Monday, March 17, 2008

Do you mind if I bang on a bit?

On Friday Flower Garden and I headed off bright and early to Melbourne for the Stitches and Craft show.

We were very excited at the thought of catching up with all the celebrity bloggers on the Living Creatively stand but mostly excited about meeting Chookyblue in the flesh as it were.

On arrival - we were early ! We headed upstairs out of the crowd and began shopping. A little while later we got the phone call from Donna. Flowergarden was thinking , "who is Donna?" Of course it was Chookyblue so we raced downstairs to meet.

We said Hello and then there were hugs and laughter and Tracey of Ozcountryquiltingmum joined us for more hugs and then four women began talking all at once and I don't think any of us drew breath for the whole day. I'm sure Fairy Girl (Chookyblue's daughter) thought we were all mad.
We stood clogging up the Janome stand for so long that eventually we decided we needed coffee to continue our chats. So then we had show and tell and Tracey gave us some great tips on cards- She is the queen of the card. We couldn't get our cameras out fast enough when she headed off to the mens toilet!!!


Actually the only decent photo I got all day was my lunch ! It must be a dead giveaway that you are a blogger when you take out your camera to photograph your lunch!


Off we headed to the Living Creatively stand. They had the cutest set-up !! I met Cathy (Miss Marzie) and Louise (Lululollylegs) of Audrey and Maud soon-to-be-fame (Got their autograph as well, sorry it says Agnes. that was Cathy having a go at the fact that I had written it wrong on my blog ).


They introduced us to Jenny from Amitie (I have a bit of a crush on her, she was sooo nice). We met Fi of Dear Fi, I recognised her gorgeous fabric bowls on the stand and then I looked up and there she was !!! I approached Three Buttons to tell her how much I am enjoying the "This is " meme and I saw a person I was almost sure was Bluebird makes her Nest (as in, she kinda looked like someone whom I am guessing is her on her blog), but i wasn't certain so I smiled but didn't go and accost the poor woman.


I really did have such a great time that I have had to digest it all a bit before I could post about it.





So here is the banging on bit - (feel free to skip to the end).

Collectively the women on the living creatively stand were awesome, They laughed and shared and were so generous with their time and generous with their praise and respect for other crafters.

It was beyond great to spend the day with Tracey and Donna and Annie, it is the best fun, hanging out with people who "get it" or "get us' and craft and blogging and the whole thing.

The girls giggled when I told them how happy I was to be out of the crafting closet but it is so true. I love to craft and always have done , but now sharing it with all you people in blogland and actually meeting some of you makes me so excited. I got such a buzz from the day, seriously we crafty people are quite amazing when you stop and think about it. Just check out anyone's blog for confirmation of freebies and gifts and giveaways and thoughtful kind messages and shared hints and tips and knowledge.


I don't know what any of this means really I just wanted to say that I feel like I am a small part of something so fabulous and exciting and I just wanted to say - thanks for having me!

36 comments:

  1. That was such a lovely post. You made me all happy and smiley! I wish I could have made it to the stitches and craft show....have to wait for the next one.

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  2. bang away my dear!!it was really fantastic to meet so many cool ,cool people over the show days.Everyone is so nice and supportive and it was fantastic to talk with peeps who get you!you girlys look lile you had such a time together!jenny and i were thinking about a bloggers weekend away somewhere central, interested??

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  3. Your post is very funny becuase as soon as I saw the picture of you four I said to myself, oh it was you. I was watching you lot go up to Cathy and Louise and thought you must be bloggers, should I go up and see? I had just spent hours talking to everyone on the stand. I did notice your shopping cart, but forgot the comment you left on my blog. Then I went back and read the comment and realised it was probably you. I would have liked to have met you and Annie.
    Wasn't it a great day. I loved meeting everybody.

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  4. That was a lovely post, sounds like so much fun.

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  5. Cool........yes you are all mad...lol.......thanks for everything you gave me and letting me drag your trolley bag......and putting my handbag in it

    Fairy Girl........

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  6. Jodie, meeting you and the other girls was certainly one of the highlights of the last week. I am still floating a bit, and pinching myself that it all has happened. It was great to part of such a wonderful group of women (blogging crafters). All of you are such an inspiration to me and I just think it is great that we can all have a great laugh together and at each other (eg. agnes). Your blog is certainly one of my very favourites. Now don't forget those cowboys and indians!!!!

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  7. PS. you might want to sit on that autograph for a little while - I am sure one day it will be much sought after, just don't think so yet.

    But thanks for getting on the band wagon with us!

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  8. Bang away my girl........I am still on a high from last weeks excitement.......you didn't tell me you saw three Buttons......she was in my swap I wished I met her..

    ...I am sure we didn't draw breath all day and I loved meeting you all who love blogging and crafting/sewing as much as I do....and the "get it" bit is soooo important.....

    ....who needs drugs we just need to meet up.........

    ....will have to keep an eye out on the flights so I can come down again.......I just wished I was not so far away........

    Blogland is a magical and very special place and I am so pleased I can be part of it......

    Sorry i have banged on a bit.........lol.....

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  9. Bang on all you like Jodie!
    I did notice some 30's fabric in your purchases.. you coming over to the dark side (again)???

    Sounds like a fabbo day all 'round.. I'll be in Melbourne for um, 3 hours in May, sure wish it was longer! (I'll be in transit to Perthypoo)


    Lissa

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  10. It is hard not to be a part of your excitement when reading your post and feel a sense of belonging too. It is so nice to communicate with people who actually do "get it"!It sounds as though you had such an awesome time and I love that photo of you all!

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  11. It seems to be universal (whether crafty or not) that when bloggers meet up they have a great time. There is already so much that is known about the other that you just leap into the conversation you already had been having on the blog.

    Lovely stuff.

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  12. I agree! I think blogging crafty types are such a great community. And it's great to be 'got'!

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  13. Fantastic stuff Jodie - I had the bestest day too. I really wish I had met BlueBird and feel a bit disappointed that we were so close. I almost feel like I am on a drug addicted high and it's all just craft related ... weird stuff, but happy to be a part of it too. "Thanks for having me!"

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  14. You share so much with the rest of us with your tutorials and the ricrac spin on crafting. It's great to see you take away as much as you give.

    Gosh that country friend of mine gets around. I'd forgotten they were headed to Melbourne. Sounds like you guys had a great time together!

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  15. I really do need to get some Sydney bloggers together and share some of this "meet bloggers in person" love that you 'Mexicans' are experiencing. I feel left out!!!

    Is Jemma Paris bound yet??

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  16. Oh, you rogue!!! I expect a full explanation in your next post that I am NOT in any way gender altered..(ha ha ha!!)..just 4 hours of travelling time, 2 bottles of water and 3 coffees means you can't care less if the empty toilet is male or female!!!
    I Shoulda published that pic from the quilt show!!!
    ....but such a great day, glad you did the links, now I can find the girls we saw! Tracey
    LOLOLOL

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  17. Hi Jodie - I know exactly what you mean about how fab it is to be part of this amazing group! My own version of Friday was fantastic! I just wish we could ALL meet up - internationally! How wicked would that be???

    Lucy x

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  18. sounds like a brilliant day...lucky you

    I know what you mean about being "out of the crafting closet", funnily enough I used exactly the same analogy over the weekend..."out and proud"!!!

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  19. Ooh, I wish I was there! I know what you mean about the bloggy crafty thing though - I met Bell's Knits on the weekend (I am a fan), and loved being able to chat about things we've read about eachother! Not that many opportunities in Canberra to meet up :-)

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  20. Your post describes exactly how I feel!! We were on such a high the whole show - it really was fantastic to meet such a wonderful group of crafty girls. It's like we all belong to a very special club. Cathy and I had a great time and it was amazingly positive all round. We even made it through those interviews!! I have to tell Jenny about your crush - that's hilarious!! But I know what you mean - she's brilliant right down to the home baked cakes she brought in every day! Can you imagine us all away for a weekend??!!

    So, very, very fabulous to meet you!

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  21. Looks and sounds like the perfect day out Jodie! Crafty bloggers are such lovely folk - we had the UK equivalent of your day out on Friday :)

    Perfect!

    xx

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  22. What a lovely time you all had - and thanks for the links to lots of 'new' blogs (new to me anyway) ... I'm now off to check them all out.

    x

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  23. glad that you had a good time. it sounds like lots of fun. I love that pile of fabrics. so pretty.

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  24. what an amazing day.... thanx for sharing

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  25. It really gives you the warm fuzzies I think. I went to Stitches and Craft and spent ages chatting to everyone as well. It really is lovely to be part of such a warm, funny, supportive community.

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  26. This is a fantastic post Jodie!!! I love the pic of the 4 of you, it's GORGEOUS!!! I'm definately penciling this craft show into my diary for next year.. Hopefully our paths will get to cross before than though... I got to meet Donna at Dubbo about 6 months ago and it was fantastic!!! It was as though we'd known each other for years... Conversation came so easy. It felt so good to be understood... You know what I mean??? None of my non-blogging friends seem to understand the whole 'blogging thing'...

    Jodie

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  27. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. I missed the Inaugural Creative Living Show in Sydney :-(

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  28. I love this post. You are beaming and it is blinding me! So sweet.

    I am a novice crafter but I feel the exact same way. I never would have thought that I would be doing any of this (crafting, sewing, blogging) But i love it and I am so greatful that I am.

    Keep it up! You are great!

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  29. awwwww sounds like you had so much fun! its great to meet bloggers in real life but I keep wanting to call them by their blog name and have to think long what their real names are!!!

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  30. Sounds like you guys would have been great fun to run into... I missed meeting Cathy but I met Fii and she was fabulous. Do you collect selvedges of any particular variety? Id be more than happy to keep and post.
    Jo
    P.S. love your blog, a good laugh is great medicine when frustration over lack of sewing time sets in/

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  31. Lovely post Jodie. The show was indeed fantastic.

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  32. Hi Jodie! Thanks for popping by my blog. You've summed up my feelings so perfectly, it is lovely to feel that I'm sharing a very small part in something so amazing with all of you craft gals!

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  33. What a fab sounding day you had!!! I also love being out of the closet - it's excellent, isn't it :)

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  34. Oh, bang away!! I agree the craft blogging community has a culture all of it's own. And it is such a fabulous one. I also feel so very happy to be a part of it.

    Your day sounds like it was wonderful :)

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  35. Major jealousy. Sounds like so much fun and the perfect day. Surrounded by crafters and crafts? Perfect! Maybe add wine and it would be perfect. : )

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  36. Wonderful post. Its always fun when bloggers meet up. Thanks for sharing.

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Hellloooooo !!!!