AQC - the good, the bad and the heartbreaking.....

One day to go at the AQC and I'm tired ....and somewhat emotional. It's been a rollercoaster week. There was huge relief that I'd comissioned my brother to make tall pattern-display shelves, which also act as the 2nd wall I was execting to have in my exhibition space....but didn't. (The wall-of-patterns solution almost made up for the stress of the 2000 purse frames that were sitting in Australian Customs instead of in the new purse kits.)

There has been much poking-about-under-the-shelf in an attempt to fix the glitch-ridden slideshow display of photos from the book. Even the lovely Sarah-from-next-door came in to help (pictured, above....under the shelf cover).

I've been really happy to meet lots of wonderful people, loyal blog-followers and customers and people just "discovering" what I do. I've been overwhelmed by the response to the book. I've caught up with lots of bloggy friends. Lovely.

...And then someone stole this bag from my display ...the one in the precious Ink&Spindle fabric with a button from my (long deceased) Nan's stash.... the bag that was the conversation-starter on the stand, to introduce people to the book....

Its loss has triggered some deep sadnesses and tapped into all the stress I've ploughed on through during the production of the book, this bag and this show. It has - once again - shaken my faith in people. I've been an emotional mess all evening.

...and THEN.... My heart has been warmed by the wonderful crafting community and VERY GOOD PEOPLE who have already launched a campaign to find the bag. Cam posted this picture on Facebook within minutes of Jodie suggesting it... and then followed with a blog-button campaign here.

I've received loads of caring messages from wonderful people who heard the news. Thanks, people - even if the bag never shows up, you've restored my faith in the goodness in MOST of humanity.

Things I am doing (and not doing)

I'm spending a lot of time fondling Sarah Arnett fabrics (belonging to my sewing buddy). I've been Facebook chatting with Ms Arnett and I think there might be some hope of seeing more of her gorgeous printed silks in georgette, stretch satin, liquid jerseys (gorgeous drape), gossamer voiles and shimmering crepe de chines as yardage.
If you haven't checked out Sarah's work, I'd recommend that you do so NOW. She's amazing.

I've also been making jam and picking lots of apples from our tree. Celebrating my mothers gifts and homecrafting wisdom. Treasuring a tiny (and probably useless, since I've never seen SPC's "Baker's Choice" apricots") find.

On 8th March, I'll be speaking at the International Womens Day Lunch in Melton . The theme this year is "Turning your passion into profit" and there will be three of us telling our stories. It'll be a fun day, with lots of opportunity to meet and mingle with like-minded women.

I'll be attending the Australasian Quilt Convention (April 14-17th) in Melbourne, too. Come and say hello!!!

This weekend I won't be going to the Julian Roberts workshop, as originally planned. Instead, I decided to take up the offer to jump on a Sewjourn bandwagon. I'm off for a crafty weekend instead.

Likewise, I'm not going to Sew It Together after all, but I'll be in Sydney later in the year. Plans have to change sometimes.

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There are many things in the pipeline at the moment: some big and exciting and some are fledgling ideas. I'll tell you about them later. Right now, what I am doing is going to bed!