Catching up with Jess in Ballarat

I had the most awesome day on Thursday!  I drove down to Ballarat with my co-pilot Mum (it's about 1.5 hours drive south west of Bendigo), and met up with my gorgeous "Quilty Sister" Jess as she was passing through on her recent road-trip from Queensland to Melbourne (she's on the home trek now).

 

Jess & Fiona aka "Scrappy n Happy" & "Bendigo Lioness"

Bendigo (where I live) is the top town marked on the map - it is about 1.5 hours drive from here to Ballarat.

We had arranged to meet up at Alison's shop - the Cotton Factory, and Jess had also arranged to meet up with Jodie from Ric Rac.  This was the first time I had physically met any of them (although we often chat online) and we had a lot of laughs!

  

Jess & Jodie from "Ric Rac"
(can you see Alison photo-bombing in the background?)

 

Alison (Cotton Factory), Jodie (Ric Rac), Fiona (Bendigo Lioness) & Jess (Scrappy N Happy)

 After our visit, strange posts started to appear on Instagram...
 

posted by Alison

 

posted by Jodie

 

Apparently I "cook, sew, have great hair & I give good muffin"... oh deary deary me...

After we left the Cotton Factory, Jess joined Mum and I as we visited the Crafty Squirrel and Gail's Patchwork Emporium.  It was here that we bid farewell to Jess. Mum and I then headed off to get some lunch and then had coffee & macarons at McCafe.  We squeezed in a quick visit to the Elephant Patch before leaving Ballarat for the journey back to Bendigo.  I will detail these visits in coming posts over the next few days, including our stop on the way home at Maldon. 

 

Macarons & Coffee for afternoon tea at MacDonalds

The Next Day:

I know that Jess hasn't had a chance to open the box of presents that I gave her yet, but these are the gorgeous goodies which she so generously gave to me (I didn't get a chance to open them until the following day):

My first ever box of Aurifil!  I was absolutely blown away when I saw these!!!!!   Yes, I cried!  Absolutely ecstatic!

A very yummy box of chocolate truffles from Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. 
The flavours are: Zingy Lime, Strawberry Delight and Marble Mint.

She also gave me some Cottage Garden Threads, some Tula Pink squirrel ribbon and a copy of the new release from the International Assembly.

  

I will post more details on each of the shops that we visited on our day out over the coming days; but meanwhile I will introduce you to Jodie & Jess.

 

Meet Jodie.  Jodie from Ric Rac is a toy maker based in Ballarat and she creates the most adorable toys from various fabrics including felt.  Her newest patterns "Bruce" the crafty carrier and "Tea Set" have just been released.  Please click on the link below to visit her blog and there is a link there to her store where you can purchase her patterns.  Her patterns can also be found in many quilt stores throughout Australia.

 

 

Click to visit Ric Rac

Meet Jess. Jess (Scrappy n Happy) is a Queensland based Quilter, Sewer, Mum & Blogger and is one of the most loveliest people I have ever met.  She is also a member of the Quilty Sisters.  Please click on the link below to visit her Blog.  Links to her Etsy shop and Instagram can be found on her blog. (Sorry Jess I borrowed this photo from your Instagram profile.)

 

 

 

Click to visit Scrappy n Happy