One day to go at the AQC and I'm tired ....and somewhat emotional. It's been a rollercoaster week. 
There was huge relief that I'd comissioned my brother to make tall pattern-display shelves, which also act as the 2nd wall I was execting to have in my exhibition space....but didn't. (The wall-of-patterns solution almost made up for the stress of the 2000 purse frames that were sitting in Australian Customs instead of in the new purse kits.) 
There has been much poking-about-under-the-shelf in an attempt to fix the glitch-ridden slideshow display of photos from the book. Even the lovely Sarah-from-next-door came in to help (pictured, above....under the shelf cover). 
I've been really happy to meet lots of wonderful people, loyal blog-followers and customers and people just "discovering" what I do. I've been overwhelmed by the response to the book. I've caught up with lots of bloggy friends. Lovely. 
...And then someone stole this bag from my display ...the one in the precious Ink&Spindle fabric with a button from my (long deceased) Nan's stash.... the bag that was the conversation-starter on the stand, to introduce people to the book....Its loss has triggered some deep sadnesses and tapped into all the stress I've ploughed on through during the production of the book, this bag and this show. It has - once again - shaken my faith in people. I've been an emotional mess all evening.
...and THEN.... My heart has been warmed by the wonderful crafting community and VERY GOOD PEOPLE who have already launched a campaign to find the bag. Cam posted this picture on Facebook within minutes of Jodie suggesting it... and then followed with a blog-button campaign here.
I've received loads of caring messages from wonderful people who heard the news. Thanks, people - even if the bag never shows up, you've restored my faith in the goodness in MOST of humanity.
83 comments:
and I wrote you a shockingly bad poem - cause I love you Nikki !
I saw those posts on FB, Nikki, and am feeling so sorry for you. How anyone could do such a thing is beyond me. I hope a glass or two of wine and some TLC at home is working wonders.
I tried to connect to your link to the Facebook link, but it just said it was "expired or not available". I have put a link to your blog to one of my Aussie friends who was at the show. Maybe she can forward it around her friends.
I can quote vindictive hippy karma theories at you again but I won't. Take another sip of whisky sweetheart. But I still reckon you should set some time aside for post book production recovery. This would involve a HOLIDAY and WINE.
I just don't understand people sometimes. I just don't know how this person thinks that it's ok to steal from another. The same thing happened to me at the stitches and craft show a few years back, a pair of baby booties were taken, and it was a dreadful feeling. Just dreadful. Oh Nikki, I'm feeling for you right now...sad state of affairs...
I'm so sorry for you Nikki. Such a nasty thing to do! I hope you'll get it back. Take care, blog land loves you!
That is awful Nikki! I cannot believe someone would steal your gorgeous bag. I will definitely be on the lookout for it.
so sorry to hear of the "low life" of our community stealing from you again... they are pathetic individuals... not creative, not enterprising, not lovely as you are!!.. And Nikki I love your book, it is really inspiring and my daughter, aged 21, who thinks sewing is so old fashioned, absolutely loved your book and wants me to make a bag out of it. So congratulations on a lovely stand and wonderful book.... Mary
Absolutely unbelievable. Nikki I hope your bag is found and returned to you and that the last day at the show goes better.
I am sure once this gets going it will be hard to go out in public with such a lovely bag...they will have no choice but to return it.
I have no words that I can type publicly to describe people who do things like this. They obviously have no concept of the blood sweat and tears that go into running a creative business. I hope upon hope that we find the person who did this and have your lovely bag (and your Grans button) returned.
Sometimes people just suck Nikki.
I've blogged it - let's hunt them down and send a group of angry crafters to their place!!
Bloody mongrels. I hope they get unhealable blisters on their ankles, ingrown toenails, ingrown chin hairs too, a permanent pimple on their nose, untreatable head lice and then some other ailments in unmentionable areas.
Bah phooey and double raspberries (sticks out tongue) to them.
*passes Nicki a bag of M&M's*
Not only do I hope that you get your bag back & Karma bites the thieving sod in the arse, but I hope they get charged by the police too, for good measure.
I'm so sorry this happened to you - it does make you think less of society as a whole & that's just depressing... Know though that you are going to have the best chance at getting it back with all these blogger/crafter/reader eyes looking out for it!
I'm going to cross everything & hope like hell.
This is just awful, Nikki. I have posted about your loss over at Southern Cross Quilters (2183 members) and SCQ COmmercial (988 members). A lot of them would have been at AQC this weekend.
I hope you get your bag back, I really do.
Loved your stall, Nikki, and can't wait to start making projects from your book. I'm so sorry to hear about your bag being stolen. But crafters are sharp-eyed people. We'll spot that bag and make sure it comes back to you.
I'm so sorry to hear that a rotten person has stolen your beautiful bag, Nikki. I really hope it finds its way back to you. xx
It is a gorgeous bag, just the photo of it has made me wish that I had stopped by your stand for a proper perusal when I was there on Thursday. Hopefully the photo can continue to be the discussion starter, but I do hope you somehow get it back.
Most people are good, but it only take one rotten egg to shake you! I hope the bag turns up. Rest up while you can.
It is so terrible that there are people in the world (and I am assuming it is someone in the crafting world) that would do something like that. I haven't been on FB tonight so first saw it on Karen's blog so I copied her post onto my blog. Here's hoping we catch the thief
I hope the blog button campaign works (I've joined in too), and the bag is returned soon... I'm so sorry x
Absolutely disgusting. Can only imagine that it was someone who was dragged along to the show without any real appreciation for the works involved. Hope a good nights sleep or two helps you work your way through the grief. I've got this current theory that if we suppress our grief it becomes like pelletised sugar - not just sugar cubes that can still easily be dissolved - but hard little lumps that take miles of soaking with tears to dissolve. Much better to cry straight away and then it is like sugar grains that go in no time. All the best. Cherrie
Your display looks fabulous. But I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your bag, Nikki. Some people...well, there are words I could use but I wont. I hope, hope, hope that it finds it s way home to you xx
Oh Nikki, that is just shit :-(
It's so completely beyond my understanding what makes someone do something like this (except maybe for the twisted 'glory' of being talked about on all the blogs?!) I'm glad you're feeling the community support though. I hope by some miracle the bag finds you again.
Oh Nicole how awful for you I have blogged this & also put it on FB....I had a bag I made with some fabric brought by a very special friend it was taken from my trolley at the shops no-one could use it...breaks my heart to think its not being "loved".....
Keeping fingers crossed that the bag is found and returned to you. A pox on them until it is.
Oh no Nikki - readful about the bag, I hope the rest of the show is amazing for you and someone sends the bag bag to you.
I'm feeling your pain, and quite a bit of anger - HOW DARE THEY! Creeps!!!
That is just stinky! I don't like thieves at all, they have no place in the crafting community.
I hope it all works out for you and your missing stolen bag turns up! Grrrrrr some people have no moral standards and values.
Your stall looks great by the way :) Leah x
So sorry to hear somebody stole the bag from you.
I cant understand people that steal. It is disgusting and to think that it was someone that visited the fair. I am hoping that with te crafty community banding together, you might find it.
My condolences. People can be complete shits. I hope you manage to get it back - both the bag and your faith. And seconding the call you push back those frontiers and make a little holiday space.
Stealing something handmade by an artist is the worst of crimes!
Nikki, your stand was beautiful and I was glad to have the opportunity to see your hats in person, so to speak. Best of luck with the bag.
Lesley
karma Nikki, karma!
i can't believe that someone will use it & not get spotted.
fingers crossed for you & hugs ♥
bastard bag stealer!
I'm so sorry this has happened, what a sick thing to do.
I hope that someone sees the picture of your gorgeous bag on the net and finds the culprit soon!!
I'm so sorry Nikki, the very few low life's make the rest of us wary of what we share.
Hey Nikki, Just saw the bad news on Andi's blog. Awful person, of all the things they took, it was the one you can't replace. I believe good things come from the bad so hopefully something good will happen to you because of this. Also on the bright side the stand looks amazing and I am coming to see it and you today.
Your display looks awesome, all I would say to the person who stole your bag is "what goes around comes around"!! Keep your chin up, cannot wait to arrival of your book.
Maybe just maybe it could be good publicity? Nan might be working for you in strange ways.
Nikki, I hope the bag makes its way back to you.
Some people!
Hope carma gets them big time and it is doubled in return. It sickens me to here this and to know that there are people with so little respect for others
I had a piece of my artwork stolen at a tradeshow one time. It is a shock to think that someone would actually steal! I hope the bag gets returned, but if not, know that the person who took it will probably not be able to enjoy it. Grief will accompany the thief wherever they go with your bag, one way or another. That's just a natural consequence.
Nikki that is so terrible! I will post a link on my very humble blog with meagre visits, but you just never know.
Hoping it all turns out ok for you
{{HUGS}}
Ohhh Nikki, why are is there but one person to spoil someones happiness.....hope the bag is found, the person who took will not be able to use it, as someone may be watching!!!! Look forward to seeing you next year at AQC.
So very sorry to hear that your bag was stolen, I have posted it on my FB as well. Just love Jodies poem!
Hi Nikki - I just found out via a posting on another blog. So so sorry to hear of the loss - as you correctly write - it DOES tap into lots of stuff - it truly is grief, because things are what connect us to other people and the world. With the campaign of spreading the word, I think the person will either be caught or at the very least won't ever be able to enjoy the bag. The upside (sorry - I'm being selfish here) - I FOUND YOUR BLOG!! I've never come across your designs and patterns before, and I'm having the best time looking through all your goodies!!!!
Oh my goodness! That's terrible. I hope someone in the Melbourne crafting community spots your bag and steals it back for you or the person gets an attack of the guilts and returns it. Will post the button to my blog too.
All the best. Hope there are many more wonderful moments to come which will far outweigh this one.
Sorry to hear Nikki. So surprised, must have been a non-craft person who doesn't understand what we put in to our creations including little bits of our hearts like grandma's button & certainly doesn't worry about affecting your business or your emotions. I've put the button on my blog too. Tracee xx
Your news is very sad. So disappointing. I am hoping with all my heart your bag comes home.
:-( Brave heart Nikki. I've blogged about it on my blog www.pivx.blogspot.com
This must be so disappointing! I was at your stand today - it looked marvellous! I had a chat to one of your girls and she was really lovely and helpful with the pattern I was buying. I hope you get a bit of time to relax this week, you deserve it.
I've blogged about your bag, I really hope it makes it's way back to you.
Hope it is discovered.
My 3 year old son helped himself to some lovely buttons last time I took him to a quilting show. Lucky I remebered him looking at a button display on the other side of the exhibition space mind you, and dragged him all the way back to pay for them.
As i paid for them I explained to the stall holder what had happened and she was horrified and cranky rather than pleased I had returned!
So sorry for your loss, both that of the bag and the associated loss of faith in people. I'm hoping that you have had an awesome day today and that you are now sitting with your feet up and having a well earned drink. Your stall looked wonderful yesterday when I went past and oh soooo busy, hoping it was the same today. Best wishes for the safe return of the bag. Take it easy and look after yourself.
Sympathies Nikki, unfortunately it is common, Dale Rollerson has had samples pocketed at her talks so cannot pass them around now.
I am sure it is such a hot item now it will find it's way back to you.
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Especially when the thing that you have lost is special. I am visiting your blog and looking at your terrific patterns due to Sarah from Quilt Fabric Delights posted a quick note about what happended. I know that this is a sad time but hope that you will become a better person and grow depsite what has happened. I know that you are special.
Hugs
Alexis
Oh my, that's just too awful. It's hard to believe there's people like that out there. I've just put the 'button' on my Facebook too, we have to spread the word!
That is hideous of someone and ike others I can't believe it - I really hope you find it! By the way your stall looks gorgeous on the photos!
Let's hope that the person who stole the bag will return it to you after they realise the impact of the theft has had on you.
Boo to you, bloody bag snatcher! Love and hugs, Amanda xxx
je partage sur facebook !
Oh Nikki, that's horrible! I hope the campaign bears fruit.
What Tania said.
Hugs!
AJ
What a horrible thing to have happened, I do wonder if it matches the Fedora!
I'm on the campaign trail for you too Nikki.
Oh, that's me above Nikki! Kathryn. XXX
what a crappy thing for someone to do, and for where it took place. I sincerely hope you get your bag back, just to restore some faith, if nothing else!
I'm so sorry Nikki,
This was a terrible thing for someone to do. I go to the AQC because I love to see designs in the flesh and be inspired. I was there on Sunday so missed out on seeing this gorgeous bag. I hope you get it back.
Hugs, Sharon
Some people are just YUCK!
I hope they're riddled with guilt and are trying to track you down as we speak.
Hope the show was great for you despite that. Really wanted to come in but didn't think that I could torture my kids and all surrounding us as they would have whinged their way through it.
Goodluck
that is such an exquisite bag that if the person who nabbed it even tried to take it out anywhere it would stand out.....if I spy such an item on a person here in Adelaide, I will stalk them, do a quick karate chop as taught to me by my little M and make them VERY VERY sorry indeed...hope it winds back to you dear girl. Please don't loose faith in the human spirit...TK xx
Your stand looks gorgeous Nicole. Eyes peeled for the bag, I hope it gets returned to you.
Hi Nikki, so sorry to hear about your bag. I know it's not much of a consolation, but I bought a copy of your book on Sat and got you to sign it and I loooove it, it's so fabulous! There is just so much info in it, I'm really inspired!
Sucks big time.
I've put the button in my sidebar so it stays at the top of the page... until it comes back to you - someone must see it surely - it's so distinctive....
It destroys your faith in the crafting community. We have shop samples stolen all the time and people cutting their own pelon and bag wadding and putting it in their bag. It is always a give away when a piece has been hacked off with scissors. I can never understand the mentality of these people but remember there are still loads of lovely people out there. Will put your button on my blog it may have travelled to SA. Let's hope if there is enough publicity they will not be able to use the bag in public.
Oh Nikki....bummer! Hope AQC was really worthwhile for you despite this horrible incident. Really disappointed that I didn't get to AQC but dying to get a copy of your book! Congrats! Here's to a few days R&R????
What an ass*&$#! I'll keep my eye out for it!
I can't believe that somebody is that nasty - you certainly didn't deserve that happening at all.
Your stall looked fantastic and I enjoyed having a look around and getting my book there.
Hope it all gets sorted soon
Merrilyn
That's just terrible - I'm so sorry this happened to you, Nikki. Hope the bag is found soon. Kx
You have every right to feel so angry and upset. How mean some folk are, they are jealous of the beautiful work you have created.
All that lovely work and the memories held within it. I hope you get information on it's whereabouts and you are able to have it returned. Good luck, I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Ann
I have managed to add the bags pic to my sidebar with a link, I know I am in Scotland! but someone else may read my blog and pass on the word. x
Yes it's a long time after the fact but I don't get on here often... I can't believe people would steal from a craft show!!! I thought all of us who attend these shows have an interest in craft and appreciate the effort that goes into creating an item...how low can people go?
As a vendor at a craft show, I never even consider that people would consider stealing. However, I know that it happens and I am so very sorry to hear that it happened to you. I think it's just terrible. Hope you were able to recover.
Post a Comment