Sydney Opera House - The Ship Song Project

I planned to do this post a few days ago when a friend from my choir group emailed me the link but I've been offline for a couple of days cleaning and getting ready for a house guest who arrived yesterday (163 items in my Reader!).

Anyway, earlier in the year our choir learnt The Ship Song by Nick Cave/Tony Backhouse.  It took a few months to get it right and we performed it at The Ferncourt Fair back in May.  When we nail it it brings goosebumps and I have even had people who hear us perform it say that it also gives them goosebumps.  I think it's one of the best songs we perform and certainly one of my favourites.  Makes all the work worthwhile! 

So here is what I wanted you to see, a fabulous version of a beautiful song created by the Sydney Opera House.  It is best viewed at The Ship Song Project but if you can't be bothered going there you can click on the clip below.  See how many famous faces you can spot!

Market Bag for Mum

It was my Mum's birthday last Sunday.  I'm really into giving things that are practical so I made her this market bag over a week ago and sent it to her (she' currently on an extended holiday in the Med).  Life is quite different there, she doesn't have a car so does her grocery shopping on a more daily basis.  I got the idea from Traci's versions of the Jane Market bag but worked out the basic pattern myself with the help of the free Poochie Bag pattern.  The finished bag is much larger at 14"x14.5".

Click for a larger image

I wish I had taken a photo of the back (no pocket) and the lining (the duck egg blue dot) but I was in a hurry to get to the post office.  The floral is a Lecien I have had in my stash for a couple of years, it's quite a heavy fabric I'm not sure if it's duckcloth.  I only used interfacing (Vilene H640 iron-on fleece) on the straps to give them some padding and I like the dimension it gives with the topstitching.  I also had a play around with no-cord piping in the construction of the pocket out of the same fabric I used on the straps.  It was a complete experiment since I've never worked with any kind of piping before.  The bottom of the pocket where I turned it right-side out is not perfect but a least it's hidden.

I think the bag has got a Cath Kidston & retro vibe but it is quite appropriate for an elderly lady.

There are a few more photos on my Flickr.

Heavy Metal Quilting

Image by Ryan Hendon via My Love for You

Check out this dude, Ben Venom over at My Love for You.  What Ben can do with a few heavy metal tshirts and a sewing machine is amazing!  Hats off to this guy!!

Girls Winter Bonnet - Version 2

I decided that Scarlett needed a second bonnet to co-ordinate with all her pink clothes.  The other bonnet goes well with purples and corals but not the pinks.  I do love pink in every shade but I do try to dress Scarlett in other colours too.  We actually do a lot of plum/purplish shades & dusty pinks and mauves which really suit her fair/reddish complexion. 

Twinkle Twinkle

This bonnet is made from a deep ruby-pink pinwale cord and a floral Tana Lawn I found at Spotlight of all places!  Spottie actually had quite a good selection of the Tana Lawn (made in Japan too), I'm assuming it's a Liberty rip-off?  Anyway, as much as I would love to be loyal to Liberty my bank balance isn't and I do like being able to select things by hand instead of online.  They also had a range of vintage reproduction prints which were too cute but I had to restrain myself as I do not have a need for any new fabric.

I had a hard time getting good photos of her modeling the bonnet, and I did take a heap.  I don't think our point and shoot camera is very good either, the colours are not quite right (except for the one below).  Lewis wanted in on the action too. 

 

 

The pattern is available from Little Betty for only six bucks (less in A$)!!