Huckleberry Market Wrap Up

The HBM Extravaganza wrapped up yesterday afternoon, and after two full days on the floor, I am exhausted! It was great to put faces to names, and meet lots of new customers. 

Now it's all over, regular programming can resume and hopefully I can actually get a quilt finished.

Huckleberry Market Extravaganza Ticket Giveaway

It's coming! In two weeks time Bella's Patchwork will be making their very first expo appearance at the Melbourne Showgrounds, and to celebrate we have two tickets to give away.

The HBM Extravaganza is a great opportunity to support local small businesses; Huckleberry Market is the leading market in Melbourne currently specialising in boutique and hand made items for babies and children. Our stallholders appreciate that they are showcased alongside other like-minded businesses and have developed a real community.

I have two tickets up for grabs, so for your chance to win one, please leave a comment below. The draw will close 5pm next Friday. 7 March. And please, visit the HBM website to check out all the other businesses that will be involved. 

New Goodies

With AQM the other week, there are lots of new goodies arriving in the shop at the moment.

I've got in stock a limited number of the fabulous Clover binding clips, which can be bought in bulk or in lots of 10.
 

There are also some gorgeous owl prints from Ann Kelle's Urban Zoologie range. I adore these ones.

And some great fat quarter bundles from Riley Blake; Boy Crazy and  Hello Sunshine.

Last but not least, a great bicycle print from Studio Green, and a panel which is a great quick quilt project.

Lola Goes to Market

With the weekend looming, I needed to get Lola Ladybug finished; how else to sell the panels if I haven't made her myself. A little fiddly, but not actually difficult, I finally got her done. She's not perfect (don't look too close), but she's pretty cute!

Tomorrow I'll be at AQM (the wholesale market) checking out all the new and upcoming quilty goodness, then on Sunday I'm at Caulfield Racecourse for Mathilda's/Boutique Market. It's on from 9am till 1pm and I'll be there with as much fabric as I can carry. Details over in my right-hand sidebar.

Lola Ladybug

Crafting has taken a bit of a back seat this week; with Christmas coming there just doesn't seem to be a minute to spare! There are birthday lunches, dinners with friends, and quick trips interstate (but thats another story). 

I have the first of my Christmas markets coming up next weekend, Mathilda's Market at Caulfield Racecourse, and I'm scrambling to get ready. One of the things I'm currently selling is the Lola Ladybug panel from Melly and Me's range, Snug as a Bug. I've sold quite a few, but I thought I'd better make one myself so I can explain it to my customers better.

Its not difficult but I've been doing a little at a time. The head is assembled, the body has arms and legs, and the wings are ready to attach. I just need to find time to get it all together,

It should look a little like this:

 (photo from Melly & Me)

You can find them in my shop here.

Charm Pack Bundle

I decided to do something a little different this week; I'm offering up a bundle of three charm packs for just $40 plus postage ($7.15 in Australia). It's like getting free postage!

Charm packs are:
Avalon by Fig Tree Quilts
Summersville Spring by Lucie Summers
Coquette by Chez Moi

These bundles are not available in my online store, only through my blog, Facebook and Instagram. You can comment here or email me at kate@bellaspatchwork.com.au if interested.

Also, Mulgrave Maker's Market this Sunday from 8am till 1pm. And tomorrow is the big painting day!

Market Sewing and a Little Lola

No quilt sewing around here at the moment; I really need to go buy some batting before that can happen. But I've got my market mojo happening, and have already whipped up a new batch of Cat in the Hat cushions for my next market. These are always super-popular.

I've also started on a whole batch of rattle cubes, as a customer bought all my stock last weekend (I'm starting to wonder if she is on selling them, as this isn't the first time). This time I've pulled out Summersville Spring for some nice bright cubes. (Terrible iPhone photo, sorry)

I'm also quite excited that I have the Riley Blake rep dropping by in less than two weeks. The new catalogue arrived today and there is so much gorgeous fabric!

And how can you say no to a snuggle with this cutie!

Stripes

I've always had a thing for stripes; I've got stripey mugs, bed linen, cushions on my couch. I love them all. I've been doing a little market sewing, and I'm using the stripes and chevrons from Remix. Too cute!

I've whipped up a couple of cushions (the yellow one is Cat in the Hat), and a wheat bag. Bunny is still a work in progress.

I also ducked into Ikea on the way home from work yesterday (I love being able to do that), and picked up this shelving unit to use as part of my market stall. I'm envisioning jelly rolls stacked on the shelves, and maybe a few fat quarter bundles. (and you can see why the room needs painting...)

No progress on my sewing room just yet, as I'm looking for a painter, but I have hung a few quilts on this wooden ladder I picked up quite a while ago, just so that I've got something pretty to look at while I keep on tidying up the room.

A Proper Cuppa

Like a good English girl (my grandparents were from England), I love my tea. A few years ago I was given a Wedgwood tea set, and last weekend I finally got to use it for the first time. One of my fellow stallholders came over for proper afternoon tea.

We brainstormed ideas for freshening up our stalls (Ikea was mentioned), and I sent her on her way with a baggie of fabric scraps to be turned into accessories. I also got motivated and started on some market sewing; some new cushion covers and a super cute stripy bunny.

I also snuck down the beach on Sunday for a bit of a family reunion; I love the beach no matter the weather.

Friday Fancies and FebFast

I'm running around like a headless chook today, with lots to get one before a busy weekend. But I always manage to sneak in a little fabric time; today was the day I finally got my Cuzco quilt basted. I absolutely adore the backing I chose for this quilt. It's the whole reason I wanted to use Cuzco. Of course, I had help from my trusty and rather furry assistant.

The other thing I've been doing this month is FebFast. That means a whole 28 days without alcohol, with all proceeds going to programs that tackle alcohol and drug issues in young people. There's only a week to go, and I've been a bit slow on the fundraising, so if anyone would like to support a good cause I'd be most appreciable. Even $1 makes a difference; donations can be made here. 

First market of the year this weekend; I'll be at Mulgrave Maker's Market on Sunday from 8am-1pm. Looks like it's going to be a lovely day.

Home

After four days of being told when I could eat, drink, sleep and leave the house (seriously!), its nice to be home. Which was topped off with a free bottle of bubbles on the flight home due to our in flight entertainment not working.

I arrived home to a few goodies on the doorstep, including this lovely tub of Liberty fabric I won from Ric Rac. It certainly brightened up my day.

Bella is also ecstatic to be home again; lots of kitty cat cuddles to be had.

I've got some more new fabric on they way to me; I want to make Vanessa's 'I heart you' quilt sometime in the near future. But first I need to get my Cuzco quilt quilted!

Now I've got a few days to get myself organised for market; I'll be at Mulgrave this Sunday from 8am till1pm. I've got lots of new pretties including Summersville Spring charm packs to show off.

Friday Fancies

Today is a little more sedate than the madness that was Wednesday. After a late night catching up with my lovely Canadian friend, I had a bit of a late snooze this morning, then headed out with Millie for a bit of a walk. What is with this weather! It's quite chilly and wet which is not what summer is meant to be about.

I finally finished a couple of wheat bags I've been meaning to make for my next market; the fabrics are Summer in the City by Urban Chiks and Bliss by Bonnie and Camille.

And....I finally cleared the loungeroom floor so I could play with my scrappy tripalong blocks! Though keeping Bella away from them (she thinks her job is "block randomiser") is a bit of a task. I think there will be a few final tweaks, and a bit of seam re-pressing then I might get the rows together today.

There's also been a couple of deliveries for the shop this week: Happy-Go-Lucky pre-cuts (Bonnie and Camille for Moda), and the new Thimble Blossoms patterns to go with the fabric range (yardage due in May).

Wiped-Out Wednesday

I have this cute little notepad that is designed to be a To Do list. Knowing today was my day off, I filled that list last night, and have spent the day ploughing through what feels like a million things.

I've been to gym, cleaned the bathroom, vaccummed the house, finally sourced wheat for my wheat bags (for market), shopped at the supermarket and washed my car (first time since August!).

I've whipped up a Blueberry Frangipane tart for tomorrow; my Candian friend is visiting from San Fran so I wanted to make something super yummy. Haven't made it before, though it was pretty easy. Just wish my pastry wouldn't shrink, no matter how careful I am!

Also turned all my leftover triangles from the Mystery BOM into HSTs...I'll work out what to do with them once the 12 blocks are done.

Still need to visit my grandma later today, then I might be settling in for a relaxed evening in front of the TV. That's everything on my list and I'm exhausted!

Market Mash-Up

The weekend just gone was a hot-bed of market activity. I think I've finally recovered enough to talk about it!

First up I made a quick visit to AQM on Saturday to see all the new fabrics coming out in the next few months. I only had an hour to whip around the room, but I think I did a pretty good job.

I have some awesome new goodies instore. From Moda we have Lario Layer Cakes, Ticklish Mini Charms, and a Chateau Rouge Fat 1/8 bundle from French General.

Then I joined the mayhem at the Riley Blake booth, where it was a bit of bun fight to get hands on the lovely Chevron fabrics that are the flavour of the month. I've already sold a bit, so all I've got left are one Rolie Polie, one Stacker, and one FQB. First in, best dressed!

Then on Sunday I headed to Caulfield Racecourse at early-o'clock to set up for Mathilda's and Boutique Markets. What a crazy day! The crowds were non-stop and my fabric just flew off the table. Vintage Modern and Marmalade seemed to be the flavour of the day and by then end of it I was looking forward to a cuppa and a bit of a rest.

But all in all a succesfull weekend. It's always great to meet lots of new people, and even encourage newbies to take the first steps into quilting. Just one more market for the year!

Coquette Cot Quilt Again

One charm pack, a little white fabric (minus the disaster of running out half way), and a little backing and we have a cot quilt for this weekends market.

Very easy to make; just cut each charm in half, sash (mine are 2.5"), then add border (mine is a bit over 3"). And I used the backing offcuts for binding.

Lots of New Goodies

I love when lots of new fabric arrives all at once; my dining room table is currently covered in piles of Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs. It's like a little pile of heaven.

New in this week is Marmalade by Bonnie and Camille...

The gorgeous Cuzco by Kate Spain.

I came to the realisation last night that I have to make a quilt from this fabric.

And last but not least, Simply Color by V&Co.

So much yummyness! I'll have all this fabric at the Melbourne Boutique/Mathilda's Market on November 25.

Coquette Cot Quilt

Melbourne turned on its best impression of a wet spring day today, so sewing it is!

One charm pack of Coquette by Chez Moi and a little white fabric and I have a cot quilt for Boutique/Mathilda's Market coming up at the end of November.

Had a minor panic when I realised the two bolts of white Moda Bella Solids weren't the same colour despite being the same colour code; I had to dig through my scrap box to find enough for the borders otherwise they would have been a slightly different white to the sashing.

Now she just needs to be quilted!

Long Weekend

Only half way though my long weekend, but I think I've managed to make the most of it so far. If I'd thought about it earlier I might have organised to go away, but no one has as much time off as me, so there wasn't much point.

I've managed to get all my cubes turned and stuffed; they just need to be stitched closed now. Fabric is Oh Deer by MoMo.

I did a little bit of sneaky shopping yesterday, and picked up some cute new shoes for summer. Now I just need to find an excuse to wear them!

 

 

Today was such a lovely day that I just had to go to the beach, so I headed to St Kilda for a wander along the sand. I love dipping my toes in the chilly water and feeling so refreshed. Just a tad too cold for swimming though. A lovely afternoon finished off with ice-cream before I headed home...

I've still got three days to fill. I think there might be a bit of quilting to be done, and a little pottering around in the garden. I'm also keen to start organising myself for christmas, and I have a few birthday presents to buy, as my bestest, longest friend is turning 30 soon. After this month I feel like it will be big downhill run into christmas, then the new year will be upon us!

Market Madness

With Christmas coming, market season is in full swing and it starts to get a little hectic around here. My basket of rattle cubes was cleaned out at last weekend's market by one person, so I've had to dig in a make a heap more. They aren't too difficult to make, just a little tedious, so I avoid them when I can...

I've used Oh Dear by MoMo for this lot, as there is a good mix of colours for both boys and girls.

They still need to be trimmed, turned and stuffed...and I've run out of bells to put in the middle so there is a trip to the shops required before I can finish them. As you can see, Hopscotch is still in the sewing machine...

I also whipped up a cushion for a KK present last week...the new owner was very happy so I might need to make a few more. I'm also contemplating a cot quilt from Kate Spain's Honey Honey before the upcoming Boutique/Mathilda's Market.

Fortunately it's not all work and no play around here...Bella got a little bit of outside time last weekend so she could enjoy that bit of sunshine we had been having (and yes, that's me!).

Now to make the most of this six-day weekend I've managed to score...