Big stick

With big stick firmly in hand, I mended the mannequin

I finished off the first of my postcards for this weekends Daylesford Craft Experience.

I made a new skirt, which I actually cut out at Sewjourn in May

(and quite obviously need to iron)

A bit of trace around a jam jar embellishment. You know, I realise that although I don't enjoy making clothes at all I quite like the embellishing bit.

and dug out the dress and chair. Today I need to give these guys a bit of a spruce up and iron the frock. I also need to start my next postcard for the weekend and check my Gocco supplies. I am waiting for the delivery of a new computer and need to fold some patterns...

but once I have done all those things

it is off to the duck factory !

Last Friday.........

Saw me trot over to Daylesford to catch up with Merrilyn. We chatted about the Daylesford Craft Experience and Merrilyn showed me some of the stuff people will be finding in their goody bags on the day.

I also saw the fantastic projects that Melly and Annette have designed for the weekend which caused a serious amount of stitch envy , I can tell you. The Saturday session is completely booked out but if you are hoping to come on Sunday you'd better hop to it and book in!

There is going to be displays and fun stuff to do, and people to hang out with and the general hilarity of a room full of crafters sewing together. There is also a bit of a postcard swap going on (which means I had better get organised and stitch mine).

and this, well..... this is Harry, the most eligible puppy-bachelor in all of Daylesford....he has women swooning let me tell you. Of course he belongs to the Lark family and I was lucky enough to visit during his awake time and get a good helping of puppy licky-kisses.

Imagine that face on a softie...........................

the path to bonkers

Involves the very last little finally final touches on the projects for the Daylesford retreat

and making an apple pie - 'cause nobody said you couldn't eat on the way !

and the choir of angels cleared their throats

Still hamstered guys, running running , getting nowhere - or that's how it seems.

I am crafting like a little beaver (do beavers craft?) to get my projects finished for the July retreat.

It is filling up quickly ! and Melly has posted a sneak peek of one of her projects over on her blog!

In blog news I made some new blog pages, (see up there under the header) Belinda showed me how and even though mine are pretty dull, I am mighty excited to add the Quilt Barn to my list of stockist - I mean Idaho may as well be on the moon, such is my chance of ever setting foot there, but it tickles me pink nonetheless.

In Flickr news - I have made a new group where you can put photos of stuff you have made using my patterns or freebies, tutorials or scribd download patterns. I'll try and figure out one of those little picture widgets for the side bar at some time. I really love seeing other peoples versions and adaptations of ideas.

and the choir of angles lined up (as they do) at the finish of a new project.....and they cleared their throats, and shuffled a bit and looked at their shoes. Their songbooks rustled and they picked imaginary lint from their gowns.

I wanted to love this project - I wanted you guys to love this project, I wanted voices lifted in song !

* sigh*

They couldn't even hum a few bars...

I am dead posh...

Now that I have interrupted poor Little Ernst's story I may as well continue.
I just popped in to tell you that the bloggy world tour has started! yep that's right, admittedly the first stop is quite close to home (like about 40 km away) but a girls got to start somewhere.

In July I will be adventuring all the way to Daylesford to swan about at the Daylesford Craft Experience.
That right! I have been invited to be a guest swanning-abouter for two whole days. I am alternatively very excited and scared rigid about the whole thing to be honest.

(image from Peppers website)

I know it is going to be heaps of fun. You can get some friends together and book a table, and hang out all day with each other and me and (OMG) Melly of Melly and Me (I have met Melanie before so I know I shouldn't be scared of her - she is lovely , but FAR OUT !! She is MELLY !!!!) and also the talented Hitomi of Studio Mio

This retreat is being organised by Merrilyn of Threadneedle Craft and Zoe of Purls Palace and they are planning this to be a very indulgent retreat . The venue (above ) is dead posh and the food promises to be awesome (I like me some food)

You will get brand new patterns from each of the designers (snicker snicker snort - I'm a designer) as well as treats and goodies and there will be prizes and all manner of fun crafty stuff. There will be kits and fabric and champagne shopping as well.
I am preparing three new projects especially for the retreat and so far I think its all looking pretty good with a splash of cute!

Its kind of funny - earlier in the year I was wondering about direction and stuff and I decided not to book up my whole year with crazy schedules and huge commitments and gadding about the countryside ........and then I got asked to be part of this and it just slots in, and its doable and its close to home and I hope some of my local friends (yeah craft group I am talking to you lot) will be there and I'm sure heaps of my bloggy further away friends will be there too and it all just came together perfectly.

However, just reading that back made my stomach go all weird again.....
Its cool I'll have it all under control by July . I'll be a veritable picture of inner poise and decorum.

(designer ...snort snort )