is it really over, Sew It Together 2012 in Sydney was a blast!!

Greetings all,

Well if you can believe it - the IKEA sleepover was actually squeezed inbetween two massive Sew It Together events on my weekend away in Sydney. I can go months with little interstate excitement & pow, it all happens in the space of 48 hours!!  I had to restrict my photos, blogger couldn't cope, i had so many fantastic images to show off!!

So . . . to commence my journey to Sydney with last minute change of plans to go on my own . . . i took a coach, a cab, a hire car, a train & a plane.  On the Friday morning school run i was dropped at the bus station, driver Charlie announced that the bus was leaving 20 minutes early, yahoo, i was on my way to SIT Sydney!!  I was set for coach craft, in leather comfort.  

As part of the name badge swap, i ignored the size & colour rules, i scored Susie & hand delivered it Friday.  She liked it.  It was posted weeks earlier but 'returned to sender' not by Susie & as a hex on me, my name badge from Kelly never arrived either!!
Delivered to Central Station, i jumped off the Canberra Coach into a cab to Kings Cross Thrifty to collect my car rental.  Cab driver Bruce (from London) chatted away about his 25 years at the Dunlop shoe factory.  He had no idea Dunlop Volley sneakers were back in style & cool again.

 First stop . . . a flying visit with my parents - they were off to the wedding of their Godaughter in Elizabeth Bay - her father is the governor of South Australia so you can only imagine the glamour.  

Then onto Calico & Ivy in Balmain (my father was born & raised here, so i knew the 'hood). I purchased 2 Liberty sampler packs, glorious!! When i handed over my card, the lovely Sarah said "OMG, you're Posie, with that wall of fabric" which made me giggle & think, yes, wall of fabric, my addiction is public, thus me containing myself to samplers now!!

 Then off to find Prints Charming in Annandale, very close to Sydney Uni so i knew that 'hood too. 

I met up with the Sew It Together tour girls here.  Wow, like walking into some kind of crazed Boxing Day sale, fabric flying everywhere, hype & hugs!!  Finally met Sheridan who organised this incredible event & found a seat for the Stitching Session between Becky from Becky et al & Renae from Pink Fish Blue fish.  We chatted about Kingaroy's famous Lady Flo scones, country life & children, really loved these two ladies.

 RightyO, stitching on screen printed panels with brightly coloured embroidery threads & learning a few neat tricks about stitch combinations - excellent for self taught types like me.

 After dashing away to IKEA for the night, blink & i was heading back to SIT proceedings.  After fueling & returning the hire car, i jumped into Khalid's cab where he had passionate opinions on NSW politics ('twas election day, so i let him go for it) . . . i arrived back at the SIT Saturday Session at the Menzies Hotel.

 Yay, got this huge bag of sponsored SIT goodies, filled with patterns & fabrics. 

We had some little stalls througout the day, including Craft Schmaft - so excited to meet Claire & listen to her tales about raising boys.  Very happy with my new owl mobile pattern, so giving that a go in the school holidays.

 There is Christy from Little Betty & Kylie from MealyBugCreations, love you two!!

 A 'sweeping shots' of Sew It Together, i met SO many amazing new friends here.

 After farewells & a quick exit out of SIT, i boarded the train to the airport.  As i have no shame, i asked these zombies, who joined us from Hyde Park, if they'd mind a photo - extra kudos for the fact they struck poses too!!  Ah, Sydney, thank you!!

 After dragging luggage & sewing gear around for 2 days, i was happy to relax on the plane & let Captain Pete fly me home.  Very overcast, it matched my mood, sorry the fun was over.  It was nice to be the one coming home & greeted by my family!!

 Home by 7.30p.m. & tucked into bed an hour later, after talking at lightening speed about 'what happened at craft camp' & handing out gifts to the children.

Oh, if you're wondering how i got all the IKEA bedlinen & freebies home . . . i didn't, i swung by the inner city home of my father-in-law.  Back to reality . . . my husband is back in Brisbane, tomorrow i have a P&C function to feed 250 children during the Athletics carnival, 2 markets in the next 5 days & playing full time mother again.
Had a ball at SIT, thanks Sheridan, an awesome weekend & very much looking forward to the next one. Encouraging all crafty types, new or uber experienced to attend SIT, it's the nicest bloggie meet up opportunity.  Extra thanks to all the ladies who went home with a copy of Handmade Living too, so sweet of you to purchase a copy of the book.  Love Posie
PS my bank called today to tell me my EFTPOS card was skimmed in Sydney (i literally used it for 3 x $9 cab, fuel & cab transactions, you tell me which was the dodgy one??)

Some of my favourites from Clare's Craft Room, Rebecca's Chasing Cottons, Lisa's The Red Thread & Jodie's Ric Rac, yippee!!

the FIRST IKEA Sydney sleepover

Greetings all,
Well what can i say, this was SO MUCH FUN!!  Thank you One Green Bean for inviting me & IKEA for the awesome hospitality at the sleepover last night in Sydney.  10000 ladies across Australia entered & 25 lucky girls were chosen to attend the party with their best friend, for the ultimate sleepover party in everybody's favourite furniture department store. 

 After changing into pyjamas & gowns, we were invited into Smalland where we got to play up like our children in the ball pit, see saws & just go nuts, it was a blast.

 I might mention now we had male models to wait on us all night & play with us too!!

 The night was filled with television cameras & interviews, IKEA will be making a movie & the Today Show will televise it on Sunday morning (channel 9) - their sweet reporter was very brave in the ball pit in that dress!! 

 Then we went on a treasure hunt to find the bedding we'd be sleeping in (& get to keep in an Oprah style "you get a doona" kind of fashion) so a haul of sheets, quilt cover set + doona of our choice (warm for Canberra) & pillow to suit how you sleep (i'm a side/ belly sleeper - i slept like a baby with my new pillow).

 While my bedding was being delivered to bed number 11 . . . we dined at pretty tables with flowers & heard from the volunteer manager of Bear Cottage (the hospice for terminally ill children which IKEA Family supports - they donated $5000 to them on the night, $100 for every lady at the sleepover).

 I was behind a queue of hungry meat ball lovers, but i went for salmon & vegetables, oh & a muffin & a chocolate mousse & a bread roll & a slice of cake & an organic juice - no, i didn't eat it all at once!!

 After dinner we were escourted to the bedding department which was about to be transformed into a massive sleepover party by making up all the beds!!

 Check it out, Johnsons&Johnsons bags filled with incredible products . . . i'm sharing my bounty with my daughters (my son has already taken the toothbrush) & my darling Shop Handmade girls!!  Thank you J&J - loving it all.

 Now where are these guys when i'm making up all the beds at my home??  They seriously took love & care with my hospital corners (they found out my husband was military & knew i'd have standards) & even turned down my bed like seasoned housekeepers at the Intercontinental.

 Oh yes, really, sleeping in the bedding department!!

 It was very well organised, we felt very welcome, thanks ladies!!

 I was bam smack in the middle of all the beds, so guess where the cameraman on the ladder was . . . RIGHT above me, taking all the shots of us ALL in bed at the same time.  I was thinking about the most flattering chin angle i could pose while fake sleeping!!

 Complimentary slippers, check.

 There were activities all night . . . this fortune teller was hilarious.

 Oh heavenly, massages for everyone.

 Manicures were very popular late into the night.

 There were best friends having a great girlie catch up.  Lots of pyjama chat too - i went into Peter Alexander in Chatswood at lunchtime to pick out a new set of jammies & a robe, only to find another lucky IKEA sleepover lady doing the same thing - what are the chances??  So we made sure we chose different sets & caught up at the event - turns out, she teaches as my old school!!

  Girls giving midnight DIY a go, as you do!!

 These lucky ladies had a full room set up as their bedroom for the night, ah serenity (these mummies have 9 children between, a tranquil night off indeed).

 We were all settling in & making new friends, talking late into the night.

 The male models brought around chilled bottles of water & sparkling apple cidar. 

 Mmmm midnight snacks.

 It's not a girlie sleepover without chick flicks - first up "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" & "Valentine's Day" which amazingly are girlie movies i was happy to watch.

 This chill out zone was popular, what better way to spend a Friday night, flopped out with girlfriends in front of big screens - i had a neat view of both from my bed!!  Look at this lovely lady in her pretty night gown, she was gorgeous, truly a night for girls of all ages.

 Oh, more food . . . a full breakfast & no, couldn't finish all this either!!

 Oh yes, we all ROLLED out of IKEA in the morning, so well looked after, filled bellies, whole new range of bedlinen & every possible toiletry a girl could ever want for + new friends. 

 This was how i left my hire car at sunset on Friday night, told you i hired the smallest car possible!!

So there you have it, the first ever sleepover at IKEA in Australia, a huge night of fun & freebies . . . rumour has it Melbourne is next??!!  Stay tuned, love Posie
EDIT: yes, i did get some sleep, about 2-6a.m. - i can't watch Valentine's Day with the soldier reunion part without crying my eyes out so i went to sleep early & . . . yes, i was on my own, i was the only solo girl there, my gal pal Abi couldn't come at the last minute (some excuse about not leaving an 8y.o. home alone, her husband was working, & responsible parenting, whatever) but there will be a GIVEAWAY of lots of IKEA goodies!!

my creative space 'Sew It Together Sydney' & that IKEA slumber party!!

Greetings all,

On the run, totally.  Have booked the bus to Sydney, looked up the train timetable for the airport, mapped how to get to the car hire place & ordered a ticket for plane ride home to Canberra.  Now madly printing off maps to new-must-visit-craft-stores after i visit my parents in St Ives & swap their birthday gifts for the overseas purchases they brought for my children.  So that's 400km by lunchtime & more happy bulk in my luggage.

After school pick up today & ZumbAtomic (Zumba for children) i can clean the house, make dinner, prepare to not be home for 36 hours leaving handsome soldier with the children in Canberra . . . & consider packing for my trip.  Neatly stacked up i have 15 pre-ordered & autographed copies of Handmade Living (thanks ladies, still not too late to order or pick up on the day) but . . . i have to plan my 3 hours of bus craft, what Sew It Together craft i was intending on doing (besides chatting non stop all day & selling books), toiletries & jammies for the IKEA sleep over girlie slumber party in the bedding department on Friday night . . . OMG, what to wear to these events, in front of the television cameras??

Trying to do things in order of priorities, like organise next week's P&C Athletics Carnival BBQ, pack all the gifts i need for Sydney deliveries, remember the maps i've so carefully printed off . . . argh, my bag will be so heavy, so much for my normal super light luggage efforts!!  This is also a major factor in hiring a car & not dealing with cabs or public transport.

 Please note the darkness in this kitchen-counter-image, yes of course, trying to get bed sheets & towels dry so my husband can just focus on being super-awesome-father . . . why a hex'd week of rain, doom & gloom on my washing before i attempt to leave the house??  WHY??!!

 I don't have to wait much longer . . . it's my first SIT & in my childhood home town of Sydney!!  So glad i know my way around the Eastern Suburbs, North Shore & Balmain to Sydney Uni area where i'm zipping about tomorrow, i ordered the smallest car possible for city parking convenience & a bit of a snub to my regular 8 seater 4WD which screams mother-of-many!!  Having a little holiday from my car too.

So long, farewell, i'll be back soon with a whole TONNE of giggles to share.  Happy creative space day for those who actually created something other than panic, love Posie
PS my big 300th post $200 giveaway . . . last few days, good luck!!
EDIT running along like a mad woman, almost forgot to go & collect my husband from the airport!!  At least we have Sunday together, this was always a him-babysitting-the-children weekend.

where are you sleeping on Friday night, me, i'm sleeping over at IKEA

Greetings all,
Wow, what a way to wrap up the week - the first ever IKEA sleep over party - this Friday night at the Sydney store!!  I've been asked to do PR on the IKEA event, telling/ showing off/ gloating about all the amazing things we girls get up to at a huge sleepover, locked down in Swedish furnishing heaven . . . with dinner, massages, freebies, giggles, movies, breakfast . . . also loving the excuse to get me some new jammies for the event!! 

 Seeing i'm in Sydney for Sew It Together anyway, how brilliant is this opportunity??!!

There will be 50 lucky female flat-pack & Allen key loving ladies enjoying back-to-back chick flicks at this exclusive one-night-only experience (should i mention now i've never seen Grease, Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing or Moulin Rouge??)

 I'll be happily distracted with complimentary pampering treatments & waiter service from handsome men (oh, forgot to mention that to my husband!!)  

For one night only, the bedding department of IKEA will be transformed into a girly heaven, taking much-loved elements from teenage slumber parties & injecting some sophisticated grown up fun into proceedings - sounds like perfection to this mummy of many tween girls.

So that's where i'll be between my Prints Charming sewing session on Friday afternoon & craft mania at Sew It Together on Saturday morning . . . yippee.  Stay tuned for a tonne of photos from my big BIG B I G jam packed weekend away in Sydney, love Posie
PS friendly reminder . . . last few days to enter my lucky 300th post hot pink giveaway or

 . . . grab an autographed copy of Handmade Living.

Sew it Together Sydney - fancy an autographed copy of Handmade Living??

Greetings all,
Bit of a community announcement here today . . . anyone going to SIT in Sydney next weekend who fancies an autographed copy of Handmade Living - let me know.  Only $41.50 including processing fee or $46.50 including Express postage (i can post to anyone, anywhere, you don't have to be an SIT girl). 

Your copy will be autographed by the Handmade founder, Handmade Living author, official contributors & designers too.  I can deliver them to SIT on Saturday where you can collect more signatures from more designers in the book who are also SIT attendees.  Because i'm all about freebies & bonuses . . . + a fabric bundle from my stash to say thanks for your order!!

 I'll have copies for sale at SIT on Saturday 11.45a.m.-12.30p.m. too. at the Menzies Hotel.

 All pre-orders can be autographed to YOU or anyone you are buying a copy for!!

 Why not treat yourself or those you love to an early Mother's Day gift you'll truly enjoy??

This thoughtful book has photography tips & a jewellery section, things to make for children & recipes to try - all for the love of Handmade, it not just sewing, it's a whole way of life.

 It's filled with How To projects from paper & sewing to wool & chocolate.

 The illustrations are simply beautiful.

 The How To projects are actually ones you'll want to try for your own home & inspire special gifts from the heart.

 Activity & party ideas to do with your children.

 Even a double page spread on how to create your own day spa at home!!

 To original recipes & blends of chai tea to crochet & how to cover a lampshade!!

So what are you waiting for??  Grab copies for you, your sisters, girlfriends, mummies, daughters, neighbours & friends, you won't be disappointed with what fills the pages in this amazing publication.  Projects & ideas you will use over & over, tips on how to live a Handmade lifestyle & best of all, new crafty tricks to try.
Just leave a comment here with your email & i'll follow up.  International orders welcome too, don't want you missing out!!  You can pre-pay with Visa or MasterCard, PayPal or EFT on line before the day & i'll deliver or post, which ever suits you. 
Thanks so much, i can't express how much you'll enjoy this all-in-one amazing more-than-just-a-craft book.  Love Posie