Stitches & Craft Show - Sydney 2009

The glory days of the show are gone but there were still plenty of good things to see.

Catharina's Country Collection was a terrific stall with a fantastic display of quilts - especially her BOMs. This one is Pond House by Lynette Anderson.


They were one of only a handful of quilt stalls this time. That's because the quilt show is the big event in June.

For me, the top floor held all the surprises - Cloth Fabric, Kristen Doran, Ink & Spindle, Pippiejoe, Audrey & Maude - just to name a few. It was fabulous to see Tara Badcock's tea cosies - so much better *in person*.

I bought some fabrics from Ink & Spindle which I will probably use to make some bags


and some cards from Pippijoe that I plan to use for Christmas. She also had fantastic fabrics.


I saw the platypus designed by Kate from Two Little Banshees . The pattern was featured in Australian Homespun Vol 10 No 1. These are my version made for Jen's new baby Tamsyn after she posted on her blog about how much she enjoys seeing the platypus that live on the creek near her mum's house.



Kate's new design is a cute-as-a-button caterpillar!

Have a super weekend

Lots of good things

Well, at least I thought so. Put the quilting aside to work on Farmyard Stack. This is an easy quilt to put together. Square in a Square blocks next, then four patch.

Discovered the website for Living Creatively - okay I'm behind the times on this one but lots of interesting stuff including this


A bracelet made from typewriter keys from Mrs Smith jewellery. Unfortunately, the link on the website is broken.

Also featured is Tara Badcock from The Teacosy Revolution. Tara is a textile artist and her work is exciting. She has a particular fondness for creating or transforming the ubiquitous tea cosy and some of her works will be on display at the Sydney Stitches & Craft Show.

You can read the on-line article about Tara here. I'm looking forward to seeing Tara's work up close. She uses an interesting combination of textures and free motion embroidery in her pieces - even the odd exotic feather.

Last, but not least, I *discovered* Ink & Spindle - three incredibly talented Melbourne textile designers. They will be at the Stitches & Craft Show also. Here's their blog.



Happy Stitching

I Won a Giveaway!

It's so exciting! I was lucky enough to win these marvellous goodies from Lola over at andsewon who was celebrating her 300th post. Thank you Lola.

Isn't that snowman the cutest?

Happy Stitching

Farewell Old Friend

Vale faithful Pfaff. We've had so many good times together.

How I remember fondly all our sewing adventures - endless kids' costumes, t-shirts, fancy track suits and that bathing suit I never wore. You understood my fascination for Justknits and Knitwit; never criticised my insatiable appetite for cotton spandex and stretch lycra.

I will always remember you. *Sniff*

On a brighter note....these wonderful goodies came in the mail today.

I can't wait to give them both a good run. Guess what? I won my first giveaway - from Lola at and Sew on. Thanks Lola! I am looking forward to receiving my gifts.

Thought I would also join in the Friendship Bag Swap being hosted by Quilting Gallery.


Rachel at p.s. i quilt has a terrific tutorial for a suitable bag. Go check it out.

My Sewing Room

AmandaJean over at crazymomquilts has invited us to share our sewing space. Here's mine.



When I'm working at my sewing machine I look out over the garden.


Storage for threads and and display for knick knacks.


Fabric storage, books and sewing notions. A comfortable chair for hand sewing and a spot for a cup of tea. I have a Horn cutting table (seen here in the closed position).



These nifty containers came from Ikea some years ago.

I'm quite fortunate to have such a lovely light-filled space in which to play.

Happy Stitching