Wednesday, March 26, 2014

"Priceless" sewing case

At the recent Lets Get Stitched get together in Melbourne, I released a  pattern for my "Priceless" Sewing case.





The pattern is for the smaller one on the left, and has the bird stitchery on it.

I have the pattern listed under my Mardi Kaye Designs page at the top of this blog.  If you would like any information about it, please email me.

Shez was the first to make this pattern up, and it is so lovely to see it in a different fabric.  I love the soft look she has achieved.
 
Here is her stitchery for the front.
 
And the completed case.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

More Stitcheries

My Friday night stitching - finishing off the Christmas Tweets stitchery, and starting the stitchery for another Priceless Sewing Case, which I finished tonight.

So many stitcheries finished, so little time to make them up.  I will have to change that !!!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Gorgeous stitcheries and FNSI


It is Friday night again, and another FNSI - so lovely to join in with so many others.
I have been working on some stitcheries lately. These 2 are projects from our Lets Get Stitched weekend.
 Above is the beautiful stitchery for Vicki's table runner.  For this I used the Aurifil 12 threads in the colours Vicki had used in her sample (because I liked it so much).  These threads are so lovely to work with.  I am now ready to sew the table runner - maybe at the weekend.
 This is the stitchery design from Rosalie Quinlan, which I worked in Cottage Garden thread - Delphinium.  I now have to decide how I am going to use the stitchery.
In the bottom corner is the Christmas bird stitchery I am working on now.  It is a Teddlywinks design I purchased in Melbourne.  I am using some of the Aurifil threads as well as some DMC stranded cotton for this one.  I think I will continue working on it tonight.

As well, I have some secret stitching to have finished for Sunday, but I cant show that until the end of the year.

Hope you all enjoy your Friday Stitching - and have some yummy goodies to share.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Sunday Stitching Day

Sunday – Stitching day had finally arrived.  We assembled in the lobby, all super excited about what the day would bring.  As always our Nutters – Joy, Fee, Dawn and this years organiser, Vicki had done an outstanding job of bringing us a truly amazing and memorable day.
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Those goody bags were teasing us as we were not to peek until told we could.. 
Finally we were introduced to this year’s designers.  They were Joy, Dawn, Fee and Vicki, with guest designers for this year being Jenny, Vikki and me.  Yes, me – I had been asked to be one of the designers.  Wow – what a privilege, and what awesome company to be among.
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It is never a dull moment at these events – here we are - me, Vikki, Fee and Dawn, with Joy, Vicki and Jenny in front.
However it didnt stop there.  From behind the curtains came Rosalie Quinlan,
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who gave us one of her designs, even ironing on the transfer to the linen many times over that morning.  She  had a “shop” of her fabrics, threads, etc for us to purchase. She also signed many of our stitchery designs that she had given us.  Such a generous designer.
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Our lovely table.  Loved stitching and chatting with them all.
My LGS project was the “To Market To Market Shopping Compendium.” 
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Inside it has (from left) a place to keep fabrics, threads etc that you are wanting to find matching items for, a card pocket to keep gift cards, vouchers and business cards, a pen and a notebook to write requirements or to sketch an idea.
Alternatively it could be used to hold a photo, appointment cards, and a diary.  It is designed to hold an A6 notebook/diary.  (approximately 6 inches x 4 inches).

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Another project that I sold the pattern for on the day is my “Priceless Sewing Case”.
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The pattern  for the smaller size,is written. but I need to add the measurements for the larger one yet.
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(larger sewing case)
.With so much excitement in the room, it is needless to say that not a great lot of stitching was done.  But there was such a buzz in the air, the food we were served was delicious, the projects are all amazing, and all in all it was the best day you could imagine.
(Once again, thank you to those LGSers whose photos I have copied to use here.)

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Set Free in the City

Free Day !!!!!  What will we get up to in this big city of Melbourne?  Sadly one of my Roomies was not well, so she stayed in the room for the day while we set out to explore.

Firstly it was catching a tram into Swanston Street, and from the stop it was a short walk to L'ucellos.   Wow.  What an amazing shop, and one worth seeking out when in Melbourne.

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Into this amazing arcade and up the stairs we went, full of anticipation – and we were not disappointed.  In fact it far exceeded our expectations.

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Teresa and Narelle at the entrance.

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The Aladdins Cave inside.

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I think we look rather pleased with our purchases.  Those bags are gorgeous, and we were the envy of those who didnt make that journey to L’ucellos.

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A walk along the Yarra River, and along the street where Helen and Narelle posed with the Lego Lady.

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Into the Cathedral, then later, over the bridge to Southbank for lunch.

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Into the Shot Tower and the State Library.

Finally it was back to the hotel to prepare for our dinner which was at the Stolberg Beer Cafe.

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where we enjoyed a birthday cake to celebrate 4 years of Lets Get Stitched.

Finally it was back to the hotel to prepare for Sunday’s Stitching Day.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Lets Get Stitched - part 1

It has been a challenge to know where to start to blog about our wonderful Lets Get Stitched weekend in Melbourne.  It was the most amazing 5 days of excitement, fun, shopping, friends, hugs, food, laughter, (a little) stitching, more shopping, more food, and definitely more hugs.
(thanks to Jenny - Elefantz for this wonderful photo of all 50 of us at the stitching day.)

After travelling from all parts of Australia and New Zealand, we booked into our accommodation at the Rydges Bell City at Preston.  I had the loveliest Roomies, Christine and Vicki.  How come we didnt take a photo of the 3 of us??? Massive oversight.

Friday saw 32 of us on a bus trip which took us to........ surprise surprise........  quilt shops.  Wow, did we help out the Melbourne economy on that day.

I can share only a part of my goodies as there were some gifts as well.

We had lunch and time for shopping at Sassafras, a small town in the Dandenong Ranges.  Lunch for us was pumpkin and cauliflower soup, and the nicest chocolate-est hot mocha I have ever tasted.  It was made on lindt chocolate.  Wendy (on the left) had iced chocolate, also made with lindt chocolate, and you can still see all the chocolate in the bottom of her glass.  Talk about decadent !!!!!

Friday night was our traditional pizza and games night, which caused much merriment and noise - so much so that security knocked on our door to say "too much noise and too many people in the room".  It did break up the party rather abruptly, but we would have to agree that it would have been way too noisy for the neighbouring rooms.
In the photo above we had to draw on that paper plate on our head, without looking at it, a sewing machine, scissors, cord, table, fabric, needle, etc.  Miche'le's drawing is below - she did very well, much more organised than mine turned out to be.

Here, these two are working out who has the largest shoes - part of the next game.  Jen was hopeful that her boots (background) would be the winner.   hmmm.  What do you think???

After our sudden interruption it was off to plan our "free day" activities.

(Thank you to other LGSers who posted photos, which I have used here.)