Whirlwind

Well I’m back in the “small smoke” after my whirlwind week in Melbourne for the Stitches and Craft Show. Did that really happen – or was it a dream?

We took Monday to drive down the Hume Highway for the start of the big adventure. It was a very pretty drive with the beautiful country scenery all green and full of autumn colour. It is years – no decades since I have driven this road. I loved seeing all the names of towns that I have heard of many times like – Gundagai, Rutherglen, Wagga Wagga, Jugiong, Albury, Wodonga, Tarcutta, Wangaratta, Cootamundra and Holbrook.

Then we hit Melbourne and the tall buildings rose out of the flat plain ahead. Cities in the distance are always a thrill for me. It is a city of opposites. Cutting edge architecture and city sculpture combined with old classic elegance which only old world money could build. I love the beautiful trees and garden parks and the romantic bridges with chandelier light posts crossing the Yarra River which winds its way through the city. The city is full of the most wonderful shops and arcades and everywhere you go, whether in the city or suburbs, there are wonderful cafes and restaurants. It is a foodies paradise.

BUT, most of the time I was at Caulfield Racecourse for Stitches and Craft. I was on the 1st level surrounded by the most incredibly talented group of craft creators. It was just bursting with the most gorgeous handmade products. It was a joy to come to work everyday.

My trusty sewing machine came along for the journey and I received such a positive response to my Paper Quilting. The days flew by – each with its own rhythm, and before I knew it, it was 5 o’clock on Sunday afternoon and time to dismantle my space and lug it all down to the car again. It is always a sad time. All over – until the next time. Is this what being a gypsy feels like?

This week, after the drive back and then the unpack I started work on “Celebration of Wool” this week-end at the Old Bus Depot Markets. What has this got to do with you - you may ask. Well it’s a fun day and I love seeing the people who grow, spin and dye the wool into an infinite variety of colour and texture. It will be a fun day.

Here are some pictures of the journey.

                                                                     Empty shell

Almost Finished - after how many hours!!!!!?

Day One - Let the fun begin

Let the countdown begin - NOW!!!!

Well –Shop Handmade is up and running and it looks just gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. It is fresh, beautifully decorated and full of the most incredible talent. Have a look at http://taniamccartney.blogspot.com (Tania McCartney’s Blog) for some lovely photos of the media opening night so you can get just a little feel. And, if you can, visit Shop Handmade at Shop 20, Allara Street, City Walk, Canberra.


Now, I am in countdown mode for Stitches and Craft at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. Two weeks! I am incredibly excited that I will be travelling to Melbourne for the 5 day show to set up my space in the Independent Craft Area. I have sold many pieces of Paper Quilting to Victorian’s visiting Canberra and Sydney, but this is the first opportunity I have had to travel to exhibit my work and to demonstrate Paper Quilting.

I am putting the final touches on my exhibition pieces which will be displayed at the back of my space. Today I bought some beautiful new table cloths (thank you Freedom Furniture for putting beautiful shell button on your curtains – they are perfect for what I am using them for). I have bought my satellite navigation thingamegig so I can find my way in this big city. I have booked my accommodation for a good nights sleep while I’m there. Over the next two weeks I will be working hard to make sure that my space will look lovely.

Watch the Five Book Video

Click on the Five Book Video at the top on the u-tube bar - it's great.

I found this on the Pepies Paperie site.

It’s a pretty exciting day today. It’s a beautiful misty morning with the sun just peeking through to shine on the autumn coloured leaves and on the still green grass. It is a beautiful time of the year. At lunch time I will be giving a small talk to the “Day View” Club at Queanbeyan as the stand in speaker. So I hope that will run OK – I hope my voice lasts as it is a bit husky from a cold. Nervous as always though.

Tonight, Shop Handmade is having a media event opening so the shop will be on proper show for the first time. I am going to try to sneak in to take some photos after lunch today to put up on my blog. Tomorrow is the first day of trading – so that will be incredibly exciting for the Handmade Team who have spent so many long hours waving their magic wands to make this all happen for us. Bill walked by the shop on Tuesday night after a photographic meeting and they were still at work at 10.30pm. They must be exhausted. Looking at their blog it looks and sounds fantastic.

This afternoon, if I get everything ready, I am sending off my samples and a short article to a craft magazine. It would be great to be accepted – but like all things in this craft/arts industry – we will be waiting, waiting, waiting – and probably waiting some more to see what happens. If this crafting life has taught me but one thing – it is patience. And that is a virtue – isn’t it??? I’m not sure that what happens when we don’t get accepted is a virtue though. But we just keep going ala Forrest Gump style.

SURPRISE behind window #10

Easter Sunday at The Old Bus Depot Market was another fabulous day. Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies keeping my little blue wren decorations company, made for a very happy day. My favourite memories are 2 little girl’s faces after eating Easter eggs. The most beautiful smiles – decorated with chocolate smudges.

After quite a few week-ends setting up my tables, tablecloths, props and creations, I have decided to try to have a quieter week. Well- sort of. I just need a bit of a breather to take stock, think of some new designs and take time over a few special creations. And today has been a great day of creating. I sometimes think I have thought of all the things I can create out of Paper Quilting. Then, right out of left field come some new ideas. So – it’s back to “The Shed” for some more playing around. There must be some creative energy floating around at the moment because there are ideas just EVERYWHERE.

Shop Handmade in Canberra http://www.shophandmadecanberra.blogspot.com/  is opening its doors next week Friday 16th April and I am delivering my creations this Thursday. So I am in final tweeking mode. What a lovely surprise this evening to find that the Wren’s Nest Studio web site is behind lovely window #10. Thank you Handmade – this has really made my day.

Well, it’s almost Easter. One of my very favourite times of the year. A time for reflection on what has gone on before – and a time to move forward. For us, here in Australia, it sees Autumn approaching. The leaves are turning yellow and red and the temperature is, at last, dropping. The days are beautiful. We have 2 more sleeps until day light saving is turned off so we gain an hour in the morning. Being a morning person – this is good news.

I am so busy with work, it will be a working time for me this Easter. I can’t complain though as I love what I do more and more. I just wish I had more hours. There is much to look forward to. This Sunday is the Old Bus Depot. It is Portobello Road Day so the vintage and antique dealers will be there which is always fun. Some people think it is a bit morbid – but I find all the beautiful old wares fascinating for their craftsmanship, history and beauty. There are always treasures there.

The Stitches and Craft Shows in Sydney and Canberra for April have been postponed which has brought forward some other creative things which must be done. I am still working on kits and patterns along with the example pieces for shows and an article I am writing. And the markets always require new work to replenish the sold pieces. There is always something new to work on.

Shop Handmade http://shophandmadecanberra.blogspot.com which opens in Canberra on Friday 16th April, also needs work to be created for framing. It is an incredibly exciting venture and I am so proud to be able to be part of it.
Shop Handmade is a place to browse beautiful handmade goods.
Our gorgeous shop is full of handmade designs.
Come in and say hello!

I am creating some very special pieces which will be displayed in my space within the shop. Framed Butterflies Dancing, Butterfly Button Gardens, Glam Handbags, Party Dresses and Ooh La La Corsets Paper Quilt pictures will all be making an appearance.

This week I received my order of Swarovski crystals in the most beautiful colours. I opened the parcel and it was like opening a treasure chest of jewels. Simply gorgeous!!! They are so wonderful to use.

Till next time - Happy Easter.

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

        

Fun in Sydney

I’m back home after my quick trip to Sydney for the Kirribilli Art & Design Markets and to catch up with family and friends.

The Thursday Sewing group were in Canberra for the Masterpieces from Paris Exhibition on Friday so we had dinner at Ginseng that evening. It was wonderful to see them and I couldn’t believe my bad luck that I was driving up to Sydney the next day while they were in Canberra. Saturday morning I had four new Paper Quilt students and one experienced student for a class at a White Dragon Papercraft - then it was off to Sydney.

I had a very early start on Sunday morning so I was able to drive my car into the tunnel to unload all my tables and boxes. I couldn’t believe that it was over a year since I had set up my stall there. It was great to be back at this venue so close to Sydney Harbour that you can smell the sea and hear the sea gulls and ferries – not to mention the freshly brewed coffee from the little coffee shops which spill out onto the pavements. It was lovely to see many of the stall holders from the past.

Everyone is almost set up ready for 9am

Getting busier

A stylish shopper

Accordian musician, Philip Wittwer inspiring a French atmosphere

The Market was busy all day and had a real buzz to it. The musician for the morning session, Philip Wittwer, expertly played an accordion. It was as though we had been transported to Paris. It was truly magical. In the afternoon we listened to some great jazz. It was a very successful and happy day and I am sad that I won’t be able to get back there till June or July.

Driving back, I couldn’t resist popping into Berrima. Many of the shops were closed, being a Tuesday which was unfortunate but it is always a lovely spot full of old world charm. It is the first time that I have driven back with green country side as a view the whole way. Our little valley was brilliant green and the trees looked fresh and healthy after the rain of the last month. With the softer Autumn light it seemed almost unreal.

The Magpie Cafe at Berrima - ready for the lunch trade

Through the window into the new room at The Magpie

Berrima Cottage next door - full of treasures

Back home again - next morning sunrise on the back hill

Rain rain rain rain - beauitiful rain.

Life is pretty good in Canberra and surrounds this week. We have had even more rain and the grass and trees look beautifully green and lush . The dams and streams are full and sparkling. On Monday morning, after a night of heavy rain, I woke early to the sound of our usually little or even non existant creek. It was bubbling and roaring along, fed by numerous waterfalls coming off the steep hill. In the seven years we have lived here - this was a first and it was incredible.

My son had 5 friends over for a down hill mountain bike day as it was Canberra Day and therefore a public holiday. They had a wonderful time scaling the flood gate to get over the creek, then climbing the slippery mountain to build tracks in the soft soil. They returned several times, as boys do for food and drink, each time a little more encrusted with splattered mud. The sun came out in the afternoon to create the most perfect clear sky. I think it will be a day they will all remember.

Jerrabomberra Creek

Scaling the flood gate

Lovely dragonfly

An Autumn Wedding

I was recently asked to create the wedding invitations for a March wedding – which is in Autumn in my part of the world. I was absolutely thrilled and honoured to be asked to do this for a couple I met through my stall at the Old Bus Depot Markets. What a special treat. We decided to create the place setting cards with the same theme. Here are the results. My thought process throughout was – the season of mists and fruitfulness – one of my absolute favourite lines of poetry by Keats. Also, with the venue in mind – a lovely farm/restaurant on the outskirts of Canberra. The final handover of place cards was at the Old Bus Depot on the week-end. I wish the lovely couple all the very best wishes and I’m sure it will be a really wonderful day.

Late Afternoon at The Old Bus Depot Markets Kingston

Invitations to an Auumn Wedding

Wedding Place Cards