Workshop is now Over

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I'll be brief....talked a lot yesterday ...

Thank you all for coming along

& 

joining in the creative process !!!

Great to see many faces from the last workshop step up for more...

I really did see so many creative pieces....

This style of workshop continually thrills me to watch each person create beautiful pieces...

simple things... 

simply quick things....

simply creative ....

with the help of the paint brush, couple of paints, stamps...stencils bits of stuff to decorate further.

What I enjoy the most is at the end of the day...

the gorgeous people who seek me out to tell me what a great day they have had...

their faces just beaming ...

a glow...

Then I know I have given them that spirit of creativity...

shared with them in my world...

I get to do this most days...

in one way or another. and it is so great to share that..

Some told me at the beginning they had that panic...

out of their comfort zone....

pulse beating...but gosh one is alive then..don't you think...

Along the day I heard many stories...

I saw best friends take all the extra tid bits to show their friend undergoing treatment & not well enough to come...my thoughts are with you....be well soon.

I offered to your friends a special treat... it is there if you wish to do this at some stage....

Shez told me her blog story which is just wonderful...and maybe she will tell it to all who read her blog.....

I also have an invite to be at YarraValley in October...

Finally  Karen & I were so overwhelmed with all the help many many of you gave to clearing the messy bits and packing down...

& 

especially to the 2 Essendon gorgeous girls for helping pack our cars & folding down tables etc...  

Magic all of you.

Pictures are my samples for inspiration

copyright. BarbSmith.

PS The folk who came have had permission to take photographs ....so you may see them on their blogs......it is part of their memory too

The Day of Play Workshop is packed

Well it is nearly arrived....

the Day of Play

at Baxter on Saturday

I have been organising myself for days....

The last stretch was placing it all in the little car....

See you all who are coming to the workshop on Saturday

Now check out Flea52 blog on my sidebar for some wonderful Christmas treats of a shop...

It is DIVINE

www.theodoracleave.com

Worked on Display Boards

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copyright & don't copy from here thanks Barb Smith 2014

This morning I rolled up my sleeves after I had been for an early walk in the park

And ....

started to work for the 

workshop next weekend.

I had no idea what I wanted to tackle first...

this can go on & on if ...

I don't pull myself together..

get a grip as it were.

Do what is a change from what I do a lot

A display board

Pulling things together...

deciding how this first board would look...

Mostly a red felt affair...

The next board is all kind of linen & stuff..

But equally works a Christmas theme

I had a day where I had sewn some linen stuff & eventually got it all together.

Oh I see some left over buttons on the board.

This took me a few trials of buttons to see what was looking the best.

I often love very minimalist on things where the fabric speaks ....

So even had the stencils out yesterday at some stage..

& that word one is just that a stencil...

I have some anchoring of buttons onto bits now & those 2 are done...

Fills me up this sort of stuff. 

EXTRA EXTRA

The next workshop I do hosted by Mrs Martin's Quilt shop 

will be on 11th APRIL 2015

at

Moonee Ponds Primary School

10 till 3pm.

Contact Mrs Martin's Quilt Shop to book.

Guess we won't be doing Christmas in April...

I will think away after this lovely Christmas one is completed.

Also 

In March 2015

I will be trading & doing some demonstation at

MONBULK QUILT SHOW

JULY 17th I think Is 

Christmas in July with Max & Lousie at June's in Boronia

I need to have a ponder very soon.

But I am buzzing....love this ...

Quilt Raffle Details

 Thelma sent the details of the quilt made for 

Krystal's freedom From Stroke

****

The quilt will be auctioned  at a Trivia Night.

29^th November 2014

Chelsea Heights Community Centre

160 Thames Promenade

CHELSEA HEIGHTS VIC

Tickets $20.00/ Head or $160.00 / Table of 10

The Trivia night is a BYO/Nibblies Night

It is a Raffles/ Auction Night

Further Information may be found on

KRYSTAL’S FREEDOM FROM STROKE

Should the  quilt not meet the reserve price it will be run as a separate major raffle.

 ******************

Pop into www.onabranchabirdsings.blogspot.com

French Rabbit does Christmas Stitcheries

As you might have noticed...I have a bit of a thing with my French Rabbit...LOL

He shows up in the Christmas decorations I paint....and there are French Rabbit buttons & a button story...

These little stitcheries have been drawn for nearly a year...

Then Alexandra stitched them for me .....some months ago...

I carried them out to the last workshop to show & tell

Then I got busy....& then came back to them etc etc.

They are now ready to buy the simplest of pattern formats....

Layout of the designs & the pretty picture, tiny tag with couple of notes...and from then on as French Rabbit says " you are on your own"

They fit onto stockings....make Christmas gift bags, table runners, a quilt, it could grow into...frame, journal covers, decorations....swags.....cushions, bon bon motif......

I am going to scan the pattern stories on to the web in a minute..

The littlest round ones will cost about $2.75 & nothing more than $5....maybe a bargain pack...

Guess what the postage will be an envelope letter price because they are paper not like the buttons which always insist on a box.

www.theodoracleave.com

Do not copy, copyright Barb Smith 2014

Krystal's Freedom from Stroke

Thelma's Craft Ladies asked me a little time ago if they could stitch my Woodcutters Daughter designs in a quilt for a charity.

The quilt will be auctioned  

The charity raises funds for Krystal see the facebook & twitter links

This morning the pictures arrived in my in box early & what a delightful way to begin my day.

I am always happy to do this & am honoured in being able to be a part of this in a minute way.

It is very humbling 

I see stitchings from my Bless Them Stitchers & A year in the Country and the pattern A Bend in the River.  

You can purchase tickets or make a donation for Krystal's journey in life 

see the facebook...

Stay with her....on facebook or twitter.....

https://www.facebook.com/Krystalsfreedomfromstrokeappeal

https://twitter.com/Krystalsfreedom/status/485669126828875777

The Winner is .....

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Thank everyone of you for trying out for the giveaway...

You all wrote some wonderful words too, unexpected & so delightful !!!

Denise has been emailed as she was the lucky one this time !!!

This si a little brown envelope I did last year for something ???

But I love them ...

These are smaller buttons than what I paint...

( might have some for the workshop )

Once again thank you all for coming to this giveaway...

I will have more as I am half way thru a most interesting exercise of 

29 Gifts in 29 Days

book by 

Cami Walker 

http://www.29giftsbook.com/

GIVE AWAY now be quick

www.theodoracleave.com

don't copy as it has a copyright on this..ohhhh

But come & gaze often....

or 

go in the box to win these 3 items

all in one pack...

Then you can sew them onto a stocking

a gift bag....

tag....

etc etc etc..

I am closing this tomorrow so you have until midnight tomorrow Aust time 15 Nov 2014 & North hemisphere 14th Nov 2014

Both at the bewitching midnight hour.

Leave your name & email address on the blog comments... they will not be published on blog.

Good Luck

Bon Chance

Barb xxxx

Airing of the Quilts in the Orchard

Last night I had some news from my old school girlfriend who had been visiting relatives near Ruffy in Victoria..

Right next door was the up & coming airing of the quilts in the orchard..

A sneak viewing of the quilts brought the news that some of my buttons were on a quilt or 2 

Valda Martin

I have emailed Valda today & here is a very enticing bio dynamic orchard

laden with CHERRIES !!!

& Quilts 

Valda kindly sent me this little speil for the up & coming quilt airing...

as well as some most interesting websites of the farm & the community..with divine timber church accommodation and really a destination I think.

If you can get to this on the weekend ...

It is near Euroa in Victoria..what an adventure 

&

please tell me all about your visit !!!

It sounds a most inviting place.

"WELCOME to Mill Spring Farm 

and our ‘

QUILT AIRING IN THE ORCHARD”.

Open on 

Thursday 13, Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 , November ,2014

Valda quotes, 

“that her soul is fed by needle and thread”.

On this visit you will see the results of her range of needlework 

from fine Carrickmacross lace 

through blackwork, 

shadow work, 

petit point, 

cross stitch, 

tapestries, 

gold, 

beading 

and 

ribbon embroideries 

and onto appliqué, 

patchwork and quilting.

Adrian and Valda moved to Ruffy in 1974 from Wantirna South where they commercially grew peaches and flowers specializing in violets, chrysanthemums, Easter daisy and helichrysums. 

Adrian’s ancestors were flower growers and orchardists.  Valda’s were orchardists, flower and vegetable growers.

The Mill Spring Farm orchard was planted over twenty years ago and the whole property, 

with the help of son, Craig, is run on Bio-Dynamic principles.  

Biodynamics is an advanced organic method in which no artificial fertilisers or chemical sprays are used.  

We use a variety of materials and techniques to develop healthy humus levels, good soil structure, and biological activity in the soil

The orchard consists of cherries, plums, peaches, apples, quinces, olives, apricots, figs and boysenberries.  

The farm runs sheep.  

The lambs are sold to a biodynamic certified butcher.  

We grow BD oats and this year we are trialling BD wheat.

We hope you enjoy visiting our 

“Quilt Airing in the Orchard” 

and that you will take the time to walk in the orchard and the farm.

Adrian and Valda Martin.

0357 904 201"

www.millspringfarm.com.au/

www.ruffycommunity.com.au/

Framed

www.theodoracleave.com
copyright Barb Smith 2014

I was in the midst of packaging the buttons to go into part of the workshop's sample bag.....& was admiring the colour combinations........so popped them on this window pane frame...
Nice way to use some buttons.... for a Christmas feature.....
Hold them on with double sided tape ( scrapbook supplies ) so you can take them off later & sew them into other Christmas projects !!!
See them in the studio on www.onabranchabirdsings.blogspot.com

Ada Francis

Ada Francis & her son moved in over the road from me when I was about 9.

They had lived on the dairy farm until Ada's husband died...

Ada crocheted in fine cottons, so detailed, so intriguing.

her bedroom I only ever had rare glimpses of with her calico things & crocheted white bedspread & curtains.....

I have some of the curtains....

They were self sufficient in many ways ....

son rebuilt the kitchen cupboards.......

something that intrigued us kids.

They grew plums & dried their own prunes, really dry but so delicious & it was a delight to be allowed to have 2

The garden was fruit trees & food in the back along with the chooks....

a cacti garden filled the side garden & an array of flowering & scented things grew in the front....

No lawn

Just a verandah  & an old long seat we would sit on beside Mrs Francis as she sat & crocheted.

I was allowed to buy her cotton threads at the local store for her & more so after she broke her hip & was on crutches for the remainder of her life.

I have a few special pieces of Ada's work & one is a quilt top made from old shirts I guess...

Another is a little top, so petite, so delicate crocheted & lawn cloth...

and this little pillow... I think it may have been for the hosiery...

stockings to today's world.

I am blessed to have this...

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Going to Summer school !!!

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Max & Louise Pattern company & Mrs Martin's Quilt shop are running a Summer school on January 17th 2015 in Melbourne....

& 

lucky me Max & Louise are using a button or 2 in one of the projects they are offering

and

all these lovely ladies have invited me along to trade for the day.

It is a bliss sort of day for me ...as I have to prepare some painted gear before I come out but on the day I set up & play shopkeeper... no teaching...just sit around ...being part of what will be an amazing day.

Mrs Martin's Quilt shop is taking the bookings  etc for this..

******

In this picture I have been seeing what fitted for what... 

A little linen stocking,.... whatever christmas buttons excite you & a little of the stuff we do at my workshop on 29th Nov at Baxter...

I have just about caught up !!!

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I have come close to catching up that huge backlog I have had dangling about in front of me for some weeks..

This is what I look like when that happens LOL

Sorry about the pic ..it is an age thing .......... 

I am smiling so that is a bonus...

This is the other butterfly flitting I do..

when I get some time.

I adore creating for Christmas..