New York, New York

Loopy Mango enlarge and check out the stitchery's on the wall
Patis floor
Patis
Loopy Mango

Loopy Mango
Great breakfast
Williamsberg Graffiti

Brooklyn Market

Brooklyn Bridge
ditto
ABC Carpet and Home
Brooklyn

This is a quick rundown of some of the best places I visited in New York this time. New York is just like a big Melbourne and it is amazing how such a big city can have such a village feel. So next time you visit check out the following places. First buy the 7 day Metro card, such great value and easy to get around.
One of the best cafes is Noho Star they do wonderful fresh berries and pancakes, in fact Noelle wanted to eat there everyday but we only went there twice, we did meet a lady who lives in NY and she has breakfast there every day. (get off at Bleeker St subway station) You can just wander around the area when you are finished.
Le Pain Quodient are great for coffee and pastries. These are springing up everywhere but the first one I had visited was in ABC Carpet & Home. Every one we visited was great though.
There seems to be great food places everywhere down in the Soho area. Also had a really good lunch in Patis in the Meat Packing District. Such a beautiful building, the mosaic tiles are amazing and after walk over to the Highline. An old above ground railway line that has been transformed into an urban garden.
Make time to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, truly awesome. Even though I have been to NY this was the first time I have done it. Williamsberg in Brooklyn is another great area for foodies, go to Bedford St. Great Vintage shops there too.

Best Craft/Fabric shop we went to. Brooklyn General Store, after going there walk back to Smith St and walk back towards NYC and there are great shops and a wool Cafe. Also found a place called Loopy Mango for wool enthusiasts back in Manhattan that was a bit like Scarlet Jones with wool at the back.

Shopping is everywhere you look,ABC Carpet and Home is my all time favourite.
I tend to keep out of the big department stores as they have gone the same way as ours. Wall to wall mass produced Chinese goods.
Usually where there is an Anthropologie there are good small stores around so have a wander around those areas. the one on 9th Ave in the Meat packing District has great independent shops around it. I am sure you can google for more details on these places if you need more info.
Anyway I have crapped on enough so check out some pics.

.

Back Home

Well I got back yesterday afternoon and foolishly went to bed, hence this post at 4.17am.
Great trip though with the added bonus of getting upgraded to business on the way home.
It certainly makes cattle class look bad.
I really don't know where to start and don't want to bore you to death. So thought I would start with shop displays in Anthropologie. The best store in the world for it's displays. Every store has a different theme. I went to about six different ones and they all were wonderful. This is at the Rockefeller Centre.

Birthday's & Life

Today is my birthday. When I was a child I couldn't wait for my birthday and it took forever for it to come around.
It's a bit of a different story now as they come around much more quickly in fact I am sure I had one last month.
My dear husband actually remembered this year and even made sure by buying me flowers the day before.
And No I am not 60 Mum. (she said "you're turning sixty this birthday aren't you" on the phone the other day)
I am turning 54 which I thought was so old, when I was 19 and Geofff's dear mother Erica was fighting a loosing battle with breast cancer. She was 53 and died seven days before her 54th birthday. Narelle Erica was born on her birthday that year sadly she never saw her, even though she tried so hard to make it, Narelle was 10 days late.
Thankfully we have advanced with screening, education and treatment since then.
She had found a lump and ignored it worrying about it herself but not wanting to worry the family. By the time she did go to the doctor it had got larger and spread through her body, I now think how brave she was, never ever complaining even through all the treatment she endured.
So I think it a joy to get to any birthday and I for one will never complain about getting older, life is a gift even in good and bad times.
So stay vigilant even if you think you are too young to get cancer always get any lump checked thoroughly insist on an ultrasound, I have a friend who is well today because she insisted 20 years ago, even though she was told not to worry she was too young to have Breast Cancer.

This will be my last post for three weeks. I am so excited, I am off to NYC first and then to the Quilt Show in Housten tomorrow.
I will take lots of pictures of the wonderful quilts at the show and share when I get back.
Bye for now, enjoy life.

New Yuwa Fabrics

Just got a new shipment of absolutely gorgeous Yuwa fabrics from Japan, particularly loved the Paris one, as well as these sweet little paper dolls and family tree fabrics.

Inspiration

Once again I know I should keep better track but good intentions go out of the window when gathering random pictures that inspire, so apologies to the origins of these lovely images. I will try to keep better track next time.

Sarongs

I am finally feeling a bit better after being sick last week, so much for me always saying I never get sick. Anyway I had a bit of a sniffly day out on one of Melbourne's worst days (weather wise) and had lunch at the amazing St Ali's.
It was recommended by Emma and I was a bit worried it would be full of Hipsters giving us the look "you know, the what are you doing in here look"
but was pleasantly surprised by lovely service, food and an eclectic bunch of diners. Certainly worth a visit.
Meanwhile a bunch of gorgeous sarongs have arrived at Scarlet and would be great used as fabric for that feature fabric or just Sarong's.

Beautiful Spring

I always say I love Autumn in Melbourne the best but we have been having such lovely days here after our big storm I am reconsidering.
Meanwhile we are getting in new fabrics on a daily basis so this is inspiring me to get out my sewing machine now the painters have finished. Images from Pinterest of course
Have a good week.