A quick glance upwards

This week has seen me still walking across that bridge.... trying to get over what looks like an insummountable mountain of catch-up, keep-up and set-things-on-course. It occured to me to do a quick blog post NOW before the catch-up here becomes another mountain I'd rather not have in my path.

This week, I also had two classes out in the real world.  The A-line Skirt class at Kimono House was on Saturday, and was lots of fun.  I made the above skirt on Friday night from a $5 remnant and a small piece of some fabric I bought from Eureka Patchwork's "$15 per metre" room. 

I've been wearing the skirt ever since. 

I think it's love. (And yes - it matches my hair).

 On Thursday, it was loads of pattern-free fun at Bargain Box Fabrics in Mornington. It was fab to see the group's initial trepidation turn into inspiration over the course of the day, and to see so many variations on the theme of my Trapese-line top.  We were a group of women of all shapes, sizes and ages, and there were tops and dresses to suit everyone.  Great day.

 Today (Sunday) was a busy one.  It started with a trip to the characterful and quirky Thornbury Theatre, to the Suitcase Rummage.

Handmade and vintage goodies were spilling out of every sort of suitcase as locals shopped, talked, listened to live music.  It was a great atmosphere (and I managed to pick up some de-stashed crafty bargains).

My sister Leonie had her screenprinted  cushions, bags and fabric panels (of her original drawings) and a few Fabulous 50's Bibs....

 I loved this watermelon apron, too, by Anita at NeitZarr....

My little personal-shopper had a ball.  I gave her a budget of $15, which she took great pains to spend, without leaving a single cent.  I suspect that she pumped up the cute-factor to get a few bargain second-hand books and jewellery bits.  (I worded her up on bargaining down the handmade stuff before she had a chance to widen those baby blues at anyone).

 We then went into the Quilt and Craft Show for the last few hours of trading. 

BIG MISTAKE. 
Tired girl who thinks she's an expert shopper. 
Expensive parking and entry to the show for 2 hours of show. 
No time to look at anything before the girl spent her craft-show budget and wanted "another budget".  
Endless negotiations about the possibility of another budget.
Please... another budget...
But the other budget was just A PRACTISE budget....
And couldn't you you just buy THAT for me?
And now I've run out of budget, I want to go home....
And it's not fair that I'm not enjoying myself anymore..
So, if you'd just give me another budget....

AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!

(She didn't get another budget).

However....I did manage to get Terese Dair's book from her at the show.  SWOON.   (It's LOVE-ER-LY!).  I daresay, you'll be hearing more about that.... when I get off this vertigo-inducing bridge.

Craft Fair loot

Don't worry, folks - I haven't taken up scrapbooking. I just bought a bag full of stick-on bling for the smallest crafter in the house. She was so impressed and satisfied with this, I've witheld the stamp set I bought until the next present is required.

I spotted this adorable fabric at Kelani's stand, and thought it would be perfect to make up into teeny-weeny-tiny baby gear for some brand-spanking twin girls I know. I hope I get something made from it before they're walking.

I loitered (and drooled) a bit too long at Prudence Mapstone's stand. Oh. My. Lordy..... if it's yarns you're into....

So anyway, I only spent a small fortune. There are worse habits and more expensive hobbies, non? And what's life without a few little indulgences... and a few skeins of hand-painted linen yarn...?

...and a bunch of to-die-for soft and drapey 100% tencel?

Over at Can Do Books, I found this Crochet Borders Book. A great reference for the ever-expanding yarn-craft library. Handy for make-it-up-as-you-go-along chicks like me, who find themselves without the skills to finish with a flourish. Also good for washcloth gift-making. And then today, I came across these at the op-shop (sort-of-on-the-way to the pattern printers).

Yep - lots of ideas and inspiration. Here's wishing for time to play.

Melbourne Quilt and Craft Fair

Well, yes - it looked an awful lot like the stand in Sydney, only with a few new bag and purse samples (....and vastly lower stress levels on my part).
Doing three shows in four months means that the set-up is becoming routine, and it all came together much more smoothly. Little things were improved-upon but the basic system seems to be working.

I had a lovely time, chatting and meeting and book-signing. Thanks to my helpers, Leonie, Brianna and Adele. In between waves of squeezy-crowded-busy we were all able to take a few breaks and have a look around the show. Photos of my crafty purchases coming soon....
People seemed to like my work. The crowd was a good mix of friends, regular custmers, blog-readers and people who didn't know me from Adam. We sold out of A-line Skirt patterns by the middle of Saturday (more are being printed as we speak). Today, for the first time in a LONG time (can't remember the last time), I took the day off.

I woke up with the beginnings of a cold, a house that looked like a tip and a child with dreadlocks (after a week of Daddy-haircare). It was also the man of the house's birthday and there was MUCH ORGANISATION to be done for the "surprise" party that the dreadlocked child had planned.

I played Imelda May LOUD while I cleaned and baked, and then went shopping and did school pick-up. I thought it'd be nice if I could do this whenever I liked. Things got done, for a change, and I felt like "good Mummy". It was a nice feeling, after the last few hectic weeks of half-done everything on the home-front.

I need an early night... and possibly another day off. Chat soon....

Pssst! Want free passes to the Quilt Show?

I have four free passes to the Melbourne Quilt and Craft Fair next week.

These will be randomly placed in parcels going out in tomorrow's post.

To be in the draw, place an order of $20 value or more in my shop and pay for it before 4pm tomorrow. Your free pass could be in your parcel!

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I also have one dead computer and a trillion logistical problems caused by its absence. I shall return when things are running more smoothly.....

Good in a crisis

I am. I'm a lateral-thinker. A problem-solver. A survivor.

It's probably because I get SO MUCH practise with it... what with my life being a litany of Things Going Slightly Askew, and all.

People who know me will say that perhaps if I wrote lists or did one thing at a time, or was generally less chaotic, things would run more smoothly ...but sometimes, things just HAPPEN.

My week at the Sydney Quilt and Craft Fair was a perfect example of this.
Monday's crisis: Volcanic ash cloud. No lists or tidy workroom could have saved me.

Lateral thinking: At the first whiff of a cloud over Adelaide, I was packing my bags in Melbourne and running for the nearest railway station. Somewhere during that long 12-hour overnight journey to Sydney, I received a text message to say that my Tuesday morning flight had indeed been cancelled.

Result: Although sleep-deprived and grumpy, I arrived in Sydney on Tuesday morning, in time to set up my display. My sister (who was also booked on the same Tuesday flight) arrived Wednesday morning.

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Tuesday's crises: Lost credit card (found later in the week on my desk back in Melbourne, where I'd left it mid-parking-fine-payment, when I dropped everything to jump on a train. Shame I'd cancelled it before it was found...and before I remembered to pay the parking fine). Dead phone battery and no charger for it. Publisher trying to contact me to deliver books for the show. Me, trying to contact the publisher, my sister (my helper for set-up and the show), the bank and my office (to see if my credit card was on my desk). No help to set up the enormous display.

Ok, I admit it - a bit less multi-tasking and a bit more list-writing might have saved me on the credit card and phone front. But give me a break... I was running for the one train that would get me to Sydney in time to set up.

Lateral thinking: I bothered the staff at the exhibition centre for a phone every hour or so, found a bank in the street and cancelled the credit card, stayed late and got in early Wednesday morning to finish setting up the display. I finally found a charger to borrow and found out that my sister was on the way... on the bus.

Result: I slept (guiltily.... thinking of Leonie on the bus) on a soft and comfy hotel bed, only having had one moment of near-complete-meltdown during the day. Ready for business on first day of the show.
My hanging mobile of Tulip Dresses and children's accessories received a lot of attention, which was good because it'd taken some serious lateral-thinking to work out that little corner of the stand.


The books arrived, and sold so well that I needed a second delivery before the weekend. Despite two boxes of them having had a rough courier ride, there were still enough undamaged copies to get me through the show.
"You Sew, Girl!" , the book, was well-received. I even had people who had bought it elsewhere coming up to thank me for writing it. That was nice.



Then I lost my voice. And my right eye swelled up (some sort of bite between my eyelid and brow). Luckily, I had the best bunch of helpers I could have asked for and they did an amazing job. Many thanks to Leonie, Cass, Peta, Gay, Nicole and Fiona for keeping the show on the road.This morning's crises were mere trifles... trying to exchange about $400 worth of $1 and $2 coins before banks opened and my flight was due to leave. My bags were overweight. I got up extra-early and managed to swap coins for notes with various vendors about the airport and then checked in.... only to have the flight delayed until midday. My bags were still overweight but the check-in girl didn't notice.

I got home and I'm happy to be here.

I can't say that I enjoyed my week in Sydney, but I did enjoy being at the show itself. I enjoyed meeting new people and catching up with old friends. I enjoyed seeing people enjoying what I do. I'm also glad that my history of dealings with badly-aligned planets, chaos and disorganisation stood me in good stead for all that was thrown at me. I'm glad that I survived.

Ok. Melbourne Quilt and Craft up next.

Quilt Show

Well, I got here (eventually) and got set up (eventually)....and have had two days of show and tell so far. I'll be here for three more days.I'll be back with more details when I have my brain back in working order.

In the meantime, if you're in (or coming to) Sydney, pop in to see me at stand K41 at the Quilt & Craft Fair in Darling Harbour.

And don't mention that cloud of volcanic ash.