It's coming

What's coming?  Spring of course.  On a day like today there's no denying it.

Almost overnight buds have appeared on shrubs and trees.

Gardens are shedding the last of their camelia flowers to make way for fresh azalea blooms.

Jacarandas are turning golden yellow before dropping their foliage in readiness for Sydney to be brushed with a haze of purple.  I know this glorious weather won't last and winter will return in its last desperate bid to hang around.  But in three days it will be spring, wonderful spring.

August has been such a busy and eventful month, with three family birthdays just as a start.  Our ten year-old granddaughter was selected to present the ball at the opening of the Netball World Cup game between Australia and England before a crowd of over 16,000 (images taken by an excited mother).  She couldn't take the smile off her face and at the end of the game she was presented with the ball signed by the Australian captain.  Australia won that game and went on to win the World Cup against New Zealand.

Ten days ago we drove our daughter and son-in-law to the airport as they set off on a four month adventure around England, Ireland and Europe.  Maz's painting, They Never Saw It Coming, had been selected out of over 850 submissions as a finalist in the Mosman Art Prize 2015 which opened on 25 July.  Somewhat belatedly Tony and I visited the gallery a couple of days ago and were delighted to see that the painting had been sold.  We were able to pass on the glad tidings to Maz as they landed in Dublin.

On the sewing front, I was on a self-imposed deadline to finish a quilt for my granddaughter.  She is at the horse-crazy stage and her mother bought a quilt kit from No Chintz which I was only too happy to put together.  I sewed the label on the back on Wednesday morning and by that evening it was on her bed.  She loves it, thank goodness!

One of the FaceBook pages I follow had a sew-along last week.  It involved a pattern which I had bought a few months back and had not got around to making, so it was the perfect opportunity to join in.  It was a fun project and I was very happy with the result, so much so that I will be working on a similar style for the upcoming summer range of Hot Fudge which will be available soon in my Etsy and MadeIt shops.

To round off the week I made this skirt.  It's one of my favourites and is so easy to wear.  I made it in size 10, but it's available in limited supplies made to order in sizes 5 to 13/14 in my shops listed above.

So much for August.  Hurry up September, I am totally over winter.

Happy Days

Yesterday afternoon we were invited to an impromptu alfresco afternoon tea.  The three minute drive to our destination took us past gardens bursting with azaleas, crabapple trees and all manner of plants in full bloom.

But the most beautiful was the wisteria which miraculously appeared overnight outside the children's cubby house.

I suspect that the greater population of Sydney's bees descended on this lavender bush, and who could blame them?  It's been a long winter.

Homemade chocolate cake and pikelets, beautiful jams and mugs of coffee. 

Who could resist?

Last weekend two sweet little girls who are friends of our grandchildren happily agreed to model some of my dresses.

There was a lot going on at the time, as our daughter and son-in-law's "gang" had gathered for a football final, which meant a yard full of boisterous children running around and having the time of their lives.

My daughter picked up the dresses early in the morning and my son-in-law took time out from manning the barbecue and crying over the football score to take the pictures.

All garments now available in my Etsy and MadeIt stores.

The girls chose a dress each to keep and yesterday I was so delighted to receive these thank-you cards in the mail.

Children's art wins me over every time.

To top off the week, Sydney has a long weekend starting tonight and daylight savings kicks in on Sunday morning.  Happy days.

Looking for Spring

It's difficult to believe that winter has finally departed, in theory at least.  In fact it's still hanging around and bringing along its friends, rain and wind.  However, if you look hard enough there are delightful pockets of the new season to be found and yesterday we set out to discover a couple of them.

After a soggy walk through the city we arrived at the pop-up gallery where our daughter Maz's paintings are on exhibit, along with some other talented artists.  We were greeted by lovely the gallery director Emilya Colliver who delighted in advising that all Maz's painting were sold and indeed there was a waiting list for new paintings.  Emilya champions emerging artists and her vitality and enthusiasm shine through.  If you are in Sydney you can catch the exhibition which runs until 14 September.  Details can be found here.

 Why not make a day of it and take in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW?  

Earlier in the day we took our annual pilgrimage to David Jones in the city to take in their annual Spring Flower Show which is always the best way to get the spirits soaring.

This year the theme is The Enchanted Florence, celebrating the renowned artist Florence Broadhurst.

The display did wonders for us.

The iconic pianist was there to greet the visitors with his cheerful smile and amazing reservoir of tunes which he can choose from at the drop of a hat.  

Of course, the merchandise blended beautifully with the surrounding floral displays and I was hoping to return today to relieve them of a handbag or two.  But we didn't win Lotto.

Thank you David Jones for making us all feel a little younger.

And thank you to our daughter for making us feel so proud.

New life

Three weeks from today it will be spring in Australia.  I wish I could say that you can feel it in the air, but with today topping 12 degrees Celsius, I would have to be the eternal optimist to make such a declaration.

Images: Sara Sprague

 But new life abounds, with the trees budding up ready to burst into blossom, and an adorable new baby who is as beautiful as her big sister.

And of course, she loves wearing Hot Fudge.

Wonderful family memories were made yesterday when our grandson was confirmed.

Which meant a special afternoon tea.

With gifts.

And a cake decorated by the boy himself.

 "I think I went a bit heavy with the green, Granddad."

Aunty Maz may have a painting hanging in the Art Gallery of NSW, but how cool is it to have one of her Roadkill drawings on the kitchen blackboard.  Priceless.  And to top it off, thirty-nine years ago today our son was born.  So many happy memories.

Image: Sara Sprague.  Dress: Hot Fudge

Good days, and better days ahead when spring finally puts in an appearance.

Lunch

When Sydney presents you with a brilliant Spring day such as we had yesterday, it's advisable not to waste it.

A family gathering had been planned to welcome home our daughter and son-in-law from their three months sojourn in Europe.  We arrived at our other daughter and son-in-law's home to find the table set under the dappled shade of a maple tree.

Our eight year-old granddaughter had made place cards for each guest, with appropriate embellishments.

The boys were chuffed with their wild boar caps from the Chianti district in Tuscany.

But we girls love a pretty fan, particularly when it comes from Barthhhhhelona.

Dessert was a healthy carrot cake.  Well, at least the carrot element was, plus everyone knows blueberries are good for you.   

We adults managed to snaffle some of these baby ice cream cones while the kiddies were distracted.

Ah, modern technology.  The iPad is such an improvement on the mid 20th century slide show.

A perfect day.