Sunday smocking

A shirt for Adelaide in the making.

I picked up this very fine check at Amitie.  It's a lovely Japanese fabric.

Kinder celebration

Yesterday Henri's kinder had their "Celebration" - not really a concert, but more a showcase of the special projects that have captured the children's interest.

Last term Henri started talking about dead mummies in boxes.  A rather macabre subject for 4 year olds I thought, until I realised he was talking about Egyptian mummies.

This is what he and his best friend Molly had to say about them: "The Egyptians wrapped up the Mummies when they died.  They wrapped mummies and daddies and even kids.  They wrapped up cat mummies and crocodiles; they wanted to take them to their other life."

Henri's contribution to the celebration was a set of mummified crocodiles.  Priceless.

Heavy with rain

It seems to often rain at 3 in the afternoon - school pick up time.

I took this photo earlier in the week as I arrived at school to pick up the boys.  A few minutes later it was hailing and the children were dancing around, squealing with excitement and scooping up tiny hailstones.

All time fave

I have an all time favourite fabric.  I've loved it for years.  It's a shirt weight swiss cotton in the most wonderful red that can also read as a pink, depending on what you put it with.

I've used it in quilts, and in Townmouse ranges past.  It's frightfully expensive so most of the time I've used it sparingly - to trim a neckline, for example.

Sadly the fabric is no longer available from the wholesaler. 

I've even tried to have it replicated by a shirting fabric mill in Turkey.  But they couldn't match the perfect colour.

Now I'm left with only the smallest remnants in my stash.  No piece is too small to keep for a future applique, quilt block or trim.

I had just enough to make this dress for Adelaide.  It's a size 0, so will fit her this coming summer.  I have a little ruffled bikini bottom in the same fabric that she can wear under it to cover her nappy.

On my iPod

I just found this on youtube.  This is the song Will's sister-in-law sang so beautifully last year.  It was one of Will's father's favourite songs.

Cute ad

Love this:

In the presence of amazing art ...

... they prefer to hide in the furniture.

Melbourne is a wonderful city.  We love it.

Between galleries we enjoyed pork gyoza in Federation Square.  We don't do it enough, but when we do get out and explore our city on the weekends, we have a great time.

More cross stitch

Here's a kitchen towel that is definitely impractical.

The grey embroidery looks pretty against the stainless steel benches and appliances in our kitchen.  This one is just for show.

The cross stitch design is from this book.