Stella and I did a reconnaissance trip to the Melbourne Stitches and Craft Show on Saturday – you can’t do serious craft show browsing with a toddler in a stroller!  But in the two hours we were there we did have a lovely time scoping the shed and deciding what I would get up to when I returned the next day.  I have to say that the change of venue was a massive improvement over Caulfield racecourse – plenty of natural light, loads of space (very important when there with a pusher) and very easy parking.  A bit of air-con would have come in handy on Friday, but overall I was pleased with the Showgrounds.  There was even a proper mother’s room in the adjacent building.  I managed to say a few quick hellos to some of the crafty stallholders that I already knew (and introduced myself to a few others I knew from their blogs).  I didn’t have my camera with me but there are some great photos of the Show here and here and here and here.  Jodie gave me this lovely parcel as a thank-you for test-sewing her teapot and teacups pattern:

She really knows how to wrap a crafty gift!  Inside were these:

Wow, thanks Jodie!  Just lovely!

I somehow managed to wangle an invitation to dinner with some of the stallholders/bloggers that evening.   Sooz organised a marvellous night out at a Lebanese restaurant.  The food was superb, and the company fantastic!  We each took along a handmade gift to exchange.  I made these:

a crocheted beanie (the Divine Hat pattern once again) with matching flower brooch, and a Puff purse, packaged in a drawstring bag.  These went to lovely Cathy – and in a rather funny twist, I had made the drawstring bag following one of her tutorials!  I was lucky enough to receive these:

absolutely beautiful fabric panels from Kristen Doran.  It was a marvellous evening – more information and photos here and here.  And I went back to Stitches again on Saturday with Clare and my friend Megan – more in the next post!