My BIG day out...

I arrived by train to Southern Cross station - a city train station at the top of the CBD of Melbourne...

...and crossed the river...

...taking the scenery as I walked...

... this view down the Yarra always sends shivers down my spine...

arriving at my 'heaven for a day'...

Yesterday I went to the Craft Fair here in Melbourne - it is the first time I have been to this particular event in a couple of years. I arrived an hour after it opened at 9am and I was still there at 7.30pm - half an hour before it closed. I had a wonderful day looking, admiring, learning and meeting up with old friends with a couple of coffee hot chocolate stops in between...

Usually I am quite restrained money wise - yesterday I was like a mad woman - and I must admit I spent more than I anticipated - and that was being fairly restrained. I did two workshops and sat in on a couple of freebies - one was a woman who does scrumbling or free form knitting as it is better known - she opened up a new horizon for me!!!!! Her jackets just took my breath away and sent my imagination racing - but luckily by then I had run out of money to do anything about it!!!!!!

Here was my day in pictures...

These two photos are of the workshops I did...

Wilma is a crazy patchwork chook - it was a different method of applying crazy patchwork and one that I might have a go at when next doing a block it seemed an easier way although its application takes a little longer...

This workshop was how to apply a soft paint wash to a design and then embroidering and embellishing over the wash.. I could see this could really be part of my repertoire.. I have done fabric painting before but never using it as a wash... This class I did last thing in the evening so there was a certain amount of pressure to at least get the painting done.

This little girl I fell in love with although there is a method in my madness - E has created a character that she would like to see developed as a softie or doll. This little doll design from Melly and me will help understand doll design and give me a practical place in which to start... Once upon a time I would have just passed her by - but she really caught my eye. I chose the fabric while I was there as I was determined that I would come home with the whole lot ready to start - someday!!!

This fabric was an impulse stash buy. The little clasps,beads, do-da's were from a beading stand - I thought they would be perfect 'crazy' embellishments...

This cross stitch pattern and indeed the next were... well, they simply were!!!! These are listed on my 'to do' for my next life...

...and this one - well I have always loved this image - the look of the baby and it gazes at its mother. I have always loved Mermaids as does my eldest daughter M - so imagine my surprise and delight when I saw it as a cross stitch pattern - a must have!!!! You wouldn't think to look at it that it has 39 colours all subtle blends - very subtle... The woman who sold it to me wished me luck with this one - I could understand what she meant when I opened the chart... It is the stuff that cross stitching nightmares are made of!!!!!!!! Nearly each square a different colour!!!!!

I just love this - I think something to do with my garden theme that I seem to be enveloped in lately...

... my excuse for this one is that I have been eyeing this kit off for about a year in the Fox Collection catalogue I receive every few months

So there ends my day of stash building - a good effort if I do say so....

The following photos are of a very, very small selection of wonderful quilts - some photos are a little dodgey so to see some better ones try Patra's Place blog...

Here is G - Patra's Place - at the chook crazy patchwork workshop - a study of concentration... Now where does that patch go?????

Three modern quilts...

...this twee one was beautifully stitched - patience beyond the call ...

...and one that has stood the test and rigors of time...

...unlike me who is shattered today after my big day out.

Only Time...

I came across Enya's 'Only Time' in my blog travels - I had forgotten how beautiful it was... It certainly took me by the hand for a stroll down memory lane...

I have found that music is the most evocative way of recalling a time, a place, an event, or even a person - either another or yourself as you were then..

My first recollection of Enya was 'Orionoco Flow' which I just loved - both the music and lyrics. From there I think I collected just about all her albums and each one holds a special memory for me...

Years ago - in another life, in this life time - I remember when I was in the creating zone I would put one of her albums on and allow the music to wash over me it seemed to unlock that part of myself that needed to be expressed at that time. Her music never failed to inspire me. Enya's work has always given me a sense of adventure -but also a sense of peace...

It has been a while since I have either listened to Enya or used her music as part of a creating tool - perhaps when I have more time I might have another go...

** Speaking of time - I have been offered extra hours at work - unfortunately I have had to let go my Thursdays off to accomodate them...

The Best News...

My friend L who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer has been declared cancer free!!!!!!!! The second attempt surgery went like a dream and the tumour was removed intact... She is to have some follow up chemo - but her surgeon in his words "believes she is now free of this disease"...

This has been the best news I have had all year...

Image - Healing Cards - Caroline Myss & Peter Occhiogrosso

The Forgotten Garden...

My latest read - Kate Morton's 'The Forgotten Garden' - is keeping me occupied. It is somewhere to indeed get lost in... I like a lot of readers, imagination is always spiked with the idea of a walled garden, locked and forgotten about. This particular garden on the Cornwall coast has been abandoned for 100 years... The Forgotten Garden is a perfect read for these cold winter nights safe in bed or cosy by the heater. I will add this book to my collection as it would be one that I would read again. At the moment I am reading the reading copy from work - this is one of the perks at working in the book trade - getting to read some of the books before they are out on the shelf.

I have been toying around with creating another 'crazy' block but have been unable to think of a theme - this book has so ignited my imagination I can see it been carried over into a block...

I am also looking out for Kate Morton's first book - 'The Shifting Fog' (also called 'The House at Riverton') - which too sounds appealing... As if I didn't have enough books to read...

Forever Young

On a whim I bought this month's 'Australian Country Craft'... While I was browsing through it I came across an article by Rick Rutherford - in it he mentions the Bob Dylan song 'Forever Young' - not to be confused with the other versions - Rod Stewart or Youth Group to name but two.

Rick's article suggested that the lyrics had had quite an effect on him - in his words "It was one of those deeply, insightful heaven-ordained moments in life that happen infrequently, but usually occur when one needs them most ..." This was enough for me to find the whole lyrics and have a read myself.


P found the Joan Baez version from the Net and it is indeed a beautiful song. I have included the lyrics below...


May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.



May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.



May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.


Bob Dylan