You know the planets are aligned when you suggest a trip to Melbourne that involves a visit to a patchwork shop and Mr Ric-Rac enthusiastically agrees and wonders if I could possibly manage to drag the visit out for at least an hour so he can pop off and do something in the next suburb!
Could I?

thankfully the shop was
Amitie. Now if this is a place you have to get stranded in , you are onto something wonderful.
This was my first trip to the store and I was greeted like an old friend and introduced to everyone in the shop, in fact I am still not sure who was working, who was browsing and who was shopping. Everyone was chatting and sharing and laughing and running out to put money in parking meters. The shop itself is lovely - lots of room and bright and airy...... even their scraps look good.
I ran into PatchAndi there who showed me the quilt top she had made the night before (go over to her blog she has already finished it). I just kind of murmured over all the quilt discussions as it is soooooo not my strong point. I love the off set little pictures in each block though. Andi had just popped in during her lunch break (How dangerous would that be?)
Did you Australian bloggers know you can join Amities VIP Blog group? I have been a member for ages and four times a year I get a little parcel with fabric inside, sometimes a pattern-always something to get excited about. I always forget about it in between times and then it is a great surprise when it arrives . (Hmmm I sound like such a Nanna don't I?)
I bought surprisingly little fabric while I was there.....but that is because I was on a mission......
Oh yes - this stuff is divine. Beautiful over dyed wool. As soon as I saw this on Amitie's blog I could not get it out of my head. They got it in especially for a class But this stuff is screaming toys to me.
It is the most seriously delicious stuff I have seen in ages. I also have the most beautiful dark squid ink purple that I am busting to use. I haven't got any real ideas for the toys yet , I'm just letting it all brew away in the brain for now.
Remember Milton, and his SISTER ? Well while I was sewing with the wool felt for their faces I totally fell in love with it and placed a teeny tiny order with Sandra over at Winterwood. It arrived today. Annie was at my place after work checking out how tidy my sewing room is (as a result of the EITTTS) and we opened the felt.........



and the planets aligned. This wonderful stuff combined with the wools I got at Amitie???
Oh man, somethings brewin'