Tasselled

Had quite an inspired day, yesterday.

Saw my friend, E and her textile works-in-progress.

E, is an artisan extraordinaire.

After morning tea,

we went downtown and looked in a couple of decorator stores.

I repurposed a bit of hoarding into this towered cup arrangement, as below.

I am not unhappy with it.

The tea-cup arrangement makes Mr Fascinata nervous.

Good thing, he doesn't do the dusting.

E brought over her latest tassel-in-progress, a technique called a fucshia style.

Hence, it's flower-like appearance.

These lovely fuchsias are from my Uncle's place in Tasmania.

A while back.

A micro-climate for growing camellias and gardenias, too, effortlessly.

So jealous.

All these parts will make a whole.

This is a close-up of E's pure wool hand-woven throw.

I am still crafting fleurs.

And, I am thrilled to be a part of a craft market, with some aid 

to the Motor Neurone Disease Association Inc.

Coming up on July 14.

At the Jindalee Bowls Club: 10am - 1pm.

I'll post more details, soon.

I'll be in very good company, with some of the members from the Embroiderers' Guild.

Make sure you get there early.

Here's E's lapel, sporting the hand-inked Akira wool Flora-one-of-a-Kind corsage.

Akira, if you are reading this, remember to email me about our collaboration, please.

We are going to get something cracking for E's House of Tassels.

Luckily for her, I might have found a demand through the lovely Amber Design Interiors blog,

Amber herself put out this plea; it's a good sign.

Camel Tassels

Hi Folks...I am desperately searching high and low to find Camel Tassels....yep, you heard me right. CAMEL TASSELS.This may sound like a strange request...unless you know me and then you are not surprised or shocked at the randomness.
After watching a recent episode of "An Idiot Abroad" when he took a trip to Egypt, I became infatuated with all the colors on the camels. Especially the particular one he rode across the Jordanian dessert to get to Petra. I could care less about the 7th wonder of the world or the great pyramids in Cairo....I wanted the CAMEL TASSELS. I want to hang them from a chandelier or sew them on pillows or use them as tie backs for my living room curtains. Or put them on my cat so she can look prettier....
1} an expert in the field of camel riding
2} a professional camel tassel maker 3} a desert dweller who herds camels across the sandy plains to entertain tourists?
or
4} a camel
Please forward me the pertinent information so that I may swindle myself some of these lovely adornments. Thank You kindly, Amber

All-out on Fleurs

Playing host to Valentino Garavani  in 2010, at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane,

was a lovely time for the House of Flora. 

His frocks arrived for four months, all the way from Rome.

The workers and I did an excursion there, too.

They said to me, it was the best time they'd ever had.

We ate a couple of macaroons each in the 'specially set up fashion cafe,

and flicked through expensive imported magazines.

That part of the trip wasn't quite linked to the curriculum.

When Valentino and I broke-up it was difficult, as he moved out on the day before my birthday.

Frocks packed up, ready for someone else to fall in love with him.

Not a care in the world.

Another bittersweet memory is the time I discovered Maison Guillet fabricant de fleurs, astonishingly accepted the general public, at Viaduct des Arts, Paris.

But they were closed for the New Year break, the time of my visit.

But on my next trip to Paris, I was devasted to find out Guillet had moved fleur production outside-the-peripherique,

the ring road circling Paris. Horrifique.

And was now only open to the high-end of town, YSL, Chanel and Dior, et al.

I'm going all out on fleurs, this week.

Nothing's going to stop me, not even a call from Philip Treacy.

Trying not to get distracted by these.

Philip's millinery meets strappy stilettos.

I'm focussed, head down.

Remember that pure silk organza?

It's found a new life.

Here's the before.

Here's the corsage, against a hand-beaded arachnoid, there's no end to some people's magic.

On a more important note, my boot camp trainer, who usually sends lovely, gentle and encouraging emails to keep us keen,

has released an alarming statement, declaring that,

'There's no need to wear fancing clothes to excercise'.

And that exercise is a simple thing to do.

Personally, I'm offended.

This diamante puma is not going to leave me anytime soon.

Got my lovely friend E, coming over soon, have all the necessary elements to make this beauty.

A Tarte Tatin.

Getting Cracking

Our lovely Queensland weather's back to its old-self, today.

Thank goodness, for all those bods who've spent a fortune to holiday here from further afield.

Speaking of holidays, I've used up 50% of mine.

Time to get cracking.

Despite a little sunshine, if you are not using this labour saving, cost-effective and health-promoting dry-heat cooking technique.

You're mad.

Sweet potatoes, pontiacs, salad onions, pumpkin, throw a bit of fennel in towards the end.

A couple of sprigs of rosemary, too.

Perhaps sans the duck fat to roast.

Olive oil?

But, nonetheless.

Took the trotters and hooves down for a mani and pedi, yesterday.

Something I'd usually never do.

Talk about under the influence.

I BYO'd my own colours, up-market, but originally bought as a nod to the sound fiscal sense of the home-mani and pedi.

Until, I read something from one of those French lovelies about the best mani in Paris, and next minute,

I was downtown Lutwyche, Brisbane. Asking the Salon if they had time for a walk-in.

Lovely thing, it turned out an ex-worker runs the salon. From days-gone-by.

In the middle of the pedi, he enquired, 'Did you work at the chalkface?'.

I really enjoy that sort of thing happening.

Here's some artistic license at the ready for the head frippery

of the Camellia Hat Salon.

This house model's much quieter these days, he's 87 years old.

These heady days are behind.

Might have to see the Salon set up outside, in this lovely weather.

Better get cracking on the dress-code.

Might wear a Flora-one-of-a-Kind.

These?

Enjoy the day.