folded

Our dear Miss Andrea is having her first solo show opening tonight at the Abbortsford Convent C3 Gallery. So we'll all be trooping down there tonight for the unveiling. I believe she is making a new folded and drapey dress for the event- elegant as always!

pell mell

Never enough time.

Too many things to do.

Sometimes I wish I was an Hindu goddess with 8 arms..... of course if I was an goddess I could just wave my hand and it would be done. Sigh. I'm just an ordinary me with too much to do and so little time.

I was awoken this morning by crashing and banging next door. Looks like the renovations have finally started. I walked out the door to see the hoarding being erected right up to my front door...... Not a good way to start the day. I'm now worried no-one will be able to see us. The upside is a few ideas about blank walls and 'art'......... (heehee- anyone feel like joining me in a bit of cut-and-paste? It's almost a year since Miss Magnolia was done....... I have a plan....) 

The last few days in the studio has been a frenzy of piecing and stitching. I've been pulling out boxes of vintage wools and velvets and ironing up scarves. The studio has been looking like the Dance of the Seven Veils got a little out of hand. But it's all done now, well at least the first run. It's a new project that has been hanging over my head for the last year and I've been part itching to do it and part scared stiff that it's not going to work. I just won't know until it all comes back to be finished..... stay tuned.

The cooler- no, let's call a spade a spade- cold weather has made everyone glove-mad and I'm panicking about stock. I'm car-bereft at the moment and it's making life a little difficult, I can't run errands as quickly as I need to. And lugging cushions up from the studio is a complete pain in the whatsit. OK, I'm grizzly today, tired and stressed- 'what's new?' you ask! Hmmph!

I've managed to get stock made to go into Eastern Market this week and I'll be dropping that off tomorrow. This type of stock is different to what I have in the Cottage. Still hand made but a little bit strange- leather bags made from washed hides, all the raw edges and dangly bits still attached set onto vintage purse frames. They sort of look like a vintage granny handbag that's mated with road kill.........

One thing I am happy about is that I managed to get the first run of wool jackets in store. They have hoods and Italian twill lining and the wool blend is really nice. More to come......

from the hearts of children

One last post for Anzac day.

Last year I wrote about The Nephews going off to France for the services at Villers-Bretoneux and the story behind Australia's ties to that little town. On the cover of today's The Weekend Australian was a lovely story. 

There is a school in V-B that was rebuilt when, after the First World War, the children of Victoria each donated a penny. Every child. A single penny. 

This school is the Ecôle Victoria, situated on Rue de Victoria, around the corner from Rue de Melbourne. 

The children of the school are now raising money for the children of the bushfires in Victoria who have lost their schools. 

'"We have not forgotten the Australians."

That is the simple message of Pauline Lefebore, 10, who beams with pride as she tells how she and her classmates in the French village are keeping a promise made long before they were born.

"You always have to keep your promises" says Pauline's friend, Cecile.'

Sometimes something very good comes from something so very bad.

anzac day

For those of you not in AUstralia or New Zealand today is Anzac Day.
It is a day when we remember those who have fallen in war and those that returned having served.
There is the Dawn Service, the March and the Fly-over, going down the RSL (Returned Services League) to drink a pot of beer and play a game of Two-Up and the remembering those comrades that are no longer around and then head off to the MCG to see Collingwood and Essendon 'battle it out'.

It's 11 years since Anzac Day has fallen on a Saturday and most shops are going to be closed until 1pm.
The Cottage will be opening then.

a soldier's sweetheart

Could you imagine if 40% of all the men, aged 18 to 44, you knew went off to war?

This is what happened in Australia during the First World War.

What happened to all those women left behind, all the sweethearts, wives, mothers and sisters?

What did they go through?

This is a 'sweetheart' brooch. It is made in the shape of the Rising Sun insignia that the lads wore on their slouch hats. This one is from the Second World War. You wore it with pride on your chest to show that you had a loved one away at war. 

*If you are interested in seeing more 'sweetheart' brooches have a look here. It's not a definitive list but there are some lovely handmade 'recycled' ones there.

hey, hey, it's the carlow cash and carry sale!

Two floors at Carlow House in Flinder's Lane have got together and are having a studio sale. 

Or rather each of the studios are having their own sale on the same days. 

Does that make any sense?

You know what I mean! 

They want you to turn up, give them your Rudd Bonus and they will give you lovely hand-made things in return. 

Remember the Government wants you to spend money!

autumn days

For the last few weeks the days have been autumnal clear blue skies. 

Not a cloud and amber light.

A time of the year that is slightly melancholic for me.

But very beautiful.

They said that the scorching hot weather may mean no autumn colour in the the leaves but there have been intense dark reds, bordering on black, to be seen on the trees in Fitzroy. I am glad. 

Still a ton of work to do but I have the first batch of black wool jackets ready- except for the damn buttons! They won't dye black enough and I'm itching to get them sewn on the jackets and in store asap. There is always a little hiccup along the way.

I had a pile of things I was going to write about but I'm bone weary tonight and my brain has stopped working. I think it might be time for bed and book.