A MILLICENT woman is on a mission to earn world record glory for the district with a splash of colour, needle and yarn and hundreds of gumboots.
Millicent community art and craft centre member Helen Joyce will coordinate the Geltwood Gumboot Challenge as part of next year’s Geltwood Festival.
The challenge was founded by Ms Joyce and is a new addition to the festival’s calendar, which will rely on the craftsmanship of interested Wattle Range residents to create the world’s most covered gumboots.
Ms Joyce said while the challenge may sound “silly” to some, it would provide a fun use for leftover wool and material, as well as aged and damaged shoes.
“I was thinking about what I could do for the Geltwood Festival next year,” she said.
“Initially I came up with the idea of a yarn bomb garden, which I would start by decorating a pair of gumboots I had bought but had never worn.
“Then came the idea of breaking the record for
the greatest number of covered gumboots in one place.”
Ms Joyce has applied through the Guiness Book of World Records and is awaiting a response, which would inform her how many boots would have to be covered and if it is a world record that could be set.
“It is all about participation and while it is silly, it will be fun and a challenge,” she said.
“Gumboot covers will be accepted from anywhere in the world, so get your family and friends involved.
“I am going on holidays to Israel and I plan on bringing gumboot covers to be used in the challenge back with me when I return home.”
The gumboot challenge does come with a couple of rules, including the gumboot upper is covered using a yarn or fibre based craft, such as crochet, quilting, applique, felting, knitting, embroidering, cross-stitching, macrame, weaving, tatting and there is no need to make pairs as single and damaged boots will be accepted.
Less creative people who would still like to contribute to the world record attempt can do so by donating their old gumboots.
Meanwhile, lovers of craft who do not own gumboots, but would still like to get involved can request a donated pair to use as their canvas.
Collection and distribution of donated boots is at the Millicent Public Library and the count will be held as part of the Geltwood Market Day on Sunday, April 7.
Ms Joyce aims to cover 100 gumboots this year and will keep them for the 2020 Geltwood Festival n an attempt to break the record yet again.
