Old Stories New Yarns Beaniefest

Yes it's that time of year again....... Beaniefest in Alice Springs !

and this year to honour the Theme for this year, I have attempted to tell two stories that play a big part in my life.

First the Rainbow Regions biggest extinct Volcanic Caldera of the southern hemisphere, with Mt Warning in it's centre.

Mt Warning is a Weather magnet !  It draws rain, clouds and rainbows to its fertile vibrant green flanks almost continually ! 

It has rained  so much over the past 4 years, since my journey in the bus decided that 12 years was long enough, and it was Time to be close to my genetic family, for some quality time. 

Mt Warning (viewed from the south on the hat, and from the north in the background), is always catching clouds on it's peak.

The second hat story is about The Rainbow Chai Tent, which I have been involved with for nearly all of it's  30 years of existence, from the early days at St Andrews Market, and Down To Earth's 'Confests'

 I may have to start making another hat like this just incase it sells and doesn't come home, as Benny Zable, the infamous painter of Rainbow Flags, and amazing banners, has declared he wants to paint a portrait of my brother Michael 'Wombat' Chai, wearing a Chai Tent Hat, and enter it in The Archibald !

I have never attempted to make something like this before, and I had many ideas of how it might finish up.  My 'fatigue' that has been 'plague-ing' me for the past 4 years, meant that I left my beanie making to the Very Last month this year !! and I found I ran out of time to add in all the detail, I thought I wanted to try and include.
'Tho in hindsight, less is better. It has a nice simple and clean, uncluttered feel to it , and I felt pleased with what I achieved. I do hope it does come home after the exhibition, as I had only a day to really admire it before it was gone.

Last years hat, won the Champion Elements - Earth, Fire, Air and Water, and was sold, so didn't come home to me ! Luckily I did get some lovely photos, but I miss that it is not part of my collection in our local Tweed Valley Artist's Co-op Gallery here in Tyalgum, Northern Rivers Rainbow Region, NSW, Australia.