La Via da Qui

I found this post title sitting in draft. Apparently I loved my little life too much to take the time to explain what it was I loved. Cute.

First ride on my new road bike, a Giant Defy 2 (2014). It was SO much easier than kicking along on my old hybrid. Felt like I hardly had to work at all, most of the way. So...why did it take me the same amount of time to get home, while burning the most calories I have ever burnt, with the highest heart rate I've had since I was in my early 20s?? I don't know! Maybe the sea breeze was harder. Maybe I'm just out of form (it is the first time I have ridden home against the sea breeze this year). Maybe it was because it was so hot. Maybe I pushed myself too hard passing a guy along the freeway - twice! (He took off past me again both times - obviously doesn't like being beaten by a girl. I laughed and figured if he needs to pass me to feel like a big stwong boy then he can have it, because all I was doing was seeing how fast my new bike can go.) I usually pace myself along there but didn't bother today. I suppose I was also a lot more cautious, given that I was ...

There are two paths ahead. (Only two?) Do you take the path of never knowing? No. You step onto the wide, green, sweet smelling path that is lined with flowers and water. Nourishing, beautiful, wide enough to spread your arms. It ambles away into the distance becoming steadily darker, less certain, leading you slowly towards a jagged cliff face and nowhere to turn back. You know this, but still you move forward, for you can see an exit just up ahead, open and safe and clear. Past lessons tell you that it will not be so clear by the time you arrive. It will be overgrown, lined with brambles and thorns, branches that scratch at your eyes and heart and whip your legs until they are almost too weak to carry you forward. A hard path to walk. A high price to pay. But you'll walk it with such strength and love and light in your heart, such jubilation at your bravery and memories so feather-light that you are sure they will lift you through the thorns and sail you into the clo...

I've made a dress, a skirt and a pair of trousers. Success! So now I've decided I'm a seamstress and have purchased lots, LOTS of fabric to sew with. A recent trip to Sydney is responsible for my new stash, with Cabramatta fabric stores being the main contributors. Trousers/Shorts From top to bottom 1- floral 3/4 length fitted pants - No pattern yet. Fabric from Cabramatta, Sydney. 2 - Not sure about this one - it' a bit loud...maybe shorts? Fabric from Kelani. 3- shorts (Thurlow, with some alterations maybe) Fabric also from Kelani. 4- long fitted trousers - No pattern yet. Cabramatta fabric, $3 a metre. 5 - long trousers (Thurlow), also Cabramatta, $3 a metre Skirts From top to bottom 1- Hard to see, but this has eyelets and pretty embroidery on it. Will need to be lined. Hollyburn skirt. Fabric from Cabramatta at $3.50 a metre. 2- Another Hollyburn, fabric also from Cabramatta at abot $3 a metre. 3- A splurge - Marimekko fabric. Not sure about the...

Yes, that's a little shout out to Aladdin. I've now worked my first week in Perth - 4 days of work and training, and then 4 days off to recover from my stint up north, and try to get everything under control. I've done well, but there's a little yet to do. Upstairs: Bedroom mostly cleaned, clothes washed and put away. Bathroom in good nick tho the toilet still leaks so I need to fix that, somehow (tho I've tried and am at a bit of a loss!) Sewing room is a bit messy but that's ok. Downstairs: clean and organised. All the things that lived in my donga are now safely ensconced in their new homes. DVD and CD collection: Organised by colour! I keep seeing it with bookshelves in home decor magazines and I've always thought it was a stupid idea. But I feel much less strongly about cds than I do about books, so I actually really like it on this smaller scale. A little bit of fun. Garden: Looking pretty good. I have snails now! And slugs! And small flying...

I have lived here for three years. For three years I've tried to capture the beauty of this place - one of my many "homes" in photographs. Failed, of course. And now it's my second last evening here and it's just that little bit to early to wander along the airport road and capture the dying light as it fades over one of my favourite stretches of land. Yandi is overlooked by the Three Sisters - Barimunya. Her three hills anchor us in the ever-undulating landscape. They are a landmark from the sky telling us where we are as we fly over; when they hide behind the clouds we know our flight will be delayed or redirected; they are a resting place for the eyes as they hug the sunrise; their glow in a storm tells us there is a fire in the distance. Their closeness to our camp gives me the same cozy, comforted feeling that the mountains of Aosta did. An enveloping landscape. I wanted to write a long and winding post about Yandi's land. It is so beautiful and has ...

From a budgeting perspective, this hobby could go either way. It could be great for my savings, as I'll no longer buy things I never wear, but it could be terrible, as I'll fall in love with patterns and fabrics and get all excited... ...so I've made some rules  Only buy fabric with a pattern in mind (thus buy the correct amount and don't end up with a massive stash) No more than 5 projects in the sewing queue - i.e. if I haven't sewn from every pattern at least once, I am not allowed to buy any more patterns. The one exception here is a pattern that I bought by mistake - clicked on the wrong button when I ordered it! I don't like it so I'm not making it. The Sewing Queue As It currently Stands Style Arc Kate Wrap Dress (completed) Sewaholic Thurlow Trousers in blue fabric (in progress - one muslin pocket down!) Sewaholic Cambie Dress in red fabric - both already purchased Style Arc Melissa Blouse in muslin (depending on how it turns ...