Shadow Shot Sunday # 80

It was fairly late in the afternoon last weekend when our 13 month old granddaughter begged her father to pick her up. Who could resist?

Have you become a Shadow Shot Sunday addict yet? Get your fill at Hey Harriet.

Eight

EIGHT IS A NUMBER which has followed me all my life. My father, older brother and I were all born on the 18th day of the month. Every telephone number we ever had, going way back to my early childhood, added up to the number eight. Every house we lived in had an eight in it or added up to eight. Even my birth date adds up to eight when you add the day, month and year together.

And now there are only eight sleeps to our BrisStyle Indie Designers Market.

It's been a disruptive year one way or the other, but I've done my best to have a reasonable amount of stock ready in time. With so few days left, you can imagine what's going to happen with the housekeeping, meals, and all those unnecessary interruptions!

I've managed to squeeze in a few new dresses over the past week and hopefully some skirts will follow next week.

It's going to be an amazing market, so if you will be within coo-ee of Brisbane on 5 December, why not experience first hand what a BrisStyle market is like. You won't be disappointed. Take a look here for more details on stall holders, venue and operating hours.

Speaking of eight, we have seven grandchildren ... so far ...

Scared of his own Shadow

It's late spring here in Brisbane, which means ...

... anything with a long, slithery tail should be avoided at all costs. We have some of the deadliest snakes on the planet residing right here in our little city.

On this occasion, however, the tail wasn't attached to a poisonous head.

And regardless the fierce look ...

... this cute little fellow was quite harmless, despite the ferocious title of water dragon. In fact, he was afraid of his own shadow and took off with that topsy turvy gait that makes them so endearing.

I encountered this little critter at the local hall during a get-together with some quilting friends on Wednesday. Part of the joys of living in a semi-rural area so close to the city.

Catch some other shadows on Hey Harriet's Shadow Shot Sunday.

Another type of market

If you ever saw High Anxiety, then you will know what I mean when I say I'm ready for a short stay at the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous, even if it means being under the dubious care of Dr Montague and Nurse Diesel.

The cause of my high anxiety is the rapidly closing date for our BrisStyle BiDM Market, with over 70 stalls full of the most fabulous items which should take care of just about everyone's Christmas wish list.

The trouble is, it's at that time of the year when there are all sorts of distractions - catching up with old friends we haven't seen since this time last year, early Christmas shopping, Christmas parties with the various quilting groups I belong to (which involves exchanging handmade gifts, of which I have none), etc, etc.

The sewing machine and overlocker are having a little rest today while I catch up on some computer work, for which my machine says thank you very much.

I have gone from knots to bows in my dresses and these little numbers will be on sale at my market stall on 5 December.

The blue and white dress is made of fabric which I found in the textile district of Paris and I just love it, with its adorable little children at the seaside.

The beauty of these dresses is that the ties can be removed when the dress needs washing and are easily re-threaded through the front and back openings, with the aid of a safety pin...

... or bodkin. Voila!

Oh, and I will be selling our very own BrisStyle Tote Bags for $10 each, or free with any purchases over $80, while stock last. The design for our tote bag competition was won by the very talented Sam of Jetta's Nest and we predict that they will be big sellers at our market.

Speaking of bags, I've packed mine and I'm off for that short stay at the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous.

Bring it on, Nurse Diesel!

Shadow Shot Sunday # 78

It's late Saturday night, close enough to Sunday to think once again about Hey Harriet's Shadow Shot Sunday. It's been a long and busy day which started at the crack of dawn, when we drove to New Farm, on the other side of the city for our fix of Farmers' Market. The sun was out, the birds were singing and all was well with the world.

Before we could even THINK of shopping, there was the serious business of heart starters. Ah .. coffee shadows ...

Next came Men with Trolleys and Babies - de rigeur at the markets.

And finally, with the warm spring sun fully out, there were the new season's golden, ripe mangoes.

With the shadow shots out of the way, we set about enjoying the simple pleasures of soaking up the market atmosphere. Here are a few images to show what we love about this particular market and what keeps drawing us back.

The flowers

The produce

The people

The quirky ...

And those priceless moments.

Oooo ... if I keep looking at the ground, maybe he won't notice me ...

Home again, home again,







Jiggidy jig.

What's not to love?

BiDM Christmas Market

It's getting to the pointy end of the year, which means it's getting really close to our BrisStyle Indie Designers Market to be held on Saturday 5 December.

I realise you can't all be in Brisbane on that date, so I thought I'd show you what's been keeping me chained to the Bernina over the past couple of weeks. I've been concentrating on a range of knot dresses, which are ideal for the Festive Season.

This little number is suitable for a one year-old...

... while these are for ages ranging from 2 to 6.

I find it more economical time wise to work on one range at a time, so next week I will change to a new design - to save my sanity as much as anything else!

There will be over 70 participants at the market and you can meet the marketeers here.

I have been at the coalface in helping organise this market and I am humbled by the incredible wealth of talent which will be on show on 5 December. If you will be in Brisbane on that date, you will be guaranteed to experience a market of quality and diversity.

Oh, and there will be music, food, coffee, and all that goes with the making of a successful market. All your Christmas shopping can be taken care of in one morning - or afternoon. What more could you ask for?

Berlin, 20 years on

Today that perennial question came up on the radio and TV: where were you when the Berlin Wall came down? We were living in Sydney with our three teenage children, watching with amazement, along with the rest of the world.

Where were we two months ago? We were in Berlin, and here are some of our memories.

Checkpoint Charlie found us, rather than the other way around.

Just as well I'm not a hat girl!

Nearby we came across this very moving memorial to Berlin citizens shot while attempting to escape to the West.

At the Reichstag, the crowds were obviously distracted by something.

No wonder. This group of young people had the crowds in the palm of their hands (literally) with their superb giant puppet which wooed and teased any passer-by.

Who's afraid of bears? Not these adorable ones, surely.

The museums in Berlin were quite an eye-opener. Of course, there was Nefertiti, every bit as beautiful as Mona Lisa, but without the hordes to keep you at bay.

Nefertiti

Mona Lisa (or is that Where's Wally?) - a dot on the distant wall . Spot the difference?

What really blew us away were these magnificent rooms at the Pergamon Museum. Pictures simply don't do them justice. They take your breath away.

And finally some random images.

Happy anniversary Berlin and thanks for the wonderful memories.