Getting organised

I should be getting organised for the Stitches and Craft Show.... it's only four weeks away. There are samples to make, patterns to finish, tutorials to write, PowerPoint presentations (eek!) to prepare.... not to mention organising display.... oh and booking flights and freight for the Brisbane show... But I'm having problems thinking about anything but "HOW CAN I HELP THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING???". My own life and business seem very trivial when compared with what these people have endured.So.... I've organised this sewing bee.... a small thing indeed but it's something that I can do. I have the space (endless amounts because the huge room next door is empty.... and there's a huge hallway... and another room downstairs that I could use....), the equipment and the resources to accommodate as many people who can cut, sew, embellish, make tea, sew buttons and want to come to Brunswick on Saturday to bring a bit of cheer to some traumatised children. I've spent today emailing and liasing, so we have tons of fabric, space and tables... we just need a few more people. Email me if you can come. Email your friends, schools and childcare centres and spread the word if you can't help out yourself.

THANK YOU to the generous souls who have offered their help on Saturday, and those who have donated bag-fillers.

THANK YOU to those of you who can't make it but will be making things in your own part of the world and sending them in.

INTERNATIONAL/INTERSTATE READERS - or even if you live in Brunswick but can't make anything - you can still help here...

For those of you sewing elsewhere... I'll try to do a quick tutorial for a simple bag in the next few days. I've worked out that a bag size of about 30cm x 35cm would be good - it will fit a colouring book, a jig-saw or a softie (I tried things out from the donation box) but not be too big for a small child to carry.

Remember the Xmas bags? Easy as pie.... anyone can do it.... They don't have to be super-duper bags. Just something made with a bit of love. (Super-duper bags are welcome, too... I'm going to donate some of my pattern samples for the older girls).

Today I spoke to one of the women in my building who's family is from one of the suburbs that was razed by the fire. She tells me that the people who have been left homeless are getting lots of donated goods, but SOMETHING TO CARRY/STORE THINGS IN is one of the simple things being overlooked. These people no longer have cupboards, wardrobes or even a gym bag....
PS. If you have an old phone charger, donate it to the Salvos. People saved their phones but not their chargers when they were running from the fires. Apparently Kinglake Pub is one of the few buildings left in the area with power, and is a "find a charger that fits" hub.

Sewing bee for Rainbow Comfort Packs

I'm thinking of doing a blitz on library bag making for the kids comfort packs this Saturday.... would anyone care to join me?

Edited to add: It's SATURDAY, not Sunday as originally posted. (Kiddie-care issues arose!!). I changed the post early in the piece but forgot to change one of my references to Sunday... it's now SATURDAY, SATURDAY, SATURDAY.... Sorry for being so confusing!!

I have lots of space and sewing equipment, and would welcome company to help make lots of library bags (A4 or a bit bigger - to hold things like colouring books, soft toys, clothes etc). We'll deliver them to Monica to fill with goodies and distribute to the littlest of the bushfire victims (through Bushfire relief agencies).

Let me know if you'd like to come to Brunswick and sew on Saturday and I'll send you details of how to get there, parking and what to bring.

For those of you further afield.... perhaps you could organise your own gang of friends-who-craft, and organise your own sewing bee...? I see Gay had the same idea as I did. If you're around the Newcastle area of NSW drop her a line.

Or if you have anything to donate for INSIDE the bags - things to comfort or keep little hands and minds busy while Mums and Dads try to piece together shattered lives - you can send direct to Monica or drop off things with me in Brunswick.

If you have a business that could operate as a drop-off point for another suburb please contact Monica at Beyond Pink and Blue.

If you're interstate and worried about postage - 3kg parcel satchels are the cheapest way to send anything over 500g. For around $10 you can squeeze a fair bit in. Within Melbourne you won't pay over about $7 for up to 20kg.

Or... another thought...does anyone know of a courier company that might donate the cost of freight....? We'd never get through red tape with Australia Post.

Other wonderful efforts are being made in the crafting community. Cindy has organised a Handmade Help blog as a central listing for Ebay auctions contributing to the Bushfire Relief fund. Pip and Cam are also keeping their eye on the pulse of where to go and what to do to help out.

Bags for Children's Comfort Packs

Monica from Beyond Pink and Blue is organising little bags of distraction and comfort for the children who are victims of the bushfires. See here for details.

After the first wave of essential relief, these packs will be distributed through the aid agencies. The idea is to give the children who have lost homes and loved ones something special and comforting, and to help distract them with things to keep them busy (so that their parents can get on with the business of rebuilding their lives).

She needs a bag for every child - for a range of ages and for girls and boys - and I think we all know how to make those, don't we...?

It is SO SIMPLE to make a little bag that will appeal to a child. You don't even need a pattern - just some pretty fabric, a bit of applique or some buttons on a simple tote bag will do the trick. I'm happy to act as a drop-off point for any donations of bags (or bag-fillers), or you can send them straight to Monica at

Beyond Pink and Blue

70 Clifton Street Balwyn North 3104 Victoria, Australia .

She'd really like to start putting the packs together in about two weeks time.

You can also include the comfort packs button in your sidebar to encourage other people to take part.

Pip and Jenny are acting as drop-off points for Handmade Help and of course donations of money and blood are needed urgently.

Hey, can anyone tell me how to make my pictures less blurry??

I've been lurking around the blogosphere for a year or so now, but have only recently got this little blog going for myself. It's all a bit new and "learning-curvy" for me.... I need help. The thing that's really annoying me at the moment is that I upload beautifully clear pictures (through Flickr) and most of them go blurry. For example the book shots.... why can't I read the titles once the pic is on the blog? May I ask for any pointers on what I might be doing wrong? Am I a complete ditz who should go back to blog-school...?

I don't have a picture to accompany this post - apart from a confused cow - so I'll put in one that makes me smile....

A couple of months ago my little assistant called me from my office to the studio. "I've drawn a BEAUTIFUL picture for Mummy..... It's a BEAR!". She was right - she'd drawn a bear on the whiteboard! I was so impressed I took a photo of it. Considering she was 2 years and four months old at the time, I think she shows enormous talent.... but then I'm her mother.

And "This is a PIG!" drawn sometime later that week.

Mind you, she hasn't done anything quite so figurative since...and yeah... of course THESE pictures didn't come out blurry. I've no idea why.