Rita CASPERSZ

06 July 2017

JUNE 2017

This update has been a long, long time coming. Bits and pieces, here and there, all needing to be pulled together. I've had some refreshing encounters, and projects, that have taken my feet off the ground, occasionally.

The recent floods - May 2017 - in SRI LANKA moved me to initiate a 'Felting Spree' of Cobweb Felt Scarves and One-Day Workshops in my Studio. The money collected through the generosity of my Good Ladies, and others, went to the Flood Relief

TOURING New ZEALAND early 2017

I left one concerned husband - almost tugging at my skirt...joking! - and went with my sister, Sandra, on a tour across the land of the long white cloud, NEW ZEALAND

Our 12-day Tour with TRAVELMARVEL was exceptional as was the flight with AIR NEW ZEALAND. The spectacular, picturesque landscape there is legendary. The geysers, the glowworm caves, the southern Alps, FRANZ JOSEF Glacier, mountains, lakes and valleys, MILFORD SOUND, and so much more.

Our stand-out Hotels were HOTEL IBIS in Wellington, COPTHORNE HOTEL in Queenstown, SCENIC HOTEL in Dunedin and PEPPERS BLUEWATER in Lake Tekapo. For sightseeing one has got to take in ROTORUA, WELLINGTON, QUEENSTWON, DUNEDIN and LAKE TEKAPO

PRESS HERE FOR IMAGES OF THE TRIP
PRESS BLUE FOR LINKS TO HOTELS, etc

04 July 2017

THE YEAR 2016

The X'MAS PARTY of 2016

Our 2016 Year-end break-up went off brilliantly. 'Nature! your name is 'Woman'...thank you! for being understanding and given us a swish, sunny day.

Lunch, and plenty of 'Lady-chatter' helped along by chilled 'punch' etc. etc. Freedom was given to the Beloved One to the party his own speciality - crab claws cooked to perfection. Order needed to be brought to the Gathering with the Ladies 'SHOW &TELL'; do check the link for their handicraft.

I am inspired and motivated when I see exceptional items see the light of day in my 6metre x 5metre stacked to the rafters with 'fat-quarters', magazines, sewing machines, a table for Felting: Yes! Being surrounded by my talented lovely Ladies...couldn't ask for anything more.

PRESS HERE FOR IMAGES OF THE PARTY

A STALL AT A VINTAGE MARKET & FAIR

Mid-way thru the year a very good friend, Genielle PHILLIPS and I, took space in the nearby VINTAGE MARKET & FAIR in our local suburb. It was a great experience. Things got sold, but more than that, we made great contacts and even got ourselves featured in the local 'rag/paper'.

On the left, myself madly working on the finishing touches and, then, a laugh at our set-up.

THRU 2016

- In August the Victorian Feltmakers Inc.(VFI) had a new President in Genielle. I took the task of keeping the VFI Fibre Shop stocked with wool and silk for our Members.

- The Victorian Feltmakers Inc. held an Exhibition in the Town Hall Gallery in Hawthorn, a Melbourne suburb. Exhibitions are always exciting and this was no exception with its vibrant and diverse collection of exhibits.

- I received a request to be a 'Felt Judge' in the Royal Melbourne Show in the spring. It was a totally new and interesting experience

- In the latter part of the year I took delivery of a space-eating 'HANDI-QUILTER- Simply 16' (a link to YOUTUBE). I was over the moon. I have always enjoyed quilting my own quilts on a 'domestic' machine but free- motion quilting with the 'HANDI-QUILTER' is a breeze by comparision.

03 July 2017

STUNNING TUTORIALS SOURCED for YOU

FELTING - a IRENA LEVKOVICH Classic, showing how..

FELTING - a CLASS of RUSSIAN LADIES, their stunning work

QUILTING - Missouri Quilt Company, showing how...

QUILTING - FREE MOTION - for Begineers

more to follow...

02 July 2017

X'MAS PARTY of 2015

It has become so repetitive to talk about the beautiful late-spring weather, we enjoy each year in Melbourne, Australia, as we gather for our annual 'SHOW & TELL'

This is the rare occasion when the Ladies from all the sessions get to see the creations from other groups. And, the calls, 'Can we do that too?', and my reply 'Just remind me next year...'. [The Dear one is always somewhere in the background juggling the acts he gets called to perform.]

Do spend some time to look over some inspiring work the Lovely Ladies who visit my Studio, produce

PRESS HERE FOR IMAGES OF THE PARTY

04 September 2015

OUR MEMORABLE BALTIC TOUR ~ 2015

Our Christmas gift to ourselves was a cruise of the BALTIC COUNTRIES and leisure-time in SINGAPORE in May, just past.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES and WOLF & TURNER TRAVEL ASSOCIATES delivered us to COPENHAGEN, and the charming ANDERSEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL

In COPENHAGEN, for 5 days we took in the spectacular TIVOLI Gardens, then a CANAL CRUISE, a train to KRONBORG Castle, gawked at everything in STROGET, missed sighting Aussie Crown-Princess Mary and family at AMALIENBORG, lunched on the gregarious NYHAVN Café Strip, marvelled at the Danes and their affinity with cycling(ahhh! NORREPORT) and, did we walk.!

Boarded PRINCESS CRUISE Liner’s ‘REGAL PRINCESS’ in COPENHAGEN. A mini-suite with Balcony awaited us. TWO amongst 4100 folks. Twenty hours later, in OSLO, Norway. Toured HADELAND GLASSWORKS, the VIKING MUSEUM and gazed in awe at the NOBEL PEACE CENTER.

Day 3 in AARHUS enjoyed a quiet Danish café-lunch after exhausting climb of The CATHEDRAL.

Day 4, in BERLIN, sooo fabulous. Superb Lunch, part of guided tour. Proclaimed ‘ICH BIN EIN BERLINER’ to the thousands of disinterested visitors at BRADENBURG GATE, straddled the old EAST-WEST demarcation line, posed with an ‘orphaned’ guitarist at the BERLIN WALL, allowed the Sentries at CHECK-POINT CHARLIE a moment of frivolity with us, etc. Yes! We’d love to return!

Day 5. Relaxed at SEA…paid particular attention to Liner’s excellent cuisine.

Day 6. In TALLINN, Estonia spent wandering down by-lanes, Adorable knitwear. A tipple at ‘Olde Hanza’ breathed new vigour into the Dearly Beloved. Helped him find musicians who serenaded him with Aletter’s ‘RENDEZVOUS’…heaven!!!

Day 7 & 8. St PETERSBURG, Russia. Warm Sunshine!!! And, WHITE NIGHTS!!! And…the glory of the HERMITAGE, CATHERINE’s PALACE, and PETERHOF. Tasted local fare at Lunch while robust Russian performers sang. At night enjoyed the SWAN LAKE BALLET. The Drive along RIVER NEVA was special. Splashed out on our many Roubles.

Day 9. In HELSINKI (the 1952 Olympic Venue, & the home of Jean SIBELIUS), Finland. Escorted to attractive OLD PORVOO, and a hearty Finnish Lunch. Later, to the eye-opening ROCK CHURCH.

Day 10 & 11 Short stay in STOCKHOLM, Sweden. Got lost then hailed a Hop-on-Hop-off Double Decker with American friends, and visited GAMLA STA, Next day, a relaxing time at SEA. Dined on massive Lobsters.

Back in ‘Wonderful” COPENHAGEN, - where the Royals commute by bicycles - we spend an exhausting last day, sight-seeing and enjoying a smorgasbord of Danish cuisine washed down with different Pilsners.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES, next flew us to warm SINGAPORE and the very conveniently-located GRAND PARK CITY HALL HOTEL for some relaxation. However, are itchy feet did take us to most of the places the Island is famous for.

PRESS HERE FOR IMAGES of our TRIP

ps do visit the sites with links in purple