Heritage Trades Trail

On the weekend before Scrub Stitchin’ I was able to attend the Heritage Trades Trail held at the historic Bathurst Showground.  This was a bonus, as it usually clashes with our time at Baradine and this year was to clash with us being in Melbourne, but as we cancelled that trip I was able to have a wander around.

The event showcases a wide variety of artisans working on traditional arts and crafts.  Let’s have a look around.

Our patchwork group had a stall and some of their quilts hanging on the pavilion balcony.

The Bathurst Historical Society had a wonderful display of vintage clothing and accessories.

I love the white work from previous eras.

These dresses and undergarments were gorgeous.

Check out the detail on this one.

The Spinners and Weavers Guild were in attendance.  A very traditional craft, but my, how spinning wheels have changed in recent times.

We have a local cycle builder in town.  There were a few penny farthings riding around along with two of these gorgeous cycles for ladies that he has built.  The originals, back in the day, were a luxury item and would have cost the equivalent of a top line Mercedes Benz today.

There was a fellow using a manual wood lathe.

On the same stand, there was a lady with fabrics dyed with the wood shavings.  Some wonderful rich, earthy colours were produced.

A local collector had a display of post vices.

Inside, there was a man doing leatherwork and I was rather taken with the shoe maker's sewing machine.

A lady was doing some very detailed upholstery.

While another lady was replacing the woven cane on a bentwood chair.

You could have a personalise coaster printed on this antique manual printing press.

Such a lot to see.  I’m glad I went for a quick wander around.

Stitching Recap for April

I know I'm running very late with this, but it is a handy reference point.  

Firstly, I completed 40 butterflies.

Then the Blossie Basket.

My Batik Fish were appliqued, which was my Main Monthly Goal.

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks were made.

The book pouch was completed at Scrub Stitchin'.

The Solid Fat Quarters quilt top was completed.

I did make a start on the Simply Serene Quilt.

I made quite a bit of progress on the crochet Corner to Corner rug.

Finally, I did the tension swatch for my alcapca jumper.

And that about sums it up for April.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for May

Surprisingly, I managed to get my orange RSC blocks completed for May.  

They all turned out well.

I doubted I would have enough orange scraps for the crumb blocks, but an injection of a scrap bag from our patchwork group added some small pieces to provide variety and job done.

Now to wait to see what colour is revealed for June.  I have packed the Pre-Cut colours for the potato chip block and the solid crosses blocks, together with my baby Stellar sewing machine for our trip, so with a bit of luck they will get completed while we are away.  I have also packed my completed crumb blocks and their shadows, so fingers crossed they may get added.  

I’ll be linking with https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/.

Scrub Stitchin’ - Part 9 - The Final One - What I Worked on

Finally, we are at the end of these posts.

So, what did I work on?

Firstly, I started on the Batik Fish appliqué.  My grand plan was to do a bit each day, so I wouldn’t get sick of it. Well, I worked on them on Wednesday, in amongst lots of chatting and catching up with everyone and having my first ever massage.  (I’ll be doing that again next time if she is there.)

I thought I would have them completed by lunch on Thursday, so kept going.  I underestimated things, and did’t get them finished until late that afternoon.  Here I am working on the very last stitches.

I was one very happy camper to have that job completed.  It won’t take all that long to get the quilt top made, once I have a play on the design curtain.

Next, I worked on the pink Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  They are always a nice and easy thing to do.  I didn’t need to make any crumb blocks in April.

Then, it was time to start piecing the blocks for the Solid Fat Quarter Quilt.  I had everything cut into strips, and colours paired, so it didn’t take too long to get the blocks made and the next day I had the quilt top completed.  I’m really happy with how it has turned out.

While working on those projects I pieced another twenty pairs for the Bonnie Lass. Quilt as leaders and enders.

The final project I worked on was the Simply Serene Quilt that was one that Chooky and Jo planned for us.  All I did was make the half square triangles.  I needed a design wall for the next bit, and there wouldn’t be time to get the quilt top together.  It was simpler to leave that till I got home and played with my design curtain.

Finally, remember those fabrics and zip that were in our goodies bag.  Well, on Friday afternoon, in among  all the other goings on that day, we were given the instructions on how to make a book pouch, using a new to us zipper insertion technique. Just about everyone had theirs completed on the weekend, which was a first.

There were a few of us left on the Sunday night and we had a lazy tea of leftovers.  It was a nice relaxing way to end the week.   I did get quite a bit of my crochet corner to corner rug worked on.

So lots to show for the weekend, with plenty more to do once I returned home, not much of which has happened.  It will, all in good time.

We had a nice drive home on the Monday, with wonderful scenery, as always.

It was fun to see the new train that will be replacing the XPT doing a trial run near Dubbo.

And we knew we were nearing home when we started to see the autumn colour in the trees.

In conclusion, it was a fabulous time in Baradine with a wonderful group of people and we can’t wait to return for the next event.

Scrub Stitchin’ - Part 8 - What I Took Along and Brought Home

In the lead up to Scrub Stitchin’ I decided to make a little something to pop in each of the goodies bag.  I made little butterfly magnets, a project I have made quite a few times.  It was great fun playing with colour combinations and then they were an ideal project to work on at my stitching days.

A “kaleidoscope  of butterflies” is what Mr Google informed me.

Or alternatively, a “flutter of butterflies”.  Either sounds nice.  I had fun playing with them on the fridge.

All packed up, ready to take flight to Bardine.

For my swap gift, I made another Blossie Basket.  They are a fun little make. 

Now for what I received.  My swap gift was from Sue and was a very handy mug bag.  This is something I have been wanting to make and haven’t got around to.  The one I made about 20 years ago is too small.

It held lots of goodies.  I particularly like the fact that there was a souvenir teaspoon from the Great Ocean Road.  

I was also the lucky recipient of one of the random lucky door prizes, being a mini jelly roll.  Very handy.

And, to top it all off, I received a gorgeous, personalised project bag from the American ladies.  The embroidery was by Phyllis and the bag construction by Deana.  This will be very useful.  Thanks ladies.

The last post coming up next.