It's Spring ... apparently

The first weekend of September brings our annual pilgrimage to the city to view the Spring flower display at David Jones.

No matter how cold it is outdoors, as soon as you step inside you are instantly bombarded with the joyous sense of Spring.

The Piano Man is an institution and I suspect he knows every tune that has ever been composed.  He captivates and serenades the young and the old alike.

It's all about flowers, perfume and handbags.  What more could a girl ask for?

But it's mainly about the flowers.

Change in the air

You know what it's like; out of nowhere comes that sudden burst of warm air and you realise that there is an end to winter after all and once again you have been caught in that transitional period of confusing weather patterns.  Yesterday took us by surprise, even though it had been forecast.  It was warm.  It was beautiful.  And we knew it wouldn't last.

Image: Boutique Baby Photography

Of course, I was caught (again!) with a wardrobe full of winter clothes and recalling that I had foolishly thrown out my summer casual shoes at the end of last summer, promising that I would replace them some time before next Spring.  Which is now.

It was a busy day yesterday, right from the start.  Our plan was to arrive at the polling booth nice and early before all those other pesky voters turned up.  It was a pretty good idea, because practically the whole of our electorate had the same one and we found ourselves in a long and winding queue.  Still, it was warm, so warm.

By happy coincidence I received these adorable images of the latest dress I had sent to the States to be photographed by Sara of Boutique Baby Photography.   The fabric in this dress is soft and I simply love the beautiful colour palette - so fresh.  The dress is available here and here in sizes 2 to 5.

The day ended with us baby-sitting while our daughter and son-in-law attended the school P & F trivia night.  This year the dress-up theme was movie related and their table elected to be Star Wars characters.  My son-in-law rather unsportingly wouldn't permit me take a picture of him as Obi-Wan Kenobi, wielding his son's lightsaber, so I have had to resort to sneaking his driver's licence photo.

Being responsible baby-sitters, last night was another first for us - we were perfectly sober at the end of an election night.

Earlier in the week our quilting group took a bus trip to the Central Coast.  

Like locusts we descended on three quilt shops, each with its own ambiance designed to tempt the buyer in us.

The whole of the Central Coast was a-blooming, not only with the usual spring blossoms, but our State flower, the Waratah, made a spectacular showing.

With quilt shops in grounds like these, we were most reluctant to hop on the bus for the journey home.

Welcome Spring.  We missed you.

Spring fever

We really knew that Spring had arrived in Sydney when we visited our favourite department store this morning, David Jones.

This year it's their 27th Annual Flower Show and we customers reaped the rewards.

The moment we walked through the doors we were mesmerised.

The floral arrangements managed to outshine the handsome model (mmm ... maybe not).

Even the lift doors entered the spirit of Spring.

The iconic David Jones Piano Man added another dimension with some romantic music.

And the fish took on a soft Spring colour.

Sit back and enjoy the view.

Sadly, it all ends tomorrow, but there's always next year!

Colour

I don't know about you, but colour and fabric play a big part in my life.  So naturally I was thrilled when I received the latest fabric chart of Robert Kaufman's Kona Cotton Solids.  Who would have imagined that so many colours could be produced just for me to lust after?

There are 243 colours available and I want them all.

Look at these delectable shades.  So many foods included without the guilt of weight gain.

Cool palettes, warm palettes, so many shades to choose from. 

We had a fire alarm in our apartment building yesterday, ordering us to evacuate the premises immediately.  My first instinct was to throw all my fabrics and computer (in that order) over the balcony before leaping after them.  However, sanity prevailed and I followed Mr Fudge as he processed leisurely down the fire stairs, which was just as well, as it was a false alarm. 

When the all clear was given and the fire engine trundled home, I was able to finish off this dress which I had to desert so hastily.  It reminds me that a new season is just around the corner with the promise of Spring blossoms and new life.  And colour.

Spring

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.