Hand Made in Bloom Review

I ask myself the night before each Handmade, “Will there be as many people visiting as the last one?” I don’t know why I ask this because the Handmade Market never disappoints. It is Canberra’s - if not Australia’s - premier market for all the beautiful things which are handmade. So much talent from so many parts of Australia join together to create an event which people mark in their diaries as THE event which they just can’t wait to attend every quarter. It is busy from before opening till after closing time with visitors enjoying the Handmade experience – buy handmade with pride and joy.

As the afternoon came along and lunch called the many hungry shoppers to the variety of tempting eateries, the feeling of the market changed to one of a festival. It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the springtime sunshine with family and friends in the beautiful surrounds of Kanberra Wine Company. I’m pretty sure that the rock feature, bridge and pools were not built as a children’s adventure play ground but this area fulfilled this task perfectly. One of my favourite views was a Dad holding hands with his little boy, tightrope walking along the rock wall. It reminded me of ABC Catalyst show in Thursday evening about the type of play Dad’s do with their children. The play that Mum’s (no matter how old) find hard to watch but which is so incredibly fantastic. Just plain old fashioned pure fun.

Here is a link to some fantastic photos of the day by Tania McCartney http://canberrahandmademarket.blogspot.com/2010/09/handmade-market-blooming-fabulous.html  Thank you so much to everyone who popped by to say hi and say they enjoyed looking at the new work I have been creating. I had a fabulous day.

Handmade in Bloom - 2010

Well - apart from at least half a dozen ice cream buckets scattered all around my studio to catch drips of water from the torrential rain over the week-end, I am on track for “Handmade in Bloom” on Saturday at Kanberra Wine Company. What a week-end!! Lovely, lovely rain – even blowing sideways. The result is overflowing dams and a raging torrent turning the creek into a wild stretch of rapids and water falls. You can still hear it from the house. Awe inspiring.

Handmade - this time in Bloom, coincides with the first day of Canberra’s famous Floriade. Spring is here and cherry blossoms are everywhere making a gorgeous and very pretty show. It’s a bit colder than the same time last year, but Spring is here none the less.

I’m really looking forward to setting up my little shop at Handmade. I will have new work, including some little owls, along with a larger section for visitors wishing to try Paper Quilting for themselves. I will have my 4 new patterns for cards which I launched in Melbourne – Cinderella Shoe, Afternoon Tea Dress, Handbag and Christmas tree along with the beginners Gift Tag Kit. These are great as presents for crafty friends and family. I will also have my sample packs of the most beautiful Anna Griffin papers. I decided while I was in Melbourne that I would stock Anna’s papers. They are very hard to source in Australia and they are very hard to beat for quality and colour. They are perfect for Paper Quilting, card projects, scrap booking and for people who love paper. To say I adore them is an understatement.

I'm also looking forward to wearing my new apron. (what on earth you may say). Well I love aprons by Nell Design. http://www.nelldesign.net/ . This is my second apron by Nell which I found at ArteForge a lovely shop in Fyshwick http://www.arteforge.com.au/ - and they have become my uniform for work. Fantastic.

I look forward to seeing you at lovely Handmade in Bloom this Saturday, 11th September, 10am – 4pm - Kanberra Wine Company, Northbourne Avenue, Epic, Canberra.

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.

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.