Thursday 31 March 2011

Through Children's Eyes

"Grandma, what does that taste like at YOUR age?" 

A fair enough question when it's your sixth birthday.  After recovering my composure, I assured her that it tasted the same as it did when I was six. 

As a birthday treat, Mr Fudge and I took birthday girl and her eight year-old brother to the Gallery of Modern Art (gOMA) for the day.  It was our second visit - the first occasion was with our daughter and granddaughter before Christmas and it was such a fun-filled day that we knew it was the ideal treat for a child's birthday.



A whole gallery full of white Lego pieces - bliss.

Flying down a twisted tube was very tempting, but I resisted.

The pool looked enticing ...

Cool!

What's next Grandad?

A room full of purple balloons ...

Brilliant!

What the butler saw.


Take me to your leader.

Yes, adults flock to this exhibition, but seeing it through the eyes of children is a rare privilege. 

Grandparenting - wouldn't miss it for quids.

Thursday 24 March 2011

Work in Progress

With the deadline for The Reincarnated Kimono Project looming faster than I care to think about, it's now down to the last of the machine quilting.

Time to get back to the Bernina!

Wednesday 23 March 2011

The Reincarnated Kimono Project

I'm very excited to be invited to take part in an exhibition organised by the lovely Melanie of Kimono Reincarnate.  At the same time I'm a little daunted to find myself in such exalted company.






















This is the exquisite piece of kimono fabric which Melanie sent to use in my quilt.  Now as you know, we quilters cut fabric into little pieces and put it together again.  How could I possibly do that to this stunning piece of fabric?  It took days to work up the courage and I hope I have done it justice.

I am frantically machine quilting today, as the work has to be completed by the weekend, in time for hanging early next week.  Excuse me while I run.

Saturday 19 March 2011

St Patrick's Day

Begorrah, I wouldn't be Oirish if I wasn't a couple of days late with St Patrick's Day.  So here's a little piece of Ireland in Sydney on 17 March.

Thursday 17 March 2011

Eight

Eight is my number.  Somehow it manages to make an appearance in just about every aspect of my life.  My father, brother and I were all born on the 18th day of the month.  My birth date adds up to 8.  Telephone numbers, post codes, street numbers - the odds are they all reduce to the number 8.













So when I received a custom order to make some reversible aprons, it came as no surprise that eight were required.

 

I had such fun co-ordinating the fabrics...






















... and adding the finishing touches, such as decorative buttons ...






















... and flouncy frills.




















I finished the last apron today, St Patrick's Day.  That would be 17 March.  1 plus 7 equals 8.  Of course. 

I will have similar aprons for sale at the BrisStyle Twilight Market on 29 April, if I have time to come up for breath!

Saturday 12 March 2011

Let's Go Shopping

In light of yesterday's brief visit to our kitchen, I have decided to devote this week's Let's Go Shopping to all things Toad.
 
 First up is a MUST for my wardrobe from PuddinHead and Potluck


 Naturally, I would have to have this antique pendant from Enjoy New Life to complete the ensemble.


 Then it would be time to turn my attention to our family room.  I would love to make a cushion from this transfer available at Shorn Sheep.


 To hang in the guest room, perhaps?  Available from Nicole Kristiana Studio.


But I have left my favourite to the end.  Who could resist this cute toad from Alyshells Craft Shack?  I would keep it handy for the next time Mr Toad decides to make a call on us - if this wouldn't scare him off, nothing would. 

Why not hop over to BrisStyle and check out what's on other BrisStylers' shopping lists this Saturday?

Friday 11 March 2011

Animal Attraction

Yesterday it was a butcher bird attempting to read my emails.





















Then this morning our kitchen was graced with a cane toad.  Eeeeeeeek!!!!






















Maybe I should change my perfume.

Sunday 6 March 2011

Let's Go Shopping

It's Autumn in Brisbane, not that you'd know it.  To escape the humidity I think I'll take myself off shopping.

Hey Harriet






















Let's start coffee served in these fabulous retro cups.


Little Chrissy














Of course, I would share my coffee with Mr Fudge.


Marjon Scheffer

















Which would put him in the right frame of mind to buy me this delightful ring.

Sweet Harvey


















We would then ride all the way home on our new bicycle ...

3GIRLSandagoat






















... trailing this lovely red and white paper garland behind us.

Shopping's so therapeutic, isn't it?  If you'd like to join in the fun, visit the other shoppers at BrisStyle

Thursday 3 March 2011

Emerald City











The one good thing (possibly the only good thing) about achieving a Significant Birthday is that the celebrations go on for at least a week, or they do within our circle.

After milking the event for all it was worth here in Brisbane, we flew south last Friday to continue the celebrations with the Sydney branch of the Fudge clan.  My brother had organised our return flights, plus a special treat a few nights later.
















Our first stop on our arrival was casual lunch at the Boatshed Cafe at La Perouse.  We sat at our table overlooking Frenchmans Bay, a family-friendly beach with no scary waves to scare the children away.  What a perfect way to start Birthday Part II.

A professional photographer and his lovely assistant taking pictures of the wall.
I guess he had already seen the sea view.


















Back at my brother's unit we noticed a new piece of electronic equipment - a projector.  I had not seen a home projector since the Seventies and naively thought we were in for a night of travel slides. 















Wrong.  Live Rugby.  All over the wall.  That's a grandfather clock to the left.  My.  It was big.  Later on we watched North by Northwest and I had a bout of vertigo during the Mount Rushmore scenes.  I was like Mr Toad when he saw his first automobile.  I think I want a projector, if only we had a huge blank wall, which we don't.

The next day was hot, humid and steamy, so it was a blessing that we once again had lunch by the water, this time with our oldest and dearest friends.















We sat on the cool veranda overlooking the Hawkesbury River and again seafood was on the menu.

The local bowlers don't stand on ceremony -
very sensibly dressed for the weather.


















Then it was back to our lovely friends' home for coffee and cake.






















Sunday arrived and it was time for yet another lunch (told you the birthday was being milked for all it was worth), this time with our two daughters, spouses and grandchildren.  The venue was the Botanic Gardens Restaurant in a stunning garden setting a short walk from the Art Gallery.

My house model wore a Hot Fudge creation, of course






















The company and the food were all delightful, and I probably took a couple of years off my life with the chocolate tart, but it was worth it.














And now for the Monday night treat my brother had organised a few weeks back - tickets to the Opera House to see Billy Connolly, who has a sell-out season in Sydney.














Where else would you want to have a pre-show drink?  Of course, daylight savings makes such a difference.  If the devil himself would run on a daylight savings ticket in Queensland, he'd have my vote in an instant.








Berthed at the overseas terminal was the latest word in designer cruise ships, the Crystal Serenity.  Now what sort of a name is that for a ship?  Maybe they called in Paris Hilton as a consultant.  Can you imagine it on the Bay of Biscay?  Lots of crystal but not much serenity.

Billy Connolly was in excellent form, even if he worked the third and sixth letters of the alphabet to death.

I don't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually looking forward to the next Big Birthday.