One day to go at the AQC and I'm tired ....and somewhat emotional. It's been a rollercoaster week. 
There was huge relief that I'd comissioned my brother to make tall pattern-display shelves, which also act as the 2nd wall I was execting to have in my exhibition space....but didn't. (The wall-of-patterns solution almost made up for the stress of the 2000 purse frames that were sitting in Australian Customs instead of in the new purse kits.) 
There has been much poking-about-under-the-shelf in an attempt to fix the glitch-ridden slideshow display of photos from the book. Even the lovely Sarah-from-next-door came in to help (pictured, above....under the shelf cover). 
I've been really happy to meet lots of wonderful people, loyal blog-followers and customers and people just "discovering" what I do. I've been overwhelmed by the response to the book. I've caught up with lots of bloggy friends. Lovely. 
...And then someone stole this bag from my display ...the one in the precious Ink&Spindle fabric with a button from my (long deceased) Nan's stash.... the bag that was the conversation-starter on the stand, to introduce people to the book....Its loss has triggered some deep sadnesses and tapped into all the stress I've ploughed on through during the production of the book, this bag and this show. It has - once again - shaken my faith in people. I've been an emotional mess all evening.
...and THEN.... My heart has been warmed by the wonderful crafting community and VERY GOOD PEOPLE who have already launched a campaign to find the bag. Cam posted this picture on Facebook within minutes of Jodie suggesting it... and then followed with a blog-button campaign here.
I've received loads of caring messages from wonderful people who heard the news. Thanks, people - even if the bag never shows up, you've restored my faith in the goodness in MOST of humanity.
