vivid sydney 2012

We headed into the city last night to see the Vivid Sydney light show, which is lighting up Circular Quay and surrounds this month. For non locals Vivid is an annual festival held in Sydney with the themes Light, Music and Ideas. Its often showcases avant garde ideas and I remember a few years ago Laurie Anderson held a concert for dogs on the forecourt of the Opera House and a few of my friends took their pooches (who didn't actually seem so fussed!).

Vivid is such a beautiful sight, if you're local I really recommend it, We parked near Sydney Theatre Company and walked round under the bridge and all the way round the Quay, into and up and round the MCA, then round to Customs House which has a bespoke animation playing on its front.

There was a really nice atmosphere, there were lots of families and kids and lots of babies too I noticed! it seems like everyone had a camera and the light installations are really accessible and interactive, especially the one near the MCA with flaps that jump the louder you scream!

Looking for somewhere to eat, and disappointed by the narrow choice between fried food joints and chef hats restaurant we suddenly stumbled across Young Alfred's outdoor dining area right on the square at Customs House, undercover and with a good view of the Customs House show. What a great find, it was really reasonable and so delicious. We shared a Caesar salad and Messi, Tito and Miles pizzas (roast vegetables and goats curd; caramelised onion, sausage and pecorino; and mozzarella, prosciutto, tomato & rocket).

I'm at my happiest exploring with my gang, and combining good food, art, landscape, a bit of instagramming and a cold beer... well it doesn't get much better for me.

Happy weekend everyone. If you have a chance go and see Vivid, but maybe not this weekend, its meant to rain, a lot! I'm thinking some food, crochet, and a bit of iView if its really miserable.

my creative space - skirt

I'm squeaking in on the last day of Cam's 'Make it in May' skirt sewalong today as well as joining in with My Creative Space. And I'm sort of cheating by entering Miss A's skirt which she finished last week. For one of her birthday presents this year I promised her a pattern, fabric and help with making her first sewn garment and this is what she chose. So technically I didn't make it, but I was a consultant on the project and might have sewn a couple of stitches here and there.

I was about thirteen or fourteen when I sewed my first skirt, from memory it was a wrap around in a thick blue drill which never really worked out. My friend Miranda and I went along to a night course and learnt the secrets of pattern sewing. She'd chosen a button front skirt in an expensive hessiany fabric. I can't remember seeing her wear hers either! I did go on though to use the skills I learnt there to make quite a few garments in my teenage years that I did wear.

I'm delighted to be passing on some of my skills to A, at about the same age, teaching her how to read a pattern, how to pin and cut out, how to sew and hem, how to fit elastic. This was a simple project but a good learning piece. And she loves the outcome and the fabric. The pattern is New Look 6004 view A.

I lined my model up against the wall in the middle of the dinner rush last night for some quick pics. Pippie had different ideas though and was trying to get her to throw the squeaky bone while I was shooting her photo!

Do you remember your first pattern? What did you make, and who taught you how to read a pattern? I'd love to know.

proposal

This is so beautiful, I just have to share it, a wedding proposal in a Portland neighbourhood with family and friends helping set the scene.