BrisStyle Friendships

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

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.

Twilight Time

With Christmas speeding towards us at a frightening pace, it's time to check on the shopping list.  If you will be in Brisbane on Friday 19 November, you could save your frazzled nerves and aching feet by doing all your Christmas gift shopping at the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market.  Here are a few of the items to whet your appetite.


Miss Dish Designs






 

 

Un Cielo
























Ruby 2 Go Go

























Pannikin



Lemon Ink





Mon Petit Poppet



Marjon Scheffer



















REread



Denim Days

This is but a small sample of what's in store to delight you at the Twilight Market between 5.00 and 9.00pm.  I know I'll be there, this time as a visitor.  However, I'll have my Hot Fudge stall at the next Twilight Market, so I hope you come along then if you can't make this one.

Of course, you can always hop on line and see what we BrisStylers have for sale in our Etsy shops.  You'll see a full list of members here.  Happy shopping!

BrisStyle's Busy Season

It's nearing the end of October and that can mean only one thing - BrisStyle is about to enter its busiest market period ever.  It kicks of with the BrisStyle Indie Eco Market on Saturday 6 November.  If you like  handmade with an eco edge, this is the market for you.

Samantha of Jetta's Nest is just one of the many stall holders.  Not only does she create the artwork on her amazing brooches, she uses salvaged and rescued timber, some of it hundreds of years old and quite rare.  She shapes her designs with the help of her trusty sidekick, Suzy Scrollsaw (why do I have visions of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?)

Put the date in your diaries now and give yourself plenty of time to wander around the many stalls at St Augustine's Church, Racecourse Road, Hamilton on 6 November between 9.00am and 2.00pm.   

We are amused

The pink frenzy has travelled as far south as Sydney.  My daughter spied this usually stern lady throwing her support behind the BrisStyle Indie Mother and Child Market on Saturday.


Photo: Maz Dixon



The Mater Hospital's Chicks in Pink  who will be on site raising awareness for Breast Cancer and of course, there will be the our usual charity raffle, this time in support of Chicks in Pink, with lots of lovely goodies made by the talented members of BrisStyle.

In a last-minute frenzy, today I made a couple of aprons for the oven whisperers among us. 

Fully lined apron

If Pinky Benson was a cross dresser, I think he would love to be caught wearing this little number in his favourite colour.

Hope you can come.

Smoke gets in your eyes

When the week begins with your computer landing in hospital with a nasty virus and your iron billowing toxic smoke all over the sewing room, you know you're in for a bumpy ride.  As I rapidly unplugged the iron and rushed it outdoors, I passed under the smoke detector which always screams unmercifully when our toast turns a lighter shade of pale, and there wasn't a peep out of it.  Obviously it's set for Toast Smoke and not Toxic Smoke from Irons.

It was less than two years old, but somehow the warranty vanished in smoke along with the iron.  It had to be replaced - not for ironing clothes (I have become very fond of the mountain of un-ironed clothing waiting expectantly in the laundry), but for the children's clothing under construction for the BrisStyle Indie Mother and Child Market next weekend.  I remember when appliances were built to last forever - well for three years at least.  The new shiny model is now preening itself on my ironing board, full of steam and promises to outlive its two year warranty, which is carefully stored away, just in case.

As the theme for the BrisStyle market is pink, I've made these little dresses in keeping with the colour scheme.

On Thursday evening four of our grandchildren tumbled in with their parents for an evening of fun, games and food.  The girls were in a pink mood ...

... a colour not loved by their big brother.  Miss J (top right) wore her latest Fairy dress and, Tinkerbell like, dusted the entire house with sparkly microbes.  We can now navigate our way from the family room to our bedroom with the lights out.

If you are fond of fairy dust (and who isn't?), then come along to St Augustine's Church Hall and grounds next Saturday, 9 October, between 9.00am and 2.00pm and meet our very own BrisStyle Fairy. There will be gorgeous goodies for mothers and children, face painting, balloons, food, competitions and music.  And of course, there will be my very own world famous Hot Fudge Choc Fudge given away with every Hot Fudge sale (one bag per customer).  I'll be in the hall, so do stop by and say hello.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, my pigeon friend is still here, still battering himself against my window all day.  Looks as though he has decided to add some puff for protection, or maybe he's holding his breath until the toxic smoke clears.

Food for Thought

It's only two and a half weeks to the BrisStyle Mother and Child Market and once again panic sets in.  So much fabric - so little time. 

Apart from my usual clothing and accessories, I will have my world famous Hot Fudge Choc Fudge all packaged up to give away with every sale.  Grown men have wept, so don't miss out!  If I can raise the sugar levels of every child at the market, then my work will be done.

There will be so much to experience at the market - lots of dancing and singing, fabulous music , face painting, colouring-in contests, sausage sizzle, and much, much more. 

We are supporting the Mater Hospital's charity Chicks in Pink and their team will be on site to help raise awareness for breast cancer.  The whole site will be a sea of pink, with pink balloons, yarn bombed trees and many other surprises.
























Did I mention the pink fairy?

She will be there handing out balloons, waving her magic wand and generally enchanting the little children.  See you at St Augustine's Grounds and Hall, Racecourse, Hamilton between 9.00am and 2.00pm.

Speaking of food, my brother sent me this item by columnist Richard Glover of the Sydney Morning Herald.  The newspaper's foodie bible, The Good Food Guide is just out and here is Richard's contribution. 

The Good Food Guide is out and so is this column’s alternative guide, the So-So Food Guide, a compendium of the places at which most of us eat. Perhaps you have supped at some of the places featured this year.

The Royal Arms Hotel Chicken Kiev: If you want to know the secret of this operation, you need look no further than the chest freezer centrally located in the breezeway between the men’s lavvy and the hotel laundry. In here, you will find all manner of produce, suspended in a frost-induced slumber, awaiting the awakening touch of the hotel’s microwave. A barman shouts heartily through the open door of the kitchen — ‘‘three chicken kievs, please’’ — and, with that, Gina extinguishes her cigarette and springs into action, padding out into the breezeway, deftly swinging open the lid and peering into the stygian gloom. Disaster stalks every professional chef and Gina is no different. There’s always a chance that, in the dark, her hand will settle on a frozen chicken parmigiana or even an ice-encrusted salt and pepper squid. But not this time. Three kievs are located, stripped of their plastic coating, placed into the microwave, and emerge just minutes later, a curlicue of steam rising elegantly from each. Served with a schooner of icy cold ale, the meal is as perfect as can be reasonably expected at the Royal Arms.


The Central Bowling Club All-You-Can-Eat Buffet: Many three-hat restaurants declare themselves fans of sustainability but few pursue that goal with the ardour of the Central Bowling Club. One large piece of bargain steak can be a roast dinner on Monday, the makings for mongolian beef on Tuesday and — in a startling indication of the chef’s transformative skills — the basis for a sichuan chicken by Wednesday. Feel free to leave some of the chicken on your plate: by the time you return tomorrow it will somehow be part of the apricot crumble.


The Work Canteen: The Slow Food movement is all the rage and food certainly couldn’t get any slower than this. With only three people on staff — including Terry, who has never really been the same since the operation — there’s bound to be a deeply restorative wait for food. Luckily, entertainment is provided while you wait, with a lively banter of blame and recrimination as the staff shout abuse at one another, screeching, ‘‘Who’s got the pepper grinder,’’ and yelling, ‘‘I told you we needed more paper bags.’’ At $6.50 a sandwich, the prices may seem steep for a subsidised canteen but not when you factor in the free show.


That Italian Place: Every night is pasta night at That Italian Place. Chef Sam has been headhunted from his previous establishment, a plumbing supply business in Tempe. He recommends the spaghetti bolognese (for those who like regional flavours), and the spaghetti marinara (for those with a strong constitution).

Bon appetit!

Beautiful One Day ...

Well, this morning certainly is beautiful, so the old Brisbane tourism promotion line of "Ah Brisbane - beautiful one day, perfect the next" is what we are all praying for at BrisStyle.

The first three days of Spring have been stunning and if we could extend that into one more day, we would be overjoyed.  With nearly 60 stalls full of tempting Spring goodness from Brisbane's top indie designers, plus music, wood-fired pizzas, fresh coffee and cakes, St Augustine's at Hamilton is the place to be tomorrow.  There will be a good mix of your favourite stall holders, along with several new and exciting designers.  You can see them here.

I am extra excited (but humbled), as Kid Independent showed some of my clothing on their Fresh Baked Friday feature today. 

I put the finishing touches to the last of the shirred sun dresses yesterday, so all is in readiness for the big day out tomorrow.  And don't forget to visit the Schoolhouse Quilters' Exhibition over the weekend (details here).

Ah Brisbane ... where else would you want to be?

Market Time

It's coming, you can feel it in the air.  BrisStyle Indie Designers Market is only two sleeps away and there is a definite buzz among the marketeers that this is going to be the best one yet.  Here are just a few of the tempting items which will be for sale on Saturday:

• When?  Saturday 5 June
• Where?  St Augustine's Church Hall and Grounds, Racecourse Road, Hamilton
• Hours?  9.00am to 2.00pm

Our BrisStyle star of the week is Kellie Christie whose fabulous button necklace was worn by everyone's favourite Maggie Beer on Master Chef this week.

Kellie will be selling her designs at our market, so if you saw Maggie on Tuesday night or in the June edition of delicious, come along and meet the designer.

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

Watch the Birdie

Sometimes I get the feeling that birds are taking over the world, or at least our back yard.  Take last Monday for instance. 

The gardener (AKA Mr Fudge) was mowing the lawn and over the racket of the mower I heard the most beautiful birdsong.  It was a cheeky butcher bird who fallen in madly love with the lawn mower and was joining in the chorus.

He poured his soul into his song.

I simply sat back and enjoyed the show.

Last week a regular caller to my window came a-visiting, showing off his latest tango step.

The next day the weather turned decidedly nasty - well, it's mid autumn and it had to happen sooner or later.  The wood pigeon had very wisely decided to give up his tanto efforts and brought along his good lady to help keep him warm.

The kookaburra who regularly shares the wall with them couldn't see the need for all that feather fluffing - I guess like humans some birds feel the cold more than others.  I fall into the wood pigeon section.

Now, this is all wonderful, but it's causing a problem.  How can I be expected to sew at my machine when all this is going on just outside my window? 

It's a little over a week to go for the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market and I really need to get cracking.

These three new dresses are ready for the market and I'm currently working on something new which I hope will prove eye-catching.  It's shaping up to being the biggest BrisStyle market to date, with over 70 vendors showing off their beautifully hand-crafted wares.  There will be something for everyone, from jewellery, fashion, soft toys, art works, children's clothing, accessories, handbags ... the list goes on.  You can see all the participants here. 

One returning BrisStyler who will be welcomed back with open arms is Sophie of Strat Designs.  I know I have several friends who will be getting to the market early on Saturday 5 June to pick up some of her delicious pieces.  There are so many talented BrisStylers and if you are planning to come to the market, the best strategy would be to get there early and bring your wallet - you will be overwhelmed with tempting choices.  I'll highlight some of other participants next week.

Ah, if only I can resist the charms of my beautiful feathered friends, I may finish the pile of market projects waiting to be completed.

I'm reminded of the saying of a wily old politician back in the Seventies who took on an arrogant political foe and lost: "Roosters today, feather dusters tomorrow." 

Twilight

Twilight ... it's all the rage, isn't it?  If you've seen the movie or read the books, now is the time to see it in the flesh, so to speak.  Of course, I'm talking about the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Markets coming to a city near you, if you happen to live in Brisbane.

Pick up a copy of this week's City News and there you will find two of our hard-working organisers Bec and Helen on page 12 with their new best friend, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

Sadly, I won't be there, as we leave tomorrow for a week in New Zealand, but at least my Hot Fudge skirt and dress made it into the photo shoot!

You will find all the details here:

But wait, there's more.  On Saturday 8 May BrisStyle will hold its first Mother and Child Market and I will be there, so do stop by and say hello.

 
















It promises to be the most exciting market, and just in time for Mother's Day.