I've Been Tagged!

Lucy 'In The Sky' tagged me with my first ever Blog Award! How lovely! I met In The Sky at good old Ravelry, Yay! Thanks Lucy! I want to live where you live, it looks so pretty and green. We could have cups of tea.

Now, I have to tell you 10 things about myself that you don't know. Which is hard and I've done it twice so far (you'd think I'd remember) and my computer HAS CRASHED! Which it never does. So, if I get through, I'll publish BEFORE I award 10 of my favourite bloggers too! Ok?

1: My middle name is Fiona and I was named after the female character in Brigadoon. Mum and Dad went to see the play when Mum was preggers. Dad still calls me Fiona sometimes (in cards) and my Uncle used to call me Robyne-Ona, or the alternative, Fleas-Onna.

2: When I was 15-16 I went to Melbourne College of Textiles for a one year course, but because I started part way through the year I missed the embroidery component.

3: I still bit my fingernails at age 52 years and 11/12ths.

4: My friend Marion and I went for a drive (hitch-hike) up in the Dandenong Ranges one day (1973-4) and got a lift with Brian Cadd, a well known Pop musician of the day. We sat in the back and put our bare feet up on his leather and wood old-Jag upholstery and he didn't hassle us at all. We were too cool for school because he was a bit daggy, but we cooly bragged about it later.

5: I worked for five years as a gardener here at Cloudehill, doing paving and hedge-clipping and all manner of proper gardener slog, even though I'd not had a garden since I was a wee thing. It's not what you know, it's Who You Know.

6: I hate mushrooms, crab and oysters. I'm ashamed to admit that, but it's true. I hate them.

7: I named my daughter Lucy before I knew that my Grandmother's middle name was Lucy, my great-grandmother's name was Lucy, my great-great grandmother's name was Lucy and my great-great-great grandmother's name was Lucy.

8: In all my family history, I have not found a single convict.

9: I got a 3 day old goat as a pet when I was 12. Dad said she was lucky to learn to walk becaue I never let her down. So cute.

10: My teenage friend and I tried really, really hard, and I mean really truly sincerely honestly hard to send a psychic message to someone, then went around to see if he'd been at least thinking of us at all, even vaguely. And he hadn't.

Countdown To My Big Trip!

2 more sleeps. I woke up ridiculously early today, remembering or thinking of things I needed to include. My Duck Doiley's to crochet the edges of. Note to self: cut and Fray Stop the edges before I go.

The little tapestry I have ready to do is another version of Mme Riviere, by Ingris. But in Pop brightness and for fun. Maybe to make a bag or something? And easy to see (and work on) in the low light of the plane. It's hard to decide. Or, do I wait and make a very fine petit point on silk with silk... but not of a cropped Mademoiselle, whole? To frame? I may tire of the image if I do it three times... or not? The painting is at the L:ouvre too, I just have noticed!

And because my black glass beads broke, I pulled out my necklace making gear and ended up (finishing) knotting my expensive garnet-coloured, interestingly cut Swarzkovski (?) crystals, and my great grandmother's pearls. To take. To Paris.

My Eldest & Youngest Grandsons

Just hanging.

I'm off to Paris on Tuesday, and I've had most of the week off, not to sew, or prepare, but funked down with an awful nasty cold! Really sore throat, really sore chest, etc. etc. And it's a girl cold too. Imagine how bad it would be if I was a boy. However, it will be gone enough by Tuesday and completely forgotten by Wednesday.

I may have done some sewing, actually.

My New Darling

I found this darling at the local Op Shop. And fell in love. He/She's stuffed with whatever and sewn however. With a very gentle, kindhearted disposition.

Crap Photo's Of My New Jacket

Finished at last!! It's very comfortable and suitably snug. Perfect fit. With much coming and going and unpicking and recutting and hunting etc. I have finally finished. There are a few things I'd do differently... I'm a bit out of touch and my bum is rather large (which no amount of pattern cutting will alter).

Detail, worked by my Mum ever so long ago. From an unfinished thingy.

Looking up inside the cuff.

Vintage buttons.

Secret pockets at cuffs, in side seams.

Back, obviously. I ironed vellum onto the lining and made the quilted fabric. It looks so luscious and yum. You can make out where the cuff pockets are in this pic.

Inside. Nice lining huh?

Bad photo of the front. Two different Prince of Wales check fabrics. Wool, and wool-silk.

In Chain Cables

This vintage pattern comes from an old booklet belonging to RubyRedRabbit on Ravelry. It was so pretty that I nagged her for a pattern!

Japanes Fabric Skirt For Bicycle Riding In The Paris Sun

Ancient buckle.

I just made this skirt, using old, reclaimed Kimono fabric from Kazari. It's a bit mental and SO bright, but feels pretty. After all, I'm having some summer time in Paris! This is for riding-bicycles-to-Versailles-type activity. I've almost finished my marathon jacket too, and can't wait to share.

In my old age, I have chubby upper arms (damn!), and it's hard to accomodate it in patterns or bought clothes. I'm getting to know my patterns a bit, though. That's a constancy thing... you need to adjust then try again, a lot. Eventually you get there and know what needs to be done.

The best thing I've done is get a basic block made up for myself, even if it is a FATTY BOOMBA size. I can lay it on a pattern and adjust.

These fabrics have been accumulating for a few years now. Most of it is a light weight wool. I used cotton voile for the lining as I find the silks (synthetic) wear out and rip way sooner than the skirt is worn out. It's cut on the cross. I didn't hem it but cut it with pinking shears, with a couple of rows of stitching for good measure.

Don't tell me I'm too old for this skirt.

Red (vintage) bias tape as a waist facing.

Pretty, soft lining.

Leif's Birthday Owl Hat

As soon as I saw this pattern on Ravelry, I knew I had to have it. Designed by Irina Poludnenko. I think she was hassled into making a pattern and sent me two for the price of one. $6 it was. Cheap! The others art cute too.

I already have two orders from other family memers. Maybe...

Off To Paris In Three Weeks!

For just eight nights, but Whoo Hoo! I'm excited!

I have to say that the woman who bought my crazy quilt has bought my tickets and we will visit loads of textiley things, includiong the Bayeux Tapestry and the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries etc.

Any 'must do's', please email me.

I've been busy making clothes to wear and yes, I'll post some pics. Troublwe is, at the mo, when I get home it's dark. Same as when I leave for work...

Speaking of work, I'd better dash.

x

P.S. 11 hours in London too. Ideas....?