A DAY IN MANCHESTER

Had a day in Manchester today. Went on a walking tour which was most informative. We visited the immense Gothic town hall, the Rylands library, lunch in an old 15th century pub. So much history just walking around in wonder and awe of this city. Most of the world's cotton was woven here and that is why in Australia we call linen products like sheets manchester.

Another afternoon walking the lochs and canals in nearby Marple and Tameside

ALL ROADS LEAD TO BERLIN

Well that is our destination but a few stops along the way. First leg of the journey has brought us to Abu Dhabi  to break up the long flight. Tired and worn we arrive at the Traders hotel via taxi and fall into a comfy bed for much needed sleep.
Time to look around town with some brekky. We enter one of the many malls around town and end up here for brekfast.

Good coffee, great service then off for an amazing view from up in the tower behind the cafe. 

The jet lag is starting to set in now and can feel my feet dragging and my mind in neutral. I need to see something other than chain stores. A mall is a mall is a mall no matter what country you are in. Sorry but they are just plain boring!!!!!

So time for a bit of culture so we head off to the QASR AL HOSN the most iconic building in Abu Dhabi where life unfolded in the days before oil. Unfortunately it was under maintenance construction so we had to be satisfied with an historical exhibition. 

So the next most famous site is SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE. So we jumped into a taxi and headed out to this most wondrous site. One thousand gilt topped, marble columns designed to represent the cherished date palm. Intricate floral patterns meticulously crafted from semi precious stones and mother of pearl. Minarets topped with 24 carat gold and finest white marble throughout.

At the centre of the main prayer hall is is the world's largest crystal chandelier, one of seven, it measures 10 metres in diameter, 15 metres tall and weighs approx 9 tonnes.

The carpet in the main hall of the Grand Mosque is the world's largest hand woven carpet measuring 5,700 square metres and was created in Iran by a team of 1,300 weavers. Truly awesome and not to be missed by anyone visiting Abu Dhabi.

The view from our hotel room over flat roofs and out to the beach. Calling this a beach to an Australian is like calling a mud hole to a lake. It was like someone had made a pretend beach on the Parramatta river. I decided to stay in the shade of my Arabian tent.

 

May 3rd

Fly to Manchester UK where we are greeted by friends Alice & Helen. We arrive at their lovely home set up high on a hill overlooking rolling fields, bunnies romping in the fields, a young foal cantering here and there. So story book english.

Winter magic in the Blue Mountains

The Winter magic festival in Katoomba is the biggest event of the year in our town. It is to celebrate the beautiful Blue Mountains world heritage place we live in on the winter solstice. This year it is on saturday 22nd June and part of the celebration is ART STREET. Many of the shops will feature a local artist work in their window and the public can vote for their favourite art work. This is my window at OMNIA and the art work is by Jennifer Wright.

Hong Kong 2012

My first trip to Hong Kong. A strange place to visit if shopping malls are not your thing. It's all pretty interesting but wearing branded clothing is not my choice. Fashion to me is when you wear something that makes everyone go "wow where is that from" and them not knowing. To wear clothes where everyone can say oh look she is wearing a blah blah! or look she has a blah blah!! not my cup of tea.

The people watching is a treat though.  Anything from suits to multi coloured mix n match teens to octo generians. The main focus here is to shop. But it's the same shops as everywhere else. I don't think I like globalization!!!!!
Macau was interesting. I was told to check out the Venetian casino. What a treat. A minimalists nightmare!!!! shopping mall like your in Venice, gondolas and all.

Macau has a world heritage listing and there are lots of interesting landmarks to wander around. Macau has a quaintness and some soul left where HK lost it's soul along time ago.
Next stop SHANGHAI!

ON THE ROAD TO MELBOURNE

Well it is that time again. "TRADESHOW" time. Lots of prep before hitting the road to Melbourne.

Endless lists have been made, things ticked off, price lists prepared and double checks and then triple check of all stock and props ready to be loaded.

One year the freight company responsible for freighting all my props and stock to Melbourne lost the lot so, we went out and bought a station wagon and have driven down every year since. All those years doing markets taught me how to pack a car.

 So car is packed and we hit the road

I really enjoy this part of the trip. Out on the road watching the country side zip past. Sometimes it is lush and green other times dry and parched. Passing farms and through small towns until we hit the Hume then all small towns are bypassed.

 We always break up the trip and traditionally stay in Albury the first night. So after a Japanese dinner of okonominyaki we went to the movies and saw  Captain America in 3D

In the morning before we head off we visit an art deco exhibition.

Then back on the road to Melbourne.

First stop get keys for apartment.

 

Unload our baggage and on to the showground to start building the stand.

We start with a shell of black walls and floor. This is me putting up wall covering.

Then we get the floor down and then put up the shelving.

Now we did have some lovely pictures of the finished stand on Mark's new camera but somewhere along the way he pushed a button and eliminated them all. So here are a few pics of products and you can see a bit of the stand in the background.

Lots of silk and cotton booties

Our new silk kimonos made for both women & men with matching boxer shorts or lounge pants.

And our new cotton kimono with matching shorts or pants trimmed with vintage Japanese silks.

Now 5 days of hello blah blah blah look at my product blah blah blah would you like a pricelist and more blah blah blah!!!

PREPARATION or AVOIDANCE

Hi sorry for lack of blogs but been pretty flat out and now it is prep time for my next trade show in Melbourne. 

Totally stressed last week as I make new samples like a mad person, check and double check and check again that I have everything. This means endless lists that get re written again & again & again.

Anyway as a distraction I am in the shop learning about my new phone so I just took a little video of some of the delightful kokeshi for sale in my shop

BUSY DAYS

I don't understand the word boredom. This week in the shop it was gloomy and wet outside so I set myself some sewing tasks as well as a trip to Melbourne searching for silks, obis and kimonos.

I started the week making obi belts from vintage silks, obis & braids  see previous blog. http://alittlebitofeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/05/back-in-shop.html

Then I converted all the hill tribe skirts into wearable skirts

Then I decided to make some hot hotties. On these cold wintery days a hot water bottle can be so comfy and even more so enclosed in something perty.

To make these gorgeous covers I first have to turn my work shop into a total mess

by rummaging through my braids

and fabrics

I have used most of the obis and old kimonos bought in Japan last year so the search has been on.

Anyway I found some obis and kimonos a long way from home but worth the journey.

Scrounging for kimonos

And I finished off the week in the shop unpicking some of the obis I bought ready to reconstruct into bags and belts

BUSYNESS!!!!!!