and...they're off !

It always feels like the race begins in February. I am back at my real job and I start to look at the calendar with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

I really am trying to be a bit sensible this year and space out the commitments and the travels and the teaching but already there is so much happening, (and sensible is not my strong suit).

 Firstly, I will be teaching in Mornington at Treehouse Textiles in March. I met Emma and her mum at a show last year and they had the most beautiful booth - and their store is the same by all accounts. I can't wait to see it for myself.

I'll be teaching Ginger and Blue 

and the Alphabet gang . Click on the link to see if there are any spaces left and to book and enquire all that stuff.

In May I am jetting of to Spring Market in Minneapolis.

Can you believe it? I still can't believe that this is me. I am going to America again ! and this time taking the ever patient Mr Ric-Rac with me. (Stay tuned for that particular brand of hilarity).

I am all booked and organised and there will be no passport hassles this time. We are going to stay after market for a little while so if anyone has any tips for us - please share. Mr Ric Rac is keen to visit Canada. As he says "It's just next door".

In between there are BBQ's and zoo visits and the day job and new patterns and new things. I will undoubtedly fall prey to booth panic again and I have blocked out the whole of April to be sewing things and fluffing things and freaking myself out.
The year of Dipstick is shaping up to be most excellent.

Makeover

 Baxter circa 2011

I am teaching a kids class in Ballan on April 9th so I thought I'd rustle up a new version of Baxter the Hedgehog. I was hoping for some fur in the rainbow sparkle family and was surprised that my local superstore didn't have anything quite tacky enough. So Baxter went all winter-white instead.

Baxter circa 2014

I have bucket loads of teaching coming up, both locally and not-locally. If you want to join in, you can check out my classes page. I am going to teach in Ballan, Gisborne, Tasmania, Warracknabeal, Sydney, Melbourne, back to Warracknabeal (and how does New Zealand sound?)

I had to get a yearly planner to keep track of myself, but now I have to remember to coordinate it with the diary in my hand bag and the calendar inside the pantry.

(this from a woman who can't remember where she parked the car when she leaves the supermarket)

 and Finn, who has no calendar and no diary and no idea of today , tomorrow or handbags says Hi.

(Arse-sniffing notwithstanding- the whole dog thing sometimes appears to have a lot going for it).

Where’s your head at?

My (snot-filled) head has been a bit of a whirl these past two weeks.  I taught an AWESOME Print and Sew class at Millrose Cottage and lucked in again with a fantastic group of kids and even a couple of not-kids came along for the fun.

We used Mr Gocco to print a design and then we used that design when we made our own bags.

I followed that up with another crazy fun day at Ballarat Patchwork, teaching a heap of people to make rag rugs. This class which is offered in two hour sessions is always so popular ! A heap of people travelled up from Melbourne and everyone got the hang of it.

I have been watching as people’s rugs grow on Instagram and I have to say, I am itching to start a new one but common-sense tells me it has to be AP (after Portland)

I spent a day at Creative Abundance HQ, packing my patterns and kissing them goodbye as they head off to Portland before me and than stayed in Melbourne for a day at AQC.

I find photo-taking at those kind of events a bit fraught so I tend not to bother but I could not resist taking a shot of this quilt.

 

 

This quilt just leapt out at me, yes it is  dog butt, however the same designer had another quilt there that I was almost equally drawn to. The quilt is called Maynard and the quilt maker is David M Taylor.

Apart from that, there has been ticket collecting and visas and travel money to organise. There have been email chats with an amazingly generous new friend from the US, online Ikea shopping,  and all the usual dull life-stuff.

I am feeling a little bit scratchy-undies today so am devoting the afternoon to making a few more Super Monkeys.

I’ll be back tomorrow with AQC purchases (embarrassingly poor effort on my part ) and some very very belated prize giving.

Learning

I have a few more classes this year and am already booking in some for next year. I struggle a bit with things so far in advance I have to say...I mean I don't usually know what I am doing next month let alone at the end of next year.
September 23rd- Millrose Cottage Ballan, I will be teaching the tea-set pattern. I'm really looking forward to this and even though it is the last day of school term(and the week of concert) I promise I will be as bright as a button.
October 1st-I'll be back at Amitie. I didn't take my camera with me last time but rest assured it was the funnest class ever. Lucy had everyone in stitches all day.
October 8th - I'll be travelling all the way to Ballarat Patchwork to teach Smith the dog. This would be a great class if you have never made a softie before. Beginners most welcome!

...and in screen printing news? I have actually printed something successfully, and it will be gifted on the weekend and then I can show you - excited ? lets just say I am now buying Depend in bulk !

Holders of the stakes

Dear Holders of the Stakes,

I hope the start of 2011 finds you all happy, refreshed and ready for a big year ahead.

Unfortunately our sometimes employee, has definitely 'left the building' so to speak. Her Teenage Grumpiness can no longer be bribed cajoled or wheedled into folding patterns as she is no longer here at the warehouse, preferring , it would seem to share a new home with other fruity Lexia drinking people. We wish her well, whilst sniggering at the shock of 'real life'.

That of course means that an exciting career opportunity has opened up for the youngest member of Ric-Rac team. The terms and condition have been explained and the obvious benefits pointed out. The generous salary and frankly sumptuous conditions were offered in writing. The resulting two word response was a little surprising ....one of the words was "off"

2010 saw the hawking of my wares and talking the ears of anyone who would listen - mostly about blogging and crafting but occasionally about International Toilet Paper Month and my propensity to let a little bit of wee out if I get too excited. Apart from the Great Whooping cough debacle , 2010 was pretty great. (She says, conveniently forgetting the times she wanted to stab strangers in the head with her quick-unpick)

What can the holders of stakes expect to see in 2011.... new patterns, including Baxter and Milligan and maybe the Knights of the Sewing table ( undecided there). I also have a new friend who just needs some clothes, and some sweet little un-named girls at the bottom of this post.

I'll be flying to Sydney in June to have a chat the Australian sewing Guild. I'll be guest Designer at Daylesford Craft Experience also in June with Kristen and Melly.... (cannot wait for that but holding in the wee for now)

2011 will also see something a bit new - teaching !

I'll be teaching at Ballarat Patchwork, Drapers of Mt. Macedon , Amitie and also at the New swanky studio of Nicole Mallalieu, during 2011. I shall be teaching my soon-to-be-patented sewing method of close your eyes, move your fingers and ram it through the machine. Actually I'll be teaching Parsely and Beet at Ballarat Patchwork but no idea about the other places - any ideas ?

You know, Its all a little bit exciting from where I am sitting. Yep, its also scary and intimidating in parts - but I'm happy to take that as part of the deal.

So to every single holder of the stakes, whether you are an always-commenter, a sometimes-commenter or a never-commenter, If I really know you, blog know you, might meet you , or will never likely meet you, I just want to say thanks for popping in, joining in , and making all this happen.

You guys have a lot to answer for.....