Buy ,swap, sell

I am starting to feel a bit like I am talking about a party that not everyone was able to get to, so I am going to stop banging on about the show and just show you some of the beautiful things I came home with. My very own Oobee - this guy is so soft. I am going to have to track down this beautiful felt. He is from Leslie of One girl designs (of course) and he is all mine. Leslie is such a gem, a truly truly sweet and generous person. (with a very cute bambino Mae as well).This guy is superbly made and his design is just so beautiful- softie excellence I tell you!

In the crazy buy swap selling that went on at the end of the show, I was gifted this beautiful guy by Louise. This is one of their own awesome patterns! I wish I took a photo from the back - he has the cutest tail and he is ready to move into the sewing room just as soon as I unpack and re-arrange.

OMG - How totally posh is this? Another gift, from the effervescent Nikki.

She is simply the queen of all things bag! I have a work do next week so I think this sweet gal may make her debut there!

Felt, beautiful soft, thick luxurious felt (and I bought more) from Sandra at Winterwood.

I sense a move into the world of felt a-brewing.

Heart-stoppingly gorgeous fabrics from the girls of Ink and Spindle......(who are each heart-stoppingly gorgeous as well, just in case you were wondering). I haven't decided which of the three I am going to kidnap yet. I have this whole hide her away and steal her identity thing planned, but I can't make a decision........

More hand printed fabric (yes there is strong theme here) from Thea and Sami.

Loving loving these mushrooms

The hunky robots from the best craft-show neighbour possible.

Kristen saved my life on about day three by the timely intervention of orange crushed ice. Not to be too melodramatic, but I owe her my life. (and she made me laugh so much that I snorted - in public!!!!)

A little bit more hand-printed fabric, this time from Greenolive design . You guys know I am a sucker for any sort of text on fabric.

and of course, from the queen of text-on-fabric, some delights from the Cookie.

I thought at one point that Shannon might have to call security as Annie was a little ahem...... over zealous...... in her affections but the Cookie took it all in her stride, like the true star she is.

I have a weird kind of affection for Shannon's boys......They are just dorky enough to be super-attractive don't you think?

yes I know that Cathy called me "thunder thighs" on her blog...but I am choosing to rise above that and thank her for the beautiful patterns she gave me...(and besides have you seen the size of her bum????...I'm just sayin')

The delightful Frogdancer gave me these gorgeous handmade coasters at the bloggy dinner. I have seen variations on these around blogland and every time they pop up I have thought I should make some, so I was delighted to get some in the bloggy dinner gift swap.

(That dinner deserves a post all of its own - but if you trawl blogland you'll find out almost all about it)

and from Fi, the chick who re-arranged her whole stall at least three times in five days - I received the worlds largest pincushion! Given the state of every ones feet after five days I think she needs to expand on this idea and make them large enough to be cushions....... They'd sell like hotcakes.

In summary, being surrounded by so much crafty goodness has overwhelmed me slightly. I have a sewing room that looks like a bomb has hit it and and for the first time in months , there is no To-Do list.

So I am planning on just hanging out a bit, enjoying the cooler weather. I'll tidy the sewing room over the week, fill up ye olde etsy shop on the weekend......dig out an old UFO or two and when the sun is out.....

I'll take some photo's of my favourite purchase of all !

goody goody gumdrops

Auntie Cookie's delights

Fi's drops of wonderous colour

Kristen's hunky robots

Nikki's delicious purses

and a bunch of spunky crafters.

Aunty Cookie, Kristen , Bianca, Tegan and Lara

and that wonderful purchase???

Well, she will be coming home with me tomorrow.

oh!

If you got to share space with these people, and be their neighbours, and hang out with them- I know that your brain would be filled with new ideas ,crazy ideas and amazement at the wonder of the world of craft and blogs (and crafty bloggers).

If you got to talk with them and laugh with them, you would know that no matter what crazy ideas you had about how super awesome they were and how professional and how sooo much better than you they were and that they would be somehow too cool to talk to, you would know that you could not possible have been more wrong and that these guys are just awesome!!!

They are all friendly and funny and welcoming and just................ you know , they are just like you guys and me and my mind is almost exploding!!!!

(and there is so much more to show you - Today I bought the most awesome wonderful something. It makes my heart sing , rejuvenates my soul and reinforces my belief in the human race........)

not-so-big-but-kinda-more-technical

They say that once you hold your baby, the pain of childbirth is forgotten.........

The same does not apply to upholstering......

I remember the swearing,

I remember the injuries

I remember the one very small tantrum

but I love it anyway.

This is Auntie, and she will be coming with me to the Stitches and Craft show set-up day TOMORROW (yikes).

Not too sure how the next few days are going to unfold, so if my head explodes somewhere along the way, just tidy me up a bit and sit me in a corner. (Perhaps on a chair of a somewhat more robust nature and certainly not one that is predominantly white....what was I thinking?)

Gratitude

Gillian, the wonder that she is , has the eBay auction up and running. Matilda is there with her little bag and a few of the patterns I have developed for the show. The auction is full of wonderful things and I am very keen to keep bidding on a few items. If you are able, please pop over and bid. Help to raise money for the Red Cross so they can, in turn help the survivors of the Bushfires and the floods.

(I know! What sort of crazy country is half in flood and half on fire)

The auction leads me to sharing a few more things that I have prepared for the show.

Waaaaaayyy back when the show was just an exciting suggestion I came to the realisation that I could not possible sew enough stock for a five day show of the magnitude of Stitches and Craft.

So I decided to work on some patterns.

Did you know I used to be a chenille addict? - if you go back far enough in the blog you may find some references. I used to make chenille cupcakes by the zillions and made a pattern for them...so this one was easy-ish . A new addition and hey presto - cute play food or pincushions.

Of course I felt duty bound to make a selvedge pattern and decided that bags would be the thing - so, two project bags - showing the different ways to piece selvedge and with a very poufy frou frou selvedge do-dad as well.

The softies - How could I not? I actually first just made the goodies and Miss Emma suggested I should make baddies as well - so I did.

The tea-set. You know I had to do this one!!! After those umpteen tries I was determined to get this to a stage where I could let other people make it as well.

The big decision I guess was the dollies - Yes I know its crazy but in some ways I didn't want to let them go. I was so used to making them and creating their little personalities..... I was worried I suppose that someone would make a hideous skanky midriff top wearing bratz lookalike.
But I also know I could never make enough dollies for everyone who wanted them AND the people who tested the pattern for me made the sweetest most gorgeous little dolls and they LOVED doing it - so the dolly patterns were born.


and because I am always and forever a member of the one-step-too-far club.....some snuggly pyjamas.

End result : 7 patterns

Was it easy? No

Am I a natural? God NO!!!

Will there be more? Not right now but there will be some tutorials soon, and a maybe a few more dolly accessories over time.

Without the help of some very generous friends, none of these patterns would have eventuated. These guys turned my "just tuck the wonky bits and sew over them" type instructions , into real instructions that I hope people will be able to follow.

Jo - I am a bit in love with this woman

Lara - the toughest job job of all

Cass - Who made perfect sense

Emma - technological wizard

Annie - support in every single way possible and she will be at stitches with me on the weekend

Locket - Who muscled in on the action - and I am delighted she did

Moogs - who wanted a dolly and got a job instead.

So , if you are looking for some patterns or even a dolly for yourself, get on over to the auction and check it out.

And if you are looking for generous spirits, great friends and good solid constructive advice - look no further than the guys above.

Thanks guys.

class time

Good morning class, please be seated quietly.

My name is Jodie and I am your teacher for today.

The selvedge snap purse - quick colourful and sure to be a hit for your school fete or Mothers Day stall...and yes of course you don't have to make it in selvedge.

PVC and paper wallets - a favourite I have to admit. These even passed the "what handmade gift to give a teenager" test. Quick, easy to adapt to different tastes and because they're PVC they do rate highly on the potential swearing chart.

Button rings and brooches, Yes I know you hardly need a class to learn this, but it might be a good class for those teen and tween girls who love a bit of bling. They could whip up the odd hundred of these and give them to all their friends.

These are the three workshops I will be teaching at Stitches next week. There are heaps of workshops to choose from and also heaps and heaps of free studios that you can just turn up to.

I am almost kind of wishing that I was not a participant, so I could go to some of these workshops. I'd bust a valve to go to a screen printing class with the Ink & spindle team !!

Oh and by the way - 2,511 inches sewn...just for the ruffle.

We are almost there !!!!!

Goodies and Baddies

yep, nothing better to do with my time than play with toys..........