It's Rabbit Season

Summer has slid seamlessly into Autumn, and why not?  We've already had six months of Autumn disguised as Summer, so we shouldn't notice the difference.

Easter is a few short weeks away so while I'm waiting for a new shipment of fabric, I've started on some Easter Bunny bunting to sell in my Etsy and MadeIt shops.  I don't often get carried away with my own work, but I have to admit to an Oooooo ... too cute! moment.  I'm over it now.  The bunnies stand around 6½" (after all these years, my metric measure knowledge is practically zilch), are double-sided with different fabrics and are interfaced with vilene for sturdiness.

I cut strips of pink and yellow fabric to make the bias binding, which I feel is much prettier than the store-bought variety.

I'm so grateful for this little gadget, a bias tape maker.  It's simply a matter of threading the fabric strip through and then iron it as it comes out.  I have visions of little elves working away furiously inside the gadget, turning the fabric under before it magically comes out the other end.

Hey presto, all done.  Now all I have to do is fold it over and iron again, ready to construct the garland.

Side A

Side B

Now that I have caught the Bunny bug, it's back to the sewing machine to create some more colourful creatures.

Why I love the first Saturday of the month

There's an excellent reason for loving the first Saturday of the month.  The Sydney SCQuilters meet for a day of quilting, gossip and food, all carried out at a local watering hole.  Bliss.

Outside the weather continued along its usual appallingly wet way.  It's a wonder we don't all have barnacles sprouting off us the way we have had to sit through a virtually non-existent summer.  The current flooding in our State is the size of France we were informed last night on the news.

So there was no better way to chase away the wet weather blues than to feast our eyes on this bright and cheerful work in progress.

I love the simplicity of this Japanese inspired quilt.

Of course, our gossip is not idle.  We discover new fabric locations, where and when the next quilt exhibitions will be held, what new trends in quilt and fabric designs are currently taking off - you know, all the essential things that keep the world spinning on its axis.

It's a whole thirty-five days until the next first Saturday.  I guess I'll just have to be patient.

To read more on today's wonderful activities, visit the Sydney SCQuilters' blog here.

Please read this

The face behind Posie Patchwork is a young mother of four, married to a soldier serving in Afghanistan.

Ben Roberts-Smith is our latest Victoria Cross winner who has been subjected to the most appalling jibes by two journalists who should have known better.  I urge you to read Posie's blog post here.

Test of Time

A year ago this gorgeous little California tot modelled a couple of my dresses.  I was so happy to see these latest images from her talented photographer mother, showing that this dress has worn well and appears to have grown along with the model.

Boutique Baby Photography

Flower Girl Halo by Isla's Garden Bowtique

Here are a couple of images from last year, when the dress was brand new.

Time to cue Maurice Chevalier singing Thank Heaven for Little Girls.

I get by with a little help

Two and three-quarters.  What an enchanting age.  We spent a few hours with our youngest grandchild today and with his two older siblings off at school, it was delightful to observe how he has grown and matured over the past couple of years.

He's my little helper, somehow turning the mundane into the beautiful.  You may call this hanging out the washing, but to me it's an art installation.  What a boy.  His dramatic entrance into the world two months early had us all sitting up and taking notice.  However, he thrived and has never looked back.  Now he happily chats away, tumbling over the words as his brain races ahead so much faster than his tongue can keep up.

I love having one on one time with each of our grandchildren, when they have your full attention and there are no siblings around to share in the spotlight. All seven of them are an absolute joy and delight.
 

Heritage

I was reminded of my heritage today when I read the latest post from one of my favourite blogs, Sew Tessuti.  Since early childhood I had known that my great-great grandfather who arrived in Australia in the early 1840s was an actor and playwright.  It was not until many years later that I learned to my surprise that he was also a tailor, and that several of his sons followed in his footsteps, setting up their businesses in the heart of Sydney.

In old age, I believe that one of his sons, my great-grandfather, would turn the collars and lapels of my great-grandmother's blouses and suits so that they would see out another season.  They lived to their early eighties and died within a year of each other.  This is a tribute to those men in my family who passed their love of fabric down to the present generation.


O'MAST from Kid Dandy on Vimeo.

The Plan 1

There was a large cardboard envelope waiting at our post office box this morning.

It was the first of the two fabric parcels I have been anxiously waiting to arrive.  Aren't they stunning?  Fourteen delicious Kaffe Fassett fabrics all lined up and waiting for the main fabric so that I can get started on The Plan.  With any luck the other parcel will arrive tomorrow.

My only problem now is that I don't know how I can bear to cut into such beautiful pieces of fabric.  At least for the moment I can sip my coffee and take in the rich colours and designs.  Bliss.