Hark, I hear the trumpets' fanfare! Part 2

I was going to mention the 101th post (yes, the 'th' bit is deliberate, I think it sounds better than 'st') in my last post but it was getting so long!

So here is the announcement of my 101th post giveaway. I've decided to be a woman of intrigue and mystery and make the giveaway a mystery giveaway.

What on earth might one find in their parcel if they were the winner of a Silly Gilly mystery giveaway? Vintage patterns, vintage children's books, ribbon, bias trim, buttons, fabric, new kids patterns for toys or clothing, fabric scraps... the list goes on but the box, yes box!, will be full of lovely things that, if you like what I like, will make you overjoyed!!

But there is a tiny catch. I want to make you work for your goodies. That and I like doing market research via my blog. Tell me your favourite type of Silly Gilly item from the list below and why it's your fave. By favourite, I mean what you think is the cutest, most useful, nicest to give as a gift...

• Art Smock
• Apron
• Summer Hat for boys and girls
• Fleece Hat for boys and girls
• Library Bag
• Bloomers for girls
• Steiner Toys
• Girls Handbags
• Learn to Sew Cards

And if you would like to be in the draw twice, mention this giveaway on your blog and link to this post! Good luck with the giveaway. The winner will be drawn 8.30pm Adelaide time Sunday 18th January.

And to prove that Jodie isn't just borrowing those really good cat photos from some cute cat photo site, here is a photo I took of her cute cat on Saturday. He is such an easy study! All he does is lie there and in this photo seems to be saying, Hurry up! Take it already!!

Hark, I hear the trumpets' fanfare! Part 1

Yes, this is my 101th post. Hooray!

And hooray for me making it back alive and with a grin from ear to ear from the Trash and Treasure blogmeet in Ballarat, Victoria.

I had been feeling a little mojo-less and very unmotivated in the post Xmas anti-climax. What better way to cure such ails than to drive 6.5 hours across country to meet up with people to whom you've never spoken and have a picnic!!??

I had a fantastic time, met some far travelling, inspiring, hilarious, friendly, creative, well dressed, welcoming women and have come back home feeling very refreshed and excited about crafting and sewing again. Here's a picture of us all tucking into our picnic lunch. Thanks Jodie for the food!

After the picnic, off to Jodie's house for some afternoon tea, then off to Annie's place for a tour of her lovely garden, her exotic smelling front yard and pizza for dinner. By the way, there seems to be a lot of cats in Ballarat... and they sneak up on you when you aren't paying them any attention....Trash in the middle, Lucy Lockett and Jodie hanging out with the chookens.

Of course, I shopped. Those of you who know me personally know that it's quite an achievement for me to spend much at all on anything for myself. But spend I did. At op shops on the way, at the delicious Ballarat Patchwork store (Emma, who owns the store, is not only a nice person too but absolutely gorgeous!!), at garage sales on the way home.... and yes, there are some good bakeries between here and Ballarat!

Thought I would share some of my finds....

Beautiful fabric that Jodie threw at me, literally, whilst soaking up the sewing mojo in her craft room. All perfect for the Silly Gilly store! Even the shabby chic pink polka dots will be loved!

Some gorgeous Kokka japanese prints from Ballarat Patwork.

Have you ever seen so many Enid Gilchrist books snaffled in one go??!! I could have bought more but was starting to feel that I should leave the remaining books for other people. And below, more Golden Books, a gorgeous tin for my haberdashery and some bias.

Lucky last is the lady on the front of this booklet I found. It makes me giggle... is she wishing her waist be small enough for the dress? Is she grimacing because her name is Lucille? Made me smirk anyhoo...

I didn't mean it...

So I just happened to drive down to Yankalilla today.

And I just happened to say 'Oh my gosh, what a coincidence, that's the shop with the really nice fabric' as I drove by. So of course I had to stop. And look what mugged me as soon as I got through the door. I couldn't leave without it.... Oh dear.

And now with no room for more fabric, this Mexican oilcloth, perfect for aprons and art smocks, is destined to be made up pretty soon into something delicious!

If you are in SA and heading down the Fleurieu peninsula, stop in and say hi to Jodie. She's lovely, I've been chatting to her online for a couple of years now.

Jodie also has an extensively stocked online store Nappies Covered. She sells nappy making supplies, PUL (plastic coated fabric), microfleece, suedecloth, hemp, bamboo, hook and look and elastics. I also get some of my size labels through Jodie. Her postage is very reasonable and her customer service is outstanding!

It's official

I have to stop buying fabric.

I can't physically fit any more fabric into my fabric stash cupboard.

So now I have to sew like the crazy sewing woman that I am so that I use my stash so that I can buy some more! You sewing gals out there will understand that silly logic.

I realised the space was full when I was pushing fabric in on one pile and the pile next to it was slowly falling out.

But I did manage to snaffle myself, as the last bit of fabric to enter the stash, some of this fabric which is absolutely perfect for Silly Gilly products!! It's vintage style, 50's style, it's for kids, it's beautiful... and somehow 9 metres of it ended up in my hand. Oh my...

Even if it does have clowns on it.....
I don't do clowns....

Silly Gilly is a nervous Nellie

I've been procrastinating when it comes to finishing a 'big girl's' quilt for my daughter. I can't honestly remember when I started the quilt, suffice to say she wasn't walking, so that would be a good almost 2 years ago.

The top is pieced and the backing is now together. All I have to do is quilt it. I say 'all' but golly me if I 'aint as nervous as Bambi in the forest.

And of course there is the self-imposed pressure as we are considering buying my almost three year old a big girl's bed, so of course she can't sleep in it without her big girl's quilt. Dang, I don't want to start and muck the whole thing up but in the same breath, I can't wait to get stuck in.

Here's a little peek of me finishing off some embellishments yesterday.

Back on track

Well I was off to the op shop this morning. As if Xmas didn't bring enough little goodies my way, I thought I might just take ten minutes, childless!!, and see what little treasures there were at the local Salvos.

Look what was waiting for me! All apparently from the same owner, as they all have the name Susan written in the same handwriting on in the inside cover.

And the gorgeous book titled Around the World Cutout Book has some great illustrations in it which I think would look lovely in a cloth book for a little girl I know! If only I had one of those trees on which grows money and time......

So that was Xmas....

I think I had a lovely Xmas this year.
That is if I can remember it.....

I've been holed up in bed with the dreaded flu... the bone aching, room spinning, chills and sweats flu....

So I've crawled (well almost) my way to the computer just to reconnect in some way with the outside world and share my sadness at missing the 20% off sale at Spotlight yesterday. I think that hurts more than the flu does.

Don't worry. I've had plenty of time to think and haven't forgotten about my 100th post giveaway.
I'll be posting about that soon. Promise. :)

Random photo from recent Bali trip due to lack of good xmas photos.....