I discovered this blog post partially written and unpublished, so I thought that I would finish it off and publish it.
Back in June I attendedCraft Alive here in Bendigo. Craft Alive is Regional Australia's leading craft and sales expo and is
held over 3-days.The three day craft show has craft of all ranges and craft for all ages.
Exhibitors have everything from supplies to finished goods, covering a wide
range of craft. Each show has 60-100 exhibitors, workshops, make and takes,
demonstrations, a full café, and the local guilds and groups. The Bendigo
show also features STITCH! which is a two day niche craft show which is focused on all things needlecraft. In addition to the main show, STITCH! has 20-25 needlecraft experts covering
patchwork, quilting, embroidery, wool work, and more. Exhibitors will have
everything from supplies, to kits, to finished goods. Each site runs interactive learning opportunities including workshops, make and takes, and
demonstrations.
As I don't handle crowds very well, I usually try to go on the Friday when I know that attendee numbers are fewer than those on the weekend. This year I went with Mum and a friend of hers from the retirement village. Once there I met up with my friend - Linda from Echuca - and we walked around the stalls together. I managed a few hours before having to return home.
Although we arrived right on opening time, there was already a queue to get in.
THIS is why I like to go on a Friday, there is space to move and I can actually TALK to the stall holders without constant interruptions or having to elbow my way through the crowds.
This year it was housed in a larger pavilion
I headed straight to the Brindabella stand as I had recently purchased one of their quilting frames and I needed help.
And I finally met up with my Instagram friend Julie@narioka
Mischief in the making - a photo of me with Linda.
Linda knows EVERYONE (or so it seems)
Beautiful vintage sewing machine
Some more vintage sewing machines
Ooooh lots and lots and lots of notions!!!
Too many wonderful goodies to purchase
My goodies from Craft Alive.
I bought a Rosalie Quinlan embroidery pattern "Happiness"; embroidery needles, Sewline ceramic lead refills; Cosmo floss; some Kaffe Fassett fat quarters; two other fat quarters for one of my quilting bees; a specialty ruler for my Brindabella quilting frame; quilting pins (for the quilting frame) and a new stencil.
"The Two of Us" is a little carry bag stitchery design by one of my favourite Australian Designers - Rosalie Quinlan. The original pattern is designed to be a child's bag measuring in at just 25cm (10").
When I showed the kit to my Mum she immediately tried to claim it for herself so I made her a deal that she couldn't resist - if I could hand sew the embroidered section and supply her with some pretty fabrics, then she could make it into a handbag and keep it for herself. My Mum no longer hand sews (her eyesight is slowly deteriorating with age), but as a former dressmaker and a handbag addict she has recently started to make handbags.
It didn't take me too long to finish stitching the small panel - I often tend to hand stitch on my down days or at night when I am watching TV. I found some Tanya Whelan fabrics in my stash that seemed to go well with the design so I gave these to Mum.
Stitching requires chocolate! ;0)
Some weeks later I happened to be at her house and caught her just as she was about to machine stitch the embroidered panel onto a larger backing fabric. Both came back home with me so that I could chain-stitch around the join instead as stitching this by machine would have looked oh so wrong!
A week later Mum proudly showed me the finished bag.. she has added a few internal pockets to it as well.
Front View
Back View
So there you have it - "The Two of Us" by... the two of us!
The fabric used is Tanya Whelan's "Valentine Rose".
