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.

Confessions of an addict

I'm a bit of a hunter and gatherer.  In some circles I go under the title of Magazine Queen.  I stalk newsagents for the latest magazines (usually food related), gather them, and store them for leaner times.  It's not that I cook up a storm at the drop of a hat - I simply love to read them like a novel.  For a while they reside on the coffee table.

When the pile threatens to collapse, or if The Spouse becomes a little suspicious of the number entering the household, I push them into the nearest drawers.

Some of them eventually make their way to the bookshelves.

However, my favourite beast of prey is fabric, which I hunt and gather obsessively.  The better specimens are carefully stored on rolls.

Some make it to shelves and baskets in the closet.

The balance fight for survival in the scrap heap.

Then there are the cotton reels.

While some may think it's time to join MAFA (Magazines And Fabrics Anonymous), let me assure you that they are all part of the woven texture of my life.  OK, maybe not the magazines, but all the other things.  I turn the fabrics into quilts.

And clothing.

Image: Boutique Baby Photography

Even the scraps are put to good use.

My name is Robyn.  I am a Magafabriholic.  And proud of it.

Apron Strings

As a departure from my children's range of clothing and with the fast approaching festive season in mind, I've just finished a few fully lined aprons for the perfect hostess.

Here are a couple which are for sale in my Etsy shop and they will also be on sale at the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market on 4 December - you can never start too early!

What a delight it was to receive these gorgeous fabrics in the mail a couple of days back.  The aprons are now on hold as I get onto creating some party dresses for the BrisStyle market.  I could almost eat them.

Kamikaze Pigeon

I have a crested pigeon loving couple (sometimes a little too loving) who like to sit on the wall outside my window as I work.  They keep me company through all seasons and all weather.

Up until this Spring they have behaved as I imagine crested pigeons should behave, but something has changed.  The usually sensible and responsible male has maybe found an illegal crop of seeds to chew on, because he spends ALL DAY crashing into my window.  I mean ALL DAY.

 
Mr Fudge and I are quite concerned, as we fear he may harm himself or knock every feather off his body.  At first we assumed that he was attacking his reflection in the window, but he launches himself at it no matter if it's sunny or overcast, and to be honest, the window is in serious need of cleaning, so I doubt there's much reflection at the best of times.

Perhaps Mrs Pigeon has taken to him with the Silly Stick.  Whatever it is, he sure is seeing stars by the end of the day.

Or perhaps he's caught sight of my new fabric lying seductively close to the window and wants to impress Mrs P with a new Hot Fudge outfit.

Material Girl

Do you ever sit waiting for the mail to arrive, hoping that today that anticipated parcel may be there?

 

Today there was indeed a parcel.  I did the dance of joy when these scrumptious Anna Maria Horner voiles from her Little Folks range tumbled out.  Looks as though it's going to be a busy week.