In a place far far away...

Somewhere, someone is taking a break in a place that looks like this and drinking cocktails with fruit in them...yum! Bliss....good for the soul!

Cardygirl xx

What could this mean?

Super cute bag from Anni Downs' new book..."Some Kind of Wonderful"...great travel size...hmmm?

I used some Denyse Schmidt scraps and some linen from the stash. Anni's version had some embroidery, but I can barely sit still at present, let alone embroider...I think this looks okay though.

It is machine quilted and I love the lining fabric...it is full of goodies. I added a little lady beetle as a zip pull...I bought it a couple of years ago whilst visiting Beijing.

Loading some new music this evening...scared the oh so grown up offspring with a "youth attack"...oh I felt twenty again...loud singing..."Ita" and "Cheap Wine"and "Teach your children"...where did the years go?

Sounds like I need a break away!

 Cardygirl xx

Catching up.

A bit of sewing done, and an assignment complete...time whizzes by!

 Le Petite finished early for this month as there is a lot happening and knew it could be forgotten.

The fabric is Hideaway, the Schnibbles pattern, George. I was not sure about this one, but as it came together I just loved it...as I seem to love them all!

Mum recently celebrated her birthday...she never "needs" anything...so I made her a lap quilt and one of my Le Petite quilts will hang on her wall. She was happy! I even bound them super fast.

Cardygirl xx

Cross stitch...mmm delicious!

Cross stitch is a bit of a release for me...a few quiet minutes, no sewing machine, rotary cutter or iron...quick and portable (provided I have light and sadly...magnification!).

I am currently working on this design... 

 Feather Your Nest- With Thy Needle& Thread

DMC cotton-1 strand

28ct Cashel linen

Worked over 1 thread

Slow progress, but relaxing. Nowadays I have to enlarge the chart too...sigh...but that is okay...but what wasn't okay was the way this obviously delicious design was nibbled...hmmm...any ideas? I suppose this may have been what was meant by "Sampler"???? 

Cardygirl xx

Great weather for playing with fabric!

It has been such a bitterly cold weekend...icy winds...and hard to find a warm spot really!

Back into an assignment, but I decided to have some reward time too...fabric time!

Playing with these sweet blocks for Le Petite...

made this mess!

Hoping to visit a loved one who has been travelling for such a long time...it might mean I need a little bag to hold some stitching when I am flying.

Inspired by Anni's bag in her new book "Some Kind of Wonderful", I didn't have time to add the stitcheries, just let some scraps do all the work. Still need to construct it and then get some plane friendly stitching organised. Hopefully the trip will come off...it would be nice to have a break...and even nicer to catch up with family if possible...will have to keep my fingers crossed!

Cardygirl xx

Just quickly...

...this week has whizzed past with work and lots of miles on the highway and still more to do!

After returning from the quilt show in Sydney, I had plans for some quiet catch up & a bit of play with these delicious purchases...then I remembered that the next little quilt with Le Petite was due...eeek...grab fabrics...cut...sew...tada!

Then my Semester 2 subject started...download the notes...lots of berating of self for taking it on...

but best of all my sweet daughter graduated from her Honours year...a special day!

It was great to have Mum with us to share the excitement.

What on earth would girls who wear shoes like this work as????

 Cardygirl xx

More Quilt Show fun...

Besides seeing all the stunning quilts, catching up with friends, old and new, is always a great part of the Quilt Show at Darling Harbour in Sydney each year.

Some I see more often, some only at the show and some I meet for the first time. It is great recognising each other, catching up on news and planning next meetings. I suppose we are like modern day penpals.
Here are some quick pics...

Maree and the truly delightful Michelle Hill...

 With Chookyblue, Shiralee Sandy and Sandy N (who I spotted working on a stand...felt like a stalker!)...

 Anni from Hatched and Patched (always beautiful, not to mention her SNAG hubby Pete!) with Anita, Chooky and myself...

The very clever Sue Daley who is so generous with her paper piecing knowledge.

And lastly some of the bloggers who met for a chat... great to see you Sandy, Anita, Lynda, Alison, Maree, Sylvia, Trish and Chooky!
Final pics tomorrow!
Cardygirl xx

Now the countdown begins again!

Until the Quilt Show at Darling Harbour next year! Oh, I enjoy it so much and eagerly prepare for my time there. This year Lea & I stayed in Sydney for one night as we usually do the 7hr round trip in one very long day. We have talked for some time about having a "sleepover" and were fortunate enough to be able to do it this year. We left home at 0530hrs and headed for the big smoke, the only hiccup was a wrong turn near our destination...some frantic searching through the street directory...a little fraying of my good humour, but we finally arrived safely and hit the show!

Lots to see, but sadly some favourites were not there, like amitie and Patchwork on Central Park...might have to head to Melbourne to see them in their natural habitats...hmmm.

Always on my must see and spend list is Material Obsession. Love them, love them, love them! And Kathy, Kate and Liesl are such beautiful ladies...I feel so welcome and love catching up with what they are up to. It is like falling into a shimmering pool of colour, inspiration and warmth...good for the soul, and my head is left bursting with ideas. 

I attended a talk with Kathy and Reece Scannell ( his shot cottons are truly beautiful) about colour...amazing stuff...now I need to reorganise my stash into tones. The most amazing thing about this talk, besides all the colour info, was looking at myself, my colour choices, my likes and dislikes and realising what this says about me. So much cheaper than therapy is this fabric addiction of ours!

More tomorrow- purchases, bloggy friends, Quilt Show and who else we caught up with! Surprise meetings, recognition and inspirational friends.  A few camera issues to be sorted, so I can show you lots more!

A fun look at my corner of this crafty world we all share!

 Cardygirl xx

If you see this bag...

in the next few days...then you have probably seen me!

Off to Sydney very early in the morning to the Quilt Show...yay!

Bought this fabric from Material Obsession last year...

the vintage buckle a few years ago...

and they will be shopping with me tomorrow!

So excited!

Cardygirl xx

Are you going to the show?

Are you going to the Darling Harbour quilt show? Chookyblue has suggested a gathering...see here. I am so looking forward to catching up with my wonderful crafty friends!

Cardygirl xx