Sew It Together 2010 - The next bit

The Saturday part of Sew It Together consisted of a whole day of sewing and a dinner. What a hard life hay? Sheridan did a wonderful job organising everything, thank you so much. It all appeared to come together so smoothly, I hope in the background it did too.

It was an early start for me catching the train into the city with my crafty sidekick. We stayed in the city that night so had all our crafty gear with us plus the overnight stuff.

We were greated at the door by lovely Donna with our Saturday goody bag.

Except for the fabric in the middle there that snuck into this photo instead of the friday one, all this stuff was given to all of us, like Christmas really, without the small one climbing all over me. For the full list of sponsors please checkout the SIT website, I don't want to miss anyone.

In the door prize I one a boys pant pattern, which is really cute, but in German, which I can't read. So I may need someones help out there, there may even be a pair of boys pants in it for you.

I had a great time, I didn't talk to as many people as I probably should but listened and watched in a bit of a star stuck moment.

This is what I sewed, yes there was sewing involved!!

I finished off the stitching part of the Kokeshi dolls by Melly and Me, and then started on Melly and Me's block of the month.  There were all sorts of crafting going on, and even some of Jodie's softies came out to play.

After all of the excitement of the sewing day most of us headed out to a lovely dinner, where we got to chat to different bloggers and catch up on other things other than sewing!! Imagine that, other stuff happens other than sewing!!

After a very rewarding but exhausting day we headed back to the hotel and collapsed until morning, and a sleep in, yay. Brunch at South Bank and a spot of craft market shopping then headed back home on the train.

I've spent the last week, other than dealing with a cold, trying to take in all that went on that weekend. I can't put it into words, guess you had to be there!! Check out my flickr page (link on my side bar) if you want to see more pics of the day.

TTFN

Sew It Together 2010

It's time to blog about it. It was fantastic. Had so much fun. I never thought it would come, now it's come and gone. I put so many faces to names and blog names. I wish I took a photo of everyone so I could remember.

Friday Shopping Trip and Drinks at Nikki's

I had to work in the morning of the shopping trip, which is an early start for me, so by the time I got on the bus I was nearly ready to finish the day. Didn't last long though, I was soon into the swing of things and meeting new people. I was a bit shell shocked and shy though so sorry if I didn't get to speak with you, I was taking it all in though.

First stop was Amitie. I've never been to the shop before, only buying from them at shows and being part of their VIP club. I will be going back. There are so many fantastic fabrics in there, and so many for boys, something I've been searching for. The ladies were lovely with afternoon tea waiting for us and a very generous discount, how ace. I bought fabric and hexagon templates. This is me and Leah, my partner in crime, poring over our fabric choices.

Photo Originally uploaded by SusanL

Next up was Patchwork on Central, there I bought an Amy Butler weekender pattern. Back on the bus and off to Ink and Spindle.

I've been wanting to go to their open days for ages but can never make it. So I was very excited. The girls gave us a printing demo and I bought some backing material to make cushions (and finally use up the fabric I bought from them at last years show).
Lastly for the day we ended up at Nikki's studio where she put on bubbly and nibbles for all of us. We also got to see her studio, amazing, and buy a few things too. I forgot to photograph them but I got some bag bits too. I was exhausted ready for bed, looking forward to the big sewing day ahead.

This is my haul from friday shopping day. (minus a few fabrics that made it into the satuday photo. The scissors, thread and fabric pack where from The Oz Material girls who were very generous in giving all the shopping girls a give-away, thanks heaps.

I'm going to break this into 2 posts, so I'll be back soon with more.

TTFN

Finally...

I started and finished my first Nicole Mallalieu bag. I've only had the pattern since mothers day last year!!

Large Satchel, Design by Nicole Mallalieu, Handmade by MandyMade

Print Fabric by Aunty Cookie

I don't know what took me so long. Once I started I found the pattern really easy to follow, I didn't have any problems at all. The only thing I would change if I made this bag again would be the interfacing I used, and add some padding. I wasn't thinking straight and used the interfacing I bought for backing my stitcheries. Oh well, we live and learn. Thanks Nikki for a great pattern.

I will be back soon I promise with all the news from Sew It Together. I'm still recovering!! I now have a cold and no voice, so the energy level just hasn't been up to blogging!! I have been checking out others posts though and de-lerking as much as possible!!

TTFN

Oops I missed it...

...my two year blogiversary. It was in april, oops. While reading another blog who mentioned 2 years was coming up, I thought I should check when mine will be, oops I missed it. I'm sure i've broken some unwritten rule of bloggers by missing it. I also may be breaking another rule by not having a giveaway. Sorry. I'll save that for my 200th post. If you want to check out my very first post go here.

I went to the Melbourne Stitches and Craft show yesterday. I took my mum and we had heaps of fun. I met heaps of bloggers, so now i can put faces to names, and caught up with some that I met at the last show or during the past year. Even though I've been blogging for 2 years I've only really started the meet and greet in the past year. Just can't wait for Sew It Together next weekend, very excited, can't wait. The show wasn't as big as last year, not as many fabric stalls and craft gadgets that I would have liked. I loved the incubator section though, so much talent there. Each booth was decorated perfectly reflecting the crafter. We didn't get to any talks or labs but we did do some crotchet at the craft bar. I was very restrained in my purchases (saving for SIT), only buying a new subscription to Homespun for myself, and a purse pattern and fabric for my mum for mothers day that she chose (more on that in another post). Mum bought a few patterns and I hope to share what she makes out of those as well.

I finally got to make one of Nikki's bags but I think that deserves a post of it's own, that, and the light is terrible for pictures at the mo.

TTFN

Still here!!

Don't worry, I'm still here, although you would get the impression that I'd gone walkabout!! Poor neglected blog, and so close to the bloggy spectacular that is Sew It Together!!

I have been making stuff, some secret stuff, some not so. We had a long weekend last weekend so I got to get up north to see my sister on her property. (That sounds rather grand doesn't it!!) It was very relaxing, got to have lots of cuddles with baby niece and ate scones :-). While wandering around we came across some awesome looking toad stools, you can just see the little pixie living under this one can't you?

I've been keeping busy and out of trouble on the train for the past couple of weeks making a gigantic granny square rug for Little A. I finally finished yesterday. I used Lincraft double knitting yarn with 4.5 hook. I used the granny square pattern from Meet Me at Mike's book and I finished the edges with triple crochet. Final measurement 1m square. If anyone needs something crocheted I'm looking for a new train project, just let me know.

I also finally got around to making Little A's school library bag. Only a term late!! I made it the same as this one but it came out skinnier, still fits books though. I bought the material from amitie last year at the craft show, finally got around to using it.

That's it for me today. Off to finally make Nikki's bag so I can take it to show her next week at the stitches and craft show, can't wait, if it's anything like last year, should be ace.

TTFN