This Is.... My Favourite Quote

I'm a big fan of quotable quotes. I write good 'uns down when I hear them and stick them in places where I'll see them. For example...

On my Computer...
"Well behaved women seldom make history" (No idea who wrote it, but I LOVE it!)

On my Sewing Machine...
"What we vividly imagine, ardently desire, enthusiastically act upon, must inevitably come to pass" (Edward Sisson)

On one of my Pattern Pieces... I chance across it from time to time.
"No act of kindness is ever wasted" (again, no idea where it came from)

I also love the sage advice in quirky Chinese proverbs like...
"A man must wait on the side of a mountain with his mouth open for A LONG TIME before a roast duck flies in."
and
"Do not remove a fly from the forehead of your friend with a hatchet."

Ah... I could go on and on....

Thanks to Strawberry Kisses for this week's This Is theme.

This Is... a favourite recipe

Hot Whiskey Xmas 2007
Originally uploaded by mark.duffy

Whenever ANYONE has a hint of a cold, I give them this recipe for a sure-fire cure... well, it's a sure-fire "kill the pain".

Hot Irish Whiskey (or "a wee hot one" as they say in some parts..)
You need IRISH whiskey - Scotch doesn't work with these flavours.
1. Pour a goodly amount of the whiskey into a sturdy glass.
2. Add a large teaspoon of BROWN sugar (has to be brown sugar... doesn't taste right otherwise).
3. Cut a slice of lemon, stud it with at least half a dozen whole cloves and put that in the glass as well.
4. Top up the glass with boiling water. Stir and let it steep for as long as it takes to be a drinkable temperature.
5. Drink several of these.... and you will feel NO PAIN and sleep like a baby. (Do it too often and you'll probably feel some liver pain, but your cold will be a distant memory!).

Oh - and this works equally well with Port, only you don't need the sugar.

I wish I had some whiskey - I could do with one of these right now. I'm coming down with some sort of aching fluey feeling....

Thanks Angela for the theme, and for hosting "This Is".

This Is... What I'm surprised I like.

The girl who was (and would like to still be, but can't be bothered) strictly "organic, home-grown, home-made or locally-produced slow-food" obsessed for years actually has a bit of a thing for two-minute noodles!! Go figure.

The more little sachets of fake vegetable matter and MSG the better. The only concession to "real food" in this one is that I must have real vegetables and sesame oil with my fake noodles and artificial flavourings.

Thanks Angela for the This Is meme, and Earl and Cookie for this week's theme.

This Is... My Favourite Film

Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimou. I love this film... Not only does it have fabulous frocks, Chinese history (I'm a bit facinated with that) and gorgeous cinematography, but all these elements combine really powerfully to create a huge emotional impact. Huge WOW factor. (You can see here why my career as film reviewer never took off... Frocks first, character-driven narrative barely hinted at...). I've only seen the film once - in the Duke of York cinema in Brighton (UK) ... so it must have been in the early nineties. It has remained with me since then.

I also love other films by Zhang Yimou - Red Sorghum and To Live are particular faves. In fact - the story of To Live has probably had a more profound impact on the way that I view life than anything else I've seen or read. A couple just trying to live their everyday lives through the extraordinary upheaval of 20th century China - from Imperial times to late-20th century.

But really - I like anything with good costumes....

Aussie films - Careful he Might Hear You, Gallipoli, Strictly Ballroom, My Brilliant Career, The Castle and The Dish.... all for different reasons.

Thanks to Three Buttons for the This Is meme, and to Hokey for the theme.

This Is... my current reading matter

Yes... I'm still reading it! I started it a few weeks ago, and with the few spare minutes I get to read every few evenings, it'll be a few weeks before I finish it. I love this book - a History of Embroidery (from a feminist perspective). It's great. I'm SUCH A GEEK.

I'm a "one at a time" kinda gal, and always feel compelled to finish the book. I tend to alternate between modern literary fiction and other genres like history, classic literature and short stories. I have SO LITTLE TIME to read that I get very annoyed if I don't love what I'm reading - it feels like a waste of precious time and brainspace (I feel the same about TV and films).

The books I spend MOST of the time with are children's books. I really wish my wee girl liked The Cat in The Hat as much as I do.

I also skim a lot of sewing books on a regular basis. I'm building a sewing reference library for myself (and for people who come to my classes). This book arrived from Amazon the other day, and is a winner. It's a fabulous resource for people who are TEACHING beginners and if you're a beginner who wants to learn all about sewing machines and how to use them, then this is the book for you! It's a really clear reference book that you can easily find all the basics of sewing explained - with lots of photos and diagrams.

Thanks Angela for This Is, and thanks to My Champagne Dreams for the theme this week.

This Is... my favourite kitchen gadget.

I thought long and hard about this one. I used to be a real foodie-cookin' kinda gal. I used to grow my own vegetables, make my own bread, pasta, jams, pesto, infused oils and vinegars... All very wholesome.

I have loads of kitchen gadgets, but in the last few years they've barely been used. I've completely lost my cooking mojo.

SO....... I figured that the most useful "tool" (so to speak) in my kitchen is the man of the house. If I didn't have him the family would live on peanut butter on toast, Cherry Ripes and Milo.

BTW - the picture above is a self-portrait from his upcoming exhibition at Chapman & Bailey 350 Johnston St Abbotsford (14 October - 1 November). DO drop in!!!

Thanks to Sharon coming up with this week's THIS IS theme.

This is... SHOW OFF time!

I'm ALWAYS showing off... my work, my child's artwork, my sewing gadgets.... This week I thought I'd do a bit of showing off for Leah.

Some of you may already know Leah as the sales and admin whizz in the office at my studio. But did you know she's an experienced and addicted sewing gal? She really knows her sewing stuff - and she's also a brilliant admin and sales whizz.

Leah also tests and proof-reads pattern instructions for me, and this is the hat she made from my hat pattern. It's supposed to be a "fishing hat" but I think it's definitely a bit too stylish for fishing.

Thanks to Sharon for guest-hosting This Is while Angela was away. Welcome back Angela. Thanks Katie for this week's theme.

Thanks Leah for being an all-round whizz at Nicole Mallalieu Design!

This is...what I want to be when I grow up

When I was 11 years old I wanted to be a SEWING teacher. By the time I hit high school I'd found out there was such a thing as a FASHION DESIGNER.... Oh yes, please! I'll be one of THOSE! (looks like I stretched my yellow school skivvy!)

I must have been about 16 or 17 here. Behind me is the clothes mountain I'd made for myself - I think the clothes are actually draped over a chair. (Stop giggling up the back there!!... It was the 80's, ok?... I was young, ok...?).

Very predictable career map, I suppose, for an abnormally sewing-obsessed child. And I predictably became a fashion designer, and now I'm teaching people to sew. Who'd have thought it? (Well, just about everyone!).

NOW what do I want to be when I grow up? FEARLESS. I think that when I stop WORRYING about what might or might not happen, or what people think, or if I'm a good enough mother, teacher, friend.... blah blah... I'll be a very happy grown-up.

I guess I want to be like I was when I was 11... fearlessly believing that I can be what I want to be, not seeing any obstacles and not caring what people think of me.

Thanks Cindy for this week's theme, and Sharon for hosting This Is in Angela's absence.

This Is.... what I do with a spare 10 minutes

More aptly, this is what I DON'T do when I don't have a spare 10 minutes!! (I'm a day late with this one).

If I see a window of opportunity at a sociable hour I'll make a phone call to my parents, a sibling or a friend. I don't get out to see people much, so have to make contact occasionally.

Mostly my spare 10 minutes happens after 10pm so it's a choice of this....

or

this....

or this.

Somehow I justify ALL of them as "kind of working" because they're related to work in a kind of sort of I can almost justify not writing pattern instructions kind of way..... sort of. Other times I just relax and enjoy a bit of me-time in the blogosphere and a bit of online retail-therapy.

Sometimes - VERY OCCASIONALLY - I get to sit down with a cup of tea and drink it WHILE IT'S STILL HOT! .....Ah, HEAVEN!

Thanks to Hoppo Bumpo for this week's theme, and to Handmaiden for hosting in Three Buttons absence.

This Is... My Favourite Band Ever

And this is me a day late with it.

I really didn't know what to put down for this. Even as a kid my taste in music was wildly eclectic and influenced by those around me (LOTS of older brothers and sisters).

The first record I bought when I was a teenager was (indie Melbourne band from the 80's) the Models "Pleasure of Your Company" ....followed by Simon and Garfunkle's "Concert in Central Park"...!!?? Go figure.

I also remember having a single record of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" (left over from my 60's-reared siblings) on high-rotation at one point. I just played what I liked at the time, and apparently I liked that one a LOT.

I can't actually remember the first concert I went to. My late teens and early twenties are a blur of local and international bands in long-gone Melbourne icons like The Venue, pubs like The Punters Club and The Prince of Wales (when the carpet was sticky and they had free bands on a Thursday night) and big concerts at the Myer Music Bowl and The Metro... My ears are still ringing from a Festival Hall gig (Hoodoo Gurus, Huxton Creepers and Weddings, Parties, Anything) in 1985. (Apologies to international readers... I know you'll have NO IDEA of the people or places I'm talking about!! Please humour me and allow me to get all misty....).

My late 20's was my "Jazz Age". It's the closest I guess I got to being a serious FAN of any one type of music.

Now.... I mostly listen to Radio National, or enjoy the silence when I don't have the wee girl's favourite choice of music playing.

And sometimes I put on a Cat Stevens CD and sing along. I remember the words from when I was a little girl....

Thanks Angela and Sharon for hosting This Is, and Miss Curlypops for her theme.

This is....My Favourite Fabric/Craft Shop

Immediately GJ's Discount Fabrics in Lygon St (corner of Stewart St) springs to mind - especially the back room. There be treasures there... like fabulous remnants of stretch pvc in mock osterich, repro cotton bark cloth, loads of knits and suiting, discounted quilting fabrics and loads of surprises. The patchwork fabric range (rather aptly UPSTAIRS!!) is absolute heaven, and the women who work there are ... well... angels!

Kimono House springs to mind a mili-second after GJ's. Another treasure-trove, run by another angel. Leanne is passionate about beautiful, beautiful Japanese textiles and has created a little slice of fabric heaven in the heart of the city. It's also in the Nicholas Building, which is one of my favourite places in the world.

Online I'm a big fan of Z&S Fabrics. When I need a bit of me-time I take my time to go through the clearance fabrics to find gems, then go through each of the designer ranges until I have a 6-yard bundle or two (I'm currently awaiting three bundles....).

This is the "currently being used" stash on my cutting table. Kimono House Poppy print on top of Z&S quilting fabrics stacked on top of GJ's cotton jersey.... It appears I'm going through a "pink and green" phase.... Thanks to Sharon for a fab theme, and for putting me on to Quilt Home in her post today.... (I thought I'd check it out and caught myself filling up a shopping cart. Thought I'd better do this blog post before I got too carried away with more fabric shopping! I'll get back to it in a minute...)

Thanks to Angela for This Is.

This is...how I like to spend the weekend

In my sewing cave - hermit-like and all alone. I DREAM about being able to do this, and hardly ever get the chance. I think I may have mentioned it before..... (I know, I'm a sewing bore).

I snatched a few hours here this weekend while the wee scratchy one went to be fed chocolate by her grandfather (that's the purpose of the visit as far as she's concerned). ABSOLUTE HEAVEN to be able to start AND FINISH (!!!!) things on the same day, uninterrupted. I made a little pair of trousers for the girl and finished off a few bag samples for the Sydney trip. Much-needed therapy after a pretty stressful, sleep-deprived week.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF SUPPORT on my last post. It really meant a lot. Our little red girl is finally fading to a pink blotchy version of herself, so hopefully normality will return and all (including her skin) will be peachy again. At least she no longer needs the anti-hystamines (which made her hyper instead of drowsy???!!) and we're all sleeping a bit better. I'm sure I'll cope with the car crisis, supplies problems and Sydney panic with more than two hours sleep behind me. This week will be a vast improvement on the last.... and I promise not to BLAAAAHHHH it all out like that again!

Thanks to The Bird Bath for this week's theme in Angela's lovely This Is meme. I'd like to have been able to do a post like Angela's... but that would be absolute fantasy.

This is..a work in progress

How to sort out my display, what patterns and products to take with me (not to mention the finer points of transporting a whole lot of gear and a toddler across Sydney)....? It's all a bit of a work in progress at the moment - I've STARTED lots of aspects of the preparation, but haven't a clear end in sight - and only 12 days to go.... YIKES!

Oh, and there's those purse kits Lara, Bianca and I have been talking about .....hmmm... I think I'd better get my skates on if I'm to take those with me.

Fi was in a bit of a sewing frenzy a few weeks ago, and I was as cool as the proverbial cucumber. Not so cool now.... How are YOU doing, Fi?

For those who missed the news, there's a bunch of us (crafty types) who will be at the Stitches and Craft Show with the wonderful Living Creatively. Living Creatively will be on the third floor -THE WHOLE THIRD FLOOR!! If the Living Creatively spaces in Melbourne and Brisbane were anything to go by, the Sydney show will be a feast for the eyes and a buzz for the creative spirit! Angela and her team have STYLE with a capital S.

I'll be there from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, and I'd LOVE it if you'd make yourself known to me - love to put a face to a name (I'm actually kind of freakishly good at remembering both, so don't be shy!!). I'm thrilled to hear that a few of my favourite regular customers are already planning to come along to see me.... it warms the cockles, you know?

I'd like to have at least half a clue about what to bring to the show(!!?), so Sydneysiders - YOUR FEEDBACK IS VERY WELCOME HERE!!!! We can SELL on the stands this time around, and can also have a sewing machine to demonstrate techniques, but I won't have much luggage space for lots of bag hardware, so I can't bring it all!!!

This Is is hosted by the lovely Angela. This week's theme is by Debbie. (And I'm sorry my post ended up sounding more like an advertisement... I'm a bit obsessed with this latest project. Talk about ANYTHING and I'll turn it into a Stitches and Craft conversation...!).

This is my.... trade secret

Hmmm... I'm not very good at keeping trade secrets. I'm in the business of SHARING THEM!! For starters, I'm putting them all up on THIS BLOG this month!!!


I've definitely turned into GADGET GIRL in the last year or two. The things that I can't live without I tend to want to share.... and so grows the range of supplies we stock.


Other trade secrets -

• GOOD QUALITY MATERIALS - from the inside out. Cheap fabrics and cheap interfacing are just not worth the trouble.
• The right interfacing for the job makes the world of difference.
• "Press as you go" when you're sewing, and use an iron with a good shot of steam.
  

Amelia came up with this weeks theme for Angela's "This Is..." meme.

This is.... a dragon.

Drawn by my little artist yesterday. It has claws and scales down its back to its tail. I'm thinking of using it for an embroidery, greeting card design... something. I think it's awfully cute (although there may be a bit of bias involved in my judgement...?).

I'm a bit late with the THIS IS thing this week... mostly due to lack of imagination. I was going to post a tutorial tonight, but I've realised I'm going to have to photograph it again tomorrow to make it JUST RIGHT.

This is what makes me happy...

After my last couple of posts, you're probably wishing I'd STOP banging on about what makes me happy.... but here's another one! (I'm sure other mothers will be putting in cute photos of their kids for this post... but I guess you've seen enough of mine for a while).

When I think about what makes me feel the MOST at ease and happy, it's this. Just me an my sewing machine - sometimes serenely lost in my own thoughts, sometimes excitedly watching something unexpectedly good coming together - but all the time feeling completely in my comfort zone.

I've spent a large portion of my life in this headspace, and for 15 years it's been with this machine (I even took it with me when I lived in Ireland for five years!). For the last couple of years I've barely had any time to enjoy uninterrupted, creative time there, and right now I REALLY CRAVE it.

Is that really sad...? Should I have included more warm and fuzzy family stuff...?

"This is" is hosted by Angela. Jacinta came up with this week's heart-warming theme. I'm sure there will be lots of wonderful responses.... and then there's my "I just want to be alone" one!!! Oops.

This is What Gives Me Goosebumps

I haven't worked out how to embed video in my blog yet... but here's a link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38uvjuPcDAU .

It's the final few scenes of the film Gallipoli. I've seen the movie about four times throughout my life, and each time it chills me. This is a fictionalised account of the Gallipoli landing in WW1, but I cry for the loss of beautiful young lives wasted in bungled or futile military campaigns throughout time. I cry for families losing loved ones, children growing up without parents or parents outliving their children (a parent's worst nightmare).

See...? It gets me every time.

Thanks to three buttons for "this is" and flightless boyds for this week's theme.

This is... my most treasured childhood possession

When I was 4 years old I broke my leg... in outback Queensland. I was hit by the only bicycle on the only footpath near one of the only buildings in a caravan park town in the Gulf of Carpentaria - the bit between QLD and Northern Territory. (My Dad's idea of a holiday with seven kids!!??).

My poor parents had to pack up camp (and seven kids) and drive four hundred miles over dirt tracks and creek crossings to get me to Mount Isa hospital, and then drive thousands of miles back to Victoria with an injured child. The ordeal is legendary in our family.

After ruining the family holiday I received a lot of attention. I guess I felt quite famous for a while, and kept the cast as a momento. My mother recently cleared out my old room and sent me home with it, complete with sand from Kialla West Primary school sandpit (1973 vintage) inside the worn out heel. (I wasn't at school then, just lived next door and used to play there).

In 1973 the cast was up to the top of my thigh, and now it's up to my knee. It triggers clear snapshot memories of dramatic events in exotic locations, a long trip in a VW Combi van and a sense of being loved and looked after by my family. I also still love the Mickey Mouse that my big sister drew on the cast while I was asleep one day. Because of those memories, it's precious to me.

I had planned to say that the cast was my most treasured childhood possession. That was until I met up with a couple of friends from primary school today. That's right folks... we've known each other since we were 4, 5 and 6 years old!! We meet up every so often and the connections that bind us are still strong.

I'd say my most treasured childhood possession is enduring friendship.

...I just threw in the bit about the cast because I'd gone to the trouble to photograph it this morning!!

I love the nightclub-esque lighting in these pics... memories of days gone by. Today we were in a Playcentre - letting kids roam free while we caught up over hot chocolates.

Thanks to Angela for "This is.." and to Danielle for the great memory-jerking theme.