smoke of various sorts

[elegentry]

what a smoky day! Just in case we were in any danger of forgetting the bushfires, the city is blanketed in even heavier smoke than yesterday. I have been feeling heavy hearted due to the constant reminder of tragedy. Also heavy headed and lunged as it sets off hayfever and asthma. Now I have cleverly filled the loungeroom with the smell of burnt wool- more on that later.

I have donated to the red cross, been part of an office collection to buy and donate personal toiletries, sorted various clothes, towels etc into bags to be donated to various destinations- wildlife carers, Vinnies, a fundraising garage sale.

Having done that, I let myself go on an excursion to find fabric for my new festival frock. Found! Eliza delivered. A fine, springy black wool (well 80%) which I plan to trim with pink silk and make another Durer frock out of.. Also could not resist a luscious piece of navy wool almost-satin. Not much of this latter- only around 2m but it was so lovely I had to have it. Doushkasmum says it is enough for a Flemish kirtle. Must make one of those sometime. After Festi I think, maybe next spring. I burn tested them both- hence the smell in the lounge room. Pleased to say the results seem to match the marked fibre content, best I can tell anyway. The black wool is almost all wool- would not keep a flame, good stuff. The navy is 100% wool as advertised. Both are washed and just about to be hung out.

Plotting vege fritters for this evening's soiree. Gold Durer can have another outing to test the minor alterations and different chemise- before I cut more chemises for festi.

Comments

[enrobso.livejournal.com]

To me, the smoke was almost a relief.

I guess it sounds strange, but I've felt the entire state being under a cloud all week with no way of putting it into words properly. We're all shell-shocked in different ways. For folk around here, there was the added schadenfreude of "Thank Christ it was them and not us."

At least the smoke gives us some physical connection.

[sjkasabi.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on fabric purchases. And on gorgeous gold Durer frock AND quilt top, you productive, clever, thing. So where should I be going for black wool and white linen these days? MLM needs basics for Festival. Lincraft and Sydney Road do not seem to be what they once were, and my stash is buried behind an estimated 7,000 books in my storage locker.

[montjoye.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It feels good to end the weekend having been productive. Haven't cleaned the house but making things is much more fun. I delude myself that I might do house cleaning during the week, hah.

I hate to say it but it might be easier to shift the 7000 books to get at your stash rather than find good black wool and white linen at reasonable prices. Both are basics of course and there has been much talk of late as to how hard white linen is to find at the moment. What garments is MLM after? Eliza had a fine black 80% wool which I bought for a frock but is probably lighter weight than what MLM would want and a slightly heavier black wool blend twill but the latter was stretch. One could try Darn Cheap, Rathdowne remnants or Brunswick fabrics. They were next on my list, haven't been for ages though, some of those not for MANY years. I must find out if Fine Wools in Sydney still exists.

I'll have a look in my stash for you just in case.