-stashing, while rushing to finish an online course (yes, not quite as relaxing as I'd hoped).

I'm working my way through some long-term wips. Details coming soon in sha Allah.

Check out more creative spaces here!

Check out #reverb12 too!

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my creative space - a trochet beanbag!

Plastic bags were collected.

They were cut in to strips and wound up. That's quite a challenge when you have more than a thousand to do!

Crocheters willing to crochet with plarn were found. Another challenge!

Getting them to produce the required design can also be a bit hit and miss.

But yesterday, I finished seaming up some beautiful, blue crocheted panels made by two of the trocheters.*

Diana and I filled it with recycled plastic that she had scavenged from wherever she could.

Lots of lovely blue.

And we have our first trochet bean bag!

It's a whopper of a baby weighing in at just under 20 kg!

Can you believe that it's 100% plastic? From inside and out!

With all it's ups and downs, and a promise of more ups and downs, it's pretty exciting!

Needless to say, there are great factors in play too: Experiencing happiness in helping others

Heather from across the globe has already said she and her mother would like to help by crocheting!  You bloggers and readers are amazing! Thank you!  Do continue to get in touch if you'd like to get involved! 

*trochet = trash + crochet :)

More creative spaces here.

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my creative space - finding ...

... that crocheting with plastic is FULL of challenges but it's growing on me!

... that it's great to do something different on the weekend

... that I don't always appreciate the nature of glowing, pre-dusk sunlight, even if it is in amongst the concrete

... some tiled patterns on a walk

... that I don't miss this kind of thing as much as I thought I would

... that even after shopping for that dress, I keep having the urge to take pictures of dresses. Is my subconscience telling me something?

... a nice day bed, not buying it, just admiring it

... that after 14 years of marriage, I didn't know that my husband once had a summer job carving traditional, wooden furniture and that his mother used to make her own looms, all by herself and weave mats, some of which were made out of recycled plastic bags ... YES, she was in the game well before us trocheters! 

... that it's been raining today!

... that Palestine is in the thoughts and prayers of many

And here my other new and not so new "finds":

a shop full of handcrafted items, where they have done new things with traditional Arabic accessories (yes, those wrap-around trousers)

and they have this great gift idea of a recipe and spice mix (this is one is for Kablie Rice)

and everything is made by needy women!


a creative mint - beautiful, creative blog

annie's place - and another one!

alternating cast-on for ultimate stretch - a knitting tutorial I'd like to try!

a great way to use up those awful adhesive book covers that I didn't have to use this year because our paperwork hasn't come through and so we decided to homeschool the kids full time!

thought walking - a great way to solve problems (article)

My contributions to #amonthof #mycreativespace can be found on instagram! I'm Fruitful Fusion .... what else? Look me up! 

And more creative spaces here!

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1. a creative space ...

... can be anywhere! Mine is usually a disorganised, scatter of things and floats around from place to place. I work wherever I can and most importantly, where I feel comfortable. My "stuff" can stay on the dining table for days! Thank you family, being so understanding about that.

Sometimes I get creative in the kitchen, sometimes on my walks around town, sometimes with creative folk at a coffee shop! Speaking of which, I had the pleasure of getting together with Diana and having questions thrown at us being interviewed about Trochet, by the lovely Anosha, one of the writers at Jeddah Blog! I would love to have an organised studio like this. But until then, wherever and whenever will have to do. I say this while I sit amongst cardboard boxes of our belongings waiting to be carted off to another continent, in sha Allah.

Oh yes, I'm going to try and join in with a month of my creative spaces and today is day one! It may or may not go according to plan, but that's okay!

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my creative space - trying

Yes, I couldn't keep up with blogtoberfest. But it's ok. I tried. I enjoyed. I learnt.

This week, while I was knitting an amari shawl I ran out of yarn! What's new, eh? I don't want to go and get some more. And it breaks my heart to frog it ...

... but I started another one anyway! I have missed leisurely crochet, but since my crochet and plastic escapades began, I've turned to knitting for comfort crafting!

Of course there is more plastic on the scene as we have a few other ideas coming along!

My head has been occupied with a lot lately, so I've been taking pleasure from the simple things in my life that can often get overlooked.

Yes, the first Marks and Spencers food hall I've seen in Jeddah. It's teeny but it's there!

Window shopping with my family.

Letting the girls take over the kitchen. 

Going for walks. 

Today I stepped out with my 9 year old son. It was one-to-one time and much needed. With four children and now homeschooling them, they tend to get lumped together all too often. 

I loved that we could talk about Hajj, as today is a special day, being the main day of Hajj, when pilgrims gather in Arafah, near Makkah. 

I loved that he could talk my ear off about football and I have to catch myself when I've said "hmm" too often and actually engage with him on his favourite topic. 

I savour these moments with each of my children ma sha Allah.

While my energy levels are a bit low, all manners of zestiness are at a trough too, today is a special day for us of reflection, fasting, supplication, worship, charity, goodness, preparations for a simple meal today and celebration of 'Eid al Adha, stemming from the traditions of Prophet Abraham (Ibraheem 'alayhis salaam) tomorrow.

I wish you all well and Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid).

Check out more creative spaces here and #amonthof #mycreativespace! Will I or won't I? 

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