Trip to Melbourne ~ Part Two ~ The Quilt Fair

 Greetings lovely friends & readers

The main reason for our Melbourne trip was to attend the annual Craft & Quilt Fair held in the Melbourne Convention Centre.  We knew to take Tram 96 down to South Wharf.  I was so excited I had barely slept the night before. 

Another highlight of this day was that I knew my friend Sue would be attending to help run her Guild stand at the Fair.  Sue & I have not met up since I drove to Auckland to see her in this post 18 months ago & I was very excited to see her again.  

After I got back to the Hotel I found a beautifully wrapped package hidden in my handbag, Sue had slipped it in when I wasn't looking.  Inside was a gorgeous St Leonards Tea-towel (this is where Sue lives) & the sweetest Christmas hoop that she had made using Barb's wooden buttons.  So very kind of Sue.

Here is a fun photo of us all enjoying a coffee break.

One of the stalls we all found most interesting was Patchwork Ninja & we watched a good demonstration of his tools & techniques - he was a very good speaker.

Two of the bags that fascinated me on his stall - left hand side was all woven fabric lengths & the right hand one is made using a shrinking interfacing ... called a Shibori technique. 

I purchased a metre of this but have yet to do anything with it.



We spent a good deal of time looking at all the quilts but in hindsight I could easily have gone back a second day as your head starts to spin after awhile.  This is where taking photos is a good idea because you can look back at them but my photos really do NoT do justice to the amazing workmanship that was on display. 

Click on the pictures to enlarge them & get a better view.

These smaller size wall quilts were all down one end & this was the theme for them for 2026.

I loved the rusty Suffolk puffs & they made me think of you & your rusting work Lin.

These 2 pieces were created using Grandmother's apron, a stained tablecloth that served the Sunday roasts, & bags that carried home the weekly grocery shopping.  Incredible talent.

This large quilt really caught my eye - I loved the simplicity of the timeless red & white theme & I loved the prairie points & yo-yo's in it.   

This lady had taken some Redwork embroidery panels she'd made in 2023, & then fashioned them into a quilt - I really loved it (& she was a first time entrant too)

" If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun "

This one also really appealed (apologies my photos are rather dull) ... a lady had taken vintage flour sacks, coffee bean bags & doilies & made into this stunning quilt. 

Just amazing ... I loved it so much 💓

Last week I came across this YouTube video  

It is only 14 minutes long & features lots of the quilts should you be interested - I found it easier than my photos to view & does more justice to the stunning quilts. 

Gail & I declared this stall to be our favorite ... Miss Rose, Sister Violet.  Purchases were made from here ... everything was just beautiful.  

This quilt was hanging on the side wall of their stall ... hard to read the writing but it says "dear world she murmured, you are very lovely & I am glad to be alive in you"   Exquisite ❤

Well dear friends - I could easily fill another post with my photos but I won't as I have overloaded you enough. 

Each day when we walked down from our Hotel I could smell this wonderful fragrance wafting up the street & on the last day I said to the girls ... I am going to find out where that is coming from  .  .  .  .

We found this delightful little store tucked away called Perfect Potion - she had a diffuser going in the doorway, hence the fragrance wafting down the street.  

I was able to purchase the oil she was burning - it's called Soul Comfort.  I think we all need a little comfort for our souls at times ... it's burning as I type this & reminds me so much of my trip.  

Thank you all so very much for staying with me through 2 lengthy posts.

Wishing you all a wonderful rest-of-the-week,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,

Trip to Melbourne ~ Part One

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Warning - Photo Heavy Post !

Recently I was lucky enough to travel to Melbourne, Australia with 3 friends from my little craft group.  

We decided to fly over for the big Craft & Quilt Fair held annually in Melbourne.

We were able to get accommodation at The Victoria Hotel which is in Little Collins Street, right in the CBD.

(Mum & I did 4 trips to Melbourne together after Dad passed away, Mum's brother lived in outer Melbourne.  I found this trip entirely different, far more enjoyable & relaxing & I guess you perceive things differently depending on whom you are with & what you are there to experience.  Mums brother was always "a difficult man" & this always reflected on our stay)

 

Here I am attempting a selfie - Liz, Sharlaine, Gail & myself on the right.

I have decided to split this into two posts as I have downloaded over 250 photos & I won't bore you with them all.   Our first day was spent at the Craft & Quilt Show & I will share those photos in my next post, which I've already begun writing.  These photos are in no particular order & I apologise in advance for this long post.

After a couple of days we mastered the art of the trams, free throughout the CBD ... we knew to look out for No 96!

We truly walked miles throughout this amazing city.  There were so many laneways & little side streets to wander down, never knowing what treasure you may come across.  It was all such a vision for the senses.

We crossed the Yarra River Bridges many times ... look at those clear blue skies ... we were so incredibly lucky with the weather during our stay.

We went looking for the Botanical Gardens, got lost, & instead wandered the Alexandra Gardens.

Some art in a cafe/bar we had lunch in, on the side of the Yarra River.

This was a cafe by Flinders Station - I took this pic for my friend Carolyn who does mosaic work.  The entire wall was made of tiny mosaiced pieces.

We went to the National Gallery of Victoria as Liz wanted to see the Cartier Exhibition that was on there.

It is not something I would normally choose to visit but I am so glad I did.  It was amazing.  

I took so many photos but I will just share the one above as it was my favorite of all the pieces.  I love anything Rosary & this necklace & bracelet were stunning.  It was very dark inside & tricky to photograph.  

We visited the Crown Casino  ...  to view Not to gamble 😉

We found three men-in-the-street that Gail tried to get to come home with us 😜 ... she is a hoot !!  

By the look on his face he was not so keen !!

The street art was amazing & I am sure we only saw a fraction of it.  We loved wandering the iconic laneways taking in all the street art.

Back at the Gardens, the words "Melbourne" were planted in white Alyssum & due for a trim the Gardener told us.  

Lots of coffee stops along the way.

We discovered the most amazing Cake Shop Brunetti's.  Cakes, slices, pastries - it was like heaven in a glass cabinet.

Unfortunately we only discovered it on our last day & we all agreed that this was possibly a good thing as otherwise we may have needed bigger seats on the plane home (!!)

Downstairs to Dymocks Bookstore where they were having free wine & cake to celebrate their birthday.  I bought a beautiful 2027 Cath Kidston Diary.

Looking upwards  .  .  .  .  

Over 7 feet tall, figures Gog & Magog in the historic Royal Arcade.

 Some gorgeous boutique-style shops in here.

The well-know Desgraves Street where the centre is filled with tables, chairs & heaters, & each side is lined with different cafes & restaurants.

We ate dinner two nights in a row here, pasta one night & then a shared pizza with wines.  It was wonderful to sit next to the heater - we all really loved the atmosphere of this Street.

Well of course we went Up the Escalator to the Yarn Store & purchases were definitely made.  

On our last day I tried to convince our random-man-friend to come home with me but was not successful.  

All too soon it was time to head to the airport for our flight home.  It was a wonderful time away but, as always, wonderful to be Home again too.  

I shall be back soon with Part two - the Quilt Show.

Thank you for staying here through this long post dear friends.  Blogger has only just updated my reading list after more than a week so I am slowly visiting you all again now. 

Sending much love & friendship to you all,