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.

Tuesdays

What a time to be in Sydney.  I know it won't last, but it's a stunningly beautiful day today, clear blue skies, warm temperatures (mmm ... warm ...) and blossoms everywhere.  It's also my quilting day with St Ives Quilters which is always fun.

Today had an extra bonus - three parcels were waiting for me at the Post Office.  I can't show them all, because two of them were early Christmas gifts (I know - I can't believe that we are starting so early this year.  No doubt it will all end in tears and panic on Christmas Eve, but our intentions are good). 

 However, I can show you the third parcel.  I did the traditional Fabric Dance of Joy when I opened it, as it had one fabric re-order I had been waiting on and several new ones which I will use as samples for my new summer/Christmas range.  And there's another fabric bundle somewhere out in Australia Post Limbo waiting to land in my Post Box - hopefully tomorrow.

It's been a good week all round, starting off with Fathers' Day on Sunday when we joined our daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren for lunch at a delightful restaurant.

I think the children would have taken the cow home if there had been room in the car.

Most importantly, today is our granddaughter's sixth birthday, but as she is far away in Queensland, we will save up our hugs for our next visit.

Good things happen on Tuesdays.

Sailing

You have to be keen to follow the Olympics from Australia.  Staggering out of bed at 5.00am on a cold winter's morning is not for the faint-hearted.  We are a tad shell shocked and are in desperate need of some comfort.  I blame the Australian commentators who with their every prediction of a gold medal bring down the Kiss of Death.  So far they don't appear to realise that we are actually doing quite well in the sailing and I am happy to keep them in the dark.

Earlier this week I was invited by my quilting group to bring along a selection of my quilts and to give a presentation of my quilting journey.  A couple of the girls asked me to include some of my Hot Fudge clothing to complete the story.

It hadn't occurred to me that some of the grandmothers in the group would want to buy what I had brought along, so I was quite surprised when I finished my talk that I was rushed with sales and orders. Keeping in line with the Olympic sailing theme, I had just completed a nautical dress which was snapped up quickly, with orders for another two, which are now ready for delivery next week.

As the Olympics descended into further gloom, the latter stages of the week were considerably brightened by two deliveries of fabric.

I love the top three fabrics in the image above - they say Christmas without being overtly so.  I have a couple of custom orders to complete and then I can set my mind to creating new dresses in time for our Aussie summer ... oh how I love summer.

Everything old is new again

I love Tuesdays.  For years in Brisbane it was my quilting day, either with Schoolhouse Quilters Kenmore or with seven close friends, we eight making up the group Loose Threads.  Of course I miss them so much, but Tuesdays still remain my quilting days here in Sydney.  St Ives Quilters have been most welcoming and this year they celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Yesterday we were asked to bring along quilts created over twenty years ago.  I was pleasantly surprised as members came forward with their quilts.

They had well and truly passed the test of time and could easily have been made this year instead of twenty years ago.

This magnificent quilt took my breath away.  Apologies for the slightly blurred image, but I was carried away.  Renowned quilter Judy Day (r) fell in love with the original at the Victoria & Albert Museum all those years ago and set about creating her own version.  It is entirely hand pieced and hand quilted.  It would look stunning on my bed, but I couldn't convince Judy to part with it.

And that brings me to a lovely story. Quilter Heather Watts heard through her daughter that a young mother with a three year-old child recently had the most horrific fire accident involving a frying pan.  The burns covered much of the front of her body and it was witnessed by her little girl.  She is pregnant and is due to give birth this week.

Heather was so moved by the story that she made this gorgeous quilt, not for the new baby, but for the little three year-old who has been so traumatised by recent events.  

That's why I love quilters and Tuesdays.