When I am up early and walking along the beach, it is time to ponder on the day ahead, to think and dream and yet see all the beauty around me..never far from hand is my camera which I am constantly trying to improve my photos but that is part of the fun....
With a long hot summer forecast, it is good to squirrel away into my studio to pursue some projects, to be lost in one's world and not be jammed with time schedules. Having found amongst my collection of fabrics, some fine striped cotton and a little piece of cream gauze, I decided to sew a vest for a friend along with improvising on the collar and bottom of the vest.
There are many simple joys at Christmas amidst the hussle, bussle and often over the top tinsle of what Christmas is all about. Our little grandson is now old enough to enjoy the unwrapping of parcels, the gathering together of family and the meeting up of his cousin holidaying here.
Toby is in the High Chair greeting his cousin Flynn
Toby unwrapping some gifts
Toby in his new remote controlled car....
This photo shows from one extreme to the other as as mentioned below the hail does have a beauty of its own....
As we have had an extended winter, the last days always bring a softness of the sun setting and this time of the year is a spot that I just love to be in my studio working. The cold days are over and as we never really have a heavy winter with snow and sleet, we have experienced a few spots of heavy hail which has a beauty of its own, it is just refreshing working with the windows open and the light shedding a different look through my studio.
To many it must look look like chaos....and there are times I feel enough is enough and get to and sort things out again, but as I am in the midst of projects one can't help but have all the pieces of fabric in piles around ones self to mix, match and decide what works best. I love to have the array of work around me as it is inspiration and often something that has been sitting around for a few months, suddenly comes to life as to what it could be made up into.
In between ideas and making things happen, it is good to share with friends and often towards the end of winter means some winter dinners. This is a time of sharing over good food and wine, what we hope for with the coming summer months.
Inbetween events I squeezed in going to Dunsborough for a Vintage Market Day. This was an interesting day to say the least. This sort of events attracts a certain crowd of people, who just love to go from one Vintage Day to the next and know exactly what they are looking for as this is a passion for them and many are building up a collection. Some collecting vintage china, others jewellery, others clothing, still others linen. It was a great experience and the two ladies either side of me were fun to be with. One of the ladies I had known from way back when we came on summer holidays to Dunsborough and I would beetle off to her shop of antiques etc to see what I could find - often gorgeous pieces of china!!
Margaret & her Vintage Jewellery - as she no longer deals with China having
had to give up her shop and concentrate on markets that are less stressful
My going to Sydney was primarily to spend time with my friend who has the most wonderful cottage up in North Balgowlah. The views are wonderful and there is a little glimpse in the middle of the view straight out from her lounge to see the ocean. The view means that when the cruise ships sail by especially at night all lit up, look like a treat sailing by. My friend recalls how her brother, when sailing his large Catamaran through, messaged her to take a look through her binoculars to which she could see him waive.
We thoroughly enjoyed walks, adventures to a couple of cafes and a few little purchases at favourite French stores. I was so glad that at the last minute I put an extra fold up canvas bag in the bottom of my suitcase !!!
As Shelagh works in the city, I caught the bus in with her on a couple of the last days, then caught a bus up to Woollahra to visit all the shops I had kept a list of...walking down Oxford Street into the City to meet Shelagh when she finished work.
This is just the next corner from where Shelagh works, the famous QVB where once you step inside it is magic with the old arcades fully restored and the intricately decorated shops. Well....
Nosing around Woollahra was like being in a little secluded village. Popping into 'Imagine This' full of vintage, French and Continental home-grown furniture they would say along with lovely homewares. Then on the corner of Queen Street is the wonderful French Antique shop called 'Parterre' where I found some vintage embroidery scissors, the ones with the large looped hand opening, so couldn't resist a couple pairs.. This is the start and as you wander down Oxford Street you can pop in and out of the most wonderful stores of fashion, furniture, home accessories along with gorgeous and quaint little coffee shops.
Wonderful old French urns and furniture and just love the moss that is growing in the cracks of the paving....
Many shop owners were more than happy for me to take photos and use on my blog - there is a feeling that it is more exposure for them but also engenders ideas for vignettes in ones home, as each season opens a newness to changing things around.
As I walked along Oxford Street, my head was buzzing with the beauty on the street being tree lined, with some owners using around the base of the trees to have planted bulbs or annuals that brought immense colour. One place I had wanted to see was 'High Tea with Mrs Woo' . It is a small store with wooden floor boards but a feeling of stepping into a mix of old and new. As I continued to walk these are some of the buildings I passed....
I wandered along to Lee Matthews store, who is a very feminine fashion designer with a whimsy for decorating her store and bringing memories of childhood sweetness back....
Continuing on my walk as I specifically wanted to go to 'The Society Inc' that is owned by Sibella Court, who also has written several books but along the way I chanced upon this lovely old church...
and another opening onto terrace homes and then passing by a lovely showing of a Magnolia Tree...
Now I arrive at 'The Society Inc' such a little shop but filled to the rafters and skinny stairway to the top where more storage is and work done!!!
The trip was everything and more and can't wait to go back and do some more fossicking around for more treasures and to do some photos of a beautiful Florist shop in Mosman Village that was more than just a Florist shop as it had wonderful accessories for flowers that the owner had brought in from the US.
The next blog will have a story of the Yallingup Vintage Market Day that was an adventure along with some leads to lovely shops and designers in Perth to have a sneak look at.
Winter brings a time of snuggling up with a good book. I have enjoyed reading Destined to Live' One Woman's War, Life, Loves Remembered of Savina Wolanski, who has just died after an incredible life, having come out from Poland to Sydney. Along with finishing reading and enjoying the photography of 'My Heart Wanders by Pia Jane Bijkerk - A celebration of taking risks, letting go and making a home wherever you are.....
Drifting from reading, into the kitchen, again find myself reminiscing that winters are great for cook ups, like fresh bread, cakes, yummy puddings, lemon butter and putting the slow cooker on....not only to reminisce but to be inspired from the inspiration of the cook books....of which I just love as many are as good for coffee table books too. I did get inspired to put a fresh vegie garden in after our long hot summer and now with the rain coming, it is flourishing. I am able to pick from it each day to put in my family lunches and salads. Having planted many bulbs with faith they will rise, they have begun to and oh what joy watching each day as they come further up....
The smells bring memories and pictures to mind having not only read good books but browsed through my favorite magazines....Cote Sud, Cote Quest, English Country Living, Selvedge, Frankie and Dumbo Feather. The last three magazines smell just as good as they are to enjoy reading with thick textured papers....reminders of when I was young and having saved my Saturday work monies and bought a new book. Just seeing some of the beautiful fashion designs has inspired me to once again pull out my vest pattern and make some new designs, along with some wonderful wool I found to knit a skinny scarf. I plan to add shredded cotton fabric bows sewn on it when finished to give it a whimsy look..... perfect with those jeans...
The photos reveal I have the projects finished.....I needed to as both were gifts, one for a friends Birthday and the other to take to Sydney with me for another special friend.
The weeks come and go with a ebb and flow, like the tide at the river not far from my home where I walk and think and often photograph. But this is just around the block from my home too a little lake.. which was man made so got me thinking what I could do outside my studio windows......
The beginnings of my dream of a little walled French Garden outside the windows of my studio is beginning to happen and to already see the birds come to feed and bath in the bird bath is just gorgeous....the wall is yet to happen and am on the scout/hunt for an old vintage gate or filigree wrought iron ....
There is still much ahead in this project, not just the wall, but vintage brick paving of paths and moss and ivy to be planted.....oh what joy over the coming months to work away at this little project or maybe it is going to be a big project. I think it will become a secret garden as well, somewhere where my dear little grandson Toby will be able to scuttle around, explore and hide....
Further instalments to come after I go to Sydney for a week of refreshment, ideas and time with my dear friend who lives in North Sydney as we will go exploring and who knows I may just find my wrought iron!!!! oh no thinks my husband but it can always be couriered across the miles. Any chance to have a time to fossick around and find things to add to collections and viginettes.
I had the opportunity to go with three friends to a women's gathering in Adelaide for a couple of days,where we had the most awesome time, especially up in the little town of Hahndorf. We discovered very quickly a unique restaurant that was set up in one of the original old homes, with restored wooden floors and redecorated with a classy modern edge that held you captivated with the simplicity of the ambiance. We thoroughly enjoyed not only fine food but the manner in which it was prepared and served, which made us detour again twice to come back and enjoy more.
We enjoyed the drives through the Adelaide Hills along with many long walks in the city itself and meandering through the Botanic Gardens, to lay on the grass musing, laughing and just enjoying the time of friendships and refreshment from all our busy lives. Like the little saying about taking time out to smell the roses.
For me, my eyes were open to anything new and inspiring, but mostly it was the gorgeous gardens that touched me as Adelaide has had more rain than us and this was so evident in the number of Parks and Gardens that were flourishing.
After a hectic time of preparing for advertising, replenishing stock and ordering more gorgeous fabrics time had come for a weekend away to just be!!!
We stay in a little cottage on the edge of the forrest, whereupon we wake to the call of the birds, the leaves rustling and the river running. As there is the sweetest little deck, we will have breakfast and read the paper and then head off walking through the forrest to the town. Our main indulgence is to find real coffee....so this time we found a treasure in the Blue Ginger Fine Foods Emporium. The food was the best along with the coffee. I am always looking for things that enhance ones life - good food, ingredients and things that add ambiance to ones table and environment. There was an array of fine food and accessories, which not being left un-tempted I left with a bag of goodies.
After coming home from Sydney, there was a window of opportunity to advertise in the Australian Country Style Magazine. So with time limits on preparing an advertising package, it has meant that not as much time has been spent blogging. There is an advertisement in the April issue and will also be in the May issue which is focusing on Mother's Day.
From the interest and orders flowing, many are favouring the rough hewn fabrics along with the French flavour in the softer fabrics. Some items have proved so popular I am running to source more, so please stay tuned to what will come up in the next couple of weeks. Many are one off designs because of the limited fabrics but there are always new ideas and fabrics being sourced to make up into products that make an impact in your home.
New fabrics have arrived and so begins more days of designing and sewing and I will have help from my dear friend. When we get together we start the day with coffee and homemade cake and then into the sewing. For lunch we find ourselves indulging in beautiful homemade delights as each of us enjoys cooking, then back into the afternoon refreshed for the tasks ahead.
As I am in the remotest part of Australia, getting orders to customers fast is a priority, but may take a little longer than I would like. Libeco products need to be ordered, causing a little delay.
Hoping you will enjoy the coming magazines, along with visiting and buying online.
This January saw me off to Sydney to stay in my friends home for a break to be able to write and get inspired as I would visit some fabric and decorating shops. Many of the usual fabric shops where still closed till mid January, so I had to make to wending my way around the retail fabic and design shops close to where I was staying. That was not hard to do as there are a few of my favorite ones not far from my friends home. I stilll managed to come home with metres of French fabric along with some vintage treasures. The fabrics are to be made up shortly but the vintage finds will soon be on the website under Vintage Linen, as I hope to build this section of my online shop up.
The weather was quite humid which lent itself to much swimming in the afternoons at a sweet little beach along the walkway to Manley Beach. It was more secluded with many trees to sit ones self to read, write and dry off before going for a walk. I did come home with a list of wonderful things to have made up during the course of the year along with many ideas of new products to be uploaded as well.
On thing I found that being in Sydney, that though it was quite humid, the gardens were just beautiful and the lawns flourished much more so than here in Perth as there would often be rain in the early evening or early morning and that would bring much refreshing. A little touch of Peony Roses that are often hard to grow, but here they have as I said flourished. Maybe I will give these another try along with my Tubular Roses....
