From Waste to Wonderful December 6th 2013

Welcome to the last From Waste to Wonderful workshop for 2013. 

Today was bittersweet, enjoying our time together, feeling fulfilled and proud to have completed some beautiful creations while feeling somewhat sad that it would be our last workshop for the year. We also say goodbye to The Hobart Women's Health Centre as our workshop moves to The Salvation Army Hall in Moonah in the new year. 

Many thanks to The Hobart Women's Health Centre for allowing us this wonderful space to meet and create and enjoy some community spirit in such comfortable surrounds. It has been a wonderful place to meet. 

No matter where we gather we will continue to work in the spirit of creation, liberation and community. One of the most fulfilling things to come out of these workshops is that sense of community. It seems this creative collective has opened doors to unexpected things. These workshops not only provide a creative and social outlet, they support women in need. From medical advice, sewing machine repairs, house moving, helping hands, to just popping in for some wool before heading home, a network of support has evolved. 

Many of the women attending these workshops are recently settled Asylum seekers from Ethiopia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iran, Indonesia and Burma. The sharing of skills, stories and meals for these women and the Australian volunteers has been an important and fulfilling melding of cultures and support.  

I think it's safe to say that anyone attending these workshops whether its every week, every now and then, or even just the once, feels safe and cared for and like something special is happening. 

This week, being the last week, we focused on finishing up our projects but mostly our bags! From Waste to Wonderful was happy to announce that everyone was welcome to create a bag to be displayed at the Resource Collectables shop in Hobart. Some bags will be for sale with the proceeds going back into keeping From Waste to Wonderful running. If you would like to see some great things, hand-made by some great women in the community, head on down to Collectables, 117 Elizabeth Street, 12th - 26th December. 

Thanks again to all the volunteers and artists that keep this collective running. Its such an amazing and inspiring venture. I can't wait for next year! 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again to the Resource Work Cooperative for providing materials and space at The Collectables Shop to display our wonderful creations! 

 

 

 

 

From Waste to Wonderful will be continuing next year at the Salvation Army Hall, at the back of 73 Hopkins Street, Moonah - 10am to 2:30pm Thursdays and 1pm to 4:30pm Fridays, from January 16th. 

All welcome! 

From Waste to Wonderful 29th November 2013

Another Friday another inspiring start to the weekend for the women attending From Waste to Wonderful!

This was the second last workshop before summer holidays so it was a busy day for everyone wanting to get their tasks finished up. With so many exciting and beautiful projects near completion the energy was high and the helping hands were in full swing. 

 

 

While the women got stuck into their work in the work room the kitchen was filling with the delicious smell of fresh veges baking. When we finally broke for lunch we were treated to mountain of hot baked veges, fruit salad and yummy sweet little cakes. 

 Once again the hard work of the day was punctuated with the cuddling of babies! 

By the end of the day we were all delighted to experience the fruition of each others ideas with the completion of many projects. Some of these projects were weeks in the making with some skillful knitting and the squishing and rolling of wool into felt. And, of course, all that material donated by the Resource Work Co-Operative was lovingly and skilfully sewed into beautiful bags and skirts. 

Many thanks to all the women who make this workshop possible, and to all the women who come along each Friday to share their skills, stories and smiles. 

See you all next week! 

From Waste to Wonderful Thanks Gay Hawkes

Gay Hawkes is a talented and generous Tasmanian artist who is often found sharing her skills with the community. 

From Waste to Wonderful was proud to have Gay facilitating workshops, sharing her passion and skills. She enabled and encouraged women's freedom of expression whilst firing up their passion for all things beautiful. 

Sadly Gay could not continue with workshops due to illness but lucky for us Hanna Parssinen, another fantastic and inspiring Hobart artist, has been able to step into Gay's shoes. 

We would love to thank Gay Hawkes for her commitment to getting From Waste to Wonderful off the ground and leaving behind a legacy of freedom to create and share.