It's Show Time

If you want to meet some of the lovely BrisStyle girls you have been reading about over the past few months, now is your opportunity - if you are in Brisbane, that is. For a complete run-down on the members who will be participating in the Stitches & Craft Show at the Brisbane Convention Centre, please take a look here. I will be there on Friday between 11.00 and 1.00 helping out at the MixTape Incubator. Please pop by and say hello.

As an added incentive, click on the image below to read all about how you can be eligible for a 10% discount from participants' Etsy shops for a limited period. Vouchers will be handed out at the Stitches & Craft Show at the members' Incubators, so make yourselves known to any one of the friendly girls listed on the BrisStyle blog and ask for a voucher. Sorry to all you interstate and overseas readers - however, air fares are really cheap right now ...

Stitches & Craft Week

It's going to be a big week, so I thought it best to get cracking on the sewing machine early to put some new stock in my Etsy shop. First on the list was this dress.

The fabric had been lying seductively on my cutting table for a week or so, daring me to cut into it. I obliged. For some perverse reason, I actually enjoy the process of making my own piping.

Next on the list was this gorgeous Amy Butler fabric which, combined with a pretty dotted fabric from Heather Bailey, was perfect for a reversible dress.

And while I was at it, I ran up the same dress in this combination.

All these dresses can now be seen for sale in my Etsy shop. So now I can take the pressure off a little and maybe think about the quilt which I have to have completed by July for a challenge exhibition. Tons of time.

In the meantime, several BrisStyle girls are excited at the prospect of participating at the Stitches & Craft Show which opens this Wednesday. A new innovation this year is the Incubator and this is where you will find our talented girls. I will be helping out on Friday for a couple of hours at the MixTape Zine stand, and I am really looking forward to it. If you are in Brisbane, please come along and say hello.

Shadow Shot Sunday # 49

People may perceive that we Fudges live among wild and dangerous creatures , but in fact our home is situated in a normal Brisbane suburb, 35 minutes from the centre of the city. We happen to live next to a large park, which accounts for the super-abundance of all creatures great and small.

Mind you, ever since the snake incident, my view of suburbia has taken on a new dimension and I am ever vigilant in case a tiger has escaped from the zoo - I know it would find me. It makes you look at the back yard with new eyes. Take this week for instance. There staring in through the kitchen window was this large brown grasshopper.



He appeared very keen to come in for a visit, but I gently persuaded him that outdoors was much healthier for him. He seemed happy enough with the verdict and even cast a nice shadow for me.

Oh dear, I hope he wasn't trying to escape from a bird and I sent him to his peril... Nah.

And now it's time to go to Hey Harriet's blog for some really great shadow shots.

The Postman Always Knocks Thrice

How does that old saying go? A watched PO Box never delivers. Maybe it's true, because I had been expecting a couple of deliveries from overseas, but came home from trips to the post office box empty handed. Very disappointing. Then Mr Fudge arrived home yesterday with not one but three little parcels for me. I do the dance of joy.

After a shortened version of eenie meenie minie moh (I only got as far as eenie), I chose the first parcel, the one from the US. There among all the trims, etc I had ordered were these sweet little pink buttons, a gift from the supplier. I was tickled ... well ... pink, of course, as the next dress I have lined up to make is pink and the buttons match the fabric perfectly. Serendipity.

The next parcel was from China - my eagerly awaited woven garment labels from a new supplier, and they were exactly what I wanted. And tucked away with the order was this little gift.

We had been given an apron with this design by our daughter some time last year, and now I think I will turn this into my name tag. It has become my catch phrase.

And so finally I opened the last little parcel. I already knew what was inside - an adorable pair of hair clips - pink, of course, as I had won a giveaway on the blog of fellow BrisStyler, the lovely Katie of Kitty Boo Boo.

But what I didn't expect were two of the prettiest headbands and another pair of hair clips, all in co-ordinating colours.

There was a message from Katie, saying that she couldn't leave the others out. What she was referring to were our four little granddaughters. I was speechless (and Mr Fudge will tell you that that doesn't happen very often in my waking hours). If you take a look at her shop you will see what a versatile artisan she is. Thank you so much for your incredible generosity, Katie. Our little darlings will look adorable wearing their new hair clips and head bands. I only hope they don't fight over them!

Speaking of hair clips, during our BrisStyle first anniversary lunch I bought some hair clips from the talented duo Em and Bel (both very pregnant) of EmbelIsh. These clips became part of the bling hidden in the drawers of the musical jewellery boxes we gave the two four-year-old cousins on their joint birthdays. They fell in love with them and the next day when we met up with the Sydney branch of the family for lunch, there was Emily proudly wearing hers - and very cute she looked too.

Well, I've had my fill of surprises - all of which were well worth the wait. I wonder what the postman has in store for me next week?

Shadow Shot Sunday # 48

It's that time of the week again and this is a shot of some figs my husband brought home from a country trip a week or so ago.

We have had fig and tart, figs with honey and ice cream, cheese, crackers and figs - you name it, we've tried it. If life hands you a fig, you eat it.

For some truly interesting and beautiful shadow shots, go to Hey Harriet's blog and you won't be disappointed.

Oh, and autumn really kicked in yesterday here in Brisbane. For all you good folk who reside in the northern hemisphere, you will be happy to know that it dropped to a chilly 82 degrees. More of the same is expected today. Life is tough in the Sunshine State.

The Easter Bunny Cometh

This is a long tale, so maybe you should grab yourself a coffee and pull up a chair.

This image came by email from our daughter in Sydney a few days before Easter - a terrifying sight and a warning of what was to come.

Forewarned, last Wednesday we arrived at the airport to greet the first of the Sydney branch of the family who flew in a few days early to help celebrate Grandad's birthday the following day. A special treat had been planned in secret and that's why I was seen at a railway museum (eek! I felt pretty confident that none of my quilting friends would see me there, though).

All the boys had such an exciting time, and even one little girl found it entertaining.

Special protection glasses were compulsory in the blacksmith's workshop.

All the better to see the sparks fly.

Although the noise level was a little high for a two year-old.

Back to the child sized equipment. That's better.



The next morning it was back to the airport to greet the newlyweds who flew in from Sydney, and for the first time our entire family was assembled in the one city. We were merciful and let them sleep in on Saturday morning until 6.00am. It was time to hit the farmers' markets.

First things first ... coffee.

Ah ... that's better (the bride still can't believe how early we dragged her out of bed).

Time to browse ...

... and to be entertained.

On go the hats.

He's man enough to wear his sister's.

Temptations were avoided ...

... and the healthy option taken.

Now for home to prepare for the family reunion/Easter/birthday lunch.

There was great excitement as the Sydney cousins met their new little Brisbane cousin and re-acquainted themselves with the older children.

A very pregnant aunt meets her five month-old niece and gets in some baby-holding practice.

Emily was highly amused by the antics of her Brisbane uncle ("My cousin's father").

Then it was time for the Easter egg hunt - indoors because of the rain (Snake? What snake?).

Closely followed by opening birthday presents ...

... finishing up with the blowing out of the candles on the joint fourth birthday cake.

I know, I know, I cheated and ended up making just the one. The thought of making two mermaid cakes almost brought on a panic attack. The girls didn't even notice!

Easter Sunday morning saw us back at the airport nice and early in time for the newly-weds to catch their flight back to Sydney.

After Easter Mass at the Cathedral we were treated to a lovely lunch at an inner city hotel, where the Easter Bunny made a surprise visit and freaked out the birthday girl...

... and who could blame her?

However, she quickly recovered when it was discovered that chocolate eggs came into the equation.

When the bunny said to the 100 or so children, "One, two, three - go!" it was all to much for our intrepid hunters, so the assembled crowd was witness to a grandmother elbowing six year-olds out of the way to grab the last couple of eggs left after the ten seconds mad dash. Not a pretty sight I grant you, but what else could be done?

Little brother was more interested in the plastic oranges. Maybe I should have grabbed some of those - no one else appeared interested in them.

And so our perfect week came to an end. It was a truly joyous time with the whole family together - bring on Christmas!