Quilt Number 5

My black and white +1 in a crazy nine patch. I wasn't sure about it - now it's done I LOVE IT!

Life in Road Signs

I am at a crossroads in my life. A relationship is ending and I'm not sure about what will happen next. I'm feeling very directionless. I've ridden the bumps and dips, cried buckets, dreamt of running away, wanted someone to tell me what to do, questioned everything I feel and every decision I've ever made. For some reason I found myself googling road signs...detour, lane ends, wrong way go back, one way, give way, steep decline, slow down. They seem so appropriate for me right now and gave me a giggle. Perhaps I need to put some up around the house as a reminder that even when we get lost, go the long way, take the scenic route, get stuck in traffic, get bogged or the car breaks down we do end up at where we wanted to get to...... and it's about the journey and the old enjoy the ride adage!

Hexies are doing' it for themselves....

It's coming along....how exciting!!

Kaffe Fassett

Last week I went along to hear Kaffe Fassett speak. I have admired Kaffe since the 1980s when I first heard of him whilst living in the UK. I felt I'd found a kindred spirit as I longed to knit in vibrant colours and move away from very "traditional" knitting and Kaffe was paving the way being completely innovative in his approach to the creative process where wool was concerned. I admired him for many reasons, his use of colour and pattern and turning the knitting world on its head with a great injection of energetic colours and designs. This was my first experience of sitting and listening to him - of sitting and listening to any designer I've admired. It was a very low key casual chat about his creative process and how he draws inspiration from the world around him, from tiles at the local underpass to road works to nature to shapes. The projected images drew gasps and sighs from the audience. I felt so completely normal sitting there!! I was amongst those people who just "get it". They too see a quilt or other creative project as they enter a bathroom and see a particular configuration of tiles, or a repetition of colour and objects in a shop window. I had never seen a knitted picture (I make my own) and Kaffe has made them too! It was so reassuring to listen to him talk about his creative life. He's a lucky man to be living such a creative life and able to make a living out of it. I'd taken along one of my Kaffe books for the book signing and was looking forward to meeting him. Unfortunately I found that a very deflating experience after the talk. He was so disengaged. He didn't ask your name, just signed your book, handed it back and looked to the next person. I've been to several book signings and always engaged with the author, so I was very disappointed. Perhaps a sign of his age and fatigue from 2 months on the road and the heat in Perth? Anyway I'm glad I've seen him - it's something I can cross off the list - but I wouldn't pay again.

Summer rain

The heat this summer in Perth has been unbearable. I can't wait for winter and I dream of living in a cold climate. The heat just immobilises me. It's oppressive. Luckily it's not humid - I really wouldn't cope. A few days ago we were treated to some summer rain - pretty unusual for January. I didn't hesitate to get out in it and get soaked to the skin - absolutely positively soaked to the bone!! I danced around the garden in pure sheer glorious delight and felt young again. Young as in stomping around in puddles, laughing and giggly in the tropical downpours I grew up with in Brisvegas. Oh how I wish my sisters were there to join in! We'd play for hours building dams at the bottom of gutter downpipes,hold our hands out until they filled with rain water and then take gulps of the delicious flavoured water. Jump and watch the earth squelch between our toes. Probably why Singing in the Rain is one of my all time favourite movies.

My very own Elvis

One of my favourite childhood memories is of my Dad singing and dancing to Elvis. Often after dinner he would put on records and sing along and dance like Elvis. Karaoke long before there was a name for it!! I would laugh and sing and then he pull me and my sister up to dance with him teaching us how to dance rock and roll In those moments I was mesmerised by him. He could have been a star! I thought he was the most fun and talented dad! I would be laughing and giggling and completely caught up in the fun. I never wanted those nights to end! Dad sang a lot. In those days we spent a lot of time in the car, especially in the summer holidays when we'd drive from the Gold Coast to Sydney. And Dad and all of us would sing for hours on the drive to pass the time. His signature tune was "The Red, Red, Robin.."

Every summer in the seventies I spent 2 weeks at Kirra with my Grandma, who owned Tondarra, a block of holiday flats. I loved the beach and the balmy evenings, running around with all the other kids at night playing hide and seek. Getting up every morning and walking to the corner shop for my chocolate milk in a mini milk bottle. Days spent at the beach, visiting Santaland, Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, the chair lift and the original Sea World. We'd have a tomato sandwich for lunch - or corned beef and pickle and a glass of cordial. Evenings we'd play cards or as I said run around the yard. You never could get the sand off your feet - and someone would always be sweeping up the sand. At some stage there would be an Elvis flick on tv and we'd all watch it and snooze the heat of the afternoon away. Blue Hawaii is my all time fave...from the first time I saw it, I loved it and dreamed of visiting Hawaii (I still haven't) and sitting beachside at a bar drinking a cocktail out of a pineapple with some elaborate garnish. I found this fabric panel online and it was a no brainer! I've stretched it over a canvas and hung it in the living room. Mostly it brings a smile to my face or on days like today - I'm a bit overcome with nostalgia and missing those musical times with my dad. I can't believe he's been gone for nearly 4 years. I can still hear him singing my song "If you knew Susie, like I know Susie" and "KKKKatie, Beautiful Katie" He had a song for each of us. When my daughter Georgia - his first grandchild was born - he rang the delivery room and sang "Hey there Georgie Girl" down the phone to her. It was so special. Thanks for the music Dad, you are my own very special elvis xxxx

Pet participation at Christmas

Boy did we have fun!!

More from George

A couple more of the tree....

Thanks to George

Flicking through photos with my daughter George, little did I know she had taken her own Christmas photos on the day we put the tree up. And being a much better photographer than me, she took a decent few. Here's the view past the customary mince pies and eggnog that we enjoy as we decorate and admire our handiwork and the "magicalness" of a twinkling tree. It is without a doubt one of my all time favourite things...a sparkly tree at night.

Decorations