This year we’re running Playtime in the Garden on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm out in the front yard - making the most of the new cubby house, pergola and sandpit.

This week at least 8 families came past for a play whilst it was on. Some met up with existing friends, others came by themselves. There were mums bringing their kids and grandparents bringing grandchildren for a play. And a few families also borrowed toys from the Toy Library whilst they were here.

It is just so lovely to see our community making themselves at home at ACC and utilising our play-spaces and resources.

If you’re home with children on a Wednesday morning you might like to pop in too!

Well, what a difference a month makes hey? Last time we spoke Covid was a distant thing … and now … well every person and their dog has it - or has had it - or has family and good friends who have it - or had it …

It really does seem to affect different people in randomly different ways for little apparent reason so we hope you and everyone you love and care about are doing okay.

As always if you need a hand we’re here to rally the troops and/or help however we can. Just call or email if you need anything.

For the first half of this year I (Leanne) will be in the office each weekday except Thursday, and Kalimna will be working onsite Tuesday and Thursday.

Our office opens at 9.30am each day.

We’ll be resuming programming as per our brochure which you can find here.

We’re delighted that despite all the ups and downs lots of things are nearly booked out.

Women in the Shed is full, there are just a couple of spots left across our five Book Clubs and our Visible Mending workshop is proving very popular (note we just added a couple of extra places if you checked earlier and it was booked-out online).

We still have spots available in Louisa’s Observational Drawing classes on Saturdays, Kristian’s Collage classes on Tuesday evenings and in our Furniture Repair workshop - another great opportunity for you to reduce the things you send to landfill by fixing them instead of throwing them out! Find out more and book in here.

We’ve also got the Alphington Show coming up - remember that? We’ll publish more about this slightly competitive neighbourhood celebration of the ‘domestic arts’ - baking, knitting, jam making, flower arranging, stitching etc. in the coming weeks. It’s an all-ages fun opportunity to show off your talents and skills - with prizes!

We’re looking forward to seeing you at ACC this year. Remember, young families can join our formal playgroup on Tuesday mornings or drop past Wednesday mornings for Playtime in the Garden … when they can also borrow from our Toy Library.

And we’re continuing our Arty Gardening program on Fridays - for anyone who’d like to join Katrina outside to learn more about gardening or volunteer some time to help keep ACC looking lovely … and then stay around for Morning Tea in the Garden at 11am (all welcome to morning tea even if gardening isn’t your thing - just pop past for a catch up).

See you soon!

Collage is such an accessible art form and can be so very witty and clever, or poignant, or edgy and interesting …

We’ll be starting up collage classes here at ACC on Tuesday evenings this year. Kristian Glynn who has been part of our community for a couple of years now will run the classes.

His art practise often involves collaging his own small art works together … and he’ll be an amazing inspiration and will bring heaps of creativity to the the table.

If you are interested in starting collage or keen to extend your practise this class will be able to accomodate you. Note that basic materials will be provided.

6 weeks per term $150. Book here.

We wish you a safe and happy Christmas, New Year and school holiday break.

I know that our staff are all really looking forward to some downtime after another unexpected year … and will hopefully (with fingers and toes crossed) be enjoying some ☀️ sunshiny weather, eating well and spending quality time with family and loved ones … along with all the others things - like reading books and swimming and hikes and relaxxxxing …

We’ll be back in the office on Monday 31 January all set to hit the ground running in 2022.

See you then.

Last year we floated the idea of a spoon carving course and loads of people expressed interest. This year we’re making it happen.

Maylei who teaches our Women in the Shed program has had a long standing interest in spoon carving and will be running a course here in our community shed on Saturday 12 March.

You can find out more and book in here.