Sunday, March 18, 2012

Ahem.... where was I...?

It appears that I've had better things to do than keep up a blog about the things I've been doing....  This hasn't been the case.  I've just done a bit more driving about the countryside (and collapsing - exhausted -  in a heap at the end of the day) than usual.
Last weekend, the wee girl and I made the trip out to beautiful Ballarat to see Annie at the quilt show and catch up with Jodie, Rachel and Kathryn there.  
We spent a good part of the day being led on several wild-goose-GPS-chases around the city before finding the old Mining Exchange building and the fabulous quilts it held.  I was so excited about eventually getting there (!!) and seeing the girls, the only time I thought to take the camera out was while waiting for the girls to get their cups of tea and join us at the table.

On Wednesday, there was my trunk show at The Blanket Box in Geelong - a first-outing for these newest Shell Purses.
Thanks to the lovely people who came to say hello, try on skirts and dresses and peek inside bags.

I love this Pippijoe Waterhen print.  I had a tiny scrap left over and had to use it, so teamed it with the tiny scrap left of the Portuguese linen that Meri sent to me years ago.  Fabric gold....I couldn't waste any of it.
 And there was more hacking into the GJ's haul.  I have a Shell Purse workshop and a trunk show coming up at Bargain Box Fabrics in Mornington on 28th March, so I'm making up lots of new little samples for that and thinking through all the new tricks I can show people who come to the class.

There was a fair splash of Saffron Craig fabric about the place this week, too. I'm preparing for a workshop for the International Federation for Home Economics Congress, which is to be held in Melbourne this year. I wanted to infuse an Aussie flavour into the class, so chose Saffron's cheerful prints for the job.

Precious scraps of Ink&Spindle and Yardage prints were also put to use this week. 
I'd started this patchwork bit for a workshop last year (at the Technology Teachers Association conference) and finally put it all together on Friday. 
 I made a bag (the piecing above appears on the back of the bag). 
 And I'll admit to a bit of blog-finishery here..... so that's as far as le tour de bag goes.

Oh look... there's a bag-making class....
 Yesterday was filled with the finer points of bag bases and straps and zippered gussets.... a Customised Bag in a Day workshop.  We focused on the details that make a super-special handmade bag even more special.
 (And yes, Patternmaking gals from Thursday's class... perhaps your toiles could be used as scrap tub covers after all.... the current Yoplait models could do with an update!).
There were some very satisfied bag-makers at the end of the class, and quite justifyably so.  Love ya work, girls!

So... it was a bit of a busy one and I didn't have the brainspace left to blog at the end of each day. 
But I still love you.....

17 comments:

meri said...

:))))

Lovely bags and purses, Nikki!

Fiona said...

Love the bag with the Ink and Spindle fabrics ... in fact, all those bags look great, I just keep coming back to the Ink and Spindle one. One day I'll treat myself to some of their fabric!

Unknown said...

It looks like you've had a very full week! Lots of beautiful fabrics being put to good use there.

Annie said...

Love the bag panel and it was great to see you in The Rat

Tania said...

It's not that I thought, even for a nanosecond, that you were resting on your laurels...

خياطة وتفصيل said...

Thank you very beautiful

Leonie said...

Phew, what a week! I got tired just reading about it.

Anonymous said...

I really must do one of your classes - I might start with a purse and work up to a bag. Its about time I made one of your bags instead of just using a bag you made!!

Breakfast Jo said...

You just inspired me. My sewing this week has been sporadic due to having lovely Melbourne visitors here. I have some gorgeous fabrics that came this week and I am 'itching' to get into them. Especially love the little purse made from scraps, so precious :O)

Katy Cameron said...

Looks like you've been keeping yourself out of mischief anyway ;o) Love all the birdy prints you've been using

A Peppermint Penguin said...

I'm surprised you can spell resting.

So much envy!

Lovin that denim with patches.

KathyB said...

I really enjoyed the class on Saturday(Customised Bags) I learnt alot and now I'm going to put into practice.
Cheers
KathyB

rachelmp said...

Great to see you as always Nikki! Love those bags in Saffron Craig fabric too

Jenny from Ohjoh said...

TOO many beautiful bags and an amazing quilt!
The saffron craig ones are awesome.
Yes please, just send it by post when you're finished with it.
Thanks

Katherine said...

Ooooh, you've been busy! So much to see and admire, Nikki. You will have me buying a ticket to your neck of the woods with all the enticing sewing you share.

yardage girl said...

Gorgeous sewing as always ~ love the fabric choices ;o)

Saffron Craig fabrics said...

Thanks Nikki.