Country Garden Heart

What I've up to

Customized wedding card and gift tag/bookmarks

Last Month

What incredible fun I had last month taking part in Craft Expo for Bernina in Sydney then Brisbane. Almost every workshop was full  - it was wonderful to see that so many people wanted to learn about Paper Quilting. And everyone who took part went away with a new new craft and a couple of projects that I'm pretty sure they were very proud of.
Here are some pictures of the two events.

Christmas in July

It's hard to believe that a year has past since this event last year. We set up shop at the Queanbeyan Conference centre this year which gave us lots more room. This market conjures up the picture of a traditional market – all locals, fruit and vegetables, the Country Women’s Association with tea, delicious scones with masses of cream and sandwiches, stalls of handmade goods run by groups of women along with antiques and vintage wares. We had Christmas carols playing and then Counterfeit Cash singing Jonny Cash songs. He was great. It was a VERY busy day. Here are a few images of the day.

                                        

Handmade Market Christmas

Yet another incredible event was organised by Julie Nichols and her band of Christmas fairies and elves over the weekend. The Wool Shed at Yarralumla in Canberra, looked every bit the part of the great Australian image. The rustic wooden shearing shed with its iron roof, rose out of a field of golden grass turned to straw by the recent hot and dry weather. Talcum powder dust was all that was left of the approaching drive and car park. All we needed was a host of sparrows under the eaves to complete an image of one of my favourite Australian Christmas carols -

CHRISTMAS DAY

The North Wind is tossing the leaves,

The red dust is over the town,

The sparrows are under the eaves,

And the grass in the paddock is brown;

As we lift up our voices and sing

To the Christ-Child the Heavenly King.

The tree-ferns in green gullies sway;

The cool stream flows silently by;

The joy bells are greeting the day,

And the chimes are adrift in the sky,

As we lift up our voices and sing

To the Christ-Child the Heavenly King.

Thank you to everyone who came to visit my stall and support my work and to learn about making Paper Quilts. There are some more photos up on my website http://www.wrensneststudio.com/ (just click on Handmade Christmas near the top of the page) which Bill took. I took a few photos too. We had a great time - now it is a day of rest - except for tidying my shed and unpacking the car. Oh dear!!! No rest for the wickedly untidy.

National Gallery Workshop

Sunday was the perfect day for a workshop afternoon. It was the coldest September day since some time in the 1960's so we didn't feel guilty about being inside at all. I was incredibly excited to be giving a workshop on making Paper Quilts at the National Gallery of Australia. This workshop was held in conjunction with an exhibition of 5 beautiful antique quilts which are not usually on display. It was a wonderful feeling being at the gallery as a teacher of the craft I practice.

I set up in a large room - the small theatre - so we had lots of room to spread out. We accomplished so much in the 2 hours and everyone who attended created beautiful work which you see in the picture here. A gift tag, aperture greeting card and a bookmark. I was very proud of everyone there and I hope they enjoyed the afternoon as much as I did.

Sydney Stitches and Craft Show

Almost finished. My 2 large pieces which will hang at the back of my studio space at Stitches and Craft on the 2 panels which form the back wall. If you are coming along to the show, I will be on level 4, in space #165. Please pop by to say hi and have a look at these two Paper Quilt Creations. I will also have other finished work, my greeting cards created from the paper I have designed, tools for creating Paper Quilts AND my new book, "Paper Quilts".

I will have my sewing machine with me and I will be making Paper Quilts at the show for the full 5 days in my mobile Studio.

Day two at the Canberra Craft & Quilt Show.

After an early night, I awoke to this lovely scene in our back yard - a full moon setting over Beatty Hill with Venus just to the left. Quite beautiful. It was then off to a very busy day at A White Dragon Paper Craft stall as the buses pulled in and the car park filled to “No More Room” status. It was action almost all day long for all of us and there was a real buzz in the air. I did manage to squeeze in a trip to the stall I was hoping to visit and above is picture of some treasure. I couldn’t spend too much time there, so I’m afraid I will have to return tomorrow. (what a shame!!!). These lovely pieces will become part of Paper Quilt Creations such as Cinderella Shoes and Honestly Darling Handbags. Here is a photo of Shirley, an incredibly talented teacher at A White Dragon Papercraft. She is working on the most beautiful parchment umbrella with boarder and flowers. Fine and really beautiful work taking skill and patience. This craft is called Pergamano and the tools and materials are made in The Netherlands.

Winter Morning - Jerrabomberra Creek

Here is a picture of the finished piece which I started earlier in the week. Corners completed and inner crazy quilt section embellished. The piece is 49cm square. Now it is even framed, thanks to Michael at Framing Master Fyshwick. He did a beautiful job - and it really looks finished now. Always incredible what matt boards and a frame will do.

I'm off to the Christmas in July Market in Queanbeyan today. I've dressed up my papier-mache reindeer in her finest red and green jewels for the occassion. It should be a wonderful day.

Honestly Darling Handbag

These are just a couple of the new 'Honestly Darling Handbag' series I've been working on this week. This design is called The Alessandra Bag. Each bag created is totally unique in the papers and embellishments used. I love them and I hope you will too.

Not Everyday at Wren's Nest Studio

Did you hear a pop fizz sound on the breeze late this afternoon? It was the beautiful sound of champagne - chilled to perfection, being ceremoniously popped to herald the arrival of 'Paper Quilt's' - my long awaited book. We drove in to collect the boxes from Arthur and Marilyn of MBE late this afternoon. We even got the 2 car spots right outside - so it was meant to be.

More later - I'm off for another glass of bubbly.

Your copy is in the mail my dear Mrs Tucker. xoxo