Well there is no such thing as invisible zips!
Seriously ...if we had the power to make things truly ruly invisible, we would hardly be using it on zips would we ?
to help you make those important who-am-I and what do I want to do with my life type decisions ? A time to cast off the childhood and become an adult?
(I'm so proud)
and then completely stuffed up the next one...
yep , somehow the lining ended up on the outside...ooops but I unpicked and reorganised and moved on.
and the weekend passed with lots of laughter - lots of swearing (from me as I attempted actual garments) and a wonderful sense of camaraderie between friends as the conversations ebbed and flowed over our craft and our families , our lives and which male persons we would hire as stable hands when we built our craftopia (and yes it was me wanting the stables and I decided if I had enough horses I could employ both Viggo Mortensen and Johnny Depp to help me.)
and if you are Jennifer then you are the winner of a Dear Fi
hexagon flower brooch kit
and Cath wins a signed copy of whip-up Mini Quilts by the gorgeous Kathreen which I bought and had signed by Kathreen at the show
and remember when this blog was about made stuff ? Well, I've been slowly plugging away at a make this week. I'm off to sewjourn for the weekend and aim to get this guy finished along with a bajillion or so other projects. I might even cut into the heart-stopping orange wool fabric I bought at Tessuti on Saturday..........
(might)
The talent in the room was amazing - there was almost every kind of craft imaginable going on - but special mention does have to go to Andi who made a whole quilt on the day....I managed about 7 letters of embroidery and got some great advice embroidery from Cindy (thanks).
Sheridan put in so much work and so much effort and I really don't think she knows what she has started and she deserves the highest honours blogland has to give. Next year she will need a bigger venue to accommodate all the bloggers from this year plus everyone who missed out.....
and just in case there is someone who has missed me touting my wares all over the place lately - I made a bag for Homespun magazine a wee while ago and it is in their current "go Green issue" along with a bit of me banging on and the worst photo ever taken
(No seriously, someone at the show actually asked me why I had sent in such a hideous photo) 
but the bag looks good
almost as good as Miss Claire's Frankie the Frog.
Tomorrow I am heading off to join Sew-It-Together and I cannot wait. I am completely disorganised and thankful that the Ballarat contingent have organised me to the point that I know what time to meet at the train station.
I'm wondering if people are actually bringing things to craft? I mean...really? 
There has been some talk of show-and-tell.......
These pics are some of my loot from Stitches and Craft..and if you come back on Sunday I'll show you what I bought for you guys!
Edwina Bolger's sweet chicky egg cosy above
Still here, just returning from that other crazy world and landing back in the real world of day job and washing and notes for school.... and I seem to be a suffering a bit of craft-lag. 
(Nikki (of course) from You sew girl) The woman is simply brilliant !
My across the road neighbour Wrens Nest studios - so delicate and the NICEST people you will ever ever meet)
and this is Pauline and me . Pauline is from Funky friends and she does softies too and is my other across the road neighbour. She is an awesome neighbour as well
I just have to say I really lucked out with my neighbours - they are all awesome...in fact the whole incubator is full of really fun, crafty , kind of crazy people............... I feel right at home!
(and today I think I met almost every blogger in Australia - at least it felt like it.... Hello Everyone !) My face is sore from laughing, my feet are sore from standing and arms are sore from hugging !!! What a great way to feel so tired !
Deliciousness from Nic at Yardage design
from Winterwood........(sigh)
and from Kate of Two little Banshees....Doesn't this guy just kill you ?
The bots had a great day
and Lucy Locket? Well she had to get in on the action didn't she?
Pack the man-car
Get the supervisor's OK and head of to Melbourne
fiddle and tweak until the driver of the man-car almost passes out with boredom
BUT..and here's the kicker guys.....
In the craft world, the guys behind Stitches and Craft are the ones out there offering support to little indie businesses. They give us the chance to take part in a HUGE event and gain exposure that most of us couldn't normally afford to do (like not even close) . They help us figure out all the logistics and they sometimes even give people a bit of a kick in the butt to get them started (in the nicest possible way)
Well there are the big reasons for caring - like supporting handmade, and the craft industry. But I think its fair to ask people to support Stitches and Craft because they are out there promoting and sharing and getting the word out about craft . Their show helps raise the profile of craft and handmade and that has to be a good thing right? Surely getting craft out there in the world has to have a trickle down effect, more people know about craft, think its great, are more likely to look for handmade when the need arises. More people get excited by craft and go home and take up knitting or sewing or raffia hat making or whatever fuels them....so our community grows and new exciting stuff happens...
So maybe you are half-heartedly thinking about attending... Seriously tickets are only $10, or $15 for two days...if that's as far as your budget stretches, pack a sandwich and come and do all the free stuff.
and for a comprehensive list of all the great retailers attending, check out the stitches and craft site
* hops off the soap box and packs it away to return to the sewing machine (where she feels far more comfortable)*
