Needlework and Tapestry Guild Exhibition...

I went to the Tapestry and Needlework Guild Annual Exhibition on Wednesday night - unfortunately my camera was playing up and with all the glass reflection - the photos I took aren't great - but they do give some indication of the standard of work... This year's theme was Black and White and all the Colours in between - you can see better photos over on G's blog... They picked up quite a few prizes for their needle prowess at the Royal Melbourne Show in September... Again the photos don't do them justice and of course there were lots to choose from and I did just snap at random - however I do have a soft spot for the Winnie the Pooh and Piglet - I have always loved that particular image of those two childhood friends... I can't really pick one against the other as a favorite - the one that took my breath away is the black and white Celtic image of the man with the sword hilt...Did I have an entry - of course not - like blogging I am a better looker than contributor...

As far as my own stitching is concerned I haven't done much more to my 'red lady' however I went on another 'hunting and gathering' expedition as I had a gift voucher from Sandlyn House - Moooroolbark - which was fast approaching its used by date... I tried to think of what I might be going to make in the future rather than just buy at random... I was a little naughty last week and bought this - from D - I admired her 'craft' for so long and when I saw this little bird I knew that it had to be mine - I fretted all day at work in case it had been sold before I got home - but God smiled and I purchased it... Looking forward to receiving it through the week... It must have been my week as I also won buttons from Giggle Buttons

Until next time...Take care...

Sharon xxx

It's amazing...

... how much more stitching you can get done while you have the plumber here and no water... Another few hours on this one will see it done...

Sharon xxx

Not quite what was planned...

If you have read the previous entry I had thought that I would be doing lots of stitching on my Browyn Hayes lady last Monday because I had the plumber coming to replace the hot water service and I would be 'waterless' for a few hours. However we all know about best laid plans...

Do you know how much stitching you can get done while you waiting in the emergency department of a hospital?? My eldest daughter took ill in the early hours of Monday morning and was in so much pain that she ended up at the local hospital - her partner was away overseas -so I went to keep her company. I threw my stitching in my bag as I know that the wait can be incredibly long and as it turned out I stitched almost solidly from 6am until 1.30pm when she was declared fit enough to go home...>

Thankfully M was ok - all her tests were clear - we think that is is an old problem which has resurfaced and is dietry related.

See you next time...

Sharon xxx

Surprise!!!

I had a lovely surprise from A - Feather Stitching - who has lived interstate for the last couple of years - has it really been that long!!!! It was so great coming home and finding a surprise waiting for me... When I opened it I found these inside - the angel is a needle keep - perhaps it will stop having to post 'needle' alerts especially in our dining room... The scissors have their own little pouch and are the most beautiful blue - they are complete with of A's own beaded scissor fobs which too has a little angel. I feel very special -thanks heaps A - it lifted my moral like a rocket booster!!!!!

I thought I would give you a update on my red work lady which is a Browyn Hayes design... One picture tells a 1000 words and as you can see not much more is done... Hopefully tomorrow, Monday I will get some more stitched as I have the plumber coming to install a new hot water system - which means I can't do anything much which involves using the water - which of course is just about everything in then house...

Until next time - always believe in magic - for it is those things which seem unbelievable which are often the truest...

Sharon xxx

Craft Expo 2009

On Saturday G and I went to craftexpo at the Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens - it had been many years since I had been to this venue and I had forgotten what a truly beautiful building it was.. It was such a fitting place for this sort of event... I had stumbled across some publicity for the craftexpo and had immediately joined up online for some more info... Of course I had to have an accomplice and I 'persuaded' G to come along to try out this newest exhibition with a solemn promise that it was just to look... I wasn't sure what it would be like and I had thought that we may be there for just a short time... We weren't!!!! P kindly dropped us off there at 8.30am - we left to come on just shy of 4pm - half an hour before it closed... I could of have stayed longer but the budget had long been forgotten and I was afraid what more damage I inflict...



Of course I didn't have my camera with me so I took the following shots on my phone...


Inside the main hall looking up...

I thought this window looked like a peacock's tail....

An external shot of the side of the building...

I received the programme a couple of weeks earlier...

As we arrived we received a complimentary bag - I said to G that they now provide you with something to haul your stash away with... We also got a free magazine - probably to keep us inspired- not that we needed it!!!!

I wanted to do a class with Brenda Ryan - she is always good value with both what she teaches and the class kit... She always gives you a practise piece to have at workshop which usually goes way to fast... The photo below is the take home kit...

Next we went to a demonstration by Giggle Buttons which as it turned out to be was Sonya who was the designer of the little blue house which I stitched just recently (scroll back a couple of entries). She seems a bit of a character and is very passionate about what she does... I bought a couple of her earlier designs to 'marry' with my house'...
Ummm... well, these were two things I 'had' to have... The Prairie Schooler chart was just one of many I could have bought... The BUTTERNUT ROAD chart is the companion to the other one I already have....

Here I have a bit of a theme working - more fat quarters for my cat stash and a small cross stitch I fell in love with as soon as I saw the stitched model...

And I admit this one was sheer indulgence - I have admired this design forever and when saw it I just had to have it.... Naughty I know..


These charms were just what I was looking for - especially the garden ones....

These were just 'stock up supplies' really a bit like tea and coffee - necessary...

All in all it was a really enjoyable day and I was pleasantly surprised - I went thinking that it may be 'a bit ordinary' and came away thinking it was the best one I had been to in a long while... It may have been smaller - but there was quality rather than quantity and I think that is the answer really... There was enough diversity to satisfy everyone...

Now what should I look at first...

Until next time - seek inspiration and catch it...

Sharon xxx