To Market, To Market!

Badskirt's first market of the 2010 season has just booked and it's a doozy. If you're in Sydney, you won't want to miss this! I'll be there peddling Japanese fabrics, as well as my toys, cushions and more. Most handmade products will be at a discount as it's from last season and I'm making room for more fresh ideas.

The truth is, that I'm so humbled by the company that I'll be keeping on the day. Pip of Meet Me at Mikes will be there, as well as well as the Aranzi Aronzo caravan world tour.




Maybe you'd like to come and shop or just say hi?
27 February, 12pm-4pm
Kinokuniya Book Store
Level 2, TGV, 500 George St (opposite QVB)

Along with the craft fair, Kinokuniya has an enormous selection of craft books in both English and Japanese. They also carry washi tape, funky Japanse stationary and tokidoki toys. It's like a mini-Tokyo in Sydney.

Unexpected Green Flower.

They were due to be leaves on a tree, but a flower emerged.

Pink Dear Jane Inspiration for Donna

I've realized that I've been a bit lax about posting my quilt bee blocks on my blog for a few months. I've been adding them to their flickr groups, but forgot to post them here. This month, Donna was up to bat for Around the Block. When her package arrived, I was nervous. Pink. Lots of pink. Not my usual style...

She asked for blocks that reminded us of shapes inspired byDear Jane. She asked for 10.5" blocks then sashed in her border fabric bringing them up to 13.5". I scoured the net for ideas and visited That Quilt to learn more about Dear Jane construction and history. Eventually, I opted for my version of Dear Jane blocks K-4 Thea's Turn and K-8 Springbrook Park. I didn't have a pattern for either, so I just roughed it out on paper and gave it a whirl.




They aren't perfect, but hopefully they are good enough that Donna's daughther will daughter will be tickled pink.

take out your teal.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Australia. Last year, I may not have paid much attention to this and I should have. Last year in February, I hadn't yet met Zoe. Last year in February, she didn't know what was happening inside her gorgeous body. From the outside, Zoe always seems an energetic, active go-getter. Zoe has always had a healthy lifestyle and is an extremely fit woman. Sometimes she had a stomach cramp or two, but Zoe was a tough woman and didn't let it get to her. If you met Zoe last February, you wouldn't have known what was happening to her. I didn't when I met her months later. Neither did she.

See, my friend Zoe, is one of many young women affected by ovarian cancer. In the last few months, Zoe's been on a bit of rollercoaster fighting against a somewhat silent disease whose symptoms are easily mistaken for something else. Because it's sometimes quiet, we must be loud. Very loud.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Australia. So I'm asking you to take a few minutes away from blogs to learn more about the disease. Teal is the support color for ovarian cancer, maybe you'd like to show off your stash or make a teal project this month to spread the word. Can you help?

I'm building a village

I'm building a little village. I guess technically, I'm outsourcing one. The wonderful gals from Around the Block are helping me out. I've provided basic directions, an inspiration gallery and fabric packs.

The first blocks from Kate were posted on the flickr group this week. I almost died. In fact, I'm so happy that I just keep going back to stare at them waiting for the day they make it back here. She's a clever girl, that Kate.



The angle of that butterfly and the way she pinched it from Happy Camper scraps is genius. She's really made the most of so many fabrics that I love. Thank you, Kate! (I'm posting her blocks. I've pinched her photos. I'm shameless today.)

I thought I'd mention my village now because I'm going to be swooning over it for the next month or two. As blocks come home, I'll do updates showing them all together. The neighborhood is a tad sparse at the moment... like when a new subdivision opens up and only one family has moved in.

Want to make a little village for yourself?
Here's a few places to start:
- Sew Katie Sew's houses
- Tallgrass Prarie Studio's houses
- Purl Bee's forest

72 Sewn Together

It was a busy weekend for me. I've made a start on both of my February quilt bees. I made a few blocks for my Squarish quilt and I sewed together this guy who I'm calling Albert. It's my first sewn together crochet project and I opted for an overcast woven stitch. Perhaps I should have tried for something invisible, but I think the wonky weaving adds character?

It's lap quilt size and I used the first four rows of Jan Eaton's Square Target pattern in 200 Crochet Blocks. If you own the Babette pattern, it's a similar block. I bought the yarn intending it as a gift, but Craig declared it a keeper. Who am I to argue?






As for the 200 or so unwoven ends on the back? I'll get those on a cold winter day while I'm curled up under it.

Things on my desk this morning.

Working all week means I miss out on my creative space posts. So here's a peak at what greeted me for weekend crafting. Lots of trial and error!

- Experiments with dresdens much like the Goldilocks. This one's too big, that one's too small. There's too many colours. Still looking for one that's just right.

- Clover tool overload including my ergonomic crochet hooks. Thank you santa for nearly completing the set.

- Fabric covered buttons. Do I need a dozen pink buttons? No, but that didn't stop me from making them.

- Crochet trials. I'm looking for small white buttons that are convex instead of concave to use as toadstool details. Early tests are a markable failure.

Great Australian Blackout.

Those of you who visit my blog directly rather than through Google reader would have noticed a large popup about internet censorship. This week is the Great Australian Blackout against proposed internet censorship in Australia. I've actively protested this for a long time now. The issue popped up in late 2008, petered out and It came back with a vengeance.

If you like reading blogs...
If you like free speech...
If you like the fundamental concept of freedom...
You should take a stand.

Australia Day Fabric Sale.

Nearly everything is on sale over at Badskirt this week up to 30% off. It's a weeklong celebration of Australia Day.








and more

* Sale runs through Saturday, January 29th, 10am Sydney NSW. Prices are as listed on the website. Limited availability, items may sell out.

Amazing Pillow Gifts.

Not long ago, I joined in Heather and Kerri's Pillow Swap. Last night, I got the most amazing bundle from Stephanie of Providence Handmade. Seriously, I think they may well be the best cushions of the whole swap. And I said cushions... plural! She went above and beyond what was required to give me two great pillows. (which I will lock away at night, because I think Sheridan may well try to sneak over and take them)

One is a quilted cushion sleeve and the other is a fixed cover that I had the perfect size insert for. They have the perfect mix of bright and linen. I couldn't imagine anything better for our chocolate sofa and red chair!



If that weren't enough, Stephanie trolled my flickr favourites and send me a bundle of fabric in prints from my top picks. This included the best elephant print in the whole world. I loved it from the minute, I saw it in from her own baby top and quilt set.

Thank you so much, Stephanie!

circle of eek.

This circle of geese is for Jo for The Beehive. This circle of geese is probably the hardest thing I've ever sewn. I invented new swear words trying to make this block. Two of the quarters were sewn backwards. Paper piecing was not my friend. I love the bees because it's fun to work with everyone else's fabric combinations and try new things. I really like that. That said if anyone asks me for a circle of geese again, I must just die.

Jo provided an easy alternative. I should have taken it. She's a legend that way. If you are feeling brave, I used the paper piecing tutorial at Sometimes Crafter for the circle of geese.