Stitching progress and Craft Fair quilts

I have been a little under the weather this week with a dreaded cold! It is amazing how tired a cold makes you. So I have had a little at home this morning and have been doing some hand stitching on this Sewing Angel Toolstore, another gorgeous pattern by Anni Downs. The top applique bits had been done ages ago and I just hadn't managed the time to make the pockets etc. There is a lot of handstitching on this project. This is the outside.

 These are the inside pockets to be filled with sewing goodies. It only needs binding now.

I did want to share these pictures of just a few of the many amazing quilts at the Sydney quilt show.

 I just love the felt used on this one.

 This one is made by a very special young lady who visits Hobbysew quite frequently with her talented mum, Helen Godden. How amazing for one so young!

 I do love mini quilts and this one was very special.

 I just love Michelle Hiill's beautiful work with William Morris images. This quilt was so beautiful.

Skype stitching and some show and tell

I was supposed to be in England this week and had planned to enjoy a stitching day with the girls in Hay. They looked like they had a lovely day together. Good food and company and enjoyed making the kits that I sent by post! They were making the projects Fiona and I did at the last stitching day here in Canberra. Here are some photos they put on facebook. I can't seem to get them to go where they are supposed to!

I came home at 10pm and had a chat with them on skype! So glad they all had a lovely day and wish I had been there.

 I couldn't resist starting my new scarf. Lovely coloured wool though I took me a few goes to get the hang of the pattern.

 Barbara brought this wonderful quilt she has made for us to see. Lots of tricky cutting and piecing. Well done Barbara.

I forgot to show this lovely block finished recently by Karen. 

Karen has planned what she is using for her centre block of My Town. Looks great. She is going to add a few other things and some embroidery so it will be lovely when finished.

Craft Show Shopping

Shopping, shopping, shopping! It was so lovely to see all the samples on the stalls and it was all very tempting. I couldn't resist Natalie Bird's new book, Red Home. It is full of beautiful projects,

 There were some great books on Quiltmania's stall. I bought this one even though it is in French! Can I remember any of my schoolgirl french! There are wonderful pictures and diagrams so that will help.

 I have been admiring this range for a while so the layer cake just had to come home with me.

 A few new patterns to make!

 My biggest spend was on Anni Downs' stall as the kits for the projects in her new book were so lovely.

 Just NEEDED some wool too.

Oh dear....so many things to make but such fun buying them.

Stitching in the Hills Retreat

Do you love stitching retreats?

We have had a couple of ladies who have had to pull out of our Stitching in the Hills Retreat at Warrambui (40 minutes  north of Canberra) from 10th to 12th August.   As we have organised kits etc. already, if you think you might be interested in joining us for a weekend of fun and laughter with some stitching and eating thrown in, please email me and I will provide you with further details.   Final numbers must be in by next week and we just thought a couple of you may be interested in joining us.   $290.00 includes two nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea on both days, fully kitted projects, and some other special surprises we have in store.     If you were thinking of coming to the Canberra Craft Show, it is on the same weekend, so you could sneak in a visit to the Canberra Craft Show on Friday morning and come out to start the Retreat late Friday afternoon!   Sound tempting??    If you think you like the sound of this let me know a.s.a.p.  

I am just about to work with this lovely thread and linen! I wonder what it will be?

Sydney Craft and Quilt Show

Paddy and I headed to Sydney on Thursday so we could go to the Craft show on Friday. We had a great day. Lots of lovely shopping and looking and very tired legs at the end of all that walking! Here are some views of the many stalls from above.

 We, of course, headed straight to Hatched and Patched to see Anni and to see all her gorgeous books, kits and all the lovely samples. Her kits were far too tempting and I came home with lots to make from her lovely new book.

 There were some great displays too. I wanted to eat these licorice allsorts. These were on a display of creative clothing.

 These wonderful tea cosies looked fabulous! The author of these great knitting books was signing them on this stall. Aren't they just amazing!

 One of the highlights of the day was catching up with fellow bloggers at a special meeting at lunch time. Here are Fiona and Chookyblue.

 Here I am with Fiona, Dzintra and Patricia....thanks Susan for letting me know.

 It was great to catch up with Kate too. It was handy that we were colour coordinated.

 Nice to see Sandy as well.

 Isn't it amazing how many of us blog!

 The best name badge belonged to Alison.

It was very special to catch up with lots of the ladies whose blogs I enjoy and to meet some others as well. Thanks Chooky for organising the meeting. Then it was back to more serious shopping!