Mulgrave Farmers/Makers Market

With three weeks until I'm due to be at the Mulgrave Maker's Market, I thought I'd better go check out this months to see how it all works. Unfortunately the weather was less than helpful, being both cold and rainy. And I forgot to take my camera..

But the farmer's market has a great selection of fresh veg, fruit, meats and cheeses, which I'm sure I'll be returning too.

The maker's market section also looked quite good; a nice selection of fabric craft, as well as jewellery and other assorted items. It also gave me some good ideas on how to display my items.

(pic from the market blog)

The crowd wasn't huge, but I attribute that to the weather; hopefully next month the weather is on my side!

Trolley Make-Over and some Hunky Dory

This weekend just gone, I decided I needed a project which didn't require hours hunched over the sewing machine; with all the preparation for the maker's market, I'm all sewed-out, plus the weather was just beautiful. Instead I decided to makeover a trolley which I plan to use at the market.

Unfortunately, the trolley has been out in the backyard for most of its life, and the paint has faded and flaked away, leaving a few rusty patches.

So I got the trolley out on the lawn, brushed it down, and applied a coat of undercoat which is suitable for metal, left over from the filing cabinet I painted a few months back.

Then I took to it with the remaining pink spray paint. It's not perfect, its a bit bumpy where the metal had rusted, and there were a few missed patches where I couldn't get in behind the wheels. But overall, a much nice looking trolley than before; far more suitable for market. I'm not sure my mum is too impressed with her pink front lawn though....

Last night I got around to putting the binding on the Hunky Dory cot quilt. If I wasn't planning on selling it, I'd almost want to keep it!

Australian Quilt Market

As a new business, I made my very first visit to Australian Quilt Market (AQM) yesterday. While nowhere near as impressive as International Quilt Market, it's a good chance to see some upcoming fabrics in person and check out the latest from some fantastic Aussie designers.

I visited the Creative Abundance booth where I spoke to the very lovely Natalie Ross and collected a heap of catalogues, so I'll be ordering some new patterns in soon. I also managed to snap up a copy of Kaleidoscope, and a bundle of fat quarters of Where the Wind Blows by Melanie Hurlston of Melly & Me fame.

I also checked out the upcoming fabrics from Saffron Craig, and hope to get a few of those in stock at some point.

I must admit, the booth showing off Moda fabrics was a lot less impressive than I expected; just a table with a few new fabrics, and two or three quilts hanging opposite. I managed to snag a pack of charm packs of Just Wing It! , an upcoming range for MoMo which will be available in the new year. They are available in my store now.

Sneak Peek

I've just finished quilting my Hunky Dory Coin Quilt, using straight lines for the first time.

Really pleased with how it looks, though the backing is more rippled than I'm used to, despite using a walking foot. Gives it a nice softeness though, so I'm not particularly worried.

Martinique on Sale

If you're after a bargain, Martinique by 3 Sisters for Moda is now on sale at Bella's Patchwork.

Fabric from the bolt is now $15 per meter, and layer cakes are $35 each.

Generational Differences

Afternoon tea with my mum and my grandma yesterday really highlighted the differing priorities of the generations. I was happily explaining my plans for next year: to finish uni, spend 5 weeks overseas then come home and apply for jobs for the following year. I figured I was unlikely to get a job mid way through term 3 or in term 4, and that it would be difficult to travel for that length of time (at that time of year), once I had a teaching position. While I don't feel I fit the media's portrayal of a Gen Y, I do feel that life if for living, and experiences such as travel make for a richer life.

My grandma was horrified. In her opinion, my priority should be to find a job, then a partner (I think she's quite disappointed I'm single and not providing great-grand children yet), then worry about travel.

Yet, she explains that she didn't get to travel until she was 51, having married very young and had three kids. Similarly, my mum (a Baby Boomer) married young, had me a bit later, and still hasn't been overseas.

Coincidentally, an article was published in a Sunday magazine yesterday regarding the exact topic. Many people of my generation still live at home and are still working out where we stand in terms of careers. Housing prices make buying your own place almost impossible, especially for a single girl like myself. The article even mentions a girl my age who had moved out of home, had the desired career and the long term relationship, but tossed it all in to travel.

Times have definitely changed, and us Gen Ys certainly have more opportunities than the previous generations. At this point in my life I choose travel, then job, then family. No regrets!

12 Days of Christmas

When 12 Days of Christmas (by Kate Spain) came out, I didn't really pay it much attention. Christmas isn't really quilt weather here in Australia, where we can have days in the mid 40s. But in full market-preparation mode, I decided some christmasy stockings would go along nicely with the ones I've already made from Whimsy, Bliss and Hunky Dory.

Luckily I managed to find a store still stocking the range, bought myself a few nice fat quarters, and two hours later had two more cute stockings.

I'm loving these; it's a pity they aren't used all year round!

Cot Quilts

Two cute little cot quilts. The first is done using the Wild Thing block, in a 4x5 configuration with a narrow border, and using Whimsy.

The second is a simple coin quilt, 16 coins per stack, 2.5 inch (unfinished) sashing and a 5 inch (unfinished) border, using Hunky Dory.

Late afternoon is not the best time for great photos!

Christmas Stockings

I've booked a stall at the Mulgrave Maker's Market for December, and am busily trying out new ideas for things to sell. Given the proximity to christmas, I thought a few stockings might be a good idea.

I used the pattern and instructions available on the Moda Bake Shop, but kind of went my own way and modified it a little (no cuff). Now that I've got the method down pat, I'm going to make a few variations in some more funky/modern fabrics.

Update: I spent the arvo working on two more stockings, out of Whimsy and Bliss charms.