Country Garden Heart

What I've up to

Customized wedding card and gift tag/bookmarks

Getting ready for Craft Expo

Next week in Sydney, Craft Expo arrives at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse for the first time. So, this week I am preparing all the kits for the workshops I am running with Bernina. The one hour hands-on workshops  run three times daily at 10.30, 12noon and 2pm. (please book at the Bernina stand #E13). Each person will be able to experience working on a Bernina 'Black Beauty' H46 and go home with 2 Paper Quilt projects. See you next week for all the fun of the fair.

Craft Expo
Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Rosehill, Sydney
March 10 - 13
Thursday-Sunday 10am to 4.30pm daily

The Show

The 3 ½ days of the Craft and Hobby Show flew by in an exciting whirl. So many wonderful people from all over the world popped by to see the gallery of Paper Quilts and to ask questions about what we sold. I had several brief looks around at the booths up stairs. In some ways it was like climbing up the Magic Far Away Tree and visiting a land full of amazing rooms. Each room was decorated with all the beautiful new products they were bringing to the market place this season. Papers, embellishments, books, pens, brushes, ribbons – so many wonderful things. When you think that most buyers visiting the show take the full 3 ½ days to view the show, I know that I only skimmed the surface. I Loved the Anna Griffin store with its beautiful carpet, pale grass green lounge chairs, glass table and chairs and all the most gorgeous new papers and fabrics. 7 Gypsies, Japanese papers, EK Success with the Martha Stewart Range – it was incredible.

I was interviewed by lovely Terri O http://www.terriocraftprojects.com/ for web TV and then delightful Joe Rotella - http://www.createncraft.com/ . Joe runs and organizes a Caribbean craft cruise amongst many other things - Hands up for jumping on board in September. I'll put up those links when they are published.

We also met several Aussie comapnies making a big impression OS which was fantastic.  http://aussiescrapsource.typepad.com/aussie_scrap_source/
http://www.fynmark.blogspot.com/
http://www.kaisercraft.com.au/

Paper Quilt Creations gallery

A raffle at Eccho Park Papers just down from my booth



Being Interviewed by fabulous Joe Rotella http://www.createncraft.com/



This is where I spent most of my time - with my Bernina from AAA Sewing & Vacumme

The Innovations Showcase

Even Shop Handmade & Handmade Market made an appearance at the show via postcards

Ohh - by the way, I have some pretty exciting news.

Friends and family have patiently followed and supported my wonky creative progress over - now many years. Seven years ago they saw me jump the art fence over to the Craft side and start all over again. They must have thought I had really lost the plot when I started sewing bits of paper together. Paper Quilting has been an incredible journey for me with many highs and a few lows along the way. The development of the craft. Then going to the markets, craft shows, demonstrations, talks, teaching, the book and then tools, materials and patterns. It has become something I think about constantly.

Well I have news.

I am taking Paper Quilting across the Pacific to be part of the Craft and Hobby Association winter trade show in Los Angeles. I am going to put my big toe in the very, very big craft pond and see what happens. I am finding it hard to believe that I am actually doing this and I am full of butterflies as I write. Stay tuned in for the next chapter.

Canberra Times Feature

Thank you to the Canberra Times who asked me to write a piece for their Designer Talk feature for Homelife in the Relax section which was published today. Picking up the paper from the front gate has never been quite so excitting.

Paperific Expo 2010

What an incredible time I had at the 3 day Paperific Expo in Melbourne last week. It’s hard to believe that this time last week I was packing up my car and organising the last minute bits and pieces for the show. Now here I am, back home once more with lots of great memories.

I stayed in the city of Melbourne this time – and oh dear, what a shame – David Jones and Myer were just outside the door!! So a bit of retail therapy was just what I needed after my 8 hour drive from Canberra. Lots of lovely things to look at. One day I will own a Chloe handbag. Dreams!!!

Next day it was a little bit of shoe shopping then off to the National Gallery of Victoria to see the European Masters Exhibition. There were some magnificent works on show and I loved it. Two of my favourites were Fritz von Uhde “At the Window” and Pierre Auguste Renoir “After the Luncheon”. Absolutely beautiful. Then upstairs for a look around the beautiful Asian Ceramics - a very serene area of any art gallery. And to finish off my visit, a stop at The Tea Rooms on the first floor for coffee and the most delicious and beautifully presented sandwiches. Playing ladies for the morning has never been such fun.

Then back to business. Off to the Melbourne Showgrounds for set up. This is the first big craft show that I have attended when I have set up on the ground floor. WHAT A RELIEF. No lifts and waiting around. There were even flat bed trolleys to unload your car so I had only 4 -5 trips back to the car instead of the usual 15-20. At last I was set up with no more to do so the butterflies set in just ready for the start of the show.

Flemminton Racecourse where the famous Melbourne Cup is held each November. These beautiful gates were on the way to the melbourne Showgrounds.

Setting up day

The 3 days were busy all day - every day. I released the 4 new Paper Quilt card patterns which everyone seemed to like and sold out of the Cinderella Shoe - so I think I'm on the right track. I managed to have a quick look around each morning at all the fascinating products for sale during the show. Fabulous new papers, embellishments, computerized cutting machines, pens, sparkles and kits. Then it was head down and almost non stop talk about Paper Quilts. I received a wonderful response and I hope as always that I have inspired people to have a go at this craft I love.

Thanks to Naomi Swan and her team of wonderful and cheerful helpers for making the Paperific Show such a great experience for me and everyone who attended. I look forward to my next trip to Paperific and beautiful Melbourne.

Paperific Expo Countdown

Wren’s Nest Studio has been asked to demonstrate Paper Quilting at the up and coming Paperific Expo in Melbourne - Friday 27th to Sunday 28th August at the Melbourne Showgrounds, Ascotvale. I am so excited to be travelling to wonderful Melbourne for the second time this year. This time I will be staying in the city so I can do some window shopping, walk the beautiful streets and soak up the buzzy, sophisticated atmosphere of the city at the end of each day.

Paperific – as its name implies, is all about Papercraft so it is wonderful to be involved. I can’t wait to see the other Papercraft stores at the show which I’m sure will have some inspirational goodies. Here is a piece I have been working on to celebrate the 10th birthday of the show. She was inspired by the Paperific logo and was created using a combination of techniques. She is being framed today and will be travelling with me to the show.

I have been busy preparing for the show. Creating more Paper Quilts, organising my gallery of Paper Quilts, working on some card making patterns which I will release at the show, packaging and working on the set up of my space. It always takes a lot more time than I think it will and I end up in a hell of a mess up the shed. Maybe today I can get it all organized. Dream on dear!!!

Last week I became a Bernina Friend. This is incredibly exciting news as it means I may be doing some work with them in the future. So yesterday I picked my very pretty new Bernina 46 to use for demonstrations and in my classes. It is a great looking machine - combining a retro feel with modern design. It is just perfect for Papercraft and general sewing as it’s not heavy and it is not expensive. Today (if I can tear myself from tidying the shed) I will be learning to use my new beauty so I will be up to speed for Paperific. I think I will call her Nettey Blossom - as every sewing machine as pretty as this deserves a name.

What a week-end!!

It was a weekend of Paper Quilting for me this last week-end.

Saturday morning I taught at A White Paper Dragon Papercraft at Phillip ACT. www.awhitedragonpapercraft.com I had 2 students – Kaye a beginner who made a beautiful teal gift tag, ruby coloured fan greeting card and violet crazy quilt. All lovely work.

Denise created the most beautiful golden handbag with diamante clasp. It really was the most gorgeous creation and I hope she enjoys having it in her home. She is a very talented student.

Fiona was also at the shop for a class and she created her first commission piece. A most beautiful rose card. Fiona was taught by Anne, who runs classes on many different craft techniques and owns A White Dragon. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning.

I visited Addicted to Fabric www.a2f.com.au after the class to look at all the lovely patchwork fabrics as I am experimenting with some paper and fabric creations. Allways an inspiration. Then it was home to finish off framing and matting, making cards, attaching sparkles and generally finishing off pieces for my stall the next day.

I was up bright and early on to Sunday. Handmade Market was at a beautiful new location at the Kanberra Wine Company. It is very silly but every time I know I have to set up in a new location I get all nervous and wonder if anyone will turn up. Well. I couldn’t have been more wrong if I tried. The place was swamped with lovers of beautiful handmade products. Handmade creations are winning in the retail stakes – hands down!!!! I started off the day by buying the most beautiful little bag for taking to my market stalls from www.formosadesign.com.au How could I resist a little money bag with 2 little wrens hopping about on eucalypt leaves.

I set up next to lovely Prim and Pretty’s Rachelle who is a very talented designer of fabric broaches, gorgeous scarves, little neck wraps and beautiful pendants. Her shop looked wonderful with all her lovely creations and beautiful props including a new season white cyclamen.

So- I had a fantastic day. Fortunately I was joined with my partner in craft, my husband Bill who was great writing out dockets and helping customers. Thank you to everyone who came to say hello and to support Paper Quilting. I am still on a happy high of joy after such a lovely day.

Well - now it is back to work in “the Shed” to replenish and fill orders. I had a sort of day off. House work has to be done sometime and just sometimes it is quite satisfying. Am I turning crazy!!! Well maybe it’s the full moon.

The day became busier and busier

                                                   Outside under the beautiful trees

        

Autumn in the air

I think one of my New Year’s resolutions should have been – update my blog every Friday. Never too late to have a resolution though is it? I’ll start today.


I have been hard at work making Paper Quilt pictures for Mathilda’s Market which takes place this week end in the Ballroom of the Canberra Hyatt – 9am till 1pm. What a lovely way to spend part of Sunday. Taking part in a new market always gives me a few butterfly questions – how will I set up my stall in the space allocated, have I made enough stock, will my stall look pretty, will people come along – to name a few. These butterfly questions have started their flying this morning in my chest which is pretty ridiculous because I’ve set up for markets quite a few times now. It is a tiny bit like a stage show though and the show must be great.

So today will be a day of finishing off quilts and cards and then framing and packaging till I have paper, cellophane, stickers and tape coming out of my ears. Then, down to the computer to printout WNS info, laminate my new signs and printout other bits and pieces.

I will try to make it to the Royal Canberra Show to see the craft display over the week-end. I have five entries in various sections. It is always interesting to see all the talent on show and what the judges picked to win a ribbon. So many collective hours and hours of work under the roof of the craft pavillion. I also love to see the cakes, the animals, side show alley and the country wares for sale.

Autumn is in the air this morning. The sky is blue, the grass is green after the wonderful rain two weeks ago, the dams are full and there is that beautiful cool clear sparkle in the air.

What I've been doing in 'The Shed"

It has been a busy week up in the shed. It looks spick and span after the delivery of the shelving and cupboards and I am working more efficiently as a consequence. I decided mid week to take a spot at the Old Bus Depot Markets on Sunday as it is a sort of long week-end with Australia Day falling on Tuesday.

So it was finishing orders and starting new projects.

Too long

Is it already the 13th January!!

I had a good break away from "The Shed" between lovely Christmas and New Year after a mad scramble before Christmas. But now it is back to work. I missed my shed and had many good ideas which I am longing to try out. And this is not easy because we are sweltering under a heat wave which seems to just go on day after day after day. Looks as though we are in for another scorcher today. The house has all the curtains closed to keep out the heat and it reminds me of summers when I was growing up. Endless days of blue sky, that time after Christmas when everything seemed to slow down and relax, swimming in the pool, lying under the shade of trees, staying up late and being as brown as a berry so that I had a white skin swimming costume when I was naked.

Since New Year, it has been a very busy time again with wedding invitations and place cards to complete and orders to fill. Inbetween all this, I thought it would be a good idea to tidy up my studio. Well - I have had one trip to the tip so far - the car filled to the brim with stuff. It needed to be done but maybe the timing could have been better. Some shelves and cupboards were delivered yesterday so I can get organized - and more importantly STAY organized. So I will continue today.

I have almost finished the first two Paper Quilt picture patterns which will be on my web site next week. This has been a long time coming but we are here at last. I decided not to go to any markets in January so I could concentrate and focus on this side of Wren's Nest Studio - I just wish it wasn't so hot!!

Countdown

The next two weeks is going to be very hectic in 'The Shed' for Wren's Nest Studio. Hopefully there will be no feathers flying and no birds squawking.
Tuesday I am demonstrating Paper Quilting with a Christmas theme at Spotlight in Queanbeyan 6 - 9pm.
Next Saturday it is the Spring Fling Market at the Q Theatre in Queanbeyan 10 - 3.
The the following Friday and Saturday it is A Handmade Christmas at Yarralumla Wool Shed 5-9 then 10 - 4.

Inbetween there are a few commissions to finish and a particular package I have to finish to send off OS to a very particular lady. I'm not sure why I wrote this all down - now I just feel even more nervous! I can only do what I can do in a day.

But, this weekend I have to make time to visit the iris garden in Burra. It has been a wonderful year for iris and I'm sure the Payne's garden will be looking incredible. I will take photos to show you just how incredible it is.

Sunday at The Old Bus Depot Markets

Last Sunday I packed up my caravan of Paper Quilt wares and headed off to the Old Bus Depot Market at Kingston in Canberra. I was very pleased with the new colour scheme and less cluttered look (not easy still for me). I had a very busy morning but the afternoon turned very cold and windy which kept visitors away.

I was thrilled when one of my student s came to tell me that she had been making Paper Quilt cards to raise money for the Fistular Hospitals in Africa and had an order to fill. This just made my day and I was so proud of her.

This week I have been up in the shed making cards, cats in gardens, handbags and dancing butterfly pictures. I have also been experimenting with making some button brooches. I started out wanting to make a flower and embellished the centre with beads and buttons. The centre proved to be so lovely that I discarded the petals completely. I have worked on circles, hearts and ovals. They are turning out to be more and more lavish - how is that not a surprise. I love them but we'll see what the others think when they go on show. Just as well I have thousands of buttons and a growing collection of beads and embellishments. I hope that I can exhibit them at the Christmas Handmade Market in November at Yarralumla Wool Shed. Some pictures of these will follow when I take them.

At last I went to see The September Issue again and it was just as wonderful the second time around. I went with my daughter and she loved it too.

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.

Handmade in Bloom

Handmade at Yarralumla Woolshed on Friday night and Saturday - was Blooming wonderful! So many people - thousands infact came to see the woolshed transformed into a shoppers paradise for handmade goods. The event was also a great opportunity for people to meet up with their friends and family over a glass of wine, tea, coffee or chai. It was almost like being on the set of a movie with the lighting, atmosphere and music. http://www.wrensneststudio.com/ - click on handmade top right for photo gallery.

Thanks so much to everyone who came by Wren's Nest Studio to say hello and to all the people who supported my craft of Paper Quilting. Your wonderful support makes it possible for me to keep working and exploring my love of paper and sewing.

Now its back to "the shed" to create new pictures and work on some new ideas. It's also time to start thinking about Christmas (yiks) and creating a new paper for cards and gift tags.

See you soon.

Back Home

The Stitches and Craft Show in Sydney really was an amazing experience. I think I am still recovering – I’m just not used to talking quite that much. I met many people who had never seen Paper Quilting before so it was a great opportunity to spread the word. People can’t believe that I am sewing paper and watch me sewing for quite a while just to see that the paper is not tearing. It was very exciting all up and I had a really successful show. The one stop Paper Quilt shop did great business and sold out of punches and thread. It was great to meet Lara of ‘La Rara’ and Kate of ‘Please Eloise’ who had spaces on either side of me. There are more pictures of the show on my Web page – just a click away on the left.

I drove home on huge gusts of wind from warm and sunny Sydney to freezing southern NSW where there was snow on the Brindabella Mountains. Hard to believe it is only a 3 hour drive. Pink and white blossoms are out everywhere and it is so beautiful. We actually had some rain while I was away so there is a tinge of green in the paddocks.

Now it’s on to the next adventure. It’s just over two weeks until ‘Handmade in Bloom’ at Yarralumla Wool Shed. So I am back in my own little shed with my head down creating Paper Quilt pictures, new papers and new cards.

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.

Craft and Quilt Fair Canberra

My first day at the Craft & Quilt Fair has just finished as a demonstrator at A White Paper Dragon Papercraft. The time just flew by and it was a great day with lots of interest in Paper Quilting and my new book. It is always a bit nerve wracking starting off, but I gradually became more relaxed and I am really looking forward to tomorrow which should be busier. The Saturday – full on craziness.

It was great to catch up with Susan Filer from The Pattern Place, www.patternplace.com.au/shop/index.php who I first met almost a year ago at the Stitches and Craft Show in Sydney. She is going to the Quilt Fair in Houston, USA which is FANTASTIC. How incredible is that.

I found one particular stall late in the afternoon that I was hoping would be there. So I will be arriving early to make more than just a few purchases. I will have a photo tomorrow of my package of new treasures. I can’t wait!!!