When I first went on the Internet 2 years ago, I did a search for smocking related sites and guess what? No matter which Search Engine I used, the results were always the same:- A few shops, one or two links for "smocking marijuana", one for something to do with fonts and even one for "adult baby wear". But, for simple how to information on a beautiful embroidery technique that has been around for centuries?..... Well, you probably all know about that too!  :-))

This site began it's life as a simple bookmark page and I can't quite believe how much it has grown and evolved since it's inception. Craft-Antics was the name I came up with, for a make believe business that I had to create on paper for the business section of an Advanced Certificate course I did in Needlework many years ago. Maybe, one day, it will be written above the door of a certain little shop.... Dreams cost you nothing after all... and at least you'll all be able to guess what treasures will await you inside. *smile*

This book was my "bible" when I first started smocking and I feel very honored that Margie Bauer, one of it's co-authors, has give me permission to use them. Margie Bauer is a very talented and motivated lady who must be allocated a great deal of the credit due for the popularity of smocking and heirloom sewing in Australia today. Her story is one that deserves to be told and I hope that one day she will put up her own web page and do just that. She is, amongst other things, the Publisher and Editor-in-chief of "Australian Smocking and Embroidery" and of "Inspirations" (two incredible magazines that I'm sure you have all heard of).

....... and lucky you!!! Margie has also given me permission to reproduce some of the smocking plates from "Australian Smocking and Embroidery" on these pages. So... (small plug here) if you like the plates, I assure everyone, you will adore the magazines!!!

(Please note: Australian Smocking, the book referred to on these pages, is currently out of print and I'm led to believe that existing copies are almost like hen's teeth.... impossible to find. You may be lucky enough to find one up for auction at Ebay but I have been told the prices do get a little out of control. And no... *smile*... my own copy is not for sale.)

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