I had a dream.....

I had a dream....(Yes it is Susan Boyle playing on my iPod - I know its a little daggy but she is very good). My good friend Mez and I finally pulled our finger out and we headed to Flemington Market to sell some of our homemade goodies. It started with an application to the market organizers to which we received a reply three days prior to market day. We were approved(as if there was any doubt!) then we had to build up a little stock (Yes, i was sewing frantically the day before - apparently this is quite normal) the a practice run at putting up the tent that I had dusted off from the back of the garage. We used to set up the tent when my two boys were toddlers - generally over the wading pool. My darling husband was sitting in the kitchen smirking at our efforts. I must say, with no instructions(we found those later) we got the tent up in approx. 25 minutes. Not bad! We were good to go. We borrowed a table from Mez' sister. Mez made bunting, business cards and a table cloth. I put together a couple of aprons and we looked fabulous.

With the thermos packed and chocolate in the bag we set off......

As we drove to the market clouds in the distant were looking ominous - however with naive excitement we were looking forward to our first day out with our goodies. Unable to read the market map of where our stall was properly on my iPod(grrrrr technology sometimes - don't get me wrong I adore my iPod - but it like a sewing machine knows when your in a hurry!) we asked a fellow stallholder for directions. Mez sped to the location........

We set up on time and were looking pretty good as a few people browsed passed. Little did we know that those browsing in the early hours would be a sign of how few were to attend the market on the day. We had bought some sewing to do and sat back with cups of coffee (from the trusty flask) and began to relax and just enjoy the day......

A few people looked, kids thought the Podpals were cool and then it happened.....our first sale - Mez sold some of her dilly bags - all was not lost!!

Fellow stallholders were saying"Don't judge sales or interest in our products by today - its the worst day of the year for market - no one has extra dollars to spend after the back to school costs and this was the odd weekend of the year". WISH SOME HAD TOLD US THAT BEFORE!!! We calmed after the initial shock ans sat back to enjoy a relaxing day out. We took turns browsing the market. The rain had stayed away and in fact it grew quite hot towards the end of the market (good thing we had that tent!). The day really was quite lovely.

Just when I thought I would go home with every Podpal I had bought with me - a dear friend arrived and without prompting she purchased a pretty purple Podpal for her daughter.

Although we didn't make our millions(well lets face it - barely enough for lunch) and at times we felt a little despondent - We had made it to Market!

Patchie Christmas Challenge

Thought it was about time to update my blog. I have a few little goodies to share with you. Patchie challenge for last year was to make a Christmas decoration you had not made before. My little treasure turned out even better than expected. Using fabulous fabrics from Patchwork on Central Park, Gj's, a few swarovski crystals and a star shaped paper clip I created this Christmas Tree. Title- Yo Yo Yo.

We unveiled our creations at the Patchie Christmas dinner.



My gorgeous friend Mez created a song! Yes a song. This was printed on a calico star we could all hang on the tree. This has now become the groups anthem. There were voices singing our new song with gusto. If truth be known it was more like bellowing than singing but we had had a few bubbles! Other examples included bunting and a YoYo garland. All fabulous.
Another incredibly creative gift was a piece of china holding the most perfect posie of flowers. Absolutely the most beautiful bunch of flowers I had ever seen. Delightful berries, delicate old English roses and other tiny petals so beautifully tied together.

Patchie Christmas Dinner is always a highlight. Everyone loves to come home with a selection of creative gifts. My gift to the gorgeous Patchie girls this year was homemade gift tags with a little glitter (ofcourse!)

Pod

Introducing the Podpal Bean Bag or as I affectionately call it - Pod

Podpal Bean Bag

Some would say I have too much time on my hands. I would say i don't have idle hands. I had to share this recent creation. I have made three already and I think my Podpal buddies would love one as well. Introducing the Podpal Bean Bag. Isn't it fabulous. My son thinks I'm so clever. This groovy little bundle of fun is just superb for resting my iPod when I'm watching my movies. I have experimented with different fillings and think the trusty polystyrene balls are the best and you can wash it!. I must try this out with my sons DS to check for compatibility. And just quietly how much am I loving this fabric!

I spent an evening attending training for work in the city last week on that horrendously stormy night. We were on the 30th floor watching the storm pass. It wasn't as dramatic as the news had predicted, but spectacular to watch never the less. After our training session I headed to the Hyatt for a nightcap ( a cappacino, not the other one!). I sat in a delightful bar with an open flame fireplace and dimmed lights. It was such a divine way to unwind. I sat reflecting on my day and events coming up in this gorgeous room. I couldn't help but think how beautiful some areas are in Melbourne - those little places that transport you from the everyday. A took a photo to remember the moment and the colours were so amazing I think this is now inspiration for another quilt. Yes, i am always thinking about the fabric!

With light jazz in the background I completed this knitting bag for a friend. This pattern i will always refer to as Flora’s Knitting Bag. Flora, the matriarch of our patchwork group always sits in a fabulous chair at the end of the table we surround on a Monday night. Flora is a woman of class, immaculately groomed, comforting, inspirational, an excellent listener, dependable and a fantastic quilter and knitter. A group of us like minded people meet at her home, some have been meeting for over 20 years. We share lifes ups and downs, a sanctuary where there is always a solution to a problem, advice flows freely whether this is a craft problem or something life throws at you (and sometimes whether you want it or not - but this is what we love). We swap craft ideas and patterns often we sit and have a chat served with a cup of tea on her best china. She always says use the good china now and enjoy it, no need to leave it in the cupboard.

My quilt from a friend

I wanted to share with everyone the quilt that was made for me for a special birthday by a very special friend. My girlfriend has created a work of art that is sentimental and stunning. Each Dresden Plate has words and pictures provided by family and friends (this is a feet in itself!!!). The Kaffe Fassett fabrics(of which she knows I love - its just something in the details and freshness of design) are simply superb. She is the woman who taught me to quilt all those years ago(a blue and white sampler quilt that now lives on my sons bed), at which time I can remember throwing the Dresden Plate block at her to finish because I couldn't get it to sit right! Ironic really that the quilt she has made for me reflects that block is the same pattern ( I assure you this is not intentional.) If I haven't said it enough - Gorgeous, Thank you for one of my most treasured possessions and thank you to all who contributed.