A few random (happy!) snippets from the past couple of weeks…
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The closing down sale at Cash Palace Emporium continues, and Elaine seems to magically produce new stock each time I pop in. She’s still taking delivery of goods that were ordered months ago, then immediately reducing them by 50% to try and sell them in the remaining four weeks that they’re going to be open. I have absolutely no affiliation with the business, but we share a passion for ethnic and vintage textiles. Like so many others in Sydney, I’ve come to quite adore her.
She has a new shipment of vintage kantha silk shawls on offer…
…and gorgeous Uzbek suzani pieces…
I couldn’t resist this hooded kantha coat – the Ajrahk cotton is hand block printed (stamped) and hand quilted. Maybe it’s because I’m now in my 50s, but I think it’s cool.
Pete, however, was less convinced but greatly amused. My friend Bethany thought that I looked like Friar Tuck. I’ve ignored them both and worn it constantly since I bought it…
The garment is so beautifully finished on the inside that it just needed a few buttons to make it fully reversible. I asked Elaine if she could spare me any and bless her, she gave me these vintage hand-carved camel bone ones…
Cash Palace Emporium
139 Catherine St
Leichhardt NSW
(02) 9569 5977
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My daily walks on the Inner West Greenway and the Iron Cove Bay Run have been enlivened by Art on the Greenway – “An Outdoor Art Exhibition with a Green Focus” – which will be on display until Monday 22nd May 2017. The artworks are located on the Canal Road Hub (near Blackmore Oval).
I met local artist Allyson Adeney as she was setting up Memory Wave IV…
Allyson uses upcycled crystal and glass stemware to create her gorgeous pieces…
…which she then carefully positions in situ…
We Stand Together by Janny Grant was created from rescued local gum branches which were destined to be chipped…
Nomadic Winds: a journey’s rest II by Sally Kidall is a collection of small “houses” positioned at various angles over the pedestrian footbridge…
The Battlers by Ro Murray and Mandy Burgess was inspired by a group of Hunters Hill women who banded together in the 1970s to save the bushland near their homes. I have to say though, that every time I walk past the figure in the photo below, I find myself humming the disco classic…”You can’t stop the music…nobody can stop the music”…
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As a result of all the fabric treasures I found at Cash Palace, I’m been in the midst of a little sewing mania. Last week I discovered these instructions for turning a shawl into a poncho with one seam and proceeded to madly stitch up all my pashminas. After all, as Noel Fielding once said, it’s impossible to be unhappy in a poncho…
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The fossil I bought myself for my birthday a few months ago continues to live on my desk – I find myself holding it quite often during the day. It’s incredibly smooth and exquisitely beautiful. Oh, and 113 million years old…
…and translucent!
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I popped into the MCA recently to view Khadim Ali’s The Arrival of Demons 2017, a site specific mural commissioned for the MCA foyer. It depicts imagery from Ali’s Afghan/Pakistani/Iranian upbringing, overlaid with eucalyptus leaves taken from the Aussie passport that Ali has held since 2015. It’s truly glorious – I particularly love the way he’s incorporated the steps into his artwork…
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Finally, if you’re a Sydney foodie, you’ve probably heard about Yakitori Jin by now. This new Japanese eatery has (finally!) opened up in our neighbourhood and it’s been packed out since day one. And what else would you expect from a restaurant where you can order five chicken tails (bishops/parsons nose) on a stick?
Chef and owner Aki hard at work…
We’ve never been to Japan, but our friends who have tell us that it feels like eating in Tokyo. As a bonus, the food is delicious!
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Hope you’re all having a wonderful month! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I adore your coat and i think it suits you beautifully. The art installations are lovely – but best of all is the happy-dance inducing poncho – i squawked out loud :)
I think i might pass on the Bishops’ tails though!
I’d happily eat yours – it’s the best bit! :D
You know I adore that fossil Celia. Sooo glorious. And I love your hooded coat. I am a huge fan of public artwork so I would love walking around these pieces you see on your daily walks. One of these days I must get to Japan. Have a great week.
Thanks Sherry, you too! Aren’t we fortunate in Australia to have so much public artwork for free!
You are so clever Celia. I love your blog, keep writing
Ahh you’re kind, thank you!
Absolutely a delight to read and to enjoy the marvelous photographs. Wonderful to see such innovative public art.
Thanks Pat! It always feels like a privilege to be able to view artworks like this! :)
My Mother always called Bishops Tails the part that went over the fence last. I’m nearly 91 so you know that saying is, It’s a Texas “Tale” and probably out of date!. You must have a show of all your clever and beautiful and creative hand work..you outdo yourself with each new presentation. jere
Hi Jere! How nice to hear from you! How interesting to know that whether it was a nose or a tail, the bishop always got credit for it! :)
Of course I love all those green things.
Thank you! I wish you were in Sydney, I could use your sewing advice right now! I’m trying to convert a vintage kimono into a cape.. ;-)
I would be delighted to help, if only I was there.
Oh my goodness! Thank you for the instructions for turning a pashmina into a shawl. I’m going to sew up mine now too.
Amy, I didn’t even bother hemming anything as all my pashminas were already finished. I just sewed the one seam and pulled them over my head. Remember…it’s impossible to be unhappy in a poncho! :)
Mine all have finished edges too, so I’m thinking it will only take a few minutes to fold, measure, and stitch them together. I’m so excited to try this! I’m thinking unique Christmas gifts already.
Some of mine were a bit wide to use – maybe pin and try on first?
What gorgeous moments Celia! Thank you for sharing. Also I love your coat!
Thanks lovely! I love it sooo much, I’ve practically been sleeping in it. Have to take it off for sourdough though.. ;-)
Fabulous fabric finds! Always take advantage of them or you will ‘live’ to regret it!! Made me smile……
I will take two skewers of the Bishop’s noses! I have heard of them in Japan but this is the first outside, how wonderful. Those fabrics are gorgeous, I see pillows. Good find.
Celia thanks so much for the link to the instructions about how to make a poncho. I grabbed my pashmina after reading your post late last night and started pinning it up to see how it worked.
The free art installation along your walk is glorious – I love how random it is. I’m not a big fan of eating chooks bottoms I have to admit – but as you know yakitori is my favourite Japanese meal.
Love all your snippets, but especially the beautiful fossil. Your coat is nice too!
We ate at Bistro Cocotte the other night and saw Yakitori Jin then – with Ramsey being closed at the moment we had missed the fact that it had opened. But now we have another reason to cross the city west link. Looks amazing.
Thanks for sharing that Mighty Boosh clip. Great memories. There was a place in Hong Kong that just specialised in Yakitori. I’m sure the parson’s nose sticks would have fit right in. Friar Tuck…lol
Don’t you start. I had lunch with a friend today who told me I looked like an OWL with the hood on.. ;-)
The coat really suits you- I was thinking Tess of the D’urbervilles on a very happy day. The poncho is also a clever use of a pashmina- I always feel ancient in a shawl and cannot carry them off, being short, but a poncho is another thing, and stays put.
How amazingly stunning is that fossil.