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.

                                        

Gardening at Wren's Nest

The garden at Wren’s Nest has caused us much grief over the years.

At the moment, we are at last, tackling the front garden – properly. We have played around with paths and curved garden beds in the past but I think we have a design which will work this time. Some curves, a lot of straight lines, a lot of symmetry and 2 garden rooms.

We have several  major concerns.
• a very long stretch of ground along the front of the house which, because of its length, looks really narrow – but isn’t really. You look at this from the southern end.
• It is so dry where we live – well up until this year. But I know the dry will return.
• Wind.
• And even after living here for 8 ½ years, we still find it difficult to think on a large scale – mass plantings, big everything. Small delicate just doesn’t seem to work in the Australian countryside with it’s huge vistas and skies.
• And lastly, creating a garden which will not take night and day to maintain.

Our Aim. (We'r not expecting too much are we???)
• To create a garden which enhances the house inside and out.
• Is beautiful to look at and be in.
• Has flowers for looking at and cutting for inside.
• A garden which encourages bird life.

We are basing our ideas on 3 great Australian and 1 UK landscape architects/ designers/gardeners . The ideas of Paul Bangay (symmetry – defined hedged areas) www.paulbangay.com. We love picture # 5 in the town Garden photos. David Glenn (sustainable drought resistant plants and gardens) www.lambley.com.au . The photos of the dry garden are beautiful. Michael Bligh – who we received some advise from a long time ago. www.michaelbligh.com.au . Dan Pearson from the UK. I loved his TV shows. www.danpearsonstudio.com

So – we will see what happens and I will document the progress here. If we can pull together even half these ideas we will be a very happy couple.

Magic in the sky - the sun rainbow

When I arrived home yesterday after picking our son up from the bus stop, we were met with the most incredible late afternoon sky. The sun was wrapped in a bubble. I'm not sure what this is called technically as a "corona" is when there is an eclipse of the sun. This is something different. Fortunately I had my camera close by to capture what I will call a sun rainbow.

Baa lambs and Alpas Unite

Early Morning At The Bus Depot Market

Flower Growers Stall

"Celebration of Wool"

The Old Bus Depot Market was full of colour last week end when the annual “Celebration of Wool” took place. There were growers, spinners and knitters from many country areas of ACT, NSW and Victoria. The result was a warm rainbow of colour along with many beautiful natural tones of cream, brown and charcoal. So many people visit the “Celebration of Wool” Day and the Old Bus Depot was really alive with everyone looking and buying wool or beautiful knitted creations.

It is always on inspiring day and I didn’t escape without buying some beautiful wool to continue my learning to knit adventure. Anyone who has known me for a VERY long time will remember my pathetic attempts at knitting when I was at school. A more crooked and holey square you would not find. I was truly challenged in the knitting department. Well things have changed. After my time in Melbourne where I knitted a scarf on large needles in one night, I have the knitting bug. I have obviously grown up because so far I neither drop, not pick up stitches. What a relief. Not perfect by any means but a start. I an knitting a rug of squares for our family room.

 

I was lucky to be next to the protea growers from Albury

 

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.