Sunday, April 20, 2014

When in Melbourne

I headed off to Melbourne last weekend for the Australasian Quilting Convention (AQC). Actually that ended up being a very small part of the weekend with the rest of the weekend being spent in an effort to eat my way through the city.  It's always good to get away for a mini break and it's even better if you're catching up with a bestie. Little Miss Sunshine flew South to meet up with me and we had a weekend full of food, all things quilt related and lots of chatter. Naturally I took sewing with me and then didn't touch it for the entire weekend. 

The Melbourne weather did what it does best and rained on my gorgeous hair for pretty much all of Thursday and Friday. Adelaide gets rain but it comes in occasional bursts so I was completely unprepared. I capitulated late Friday afternoon and bought the cutest umbrella ever, because when in Melbourne you do as Melburnians do and carry one everywhere. Naturally it didn't rain a drop after that so my gorgeous umbrella has yet to see the outside of it's equally cute holder thingy. I'm planning to run outside the very second it rains so I can give it a trial. 


I am the world's worst photographer, not least because I often simply forget to take pictures. I was all fired up to take photos at AQC, and pretty much forgot most of the time after that. Still, I got some eye candy to share. 

The Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens - the venue for AQC 2014.


Naturally there were plenty of quilts. These were a few of my favourites.


see bottom of page for quilt credits 
We headed off to Amitie and GJ Fabrics by train and tram on Saturday (very ably navigated by Little Miss Sunshine because I'm crap at reading directions). Melbourne - you have the best public transport system. Seriously easy to get around.  GJ's was awesome and they had a 25% off sale if you spent over 50 bucks so I took full advantage.  


 My haul for the weekend looked like this. I thought I was incredibly restrained, given I was surrounded by fabric. 


Most of the fabric I bought was for my eventual Lucy Boston Quilt but I bought some "just because" fabric too. And I bought a pattern for this amazing quilt because I fell immediately in love with it before I thought about how much work it was going to be. 


I got to hang with some very cool people in Melbourne. Loz and Claire were there as well as Gail Pan who allowed me to stroke her upcoming and as yet unreleased fabric collection. And I met Helen Stubbings of Hugs and Kisses fame over dinner as well but I only got a shot of her with her mouth open and if I post it she might ban me from using her patterns and what not so I'm not going to risk it. 

Gail Pan and Quiltygal (Claire) with Gail's fabulous fabric 
Gail with Loz at dinner
Wandering around Melbourne I was rather taken with the tiling on this floor in a little arcade we wandered through so a picture was in order. 


It was a lovely weekend. So much to take in. 

Happy Easter to you and yours from me and mine. This was the sum total of my decorating for Easter, and unlike me I left my Easter shopping until the last minute so I was off to the shops yesterday morning to pick over what was left in regards to chocolate ...I still did OK mind you! 



And I'm hoping for a finish or two of the quilty kind this weekend since it is an ultra long one. The triangle quilt is ready for basting. (Finally!)  


May you overeat chocolate and hot cross buns, overdose on family and have a fabulous weekend. 


Quilt Show Credits : Top Row  Left to Right ,Lancaster by Sue Daley, And On The Seventh Day He rested by  Sandy Corry,Lucy Boston Blocks – uncredited at the show
2nd Row -Reminisce by Mariane Boatahight , Cornelian by Helen Stubbings , Cat in The Hat’s Journey by Robyn Shephard
Bottom Row -Mary Brown Revisited by Liz Willing (Pictures 1 and 2 )A piece of a quilt I forgot to take the details of. 

27 comments:

Leanne said...

Happy Easter to you. Looks like last weekend was lots of fun it's always nice to catch up with your bestie.

Cath said...

Great fun in Melbourne. Pity about the weather but it is Melbourne!!
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

Lorraine said...

Happy Easter my friend! No need for that cute brolly this weekend!

Mistea said...

Glad you enjoyed your trip to AQC.
We do all kinds of weather and it's good to be prepared.
I must have been egg foraging later than you, it was a very disappointing selection!
Happy easter to you.

crazyquilter said...

What a great show for you to be able to go to and to be in the company of a BFF must have been just the best.
Another blog posted images of the main prize winners and I was surprised to see that they were all arty/applique - no traditional ones this year it would seem.

the running hare said...

Sounds like a great weekend and still some time to go. Happy Easter!

Dianne Neale said...

Sounds like a great weekend,

Rachaeldaisy said...

Sounds like you had a fabulous time in Melbourne!! I bet you bought twice as much fabric as you've shown us. I fell off my chair when I read Triangles is ready to baste, I was worried for a while there that it was destined for the back of the cupboard. May your chocolate eggs be extra tasty!!

Noela said...

Happy Easter Shay. Looks like you had a great time. Love all your purchases. Aren't you lucky meeting all those quilting celebs. I'm suitably jealous. Hugs.....

Katy Cameron said...

I definitely approve of eating your way round Melbourne, it's definitely the city to do it in! Yay for friends and fabric too

Cindy said...

It would be a dream come true to spend the day with you and Marj. I would make sure to bring plenty of panty changes since I've sure you would both make me pee my pants on more than one occasion. :) Happy Easter to you and your family!!

Larri said...

What an absolutely lovely way to spend the weekend! Makes mine look rather dismal...especially since it involves crazy in-laws. ;) Happy Easter!

Sue SA said...

So going to AQC next year, very green with envy! So good you could catch up with so many friends as well, plus see some gorgous quilts. Glad you are making some stitching progress over this long weekend, look forward to seeing the results.

Kirsten's Cooking said...

Sounds like a perfect weekend - good for you!!!

Jindi's Cottage said...

Cute brolly...yep, Melbourne, four seasons in one day. For Easter - winter!
Easter decorating? Really? I failed miserably in the whole Easter shopping thing - no easter eggs to be found and tinned salmon Friday because I forgot to get fresh fish - oh yes, right on to it this year, not!

Marie said...

ooohhh cute fabric and the umbrella is pretty darn cute too!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

What a great post. I especially enjoyed the part about your magical umbrella that stops rain and is cute to boot.

Elizabeth said...

So much eye candy, I can't decide where to start. I guess the beginning. The Royal Exhibition Building is amazing. I need to become independently wealth and come tourist around Australia for six or so months. Gorgeous!

I loved the quilts from the show and shopping for fabric with quilty friends is amazing! The hexie patter you bought is also amazing.

I love those cute little carrots you made for Easter. I didn't decorate at all and only bought a little bit of chocolate (since I can't eat it) and we had a lovely, almost candy-free holiday.

And finally, oh! my! goodness! I knew your triangle quilt was going to be amazing! I love it! And it is already to baste. Amazing! It looks like you found your mojo!

I'm glad you had a nice break in Melbourne & hope your long weekend is amazing!

xo -E

Kate said...

Hope you had a wonderful Easter. I got both hot cross buns and chocolate Easter morning, so it was just about perfect.

Looks like you had grand time in Melbourne. Looking forward to checking out all your quilty adventures from the weekend.

Tazzie said...

What a great adventure you had in Melbourne, hope your Easter was wonderful too! Feels like forever since I've seen you, we must catch up soon.
Hugs
Taz
xox

Helsie said...

Sounds like you had fun. You always do when you meet up with Marg.I wonder, has Melbourne recovered yet?

Unknown said...

I am so glad you got to meet up with Miss Sunshine! I know the two of you had a wonderful time. I miss quilt shows and hope to find one soon.

Paulette said...

Oh my gosh, the triangle quilt!! I can't wait to see that one when it's done. Sounds like a fantastic time you had!

Kristie said...

Always so fun to travel and spend time with friends! Looks like a hoot.

thea said...

Happy Belated Easter to you .. sounds like a wonderful weekend of food and friends and quilts. Couldn't ask for much more.

Love the robot fabric. so cute.

Too bad you didn't buy the umbrella a little earlier, then it would have stopped raining sooner.

Can't wait to see the finish of the triangle quilt ...

Vesuviusmama said...

So, have you used the gorgeous umbrella yet?

Brenda said...

Your Easter decorations are darling! Way better than mine (none)!