It’s cold and wet and windy in Melbourne but that didn’t stop us from taking a trip into the city on Friday and visiting the Art Gallery (it DID mean everyone was a little bit tired and cranky by the time we got home though).

But Saturday I was glad that we were watching the Grand Final on TV not sitting in the hail and wind at the MCG!  (Although not everyone was interested in staying inside for the afternoon)

It also meant we could all get to cuddle a gorgeous little girl.

What a lovely surprise awaited me when I went to clean Sewjourn earlier this week! about two months ago (that’s how long it has taken me to complete this post!!)  This collage from the talented Tinniegirl. 

Thank you SO much Cath, I just LOVE it.   In fact I love it so much that it’s come home with me to sit in my sewing room for a little while before it’s hung up at Sewjourn (which I know is where it’s intended for).  Now we have the relax, create…….just have to work on the enjoy!

You can buy similar collages here anytime or here this Saturday.

…..well they flew past with so much going on that I didn’t even have time to do a blog post!  But here’s a quick snapshot.

A nice surprise waiting for me when I went to Sewjourn to clean.  (More about this in another post….)

A few lovely relaxing days at the end of the school holidays spent in Ballarat with special friends……staying in her dad’s amazing house which is like living in an Art Gallery!  Eight girls, lots of laughs, heaps of olden-days fun, a catchup with some uni friends and a quick visit to a favorite shop.

(Don’t let the blue sky and sunshine fool you…..it was freeeeezing cold!)

My ‘baby’ turned 7, was bubbling over with excitement and had a fantastic pyjama party to celebrate.

A bloggy dinner, a beautiful wedding, a great netball win (I am so proud of the Angels who will make the finals next week in their first ever season of Junior comp!), some more gymnastic medals and ‘Christmas in July with some dear friends helped this weekend whizz by.

Back to school, work, cleaning and all the other activities this week.  Off to the Craft and Quilt Fair for the next few days………I’ll be helping out Karen on Somerset Patchwork and Quilting’s  stall so if you are planning on coming drop past and say ‘hello!’  And next week is off to Tasmania for a few weeks training for a new job I’ll be doing until the end of term.  So I’ll be back posting when I can…….but don’t expect too much crafting!  (Have just signed up for this swap though).

There’s no doubt that at the end of the day my girlfriend and I were ready to sit  with our feet up and a glass of wine, but Fun 4 Kids Festival really WAS a great day.  All the kids had a ball.

They did bowling, fencing, dancing, painting, woodwork, visited the animal nursery (and even held dogs – anyone who knows my girls will know what an amazing achievement this is!!!), had faces painted, watched short films, created, played on the ‘beach’, looked at strobes, played on the indoor playground…………the list goes on!  Whats more it is all undercover so the fact that it was bucketing down and blowing a gale in Warrnambool that day didn’t matter at all (apart from the fact that the rock climbing section was shut).  AND the shuttle bus picked us up from right opposite where we were staying and delivered us back to our door.

are for relaxing……….

and playing………..

and creating…………

(More about the Fun 4 Kids Festival in the next post otherwise at risk of photo overload!!!)

and posing…………

and taking in the scenery………..

(Just as well Grandma made everyone hats to keep them warm!)

and checking out the wildlife…………

and OK for a bit of front page publicity as well (apart from the fact that it is our friend Max in the photo not Kate – you can just see her pink arm – the rest of the story is accurate!)

Sunday I drove to Lancefield and visited the biannual Quilt Show then had the privilege of spending the rest of the afternoon with some amazingly talented creative girls staying at Sewjourn.  The volume and quality of work that these girls had produced in one weekend was incredible.  How they had time to do all the laughing, dancing, singing, drinking and eating that they claim went on as well is beyond me (let alone script and cast a movie……..) I don’t think there was much sleeping involved!  You can read their accounts of the weekend in more detail (if you haven’t already) here and here and here and here and here and here!  (And note that Annie even likes my cactus!!)

Looking forward to seeing some photos of no pattern, just cut and sew Nikki-style clothes from you all girls……

Cooking……..

Setting up………

Eating………

Handsome waiters………..

What a fantastic day with some very special friends!

Oh, and amazingly spoilt!!!!  But more about what’s in the package in another post………

The girls looked gorgeous heading off to a special night at school tonight………..

And tomorrow I’m heading off for a special weekend at Sewjourn.  We didn’t get enough takers for our workshops so instead two friends and I are making the most of it and planning a weekend just to relax, create and enjoy!!!  And I can’t wait!  Hopefully I might be back with some crafty photos to show for it next week………..

Yesterday I had lunch with these lovely girls.  What a nice way to spend a few hours!  And of course lots of the talk was about…….can you guess?……..fabric!

Kellie has just released a new pattern and is having a giveaway to celebrate.  As always her work is divine so pop on over and have a look.  You can also pre-order the pattern.  Now must get back to work on this lovely sunny Melbourne day…………

PS.  So pleased it is the first of the month and my internet is back up to speed – must get it sorted before this month is out.

……..with camera this time.  There’s lots of words and photos of the show flying around blogland but here’s a couple more.