Girls' Night Out

Last night my daughter and I left her three young children in the care of their father and grandfather while we headed out for a Girls' Night Out at St Ives Shopping Centre.  There was champagne and nibblies on arrival before we settled into our excellent second row seats to watch the fashion show.

I was muttering low curses that I had left my camera at home, as one of the tiny models in the children's section was an eighteen months old little boy who was carried on by one of the models.  It was obvious that the catwalk was not his choice of location.  The look he gave to the audience when the model put him down to strut his stuff was worth the price of the ticket alone.  I wonder if they have counsellors for baby models?  They have them for most situations, so one can only hope.

We had such fun at interval, doing a little shopping, sampling more champagne and delicious friands before strolling back to our seats for the rest of the parade.  The whole show was choreographed by one of the male models who starred in Dancing With The Stars.

Were we thinking of our men back home gallantly holding the fort?  Not for a nanosecond.



I received a new shipment of fabric during the week and immediately fell in love with this wild design.  It screams Seventies (I have a vague feeling that I actually wore something like this way back then) and I couldn't resist turning it into a jumpsuit.

Pity I didn't think to make it in my size instead of Size 6.  Imagine what fun it would be to have been to have worn it last night and startled the grand-kiddies.

Woo-hoo!

At last we have an Aussie Grand Slam Champ.

I guess like the rest of the country, we sat glued in front of the TV this morning watching, hardly daring to hope that it may actually happen.

But it did and I was so proud of Samantha's composure and humility.  You'll have to excuse the euphoria - the last Australian to win the US Open was Wendy Turnbull way back in 1980.  It's been a long time between drinks.

One big disadvantage of living in an apartment is a lack of flowers to pick.  So we were delighted yesterday when some dear friends came to lunch bearing gifts from their garden.

It really stuck home a couple of days ago that I had forgotten how stunningly beautiful Sydney is in Spring.  It almost takes your breath away.

 

If only there was a way of bringing down Brisbane family, friends and weather, Sydney would be heaven on earth.

Step Back

Have you ever unexpectedly come across a hidden treasure in the middle of a large and busy city?  Well, it happened to us today. I had been searching in vain for days for some rick rack braid in all the usual places, but unless you wanted primary colours, it was mission impossible.  Then Mr Fudge came across a web site advertising rick rack braid in a wide range of colours - the only problem was that the shop was in the city.

So this morning we braved a walk to the railway station in FREEZING weather (21 years of Brisbane mild temperatures has left an indelible mark on us, apparently) and journeyed to the city.

We found the shop opposite the Town Hall and stepped inside.

My goodness, what a vision.  It took our breath away - we had somehow been transported back to the late 19th Century.  We checked to see that the Tardis was still parked outside for a quick get-away in case of an emergency.

If Little Dorrit had sprung up behind the counter to serve us, we would not have been in the least surprised.  Yes, there was a counter beyond which we mere mortals could not venture.  I was served by a pleasant young girl who located some sample rick rack braids for me to choose from.

I was cursing the fact that I had left my camera at home, but Mr Fudge came to the rescue with his trusty mobile phone camera.

While Miss Dorrit disappeared into the bowels of the shop to measure and cut my braid, we were able to take in our wondrous surroundings.

More mysterious boxes

Feather boas

And bling

All too soon it was time to return to the 21st Century and if we didn't have these images to prove it all actually happened, I would have put it down to bad dreams after the sausages we had last night.

The biggest surprise is that the owners of this treasure cave know that the World Wide Web has been invented and that they have a web site.  Thank goodness they do.

Stow Aways

Our morning reverie was somewhat shattered today when I glanced out our bedroom window.

All looked well until I took a closer look at the little blobs on the pathway.

Scrub turkeys ... nooooo!!!!!  Did they stow away in one of our packing cases while we weren't looking?  They are as common as flies in Brisbane, but we have not seen them in Sydney before.

Hmmm ... you can almost feel their joy as they eye brand new mulch in the garden.  These little critters are extremely determined when they set their minds to building their nests.  I saw one in Brisbane drag mulch from one garden across a reasonably busy road to its nest site of choice on the other side of the road, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

And it is Spring (best viewed with this playing in the background).

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful fathers - those who are still with us and those who hold a special place in our hearts and memories.

Fashion

At last I have unpacked my fabrics, machines, etc, and my new sewing room is ready for action.  The built-in wardrobe is bulging with fabrics, of the sewing and quilting variety.
































The spools of thread and pretty blue floral cotton fabric were crying out to be used.

With Spring in the air and the promise of Summer to come, this simple little dress was the perfect solution.  It's a size 2 and can be purchased in my MadeIt shop.  Now that the first dress is behind me and with new fabrics arriving any day now, the pace in my sewing room should quicken considerably.  Watch this space.

Spring/Summer fashion is in full flight here in Sydney and with that in mind, I came across this ingenious video of 100 years of fashion created by a clothing store in England.

The frightening part is that I can remember a goodly number of these fashion fads.  Oo-er!

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.