Last year, I made the over-hasty announcement that I would be attending Beating Around the Bush, 2012, down in Australia. Alas, for me, it was over-hasty, because I’m not going after all. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the various project deadlines that Country Bumpkin had to meet for marketing the event, and, having three teaching jobs in three different schools, I couldn’t meet the project deadlines by last January. So I had to renege. Life is like that.

Wouldn’t it be great to say, “Let’s meet in Adelaide and have a cuppa?” It would be so fun to meet you face to face and enjoy a real chat! And I think needlework events like Beating Around the Bush are a great way to connect with fellow stitchers and to enjoy that “community spirit” with a bunch of kindred spirits!

So, are you going to Beating Around the Bush in 2012? It looks like a really promising event, full of terrific classes with world-class tutors. There are some Gorgeous things in the line-up!

Off the bat, these are the things that caught my eye – but they are only the beginning! I’m tellin’ ya – there’s quite a line up!

Jenny Adin-Christie’s millefiori brooch is the first project that meets the eye as you peruse the PDF Brochure for BATB 2012 (the brochure is definitely worth browsing – even if you aren’t going, you’ll be inspired by the beautiful projects featured in the brochure – and it doesn’t cost anything to look!!)

Goldwork, anyone? Tanja Berlin’s classes are a great learning experience – she’s such a good teacher!

A gorgeous whitework sampler by Christine Bishop (who wrote Schwalm Embroidery: Techniques & Designs, which I reviewed quite a while ago.) There are all kinds of whitework techniques represented in the sampler. Fun!

For ribbon embroidery enthusiasts, this pomander by Hazel Blomkamp is stunning.

And her bead & metal thread Jacobean design in silver and black… it’s a knockout! I’m looking forward to Hazel’s book, Fresh Ideas for Jacobean Embroidery due out next year!

This is one of my favorite projects of Jan Kerton’s. Every time I look at this picture, it makes me happy. I’m not sure if it’s because Autumn is my favorite time of year, or if it’s because those acorns look so darned real… but I love this project. Jan’s website is Windflower Embroidery, and it’s definitely worth browsing through. (She has a free stitch guide on there!)

Trish – TRISH! Make more birds! I love Trish Burr’s birds. Actually, I love all her needlepainting projects. This little blue fellow is so sweet. And check out his spindly legs! Trish Burr announced on her blog the other day that she will be publishing more birds, and she’s taking requests on the subjects we’d like to see in needlepainting, so if you have ideas, feel free to dump them on her! (I think 200+ people should drop by her blog and request a sun conure! – go on, but don’t tell her I sent you!)

This briar rose and honeysuckle panel by Margaret Light epitomizes “surface embroidery” to me. It’s so pretty. It’s “just” embroidery. It’s just beautiful.

Jenny McWhinney’s designs are so cute, they’re almost edible. And Strawberry Jam is the perfect title for this piece – a blanket with frolicking bunnies and strawberries.

Betsy Morgan’s etui boxes are so fun – she’ll be teaching three different ones at BATB. They’re fully accessorized boxes, all cleverly constructed and (of course) stitched.

Susan O’Connor’s mirror project (above) is a lovely combination of illumination and embroidery – looks like a great project for learning not only the stitching, but a unique finish.

Ok, there are heaps of projects in the BATB, 2012 brochure, and you’re just going to have to browse through them on your own, because every page has yet another eye-catcher.

One more class that I think deserves special attention (it’s obviously the teacher in me speaking…)

Teaching without training is a difficult thing. Yes, it’s true, some people are natural teachers, but teacher training is essential if you want to be not only a good teacher, not only effective, but efficient. And in the needlework classroom, efficiency is a Big Deal. Jan Kerton will be teaching a class at BATB called “Teacher Training.” It’s for all teachers and aspiring teachers, regardless of experience level. I think this is a great idea! And if I could hop down there just for this class, I’d do it. Think about it: professional teachers in the academic world have to go through specific study and training before they’re bona fide, but they don’t just drop all their training once they have that diploma in hand – ongoing teacher training is not only required for the professional teacher, but it’s crucial for keeping that “teaching edge.” Good for Country Bumpkin for making a class like this available for needlework teachers!

If you haven’t visited Country Bumpkin’s website lately or browsed through the BATB brochure, hopefully you’ll be able to take some time to do that! Look at it this way: even if you can’t go, you’ll certainly be inspired by what you see – and maybe you’ll find some ideas to play with in your own stitching.

And hey, if nothing else, you can always dream …!

(But really, are you going? I’d love to hear what classes you’re taking!We could all live vicariously through you!)