Aussie Aussie Aussie

In preparation for our trip to Austin in February, I thought it would be good to make something very Australian to share at our YouPatch booth.

An Aussie map quilt hanging on the most Australian of icons, the hills hoist!

A fun collaboration (and a freebie for you!!)

You may know that the YouPatch software creates pixel quilt patterns using the Kona Cotton solids range (by Robert Kaufman fabrics). So YouPatch and Robert Kaufman have become firm friends since our launch earlier this year.

So when we were approached by the good people at Robert Kaufman to collaborate on a pixel pattern project, we were delighted to get involved.

Robert Kaufman have a new range of brush stroke fabrics that were created using actual scans of Vincent Van Gogh's brush strokes. How cool!!! So what better image to use in a quilt pattern than the artist himself!

This was our first pattern using non-solid fabrics so presented a bit of a technical challenge but decided we were up to the task and created this pattern for a pixel quilt:

The pattern is available here as a free download. You can find out more about this fabric range here.

Thanks Robert Kaufman for including us in this project!!

Andi and the YouPatch crew xx

Art on my couch

My friend Matthew Broughton (www.mattbroughtondesign.com) is a graphic designer and a wonderful artist. One of his favorite techniques is lino cutting and he has recently produced a number of stunning lino cut prints with an Australian theme.

Unfortunately, we have almost no wall space left in our house so I felt unable to buy any of his prints as I had nowhere to display them. So you can imagine how excited I was when he revealed that he would be printing his designs onto fabric to make into cushions.

We have new couches at our place that have been screaming out for some new cushions. Everything fell perfectly into place.

We're not afraid of color at our place ;-)

Australian fauna - a black cockatoo

Australian flora - A banksia branch

Our Luna Park

An iconic Melbourne tram

Such a gorgeous collection!

These cushions were printed at local bespoke fabric printers Frankie & Swiss and are beautiful quality.

Check out Matthew's website to find out all about his work and to buy yourself some gorgeous artwork!!

You know you want to.
Andi xx

Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair

I went to the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair last Thursday. I didn't have particularly high expectations. In recent years the fair has become much less about the quilts and more about a range of crafts that are not really 'me'.

Lots of shops with an overwhelming impression of 'brown'. I don't mind a bit of brown but I do need a LOT more color in my crafting world!!

Also, the quilt show has had a tendency to show many of the same quilts over and over again which is frustrating.

This year was actually a very pleasant surprise. Still plenty of 'brown' shops but a great variety of fun and funky retailers including some gorgeous friends I enjoyed catching up with:

Jodie is always fun and so very sweet!!

This is a tiny corner of her award winning booth. She's on the Google you know!

Emma is also incredibly friendly and her new fabrics and quilt patterns are making a huge splash around the globe.
You should totally check them out!!

The lovely Melly was there as well selling her fabulous fabrics and softie patterns.

And so was her gorgeous sister Rosalie who has pretty new fabrics and patterns to share also.

I got to meet Morgan of the Crafty Squirrel and couldn't resist buying some of her vintage sheet goodness.

Emma was there from Treehouse Textiles showing off the gorgeous new BOM that she and Cathy have co-designed.

I also got to meet Leslie who is the very clever designer behind Maze & Vale. Such beautiful fabrics!!

And then there was Robyn and Buffy over at The Strawberry Thief selling the most divine selection of Liberty fabrics.

The quilt show had some lovely new (or perhaps new-to-me) entries.

I must apologise that I neglected to take down the names of the above quilters. :(

But I do know that this incredible quilt was made by the very clever Karen of Quilts on Bastings.

No surprises that she won awards for her machine quilting:

I had a play with a long-arm quilting machine (with my name written on the sign above ... meant to be ;-)  )

I'm no competition for Karen but I was pleased with my brief freehand efforts.

I also loved the wall of crafty poppies meant to commemorate the soldiers who have served our country:

Other than all of the lovely people I already mentioned, I got to spend the day hanging out with Judy, Melissa, Louise, Nadia, Marie and Helen. 

Great company! Much shopping! Much fun!

Andi xx

Craft Camp

I LOOOOVE going away on craft camp. 

Two whole days of stitching, sharing, eating, drinking and fabulous company!!

Last weekend was no exception ....

Lots of fabric:

Loads of yummy food:

Pickles have become a staple of our menu!

Soup is the best winter lunch!!

Colorful and yummy!!

We even had patchwork pie!!

Of course we made lots of stuff too:

This was Tina's second ever quilt! So gorgeous!!

Lisa is expecting a new baby niece/nephew. 

Mary's beanie had 'glow-in-the-dark' thread all through it!!

Judy's hand stitching was gorgeous!

Tina and Louise concentrating hard!

Helen's plan was to start working through her yarn stash!

I made some stuff too!!

Such an incredible weekend. A shame it had to end. Wanna go again!!

Andi xx