Patter from Patti

Upcoming Creative Festival

I've been remiss is letting everyone know about a fun event happening next week in Iowa. The PCM Expo group is having one of their Creative Festival's in Council Bluffs, Iowa. For those of you who don't know where Council Bluffs is (like I didn't) it is across the river from Omaha, Nebraska.

Julie McCullough, elinor peace bailey and myself will be doing lectures and classes. Joining us in Doll Alley will be Ute Vasina with her Trolls. You can check out the classes at the website:
http://www.pcmexpo.com

One of the really fun events is the Make It Take It. I'm madly working away at my bookmarks. I'm providing a kit that includes the body already made and backed with Pelmet Vilene. In the kit is a rubber stamp of your choice so you can stamp the face, along with the pattern for making more. I'll have colored pencils and heat set crystals to finish the bookmark.

The Festival starts on Friday, Sep. 21 with classes starting on the 20th. Both elinor and I are teaching classes that day. I'm doing my popular Facing Faces at 9am.

Hope to see some of you there!

Last days in Australia

My final few days in Australia were spent with Pete and Kay Lippman and Cath at Textile Artistry. Pete and Kay live in a beautiful home in McCrae overlooking Port Phillip Bay (southeast of Melbourne). The sunsets from their home were breathtaking.

Spring was just beginning so everything was starting to bloom. I was eager to see Peter and Kay's home. The last time I was here they lived a little further down the coast in Sorrento. But, I can certainly see why they love McCrae.

This picture is of Pete, Kay, Robbie and Tess. The paintings on the wall are all done by Kay. She works in oils and also does fantastic felting. She's an extremely talented woman.

My weekend class was at Textile Artistry in Dromana. I had another fun time. One gal, Jan, took the ferry from Geelong for my class. Jan had been in my class last month in Geelong. It was terrific seeing her again. Cath, the owner of the shop, was a joy. Kay used to own the shop and I had seen it soon after Kay had signed the lease several years ago. It was then empty. Now, it is full of wonderful "stuff" and Cath has carried on with all the great classes and supplies that Kay developed. Plus, Cath has added a lot of her own touches. If you are ever in Victoria and driving down the eastern side of the bay, stop in. There's so much to get inspired here.

Later I'll be adding photo's of some of the dolls, wearables, wall-hangings, quilts I saw and fell in love with. Way too many to share, but once I figure out how to do a slide show, I'll get them all posted.

Adelaide and Victor Harbor

My Australian adventure continued from Perth to Adelaide. I was met at the airport in Adelaide by my friend, Penny Crompton. We arrived at our hosts home, Kate Perkins, mid afternoon. I had no idea what fun awaited me. As soon as we arrived I was totally smitten with Kate and her surroundings. But, I had a class to get ready for.
There's a fantastic quilt shop in Adelaide called Hettie's. They have an amazing classroom and this is where the first of the workshops was held. Five women traveled from Broken Hill for the class, along with nine from Adelaide and one from Victor Harbor. It was terrific catching up with those I'd not seen in 8 years.

After the first 2-day workshop Kate took me on a mini-tour of Adelaide and some of its charming scenery and shops. We stopped at Eastern Silks where I met the owner and he commissioned me to make one of my purses. It was fun seeing all their wonderful silks from India, along with amazing trims at fraction of the cost I'd paid in the U.S.
The 2nd of the 2-day workshops started on Friday and, again, it was terrific catching up with people I'd not seen in a long time. Joy Martin had arranged for me to come to Adelaide, but she and Russell were in India. Christine Howard was there with Joy's wonderful "stuff" so we could buy what we needed for the class.

On Sunday we had arranged for me to do a Flat Doll Daze. Over 40 hearty souls came out to play with Tyvek, Dyes, Paints, Pearl EX powders, organza, Shiva Paintstiks, rubber stamps, colored pencils, Copic markers, etc. I was simply blown away at the talent this group has. It was a day of fun, friendship and sharing.

After my six days in Adelaide Penny Crompton took me to her magical farm in Victor Harbor. For two blissful days I basked in the quiet of a working dairy and horse farm.

Penny and John also have amazing peacocks. I loved the way they'd hang around in front of the house and jump up on the roof and stomp around.

My time in Australia is coming to an end. I'll hate leaving, as usual. But, I'll be eager to get home to see my John, too. First, though, I flew from Adelaide back to Melbourne and one of my dearest friends, Jenny Campbell, was at the airport to greet me. Jenny and I go back a long way. She and her mum, Gwen, have had me come to Bendigo for many years. Today, Jenny and I had a delightful lunch along the waterfront of Melbourne then we went to see her son, Ben, and darling grandson, Jack.

Friday, I'll head to Peter and Kay's home then spend the weekend at Textile Artistry. So, stay tuned for the last segment of my grand trip to Australia.