Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tuesday’s Treasures and ‘a little birdie told me’!

I found a little treasure in a second-hand store a week or so ago, and although she was only $2, I was umming and ahhing about the purchase because my house is so full of “stuff” that I wondered where I’d house her! But she brought back too many happy childhood memories, so the gold coin was exchanged and home she came!


Do you remember???


Holly Hobby 1


The sweet little Holly Hobbie?


This doll is an original 1970s version complete with printed patchwork dress and the cutest little plastic boots!


Holly Hobby 2


I found a home for her… right next to my craft desk… I’m looking at her right now as I type and am so glad I scooped her up!


For more Tuesday’sTreasures head on over to Clare’s Craft Room! :-)


A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD ME!


If you have a love of pincushions and have not yet headed over to Among the Gum Trees this week, then you’ll be in for a lovely surprise when you do! Us girls did a pincushion swap with the leftover fabrics from the quilt we made for Fresh Hope. I shared the pincushion I made on the blog yesterday and Jenny gave the final instalment today!


I based my design on the Fresh Hope logo, it was so fitting seeing as we’d used the fabrics to make the quilt for this wonderful charity. You can read more about it here. In the meantime I’ll leave you with a few pictures of the little birdie. I was so happy with the way she turned out, and she has now taken up perch with the lovely Dawn! :-)


Fresh Hope picnicked 6



Fresh hope bird 4



Fresh Hope picnicked 4



FH pincushion 1



Until next time – happy stitching!! Hugs! Vikki xx

Sunday, July 25, 2010

A great day at the Craft and Quilt Fair!

My Saturday adventure got off to a slow start as I’d decided to take the train in to the City, but the line had been closed down so a bus took me to the next Station… overall - I love taking public transport! I don’t think I’d like to do it on a daily basis – but it’s exciting when it’s a journey to somewhere special!


My first date at the show? Catching up with my sweet gumnut sister, Vicki (from Tozz’s Corner). Vicki arrived sooner than me so had some scrummy show n’ tell to share as we sipped our coffee and had a natter… and a few hugs!


Vik and Vic



Vicki met up with her lovely friend to attend a workshop, and I headed off into the crowds to start shopping! And chatting! Have I ever mentioned that I like to chat?


Barb at Theodora Cleave



Meet Barb, the creative goddess behind Theodora Cleave. She must be a goddess because I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when I cast my eyes on the exquisite buttons that she designs and hand-paints! It took me ages to make up my mind which to purchase, if I was a rich lady I would have bought them ALL! I am very happy with my choices – want to see?


Theodora Cleave buttons




Aren’t they gorgeous??? Barb was joined by the lovely Brownyn, who says she reads my blog but does not have one of her own (yet?????). HI BRONWYN!!!! :-)


I also met up with the gorgeous Brenda Ryan – geesh I love her work and was so rapt to be able to hold one of her infamous fabric boxes in my own hands and admire her embroidery. I was too busy chatting to take any photos! I also chatted to Katie from Cottage Garden Threads – who has started blogging… if you’d like to say hello, pop on over HERE! You can also read about Brenda through the same blog :-)


I look a bit like as stunned rabbit in the next photo – I was awe-struck when I met Lynette Anderson from Lynette Anderson Designs. Silly really as she is so friendly and down to earth!


Lynette and me



I could not decide what pattern to buy… I really must start doing the Lotto – wouldn’t it be nice not to have to worry about budgets?! :-) I loved viewing Lynette’s work. Seeing hand-made creations close-up is so wonderful isn’t it? This is what I bought!


Lynette Anderson pattern



I got chatting to a lovely lady on the Homespun stand (did you know that I love to chat?!) Again, I was too busy talking to get the camera out… but I’d love for you to meet my new friend – Leanne Knell from Petals & Patches. (Does talking to someone for 10 minutes count as friendship?!!! Are you worried I’m a stalker, Leanne?!! LOL) Leanne designs quilts, dolls and other gorgeous patchwork items and I’m in love with her new BOM; “On Freedom’s Wings” – you can see it HERE!


There was also a quilt show at the event – I took a few photos to share with you.


Quilt 1



This quilt is titled “Remembering Thylacines” by Cindy Watkins. The colours were striking and the stars in the sky were diamante's and twinkled beautifully. (Thylacines are Tasmaninan tigers).


Quilt 2



Would it be too corny is I said that I fell in love with the above quilt?! It was my favourite in its beautiful simplicity. It was created by Anne Davis and is titled “First Kiss”.


Quilt 3



The detail in this quilt was incredible, and it’s difficult to tell from this photograph, but the teddy in the boys’ arms was two-dimensional. The photographs around the edges of the quilt were printed on to fabric and stitched on. It is entitled “Hand me downs” and created by Jocelyne Leath. I loved Jocelyne’s Mission Statement and would like to quote her: We live, we learn, we remember as it always was in the past. The frame may hold some memories but the mirror always reflects the truth”.


There was also an exhibition of wearable art – would you like me to share some pictures with you during the week? I didn’t want this post to get too long!


I’ll finish off for now with a few pics of my purchases!


Katkins brooch






How appropriate is this ‘gumnut girl brooch’ for a Gumtree designer? (Okay girls – now you know what you’ll be getting for Xmas!!!) The brooch is designed by one of my all-time-favourite Aussie designers, Karlene Atkins from Katkins Designs.


lazy susan


I want to get into some patchwork and piecing… I bought some hexy templates and this small-sized lazy susan cutting mat, rulers and cutter set. A show special! I bought it from Amitie. (Girls – if you live in Melbourne – Amitie is having a sale on Friday 6 August – instore only.)


Craft show goodies




I also purchased the above background fabric from Amitie. It’s called November Books Geschichte in Waldern. The cowboy-boot fabric is for an upcoming project… and the buttons are a staple in my stash – country style hearts from ‘Dress it Up’!


I headed home from the show after five hours…. across the river…


Melbourne city 2 july10



Well – over a bridge actually!


Melbourne city july 10



I passed a lady who was picking up fallen leaves from the concrete pavement… I told her that I was glad I am not alone in doing such things! She was going to use them for fabric printing purposes… guess where she had just come from?!!!


The journey home was fun – the train was full of footie fans leaving the City – one gentleman almost fell asleep on my shoulder and apologised once he’d realised. I told him that it was okay but his snoring was pretty loud – then laughed at the look on his face before admitting… “only kidding!” :-)


Home again… via a Fast Food shop… with cuddles galore from DD who said she’d missed me…


Mummy and Rosie july10



Cheeky little imp isn’t she? I don’t know where she gets it from!


See you tomorrow! I’ve got a pincushion to show you!!!!


Hugs! Vikki xx

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Did you miss me?

It seems like such a long time ago since I last blogged, It’s weird how “time” can play tricks on you… you know, it seems to go really slow but just flies by… or vice versa.


I’ve been absent for a couple of reasons, firstly, Mr SUDs used a lot of internet so for the past week we’ve been on “go slow” speed, which was even slower than dial-up. I couldn’t download my emails let alone open a blog page!! I had no idea how much I depended on the internet… it really opened my eyes to how much of my life is both spent and enjoyed online. I’m not quite sure if that is a good thought or a scary thought?!!! :-)


The second reason for being absent was a bout of illness, but after a dose of steroids (I was a bit puffy!) and antibiotics (also bronchitis) I am now good to go!!! :-)


craft_and_quilt_logo



And a good job too – because I have this craft fair to go to on Saturday!!! If you’re local – will you be attending?? If you’re not local or unable to attend – I’ll do you a deal – I’ll enjoy it on your behalf and then do show and tell… whatd’dya say?! :-)


On to other crafty news… Have you visited Among the Gum Trees this week? We have been sharing some behind-the-scenes “goings-on”. It was so hard to keep our excitement from overflowing as we worked together on the ‘Springtime’ quilt for Fresh Hope, but all will be revealed soon :-) In the meantime we are individually sharing the photos of our ‘pincushion swap’ items made with the remnants of the Rouenneries fabric (by French General) used to create this very special quilt.


Today, Judith shared the pincushion she made and I am happy to admit that I was the very lucky recipient!


Rounneries pincushion from Judith



Isn’t it divine? I use it every day and it reminds me of both my friendship with Judith, and my friendship with the Gum Tree girls – both past and present – and what we have achieved together in the making of our first collaborative project, the Springtime quilt.


Here’s a sneak peek of the pincushion I made – all will be revealed next Monday on the Among the Gum Trees blog. In the meantime – can you guess what it is?!!


rounneries teaser



Catch you soon – real soon!! Vikki xx

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A house in the Country is published

What a delight it was this morning to have the mailman deliver this month’s issue of Creating Country Threads – and to see my design, “A house in the Country” published within its pages!


CT house in the country inside




This simple framed stitchery makes use of a house button and was designed some time ago as part of a swap I did with the lovely Lizzie from A house in the Country. If you’re interested, you can see what I gifted Lizzie here, and what Lizzie gifted me here!


This issue (Vol 10 no 12) also features pretty projects from two of my treasured friends, Jenny and Cheryl. If you live in Australia – here’s what to look out for in your newsagents:


CT house in the country



While I was uploading photos on to www.picnik.com (a great free site for editing your photos!) I decided to have a little play with some of the special effects and chose a ‘soft focus’ to zoom in on the button! Isn’t this cool?


CT button focus



I had planned to do a post on ‘Treasure Tuesday’ today… but most of my treasures are all hidden away! Hmmm… that tells me something – maybe my treasures should actually be on display?!! It also tells me I need to re-organise my house! LOL


Until next time – happy stitching!


Hugs! Vikki xx


Saturday, July 10, 2010

While everyone was sleeping…

… I crept out of the house, car keys in hand, to embark on my 1am drive to Melbourne airport. Was I excited? Yes! And also feeling slightly naughty that I got to stay up really late and have an adventure while everyone else was blissfully unaware in their slumber!


Over the Bolte Bridge I drove…


Boltebridge_by_night


Then a bit of waiting…. anticipation…. looking at the board – yep – his plane had landed!


Aircraft%201-b903427e-3313-4b78-83f1-2b171e6e679b-0-530x330



What have I been since the moment I saw him? A cuddling machine!!! In fact so much was my excitement and so much was the chatter, that on our drive home I completely missed our turn-off on the freeway and drove half an hour further down the road before I'd realised! So it took us an hour longer to get home, which we did by 4.45am!


Snacks, drinks, exchanging of gifts…


…then in to bed by 6am when the world began waking.


Brazilian sunrise



We’ve had a relaxing couple of days, but the jetlag hit him hard today. So a bit of fresh air was in order…


Aaron and Kayla




…After I’d made a little softie from this pattern… in DD’s choice of fabric!


Kitty from ric rac pattern



Until next time – have a lovely weekend!! Vikki xx

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Treasure Tuesday #1

Let me introduce you to my small collection of Ganz bears…


Treasure Tuesday 1



I spent a few years collecting these little darlings designed by Lorraine Chien. The majority of them have wobbly-joints which means that their heads flop from side to side and their limbs dangle when you handle them. They are so very tactile. Here is my very favourite – my Treasure!


Treasure Tuesday 2



This is “Pixie”. She made the long journey with me when I emigrated from England to Melbourne six years ago. She was one of few personal possessions I had until the rest of my belongings arrived seven weeks later. The rest of my luggage contained essential items such as special photographs, paperwork, clothing and children’s toys. I was never a teddy-bear person as a child growing up, but as an adult it was so nice to have a ‘luxury’ little companion to hold while taking the flight and settling in to a new way of life. As much as it was liberating not to be tied to material possessions, there was also a feeling of vulnerability. Pixie helped to bridge that gap!


Someone else helped to bridge that gap too…. another treasure also displayed on my shelves!


Tuesday Treasure 3


My DS pictured twelve years ago sleeping soundly on my old couch while sucking his thumb. He embraced his new life in Australia without fear as only kids can do! What a source of inspiration he was and continues to be! I haven’t mentioned this before because I’ve been trying to keep my mind on other things, but my DS has been visiting family in England for the past four weeks. He is due home in the early hours of Thursday morning and I can’t wait!


If you’d like to see some more Treasure Tuesdays – go visit Clare at Clare’s Craftroom – she is the mastermind behind this brilliant idea!


Until next time – have fun! Vikki xx



Monday, July 5, 2010

New fabrics and patterns!

A new project means new fabrics…


Cot quilt fabrics 1



A colour combination I’ve not used before and I love it!


cot quilt fabrics 2



Do you like the feature fabric? I’m not sure what it’s called as this piece doesn’t have the selvedge, but I bought it a craft fair in Melbourne from the Ballarat Patchwork stall.


From my local Spotlight yesterday, I also purchased these…


Misc fabrics


I’m thinking of adding a dash of red in with this mix – what do you think?


Last but not least, I wanted to share this lovely “cake” called Pure, by Sweetwater for moda


Pure fabrics





I’ve had this delectable bundle for a few weeks and don’t have any plans for it as yet – but I just couldn’t resist it. It’s the first time I’ve purchased a layer cake (or whatever kind of cake it is!) I loved the positive affirmations on the top fabric.


Okay – now for some sweet patterns!


Clares craftroom patterns



Look at these little beauts! The sewing machine apron and little party frock patterns from the gorgeous Clare at Clare’s Craftroom! A “just because” gift - Thank you Clare, you’re such a sweetie! Not to mention talented… and funny… and…and… he he :-) xx


As the Monty Python boys would say, “And now for something completely different!”


A belated birthday gift arrived for me this week all the way from my darling SIL in England…


Stress relief


A CD of music to enhance stress relief! And it worked – I got stress relief in the form of a little giggle! My DD Rosie discovered the CD cover and in panic, she exclaimed, “Mummy! I hope nobody tries to eat her!!!”


Confused… I asked “Why?” to which she replied, “Because she looks like a gingerbread man!!!” {note the pebbles down the lady’s back?!!!}


Ahh… from the minds and mouths of babes!!!


I’ll be back tomorrow for Treasure Tuesday! See you then!


Hugs! Vikki xx




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