Crowds of people turned up to enjoy the wonderful creations that were on display at the recently past 6th Alice Springs Beanie Festival, Alice Springs, Australia.

Thankyou to all the participants who sent in beautiful work and also to all those who turned up to enjoy the community spirit and fun of the festival. The festival is organised on a volunteer basis, so it is really important that we get people to assist during the festival. We would love to meet more fibre artists next year- its great putting faces to beanies and swapping fibre tips. Put it on your calendar for next year! ( Final weekend in June 2003)
Thanks for all those tagged beanies- it makes a great difference when you have 1500 plus beanies to contend with!

The general exhibition had a vibrant atmosphere. There were beanies wall to wall some crocheted, some felted, some knitted. The diversity in colours and textures were wonderful with a wild array of feathers, beads, embroidery and fleece waving about like colourful flags. A new culture of serious beanieology has taken hold in Alice, with many collectors buying numerous beanies.
The exhibition also included a beautiful array of fibre arts from local aboriginal communities. These included gorgeous batik silks from Ernabella Arts and spinifex sculptures.
A highlight of the weekend was the demonstrations of traditional spinning and crochet from the Pitjantjatjara Spinners from Ernabella.
There were also some greatly enjoyed crochet workshops, totally informal but very successful. The organisers are looking forward to a new crop of beanies next year.
The organisers were thrilled at the Family Night Out by the wonderful performances. A highlight was the beanie anthem, put together by the amazing Lazy Susans with Di Mills and Tim Rollason. ( Beanie Yeh yeh!) The event was held at St Phillips College Hall
The Beanie Bash was a new event for the Beanie Festival and was a brilliant night of music. Great to see all those dancing beanies on a cold night in Alice. Held at the Fusion Shed, a grooving night had by all. Performers included Neil Murray, Warren Williams, Spinifex Band, Eastern Reggae Band, Jag it, C Mobs, Jugada. An all ages, alcahol free event.
Click here to read what the people said about the Beanie Festival this year.

The 2002 Beanie Competition Winners:

Beanie that best reflects the spirit of the land.
Winner: Edwina Marsh
Special mention: Penny O'Neill

Best use of texture in a beanie
Winner: Prudence Mapstone
Special mention: Chris Jakku

Craziest beanie
Winner: Panjtiti Lionel
Special mention: Abi Thompson

Most sculptural beanie
Winner: Shaz Harrison- Williams
Special mention: Judy Grey- Gardner>

Best use of colour in a beanie
Winner: Boronia Saggers
Special mention: Amanda Howell

Technical excellence in a beanie
Winner: Claire Byers
Special mention: Frieda Berkencamp

Best tea cosy
Winner: Merran Hughes
Special mention: Adi Dunlop, Joey Nixon, Penny O'Neill, Abi Thompson

Cutest beanie
Winner: Debbie Peitesen
Special mention: Cathie Sargent

Youth prize
Winner: Nicole Lennartz
Special mention: Nila Wiseman

Three other prizes were also given:
Best baby beanie: Chris Welland
Special mention: Dora Haggie
Packers prize: Penny Brown
Founder's prize: Tjunkaya Tapaya

Thankyou to our judges Kevin Murray and Philomena Harley
Di Mills and Tim Rollason.

Thanks to Cleckheaton:
Many thanks to Cleckheaton for sponsoring us with the donation of wonderful wool packs for the winners of the categories of the competition. The beautiful collections of wool have been on display and admired throughout the festival. They have been bringing tears to the eyes of yarn lovers all over the place!

Also many thanks to Dan Murphy for his wonderful last minute donation of a metal baby beanie trophy.
Ceramic trophies made by Merran Hughes
The Beanie Art Prize Winners:

Best Overall Prize
Yvonne Ross: Beanies over the Desert
(Quilt)
Prize Winners for work that celebrates beanie culture:
Marina Strocchi: Haasts Bluff Beanie Mob
(Photography)
Melanie Kyle: Festival of beanies
(Video)
Special Mention
Caroline Thompson: Arum
(Photography)
Thankyou to the judges Trish Van Dyke, Jasmine Wellings and Merran Hughes
Read what the punters said about the 2002 festival