Sewing Room Mess

Life has been so hectic preparing for our daughter's move interstate (and first time away form home) that my sewing corner has become a dumping ground. In a last minute rush a CD case was needed for daughter's movies so my genealogy discs have been unceremoniously tossed onto a project box. My recent birthday increased my stash with some lovely new fabrics that are now sitting in a pile on my desk waiting to be washed. Even some books I received for my birthday are still sitting on my ironing spot.
Well - it's sewing day today. Let's see what I can do.

Book Signings at A&R - Living the dream

 Signing some books for the Glen's store manager. The place was awash with posters of varying sizes advertising my presence.

 Putting price stickers on my own books in a real bookstore. Wow. That was a buzz!

A break in the traffic allows hubby to take a nice shot of me living the dream.

Book singings at Angus and Robertson

I was sent a sneak preview of the posters going into the Angus and Robertson store at The Glen Shopping Centre, Glen Waverley (Melbourne) and wanted to share it here. It is a very big leap forward for my career and I am keen to meet lots of new people on Saturday when I am at the store to sign books. My upcoming signings for The Caroline Challenge Quilt are:
The Glen, Saturday 13 November from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Forest Hill Shopping Centre, Saturday 13 November from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood, Saturday 4 December from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Knox Shopping Centre, Saturday 18 December from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon
All three books in the series will be available. Hope to see you there.

Fairy Penguins

I had a fantastic weekend. Scrapbooking all day Saturday with old school pals, non-stop chatter, followed by a night out in St Kilda with daughter and a young friend who took us to Mamma's Soul Cafe near the St Kilda Baths. It was vegetarian which was an unusual experience for us meat lovers but extremely good food that we thoroughly enjoyed. We also had fun watching all the young people drinking and laughing and dancing in the courtyard below. The music was different for us too, but good. I was sad to see how many young people smoke, knowing how hard it is to give up eventually, and how damaging it is to one's health. But they were having such a good time and I didn't see any unpleasant behaviour at all.
Being so close to St Kilda pier it was inevitable that we took an impromptu stroll down said very long pier. We nearly didn't go all the way as my husband suggested turning back but I pulled him along a little further - much to our delight. We found the fairy penguins at the end of the pier. They are so lovely. We stood about one and a half metres from a little fella who did not seem frightened of us at all. Plenty of people were making their way down there, and I hope with all my heart that the penguins are never harassed by humans, but treated with the respect they deserve. We stood very quietly and quite still for a while, then left them in peace.
It was something I had on my private bucket list to see those penguins, and I am so glad it happened through serendipity rather than planning. It made me very happy.

The Caroline Challenge Quilt

Everything is changing, whether the quiltmakers want it to or not. Nothing stays the same as the group of friends continue to take up the challenges presented by the Glenvale Patchwork and Quilters Guild. Isabel makes some changes in her life by choice, but the others are presented with difficult times as they learn to cope with new phases and forced adjustments to their lives. Their president, Jane Campbell has to deal with the biggest change of them all. But what does any of this have to do with squatters and shipwrecks? As The Australian Challenge Quilt Series continues with The Caroline Challenge Quilt the five friends learn more about their Australian history, taking their lessons of the past to find ways of managing in the present. A warm story in which the values of friendship are cherished.
Now available direct from the author, Margaret A. Rowe. Contact me by email rowekeys01@optusnet.com.au.