Hot Fudge

Heritage

2012-02-12T06:53:00.000+10:00

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

2012-02-09T14:15:00.002+10:00

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.

By the way, don't touch the figs

2012-02-08T16:16:00.000+10:00

So says Livia in I Claudius. Pity she didn't tell Augustus.

However, when you come across figs like these, not to mention fresh blackberries, by all means touch them. Our local fruit market had these delectable fruits selling at $10 for three punnets, so we chose two of the figs and one of the blackberries.

Combined with shortcrust pastry and frangipane cream, it all went down rather well last night with Mr Fudge. Mind you, with Livia and her poisoned figs firmly in mind, he did wait until I bit into my figs before he took the plunge.

Valentine's Day is not far away and today these heart wreaths were posted off to a customer in Western Australia.

Tomorrow I am planning on getting back to creating some new children's clothing for my Etsy and MadeIt shops. And finishing off that tart.

First Saturday of the Month

2012-02-05T06:11:00.000+10:00

2012 is racing along at a nice pace and I am struggling to keep up with it. We celebrated our 42nd (eek!) wedding anniversary on Friday and before I knew it the next day was the first Saturday of the month.

Ah, how I love first Saturdays - it means a short drive to the local pub to meet up with the Sydney SCQuilters. This was my second visit to this local quilting group since returning to Sydney and they are such a friendly and welcoming lot of quilters.

Show & Tell produced some wonderful works in progress,

including this glorious piece of knitted patchwork.

The beauty of meeting at a pub is that packed lunches are a thing of the past. This delicious pumpkin salad with candied walnuts and fresh figs was perfect - so much better than a peanut butter sandwich.

Hopefully by next month my Plan will have sprung into action, as by then the Kaffe Fassett fabric which I ordered on line will have arrived (fingers crossed) and my first block will be well under way.

I have made a tentative start, but can't progress any further until the background fabric arrives. So far all is going to Plan - what can possibly go wrong?

The Plan

2012-01-30T21:17:00.000+10:00

At my age, making New Year's Resolutions is probably pushing my luck. Besides, they are never easy to keep and I always end up guilt wracked at not achieving my goals. However, I have a plan. It's an open-ended plan, so no pressure to complete by a certain deadline.

I visited my local fabric store on Saturday to help formulate my plan. I always feel so much better when I walk out of a quilt shop with a bag containing some fabric, no matter how modest. These three fabrics are the beginnings of what will eventually be this:

It looks like a wall hanging, doesn't it?

Wrong. It's a king size quilt. Yes, I like a challenge.

Kim McLean is an Australian quilter and designer and I have long admired her creations. After discovering this blog I was inspired to dip my toe in the water and get back to what I really love, quilting. I am waiting on a shipment of Kaffe Fassett Fabrics to arrive, including 7.2 metres of background fabric, and then my plan will be put into action.

I am writing this with the full knowledge that my sewing room contains unfinished quilt tops in the dark reaches of my fabric cupboard. I have at least one from each decade.

Who can forget the mad frenzy whipped up with the resurgence of Baltimore Quilts of the early 1990s? My five completed blocks are too precious to see daylight and/or I am waiting for one of my daughters to take up the challenge. Not going to happen.

In the meantime, I am having a lovely time filling in orders for heart garlands on my Etsy and MadeIt shops in time for Valentine's Day. Or weddings. And at least they are finished products.

Australians all let us rejoice

2012-01-26T20:41:00.000+10:00

It's Australia Day. It's our favourite sort of day, a public holiday. It has been raining for days over the eastern seaboard, causing flooding to many areas, only a short twelve months since the devastating floods of 2011. Despite the unfriendly weather, the nation came together as one to celebrate Australia Day in style.

We spent the day with some good friends, starting with a traditional Aussie lunch of delicious barbecued lamb.

After dessert, it was time to work it all off with a game of backyard cricket.

Hats were thoughtfully provided as the sun started to break through the clouds. After a drawn match, it was time for that other traditional game ...

Boules. Boules? Well, it's traditional in some parts of the world and that's all that matters.

Mr Fudge used his baseball toss, which wasn't quite cricket, but very effective all the same.

The tape measure was called for ...

... and the winner congratulated.

Wherever you are, happy Australia Day!

Hearts

2012-01-23T13:47:00.002+10:00

January is rapidly coming to an end which means that Valentine's Day is not far away.

It's a busy birthday month in the Fudge clan, with three birthdays within four days of each other.

Is there someone in your life who you would love to surprise with a Valentine's Day heart garland?

Are you organising a February birthday party and need something to adorn the walls, windows or doorways?

Then hop over to here or here, or even here and your problems are solved. They would also make great nursery wall hangings, so they would be ideal as a baby shower gift.

Am I ashamed of the blatant self-promotion? Only for a nanosecond.

On the road again

2012-01-20T13:04:00.001+10:00

It was time to say goodbye to the cat, as her owners returned from their three week cycling/camping trip around New Zealand. Their re-appearance brought a frosty feline reception and they were given the odd scratch and bite as a warning to NEVER LEAVER HER ALONE WITH THOSE PEOPLE AGAIN!

There was one last store to visit on our way out of Brisbane and luckily it was only a few blocks away. How had I missed it all the time we were there?

It looked fairly innocuous from the street, but Mr Fudge was already crying. He had come so close to leaving the city without having to sit patiently while I browsed. So he decided to come in with me.

Oh my ... heaven in a shed.

Beautiful linens in every shade called out to be purchased. I needed a brown paper bag to breathe into but settled for the Fabric Whisperer who had to admit later that he was almost as impressed as I was by the glorious and very tempting bolts of fabric.

Miraculously, I found a brown paper bag.

How the blue floral linen inside the bag found its way into the car is a mystery. The good news is that there is also a branch of this store in Sydney. Poor Mr Fudge.

Our journey back to Sydney was broken with two nights spent at the country home of some dear friends, who were the most gracious host and hostess. We arrived in time for lunch, which was followed by afternoon tea, cocktail hour and dinner.

How fresh do you want your eggs today?

Who needs a market when the produce is at your back door?

Not a sight I am used to seeing when I hang my clothes on the line.

What a fashion statement the earrings make.

I could really be tempted to stay here forever, but it was time to thank our hosts profusely and be on our way again.

We crawled past this barrier at Cunninghams Gap which is laughingly supposed to deter the mountain from collapsing on top of you.

Here is a video on YouTube which shows what it was like when we drove past the same point twelve months ago. If you right click your mouse on the lower right-hand corner of the video, you can elect to watch it on YouTube, where you can see it in full screen mode. I don't think anyone believed it when we described the experience, so I am glad someone was brave enough to stop screaming long enough to film the video.

Now that we are home, I have started on my first project and I must say it is wonderful to feel so enthused about sewing once again. Three weeks away from the machine worked wonders.

Legos and colour schemes

2012-01-12T17:00:00.000+10:00

I met up with some of the foundation committee members of BrisStyle today. It's the first chance I've had to see them since our move to Sydney in July last year and it was an absolutely delightful day. There were six of us and four brought along their gorgeous and fast-growing children, who at first were a little wary of each other, but by the time we left were Best Friends Forever.

One of the topics discussed was how many of the children present were Lego fanatics, and to this list I could easily add our own grandchildren. One particular boy even has his own dedicated Lego Room - surely every child's dream.

During the discussion, Bel of Enticing Icing produced this plastic container from her bag. Yes, they are made of icing and were a commissioned order for a customer. I can imagine some lucky child is in for a big surprise when the birthday cake is produced.

The week has been filled with colour, as I mentally plan the quilt I will commence on our return to Sydney next week. My enthusiasm for quilting has returned, and some of the responsibility must go to my quilting friend whose house we are minding. How wicked of her to combine her sewing studio with the guest room.

Look at these glorious fabrics by Kaffe Fassett - you could almost drown in the rich colours.

I was very good. I took them out of her stash cupboard, swooned over them, and PUT THEM BACK. You never know, the house may have concealed CCTV cameras tucked away in the ceiling.

The colour theme continued today when I read about this site - I could spend hours playing with the countless combinations. What a brilliant colour wheel concept. It's the perfect tool for quilters, desktop publishers or artists. But be warned - it's extremely addictive.

How to live with a cat when you are the house guest

2012-01-11T14:39:00.000+10:00

It's not that I have anything against cats, in fact, they can be quite endearing. But when you have lived in a cat free environment for the best part of 50 years, it can be a steep learning curve to have one thrust into your living space. Not the cat's fault; in this case we are the guests and the cat is our hostess, albeit a very naughty one at times.

Bella, like a lot of Burmese cats, certainly has a will of her own, which sometimes clashes with ours. We very quickly learned a couple of lessons.

How Not to Leave the House

Bella is a house cat, not allowed to roam wantonly through the neighbourhood, picking off the bird life at will. The responsible owners have organised the house so that she has ready access to outside areas which do not allow her to escape Of course, Bella's object in life is to escape at every opportunity.

The first time we prepared to go on an outing, Mr Fudge stood by the open front door while I turned on the burglar alarm with the remote attached to a key ring As the alarm commenced its countdown, I scuttled towards the front door at the same time as Bella, who had been lying in wait under the lounge She was out in the street like a flash of lightning - straight under a parked car obviously placed there for her convenience. As I attempted to retrieve her, we suddenly remembered the burglar alarm rapidly ticking down the seconds, as the front door was still open. Silent screams. A quick and undignified rush back into the house ensued and the alarm was turned off in the nick of time. Back out to the parked car where Mr Fudge was standing guard (I think I mentioned that he is not a cat lover and in fact can't bear touching them). The offending cat was swooped up, much to her annoyance, and the three of us returned to the house to try again.

How to Exit a House with Dignity

This time around, I had Bella firmly held under one arm, handbag clutched under the other, the alarm remote one hand, and we were ready. Mr Fudge again stood at the open front door, I turned on the alarm, then before kitty knew what on earth was happening, I moved with considerable grace and speed towards the front door, depositing her onto a lounge chair, making sure she was facing away from the escape route, and moved on without a break in rhythm. Kitty could be briefly seen looking around in confusion. The door closed and we were out and about. If it had been a ballet, it could not have been choreographed more perfectly.

To placate her that evening, we allowed Bella to watch Gone With the Wind, although she feigned boredom. Where's the gratitude? Methinks she will weep with joy when her owners return from their holiday next week.

It can't be 2012 - I'm not ready yet

2012-01-02T10:27:00.000+10:00

I pulled back the curtains on New Years Day and this glorious view was there waiting to be discovered. We are back in Brisbane for three weeks, house sitting for friends while they are on an overseas holiday. Can you feel the early morning subtropical warmth coming through? We are in the most charming suburb, within easy walking distance of more restaurants than you could dine at in a year, wonderful parks and gardens, and a five minute bus trip to the city. Bliss.

The only fly in the ointment was Bella, the resident cat who had gone AWOL on Christmas Day, thankfully not on our watch; we were not due to arrive until a couple of days later. However, we were advised not to worry, as she quite often went walkabout and would probably return in a day or so. On New Years Eve I texted my friend advising that there had not been any sightings of Puss and we were a wee bit concerned that she may have checked out.

The next morning, after swooning with delight at the view from our guest bedroom window, I came downstairs to see a flash of a cat tail whiz by the dining room window. I rushed to the back door and there she was.

Well, I sure hope it's her and not some random moggy literally landing on her feet.

Because she's taken over the house.

She even chooses the TV programmes.

And sleeps at the foot of our bed, much to Mr Fudge's distress - not a cat lover, I'm afraid.

My friend is a quilter and the guest bedroom is also her studio.

I've died and gone to Heaven.

I can't show you the other cupboard with all the fabric, because I cry every time I open the doors. I am hatching a plot to leave our dirty laundry behind, so that there's just enough room in the boot to cram in her Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

The combination of the new year and a relaxed holiday back in Brisbane have fostered a new enthusiasm for quilting. I had been quite jaded after our move back to Sydney; a major interstate move is not something you would want to do in a hurry. With the added stress of keeping up with sales on my Etsy and MadeIt shops in the lead-up to Christmas, I was afraid that I had lost the will to create new quilts. Thank goodness it has returned in abundance and my resolution is to start on two major projects in the coming weeks, one long-term hand applique and the other an art quilt. The ideas are starting to gel and I am once more excited at the prospect of creating new quilts.

I do hope your Christmas and New Year have been as happy as ours. We are truly blessed to have wonderful friends and family and we are looking forward to the year ahead.

All that glitters is not gold

2011-12-24T08:55:00.000+10:00

Sometimes it's silver. And at least once in a lifetime it has to be cleaned. Christmas is a good time. I can never understand why such a fuss is made about cleaning silver. It's an art, I'll grant you, and I'll let you into my secret household hint. Simply con your spouse into cleaning it for you.

I can't believe he even cleaned the ice bucket, which I had forgotten was silver. I had assumed for years that it was painted black. What a treasure.

If you were married before the Eighties, you probably have a lovely collection of silverware from your 25th anniversary. Today it's stainless steel, so much more sensible. A good friend realised an hour or so before some long-lost out-of-town friends arrived that she hadn't cleaned the silver (obviously a bride of the Sixties). She grabbed them out of the china cabinet and cleaned the sides that were on show. Clever girl.

The turkey is thawing in the fridge, the pudding is steamed, and now the silver is glittering. We are ready for Christmas. We used to love going to Midnight Mass, but at our age we'd be asleep in no time, so we will go to the Vigil Mass this evening and be ready for our guests tomorrow. Have a very happy Christmas, surrounded by loved ones.

Hang on ... he didn't clean the salt and pepper shakers.

Last minute projects

2011-12-22T15:01:00.003+10:00

Sydney is bursting with beautiful hydrangeas and I can only assume they love their summers cold, unlike me. As a small child I hated hydrangeas, mainly because they were growing in the garden of family friends where I stayed while my mother was in hospital. I was desperately homesick for my parents and took out my frustrations on the hapless hydrangeas. I didn't harm them, I simply hated them. However, time heals and now I love them.

With the frantic rush to fill Etsy and MadeIt orders finally winding down, I can think about making something for my summer wardrobe - ever the optimist. This hydrangea blue fabric has been languishing in my fabric stash for far too long, so I quickly ran up a skirt (well, the hem has to be hand sewn, but there's always tonight in front of the TV).

I bought this pretty Liberty fabric in London a couple of years back and it was time to stop wringing my hands and declaring it was too precious to cut. The skirt was in need of a blouse and there is just the right touch of blue in it, so now it is sitting in front of the machine waiting to be sewn together. If I am not wearing it on Christmas Day, please avoid the subject.

Now that I am over screaming every time I look at it, I have put the last of the Christmas tree garlands up in our own living room. This is Garland Number 52 made this season, so you can understand my temporary aversion to anything with branches.

My only concern now is that I will forget to take the turkey out of the freezer and will end up tossing it into the bathtub full of hot water on Christmas morning. But that's not going to happen ...

All is calm ...

2011-12-17T13:14:00.000+10:00

I doesn't feel like our usual run-up to Christmas. The tree is up, the cards have been posted, the turkey is hiding away in the freezer, and we even found a parking space at the shopping centre this morning. OK, we were there at the crack of dawn, but it still counts. The annual Fudge Family Panic Frenzy is missing this year.

Perhaps the fact that we had our family Christmas Day early this year accounts for the feeling of serenity against the tide the rushing shoppers. Our Christmas shopping is done (do you feel the smugness coming through the screen?)

The reason for the premature Christmas celebrations is that it's the turn for the in-laws to have the pleasure of our offspring's company and the other grandparents live in Melbourne. It's a very amicable arrangement which has worked over the years, with the Sydney family dividing their Christmases between us in Brisbane, our son-in-law's family in Melbourne, and our other son-in-law's family living just out of Sydney. The children have so many cousins in Melbourne and it's lovely that they will all be together on Christmas Day. After all, now we have them close by for the rest of the year.

I have been so welcomed by the St Ives Quilters, the local group which I joined soon after arriving in Sydney. We had our Christmas party this week - there were so many beautiful quilts on show that I am now really fired up to start a new project in 2012.

We all brought along a dish to share.

These pastries are apparently a permanent feature and I can understand why. They are feather light and it's impossible to stop at one. Well, impossible for me.

A different slant on cheese cake?

So Christmas Day this year will be a quiet affair, with my brother and our two closest friends as guests for lunch. The company will be wonderful, as we have known each other practically all our lives - the best sort of company. There will be laughter and reminiscences, old stories re-told (and perhaps embroidered a little).

Our third Christmas will be in Brisbane a couple of days later, as we drive up to celebrate with our son, daughter-in-law and their four beautiful children. We have missed them so much, so I hope they are prepared for lots of hugs.

All is calm, all is bright. I wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas.

Ten days to go

2011-12-15T05:53:00.000+10:00

It's summer here in Sydney ... apparently. We timed our return to our city of birth perfectly; this has to be one of the coldest starts to summer in many a year. However, ten days out of Christmas there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

We don't wilt under the heat of the Christmas tree lights.

The Christmas cake mixed perfectly without the eggs curdling in the Brisbane heat.

The Christmas puddings boiling away kept us warm.

The flowers don't wilt a day after they are purchased.

Yes, there are always plenty of reasons to be grateful.

I've been lost in a forest of Christmas trees, as orders keep pouring in for garlands in my Etsy and MadeIt shops and private custom orders.

With any luck, there will be one left over for Chez Fudge.

The sun is peeking through the early morning mist, with the promise that it will be a sunny day. Sunny is good. Sunny and warm is better. Fingers crossed.

Christmas in the city

2011-12-09T12:16:00.000+10:00

It's coming - you can feel it in the air. If you need to kick-start the Christmas spirit, now is a good time to visit your city. Yes, I know, the jostling crowds can be terrible, but they are all part of the plan.

We took a trip to the city a few days ago and headed straight for the Queen Victoria Building. This is our first Christmas back in Sydney for many years and stepping into this gloriously restored building brought it all back in an instant.

You are immediately filled with wonderment when you lay eyes on the gigantic Christmas tree in the centre of the building.

It soars from the ground floor, through the middle section of the building,

ending under the domed ceiling.

It's Santa's cave of choice ...

... and he has a queue of children anxious to assure him that they have been very good indeed.

It's always a mecca for shoppers, but at this time of the year it really pulls out all stops.

I love licorice allsorts. I also love these bags. Sigh.

Beautifully illustrated classics by Australian artist Robert Ingpen

Earlier in the day we ventured to Bondi Junction on the other side of the city. As part of our Christmas tradition, we were on our annual pilgrimage to buy a tinned panettone, and discovered that some were available at the Norton Street Grocer, one of our favourite browsing spots.

It will be opened in the week leading up to Christmas and if we plan carefully, the last slice will be eaten for breakfast on Christmas morning - or earlier, whichever comes out on top, greed or restraint.

It will then join its predecessors above the kitchen cupboards, if we can make room.

Christmas is coming - you can feel it in the air.

A Village Fair

2011-12-05T05:56:00.000+10:00

It's in its 20th year and it's huge - the Wahroonga Village Fair.

When we left Wahroonga nearly 22 years ago, the Village Fair wasn't even on the drawing board, but over the years as its reputation grew, our friends kept telling us how wonderful it was. And now that we are only three train stops away, yesterday we finally were able to experience it for ourselves.

Or course, before all else we needed to keep our strength up with a morning cup of coffee and with so many coffee shops to choose from, it wasn't long before we felt human again.

While sipping on our coffees, we were entertained by the Knox Grammar School Pipe Band.

We were blown away.

But floated back in time to listen to the Knox Grammar School Big Band, who played like professionals.

By some miracle we spied the family in the throng, and the serious shopping began.

You know you are back in Sydney when you see Christmas Bush for sale.

What's a fair without balloons?

Who can go past home made marmalade? Not us Fudges.

Same goes for Italian pastries.

She the Adventuress took a ride on the wild side.

Snack time, and nothing is better than a sausage roll when you are two. Bliss.

It felt as though all the neighbourhood dogs were at the fair, greeting their old acquaintances.

This was my favourite stall - the quality of their clothing stood out from the crowd.

Ollie & Max

Sadly, the weather turned really nasty and we scurried home slightly wet, but missed the worst of it. What a pity that this delightful fair couldn't have been blessed with a full day of sunshine, but at least it was rewarded with a huge turnout for the first half of the day.

Will I be back next year as a stall holder? What do you think?

Can't see the wood for the trees

2011-11-22T12:20:00.000+10:00

I'm taking a very short break from the sewing machine, as I am going a little stir crazy. My Christmas Tree garlands have proved to be a tad more popular than I had anticipated and I am filling in orders and hoping that there will be time left to have some ready for sale at my stall at the Sacred Heart Pymble Moonlight Market on Saturday.

If you are in Sydney, please come by and say hello.

Apart from the Christmas Tree garlands, I will have lots of children's clothing, cushions, bunting, etc.

Hope to see you there.

Joe Btfsplk lives

2011-11-17T14:39:00.003+10:00

To know who Joe Btfsplk is, you would have to be a child of the Forties or Fifties. He was a character in the comic strip Li'l Abner who walked around with a dark cloud perpetually over his head. Disaster followed him wherever he went and as a child I loved him.

I am now wondering if we should change our names by deed poll to Mr & Mrs Joe Btfsplk because I suspect we are closely following in his wake.

Take yesterday for instance. Late afternoon a helicopter flew over our apartment block and hovered for about 30 minutes. Always quick on the uptake, we gathered that something was amiss. We soon discovered that a poor old 95 year-old man had crashed nearby down an embankment onto the rail line. Thankfully his injuries were not too serious, but with peak hour traffic about to start, life became chaotic for commuters, both of the rail and road variety.

Less than twelve months ago we were isolated for three days during the Brisbane floods - thank goodness for twilight market lighting!

About three years before that, a light plane crashed into a house a couple of hundred yards away from our home - again thankfully the pilot escaped serious injury and the house owners were out at the time. My, what a surprise that was for them when they came home.

When our children were young, we ran from a bushfire which swept through the suburb where we had built our new home. Yes, it did raise the heart rate and yes, we did later sell that house. Our home came through unscathed, apart from the interior ending up full of ash, as the windows were left open in our haste to leave. Silly us.

Can you see a pattern developing here? Disaster magnets? You bet.

Addendum, Friday: To hammer the point home, the whole of Pymble has lost its water service for the rest of the day. Say no more.

Deck the halls and trim the trees

2011-11-16T15:14:00.000+10:00

My Christmas tree garlands are flying out the door faster than I can make them.

If you would like some of your own, you can find them in my Etsy store, or for Australian residents in my MadeIt store.

They will also be available at the Moonlight Market at Sacred Heart Primary School, Pymble, on Saturday 26 November. Once the final market for the year is behind us, Mr Fudge and I will bravely search through all the boxes in our storage locker for our Christmas decorations.

This was our tree last year, and in fact for many years before that. It has been a good tree and many happy Christmases have been spent gathered around it. However, this year we will be investing in a much slimmer tree, a necessity if we wish to have any sort of human movement in the living room during the festive season. It will be our first Christmas in an apartment and although the living room is not large, the ceiling is quite high, so we will be on the lookout for a tall, thin tree.

Maybe something like this ...

Oooo ... yes, this is more like it.

Concert season - can Christmas be far away?

2011-11-13T14:46:00.002+10:00

It's getting close to the end of the year and that can only mean one thing ... it's dancing school concert time.

Yesterday was our first experience as grandparents at a dancing school concert, which meant that we could sit back and thoroughly enjoy the whole process without all those parental butterflies and anxieties. Much better.

The girls were eagerly anticipating their first routine before an audience of family and friends which included at least one marvellous set of grandparents who flew in from Melbourne especially for the occasion. We all absolutely fell under the charm of the young performers. However, the music was a little loud for some. I mean REALLY loud.

Time to go home folks.

There are zebras at Bondi Beach

2011-11-06T21:46:00.000+10:00

It's true - I saw them myself today. Aren't they adorable? They can be yours for $8,450 each. Now there's a Christmas gift idea for the child who has everything.

We had a family outing to Bondi Beach to view Sculpture by the Sea, now in its 15th year. But first there were snacks to be had to give us strength for the long walk ahead.

Wearing Hot Fudge, of course

When you are four, Grandma's leg is a perfect safe haven when the cafe proprietor's dog eyes off your delicious muffin.

The temperature quickly rose to around 30 degrees Celsius, but the ocean breeze kept the crowds reasonably cool.

Ammonite

The Yearning

Domestic Bliss

Windswept

Heavenly Kiss

Predators in the Park (check out the cheeky cap)

The boys discovered a cool piece of art which was child friendly.

Hey, let's make it our own.

Do you think those other children want to play in our special place?

OK, OK, we're going.

A little further along we came across something that we thought may have startled the children.

But they loved it.

Meeting 1

These folk seemed to have the right idea - time to sit down for a little while.

And time to share a secret.

Psst ... would you like an ice cream?

Sculpture by the Sea continues until 20 November. It has the Fudge Family Seal of Approval, so make haste to Bondi Beach and spend a few hours taking in the wonderful works of art. As a bonus, you get in a week's worth of exercise to boot.

Moonlighting

2011-11-03T09:01:00.000+10:00

Since moving to Sydney I have missed the friendly buzz of the BrisStyle markets. However, all is not lost, as there's a market on the horizon. On Saturday 26 November (a little more than three weeks away - eek!) I will be setting up my stall at the Sacred Heart Pymble Moonlight Markets.

This highly successful annual event is organised by the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School's Parents & Friends Association and will be held at the school grounds, Cnr Bobbin Head Road and Pacific Highway, Pymble between 5.30 and 9.30 pm.

Bermuda shorts are currently being constructed

with cute back pockets

There will be lots of dresses ...

... some fully reversible.

These Christmas Tree garlands sold out very quickly last season, but there will be plenty of fresh stock ready for the Moonlight Market.

So book the date in your diaries now and do come and say hello. You will find a wonderful variety of stalls full of quality handmade goodies to choose from - perfect timing for Christmas shopping!

Green Thumb

2011-10-30T08:41:00.000+10:00

I weeded the garden yesterday. Tomorrow I will tidy the surrounds. What's not to love about apartment living?

Fact: it's essential to have your tongue firmly planted in your cheek to achieve cookie decoration greatness.

Meanwhile a few blocks away the grandchildren were in the process of making and decorating cookies. Who could resist an invitation to join them? Particularly after our arduous gardening chores.

Yes, we polished off the lot, after we had our delicious barbecued mango chicken and salad, of course.

Back to the garden.

Think Pink

2011-10-26T15:57:00.000+10:00

I had been clinging onto the last piece of this pretty pink floral fabric, like a mother hen clucking over an egg.

I know it's silly, but it's so soft and lovely and I doubt there's any more of it left in the world.

Summer is just around the corner (although with today's chilly temperatures in Sydney, that's hard to believe), so the time is right to party.

It's size 2 and you can buy it here.

Think pink this Christmas.

Any time in Paris

2011-10-23T15:50:00.003+10:00

We've just been to see Midnight in Paris and I could have wept with relief. Woody Allen is back to his best. The opening shots of Paris filled us with such wonderful memories that if someone had tapped us on the shoulder with two free air tickets to Paris, you would not have seen us for dust.

It's not simply the elegance and charm of the city,

it's also the downright quirky sights that abound at every turn.

What a way to start the day, with a very healthy and non-fattening petit déjeuner.

We both sighed towards the end of the movie when this shop made a brief appearance, as we had visited it on our last day in Paris.

Even if you are not a Woody Allen fan, do yourself a favour and sit back an enjoy this thoroughly delightful film.

Jacarandas and nets

2011-10-20T09:37:00.000+10:00

I saw my first Jacaranda yesterday and it made my heart sing. I was on the train with my best friend, on the way to meet up with some old classmates for lunch in the city. There it was standing near the Harbour Bridge in all its glory.

(I foolishly left my camera at home, so I've had to use a substitute image.)

Normal folk ring in the year on New Year's Eve, but I always breathe a sigh of relief when I see my first jacaranda for the season - a new year lies ahead, full of promises.

We were intrigued when we arrived in the city to discover a huge net strung across the busy thoroughfare in front of the Town Hall. It looked as though it was waiting for someone to make a giant leap. It is part of Art & About which is taking place in Sydney this month and obviously it looks much more spectacular at night.

Tsunami by Janet Echelman

What a lovely time to be in Sydney.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

2011-10-15T08:59:00.000+10:00

Something good happened yesterday.

A parcel arrived.

Out tumbled these delicious rolls of rick rack braid.

I use it here ...

... and here.

So that was the good.

This is the bad. Noooooo ... the overlocker nightmare - re-threading time. You have to be an overlocker user to understand the pain. Crying doesn't help. I know. I've tried. The slick sales folk try to convince you that the new overlockers are a breeze to thread. Don't believe them.

And finally the ugly. The knot. The solution to the end of reel problem is to take a deep breath, cut the umbilical cord, tie it to the new reel and gingerly pull it through the labyrinth with the blind faith that it will eventually come through unscathed. With great relief I exhaled and un-gritted my teeth. It worked, so sometimes ugly can be good, and that's where we started.

What's cooking?

2011-10-11T16:09:00.000+10:00

Are you addicted to a TV series? I have to confess that I am hooked on Master Chef, so when my daughter advised that she had bought tickets for the three of us girls to attend Master Chef Live last Sunday, I was considerably chuffed.

Our decision to arrive before the gates opened turned out to be the correct one, as we were able to wander through the exhibition halls with ease and comfort, taking in all the sights and smells - Christmas had come early for us.

Gary and George welcome the crowds at the entrance

I don't know who among the three generations was more star struck, but I would estimate that that honour was equally shared. Celebrity chefs were fairly thick on the ground and it was hard to avoid them.

2010 Junior Master Chef winner, Isabella

Peter Gilmore of Quay Restaurant

Vincent Gadan of Patisse

Next on the list was the Mystery Box Theatre, where we joined the very long queue - a little hard for a six year-old, but she was so patient.

The show was a huge success.

Afterwards we wandered once again through the exhibition halls, this time having to battle the ever-increasing crowds.

The colours were stunning

Guess who has just laid her eyes on the biggest pink meringue in the world?

She can't believe it would fit into a mere paper bag

The anticipation of that first bite was all too tantalising

Granddaughter thought that perhaps Mummy could make this cake for her next birthday. Mummy was non-committal.

Not wanting Mr Fudge to feel left out, I bought some colourful pasta to cook for him. What a fun day.

Dawn and Dusk

2011-10-08T12:27:00.000+10:00

What a delightful evening we had last night, despite the sulking weather.

Gallery Eight

Gallery Eight is part of a growing trend of art spaces proving to be popular around the Sydney art scene. It was a chilly evening, but inside the atmosphere was warm and inviting.

Half the crowd spilled out to the back room where there were copious supplies of this.

Sydney's elite art critics were very happy with all they surveyed, buoyed up with bribes of focaccia.

The Artist was justifiably pleased with the evening (please note how LIGHT it is outside - daylight savings is pure bliss).

Here are three of my favourite works.

For an explanation of Dawn and Dusk, please go here. The exhibition continues until 27 October, so if you are in Sydney, do come and visit.

Busy times

2011-10-07T05:36:00.000+10:00

It's the first week of October and already the busy season is beginning. Tonight we Fudges are off to the big city for the opening of our daughter's exhibition.

The gallery is in the The Rocks district, an historic part of the city and a great tourist attraction. So if you are venturing to Sydney this month, put this exhibition at the top of your must-see list.

However, if you are in Brisbane tomorrow, do yourself a favour and visit the BrisStyle Mother and Child Market.

I have participated in previous Mother and Child markets and can vouch that it's a day full of fun, activities and stacks of beautiful handmade goodies to tempt you.

With Christmas not far away, both these venues will provide you with plenty of gift opportunities.

The Seamstress II

2011-10-05T16:33:00.000+10:00

I like her tenacity. Unlike her grandmother The Great Procrastinator, the seamstress is keen to finish what she started.

Thread colours needed to be changed and to my amazement one reel was whipped out of the machine and the correct colour threaded without hesitation. I mentally hugged myself.

To add durability to the windows, earlier in the day I attached some ribbon, which met with approval.

We drew some shapes to decorate the side wall, and in no time it was completed.

Our next project? A pin cushion.

The Seamstress

2011-09-27T14:25:00.000+10:00

We had our first sewing session today, my granddaughter and I. And of course, it was no simple beginner project such as a pencil case or a pin cushion. This one looks at the grander scheme of things - a cubby house no less.

The day had been long in the planning, ever since her mother bought her a beautiful craft book with projects ranging from simple little tasks right up to the biggies - the cubby house. She arrived bright eyed and full of anticipation, with her trusty craft book sitting snugly in her carry bag, along with a tin of jam butter biscuits she had made earlier.

We had such fun choosing oilcloth and fabric from my stash, and after much measuring and cutting out, it was time to get started on the machine. (Special insert for her mother. Please note the machine is turned OFF.)

In no time she had mastered the art of threading the machine and bobbin case, which after an initial demonstration she insisted on managing on her own. After a morning tea break of coffee (for the Fudges Senior), orange juice for the Seamstress and jam butter biscuits all round (yum), I was hurried back to the sewing room to work on the curtains for the house front windows. We did manage to take a lunch break before working on the top and back of the house.

All too soon our daughter arrived to claim her own daughter. I marvelled at her will power at not counting the Seamstress's fingers in front of us.

The work in progress now awaits her next visit. She is six and full of enthusiasm. Can it be that the tailor gene which runs through my family but skipped a generation is coming out in the next one? I live in hope.

Ah, Spring

2011-09-26T10:56:00.003+10:00

I had forgotten the joys of Spring in Sydney - warm one day, freezing, windy and wet the next.

Yesterday proved to be the latter. However, in the city the crowds gravitated to the new Westfield Centre for comfort.

One of the joys of returning to the city of our birth is re-discovering what had once been familiar ground. My, how some things have changed. Mr Fudge usually has the direction sense of a homing pigeon, but even he was defeated in this incredible maze with escalators shooting off in all directions.

So many shops to inspect.

So many eating places to sit and forget about the weather outside.

Our neighbourhood King Parrot would have felt right at home.

Mr Fudge's navigation system switched on after a delicious lunch and he steered us towards one of our favourite window shopping spots; David Jones Food Hall. It's three months to Christmas, so we should have been prepared.

We decided to give the figs a miss.

Our main purpose for being in the city on such a miserable day was to take in a live show. In the Mood was in town and it was a sell-out season. Our daughter and son-in-law had bought tickets months back, but due to commitments they couldn't attend. Would we be interested? Oooo ... yes please!

It was a knock-out show, full of the music of our childhood, performed by a brilliant band and six incredible singers and dancers. It was something of a novelty to look around and discover we were among the youngest in the audience. And that's quite an achievement for us these days!

The day was not finished for us yet, as our son-in-law was celebrating his fortieth birthday at the iconic Watson's Bay Hotel. It was the perfect ending to the day, with both sides of the family there to help ease him into the new decade. We discovered that his parents were also at the In the Mood matinee session - they have great taste.

Party Time

2011-09-20T13:14:00.003+10:00

Sydney has turned on some spectacular early spring weather over the past couple of days, which brings the promise of a warm summer ahead. With that in mind, I was inspired by a new shipment of fabric to make a party dress for the upcoming season.

Empire waist tiered dress available here or here

We are blessed with four gorgeous (of course!) granddaughters ranging in ages from three to six who possess magical twirling capabilities, and this dress fits the bill perfectly.

Lots of twirling possibilities

The one thing I was lamenting in our recent interstate move was the lack of bird life at my window. Yesterday I glanced up from my sewing machine and there on the balcony just a couple of feet away was this delightful lorikeet.

Who's a pretty boy?

Cute at any angle

I do hope he visits again and brings his friends with him.

Neighbours

2011-09-17T16:33:00.005+10:00

We have been in our new home for a little while now, so we thought it was time to call in on the next-door neighbour.

It soon became obvious that we were not alone - the glorious Spring weather drew the crowds outdoors.

They even parked on the athletics field. How rude.

Our next-door neighbour is the local girls' high school and they picked the most brilliant day to hold their annual fair.

There was a carnival atmosphere, with market stalls,

garden stalls,

lots of food to keep the hungry crowds satisfied,

and cool jazz.

We even bumped into the grandchildren.

The students' art exhibition was wonderful.

It's amazing what some people consider worth putting out with the trash. I'm sure this adorable little fellow hasn't passed his use-by date.

The shade was appreciated by the visitors.

But the young folk preferred the rides.

All in all, not bad neighbours.

Girls' Night Out

2011-09-16T10:23:00.001+10:00

Last night my daughter and I left her three young children in the care of their father and grandfather while we headed out for a Girls' Night Out at St Ives Shopping Centre. There was champagne and nibblies on arrival before we settled into our excellent second row seats to watch the fashion show.

I was muttering low curses that I had left my camera at home, as one of the tiny models in the children's section was an eighteen months old little boy who was carried on by one of the models. It was obvious that the catwalk was not his choice of location. The look he gave to the audience when the model put him down to strut his stuff was worth the price of the ticket alone. I wonder if they have counsellors for baby models? They have them for most situations, so one can only hope.

We had such fun at interval, doing a little shopping, sampling more champagne and delicious friands before strolling back to our seats for the rest of the parade. The whole show was choreographed by one of the male models who starred in Dancing With The Stars.

Were we thinking of our men back home gallantly holding the fort? Not for a nanosecond.

I received a new shipment of fabric during the week and immediately fell in love with this wild design. It screams Seventies (I have a vague feeling that I actually wore something like this way back then) and I couldn't resist turning it into a jumpsuit.

Pity I didn't think to make it in my size instead of Size 6. Imagine what fun it would be to have been to have worn it last night and startled the grand-kiddies.

Woo-hoo!

2011-09-12T09:28:00.000+10:00

At last we have an Aussie Grand Slam Champ.

I guess like the rest of the country, we sat glued in front of the TV this morning watching, hardly daring to hope that it may actually happen.

But it did and I was so proud of Samantha's composure and humility. You'll have to excuse the euphoria - the last Australian to win the US Open was Wendy Turnbull way back in 1980. It's been a long time between drinks.

One big disadvantage of living in an apartment is a lack of flowers to pick. So we were delighted yesterday when some dear friends came to lunch bearing gifts from their garden.

It really stuck home a couple of days ago that I had forgotten how stunningly beautiful Sydney is in Spring. It almost takes your breath away.

If only there was a way of bringing down Brisbane family, friends and weather, Sydney would be heaven on earth.

Step Back

2011-09-09T14:10:00.013+10:00

Have you ever unexpectedly come across a hidden treasure in the middle of a large and busy city? Well, it happened to us today. I had been searching in vain for days for some rick rack braid in all the usual places, but unless you wanted primary colours, it was mission impossible. Then Mr Fudge came across a web site advertising rick rack braid in a wide range of colours - the only problem was that the shop was in the city.

So this morning we braved a walk to the railway station in FREEZING weather (21 years of Brisbane mild temperatures has left an indelible mark on us, apparently) and journeyed to the city.

We found the shop opposite the Town Hall and stepped inside.

My goodness, what a vision. It took our breath away - we had somehow been transported back to the late 19th Century. We checked to see that the Tardis was still parked outside for a quick get-away in case of an emergency.

If Little Dorrit had sprung up behind the counter to serve us, we would not have been in the least surprised. Yes, there was a counter beyond which we mere mortals could not venture. I was served by a pleasant young girl who located some sample rick rack braids for me to choose from.

I was cursing the fact that I had left my camera at home, but Mr Fudge came to the rescue with his trusty mobile phone camera.

While Miss Dorrit disappeared into the bowels of the shop to measure and cut my braid, we were able to take in our wondrous surroundings.

More mysterious boxes

Feather boas

And bling

All too soon it was time to return to the 21st Century and if we didn't have these images to prove it all actually happened, I would have put it down to bad dreams after the sausages we had last night.

The biggest surprise is that the owners of this treasure cave know that the World Wide Web has been invented and that they have a web site. Thank goodness they do.

Stow Aways

2011-09-08T08:46:00.000+10:00

Our morning reverie was somewhat shattered today when I glanced out our bedroom window.

All looked well until I took a closer look at the little blobs on the pathway.

Scrub turkeys ... nooooo!!!!! Did they stow away in one of our packing cases while we weren't looking? They are as common as flies in Brisbane, but we have not seen them in Sydney before.

Hmmm ... you can almost feel their joy as they eye brand new mulch in the garden. These little critters are extremely determined when they set their minds to building their nests. I saw one in Brisbane drag mulch from one garden across a reasonably busy road to its nest site of choice on the other side of the road, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

And it is Spring (best viewed with this playing in the background).

Happy Father's Day

2011-09-04T22:15:00.000+10:00

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful fathers - those who are still with us and those who hold a special place in our hearts and memories.

Fashion

2011-09-03T14:53:00.000+10:00

At last I have unpacked my fabrics, machines, etc, and my new sewing room is ready for action. The built-in wardrobe is bulging with fabrics, of the sewing and quilting variety.

The spools of thread and pretty blue floral cotton fabric were crying out to be used.

With Spring in the air and the promise of Summer to come, this simple little dress was the perfect solution. It's a size 2 and can be purchased in my MadeIt shop. Now that the first dress is behind me and with new fabrics arriving any day now, the pace in my sewing room should quicken considerably. Watch this space.

Spring/Summer fashion is in full flight here in Sydney and with that in mind, I came across this ingenious video of 100 years of fashion created by a clothing store in England.

The frightening part is that I can remember a goodly number of these fashion fads. Oo-er!

Spring

2011-09-02T16:14:00.000+10:00

If you live in Sydney, there's only one way to welcome in the Spring. Visit David Jones Department Store. David Jones has been lifting the spirit of Sydney's population from the doldrums of Winter for twenty-six years now. I remember meeting my mother in the city all those years ago and together we almost levitated from floor to floor, drinking in the beauty of the Spring flowers. In those days it was mainly azaleas, roses and European flowers and shrubs, and each floor was filled with floral displays.

These days it is confined to the ground floor, but as compensation each display is a work of art.

There was not an azalea in sight - gradually over the years the flowers tend to be more native plants or exotic and unusual finds to surprise and delight.

And or course there's always the Piano Man to welcome customers, a David Jones tradition going back as long as I can remember.

I don't know if it improved sales - like most people, we were so carried away with the glorious visions that shopping was the last thing on our minds!

These little children were captivated by the fish.

It all ends on 11 September, so if you are planning on a trip to Sydney, make it soon.

Even the hats joined in the fun.

Thank you David Jones - pure class.

High Tea

2011-08-30T15:40:00.001+10:00

I am launching a new organisation, the Bring Back High Tea Association (BBHTA). I am the president, secretary, publicist and (so far) sole member of this illustrious society.

Hot Fudge High Tea

Two of our oldest and dearest friends arrived at our new home yesterday with a bottle of champagne to start off the proceedings. Afternoon tea rather than lunch had been my girlfriend's idea, knowing that we were still in Unpacking Mode. Rather than simply putting a cake on the table, I thought that high tea would be so much more elegant, and it was the perfect opportunity to give the new oven, Gertrude, space to strut her stuff.

Mini scones

I gave up making scones many years ago, when my dear father feigned a broken tooth while attempting to bite into one of my scones. In my defence, I was a newly-wed and probably was a little heavy-handed in the mixing process. From then on my reputation as a scone maker was ruined, until yesterday. They were a triumph. My late father would have been proud of me.

Smoked Salmon & Dill Sandwiches

Pancetta & Leek Mini Quiches

Next came the finger sandwiches and mini quiches.

Mini Raspberry Melting Moments & Lemon Curd Tarts

As president of the BBHTA, I made the executive decision to use precious dishes which had been hidden out of harm's way over the years. The two pink glass dishes were my late mother's wedding gifts and were part of my childhood.

The event was such a roaring success, no doubt fired by the champagne, and we have decided to make this a regular event. Why not join the fast-growing organisation (now numbering four) and hold your very own High Tea? I can guarantee you will love it.

Is Spring just a few days away? One can only hope.

2011-08-25T14:04:00.000+10:00

Shopping malls are not usually pretty places, but our local shopping centre was a feast for the eye this morning after several weeks of really cold weather.

Sanity is slowly returning to Apartment du Fudge as we gradually settle into our new life back in Sydney. There were the usual glitches which come with moves - internet refusing to co-operate, discovering that the removalists managed to break both our printers beyond repair, etc, etc. However, these painful experiences will soon fade and life will return to normal.

I have had a few sales this month on Etsy and MadeIt which is wonderful, but I am now running a little low on stock which means I must get back into sewing mode. All I have to do is unpack the balance of my fabrics and find a place to put it all. Then maybe I can access the Bernina which is currently skulking away in the built-in wardrobe, trying to stay out of mischief.

This dress was featured in Staff Picks (staff member Tian) on MadeIt this week, which was a thrill to see.

It was my son-in-law's birthday on Saturday, so I decided it was the perfect opportunity to test out the new oven. The lemon meringue pie is one of those recipes handed down over the generations and it was a relief to see it come out of the oven successfully. Here's the recipe which you may want to try.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon Pastry: (makes enough for a 25cm (10 in) base, rolled thinly

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain flour

90g butter, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons castor sugar

2 egg yolks

rind 1 lemon, grated

1 or 2 teaspoons lemon juice as needed

Filling:
4 tablespoons plain flour

4 tablespoons cornflour

2 teaspoons grated lemon rind

¾ cup lemon juice

1 cup sugar

1¼ cups water

90g butter or substitute

4 egg yolks

Meringue:
4 egg whites

2 tablespoons water

Pinch salt

¾ cup castor sugar

Method
Sift flour into a bowl. Add chopped butter to flour, rub in until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Place the egg yolks, lemon rind and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice in the centra. Extra lemon can be added as needed. Gradually work the flour mixture in and then knead. If it looks dry, sprinkle the extra lemon juice over the top. Mix until it is smooth. Form into a disk and refrigerate 30 minutes. Roll pastry on lightly floured surface to fit 25 cm pie plate.

Trim and decorate edges. Prick base and sides of pastry with fork. Line with baking paper and weigh down with pastry weights or uncooked rice. Bake in moderately hot oven (200°) 10 to 15 minutes, remove the pastry weights and baking paper and bake until lightly browned. Allow to cool.

Combine sifted flours, lemon rind, lemon juice and sugar in saucepan. Add water, blend until smooth, stir over heat until mixture boils and thickens. This is important. The mixture must boil. Reduce heat, stir a further 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in butter and lightly beaten egg yolks; stir until butter has melted. Cool.

Spread cold lemon filling evenly into pastry case. Combine egg whites, water and salt in a small bowl or electric mixer. Beat on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beat well until sugar has dissolved. Spoon on top of lemon filling, spreading meringue to edges of pie, to seal; peak meringue decoratively with knife.

Bake in moderate oven (180°) 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool, then refrigerate.

Bon appetit!

Back where we began

2011-08-19T17:13:00.000+10:00

It's been a long break since I last posted on my blog, partly due to our move from Brisbane to Sydney and partly due to the lack of interest on the part of Telstra to re-connect the Internet to our new telephone number. However, sanity has prevailed and we are back on line.

After nearly 21 years of living in Brisbane, we have moved back to Sydney, the city of our birth. It was a decision not taken lightly, as we have so many happy memories of our life in Brisbane. Mixed in with those happy years were some traumatically painful and tough times, but that's what life is all about and nobody escapes it.

The hardest part about leaving a city you have lived in for so long is the knowledge that you can't simply pick up family and friends and bring them along with you. We have a son, daughter-in-law and four beautiful grandchildren in Brisbane and that was the heart-breaking part of leaving. I also left behind many quilting and artisan friends through my association with Schoolhouse Quilters, Quilt Sitters and BrisStyle. It has been my privilege to be part of a close group of friends - we eight Loose Threads - and next to farewelling our Brisbane branch of the family, that was the hardest goodbye for me.

However, here in Sydney we have two daughters, their spouses and three gorgeous grandchildren, my brother, and our oldest and dearest friends, some going back to school days.

Bike racing in Centennial Park

A family reunion was first on the menu once we arrived in Sydney and we all gathered at Centennial Park, where my brother and I had spent many happy childhood hours when visiting our grandparents. A bike race added to the excitement of the day and the grandchildren were amazed at the speed they were travelling.

It has been a real learning curve moving from a four bedroom house into a two bedroom apartment. We had shed about 50% of our furniture and possessions before the move, but obviously about another 50% of what we brought down has to be culled. A girl can only crawl over stacked packing boxes to get to the front door so many times before the penny drops that perhaps we have a tad too many possessions.

Our formal dining room setting took up a room all of its own and we had no luck selling it on eBay, so it came to Sydney with us.

We knew there was no way it would fit into our new home and Mr Fudge contemplated roaming the streets wearing this hat made for him by our grandchildren. Thankfully a solution was found and he was spared the humiliation.

I am very happy with my new sewing room ...

... particularly with a view like this.

I had forgotten how beautiful Sydney is towards the end of winter, with camellias, magnolias and spring blossoms in full bloom.

Local shopping centre

All in all we are very happy in our new accommodation, where we hope to remain until the kids decide it's time for us to go to the Home for Bewildered Gentlefolk.

Melbourne

2011-07-13T13:26:00.001+10:00

When you are invited to meet royalty, you do not decline. Well - yes, it was dead royalty, but the invitation was still there to be accepted.

Melbourne Museum

Early in 2011 my brother bought tickets for himself, us, our daughter and son-in-law to see the Tutankhamun exhibition. So this month we flew into Melbourne from Sydney and Brisbane for a few days to catch up with each other and to take in the exhibition - not to mention some serious eating and window shopping.

Melbourne skyline from our hotel room

We Fudges stayed in a serviced apartment across the road from the Victoria Markets, a must-see part of the Melbourne culture.

From there it was a brisk walk (a necessity in the Melbourne winter to keep from freezing to the pavement) into the city for a warm breakfast at the Hopetoun Tea Rooms.

Thus fuelled for the morning, we set out for the Melbourne Museum to rendez vous with the family.

Melbourne Museum

I had visited the Cairo Museum way back in the Sixties - our daughter had been inside Tutankhamun's tomb a few years back, and the three male members of the family are all history buffs, so we were quite keen to become reacquainted with this wonderful piece of history. It did not disappoint and despite the hammy narration by Omar Sharif whispering into our head sets, it was a spectacular experience. Sadly, no photos were allowed, so I do hope you will be able to get along to see it yourself.

My brother's school rugby team was also in Melbourne, so while he spent the afternoon watching them play, the rest of us visited the National Gallery of Victoria to see the Vienna exhibition.

National Gallery of Victoria

Again, no phoography allowed, but it's a wonderful exhibition and well worth the visit.

What I adore about Melbourne is the little lanes packed with coffee shops, restaurants and boutique shops.

This tiny coffee shop was warm and welcoming and the coffee was beautiful.

Laneway soup ... mmmm ...

There's so much to see in Melbourne and we packed a lot into the time we had.

Refurbished General Post Office

General Post Office upper level shops

Melbourne fashion

That evening our daughter and son-in-law treated us all to the most magnificent banquet at Ginger Boy.

The Son-in-Law Eggs are a MUST.

Looking back, we appear to have spent a great deal of our waking hours eating. But with so many temptations, who could blame us?

Coffee and cake at Brunetti at Carlton has become a tradition for us. Need you ask why?

Melbourne right now is a brilliant city to visit. The cold weather encourages lots of walking, shopping, gallery visits and, of course, lots of eating. Nice.

BrisStyle Friendships

2011-07-11T16:42:00.001+10:00

Brisbane turned on a beautiful, crisp winter's day for my last BrisStyle Indie Designers Market. The friendships I have built up over the past few years in BrisStyle make it all the harder to leave.

I was able to catch up with many friends, including some from Schoolhouse Quilters Kenmore, a group I joined nearly 21 years ago when we first came to Brisbane.

Photo courtesy of Sandrine Marsh

I was speechless (a rare event!) at the end of the day when our Super Woman market organiser Helen said some lovely words and I was presented with the most beautiful gifts and flowers. What made it extra special was knowing that all the gifts (apart from the gorgeous flowers,

Brut,

and Botrytis Semillon) ...

... were made by BrisStyle designers. The neighbours must have wondered what on earth was going on within the walls of Chez Fudge as each new gift was opened. I would love to show you all the much treasured goodies, many I have lusted after for a long time, but you would only be tempted to come and rob me, so I will save you from a life of crime.

However, I will gladly divulge what was inside that large box with the pink bow ...

... six of the most wicked cupcakes ever created, courtesy of our other brilliant market organiser Bel of Enticing Icing. Don't bother coming over begging us to share - there are only two left and by the end of tonight only crumbs will remain - maybe not even crumbs. These works of art are absolutely scrummy.

There's a special atmosphere at BrisStyle markets which is not found at others around town. The warm friendships shine through and it's a joy to participate in them. Oh, how I wish I could bundle up BrisStyle and bring it to Sydney with us. SydStyle just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

My last BrisStyle Market

2011-07-08T11:49:00.000+10:00

After nearly 21 years of living in Brisbane, at the end of the month we Fudges will be moving back to Sydney. It was not a decision made lightly and there are so many people and things we will miss terribly.
I've been with BrisStyle since its inception, so it will be a nostalgic day for me tomorrow as I set up my stall at the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market for the last time. In typical fashion, I spent last night carrying out last-minute preparations for the market by sewing buttons on these three reversible jumper dresses while watching Master Chef, which is turning into a regular soap opera!

Reversible Jumper Dresses

Reverse Side

The weather tomorrow promises to be crisp and clear - perfect for strolling through the grounds and hall at St Augustine's Church, Racecourse Road, Hamilton.

Hours are between 9.00am and 2.00pm and there will be so much to see and do - truly up-market stalls packed with beautifully designed goodies created by our talented BrisStyle designers, sausage sizzle to feed the body and music to food to feed the soul. Not to be missed!

My Hot Fudge stall will be inside the hall, so do come along and say hello.

Orange

2011-06-25T11:09:00.004+10:00

Just thinking of the colour orange in the middle of winter gives me a warm glow, which is more than can be said of our newly replaced hot water service.

Making this applique denim jumper dress for the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market on 9 July helped a little, but I needed more. Time to go shopping.

Guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, this delightful creation by Aardvark is first on my shopping list.

I would be ready to face the world wearing this yummy resin necklace by the lovely Sophie of Strat Designs.

I'd feel like a million dollars wearing this gorgeous ring by Jewelry By Emmy.

I would come home to a warm bowl of pumpkin soup and admire my latest print purchased from Hey Harriet.

Lastly, I would take in the beauty of this stunning glass bowl by Corporan Glass.

Sigh.

For more Let's Go Shopping ideas, take a look at what BrisStyle has selected this week.

When is coconut ice dangerous?

2011-06-22T14:43:00.001+10:00

He was the most marvellous melodramatic villain any stage could hope to be trampled over. He was also something of a legend in Sydney back in the early 1960s for being the eternal law student at Sydney University. Martyn Corbett was a presence not to be ignored - larger than life and a genuine bon vivant.

Boo! Hiss!

The Genesian Theatre presented the melodrama Only an Orphan Girl and I was DESPERATE to play the part of the Orphan Girl's mother (such anomalies are acceptable in melodramas).

Dang ... if only I still had that dress!

I don't think I slept for a week after I won the role, particularly as my best friend Penny was to play the Orphan Girl. The Villain's Moll was Judi Farr who was beginning to make a name for herself in the acting world.

The Sydney critics loved it, as did the audiences and the season was a sell-out. We had the Snow scene when the Orphan Girl was thrown out of the house, the Saw Mill scene when the Villain did dastardly things to the Orphan Girl, and in between all these scenes of mayhem and pathos the audience were entertained by a Barber Shop Quartet and various other side acts.

So why is coconut ice dangerous?

The patrons were sold packets of peanuts in their shells and coconut ice before the show. They were encouraged to throw the peanuts at the villain and to eat the coconut ice. One hot and muggy evening the coconut ice virtually melted into a soggy, hardened mess - unfortunately it was the same night that a mob of university students came to see the show. I was standing next to the Villain when he threatened that if the mortgage wasn't paid by midnight (and the clock was dinging away the hour in the background) we would all be thrown out into the snow. A good time to throw a few peanuts. However, the uni students found the rock-hard coconut ice inedible and decided that they would make excellent missiles to launch at the Villain. The Villain I was standing next to. I felt like a duck in a shooting gallery. By popular demand the coconut ice was withdrawn from sale until the weather improved.

A few months after the end of the production Martyn sailed to Europe and the following year my best friend (and Orphan Girl) and I left for a year in London. We were walking along Earls Court one evening after work when who should be coming towards us but Martyn Corbett, who greeted us warmly and ushered us into the nearest coffee shop. When he discovered we were about to leave for two months in Europe he swept us out of the coffee shop (without paying - he was caught up in the moment and the poor proprietor looked too stunned to stop us) and took us home to lend us some books on Rome, which he knew we could not survive without.

Over the years we often wondered what happened to Martyn. I googled his name a few times but could not find anything past the 1970s. Then late last month Penny rang to advise that he had died. I felt sad and filled with pangs of nostalgia, but was pleased that he had rated a half page obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald.

I wasn't at all surprised to read that he had become a teacher and that he had mentored and encouraged one of his students, Alfred Molina, who wrote this homage to him in 2009.

Alfred Molina in Spiderman

The last time I saw Alfred Molina he was playing a villain - so my story has come the full circle.

Vale Martyn Corbett

Local Handmade Goodness

2011-06-18T16:37:00.000+10:00

Have you ever had to scramble to buy a last-minute gift? It's my own fault - I knew a celebration lunch was coming up for a good friend's 60th birthday, but I thought it was a week away instead of a day. I was at a quilt meeting at our local library when the bombshell was dropped, but fortunately the library is situated in a shopping centre. The bad news was that I didn't have a clue what to buy.

I slipped out early from the meeting and arrived wild-eyed at my favourite gift shop in the centre. I should have known that all would be well. There waiting patiently for me was the perfect gift.

Thea & Sami

This beautiful hand-printed linen tea towel by Brisbane designer Thea Samios of Thea & Sami simply jumped into my hands. The hardest part was gift wrapping it because I really wanted to keep it for myself.

Thea and I had both participated in this exhibition organised by Melanie Gray Augustin back in April, so I knew first-hand what a wonderful designer she is and I knew my creative friend would really appreciate this gift.

Of course, in my haste I forgot all about wrapping paper and card, so that evening I hastily designed some paper and a card.

Not too subtle, do you think?

The lunch the next day was delightful and my friend loved her newly acquired tea towel, although I doubt it will ever dry a dish - too good for such a mundane chore.

I guess the moral is support our artisans - buy local and buy often!

My First Century

2011-06-12T16:49:00.003+10:00

I've just turned 100 - Etsy sales, that is. I realise it's not Crack Open the Champagne stuff, but it's a milestone, something to tick off the 1,000 things I must do before I die list.

100th Etsy Sale

And where is global warming when you need it? Brisbane is experiencing a winter worthy of our southern cousins Sydney and Melbourne. In subtropical Brisbane we expect our winters to be civilised, with the nights a little chilly, but with mild, sunny days. Not this winter - we have had temperatures plummeting to the coldest June temperatures on record. So we ran away to Sydney for a few days.

We don't have many deciduous trees in Brisbane, so it was something of a novelty to walk under large trees which allow the sky to peep through.

Gloriously coloured leaves ...

... make walking such a pleasure.

After a brisk walk, it's time to do a little reading. Of course, I realise that when Grandad is around, this little four-year-old has eyes for no one else. They are soul mates and have been from the day they first laid eyes on each other. It's so heartening to see in this modern age that grandchildren and grandparents still have this amazing bond that no electronic games can replace.

All too soon we flew back to Brisbane where we have spent the last few days vying for heater space. Today we had been looking forward so much to catching up with our Brisbane grandchildren and their parents, but poor Mr Fudge came down with a particularly nasty bout of 'flu and we reluctantly postponed the lunch until next week.

I had made two chicken and corn pies (fresh corn - none of your frozen or canned variety), enough to feed an army. I was able to freeze one while we two frozen ice blocks made a reasonable attempt to polish off the other.

Lemon Meringue Cakes

As a special treat for the children, I made these muffin-sized cup cakes. The middle is hollowed out and filled with lemon curd (yes, freshly home-made) and topped with meringue. There were 12. There are now 8. What a shame. Sorry kids. Promise I'll make some more for next weekend!

Three Little Maids

2011-06-01T17:28:00.000+10:00

I was commissioned to make these dresses for three sisters aged 4, 5 and 7.

Front view

Back View

I'm waiting on the arrival of new fabric to make three more dresses like this ...

... and they'll be on their way to their new owners.

I'm sitting here freezing on the first day of winter in Australia and it's hard to imagine that it's actually warm where these dresses are going to reside. Wish I could go with them!

The things you miss when you have a cold ...

2011-05-30T10:18:00.000+10:00

The Attack of the Cold Virus struck with a vengeance last Thursday. Not your common variety, but one of those nasty superior ones. I guess on the cusp of winter it's to be expected, but it caused me to miss visiting the BrisStyle Twilight Market on Friday evening.

Images courtesy of Bec Hollis

Doesn't it look enchanting? What a difference a month makes.

This is what it looked like last month when we had to contend with a couple of wild storm fronts and a royal wedding thrown in for good measure. Despite all the odds thrown against us, we did attract the crowds, but the weather left a lot to be desired.

Fast forward to last Friday. This time from all reports it was perfect, with large and appreciative crowds snapping up hand-made goodness.

Wonder Woman market organiser Helen Berthold at Red Revival's store

Not a drop of rain in sight

However, I am busily stocking up for the next BrisStyle market on 9 July at St Augustine's church grounds, Racecourse Road, Hamilton.

In the meantime I've had a very busy week, with 10 dress orders coming in, including this little number which a client is giving as a first birthday gift. Time to get back to the machine.

Ginger

2011-05-23T15:05:00.000+10:00

When I was a little girl my mother always made us a special treat for Christmas: chocolate dipped crystallised ginger. I've been a ginger tragic ever since.

So I was really chuffed when the wall hanging I made for Melanie's curated exhibition a few weeks back took out second prize in the Small Quilts section at the Brookfield Show over the weekend.

This delightful show has the unenviable reputation of bringing in the rain. In fact, it has been known to break droughts. This year was no exception, but like the parson's egg, the weather was good in parts and the crowds weren't deterred by a little bit of mud.

However, it's time to do the Dance of the Sun, as this Friday evening BrisStyle will be at King George Square for their now famous Twilight Market.

This exciting event will take place rain or shine. Shine would be better.

Let's go shopping: love is in the air

2011-05-15T08:59:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I attended a delightful afternoon tea for a friend who is getting married next weekend. It's her second marriage and I don't think I have seen anyone so serenely happy in a long time.

The comment was made by someone that hen parties for young brides-to-be these days are evening events and involve a fair amount of night-clubbing. However, we at our more mature age are quite content to sit around sipping tea or coffee and the wildest activity was the creation of bride's dresses out of rolls of toilet paper.

It was quite obvious that the guest of honour (centre) was kicking herself that she had already chosen her dress for the big day.

So let's go wedding shopping. Here are a few treasures from some BrisStyle designers.

Marcello Neckwear

The groom will look the picture of elegance wearing this lovely Liberty tie.

Angelene

But all eyes will be on the beautiful bride wearing these stunning earrings.

Retro Bird

The centrepiece for the table sets the mood.

3GIRLSandagoat

The guests will love this place setting.

Wicked Child Designs

And we will all toast the Bride and Groom of the Century (so far), William and Kate.

Why not pop over to BrisStyle and feast your eyes on some other lovely shopping temptations?

Library Tale

2011-05-10T17:08:00.000+10:00

At the risk of showing my age, the previous library I belonged to was in the last century. It had a card index system and we all spoke in whispers.

Move to 2011. A new Council Library has opened in our area and I have a snazzy piece of plastic to process my borrowed books, and we're allowed to talk out loud - in fact, it's encouraged.

I love Kaffe Fassett's designs, both quilts and fabrics, so I was delighted to find this wonderful book which I could take home and cherish, albeit for a short time. When I discovered a quilt in the book which I knew I just had to make, I keenly flipped to the instructions page. In French. Not the whole book, just the quilt I wanted to work on. Of course.

When the book was due to be returned, I mentioned the printing fault to the librarian, in case some future borrower equally fell in love with the quilt and would be frustrated (unless they spoke fluent French, of course). I had taken a copy of the templates and knew I could work my way around the language barrier, so I wasn't too distraught. I have a vision of somewhere in France where the same thing is happening in reverse.

Imagine my surprise on arriving home to receive a phone call my my new best friend, Neil the Librarian. He had gone to the trouble to contact the Brisbane City Library Head Office and a search of all their libraries revealed several other copies with the French section. My buddy Neil had procured the full English edition and it would be waiting for me next time I was at the library. My - let's hear it for dedicated, modern librarians.

I've just completed a reversible dress with apples on one side ...

... and a contrasting reverse side with different coloured buttons to add interest. Now that it's finished I can plan my lovely new quilt, which I know will take me FOREVER to complete, but hopefully it will be well worth the effort. Stay tuned for progress!

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T16:39:00.000+10:00

Wishing all you mothers both new and old a most happy day with your loved ones.

My daughter-in-law and I had the esteemed company of our children/grandchildren to make our day perfect.

Do you think there will be ... CAKE?

Of course there was cake. Mr Fudge used is never-fail recipe - hop into the local cake shop.

After lunch the girls did some art work ...

... while the boys caught up with The Doctor.

I do hope your day was as happy as ours.

Green

2011-05-06T16:45:00.001+10:00

Several friends have left over the past couple of weeks on flights to Europe, England and other exciting places. Instead of tucking into comfort food, I took a nostalgic trip through my photo collection of our trip back in 2009. Can it be that long ago? Frightening.

Here are some images seen through green eyes.

Hanover

Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

Parisian fashion

Paris flowers

London

Ancestral gravestone, Alness, Scotland

Orkney thistle

Scottish wedding, Orkney

St Stephen's Green, Dublin

Georgian door, Dublin

Glassware, Venice

Venetian liquorice

Roman building badly in need of a haircut

Roman truck, badly in need of a haircut

Roman boy, badly in need of a haircut

Roman transport, child

Roman transport, canine

And finally, Roman Second Breakfast ..... sigh ....

Tuesdays

2011-05-04T09:25:00.000+10:00

Some folk love Fridays, as it's the last working day of the week. For me however, it has to be Tuesdays.

On two Tuesdays every month, we eight Loose Threads gather at one of our homes for a day of quilting or hand-sewing. Of course, the main object is eating lots of cake, sharing our news, good or bad, and expressing our opinions on how the world would be a better place if we ran it.

Two Loose Threads are currently in the United Kingdom. so watch out - perhaps our world domination is already set in motion.

Markets and Weddings

2011-04-30T11:20:00.000+10:00

What else could they throw at us? Who would have predicted that the Royals would organise a wedding to take place on the evening (local Brisbane time) of our Twilight Market? And to add insult to injury, we were hit with not one but two severe storm fronts over the course of the evening.

Water-logged King George Square - even the free bikes were abandoned.

But we are a tough breed in BrisStyle Land. We simply relocated to the covered deck area in King George Square, dispensed with our marquees and snuggled into much cosier spaces.

Setting up

Mr Fudge wisely brought his Kindle along with him.

Despite all the odds stacked against us, the crowds quickly built up during the next few hours and our market worked its traditional magic on the buyers.

Luckily my stock stayed dry.

I had the best of neighbours:

lovely mum-to-be Samantha of Jetta's Nest, and

the effervescent Sophie of Strat Designs.

And there was music.

I am kicking myself for not taking photos of the two raging storms, but I was too busy hiding under the table.

A lovely English visitor in Brisbane for a conference stopped by for a friendly chat. She was really impressed by the high standard of our market. As a regular visitor to the top markets in London, she expressed the opinion that our BrisStyle market was far superior. Music to my ears.

On the way home we pulled into the local McDonalds (I know, I know, but we were very tired and very hungry) and arrived home clutching our burgers and chips in time to see the newly-weds on their way back to Buckingham Palace. We toasted the happy couple with red wine and we stayed with the live broadcast until The Kiss. We then watched the first part of the wedding which we had pre-recorded until way after midnight before staggering off to bed. All in all a very busy and satisfying day.

Oh, and I LOVED the dress, very reminiscent of Princess Grace.

Friday's Big Event

2011-04-27T22:35:00.001+10:00

Friday 29 April. Where would you rather be? At a wedding in London or the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market in King George Square, 5.00 - 9.00pm? I know where I'd rather be.

Time for that last-minute check list:

Dresses: check.

Skirts: check.

Cushions: check.

Bunting: check.

Tomorrow will be spent checking in more items and furiously whipping my poor sewing machine into a last-minute frenzy.

For those torn between watching the wedding (if you must) or coming to the Twilight Market, don't forget that you can record the wedding, whereas once you miss the market, that's it. No reverse buttons, no play-back buttons, no fast-forward buttons, and best of all, no commercials! It's a no brainer I know.