soul blossom wedding

we had a wedding yesterday... the marvellous, beautiful wedding of our daughter Danielle and her fiance Nick. 

The lead up to the wedding was a tad busy, as much to our delight Dani and Nick asked to have the reception in our home.  We had a bathroom to renovate and decided the adjoining room may as well be fixed up in the effort.  This added to the refreshing of the Balmain 'baby calico' kept hubby and I on our toes.

But an amazing calm fell over the house on Friday, we had tizzied, fluffed, arranged, played, cleaned and fussed, until we could no more.  We took a collective deep breath and decided the fun would begin.  So a quiet Friday night led into a casual, laughter filled Saturday.  Everything fell into place perfectly and Danielle met her groom a relaxed, radiant bride, for a ceremony on the water off the cliffs of Blackwall Reach.

Back home to final preparations and Dani and Nick's guests filled our home. It was all candles and flowers and many upbeat, happy friends enjoying a balmy night for an occasion of great merriment.

 Random pics from the night.

I had a few problems with the camera and light over the night and most of my pics are a little blurry.  I will show you our beautiful bride and her dress very soon, on receipt of some better snaps.

Danielle is a girl of colour, and her fabric choice to embellish a couple of the tables came from the latest range of fabric to hit our shelves, Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms, and some of our linen gauze.

Amy chose to capture some of the textile inspirations she experienced while travelling through India for this range.  This collection takes me back to her earlier ranges in colouring and pattern.  The colours suited Danielle's palette of yellow, pink and orange for the wedding, so just arrived in time to play a leading part.  I found some free time on Friday to pop it onto the website here

Just a few more peeks at Amy's Soul Blossom in the shop

 

exciting isn't it...

yes, truly enchanting

You may remember this image posted not so long ago.

Nimet sent me what she felt was a rough translation so I could get a gist of the written word.

Here goes:

"For Charlotte de L'Isle (written on door)

How often did the little door of La Charlotte open up?

How many times did faces fall upon finding her shut?

How many pots of chocolate passed through to the dishes, not to mention the cups... or the hands of the washer-man or washer-woman

As for having a rest, how often, how much... No! I stop.

Simply: thank you

For your presence, each of you, your peals of laughter, your silences full of care and attention.

This door which offered me so much and taught me so much will shut once more

and life will open up again, in the country, for other adventures."

We are of the opinion the shop may have closed and the owner moved to the country, as the shop was not open on what would have been a normal trading day (all neighbours were open) or maybe a grateful customer leaving Paris for new pastures presented this to the owner.  Whatever the circumstances, yes the translation was as enchanting as I imagined.

Thanks Nimet

balmain continued and fabric crochet

Simply put... thanks.  We have read your enthusiastic comments about our new store in Balmain... thanks.  I have received emails with offers of assistance, and talent abounding... thanks.  Even a few heads have popped into the half open doors while the paint dries, and the preparation works continue... thanks.  At such a busy time in the collective lives of those of us at Calico these touches are so uplifting... so many thanks.

Personally what is ringing through clearly is that Balmain is a community of like-minded, friendly, positive souls.  I have lived much of my life in and around Fremantle, here in the west, and that same vibe is what ties me to this environment here.  It feels good... very good.

Anthea has been guiding a class of girls through the ins and outs of fabric crochet.
The enthusiasm was such that before the second class these are some of the goodies the girls whipped up at home.

The above baskets were Jill's creations, just in one week.  The basket in the first image is made of multi-coloured voiles, the lower image shows a green woollen check with cotton string used as a trim for one basket and the other a patterned fabric, with added strips crocheted onto the edge to create the whimsical edging.

Above is Tracy's basket made from cotton fabric with the trims being strips cut from an Indian fabric skirt.

Next term might be your opportunity to learn this fun skill.