Back during the heyday of craft blogging in the late 2010s/early 20teens, there was a group of us that read each other’s blogs, met up for blogmeets at cafés and generally encouraged each other. Most of us had young kids and between us, we created a warm, friendly and utterly creative corner of the internet. Over time, most of the blogs gradually dwindled as kids grew, we went back to work and all of that.
One of the most creative of us, Kellie from ‘Don’t Look Now’, decided 5 years ago to follow her passion for fabric and open a quilting shop. Unfortunately, it was over the other side of town in Fairfield, where I never go. It was also when I was in the middle of my Europe trip and then buying The Best House in Melbourne. I was busy, busy, busy. Still, I filed it away as a place I’d visit ‘one day.’
Fast forward to this morning. I realised that, due to the 4th lockdown, June had almost gotten away from me and I hadn’t had a Little Adventure. Basically, now that I’ve retired, I’ve set myself a challenge to go somewhere new every month. Being June 30, it had to be today!
Fortunately, I had all 4 boys and their partners over for dinner last night and the 2 who live in the Western suburbs needed a lift back home. Yarraville isn’t exactly close to Fairfield, but it’s a darn sight closer than my side of town! So once I dropped them off, I fired up the Tomtom and headed on over.
This shop is utterly exquisite.
It’s also where I found the pattern I used for the Vintage-look baby quilt. I actually saw the original! Sadly, Kellie wasn’t in the shop that day, but once I regaled the other women with the tale of how I made mine, then unpicked it all and made it again, the conversation flowed and I had the best time!
Remember how I bought a painting in Hahndorf when I was on my holiday to South Australia? On my way over there, I decided that I’d buy the fabric for a quilt to begin bringing the colour-scheme from the painting into the rest of the room.
I was probably there for an hour. I pulled up a photo of the painting on my phone and then the pulling of fabric bolts from the shelves commenced. I learned a lot, just listening to Liz talking about why each fabric would work. She was really clever in how she mixed and matched colours, which is something I need to learn more about.
We were walking up and down the shop, pulling bolts out and putting them in a stack and then stepping back to see that they’d be like.
I’ve been following this place on the blog and Facebook since it opened, so it was a thrill to see the incredible quilts in real life that I was so familiar with.
While I was there I also bought a little reading lamp. Sometimes the guest room/sewing room gets a bit dull. It’s on the south side of the house and I’ve been meaning to fix this problem for ages.
Look at how Liz packaged up my fabric! I kept glancing over at it all the way home.
Here’s the photo I took of the painting after I’d unwrapped it. You can’t really tell from this photo but it has a 3D effect – the flowers and fallen petals are made from layers and layers of paint, so they stick out. So much so that I have to keep an eye on anyone who sees it for the first time. A surprising number of people try to touch them.
In different light during the day the painting changes as the light moves across it. It’s really quite extraordinary.
So there’s the colour palette. I also bought a hexagon template so I’ll be learning a new skill when I’m making this.
I’m glad I thought to do these Little Adventures.
What a gorgeous shop and your painting is beautiful- love the colours & textures!
I’m filing away your Little Adventures idea …
I got the idea from another blogger (I forget who) .
I’m so glad I set the challenge for myself; otherwise I would’ve just driven straight home.
I’m thinking though, in these times of near-instant lockdowns, that for the next few wintry months I should schedule these things early, just in case they slam us all shut again.
The painting is beautifull and so are the fabrics. I can imagine one becomes greedy in a shop like that. What a great adventure, bet it made a happy day.
Wendy
You are so right! After dinner, I walked past the dining room table where the fabric is, stopped, caressed it, and thought, ‘I’m so glad I went out there today.’
What a stunning shop…like a kid in a candy store with all that fabric. The painting is amazing too and a treasure from your adventure. I love blogs too and I know IG has taken over big time with many of the old bloggers. Look forward to seeing how your project goes and I love the idea of your new adventure each month.
Well, the Little Adventures idea certainly made me jump to it when I thought I was out of time!
I love your painting. The 3D effect is very well worked. I’m not in to quilting but the colours chosen look great together. It will be fun and light working on that project.
I might steal your Little Adventures as well but maybe once a quarter. Life is pretty busy here. Lately they have been family history meetups with cousins I have never met.
I love Little Adventures! Is’s not too arduous – mine is every month, yours every 3 months- but it gets you out and about.
Frogdancer Jones suggested I drop by and have a look-see at your entry, as I make my own shirts and am working on my first quilt.
This was fun reading!
Haha! Frogdancer Jones writes this blog too!!!! Thanks for having a look – I thought you’d especially like the colourful front window.
Oh the embarrassment!
Serves me right for jumping without looking at the details.