HiHo HiHo It’s off to Sydney I go… again!

After an amazing Friday in Sydney I’m back to the real world this week, but not for long! This Friday Gemma (of Pretty Bobbins) and I are hitting the road again and heading back into Sydney to attend the Sydney Craft and Quilt Show. I’m not sure if Gemma realises or not but it’s going to be our quilty anniversary…. a whole year of doing crazy silly things together all in the name of quilting. (What’s the gift for a one year quilty anniversary… fabric?) I can’t believe it’s only been a year since we did that first faithful road trip into Sydney after having only met each other twice, but that trip cemented our friendship and I’m ever so grateful for that.

So it’s only fitting really that we’re marking the occasion by heading into Sydney again to ohh and ahh at all the amazing quilts on display (and this year is going to be awe inspiring – there’s over 438 quilts and 110 of those will be “Red and White” quilts – I am seriously jumping up and down in my seat in excitement over seeing them all) and spend way more than we should on fabric and notions. I’m so excited it’s not funny. (I’m not sure my heart will be able to handle all the excitement from this month!) The quality of the quilts on display in Sydney is mind blowing. It’s on my bucket list to one day be good enough (in my own opinion) to submit my work for inclusion in the Sydney show.

I left the show last year humbled, inspired, awe-struck and just in complete quilty shock. Gemma and I laugh now, but the drive in and the drive home were complete opposites. On the way in we were so pumped up and excited about our quilting and where we thought we were at skills wise. On the way home we were… deflated. It was like we’d been given a reality check of epic proportions. It was a bit poop at the time, but in hindsight (for me anyways) it was just the kick I needed to refocus and knuckle down. 

I know that I’m still not batting in the same league as many of the people that will be hanging at the show but this year I’m going in prepared. I’m ready to soak in the awesomeness, absorb the lessons the quilts are teaching me and just have so much fun seeing how other people express themselves through cloth and thread. Gemma and I are only doing a day trip this time, which is just like the last time we went, so it’s going to be only the quilt show and that’s it. Which is a shame, but I’ll be so glad to be home with my boys.

My entry for this years Canberra Quilters Exhibition is due this week and it’s been causing me a little bit of grief. I just feel so unorganised this year which is pushing my buttons. This will be the first time in four years where I won’t be submitting a custom quilted quilt. It’s a little disappointing because I’ve really cherished working with Raylee (of Sunflower Quilting) the past two years on my exhibition quilt and I was looking forward to another custom quilting adventure this year, but there’s been expenses and time constraints and I just couldn’t get it happening. But there’s always next year. Despite that I am really excited about what I have up my sleeve and I’ll be even more excited when I’ve got the quilts handed over to the lovely Canberra Quilters ladies.

Junk Free June Update: Things are getting serious, I’m half way through and with my first trip away this month behind me and I’m doing so much better than I could have hoped for. I took healthy snacks on the road with me last week and will do the same this week. I ate well while in Sydney and I’ve been going to the gym as planned. I find evenings the hardest, but I’ve come up with some strategies for working around that (yoghurt instead of ice-cream, distracting myself with other activities or just going to bed).  I’m keeping gym going to 3 days a week for all of June, even when I want to go more, because I’ve learned in the past that if I go hard early I’ll burn out so I’m hoping to keep the momentum going. How are you doing? Any tips or tricks for eating well while traveling?

Fun things to click on

• Do you love using fussy cutting in your patchwork and English paper piecing? Then click here to find out about The Fussy Cutters Club and join today!
• Looking for a quick and fun way to use your favourite fabrics to add a pop of colour to your books, click here for a tutorial on how to cover books with fabric.
• Got a bunny lover in your life, click here for a really cute tutorial on how to make a sock bunny.
• The first wall quilt I ever made is still one of my favourites and hangs on a wall in my parent’s house. Click here to find out more about it.
• Love cat’s and star quilt blocks, then you need to click here check out this cat star quilt block tutorial from Kristy at Schnitzel & Boo.
• Do you have a favourite tea cup that you like to take with you, but you’re worried about it getting broken. Click here for a great mug bag tutorial. (I’d never heard of one before, but now I totally want one and I don’t even drink tea or coffee!)
• Winter is all about hearty meals and this recipe for Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole is just what the doctor ordered! Click here to get the recipe.
• Do you have a kids birthday present coming up that you’re just not sure what to do, click here to see a great roundup of 20 toy and doll sewing patterns.

Community Cork Board

• With creative pursuits limited only by the imagination, this year’s Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair from June 17 to 21, is set to be an inspiring hub of creativity showcasing knitting, papercraft, textile art, vintage fashion, wearable art and a stunning array of quilts, created by Australian and international crafters of all ages. If you’d like to head into Sydney and check out the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair you can purchase tickets by clicking this link.
• Time’s running out to secure your ticket to Bendigo Craft Alive Meet Up. Not sure what I’m talking about, you can find out more about it by clicking here and you can purchase tickets by clicking here.

Want something included on the Community Cork Board, then why not drop me an email and if it’s applicable to the GnomeAngel community I’ll share it. It can be anything from a local fate, a charity raffle, a class you’re teaching, a pattern you’ve released, a sew-a-long you’re involved in to a community event that’s happening. Be sure to send me as much detail as you can and links to any applicable websites.  Click here to email me.