Gardens, anyone?

Last weekend we were out enjoying the Botanical Gardens of Canberra.  Nestled on Black Mountain the gardens have a really varied array of plants from Tropical to Rare and Endangered to Native and some exotics as well.

 Many were obligingly in full flower displaying glorious colour.

Peeping between the branches of a Gum tree, there was even a view to Parliament House.

We took a fun short 400m children's walk though with flaps the kids could flip up on signage that explained plants they could see and gave them things to look for, guaranteed to be seen at any time of day.

Naturally this was a hit with our children who find insects and other bugs fascinating. All made of metal and painted.
Some very striking plants on show:
Don't you love the cool hair do and attitude of the Xanthorrhoea glauca?  These grow inland on the East Coast of Australia.
And the Banksia.


I love the colour of these Kangaroo Paws.  They are native to Western Australia. And there were also apple green ones too, if full on colour is not your style.

But then, the extravagance of the Blandfordia Grandiflora  is hard to beat,  even its name is grandiose!  They were in pots near the entrance and were absolutely stunning, each bell several inches long.
Gum trees are very  Australian and the Inland Scribbly Gum is groovy with the scribbles created by insects eating their way through the bark in wild scribbly patterns.  The colours of the bark are lovely.

Near the entrance/ exit there is a water fall created through a series of small ponds that are set into the hillside and end in a little wetland pond at the bottom, complete with pretty flowers.

 I also loved the almost ugly but dramatic prickly  paper bark tree  (Melaleuca styphelioides) sporting its thick flaky bark, with the most fantastic texture.

Plenty of eye candy for those who enjoy plants on display, even if you haven't long to wander.

At home, work this week has been all about finishing off writing and proofing articles or project instructions for a handful of  deadlines.  Not much fondling of fabric or sewing time at all.  Thinking about it during breaks from computer sessions though, and a little cutting going on.

As my carrot to myself, a reward for extended computer sessions if you like, I have cut out an Apron from the Domestic Goddess Apron by Amy Butler.
 Apron Here

  I'm using truly beautiful Jane Sassaman fabric,  and chose the Pleated Bodice version from Amy's pattern in the just below knee length.
What is a quilter doing making aprons?  Well boxes of stuff mysteriously disappeared en route during our relocation, and annoyingly, the box containing the aprons was one such missing box.  I can be quite messy in the kitchen and prone to spilling stuff all over myself when baking, so I figured since I needed an apron, it may as well be a pretty one that would last for years.  I will never find one in the stores I like as much as the style of Amy's and in such pretty fabric.  Don't you just love being able to sew and make things that others without sewing skills cannot?  Imagine for a second having to buy all your textiles for your home from stores.  All your clothes. All your kitchen textiles.  All your bedroom quilts and linens.  How boring would that be?

At first I thought I would be really short on yardage that  I have of the print at the top of the photo, but with some repositioning of pieces and sacrificing matching the design of the  pockets to the bodice,   I discovered there was just enough fabric to cut the bodice section with the same fabric as for the skirt. So, my original plan, which was a compromise, of  the green leafy print with little yellow dragonflies on black for the upper section of the apron won't be needed. It is part of the same Garden Divas range as the top fabric, so later, with the remnants perhaps I will make a hot mat to stuff with rice and cloves, or perhaps trim a hot mitt with matching and co-ordinating fabric.  Both the black background prints come from the Garden Divas range from Jane Sassaman, found at Frangipani Fabrics in Hobart.
Here is a link to a better look at the beautiful fabric design:
For my apron
I just adore this fabric.  Infact I adore that entire range and wish I had at least a bolt of every design from the Garden Diva range!  For that matter a bolt from every design Jane has ever created would not be too much!  I really love Jane's sense of fun with her botanically based designs and the drama she creates with her art.
Just before dinner, I made a start sewing both lined and interfaced pockets as a little treat for all my concentrated computer time lately.  I will get to the rest after I clear another deadline tomorrow. 
More of that to come shortly..

Happy Stitching,
Stephanie