Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Phew, where to start, Thursday. It was my birthday and the best way I know how to celebrate was to go to Melbourne for a few girly days with my buddie Fee, so off we went. First up was the DFO, it was my first time, so much to see but I was only interested in a couple of shops, one of which was Typo, great little stationary shop. From a Perfumery shop I bought some lovely body lotion "Mor Marshmallow", it's devine. Then we drove to various outlets, the GPS unit decided to take us on  scenic routes and we saw alot of Melbourne back streets. Fee did an awesome job following her instructions! I won't tell you what the GPS's name is, it's not very nice.

Now Friday was the ultimate girly day for a couple of stitchers and bloggers, we headed off to the Craft and Quilt Show. We arranged to meet up with bloggers at lunchtime, it was great to put faces to names. One of the things I like most is that the blogging community we're in get's us, we're all on the same page or should I say fabric!

Christine (Mac Donald's Patch), Fee (Designs by Fee), Me, Kez (Willow Grove Quilts) and Kathy (Quilted Notions). Kez had a fabulous day, it was her birthday, we exhanged pressies and I'll show all my pressies on the next blog post as I don't want to overwhelm you all with piccies!

Miriam (Yellow Roses) and Mandy (Seams Sew Together)

Elyte (Tea, Fabric and Other Things) on the right, sorry ladies I didn't catch your names.

Fee, Gail Pan and Vicky (The Pickledish Patch).

I love to meet fellow stitching bloggers, it's like meeting long lost friends. I just wish I could have spent more time chatting with each and everyone.

I was also blessed to have my MIL come along too, bit harder for her to get around these days but with trusty wheelie walker in hand she can get around with rests in between.

I'm very lucky that Sandra and I share the same passion, we always have lots to talk about.

Lovely to see you Sandra and thnk-you for the pressies!

Here's the results of the shopping at the craft show, my poor feet and back ached after lugging this back to the hotel, we never made it to Lucellos so that's on the list for next time. These are all classed as birthday pressies from my Hubby and son, I was allowed to have a splurge. I went a little overboard but most of these things are hard to buy off the shelf in Tasmania.

I got a variety of things, scrapbooking bits and pieces, a new toy for embossing and diecutting, fabrics, soy candle making kit, fabrics and a mini iron.

This morning we flew back home, poor Fee was exhausted and I felt so sorry for her as she had to work tonight. I hope she recovers well tomorrow.

So Goodnight from one, happy, content blogger!

Blogger Meet Up

Are you going to be here on Friday 29th July?

If so, how about a blogger meet up at 12ish in the Foodie area? I'll tie some red balloons to the table so you can find us

Here's who will be there so far

Me

Fee - Designs by Fee

Kerri - Willowgrove Quilts

Lizzie - A House in The Country

Christine - Once Upon a Quilt

Tammy - Tammy Woods Designs

Christine M - MacDonald's Patch

Elyte - Tea, Fabric and Other Things

Kathy - Quilted Notions

Vicki - The Pickledish Patch

Let me know and I'll add you to the list!

Arctic Blast

We received another arctic blast over Tassie during the last 24 hours, there's snow on Mt Wellington, I guess Spring doesn't want to come here yet.

This is the view from work....

Growing up in Queensland I still get excited when I see snow, it brings out the child in me.

What was I to do but insist that there was work to do at the foot hills of Mt Wellington and off on a little road trip I went to see this....

 

.....its so pretty.

I even bought some snow back to the office and had my very own snowman, that was

until the office heating melted the poor fella!

Snow's lovely but I'm not sure I'd like to live right amongst it!

Siteseeing

This is the charming block of units Helen, Fee and I stayed in our last night in Sydney.

We can laugh about it now but I felt bad since I booked it!

Here's some lovely snaps of Sydney sites on the most glorious of days...

Sydney was celebrating the world cup at Darling Harbour...

even the lights had been decked out especially for the event

Just look at that blue sky!!

and here's the three of us all squeezing into a frame.

Woman gone crazy!

I have a confession to make, I'm addicted to fabric. I went a wee bit crazy at the show and purchased all these lovelies with no project in mind other than the need to bring them home with me and have them in my stash. Fee will even tell you that I had to borrow some money just to get one bundle.

Left to Right: Boutique, City Weekend, Hope

Front: Flower Sugar

but I didn't stop there, I bought yummy jelly rolls too

Lily and Will, Bliss (multiplied by two, yes I have 4 in total)

and these two beauties

Natalie Bird's new book - A Thankful Heart &

Anni Downs' new book - In the Life of a Bag

Now to start planning where and when I'll use all my pretties! Any Suggestions????

Next post I'll show you the charming accommodation we stayed at for one of those nights away and some of the sights we experienced in Sydney!

A finish, a start, a win and a trip!

It was a rather chilly weekend in Hobart, perfect stitching weather. I finished off another sample for The Quilted Crow. This project is another Marg Low sweety called Vintage Stitchers Sampler.

I've almost completed a sample of Aunt Ivy's Sewing Basket too, but I'll show you that when it's done.

I've finally made a start on Helen's Life is Beatiful Quilt, I'm using Rural Jardin fabrics and the stitchery background is from the Rouenneries range.

I was very lucky to win a gorgeous Prize from Kate, Stitched With Love.

Kate sent me this gorgeous bundle of FQ's, they go so beautifully with some other FQ's I have stashed away so they'll be ending up in a quilt. Thank-you Kate!

My Gardener's Journal block for June just needs assembling.

Friday will see Helen, Fee and myself winging our way to Sydney for The Quilt and Craft Expo (Trade Only Event). I'm looking forward to a weekend away with stitching friends and being amongst it all. So if you're going to be there stop by The Pattern Press stand and say gidday!

Survivor

I'm back from an exhausting 3 days of camping with my son's Grade 6 class. It was full on, lots of activities, preparing food, cleaning up and having fun.

We headed off on Wednesday to one of Tassal's salmon farms just south of Dover. Here we learnt about the life cycle of salmon, their biology and how the farm operates.

Cockle Creek was our next destination, we arrived and set up camp. There was about 10 tents for the 27 kids that they put up themselves and then they helped some of the adults put up theirs.

We played on the beach for awhile then headed back to camp for dinner and marshmallows before lights out.

Up bright and early Thursday to prepare breaky and lunch for the day's hike. We walked for 2 hours to South Cape, through different landscapes to arrive at a breathtaking view.

and here's proof that I was actually there

When we returned from our hike we relaxed for 1 hour and then headed off for a bit of fossicking.

We found agates and petrified wood.

An exhausted bunch of kids and adults slept well that night as the rain came in. Friday morning we packed up in the rain and headed off the Hastings Caves.

The kids sang the school song in the Newdegate Cave and it sounded lovely.

Afterwards we headed to the Thermal springs and the kids had a swim and the grown ups had hot showers. We finished up with a BBQ before heading back home.

I've been extremely tired and a bit sore from the walk but I enjoyed every minute.

I am glad to be home in my own bed!

Goodies and camping

Here's a quick peak at the goodies I purchased at AQM:-

A layer cake of the the new French General Range called Rural Jardin some kits and a free Homespun Diary a FQ bundle or Panache and some Honey Buns Plus a range of gorgeous patterns by Marg Lowe

I could've spent lots more but Jetstor would've slugged me for the extra baggage!

On Wednesday I'm heading off for 3 days of camping with my son's Year 6 class to a gorgeous location, Cockle Creek
We'll be bushwalking, exploring caves and thermal springs, swimming, playing in the sand, fossicking and heaps of other fun stuff. I just hope the weather is fine! I'll see you all next week!

Australian Quilt Market

Australian Quilt Market is awesome! For all those people that have to buy retail let me tell you that you're missing out. This is the place to meet all your favourite designers, see all the latest projects and fabrics and catch up with just about anybody whose in the business of quilty related goodness.

Leonie, Helen and I jetted off bright and early last Friday to Melbourne. We spent a few hours buying props for the stand, had a quick lunch at a pub before heading to the Exhibition Centre to set up Here's the Pattern Press Stand in all it's glory

Pattern Press distributes patterns for The Quilted Crow, Hugs 'n Kisses, Chitter Chatter, One Red Robin, Moonshine Designs, Emroideroo and Miss M. It was so good to see all their original work up close. I love Chitter Chatter's quilts, there's so much detail in them and Jhoanna's softies just need a big hug! Jhoanna helped out on Saturday too, she's the loveliest person and can you believe I didn't think to get my camera out to get a photo with her.
The Quilted Crow's new BOM 1864 by Leonie is worth a look, stunning wool felt on cotton background, I'm sure Leonie will post a good pic on her blog for you all to see and Hugs'n Kisses new BOM Life is Beautiful is a must see too.

I met up with some well known bloggers Kerri, Julie, Jodie, Annie, Andi, Corrie and Leanne , make sure you visit their blogs you might find a few pictures there. It was like meeting up with long lost friends, luckily I was able to have a break from the stand to have a coffee and a laugh with some of these girls.
I also met this very talented lady too

Kelly, from Don't Look Now and she's as lovely as those pretty quilts she makes. Jan from Sewjourn was behind the camera, thank-you Jan for the chopping board and knife, at least we got to share our Tassie fudge!

After a quick pack up on Sunday afternoon we flew back to Tassie, totally exhausted! I'm still recovering!!

Next post I'll show you some of the goodies I bought!