My life in pictures

Busy, busy, busy!

A lovely market day on Saturday, as always at the Maribyrnong Makers Market.

The weather was better than kind to us, and it was delightful to get out of the house and have a day with friends and lovely customers.

And now I'm getting ready for the Melbourne Finders Keepers.

More dresses, and shirts.

Which means there's been lots of scraps being tucked away to make new scarves.

These are great to make when my urge to patchwork is strong!

And it tides me over until I can get back to working on quilt number two.

Nearly there

Yes. More quilting!

The hand quilting has been slow and steady, and a nice way to pass more than a few very cold and wet days here.

A little bit done here and there, whenever there was a spare half hour or so.

And all of a sudden, there was the end!

Today I've got the binding on, the corners of it mitred, and it's all pinned up ready for the final step.

(more hand sewing!)

I've loved every minute of the making of this quilt, and I can't wait to see it finished and on our bed just in time for Winter.

But, because I knew I'd miss the hand work, I've got another one all cut out and waiting for me!

In the meantime, I've got one last Melbourne market before Winter really sets in.

Perfect timing to grab a little piece of Liberty patchwork in a scarf perhaps?

Shirt & Skirt Market

Sunday May 19

10am - 4pm

Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford

Still quilting and a bit more

Things are coming along with the quilt here.

A trip to Melbourne and the wonderful Amitie Textiles for some advice, some batting, some binding fabric, and a lovely cotton to hand quilt with had me ready for the next step.

There was more crawling around on the floor getting all the bits together.

Smoothing it all out and getting it square, then putting in big safety pins to hold it all together was another test for my knees. My quilting friend wisely said that this would be the tedious bit, and she wasn't wrong!

But the reward is the hand stitching. 

We've had friends visit, and there was nothing nicer than to sit and stitch while chatting at our table.

I am loving watching the stitches form, starting to make the quilt look quilted.

Judy from Amitie suggested this duck egg blue coloured thread, and I love the way it's hue changes according the colour of each fabric. On the darker ones it's silvery, and then moves back to duck egg on the pale fabrics. Bliss!

I haven't completely stopped on other things though!

Scarf season has begun, and nice parcels of these have gone to Follow Store, House of Balaklava, and Poppi & Pippa.

You can find them in my online shop too.

I had the pleasure of a couple of shirt orders as well this week.

This one here is off to Spain for a holiday.

Lucky girl!

This week

The last fortnight has flown past.

I've been a bit quilt obsessed! 

Making new scarves has allowed me to carry on patchworking with Liberty, and I'm finding it hard to stop making these too.

A quick look at the calendar reminded me that I have another trip to Melbourne this weekend for Shirt & Skirt Market at the always beautiful Abbotsford Convent.

It's been quite a few months since I've been along to this one, so I'm looking forward to being back there this month. 

Fingers crossed for a glorious sunny Autumn day!

Shirt & Skirt Market

Abbotsford Convent,

1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford.

Sunday April 21

10am - 4pm

Not quilting

I've been stashing all those odd little offcuts of my favourite Liberty cottons for ages.

I did make a start on a quilt.

But then, as often happens when I'm busy, a little idea started to niggle in the back of my mind.

How about a patchwork scarf?

All cotton front and back.

So, I've been dipping into that quilt scrap bag this week. 

And feeling quite guilty about it too!

And here are three from the first lot.

I made it up as I went along, but they resolved themselves into colourways all by themselves!

Thank goodness I had a market to get to yesterday morning, otherwise I'd still be at the machine.

They're addictive to make.

And pretty!

Doing it justice

It's always such a delight to be receiving a parcel of hand printed beautiful fabric from the girls at Ink & Spindle.

I'd been contemplating this one for a while.

And when it arrived, all my preconceived plans for it went out the window.

It's perhaps the touch and feel. This is a blend of hemp and yak fibre. Yes, yak.

And the feel of it is amazing. It's soft, yet robust. Like a beautiful woven wool, but softer.

A lovely mid-weight.

So, I've tried to do justice to this lovely fabric.

I've done a little subtle hand stitching with some red silk, and made a scarf.

There might be a few more....

Scarf weather

Well, yes, hello, it's still Winter!

Not much we can do about that is there?

The evenings are getting just a little bit longer.

And we had some lovely sunshine here yesterday.

It was nice to sit outside a cafe in the street and have a coffee in the sun, and dream of Spring.

But, while we're waiting, there's some new scarves in the shop to keep you warm and snug!

In the shop

I've had a bit of interest in these woolly warm lovelies, so because it was just too cold in my workroom today - even with the heater on! - I've listed some in the shop. 

Follow the link here!

I'll be taking whatever I have off to market this coming weekend, so if they're not there if you pop in on Friday or Saturday, I'll be putting any leftovers back again on Sunday.

Fresh batch

In the cold, nothing is nicer than a soft woolly scarf.

I've been wearing them indoors and out.

It's like being snug under the hairdresser's cape, only better!

Did I forget to tell you?

It's one of those deliciously crisp and clear mornings here today.

Brrr, it's cold though!

Time to whip out the woollies I think.

There's a parcel of neckscarves waiting to go to the post office this morning, bound for The House of Balaklava.

GeorgieLove have some new ones in the shop too.

And if you're visiting The Crafty Squirrel in Ballarat, then keep an eye out for some teacosy kits in Morgan's delightful little emporium of all things crafty!

And this week...

...has flown past again!

What's been happening? Well, the usual.

A bit of sewing.

Whenever I make a fresh batch of these fabric and recycled jumper neckscarves, I fall in love with them all over again.

They are a time consuming little thing to make, and I need to be in the mood to make a great big mess, but the end result is always very satisfying.

I'll be popping them in my tub to take along this Sunday to Piccadilly Market in Geelong.

Just in time too judging by the cold and wet morning we're having here today. Damn, I thought I'd be able to get through this post without actually mentioning the weather....

And, things are brewing with a new little tea cosy design in the works!

Stay tuned!

Making a start part 2

No market today. 

After 7 weeks of near perfect weather for our market on Saturday mornings, Apollo Bay turned on a day that's been a little bit drab.

It's raining again now, and grey and dull. I'm resisting lighting the fire.

Not your typical mid-February day at all.

Never mind, after feeling a little at a loose end, I decided to just go down to my workroom and see what took my fancy.

Nothing too strenuous this afternoon, but an enjoyable play around with some jumpers and fabric.

(Summer still seems to be having an influence in my choice of colour I think)

And now I have 2 new scarves to add to my box of things to come when the time is properly right!

  

Which, hopefully, won't be for at least another month.

I still have swimming to do.

Monday

What's happening at your place today?

I had a terrific weekend, which included seeing a film on Friday night, the very bitter sweet Beginners. Oh, Ewan, you set my heart all aflutter...

Be warned, this is a handful of tissues movie. I loved it.

Then there was dinner out, and a lovely morning at the brand new Little Village Market. Thanks to those friends who popped in to see me, that was the icing on my cake!

Being an earlier finish than I'm used to meant getting home in time for cocktail hour and a relaxed dinner with the old bloke.

A few of these neckscarves went off to new homes, leaving me with less than I'd like to keep in stock.

I've been making a huge mess of fabric and jumpers in my workroom to get some new ones together, and here's a little taste from the latest batch. 

I don't know about you, but I'm loving that orange vintage kimono silk.

I can't get enough of some bright happy colours for the coming season!

Reincarnation

I get all sentimental over the strangest things.

I found this jumper in the rather posh Red Cross op shop in Hamilton on route to Penola the other week.

It didn't grab me straight away, but then I had a closer look.

And the label won me over.

I remember this from somewhere in my childhood. Probably from my mother's or grandmother's wardrobe.

I think if you had something from Aywon, it was a bit swish and special.

I came over a bit sad at the demise of all those Australian made labels that just aren't around anymore, and that was it, I just had to buy it.

Then I got a bit squeamish about cutting it up, but I've kept coming back to it.

So, I thought the way to do this is to document it, get it off my chest, and get on with it.

As soon as I took the photos I felt better, and even better again once I got the scissors into it.

And now I'm really pleased I've been able to turn this unloved echo from the past into something special to give it a new life!

Winter sunshine

With no markets booked in for at least the next 6 weeks or so I was feeling a little bit out of sorts this week.

It's been a busy year, and I'm just coming to terms with the idea of staying put for a little while.

It's quiet down here on the coast, and Winter has arrived this morning with nose tingling cold, but brilliant sunshine.

The fire is keeping the house toasty warm, and I'll be happy to find a patch of sun to sit in with my knitting.

All these cold mornings have everyone reaching for their scarves!

It's all about the scarf

From now until August, scarves take over my life.

Long ones, short ones, knitted ones, fabric ones.

I love them all!

And, that's just as well I suppose.

I'm having oodles of fun making these longer jumper & fabric scarves this week.

A new parcel of lovely Liberty makes the process all the more enjoyable of course...

Sneak peek...

Would you like a little sneaky look at what I've been up to?
Hot off the machine, all ready to go!

Find them at Magnolia Square next week.



Autumn

Goodness, isn't this weather just the best?

I could almost forget that Winter is coming....

...if it weren't for all the scarves going out all about town.

North, south, east, online!

I'm thrilled to have a new shop in the heart of groovy St Kilda, The House of Balaklava on Carlisle Street.

I've walked past this fabulous shop many times when I stay with my St Kilda hostess, and they always have a dramatic and eye-catching window display!

I'm so lucky to be dealing with the nicest shopkeepers around town, they all do a fantastic job, and are always so understanding of the juggle of supplying something that is handmade, by me.

Friday jumper wrangling

How can something so lovely be so d*** difficult to handle?

This one nearly did me in, there's been cursing, and grumbling under my breath.

There's been lots of steam pressing and pinning.

Those edges were determined to roll under, but I won!

Take that you silky fine knit.

Bananarama

My love affair with all things yellow continues this week.

If I can't have real sunshine, then I'll make my own.

More creative sunshineyness to admire over here.