Today as I was making final preparations for my long journey Down Under, I tried to explain to Sophie that since I was going south of the Equator, the season would be the opposite of our current season here in the US.
"It's Spring here, so it is Fall there" I explained. "They've had their first snow in the mountains."
"So even though we have new Spring flowers here, the leaves are turning colors there?"
"Yes, and the birds fly North for winter, instead of flying South as they do here."
Then I tried to explain to her how I'd be traveling to "tomorrow" since I was crossing the Date Line, and that when I flew home I would be traveling for 24 hours, but arrive home just a few hours later than I left. (departng in the afternoon, and landing the evening of the same day…after crossing the Date Line again)
Fortunately Sophie has seen "Around the World in 80 Days" so she sort of gets the part about gaining a day by crossing the Date Line.
These mysteries of the Universe are no less puzzling than the mysteries of sewing:
Why is it that when you are on a deadline for a project, both your main machine and your backup sewing machine will break?
Why is it that you always run out of the matching fabric at the very end when you are almost finished?
Why is it that we always prick our finger when working with solid white fabric?
The remedy for all three of these mysteries, in my opinion, is a floral applique. Hand-sewing an applique over a mistake is where that saying "Necessity is the mother of invention" came from. Is that how Baltimore Albums first started, I sometimes wonder…? Haha, ok I am kidding, so don't bombard me with emails about the history of Baltimore Albums. *smile*
Anyway, when life hands you a broken sewing machine, a fabric shortage, or a spot of blood, there's nothing like a good old fashioned appliqued flower to fix up everything. I say this tongue in cheek, but you'd be surprised how many lovely applique quilts are born of this necessity. This is where keeping your sense of humor comes in handy, when encountering frustrations in the quilted garden. After awhile one starts coming up with creative variations like Broderie Perse and 3-D multi-petaled blossoms!
I am departing Wednesday night, and landing in Melbourne on Friday the 13th. You can follow me on Facebook, or watch for my next few newsletters.
I'll be at the Melbourne Australasian show April 14-15 (walking the show, and hopefully meeting many of you!), and I will be giving a presentation in the Canberra area on Saturday April 21st at the Jerrabomberra Community Centre in Queanbeyan.
(photo: Spring flowers at Pike Place Market in Seattle)
Hello Luana,
Enjoy Melbourne, there is good coffee to be had in a wonderful lane between Little Collins Street to Collins Street……if you have time stroll through Block Arcade and also ….. up the top end of Collins Street…. somewhere ! there is a lane or two that is an out door gallery of Grafitti art, the building walls are covered with well executed works.
I live not far from the Great Ocean Road, I assume you will be driving to Lorne….
At a public hall in Deans Marsh, ( 20 minute drive through the forest inland from Lorne), the stage curtain is a wonderful work of art…… embroidery, applique, painted, hand dyed, photo transfer……dipicting local flora and fauna, farming activities, local history, aboriginal heritage. The curtain is some metres in dimension. It was worked on by many local women and children, over many days and weekends, some women returned to the hall who had moved away some years ago…… some of those women had worked on the original curtain.
This curtain was to finally replace the original curtain that was hand stitched during the war…… cannot remember if at the end of European conflict……but local women, Red Cross members and Country Womens Asso. members, worked and fashioned a curtain with finite resources. That curtain is now held by the Victorian Museum in Melbourne.
I have just googled the curtain…..www.deansmarsh.org.au, and I am surprised and pleased that the page actually shows my contribution….sulphur crested cockatoos ! how wonderful . If your time time allows, perhaps on your return journey to melbourne…..you could call in…..
Also at Lorne, can recommend Cuda Bar for very good food; there is also a cafe/restaurant right on the beach, sort of attached to the public pool, have not eaten there yet; take a walk along the pier; there is an art gallery called Qdos in the bush, over the hill behind the main township, a very pleasant space also with cafe and outdoor sculpture.
Historically the Great Ocean Road starts at a place called Eastern View and runs through to Apollo Bay.
I will advise you to DRIVE CAREFULLY and drive somewhat to the left in your lane…..not to the centre line. There are some stunning views from a number of corners and bends…….the weather is reported to be quite nice and warm for your visit……Enjoy……Heather
Your comment of pricking your finger and being concerned about blood on white fabric reminded me of an incident in January. I’ve been sewing for 30 odd years and one evening while sewing a seam for a quilt backing, I ran the sewing machine needle through my middle finger as I was guiding the fabric through. How this ever happened, I don’t know, but my first concern was “did I get blood on the fabric”. My next thought concerned how many pieces the needle broke into as I could see the tip of it sticking out the other side of my finger. My husband was able to pull it out but it wasn’t very long so we knew there was still some inside my finger. The ER doctor said it would be more of a mess if they tried to get it out as it was just under my fingernail, so there it lies.
I enjoy your blog and have shared your photographs with my husband who loves them!
Love the beautiful colors in these flowers!! I love to make colorful quilts and have recently stretched out of my comfort zone to create two quilts using fabric that I bought on your site. It was a Frida Kalo pattern and my sister and niece — both artists — just loved it!!! I’m so glad I found you!!
Susan
The tradition among wedding-dress-makers is that there should always be a tiny blood stain somewhere on the dress. That way, the seamstress/seamster has taken the ‘pain’ away from the wedding already, and hopefully from the marriage as well.
Just another little service we provide…
Hope you enjoy your time in Melbourne! I’m going to AQC today (Thursday), so won’t get the chance to say Hi to you in person.
You know why you run out of material/thread, the machine breaks down or you prick yourself, its because of the guy called Murphy and his law. If any thing can go wrong you can guarantee that Murphy is around the corner just waiting for his chance
Have a great time here in Oz