To market, to market..

...the Main Road Market in Ballarat, that is.   

Yesterday (Sunday 11.12.11) I shared a market stall with my friend Sarah who makes divine children's clothes.  I'm always happy to plug a friend's talent, given she was nice enough to let me share her stall.  We also shared fun, laughter  & coffee (lots)

    

We had half a table each, given neither of us had enough for one whole table.

And here is my contribution



My sugarloaf pouches & rectangular rings for bag-making



Me looking happy because I SOLD SOME THINGS !

The face-painting fairy lady was fantastic, what an artist!  The kids loved her.

Steiner School Spring Fair, Castlemaine

...Gathering (our shop in Newstead) had a stall on Saturday 5 Nov just outside Castlemaine, and some of my bags were featured.
some pics here. 

Me working hard - flogging stuff!

One of the hard workers at Gathering



A closeup of my bags, both large and small



It was a very hot day which was great as it brought the people out.  I was really impressed at how well the Fair was organised.  These things take a lot of effort and they managed to pull all the elements together to make a really balanced day, both for kids and adults.

I think I'll take a small break from sewing like a madwoman, given the downhill run to Christmas.

the Flash

4 new bags..no less

... I have been busy.

Toile - y  good!

Shiny

More B&W beauties

Do you like my photo in the background?  I'm nuts about church doors, or any old, interesting doors for that matter.

Doc Martin is back again

Okay, okay so I'm a devotee and proud of it.  I'm SUCH a devotee that I even made sure I visited the town of Port Isaac (Port Wenn is the TV name) where Doc Martin is filmed.  And unlike other locations it is almost exactly like you see on the teev.  I loved it, it is one of the most beautiful places we visited on our UK tour in 2008. 
And to prove I was there, here are my photos of the cove, the Doc's surgery and the steep road up to it, Louisa's cottage, the Large family restaurant, etc. etc.  I heartily recommend a visit if you are in that part of the world, you won't be disappointed. 
The locals were really funny though, they were a bit huffy if you mentioned the TV series and rolled their eyes. Seems they were fed up to the back teeth of film crews barging in and disrupting their idyllic life.  I see they were talked into filming this latest series again though (money talks !)

Hail Caesar? no Hail Ballarat

Wow, what a storm. Some of the biggest hail stones I have ever seen. 

My patio at 3.30 pm

I have also taken a few videos which I shall attempt (for the first time, note) to upload to Youtube. They even have sound!  I'll keep you posted.  Must get off the computer - shouldn't be on it in a storm so they tell me.

the Flash.

Anyone for coffee?.....

..Coffee coloured purses I mean.  These have been on the boil for several weeks and I had time to finish them on the weekend.

A short pictorial blog today, alas no time to wax lyrical!

It's Mental Health Week

..which is just as well as I could do with a bit of mental health.  I'm feeling like one of those poor mice on a treadmill.  If I get off will I go off in a spin around the room and land splat in a huddle on the floor? 

Or will I in time resemble this poor dear?   (I sincerely hope not.)

At least she's remembered to pencil in her eyebrows !

I crave some of the time-honoured wisdom of Phyllis Diller, a mad and funny lady herself -

"I admit, I have a tremendous sex drive. My boyfriend lives forty miles away."

- Phyllis Diller

Ta ra fellow bloggers
the Flash

The trouble with Harry...

that is, the trouble with being Flash Harry is that there is only me to do the sewing.  That would be okay of course of everything else stopped needing to be done.  Plus my home computer is refusing to do what it is supposed to do as well, so my aim of blogging every day in October has been shot down in flames (I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!)
Okay, so I'm having a bit of a whinge!  But what I need is   a) a housekeeper   b) a cook   c) a purpose-built studio with everything that opens and shuts and plenty of storage.   

and the most important thing I need would be d) unlimited time to sew and design and just dream....


Okay, okay so that's not going to happen. "Welcome back to the real world and just get over it  Sunshine" (my friends would say to me!)

So what I really need today is a big laugh, so I turn to my tried and tested website for all things funny for a Quote for the Day.

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups"


Taken by me last Nov in St.Andrews, Scotland. Got to love those Scots and their sense of humour!



More shiny matching bags...

...I am getting slightly obsessed with the whole matching thing but can't resist 'cos they look so nice. (Note to self:  "stop acting like a Virgo, stop acting like a Virgo")
These little bags are great for any small bits and pieces that you don't want rattling around in the bottom of your bag.  Plus they can be attached to a purpose-made ring I've made, on the inside of the bag for easy access. I use them to store my mobile phone, change, make-up, anything.  Very handy.

Denim combo bag with matching sugarloaf pouch

Even the braid matches the bag

Cute as a bug !

We're almost at middle of October, how scary is that!   Hump-month ??

Art I love - T Barbey

This is all I know about Thomas Barbèy - He grew up in Geneva, Switzerland and his influences are Rene Magritte, M.C. Escher and Roger Dean.  I just love his work, see if it resonates with you too.




Shortcut to China

 


Swell Time in Town

Peek a Boo




Absolute Faith






Masquerade (my favourite)

 

 Enjoy.

And a quote for the day from the Bard,  "This above all: to your own self be True"   

Baby swaddled..or tortured - I can't make up my mind...

..this is just wrong, wrong, wrong !  And hilarious.  My daughter and I were shopping in a pharmacy in Ballarat on the weekend and did a double-take when walking by this weird sight so I just had to take a photo, hands shaking with laughter hence the slightly fuzzy photo.  We both did the oooooh, scream thing.  It's like something from a horror movie (cue baby voice "let me out, let me out!"). 
The juxtaposition of the sign 'Happy Babies' in the background was not lost on us, either.

 I wonder what the pharmacy staff think of it?

Shiny, shiny, shiny...new pouch

... and it matches the denim combo paisley blue Ric Rac bag as you can see.  A marriage made in heaven?  I hope so.

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In...

..was one of my favourite TV shows growing up.  It was funny, zany, kooky, psychedelic and fun, fun fun.  Does anyone out there remember it?  Reply if you do.  Some pics may help you to go down memory lane and relive the magic.  Remember sock it to me!  Big Al and his bell?  Judy Carne getting water sloshed on her nearly every episode?  And let's not forget Goldie Hawn who had the best giggle ever.

is that a chicken joke?

Join my blog as a Follower and drop me a line. Share your memories of the 60s. 

BlogtoberFest 2011

I joined BlogtoberFest yesterday and am attempting to blog everyday

So, this is my quest if I choose to take it...to blog and blog well everyday throughout October.

BlogtoberFest was thought up by the very clever http://tinniegirl.blogspot.com/

Weekend in the Dandenongs - more photos

Belgrave and surrounds are just on the cusp of bursting into life  (it has been a long Winter hasn't it?)
I took some shots of birds and bush and the promise of Spring....

Old Bird House - Glen Harrow gardens



King Parrots - action shot



Part of the historic Glen Harrow gardens (entrance pillar)

This old tree reminds me of the Ents in Lord of the Rings

These little white flowers were everywhere in the Dandenongs - can someone enlighten me as to their name?



"I like to do all the talking myself.   It saves time, and prevents arguments. "

Oscar Wilde