After the Rain....

As I watch my new garden flourish in this weird Melbourne Summer (rain and winter temps one day, hot summer day the next... and then more rain...), I feel my mind, body and spirit hedging closer to feeling ok.   

 

I'm reminded of the regrowth that follows a bushfire. 

 

 

A front garden full of heritage roses makes me stop, inhale heady perfume and wonder at the gobsmacking beauty that can exist in a single moment and all that nature provides.

 



  

There has been work of various kinds, book edits, teaching, dramas on both large and miniscule scales.  There has been no design-mojo and no inclination to unpack any more boxes or think about the myriad to-do lists I could be looking at....

 

In between tasks, I stop.  Breathe.  Swim. Sleep.  I have made time for making bread (we haven't bought a loaf since we moved in a month ago). 

  

 

There has been time made for mothering.  And picnic dinners on balmy evenings, by the local lake....

 

 

...and sometimes in the back yard.

 

There is even a tentative return of the long-lost cooking-mojo.

 

 

I'm slowly clawing back that 'life' part of the life/work balance.  It appears to have been lost over the last two years and it's like I'm learning to walk again.  Breathe again.

 

It hasn't all been about stopping, 'though.... I just couldn't stop crocheting that Summer Lace Tank Top.  It's now my Summer Lace Dress. 

 

  

Oh... keep an eye on that old couch in the background up there... I have big plans (and a big roll of fabric) for that one. (I also had optimistic plans to use that blue yoga mat a bit more frequently... but that hasn't really happened.  It just looks like it's kept handy enough to be rolled out each day.)

 

 

 

The recent house-move coincided with the wholesale Quilt Market in Melbourne, so I didn't stretch myself to doing that as well (I HAVE turned over a new leaf, haven't I..?). 

I popped in to see old friends and met some wonderful new people, too.  And once again, spending time with other people in the biz, who just 'get it', there was much laughter, a few tears and a sense of being a part of a community.

 

 

In other very exciting work-related news, the new book - due for release in May 2014 - is already available for pre-orders online. 

Yikes.  It's real!

 

 

 

 It's nice to be back in this space.  I have a feeling you'll be seeing more of me here, again.

 

 

 

To Market, to Markit ...and a whirlwind through life.

It was a big weekend. The Australian Quilt Market was on in Melbourne.

There was almost unbearable cuteness to be seen (and lots of me stopping to chat) around the Creative Abundance stand.  RicRac and Mellie&Me side by side, and surrounded by all the other talented CA crew.

I wasn't exhibiting, so it was fab to be able to wander about and meet lots of other designers, reps and distributors.  Lots of inspiration, collaboration and opportunities were shared.  And there was lots of fabric.... lovely fabric.

This is part of the Riley Blake stand, which was singing with fresh colour.

Best of all was the fabulous company. 'Twas great to catch up with Lisa, Pauline and Jodie (over what was supposed to be a quick lunch) and still feel the bonds that were made in those early Stitches and Craft Show days. 

 

I also popped into Markit@FedSquare on my way through to the AQM on Sunday.

I must admit I was a tad overwhelmed by the crowds (as I was trying to negotiate my way through with the unweildy bundle of my helmet and the basket off my bike).  I didn't stay as long as I'd planned and I appear to have missed seeing a few friends who were there. 

From what I saw, the quality of the work was extraordinarily high and I hope that all the stallholders had a fab day.  It looked stunning.

So many ideas swam about in this little ol' head of mine this past weekend.  Life's big questions danced beside frippery, colour and design, while I relished the ability to ride a bicycle in glorious Melbourne sunshine and eat Japanese food for 3 of the weekend's meals. 

 

There was hope and opportunity, exasperation and desperation, unstoppable giggles and cathartic tears, newborn-baby-cuddling and an education in boutique-beer drinking. There were surprises and uncertainty and there was the comfort of time spent with old and very dear friends. There was a sense of being bouyed up with love and support, and there was hair that did something different every three minutes (must get a haircut or new styling product).

This weekend was one big jumbled mash up.  Life, in concentrated form.  Ain't it grand...?

 

Now, it's home-again, home-again... and I have laundry to wash, a book to write and a kid to get to school each day.

And I'm listening to KT Tunstall.

 



Stepping out with a few of the locals...

It's the Australasian Quilt Market (wholesale trade show) in Melbourne this weekend.  I've decided not to exhibit this year but made a few samples for F.D. Textiles, to show off just how fabulous their fabrics look as my A-Line Skirt. 

These two skirts are both made using the gorgeous Veritas Design fabric that I fell in love with at the Sydney AQM earlier this year.  The denim is also supplied by F.D Textiles. 

 

Loving the local gals, I am.

 

And I'm loving this skirt..... I didn't want to take it off.



 

In Melbourne this weekend, there are also lots of opportunities to support local businesses.  If you're in the city centre on Thursday evening, there are all sorts of good things going on in Flinders Lane and surrounds.  Late night shopping with special offers with the small local retailers. 

 

And on Friday, there's a group pop-up shop with Nina Wish Designs and a group of designer-makers from regional Victoria.  They'll be at 112 Greeves St Fitzroy (my old street!) from 12noon-8pm.

 

 

In the days when I made hats for a living, Nina Wish was one of the boutiques I worked closely with. I made hats from their (mostly vintage) fabric offcuts, and helped out with garment patternmaking and sewing on a freelance basis.  We quickly became the best of friends and 20 years later, I feel blessed to still count Marion and Gordon among my dearests. 

 

I just dug out this photo, which I love, from somewhere in the early-mid 1990's.  It's the very end of a parade....

The parades were hard work to organise, and there was always a build-up of stress and late nights, so when the party went off, it went off with a bang.   We were young and energetic... so it was a big bang.  For me, this picture captures that tipping-point moment perfectly.  Good memories.

 

 

Have a good weekend everyone - and don't forget to support your local designers and makers.   

Back to life...(and trying to remember where I put the reality).

Yep.  I made it to Sydney and back (...yes, even with ME driving!). I'm just trying to get my bearings again, having had such a big focus for the last few weeks.

All went relatively smoothly in Sydney.  I managed to set up and pack up and do a whole show in between, all without tears.  Nothing was stolen and nobody said anything unkind.  I met lots of interested and interesting people and had a very nice time.  I must also say that the organisers of this event are just wonderful.

We now have some more stockists, and you'll be able to find my patterns and supplies in a few more places around Australia and New Zealand.

Over the weekend, I was seen to be fondling bits of fabric on other stands, and you may well be seeing more of these prints in these-here parts.

 Two ranges that took my particular attention were by Surface Art and Veritas Design (Australian designers), and as I sat opposite them throughout the show, I thought up fabulous 50's-inspired full skirted dresses and skirts and all manner of homewares.  LOVE it.

Another new independent designer on the wholesale scene was Buddies Corner. The stand was really fresh and inspiring and the designer (Tammy) is just lovely.  She has a career background in textile design for large companies and has branched out on her own.  GO TAMMY!

 I loved the mix of yardage and panels and the mix of boys/girls children's designs.

 I didn't think to get my camera out in class, but I had to take a few photos at Peg's Pieces, before I left the shop.   Along with loads of fresh and fabulous fabrics, they have just a few (thousand) buttons....

...and the cat-themed fabrics had my head spinning with choices for a Mummy's been away gift for the smallest crafter in the family.

 Best of all, while in Sydney, I got to stay with my great friend of 25 years, Sarah.   I even finished the Divine Hat I started crocheting for her before I arrived and started a new (knitty) one.  The hat fitted Sarah's 2-year-old as well as it fitted her.  (Lots of brains in that kid's head...!)

And now, having barely landed (and taught a patternmaking class last night), I find myself cleaning up the chaos I left behind a week ago and trying to remember where I was up to in my various and scattered mental lists of loosely-prioritised to-do's.  I'm yet to muster the courage to look at the calendar ahead of next week.

Thank goodness for the long weekend ahead.  I have nothing planned.  By Tuesday, I hope that there will be a renewed focus ...and that the enormous pile of laundry at home will be a distant memory.

Another day, another adventure

Here I am, aged about 23 or 24, sitting on top of a mountain in the Lake District in England.  I'm nonchalantly crunching my way through an apple, looking for all the world like I walk up mountains every day.

 If I remember correctly, the climb nearly killed me.  I think there were tears. 

Here I am, ten years later, in Florence, looking for all the world like a natural Irish redhead on a relaxed holiday.

The months leading up to this trip were difficult, difficult times and the maintenance on that auburn do was a full-time job  (because I'm not naturally a redhead ...nor am I Irish).  You'd never guess any of this from the photo, would you? (And those 3 weeks in Italy were fabulous).

When I think of adventures, there's always a background of something overcome...  darkness before dawn,  little engines that could...  GETTING THERE is what it's about and it makes everything worthwhile.

Tomorrow I'm off to Sydney, to the AQM and to teach some classes.  Nervous-Nellie-newby-driver that I am, I'm driving up BY MYSELF.  (I plan to take lots of breaks, lots of snacks and a couple of audio books).

I'll show you photos when I get there.

Coming soon to a store near YOU!

 We had a good weekend at the Australian Quilt Market.

The new-look patterns were received well.  Ordered for stores around Australia, New Zealand and online.

 This was my little patch... very stark and white in the world of quiltiness.

I didn't take many photos, but I managed this one of Saffron Craig and  Two Monkeys Fabrics. Fabulous stuff.

 And I captured a bit of this Melody Ross  fabric at Lloyd Curzon Textiles.  I thinks I'm in love.

Today I took the day off.  I was so exhausted I couldn't talk or think, so there seemed no point in going to work.  I spent most of the day mooching about at a snail's pace, lying on the couch and watching dvd's.  In the afternoon, I played with my knitting machine.

I'll keep you posted on where to buy my patterns, hardware and interfacing as we send out the wholesale orders.  Hopefully by then, I'll have experienced the return of my brain and the ability to construct sentences.

Right now, it's back to the couch....

A bit famous again

Gosh - I'm feeling a bit like the golden child (being Homespun Magazine's "Favourite" and all).

...and I'm very, VERY busy (getting ready for the wholesale show on the weekend).  So that's it from me for now.

Seeya on the other side of Sunday!