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Saturday, July 24, 2010

A Wonderful Day with Old & New Friends



I had the best day yesterday!  We left home at 6am and headed down the Hume Highway for a day in Melbourne at the Quilt Show.  We visited the quilt exhibition first and there were many wonderful quilts made by some very talented ladies.  This is a snapshot of a small portion of my favourites.



This was AMAZING!  The display was called "Art U Wear Challenge" and the theme was Alice in Wonderland.  Please click on the photo to enlarge it so you can see the amazing costumes.

Once we finished looking at the quilts, it was time for shopping.  My favourtie stall was Threadbear and who did I see behind the counter helping Corliss - Di Ford of Phebe and Sarah Morrell fame.  Di's new work in progress was on display and it is amazing.  I recommend you all to go visit secretsewingsisterhood and be inspired by the work that Di and her friends do.

Me, Jan & Jean

While we were swooning over everything at Threadbear, Jan spotted Jean from Linen & Raspberry!  We were so excited!!!!  I love all Jean's work and we have gotten to know each other through blogging but to actually meet face to face was so good.  We were like a group of schoolgirls laughing and getting photos taken and totally amazed that we ran into each other. 


Jean, Jan and I bought Corliss's new pattern, The English Basket Quilt.  It is absolutely stunning and I need another major project like a hole in the head but just couldn't walk past this one.  In fact, I want to make every quilt that Threadbear had on display!


After all the excitement of meeting Jean & Di, it was time for some serious shopping and here are a few of my purchases.  I was so very very bad.


This isn't a very good photo but I just had to show you this linen I found.  It is gorgeous and the only problem was that I could only get a 30cm piece.



Michelle and I also got to meet Lynette Anderson!  She was demonstrating Punch Needle and we bailed her up with lots of questions about the thread she was using.  The brand is Cosmo and it comes wound in two threads on the spool - no more separating DMC threads.  It's fantastic and Lynette was lovely to chat to and very generous with her tips and advice.  I purchased a few threads and of course I couldn't leave without a pattern featuring her beautiful dog, Hugo.  Michelle confessed to us on the way home a secret she had been keeping all afternoon, she signed up for Lynette's new Christmas BOM.  Michelle is fast becoming the BOM Queen!


Elyte, Linda & me

Before we knew it, it was time for afternoon tea and we organised to meet Linda Collins from Quilts in the Barn fame.  And who should we run into, but Elyte from Tea, Fabric & Other Things!  Linda holds a quilt exhibition in her barn each year to raise money for Breast Cancer and this year, Di Ford and the Secret Sewing Sisterhood are the guest exhibitors.  I am really looking forward to travelling down in October to attend.  I have, as with Jean, developed a friendship with these two lovely girls and it was great to finally meet each other.

Before we knew it, the day was over and it was time to head back up the highway.  We stopped for dinner at our new favourite Chinese restaurant and apart from a detour through Nagambie due to a double truck accident (we were nearly to Shepparton Linda!), we had a nice uneventful safe trip and arrived home at 10.30pm with thanks to Helen for doing all the driving.   A very long day but well worth it to spend the day with my beloved Friday Girls and meet all my wonderful new friends.

Sue-Anne xxx


31 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a lovely day you must have had. I loved the pictures and it is nice to see what you look like :-)

Karen said...

Oh, how I wish I had been there to go with you! I love the Alice in Wonderland quilt that you show a picture of.
I would love to have "The English Basket Quilt" pattern. I was on Threadbear's website a few days ago and do not remember seeing that pattern. It is a beauty.

Katrien said...

What a wonderfull day you have got.
You byed lovely things and you have seen nice things.
Normally Lynette will be in Birmingham,so i shall meet her too,she has such a lovely pattern.
Have a nice time.

Sue said...

Sounds like a fantastic day meeting up with friends and SHOPPING. What more could a girl ask for.

Valentina said...

Oh Sue-Ann, thanks for sharing this lovely day with us! What gorgeous quilts and fun meetings. :) I am drooling over the english basket pattern... Oh wow! I know you'll make a beauty!

Karen said...

Isn't it fun being very, very bad! You came home with lots of goodies. I just LOVE The English Basket Quilt and the Cosmo thread is very exciting.

Mayleen said...

What a fun day you had! Beautiful quilts, new patterns to make, some shopping and meeting friends!

Daniëlle said...

What a great day you had!! Meeting friends like this is meant to be!! Take my word for it! You have bought some gorgeous fabrics, the Cosmo thread looks great, never heard of it though. Great pattern, had a look at their blog pfffff such lovely things! Drooling too hihi!! Happy stitchting, hugs, Daniëlle

Marieke said...

Wow: you had a great day! You've met great people, made new friends AND bought wonderful things! You will have lots of fun processing everything!

Terry said...

Sue-Anne thankyou for a lovely look at the show and friends. I fell like I've met so many new people visiting all the links. thank you for sharing.

Have fun using your purchases. I found my shopping from the Sydney show yesterday. Life is returning to some version of normal.
Enjoy Terry

Cardygirl said...

Thankyou for sharing your fabulous day! Great to catch up with friends and I love all your treats...have fun!

Julie said...

sounds like a fantastic day sue-anne. i bet you slept well!

Kaaren said...

I wish I could have been there with you gals.

What a fantastic day you had with friends...not to mention your wonderful purchases.

Elyte said...

Hey Sue-Anne it was such a treat to meet you and Linda so unexpectedly. I would have liked to spend a bit more time talking to you but maybe next time. We all had so much to do in such a small space of time. Glad you all had a safe trip home with all your treasures. Looking forward to seeing you displaying your English Basket Quilt in the (near? Ha! Ha!) future.

Lynette said...

Thanks for sharing your fabulous day - I am green with envy wish I lived close enough to go

Nat Palaskas said...

Hey Sue-Anne, what a fun day you had at the show. You are very controlled with your shopping. I love the English pattern from Threadbear and that linen piece is so gorgeous. Meeting up with all the blogger ladies much have been fun - have a great Sunday - Hugs Nat

Cubby House Crafts said...

Pleased you had such a great day! Lovely lot of purchases...I am keen to try those Cosmos threads too!
Lisa ʚϊɞ

antique quilter said...

oh what a wonderful show this must have been and meeting up with these ladies must have been a treat too!
Lucky you
the basket quilt pattern looks amazing, did you get a picture of the quilt in the booth?
Kathie

Barb said...

Wow - Looks like you had a great time -
love all your loot, that patterns in amazing. Quilt days with girlfriends are the best! thanks for sharing - any quilt photos - or was it a no no?

Shirley said...

Well, I think I have enjoyed the show as much as you have without actually being there. Now you realise My itchy little fingers are going to be hovering the threadbear site eager to buy that pattern, hmmmn. All those lovely ladies you have met up with too.
Love Shirley.x

Julia said...

How gorgeous...wish I could have been there..Love that pattern..hmm, may need to do some shopping!
Julia ♥

Marianne D said...

Wow,what a lovely day! And I'm totally crazy about your new pattern...The English Basket Quilt...happy sewing!

Wilma Kuin said...

Sounds like a fantastic day meeting up with friends. Love that pattern....

gerda said...

What a loveley pattern "english baskets" ..and the fabric..yammie..;0))
Its always nice to spend a day with friends..;0)
and the tread for punch needle looks verry thin...is it cotton???
have a nice day..

Annemieke said...

What a great day you must have had with your friends! I love your new pattern and spent some(!) time on the threadbear site. Difficult to choose from...
Groetjes
Annemieke

Marjan said...

A great story about a wonderful day...
I love the pattern of the English basket quilt! Enjoy it!

julieQ said...

Looks like such wonderful fun! I love the English Basket quilt pattern...just so pretty.

Jossie said...

Wow that sounds like a wonderful and exciting day. Too bad I live at the other end of the world ;-( Thank you for sharing the lovely pictures.
Jossie

quilting Jeannet said...

What a great day you have whit your quilting friends, abd I see it in the same way about Threatbears, I love all their patterns!! Only to finf the time is a problem.

greetings, jeannet

scraps and stitches said...

Hi Sue-Ann,just love your blog....well I was looking on the net for Yuwa Fabric(my fav)and I came across a site that has the linen fabric in your post....https://www.patchworkhouse.com.au/products/index.php/store/category/7
just thought I'd pass it on....Happy stitching Lisa

Sandra Henderson said...

What a FUN day!~and I adore the piece of linen you were able to get. Everything is just gorgeous!~especially when your friends were able to join you! :)