A Break From Our Regular Programme

I'm off to Wellington this afternoon for a conference - but I'll be back next week with more exciting work in progress - and yes, that means more bags!! This past week has just felt like utter chaos - which, coupled with my usual angst at the thought of leaving home for three days, and our family debut on national television on Tuesday afternoon (What? You missed it?), has made for some pretty hair-raising moments! Still, thank you for the lovely comments about my bags (both here and at Mercy Lane) - they really helped brighten the days!

Before I leave, a sneak peek of something pretty for Shona (yes, it's your turn!):


And a birthday present for a very special friend. Just who IS that hiding amongst the leaves in my lemon tree?

It's Official: I'm An Addict

Three new bags for show and tell this week...

All have been adopted by loving homes - the top one is the "thank-you" for Megan, and the other two will meet their new owners tonight over dinner. However, in the meantime, I think I need to check myself in for some serious therapy here.

Happy Coincidences

A few weeks back I was browsing TradeMe for Amy Butler fabrics (which I rarely do, because let's be honest, Amy Butler fabrics - or any other decent fabrics for that matter - tend to be as rare as hen's teeth on TradeMe!) and I happily came across a very pretty piece of AB flannel for sale. Much excitement ensued, and I began bidding on the fabric, intent to win the auction - and two pieces of oilcloth from the Wuthering Heights range that the trader also had for sale...this women was one stylish chick! As I read through the trader profile, I realised that there was a very good chance that I was intending on buying fabric from a local blogging buddy...and I was!

Long story short(er), I won the auctions, and the parcel arrived last week - and along with my winnings were a few other gorgeous flannel and AB goodies - how lucky am I? Thank you Megan...these are simply lovely, and I can't wait to put them all to good use! And the "official" thank you? Just for you, a sneak peek of this WIP...

And another WIP this week? Is she for you?

And another sewing lesson! This time I've been sewing with Kim (who has been working with me for the last seven weeks - and she is finishing her placement on Friday and I'm really going to miss her!), who has made a bag for a friend out of some pretty AB, Kaffe Fassett, and Kiwiana prints, lined with a silk shirt she ironed with a hot iron that was too hot...

And a new book! My copy of "In Stitches" by Amy Butler (of course) arrived from Amazon yesterday. A beautiful collection of 25 sewing projects (complete with patterns), including projects for the bedroom, kitchen, office, and just for girls...what will I make first!?

Happy Birthday Jewels!

While shopping in Borders in Melbourne, I came across this book, and since Jewels knits the most gorgeous little hats (and tiny singlets) already, I knew that she would appreciate a few more ideas and patterns. This book is so sweet...the pictures are so cute, and the patterns seem really inspiring and easy to follow. I have no idea, to be honest...I CANNOT knit to save myself.

Have a wonderful day, my very best friend. You are a fantastic, wise woman with a wonderful spirit and an amazing smile, and I am so priviledged to have you in my life. You are my most treasured support...thank you for your friendship.

Finally! A Cuddle For Baby Charlotte

We have spent the last few days in the Bridge, enjoying some downtime with the extended FamilyGee, and (the cherry on the top!) we have finally met the adorable Baby Charlotte! She is SO yummy - a teeny-tiny bundle of babyness, and cute? As a button! CeeJae and I enjoyed our own special cuddle and play with her...too precious. Congratulations again to her lovely Mummy and Daddy. [Can you spell C.L.U.C.K.Y?]

As well as a fleeting visit to Cottage Flair (where I bought NOTHING, and you'll find out why next week) and the yummiest coffee and cake in Tirau, as well as playing with the toys at Aunty Amy's house (including her gorgeous restored toybox, complete with oilcloth cowboys) , other highlights from the long weekend included GrandMa Gee's progress on the Wuthering Heights Quilt (very impressive!), and the nearly finished heart quilt (with just binding to go) which she had quilted by Puddle&Co (who I will probably ask to finish Baby Charlotte's quilt, once I sort out the backing)...
...and attending Garden Circle with the Whitehall Ladies - it was a real treat to visit a beautiful local home and garden, and enjoy a tutorial for making a beautiful oilcloth and ribbon noticeboard, and a yummy afternoon tea - and we even managed to pick up a few duck eggs! Thank you Coyla, for these delicious eggs (one of which we enjoyed in homemade pancakes this morning...) - and what a glorious colour duck egg blue really is too!

I also loved going through these doll clothes, which my mother made for my sister's beloved Cabbage Patch Kid, Alisha Holly...aren't they adorable? We had lots of laughs remembering our loved toys, and Mum especially laughs at how much time she spent ensuring that Alisha was the best dressed doll in the district! Twenty years later (and after spending much of the last decade in a box) these beautiful sets of dresses and bloomers, bibs, and bonnets, are still exquisite, a testimont to Mum's brilliant eye for colour and detail, and her sewing skills. And yes, that really is the view from Mum and Dad's home - pretty amazing, huh?

Our Hearts Belong to Melbourne

We have returned from our seven day sojourn in the beautiful city of Melbourne... what a fantastic holiday! CeeJae was a S.T.A.R, enduring six hour flight delay's in both directions (Word of advice? NEVER catch the Qantas flight from Auckland, which originates/continues to LA. Apparently, stupid modern planes cannot LAND in fog, although they can take off - who knew? It's, quite frankly, DEMORALISING to watch plane after plane after plane taking off in an attempt to amuse your three year old who is patiently waiting for his turn, having woken up at 4am to take a big adventure to... well, the airport. At least his first experience of overseas air travel means that things cannot get any worse.)

Highlights?

Our first overseas holiday as a family, and nothing to do but relax and enjoy each others company (Magic). CeeJae was just brilliant - he settled in really well and loved having Mummy and Daddy all to himself for a whole week...as we loved having him to ourselves too.

Spending the week with wonderful Aunty Pippa (Too much fun!). We did, however, have to play fun police and have a VERY serious chat with Pippa about the potentially dire consequences of CeeJae bouncing on the bed after dinner and before bedtime..and we were gently reminded that aunties get to have all the fun and none of the responsibility! Can't wait to bounce on the bed with Charlotte!

The Quilt and Craft Show (Inspiring and overwhelming!). Beautiful fabrics, tons of inspiration, almost too much to take in over one morning. Trends? 1930's/reproduction prints, anything textured (think flannel, flannelette, chenille), and anything by Amy Butler and Denyse Schmidt. Too much yumminess. And these managed to hide to somehow hide in my luggage (unbeknown to me, of course):

Amy Butler flannels

As a rule I don't collect Japanese fabrics, but these are stunning and destined for a beautiful bag.

Plus, a Five Funky Monkey's charm square pack is finally mine and several additions were made to the Johnny and Buck cowboy collection for BabyHill's quilt - I have photos, but Blogger hates me, and Grey's Anatomy is looming. Tomorrow's treat.

The public transport system in Melbourne (Brilliant!). To be honest we could have just ridden the trains and trams all day - CeeJae LOVED catching the train each morning (Pippa lives two minutes walk from the train station and you can catch a train pretty much anywhere in Melbourne) and asked me this morning where the trams were in Auckland...

The attractions? We visited Scienceworks, Bridge Rd and Bourke Street, Melbourne Central, Lygon Street, the Maurice Sendak exhibition at the Jewish Museum (remember "Where the Wild Things Are"? Now THAT was a highlight!), Melbourne Aquarium and the Southbank, Queen Vic Markets (gorgeous food), and the Zoo..and we loved them all.

CeeJae contemplates the fountain (and the meaning of life) on the Southbank - so young, and yet so wise.

Thanks for a wonderful holiday, City of Melbourne. I'm sure we'll see you again real soon.