A Sensational Saturday in Melbourne–16 April

Saturday saw us re-visiting the quilt show.  Just in case we had missed something – wink, wink.
We managed to find some items we think we needed and Joan got some lovely Civil War fabric to add to her collection.  We caught up with our good friends from Toowoomba, Pam and Robyn.
Robyn’s quilt won “Best of Show” at the Queensland Quilters show and it was then entered into the “Best of the Best” in Melbourne competing with the “best of” from other states.

Here we are, L-R, Joan, Me, Robyn and Pam.

Robyn’s Quilt, “Silk Purses, Crazy Bags”  – It is a crazy patchwork quilt with the most amazing array of stitches and buttons you will ever see.  You can see a better picture of it here on the Queensland Quilters Site.
After we left the quilt show we hopped a tram to Toorak where we were going to meet the other two at 2.30pm after Robyn’s commitments at the quilt show.  We strolled around and looked at the fashion and sights and had a leisurely lunch.
Joan entering shop in Toorak Rd.  (It’s a bit up-market in Toorak!!)
Once the other gals arrived, we headed down Chapel Street on another tram and stopped off at the Pahran market.  It wasn’t quite the market we were hunting, but we did buy the most delicious ice creams.  I had a liquorice ice cream which I am still dreaming about.  It was soooooooo yummy.We strolled down another couple of blocks and there it was – the Chapel St Bazaar.  You have to see the antiques and vintage in this place to believe it.  There were some interesting stalls in there and Joan and Robyn got some nice glass buttons and I bought a few glass and vintage ones. 

Vintage and glass buttons purchased at Chapel St Bazaar and top left Elephant stamp and old pack of cards. (Don’t ask).
On Saturday night we were both hankering a good ol’ steak, so we ended up in the pub on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Street and enjoyed a big juicy rump with salad and fried kipfler potatoes.  Washed it down with a couple of glasses of cold delicious Australian Sauvignon Blanc. 
Perfect end to a perfect stay in old Melbourne town. 

Antique Quilt Display

 
This is the old Bull's Head Inn in Drayton.  In the early days it was a stop for the Cobb & Co. coaches.  One of our quilt members, Margie, and the Queensland Quilt Study Group have put up a display of quilts throughout the old Inn.  It is a wonderful display, so if you are in Toowoomba this weekend for the Carnival of Flowers be sure to visit.  You won't be disappointed!!

 
I haven't any more time to say too much here as I am getting ready for a busy day at the Toowoomba Quilter's quilt show.  I am looking after the sales table and it is a big job.  Will try and post pictures tomorrow.  More about the quilt show on toowoombaquiltersclub.blogspot.com

Back to the 60's

The sixties were just the best time. I am beginning to get very nostalgic about the 60's and 70's and starting to build a small collection of stuff from that period.

I know, I know, I said I was getting rid of stuff. So because I brought 3 new items into the house I am using Sue's method and getting rid of three other bits of stuff. Have decided April is "wardrobe" cleaning out month and have tossed at least 6 items already into the charity bin.




This trio was a bargain buy I thought at under $20 for the lot! They will just sit in a little group on umm umm somewhere. I'm sure I will find a spot for them eventually.

Also at the Antiques and Collectables Fair last weekend I bought heaps of lace and ribbons and stuff (there's that word again) to make up some crazy patchwork packs to sell on the exhibition sales table. I will now pull the purse strings in and start craftin".

One Happy Daughter

Here is one happy daughter, Bec, with her new table runner. She absolutely loves it. Bec is the crafty one of the two girls and would one day like to do P & Q. She is instinctively good with colour and design and was as a teenager very interested in dress design and was forever sitting around doodling fashion sketches.

The binding went on the table runner reasonable well, but oh girls, those obtusey sort of triangle corners were a bit tricky. They aren't really right, and I had to do a lot of fudging to get them to sit (and a good hard pressing). Can any one give a lesson on this one???? Maybe our maverick of quilting at TQ, Fay. Will have to talk her into giving a mini-workshop I think. I have nailed the other corners of binding now - not a problem!

Bec and husband Joe fell in love with this water pitcher and glasses at the Antique and collectables fair in Toowoomba on the weekend. (It didn't photograph very well - the markings are in gold). It is in perfect condition and very retro and vintage. Funnily, there were quite a few young people at the fair snapping up this type of wares. This set is in perfect condition, and the glasses are so fine, one can imagine drinking an icy cold beer on a hot day out of one of these babies and feelin' soooo good. It probably came with 6-8 glasses originally, but to survive this long in this condition is marvellous. Now, all they need is a nice display cabinet to start up a collection.