Just a Kiss AND Aloha!

The clever clever Miss Nikki has released a new purse pattern .... who can't say "No" to a little kiss??
Here is mine in Anna Maria Horner fabric ....

And there are just the cutest little purse feet on her back side ....

Check those clasps - KISSING!

The frame is 200mm - super cute for a special little evening purse.

And look what I found on my doorstep this week ..... well actually I had to go to the Post Office to collect, but this makes a nicer photo ..... ( I have actually swept this since the photo in case the clean police are out there watching me!!)


All the way from the lovely Miss Shannon (Mushy Wear) in HAWAII ...... a box of gorgeousness in Purple Splendour ......
You know how people say - "I never win anything - not even at the Chook Raffle" ...... well .... my number certainly came up this time - I won it on her recent giveaway!!!!!   YAY!!!!!  Here is my daughter eagerly opening the exciting parcel ...

A gorgeous beach towell - which will be very well used .... and Chocolate Macadamia Nuts, a lovely lovely HANDMADE purple linen bag that Shannon made - already has been put to good use! Sweet Onion Macadamia nuts - haven't tried them yet, After Sun lotion and pineapple shaped Playing Cards .... such a wonderful range of goodies - thank you so much ...... and go and visit her blog - she is a super stylish clever girl!!

 And speaking of super stylish clever girls - head on over to Western Australia - right this very minute ..... the gorgeous Miss Carolyn is having a giveaway .... Good Luck!  Kiss Kiss!!

ASG Industry Day Ryde

Yesterday Nicole and I traveled to Sydney for the Australian Sewing Guild Industry Day, Crowle Home at Ryde. Crowle Home is operated by Achieve Australia - a support organisation for disabled people - they do some fabulous work and they have a Vintage and Value Enterprise where they raise money by selling donated goods ...... here's where the sewing fits in ..... they have a "Fabric Cave" and a "Needlecraft Emporium" .... well, goodness me, I've never seen such an amazing collection of ... well, EVERYTHING!! Patterns, books, haberdashery - you name it - they'll have it - bargain prices - and it's all guilt free because the money goes to a worthy cause - thanks to the wonderful volunteers!  They are only open Monday and Friday and the 1st Sunday of every month - they also have an upcoming Fete - 6th November, 9am - 4pm. Their number is 02 8878 3353.  Here are some snaps of the goods on offer .....

Colour Coded Fabrics!!!

We also had a talk from Gaku and Tina Imada from Japan Made with their exquisite collection of Japanese Textiles.

Lastly we had Kate Marra from Babylock. She had some new machines to show us. I was particularly interested in the Coverstitch machine - she had tonnes of samples to show us - things not only utilising CoverStitch , but also the overlocker ....

This machine just does a Sashiko stitch - a hand look running stitch - it was impressive - so was the price tag $3895 AUD ... interesting!

As always it was an informative and very pleasant day.   Do I really need a Coverstitch machine .... I think I do!!!
And for the locals .... BROWN OWLS is on TUESDAY night 12th Oct at Nords Wharf!

Fabric Finds from Melbourne and Feelin' Hot Hot Hot?

I'm in two minds as to whether or not blog about the small amount of fabric I purchased in Melbourne - because of course now it is on public record and I am now fully accountable to actually do as I plan - phew! Can I cope with such responsibility....? We shall see.... First up, from Frou Frou in Glen Waverley... this mid to heavy weight cotton based (not sure how to describe the fabric - it's not a drill - but it has a definite weave dominance...?) with some spandex - check the underside - very interesting ...

And I'm thinking this old skirt pattern might be good  (look - it cost $2.90!!! Very old!) - the picture on the left ..

For my daughter, this lovely soft as soft sateen ....

for this Burda adaptation of their Sidonie Skirt ......"Marina's High Waist Floral Skirt"....

Now, this is my favourite ........

Another sateen- decent weight - not flimsy ....

and I'm thinking this Vogue 1114 - just reading the reviews and there are some interesting comments - but all the made up dresses look great - encouraging!!!

 Lastly from Frou Frou, I bought some black mesh - 2 weights - for some Marcy Tilton Tops, and some Fold Over Elastic - hard to find anywhere else - I've just been discussing this with kbenco - so if anyone else knows who supplies this - it would be nice to know.

Now, how exciting is this black linen photo??? From Rathdowne Remnants - for some simple elastic waist throw on pants for summer ....

Another one for my daughter - a floral cotton for one of those simple little gathered skirts with black elastic at the waist - I'll add a black rib casing for the ultra thick elastic .....

So... not too bad? Hopefully I'll be able to report back with finished products .....

Speaking of exciting photos ..... Feelin' Hot Hot Hot? Yes, especially when removing things from my oven .... time to make amends ...

Even my son sauntered in and had a go ...

Ikea fabric - much better!

Yummy Melbourne

Just returned from a whirlwind trip to lovely lovely Melbourne with my 13 year old daughter .... so here is a snapshot summary of our adventures ....caught up with Nikki at Brunswick ...it was great to see her studio and the engine room of her shop ......

Saw the fabulous and amazing and so much fun musical "Hairspray"

Also saw "West Side Story" at the Regent Theatre ....

The "RockWiz" fans will recognise this place ....

Next stop - Glen Waverley - Frou Frou Fabrics - hmmm - yum!

Now Haigh's chocolates aren't a Melbourne thing, but since we don't have them in Newcastle, they are worthy of a mention ....

AbbaWorld  - for a trip down memory lane - totally amazing - do you remember wishing that YOU were in ABBA? Do you remember these costumes?

And should you need roller skates I can recommend a great shop ....

There is only so much walking a gal can do - in Brunswick I also purchased fabric at Rathdowne Remnants, but there were many other places on my list (thanks Sharon for the list!) that remain on my list .... another time maybe??

On another note .... read about our first Brown Owls meeting here ......