We're back - part 2!

We begin this post with an apology for subjecting you to our holiday slide show.  Yes, this will be one very long post!  You may like to get a cuppa or a glass of white (like we are drinking while producing this post). 

After almost no sleep from the time we left Melbourne to the time we left Houston, we have no photos to show you of our one day in Frankfurt as we slept the whole day away.  On our first day in Holland our Uncle Klass offered to take us to Brugge in Belgium for a day trip.  We were so excited and we had the most delightful day in a beautiful old city.   By the way, did we mention that Brugge is the Chocolate capital of Belgium???  Enough said.

On day 2 we set off on a scenic tour of Holland to reach the KreaDoe fair in Utrecht (we say scenic as our train line was closed and we had to make alternate arrangements involving every form of public transport known to man).  We met up with Daniella of Hip Handwerk who had filled her booth with gorgeous samples of our flossies.  Of all the stalls at the KreaDoe, hers stood out as the most gorgeous, fresh and well planned - true eye candy!

Daniella was gorgeous and welcoming and gave us a huge basket of dutch treats and this lovely traditional Dutch fabric.  Her support means the world to us.

We were also so delighted to meet with Sonnja from Beertje Zoon.  She was so welcoming and we had such a great time talking and sharing morning tea with her and her husband Richard.  She also brought along the beautiful bears that she had made from the fabrics we donated - just too cute.  Make sure you take a look at her site and consider donating some of your spare fabric to this very worthy cause.

Daniella was selling the most beautiful book from Tilda's Huis and we bought the dutch translation.   On returning home we said to Leanne "wait until you see the gorgeous book we bought in Holland"  She said, "no,no wait until you see the gorgeous book I bought in Norway!"  It turned out that we had each bought only one book while in Europe and it was the exact same one.  We want to share more of this exquisite book with you in a future post.

Though we spent most of our time with our fabulous Aunty Yda, Uncle Ad and their gorgeous girls, we spent one day with our Uncle and Aunty from our Fathers side.  We had a delightful day touring around their part of Holland.  We went to a five acre orchid greenhouse which had to be seen to be believed.

 

Here are two of our favourite photos of all!  An evening spent with our beautiful Oma Hilly.  Though half a world separated us, our childhood was filled with the love of our wonderful Grandmother.  Just sitting on the couch or sorting buttons from her collection were moments that we will treasure forever.

After our plea for photos from Houston the fabulous Kim from The Fat Quarters in the UK generously emailed us this great shot of her and us in front of our booth.  We are sorry that it is still not a full photo of our booth, but hey, it is the best we have got.  We had so much fun with our UK and NZ customers.  We hope to visit and maybe even get a teaching gig with these gals some time in the future - you can only dream!

This trip was fantastic, enthralling, hilarious, touching and inspiring.  We had the time of our lives!  Coming home to those we love was equally precious.  There really is no place like home. - Melly & Rosie

Comments

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

Great post girls! I've told Kim that I am no longer talking to her as she has met you both and I haven't!!!! Seriously you must come over here and meet your very distantly-detached-and-not-really- related-mad-English-cousin - aka ME!
I have the Tilda book that you and Leanne bought - but mine is in English!!! I have two others as well - they are fabulous!

Just received my Dilbert pattern from Kim so looking forward to making some for Fred for Christmas.

Take care, Lucy xxx

[lucykatecrafts]

that dutch fabric looks luscious!, i've had my eye on the tone finnanger book for a while, i have the other 2 already, would recommend the christmas one if you've not already got it.

[Janellybelly]

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us all. What a blessing to have sister time, craft time and family time all rolled into one amazing journey.
Janelle x

[nicolette]

Wonderful to see all the photos and read about your trip. I love to see the 1946 quilt hanging on the background! I have a box full of those gorgeous Dutch fabrics in front of my nose!!

[Andrea Gourley]

WhooHoo - that's my lovely friend Kim :)

The Tilda books are great, I've got the three latest ones and they are full of gorgeousness!

[Cathi in Ireland]

LOL I bought the Tilda Hus book in Sweden on a trip there. Didn't know there was an English translation out there, that would be so much easier!!

Looks like you had a great trip!!

[Suzie Sews]

Oh how i enjoyed my glass of wine and a good read. I thank you..what a great trip...some sleep must be required!!!!

[Nicola]

Oh wow - your stall looks fab - I have ordered loads of quilty things from the fabulous Kim, and have just received a parcel from her today - how spooky is that?? I couldn't decide between the BOM "Give Thanks" and the BOM The Joy of Life - so I was a very bad girl and bought both of them!!!

[kirsty]

So glad you had such a wonderful trip! Family AND market is one trip - fantastic! I went to Houston a few years ago. Now you've made me desperate to go back!

[Leanne]

Welcome back girls - sounds like you had a great time - Holland is such a beautiful country. I have a Tilda Christmas book which is full of fun things.

[Marie]

Loved the photo's, thanks for sharing your amazing time away. And I bet it was wonderful seeing your grandmother aunts uncles and cousins. I bet your time with them flew.

[ChaCha]

I shouldn't have read your post in one of my weak moments! You made me cry with your reminiscing of your grandmother and the strong connection to your homeland. Made me miss my grandparents too...Looks like a fabulous trip!

[Maddy]

Wow girls, what a holiday, thank you so much for sharing it with us all.

[Louise]

Oooh I went to Brugge way back in 1990 and absolutely loved it! The fair in Utrecht looks fantastic. Sounds like a really wonderful trip girls - thanks for sharing.

[Karen]

What a fantastic time the two of you had. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos. Your booth looked super! My favourite photo is the one of you sorting buttons with your grandmother - so special.

[Lissa]

what a fantastic time you guys must of had.. apart from chocolate, isn't Brugge the place to get that exquisite lace? I have a few pieces from peoples that have travelled there and thought of me.. and I also love sorting buttons with my grandma, and she used to tell me what they were on etc, such memories.. and the booth looked great (of course!)

Lissa

[sharon]

Such fun...but now - a problem!! Where in sunny Australia can one purchase the 'Tilda' books? They sound like a must have - how amazing that you and Leanne bought the same book!!I have never heard of them - but they are certainly popular!Great photos and always wonderful to read and share your feel-good BLOG

[Heather]

What fun you all must have had! Thanks for sharing your adventures and you can never have too many pictures - Cheers

[Treasured Threads]

What a fun trip, girls! Glad you had such a great time and I am so glad we were able to get together while you were in the US! :) Looking forward to the new patterns and always inspiring patterns from two of my favorite Australian designers! Rest up! Then get back to work...LOL

[Sommja]

Hi Melly & Rosie,

I’ve read Your latest post ‘we’re back part 2’ and I must say what a fantastic trip you have made.
What nice photos you took from your family, the people you have met and the places you visited !

There is some news about Beertje Zonn: early this week we received a mail from Simone that the box with 50 Beertjes Zonn had finally arrived in South Africa. I’m sure Sonnja already has mailed You about this.
But there is more: we received some photos of a few children who got a Beertje Zonn from Simone !
Also Astrid, a friend of Simone and a physiotherapist, asked if it was possible we send her some Beertjes Zonn for the handicapped children in the hospital she works for.
And Simone told us she could use some more Beertjes Zonn.
So we decided to send 2 more boxes containing 100 bears each to South Africa. Tomorrow we will take the boxes to the post-office !
It will take about 5 weeks before they arrive in South Africa. Hopefully there will be 200 Beertjes Zonn more in Africa before Christmas.

Kind Regards,
Richard

[Connie W]

I really enjoyed the photos so thanks for sharing them.

[Mirre]

I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves so much in our little country and I'm sorry I couldn't come to meet you!

Thankfully I'll still be able to enjoy the lovely things you make through your blog :)

[erika]

Great pictures, I love brugge it's just like a museum, so pretty.

[Cece Marie]

Oh, that photo of you both with your Grandma is so sweet and heartwarming! It is so so wonderful that you cherish every moment with her!

[Caro]

I loved the shot of the buttons. My (now) 9 year old son loves to sort (and steal) through my button jar. Ah the memories being created.