Like another birthday

Last Thursday I met this lovely lady at “Patchwork on Central Park” for a little shopping, tea, chat and political discussion.  I am sure that many of you will know that this is Patch Andi, (on the right, that’s me on the left) and I was recently lucky enough to win her giveaway.  Rather than mail my winnings, (see below) I suggested that we meet for a cuppa.  When Andi suggested meeting near Patchwork on Central Park, I certainly didn’t need my arm twisted.  I used to pass this shop twice daily, back when I lived nearby and was working in the neighbourhood, but I had never crossed the threshold!

As I drove over to meet Andi, there was the successful leadership challenge in parliament, resulting in our first female Prime Minister.  I was glued to the radio.  Political talk was everywhere that morning, including at our table.  Andi is really easy to talk to, I fear I talked her to death.

I was excited that the book I won was signed by the author, Kathreen.  I have followed Whip Up from the very start, (and had two tutorials on the site).  The book is full of loveliness.  The Anna Maria Horner fabric is already spoken for, Mum loved it, so it is to be a scarf for her birthday, with the left over going to both of my girls for mini scarves.

While we were at Patchwork on Central Park, I fell head over heels.

How had I never seen this Gypsy Caravan Amy Butler Fabric before?  I quickly put together this little pile to compliment the divine fabric (on the right) which I believe was from Amy’s first fabric line for Free Spirit in 2003*.  I have decided that this is a birthday present for me.  I have made a much larger pile or co-ordinating fabric from my stash, and have spent hours and hours planning a quilt with graph paper and Illustrator.  It will have an applique medallion centre which I have already designed and stitched up – Tea in the Garden.  I will make it again in this colourway.  I have added 5 borders which include pieced stars, and a little more applique.  I can’t wait to get started, but the 2 weeks of school holidays will slow me down somewhat.

I finished off the day at the regular Thursday night “sit and sew” with the ladies from the Guild, where I received more birthday presents (my birthday was the previous Friday).  The pressies including some very special handmade ones – check them out here and here.  I am off this weekend with some of the NOTYQ Guild ladies to the Daylesford Craft Experience, which I am sure is going to be lots of fun, and brighten up the darkness of winter.  When the sun eventually shines I may even get a chance to photograph the fabric postcard I have made for the official swap – It took me 4 days before I got enough light to catch the fabric pile above.

Thank-you Andi and the NOTYQ ladies, for a day that was like another birthday.

* I have since called the shop to buy a little more Gypsy Caravan- my quilt design got quite big.  Have you even needed a fabric that much?

6 thoughts on “Like another birthday

  1. I love “Patchwork on Central Park”, it’s such a gorgeous place. Great place for ribbons, among other things of course 🙂 The owner is lovely too.

  2. oh sounds like a lovely way to pass some time and I couldn’t think of a nicer quilter either!

    oh and love some of amy’s older fabrics…that was the reason I got my sewing machine out way back in 2003 too!

    corrie;)

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