mobblegobble

Wings and Wishes

Girls had montana's birthday this morning.  It was a fairy party.

I was playing around with some of the boning I inherited on friday and made a tulle tiara(boning cut into length approx 53cm, then bound into a circle with some bias-cut ribbon and tie on strips of tulle - easy peasy lemon squeezy). It became an object of desire so we made a couple on friday night.  The "old add some tulle to a bonds singlet" trick for a matching outfit.  As much as I try to not have pink stuff - when you ask someone else to choose their colours - you have to live with it I guess........

Do you know what else I did today......by myself?  I actually took clothes out of my cupboard to give away.  Three bags of stuff will be getting a new life somewhere else.  The hardest thing was parting with items that remind me of where I was when I wore them or bought them.  Hopelessly sentimental.  Gone are the californian baseball-esque tops, gone all the jane noorman from norwich, gone even the paul franks from richmond days.  I usually need an objective referee to ensure stuff actually gets the cut - so proud I managed to threw anything out.

Secret Squirrell and The quiz I forgot...

Working bee last night with a few crafty chicks and ladies for issue 2 of very famous magazine.  I hope you have got your issue ordered - you will not be disappointed.

One of the Misters came home after a session at the GB.  On the way home I got a GIGANTIC case of pub envy.  Ahhh the GB - reminiscing of youthful festivity occuppied my thoughts all along the road until I got to King Street.  It was packed with revellers - some still in their by-now-quite-tired racewear and my longing vanished.  I most definitely did not want to be them.  So all was at peace once again.  Isnt it lovely when the circle goes around that quickly??

My Saturday nights are often spent with the chefs of iron and with Julia and Brian.  For those who dont watch Rockwiz - Julia always asks guests two questions:

1. What was the first concert you ever went to?

2. What was the first record / tape you ever bought?

In saturday night style, I meant to ask the crafties last night what their answers were to these questions.  I have a hard time remembering but I think my first concert was the divinyls at the bridge - I know I missed out on the bus trip to Adelaide to see INXS when EVERYONE else from school was going and I wasnt allowed - spewing.  And my first tape was either Hermans Hermits (I know!!) or Kiss Unmasked.  What about you?

Colour me in..

finished tees for some new arrivals - Noah & Alby are getting arks, Phoebe a pineapple and Super Sofie gets the S.  Very colourful huh?  I hadnt seen any plain t-shirts and ideally want to send them all something before they turn 18.

Speaking of colour - I finished my stitching last night - now I just have to get around building the quilt.

And earlier this week, someone else lightened up their life with a bit of self-applied colour.... Was it Kylie Moll who used to say "Dolly did it"?

Also went to say g'day to stitching costume lady at her work.  Amazing - got to see some very old and very beautiful theatrical dresses as well as everything else you can imagine wanting to dress up in. Lots of the garmets had old name tags from theatre productions gone by and made me wish I was up there - especially after hanging out at the arts centre on friday night.  Ahhh, for a life on the stage.. 

thirty three and a third

Well - I dont know if it was or not but my shoulders are a tad pink.  I met some CHEERsy ladies for lunch today at the beach in middle park. One lady couldn't make it because her dad is not well so we are thinking about them all the way over in Sweden.  Great to see the growing families of the other two (well one growing family and one growing belly!!!).  There should be more of it and there will be - catch ups that is - not growing bellies. Although I dont think it would upset me if there was).

I rode there with Ms snoozabit on the back and were joined later by Ms "I had a birthday party to go to" and her Dad.  Saw lots of the bay riders and lots more peeps out enjoying the spring (roasting) sun.  In fact I don't recall ever seeing quite so many red faces.  I'm sure it was a combo of the heat and the weather cracking the winter exercise holding pattern. You gotta love melbournians for getting right into it when its there to get into.  Also did some painting with the girls - will post a photo soon.  And last night I made a felt crown for the birthday party today. Most of yesterday was spent feeling stunningly fragile. And eating rubbish.  And drinking soda water.....slowly.

Il Gatto Perfetto

I saw the most fantastic show on Friday night.  Meow Meow.  Thoroughly recommend her for a night of belly laughs and burlesque beauty.  It was H's idea and her mates P & V joined us. My sis also came - we had more vinos than we should have - topped off with a japanese slipper (and some sneaky spring rolls) at the supper club. 3am hometime didn't do much for my saturday but it was soooo worth it.  Meow Meow sang in french italian spanish german and a bit of chinese.  Amazing. In case you haven't noticed my comma doesn't work. And I think my italian is questionable.  Foreign grammer dilema - what happens when the subject is female but the noun is male?  Should it be La Gatta Perfetta??  I did buy the cd but its still in my sisters bag (which is a good thing because if it wasn't there - it would probably be on the ground or in the taxi or someother long lost hidey hole) - looking forward to whacking on some KULCHA.

butterflys and stitches-a-plenty

Wow, monday already.  Busy weekend really when you get the otherside and have a look around.  Highlights include Pizza Friday, Ballet rehersal, CT at the janomes, lurverly lunch at birdie num nums, checking out the inkblots new house, and Damage imitating Pete Cundall (or should I say Jamie Durie?) by depotting the jade, trimming the roots and re-potting.  Very impressive.  Also managed to avoid having to be hospitalised after inheriting the MOST spectacular assortment of fabrics and notions from Runalots NZ bound connection.  I'm talking tulle, sequins, silver stuff, bias binding, organza bonanza, even boning and hooping wire.  Butter my crumpet indeed!!!!

Whipped some of the tulle up into this for VIP customer:

Who was also in the market for a cape which got finished at the 11th hour (thanks to DB for his coolheaded troubleshooting) :

And Finally to wrap up a quite lovely weekend was the most definitely lovely stiching night at Mikes.  There were rockets, birdies, foxy ladies (plently of those - some in stitches) and philisophical arbor.  Champers, tic tocs, cordial, some very naughty muffins.  The mixtape ladies were there with a sneak preview of the cover (oh, uh, can't wait), and got to meet more crafty ladies.  Will be stalking needle's eye next week at her work - she is in the COSTUME industry (pant, pant, pant, huff, puff).  And my work in progress - a decidedly chippa crab for Dusty's quilt:

Thanks Pip, Brooke and Rin.  I can see an addiction evolving.  Gotta do something with my hands now that smoking gets all that bad press......Do you think there is a stitch rehab centre somewhere?

Window Shopping

Dropped off the collection to Mikes on Friday.  The ladies got distracted by window display.  Then off to the Runalots for pizza with the Birdcages.  And do you know we were all having one of those days.  A quick chat, a glass of bubbles and I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say - doesn't that just make you feel better??

What do you do when your kid.....

....just wants to know how things work???

Want my autograph? I got a label

Finally arrived in the post today.  Hard to get my head around.  Anyway, some have new homes on Mabel's delivery for tomorrow:

Looks like a jumble sale doesn't it?  Lucky I'm not responsible for display.  I am merely the sweatshop (above average conditions including heating, clean water and regular toilet breaks).  It feels very good to have finished all this.  Will feel better when I also have a butterfly cape under my wing - bubadabing!! 

The Long Lunch

Shonky photo but humbling event. I was lucky enough to hear about this on tuesday on the word and managed to get one of the few remaining tickets.  The Long Walk Womens Lunch is supported by Michael Long's Long Walk foundation and was really about getting both white and indigenous women sharing stories, talking and eating together.  San Remo ballroom filled with 550 women. 

It was great to hear about local programs and listen to some truly inspiring ladies - Deborah, Zabowie, Julie, Daphne, Aunty Joy, loads.  I got to sit with Cynthia, Narida and Frances from Sheparton (embarrassingly I can't remember the tribe name) as well as some ladies from the AEU.  Amongst other things, talk was of respect for elders, taking opportunities when they present, the importance of family and connection to country.  I have to admit that I have limited knowledge of indigenous history and issues - I really appreciated learning more and look forward to sharing more stories.  It might not have been "at the coal face" but it was well supported and the intention of making some long term changes was clear.  And you know what, it appears that you can start small - something as simple and easy as introducing your kids to aboriginal stories and art - One of our favourite books is How the birds got their colours - I'm sure there's stacks out now.

And was that an apology from little Johnny today?