Melly & me

What have I been up to?

In the last week I have been...... Playing with Jelly Rolls.....   

Enjoying exciting mail....... 

Stitching some postcards for exchange at the "Daylesford Craft Experience" this weekend......

Making a skirt to wear in Daylesford (and yes, the skirt is made out of the same fabric as that canvas hanging on the wall, and a cushion about to be completed - now I can camouflage into my lounge room!  I wonder if the kids wont notice I'm here?) And signing my life away to have a booth at Houston Quilt Market again this year - boy, that has crept up.

Amongst all of that I have been trying to come up with ideas to keep the kids happy and entertained over the holidays, and ideas to keep me warm! - when is winter over??!!

What have you been up to?

Melly 

Come join us!

Today we have some exciting news!!!  Today we can let you know all about a really exciting new retreat that is being organised and hosted by Leanne Beasley, Rosalie Quinlan and myself in partnership with "Under the Mulberry Tree" We have spent the last few weeks traveling and lunching through the Yarra Vallay (a hardship I know!) finding the perfect location and organising a wonderful retreat. The retreat will be held on Saturday the 18th September and Sunday the 19th September at the amazing Immerse winery in the beautiful Yarra Valley. There is the option to attend one or both days, and there is also stunning accommodation and a spa available at Immerse for those who want a truly memorable mini break.

Rosalie, Leanne and myself will each be designing a brand new project for the weekend and you will receive these fully kitted so that the retreat is truly all inclusive. Not to mention amazing food (with a glass of Immerse wine - of course!) and all in the perfect location to truly unwind enjoying the company of other stitchers and us.

I could go on, but if you want more information and want to secure your spot, please visit here where you can register immediately online or you can click on the link in my right sidebar to download a printable PDF with registration form.

I think this is going to be such a fun weekend and I recommend you book early to ensure a spot.

Now onto the giveaway!  Thank you so much for all of your messages of congratulations on the 300th post - it does feel like a major milestone!!  Thank you also for all of your turtle love, I am glad that you adore then as much as I do! 

The winners of the 300th birthday "Tally & Tripp" giveaway are......

Lisa Summerhays was the winner of the full kit! Congrats! Karen (June 15 2010 at 6:01pm) and Jantine Urban are the runners up who win a copy of the "Tally & Tripp" pattern.  And just because I couldn't resist, I thought the 300th commenter on the 300th post should win a copy too!! The 300th commenter is JKelly (June 29 2010 at 4:29pm). So pleeeeease girls, email me your postal addresses and I will get your winnings sent out ASAP.

Melly.

Hopes realised! & a 300th birthday giveaway.

On my last post I signed off by saying that I was hoping beyond hope to design something new that I could share with you all! Well, I am very pleased to say that I managed to fit in a couple of "free design" days between all of the deadlines as hoped! I hope you will like the result.  Please meet my new flossy friends...

Would you believe I have had these guys in my head for a year and it has taken me this long to get to them!  I think they are worth the wait, and they are now contentedly sitting on my bookshelf making me smile whenever I pass.  The patterns will be printed and ready to head to the shops by the end of the week.

Of course new patterns mean celebration giveaways, and as I was logging in to Typepad I realised that there was actually more than one reason for a celebration - this is the "Melly & me" blog's 300th post!!! Boy, that has gone by quickly.

So please leave a comment on this blog post if you would like to win in this celebration giveaway.  The winner will receive a kit, put together by me, of fabrics and the pattern to make their very own Turtle pair.  I will also pick 2 runners up to win a copy of the new "Tally & Tripp" pattern.

Good luck and thanks so much for sharing this blog journey!

Melly

Back to the machine.

It seems to have been so long since I got in front of my sewing machine.  My studio looked like a tornado had hit and all of the work seemed to put me behind the computer rather than with my beautiful Bernina.  

On Friday afternoon I had the great, relieving news that two of the big project I have been working on were ready to go to the next stage (the next stage which means someone else has to work and not me!!) What a great way that was to finish the week.  One of the weekend's top jobs was to clean the sty meaning I could start with a fresh clean room and new projects on monday.  I cant even begin to explain to you how liberating this was.

So, with my new excited creative energy (and returned health) I have spent the last two days in sewing mode.  The blog dilemma is however, it is again something I cannot show as it may be destined for Homespun magazine.  So the sneak peaks return, sorry!  

This project is so fun and fresh and just makes me smile!  I hope you will all love it too when it finally sees the light of day!  

Another project that has kept me busy over the past month is a tutorial that I have put together for "Moda Bake Shop".  Here is a sneak peek of my creation, and I will make sure I do a post to announce when it is available on the Moda site.  

So nothing much to show again, but I am hoping beyond hope that the next two days will see me create a new patterns that I CAN share!  I have an idea in mind and intend to harness this creativity and renewed energy!

I hope this week has allowed you some time to do what you love too!  Melly.

On my lap

Winners of the giveaway?, what giveaway?... on the blog?, what blog?  

Yes it may seem like I have forgotten it all, forgotten you all - but I haven't really.  The days just seem to keep going past in this blur of activity and before I know it I have been away from blogland for 10 days! What 10 days??  That is probably the real question.

But today I have committed to sitting down for at least 6 hours.  My generous little girl has decided to share her head cold and I feel the ability to do little other than sit, surrounded by some essential friends on my lap.  

First priority on this cold winter's day is a warm snuggly quilt, my trusty laptop to catch up on emails and all things blog, a nice cup of tea and quickly depleting supply of Kleenex.  I think I may stay like this the whole day!  Sounds so lovely.  OK - the need for less Kleenex could make it a little better, but sometimes we need the excuse of being sick to just sit.

So without further delay, I should announce the winners of the "Little Birds" giveaway!  I know you are just going to love this book.  Annie from Sew Nutty, Jiaying and soozem are the three lucky winners. Please email me with your postal addresses and I will get your books out after I get off the sofa! 

Back to resting...

Melly