We're having a heatwave

Today marks the 10th day in a row over 30c. And it's Autumn!

Our home is a fibro beach shack built around about 1970, which basically means it's as hot inside as it is out.

It's not too bad really.

I've got a fan to stir the air, my workroom is downstairs in the relative cool, and I've got some of the nicest beaches in the state right at my doorstep.

I've been bunking off every afternoon for a swim, the best way to cool down!

I'm reminding myself that Winters are long and cold and wet down here on the coast, and once this weather does turn, it'll be a long time before the next swim.

Still, I am kind of looking forward to giving a new shirt an outing!

Hello Autumn

Hooray!

The Finders Keepers will be back in Melbourne quicker than I can wonder how the Summer's passed so quickly.

March into April is full up to pussy's bow with lots of lovely markets lined up.

Just as well I've had a bit of a break visiting my adorable Aunt and the rest of her (and my!) family up in Newcastle.

The weather was tropical (but I missed the rain), the Hunter Valley is a green lush oasis after the brown countryside of Victoria, and I had a great time walking the city streets one morning.

With a great coffee or two, good food and just a few wines, and some late nights spent chatting, I'm all ready for Autumn.

Shirts in the shop!

For the first time in ages, I seem to have enough stock in hand to actually list some shirts in the shop!

Enough said!

Here they are.

A new shirt

There's been new Liberty fabrics arriving again this week.

And one of them came speaking of cooler days.

While I love February for the warm and settled weather, and all the afternoons we've been visiting our lovely local beaches for a swim, I couldn't ignore this fabric.

I sketched out an idea for something that would do justice to my favourite fabrics.

Simple and easy to wear.

A shirt tail hem, an idea I've been wanting to put into practice for a while.

And, so here is the result.

A new shirt!

Shirts, Saturdays, February

It's been more shirt making this week.

I did have a moment when I idly wondered how many I've made since I first tested out my design way back in May last year.

Too many to count? Maybe!

I'm never tired of them. There's beautiful new Liberty cottons arriving almost weekly at the moment to inspire me afresh.

One thing is certain this week - the big January holiday crush is over as fast as it arrived!

The holiday makers change from families to couples and lots of travellers from foreign lands this month.

I'm planning on another morning down at my local market tomorrow, and looking forward to a more relaxed pace with time for a coffee and a chat.

There might even be time for an afternoon on the beach this week too if I'm lucky!

Welcome to you February, I've been waiting for you!

Blurred

It's the same every year!

I have a bit of a love/hate thing going on with January.

I look forward to it, and then when it's here I struggle with it a little.

I love not having to travel too far, I love our weekly local market.

I love getting the odd few snatched hours at the beach.

I love it that we have friends here in town.

And then there's the flip side!

Trying to keep up with the demands of a weekly market.

Sewing when I'd love to be at the beach.

Squeezing in catching up with my friends while I'm thinking about what I need to get done.

I am loving that these little shirts have been my best seller this Summer.

It's no chore to be sewing these non stop.

I'm scraping the bottom of my fabric tub with one last long January weekend coming up.

So, it's just as well a new order of gorgeous Liberty won't be far away.

Along with February!

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!

The local

The view from my spot on the Apollo Bay foreshore on Saturday morning.

Sometimes I forget just how beautiful my part of the world actually is. Those hills form a backdrop to everyday down here. I forget they're there sometimes!

After the extreme heat of last Friday we were blessed with a glorious sunny and calm morning for our Saturday market. Not too hot, not too cool, not too windy. 

We got the trifecta!

And something new for this year, there's a twilight market scheduled for all the Wednesday evenings during January, so I'm planning to pop along this week and enjoy a relaxed afternoon on the foreshore.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that our run of perfect Summer weather keeps on to give us an afternoon of long shadows and a little sea breeze!

3 until 7, stop past if you're in town.

(I've jinxed myself! The forecast is for wind and showers, so I'll try again next week!)

Popped!

What a great way to finish up the year!

Wendy June and I loved every single minute of our pop-up.

The historic and pretty little St Aidan's Anglican Church Hall all prettied up with bunting.

Pretty on the inside too!

Wendy's newly designed and made dresses were a total hit.

I think she has only one left.

My shirts were popular too.

The whole experience of having a shop sized space to play in was so much fun.

Going back to a normal market stall space might be tricky...

A surprise visit from my very dear friend Michelle and her partner made my day.

Especially as I didn't know they were coming...all the way from Melbourne!

Farewell 2012, and welcome 2013!

I hope I'm lucky to be surrounded again by good friends and enjoy as many fun times.

And I wish the same for you too!

Here we go then!

Wheee!

Our fridge is full, the house is clean, and there's a truckload of freshly made Frankie & Ray goodies all waiting to be loaded into the car ready for three days of wonderful fun with the gorgeous Wendy June.

Merry Christmas all, and we hope to see you here!