An Outing

Knowing that being outdoors would help me adjust to the 15 hour time change, the four of us went to the Saturday weekly Paddington Market. It's a popular activity, held on the Paddington school grounds. Dozens of artists and assorted vendors offer their wares from vintage and designer clothing to jewelry, soaps, and artwork. On a beautiful autumn day it was a nice place to be.

I made a purchase that was tucked inside a pouch, adorned with this cute koala.Inside, this set of pewter wine charms.

A kangaroo, wombat, platypus, koala, kookaburra, and echnidna - all critters we don't see in Iowa! It was a great outing for the family, and I discovered that little Tay is a shopping trooper.

After several hours at the market, we popped over to the Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre to visit Spotlight.

I've heard about Spotlight through quilters' conversations, and found the store's merchandise comparable to Wal-Mart. The fabric and notions department at Spotlight is similar to that of a Wal-Mart, though I am aware that Wal-Mart is eliminating this area in their stores.

Department merchandise is varied and generally available at a bargain rate.

Fabrics sell between AUD$6 and AUD$20 a metre (39.5 inches).

I've discovered that we - at least in the Midwest - have it good! Our prices for quilting fabics and notions is extremely reasonable, even when we're paying $10 a yard for batik. Australia's a big island, so with import fees and shipping costs, it's only natural that the price for US fabrics would necessarily be higher. So while I adore Australia, and Sydney in particular, economically I'm very grateful to live in Iowa.

By the way, a clerk at Spotlight noticed my selvage bag! She commented that she'd only seen pin cushions made with selvages, and that she liked my bag.

Smiling,

In a Land Down Under

The collywobbles are gone. Thanks to friends who were praying for me for a safe trip, and a gradual re-familiarity with flying - take-off, land, take-off, land, take-off, land - I was actually able to enjoy my window seat view as our United flight arrived in Sydney at about 6:25 a.m. Friday morning.
Having been to Sydney before, I figured out that our plane circled north of the CBD (Central Business District), then landed from the west. This was my view of downtown Sydney. In the center, below the plane's wing tip, is the Harbour Bridge, and to the right is the white top of the Sydney Opera House. The bridge in the center is the ANZAC (Australia/New Zealand Army Corps) Bridge, also referred to as "Madonna's Bra" for the pairs of suspension wires over the bridge.My family was extremely patient, waiting for me outside the customs area for over an hour. In the epitome of poor timing, three jumbo planes landed simultaneously - ours, Singapore and Emirates airlines. Hundreds of weary, frantic travelers meant long passport clearance lines, chaotic luggage carousels, and even longer customs screening lines.

To say that I was happy to see my family is an understatement. Today, an outting to Paddington Market and trying to get this body clock adjusted.

Friday Flaunt - BB Bags

Wanting a new bag to handily carry my travel essentials, I came upon this pattern by Mickey Beebe called "BB Bags." Mickey has well-written instructions for three size bags - big, travel, and teeny.

I first made the travel size (6" X 5-3/4"), going for a fun look with these bright colors.

Inside

Several interior storage compartments.

Another pocket on the back.

After making it, I decided I'd prefer the big size (7" X 8-1/4").

Having made the bag once made the second time easier, so I pushed myself to try it with selvages. Boy, do I love this! Sewing with selvages is fun. And this bag is perfect for traveling.

Front with a zipper pocket near the top.

Inside with another zipper pocket.

Interior pockets.

Back with a pocket.

I think I could become addicted to selvage-sewing. I've got heaps of selvages since I've been collecting them for about ten months. I cut off a one-inch strip from each printed or color-windowed selvage.

I'm wearing this travel bag from Des Moines to Denver to San Francisco to Sydney. Might it be a conversation-starter? I'll let you know.

U-Pink Travel Neck Pillow

A couple days ago I made this travel pillow for neck support during the long flight from San Francisco to Sydney.

The pillow is 12" (30 cm) across and 13" (33 cm) from back to front.

It's two pieces of Minkee - this mottled pink on one side, and a solid hot pink on the other side. No one will mistake it for their own!

I serged three layers together:

Minkee; interfacing to stabilize the Minkee; and polyester batting.

Then, with Minkee right sides together, I sewed around the inside and outside perimeters, leaving an opening on the outside for turning inside out. It's stuffed with polyester fiberfill, and the opening is hand-stitched closed.

Hopefully, I'll have comfortable, pink dreams all the way to Oz.

Oz Family

Our daughter and her family live in Sydney, Australia. Australia is Aus for short, or Oz for fun.

On a recent Easter weekend trip, they drove south of Wollongong and Kiama (New South Wales) to Jervis Bay. They shared a few pictures with us.

Jill

Maher, Celina and Tay

Celina and Tay are the two darlings - and who's grandchildren are not absolutely adorable?! - I will spend time with in just a few days!

I can scarcely believe I am returning to Oz! Though thoughts of the trip - Des Moines to Denver to San Francisco to Sydney in about 25 hours - give me collywobbles (Di, I'm grateful you taught me this perfectly descriptive word!) being with this family, these children, again will be wonderful.

Have I mentioned yet... I am so blessed to get to go to Oz again!

Cake, a Quilt, and Candied Hexagons

This weekend we celebrated our Dad's 80th birthday. Strawberries were the dessert theme with my sister making a strawberry silk pie, and me making a strawberry Jello poke cake. That's our smiling brother with the camera.Since nephew Adam attended the get-together, I had the occasion to give him this string-pieced quilt. I blogged about the quilt here. He's the last of four nephew to receive one of my quilts. I've given a quilt to each of them on a "no occasion day." That's kept the pressure off me to make a quilt for a special occasion - a real set-up for failure in my book!
Since we celebrated Dad's birthday in Kansas City and had a three hour drive each way, I pulled out my traveling hexies (Candied Hexagon quilt) for hand-piecing during car time. (Loz I took your advice to have my husband "...drive you up and back the freeway whilst you sew.")

If I'd taken along a third row of hexies, I could have gotten those sewn together too.

My travel hexies will fly with me to Australia later this week.

Ach, those pre-trip collywobbles are coming on with a vengeance.