I get pretty excited about Sydney's Craft and Quilt Fair. Not just because its full of eye candy everywhere you look but because it's also the anniversary of my journey into quilting. 3 years ago as a spur of the moment thing to do, GBF and I went to have a look at some quilts. I came away with a rotary cutter and a mat, and that was that!!
To honour my 3rd anniversary and because I have so many photos, I'm going I'd divide my pictures into 3 posts - People, Quilts and Fabrics.

I'm starting with people because that was the highlight of the show for me this year. I caught up with friends and met blogland buddies for the first time.
My friend Mandy saved a seat for me on the train as she lives further up the Mountains from me. We chatted all the way into town and before we knew it we were in Sydney. We fueled up on coffee and chai and got to the the show before it started. We had a fun time patchwork bag spotting in the crowd.

My lovely blog friend Terry found me straight away because of my BMDaisy jacket. She'd seen the post about the jacket and in a flash whipped up a design incorporating her initials TNT. I love that enthusiasm!! It was so so wonderful to meet a bloggy friend in real life. Now she's a real friend that I chat to in my bloggy life.


We started the day with Saffron Craig's talk. Here she is with her husband Patrick. They managed to fit a lot of information into half an hour. Their designing history, the design process, different ranges, how to use one directional fabrics, ideas and methods for making quilts.


I loved seeing quilts Saffron had made and her fabulous fabrics. It really makes it so much more personal hearing a designer talk about their fabrics. The fabrics gain a personality that makes them more special to use. I caught up with Saffron and Patrick at their stall later and have to say they are the nicest, down to Earth, lovely people!!


Next stop was the awards. My friend Chris Jurd won 1st prize in the New Traditions From Old Favourites category. It's not a great photo of her receiving the award. Chris is the blurry one in the photo, She's a fast mover! or maybe I was too busy trying to cheer, clap and take a photo at the same time!! I'm so excited for her.

This is the prize winning Lots of Dots quilt. As the name suggests Chris only used spotty dotty fabrics to create all those wonderful circles. It really is an amazing quilt!!

We did a screen printing class with Louise Snook. She was a natural teacher, with a zillion great tips to share with us and a bucket load of patience when the ink started flying.

Here I am trying to come up with a design idea. That was before I started playing with the ink and ended up with it all over the table, my hands and even spots on my face. I managed to get a little bit on the fabric.

Big smiles from Mandy and Lynne!! ( note Lynne's fabulous dress made from Patty Young's Flora and Fauna range). I think these two have found their calling, they took to printing like a ducks to water!! or should I say ink to fabric... I think I'll stick to fabric hunting...
It was an absolute treat to catch up with Linda from Quilts in the Barn. I've followed her blog pretty much from when she started it. Linda always has wonderful quilting trips to share. Amazing quilts made by her, her numerous friends and from her trips. On top of all of that she somehow she finds the time to organise one of Australia's best annual quilt shows -Quilts in the Barn, with all proceeds going to breast cancer research. This year US reproduction fabric designer and quilter Jo Morton is coming out as the feature quilter of the show. Linda happened to have this year's raffle quilt with her. Comprised of signature blocks from all over the world made with Jo's fabrics. Mine is in the photo, the dark red one with the fussy cut circles.

My only regret is that I didn't have more time to spend with everyone. We stayed to the very end and practically had to be kicked out. The day was a whirlwind and flew by way too fast!!! Next year I'll go for more than one day! At least Mandy and I had the train trip home to look at all our beautiful fabrics and purchases.

One last photo of Myself, Mandy and Lynne.

Stayed tuned for the next post of some of my favourite quilts of the show.