Our family has a huge soft spot for Erin Lightfoot. She was the first friend Jess made when she went off to a new high school not knowing a single soul. I'm still not sure I've been forgiven for that! They sat together in the cavernous assembly hall and they've been friends ever since. Even survived weekly after school flute lessons together. And a whole pile of other things I'm sure it's best I don't know about!

Now there is another reason to love Erin...not that we need one. Look at the amazing fabric, clothing and jewellery she is designing. 

Erin was recently featured on the Finders Keepers blog. You can read her interview here.

Now Erin, when I come off my self imposed 100 day don't buy anything I don't really need challenge, there's this chair I have that needs some new fabric...

and those beautiful bangles would make some nice gifts too don't you think :)

That's Erin on the right, my girl in the middle and their friend Matt. I may get shot for posting that. But I'm overseas so they'll have a hard time finding me:)
You can see more of Erin's wonderful work on her website...

images of erin's work from her website; family snap by me 

Thanks to the inspiration provided in this book...

and the birth of a baby called Ruby Grace (isn't that a beautiful name)...I am attempting...with this fabric...

the making of a cot quilt...ta da!

I'm so happy with the top layer. The dodgy photos not so much :) The striped fabric will be the backing and I'll have a selection of the quilt top fabrics as the binding. That's the plan anyway...we'll see how it all works out once I get back from my travels.
Lots of creative spaces...probably involving finished projects, over this-a-way.

I have been to textile and costume heaven.

Last Friday I treated myself to a leisurely afternoon at the National Gallery of Australia...one of my favourite places in this here national capital of ours :) Actually, one of my favourite places in the whole wide world.
Here's the new facade...pretty spectacular don't you think?

This was my first visit since the grand re-opening of the gallery with its new spaces last September and I wasn't disappointed. The new indigenous galleries are just superb. I've always loved the totems and they look so wonderful in their new space.

But I went to see the Ballet Russe exhibition. The NGA has one of the largest collections in the world of costumes and other bits and bobs from this ballet company, founded by Serge Diaghilev in Paris in 1911.  Here's just some of the fantastic costumes...

 This one above was my favourite and is actually a male costume...who would have guessed...I'm going to have a crack at painting it. It will look lovely on my new white walls if I can do it justice :)

Don't these look modern even today...nymph costumes

second favourite coming up...

As always when I go to the Gallery, the exhibition blew me away. It is such an incredible place...and a ten minute drive from home...

So much awesomeness...but how in the heck did they dance in these? They must weigh more than the dancers...even when they're dripping wet (the dancers not the costumes...ballet is hard work or so I'm told)

And outside the gallery (oh how I wish you could take photos inside...why can't you I wonder? You can in the Louvre)...there is a major installation called within, without by James Turrell...it's hard to describe

...you walk into it...the photos don't do it justice...well mine don't anyway :)

...and of course I had to buy the book didn't I? It has the most beautiful close-ups...

and perhaps I bought a few other things as well despite the year of living frugally (I put them under the category of 'learning stuff')

Go here for more fabulous images from the Ballets Russes exhibition and explanations about the ballets and costumes.

all except the last two images are from the NGA website