Let's Get Stitched...

On Thursday March 6 I'm heading off to Melbourne for the Bloggers' Meet known as Let's Get Stitched'. A number of things have been planned for this weekend, starting with a bus tour of a number of craft/quilt shops in and around Melbourne on the Friday. There is the very popular Pizza and Games Night on the Friday evening and Saturday night is the Let's Get Stitched Dinner. Sunday is the stitching day and there are a number of designers who will be unveiling new projects to us that day. This will be the  first time that I have attended this event and it's quite exciting! I have noticed on some of the designers' blogs photos appearing of piles of fabrics and packets containing patterns...just to tease us I think! 

There are 2 items that all attendees have to make; one is a mug rug, the back of which will be signed by everyone  and will be a great souvenir of the weekend. Last FNSI, I started work on my mug rug but didn't get very far that night...

 For the very first time I had printed some images on fabric that I planned to use in my mug rug...

I stitched the sewing machine in a red/orange as I once saw a photo of one of Bonnie Hunter's vintage machines and it was red! It looked so cute. Also on the last FNSI, I got out my bag of sewing notions fabrics. So all the 'raw materials' were there, I just had to work out how I was going to put all this together...so it looked ok! lol

And this is the finished mug rug..ta dah!

The other item that we each have to make is a name tag for the name tag swap. We have all been given the name of the person for whom we have to make a name tag. We were invited to give details of favourite colours etc on the group's Facebook wall, to help match the tag to the intended recipients. My swap partner said she didn't like pastels etc but liked black and white and also jade green. This nametag will be worn on the bustrip on Friday.
And this is what I've come up with...
Not more hexies you say? But of course! lol. The name tag is just over 3 1/2 inches at its widest point...so hopefully not too big! The name is hidden with a strip of wadding as we have to keep the name secret until we hand them over on Thursday night. 

I also have a list of items that are required for the stitching projects, to gather together to take with me...from the listed items it sounds like some lovely projects that we will get to do.
 Yesterday I went shopping to buy some threads which are on our 'to bring' list and took the opportunity to buy some new pins. In that 'black hole' where pens and socks disappear to, I think many of my sewing pins are there too. :-)

Of course I've also been gathering items that I already have.

So next Thursday I will be meeting up at the airport with some fellow bloggers from around SE Queensland. We've managed to get tickets on the same flight. Should we warn Melbourne that Let's Get Stitched is on next weekend?? Needless to say, I will take lots of photos.