Before another one passes...

I've no idea where time is flying to lately, but it's certainly going fast.  Already, another week is gone and I've failed - once more - to document the goings on.   A quick recap is in order. 

The new dress pattern was sent out to wonderful pattern-testers and the feedback is coming back in. 
I've made more dresses and taken more photos. 
I have plans for tweaking the instructions again. 

I made this dress in gorgeous Saffron Craig fabric, but lacked a child of the right size to try it on.  It's yet to be pressed and has been hanging on the tripod for a few days.  I wish it would fit me.

 The back of the machine-knit jumper was re-worked and I'm happy with it... even if the back seam is a bit wobbly and you can see the line where the yarn got tangled and pulled the tension really tight. 

I gave it a bit of a press and wore it to work.  Nobody asked why I was wearing a toile (muslin).

 Last Saturday after my class, a couple of my oldest and bestest friends dropped around.

 There was wine and pattern-making and good conversation.  Tanya dropped in - since she was in the area - and had a cuppa.  Sensible girl - no wine before her 3 hour drive home. 

What a lovely way to end the week.

 My apologies to the gals in the Purse Frame Class last Saturday.  I promised I'd post this picture so they could show off their purse-making skills.  It's a bit late, but here it is... 6 gorgeous new purses!!

And now we're nearly back to Saturday again.  Tomorrow I'm off to the Australian Sewing Guild group in Essendon to teach a bag-making class.... and then the week is over again.  Who'd a thunk it?

Hope your weekend is a good 'un!

Ah, Sewjourn...

A little oasis of calm and a much-needed break from busy-busy brain and crazy-crazy life..... I need a dose of Sewjourn at least twice a year. 

I'm incredibly lucky to be able to go each May and November.  I'm truly blessed to share the experience with an amazing group of women.

Lara, Annie, Karen, Rachel, Kathryn, Megan and Tanya, THANK YOU for a restorative, calming, inspiring weekend. You are truly wonderful people and fabulous company.  I'm looking forward to May already.

 Jodie and Catherine - you were missed and we hope you can make it next time.

It was lovely to see Tanya making my Petal hat (from my book).  I'm sure it'll look even cuter on a little someone (with a head).

The fashion parades were great, too.... Lara was busy making tops that fitted and suited Kathryn, Rachel and Karen.  And it was a thrill to get up close to the amazing array of Annie's quilt blocks that appeared on the design wall.

I didn't get any sewing-for-me done.  I didn't even get the planned  AQM bag samples done.  I finished the wee girl's quilt.

 That colour kinda hits you in the face a bit, doesn't it? 

I was up into the wee hours, free-motion quilting hearts all over the thing. 

Before I started, I had NO IDEA how long it would take to do the quilting bit.  That was probably a good thing.  I'll be thinking long and hard about all-over motifs if I ever venture into Quilt Land again.

Another surprise was how long it took to decide on the arrangement of the patched-together backing.... and how much it resembles a Licorice Allsort. 

But I think my trip to the craft show in Caulfield a week or so ago, to get a fat quarter of the "I love my Kitty" fabric, was worth it.  It really brings the whole thing together ...don't you think?

A massive crafty, chatty sort of day

Saturday morning. Ink & Spindle HQ. Surrounded by gorgeousness and 3rd birthday celebrations (for the business)...Somebody brought a kid along, who made a beeline for the food and ate all the corn chips.
And during the fascinating demonstration of the printing process, managed to be right under Lara's elbow... ...the whole way down the table.And then the kid drew some pictures and insisted that Tegan ignore the customers and admire them "on BOTH sides, because they're very good."
I've no idea who brought the child, but I'm sure she'll never be invited again.

Strangely, the same child was there when I got to the Made 'n' Thornbury market (mostly seen loitering about the craft table and sitting herself down for some face-painting).
It was great to see all the gals from the "Make Craft Your Business" course that I met a few months ago (when I was speaker at one of the sessions) with their own craft market stalls. And 'twas an absolute joy to see Veronica from Mulberry Threads with her fabulous felted accessories. Veronica was one of my most dedicated students - regularly making a 4-hour round-trip to come to bag-making classes. I think she could show me a thing or twenty about felting.... her work is stunning.

This crochet wire work was lovely, too.

These gorgeous critters by Make It Wednesday were totally charming. They're all made from odd socks and pre-loved clothing, handmade in Melbourne and completely original. Love, love, love... and you can buy them here.

I also caught up with Lara, Cathie, Margaret, Melanie and my friend Lisa (blogless and not crafty, but very nice) and a few other stall-holders I've come to know over the years.

Then Lisa and I went for a late lunch in a cafe (Plan B, since the drinks stand had closed up early at the market). It was fabulous to be able to spend relaxed time with one of my oldest-and-dearests and have a good catch-up (funny....that kid was there, too, roaming about with her cat-face facepaint, making friends with other diners).

And then I came home and had a long telephone conversation with Leonie.....

And then I didn't feel like talking anymore. So my beautiful wee girl and I did some knitting together.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls....

On Sunday, I was utterly charmed by the sight of five little girls skipping into the Collingwood Children's Farm for a birthday party. So much sweet, open exuberance, with real warmth and affection for each other..... just gorgeous.While the wee girl and her friends went on tractor rides, fed farm animals and ate party food, I knitted furiously (yes, even in the sheep paddock). I was determined to finish off the fourth of the little Ruby Slippers, before our next stop.....

Adorable twin girls now have a pair of Ruby Slippers each (to remind them that there's no place like home) and some new little dresses and bloomers.

Sugar and spice and all things nice.... and lots of fun things to make for them. (Bless their little bamboo-merino socks).

I went out!

Those who know me might be a bit surprised about that.




Had a lovely time seeing this talented chicky with my super sewing buddy.

Girl's Day Out

A gang on a rampage.... Two rag trade buddies, my small assistant and me.

First stop -Tessuti.  Lovely linens and a bit of georgette.  Plans for the perfect panel skirt and linen trousers, little georgette tops.... swapping design ideas.

Lunch and Dancing Queen in Richmond followed.

What a treasure trove it is - and treasures were indeed found.  Matching felted wool and wool gauze in exactly the shade of charcoal I'd envisioned for another project.  Spangly stuff to mix (and dull down) with the georgette I'd bought earlier.  Lovely cotton-lycra. 

Artextil, GJ's and Rathdowne Remnants were all closed when we came knocking (weird xmas-closing time of year that it is).  There were also dreams of Darn Cheap Fabrics that were never realised before time, money and people were exhausted.  I somehow made it to Clegs in Lygon St before they closed (although I'd lost my posse by then) and bought some really nice indigo denim. 

We are truly blessed with fabulous fabric shops in this city - we were only shopping in our local area.  There are so many other great stores dotted around Melbourne!  

I'm also blessed with lovely friends (and a remarkably well-behaved daughter) who made it a grand day altogether.

I finished the day with a swim.  50 metres of clear blue water under a cloudless sky in the last gentle hours of a perfectly sunny day.  It felt like home.

I hope that you're enjoying your holidays....

Kindness

The lovely Kathryn of Our Shabby Cottage and I were discussing my paper dolls on the weekend. And what should arrive in the post this week, but a pretty paper doll print fabric from her stash.... I think this will be party-frock fabric for my girl. Thanks Kathryn - you really know how to brighten up a week!

And I found this fabulous cowl top on my cutting table - made in the softest, drapiest baby wool knit (while I was off at Sewjourn).

It's a tube knit - so no side or back seam. It can be pulled and twisted into all sorts of shapes - loving it! Thanks to the sewing elf (sewing buddy) in my studio for my new favourite garment.

The quality of the fabric beats the pants off the bits I was hacking together over the weekend (which, incidentally, I mostly haven't even unpacked, let alone PHOTOGRAPHED... me being sick and then ditzy with keys and all...).

And the bride wore black...

While unpacking a few more boxes this weekend I found a photo from my wedding day - all creased and torn (a bit like that marriage ended up...).

I've always loved this image, because it sums up the day perfectly. It's of the full bridal party sliding down the Helter Skelter on Brighton pier (in the UK). It was Summer and we were young and beautiful. We felt like we'd be that way forever.

I also love the way the camera caught my sewing buddy's hair in full flight... (and reminds me just how long we've been friends!).

That's me in the middle with the long black hair... what happened to that??

It's amazing what you find when you move house.

Sisters Market in Brunswick

What a fantastic little market the Sister's Market is!! The wee gal and I met a couple of my oldest and dearests there. We had great coffee (and babycino), ate fresh pretzels, met lovely people, caught up with old friends, took some photos... Caught up with Justine and Nichola from MixTape...
My friends bought some fabulous things... And I dealt with a LOT of this situation....
All in all, a highly recommended day out (if you leave the two-year-olds at home!!).

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.