Out and About with my Friend.

 No sewing today, Instead I had a most fantastic time with my friend Melody. This is her blog.
http://thehouseonthesideofthehill.blogspot.com.au/  One of the stops was at a shop called GJ's Discount Fabrics. Such lovely fabrics and the staff are delightful. Some of my very favourite designers have their patterns for sale here. I talked a bit about Aussie Heroes and left them a card to find out more about it.

Right next door to her favourite bakery is this wonderful Fair Trade store called Mundo Maya. I bought a couple of friendship bracelets for us.

This is their web site.

http://www.mundomaya.com.au/store.aspx

I am sure that Melody will blog about the delightful felt shop on her blog, (I forgot to get their address) They have moved from where they were to the other side of the road.

The last stop before going home was Preston Market. I went and bought some lined paper note pads, 5 for $2 to go into the Aussie Hero Laundry bag boxes. As per normal I bought quite a few packs, 65 note pads in total. A great amount to add to my Aussie Hero Stash.
A most wonderful day, and we did not get lost at all. Thank you Melody for everything.

New Sewing Machine.

Look at this cute little thing, I bought this on ebay for my group of girls to use when we have our Crafternoons, It only has one speed, easy to use and does straight and zig zag. They will be making dolls clothes and things like that on it as soon as I get written permission from their parents. I am very excited.

Fabric Finds Giveaway (almost)

 I have been shopping on ebay and this is my latest purchase. I am looking forward to having a go at fabric dyeing as soon as the weather gets warmer.

Not knowing what it was, but hoping, I am almost positive that it is wool. I am looking forward to dyeing some of it once the weather picks up and is warmer. I am willing to share some of it with the first 5 people who want to post to me a pre paid, self addressed postal bag. I believe the colour is called fuchsia.

Spending Spree.

Today I went shopping. This coat on the top is my coat. I love it and i have had it for about 6 or 7 years. It is a Peace Angel coat my hubby bought me for my birthday in Sydney one year.
This is a coat i bought from Savers in Mill Park today, The same coat in a different colourway. I am so estatic! This means that when my first coat is thread bear i will still have my favourite style.
This lovely lot i also bought in Savers Mill Park today, they will be invaluable for my costume making endeavors.
This is my new pride and joy. A brand new dressmakers dummy bought from Spotlight in my size. After having second hand models I am really happy to have one in my size. Spotlight has a sale right now until Sunday, $100 off any dressmakers model. My husband has been a real trouper today.

Opp Shopping

While my daughter was here, we did one of our favourite things Opp Shopping! these are my bargains. This wonderful book was only $3.00. Some really lovely fresh country looks in this book.
This cushion insert, brand new, I will be able to use as filling for toys. Much needed at the moment until I can go to the Pillow Factory to buy a large bag.

Savers

I took a break and went shopping, The new Savers in Mill Park that opened on Thursday. This is what i bought, Sketch a Graph, I always wanted one of these when i was a kid! Mythology, I have the Dragonology and Pirateology so i wanted to add to my collection, and two super sewing books, Killer Slippers and Killer Tea Cosies, Very funny stuff to make. Total cost? $10. A bargain!

New Book

I just have to share with you today my latest purchase. Knitted Wild Animals by Sarah Keene. I bought my copy from Lincraft for $30.00 which makes it very good value at $2.00 a pattern and all the animals are lovely. A delightful collection of 15 knitted animals in 8 ply yarn, my favourite weight. I could not wait to get started. If you like knitting/making toys then i can highly recommend it. it is well written and has wonderful pictures both the front and back view of all the animals.

New Spotlight Store

New Spotlight Store opening up in Preston Victoria tomorrow. They will be having specials and giveaways to celebrate. http://www.spotlight.com.au/catalogues/ If you can, then go there and check it out.

Going to England

Not long now, before i go to England. Doing a count down now! I am going to England to see my niece get married! I will be going for 1 month and leaving on the 19th of this month. I will be staying in several places, my mums, my brothers, my dads place. to name but a few, and Shopping! fabric or stores i need to know about, all in Kent or London, any ideas? I will be away for a month. Borough Green, Orpington, Dartford, 5 Oaks. One place i do know that i will visit, Just cos i love it is a place called Dungeness I love the rugged wildness of the place. I would also like to see some castles or old buildings, any ideas?

Knitting Kits

I bought these in Spotlight, they are reduced from $13 to $9 and i bought a Kangaroo, a Koala and a Wombat. Looking forward to making them for my nephews, so all in all, they will have knitted jumpers, knitted and crochet blankets, an original toy car, and a sewn cloth book and a knitted Australian animal toy. I am so ready to be a Grandma!

Craft and Quilt Fair

Yesterday i had a lovely surprise,
My Hubby took me to the Craft and Quilt Fair at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre Southbank
I Loved it! Saw a couple of friends there and saw some wonderful displays, It was wonderfully set out, could have spent thousands if i had the money, but this is what i bought.
I bought 2 book panels, both Australian flavour that i will sew for my two 3 year old nephews.
This back issue of Homespun, for the delightful dragon pattern, Jodies Coat and Cape pattern for the Kinder dolls, and this quilters foot, that should make sewing 1/4 inch circles easier.
You still have time to go if you want, it finishes on the 25th, Guaranteed that you will have a good time. The quilt display was simply breathtaking, They also had a display of some of the costumes made for the Textile Art Festival in Brisbane this year, simply stunning!

Christmas in July

I have been invited to a Christmas In July Dinner, How much fun is that! and we are having a Chris Kringle and the limit to spend on a gift was $10.00. This is what i bought, I went to a shop called Loot, (right next to Spotlight, my real reason for going out) and they had a sale on.
I bought these fabulous table runner and table mats. They are made of rolled up newspaper paper and cotton thread and i love them. The mats were originally $3.95 reduced to $1.00 each and the table runner was originally $15.00 and was reduced to $5.00 So I spent a total of $9.00 and saved $21.80. I have wrapped it up using some Christmas fabric.

Books

Last night i went to Spotlight. (I had a $10 voucher to spend, but i did not check the date, and i was one week early!) but since i was there already i had a look and see if anything took my fancy.
I did find 3 booklets, and at $5 each a bargain! i bought them.

Stitches and Craft Show in Melbourne

I went to the Stitches and Craft Show in Caulfield in Melbourne, and i was not disappointed, In fact i had a wonderful time, (not too late to go you know! Sunday is the last day, I had so much fun i wish i could go again!
It was on 3 floors with the lower floor dedicated to the larger shops and some have been there for many years, good to see them there, the reason i went was just to see the blogging group of crafters, Boy was i happy!! Meeting all the lovely people there in the flesh was just so very very uplifting, my legs were like jelly just to say hello and let them know how lovely to see them and their works in the flesh.
Here are the cards i got from the top picture, i would have LOVED to spend more, but hubby has the purse strings! and even asking for one dollar more was finally getting to him, but i have their cards and will be checking out their blogs and web sites.
www.bluegingerdesigns.com itchybird@dodo.com.au Red parks designs Kate Henderson, such a darling, has two blogs, one for her hand dyed yarn, and one for her softies, www.twolittlebanshees.com a lovely lady who rescues furniture and restores them sustainably, Very cool stuff and beautifully done too.
These are my purchases, Toot Sock Owl Pattern by Craft Schmaft, (i have forgotten your name, sorry.) www.craftschmaft.com.au lovely lovely things, a brooch kit by Juicy Roo Designs, www.juicyroo.com and a braid Plate by TrishAlan Designs dyingforfabricandthreads.com
and last but not least, from Jodie Carleton http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com the following much lusted after patterns, earnest and pebble, zipper-mouth monster, animal house and goodies & baddies.
Jodie was brilliant in her talk about blogging, It was so much fun. If you have the day off, on Sunday, Do go to the Show you will have an absolute ball! All the people there are so lovely in real life too!

Inspirations Magazine

Having posted my Swap partner items today, i went to the newsagents and bought this magazine, Inspirations May issue. I am so looking forward to making so many things from this book for my new Swap Partners! every one of the things in this magazine i would be happy to make and give. Now that is a sign of a good buy.

Underwear

How to drop a couple of dress sizes without even trying.
When my daughter was down here last week we went shopping and i tried on a high waist long leg brief. My first thought, I love these! they are so comfortable and they helped define my body and my clothes looked better on. whilst they are not the most attractive undergarments they do do what they claim and better still, they are really comfortable. I can definitely recommend them

Making Paper

I bought this shredder yesterday all to help making my life a little easier, to help cut up the paper for both the compost and for making paper. It even comes with it's own bin, $20 Reject shop.
What is this? It is a recycled material blanket measuring 155cm x 200cm I will be using it for a variety of crafts. Today i have cut some up into A4 sized pieces to use in the paper making along with newspaper for the pages to sit on while they dry. Cheaper than felt, at only $7 from Aldi supermarket. This is plenty big enough for me to share it with my kitties too.

Post Christmas Bargains

Biscuit tins from The Reject Shop.
Original price $8. Not bad you might say. 75% off = $2 each. so i bought 4. My husband comes home and he has also bought me 4 tins. I love the fact that they can stack.
What to do with the biscuits? Cos i only want the tins.

Love this!

http://www.richcreations.com.au/
I Love this! They are not for eating though, they are made of fabric.
Do check out the amazing talent of this lady here. http://www.richcreations.com.au/

Shopping in Melbourne

Just posting another alternative shopping idea.