2014. Can you believe it?

Another New Year is here; I can't believe it's 12 months tomorrow that we arrived home in Australia.

After all the Christmas hoop-la it's nice to take a step back and reflect on the past year and what might happen in the year to come.

In 2013 I had to come to terms with a few sad things:

1. I no longer live in France. Sniff.
2. I no longer have as much time to sew *grumblepaidwork* *grumbleshorternaptimes*

But of course, there's always a silver lining:

1. Australia is awesome, yay!
2. Less cheese and no baguette means my ass is smaller.
3. Paid work means I can buy fabric without guilt*

This year, I have a few plans and so I'm writing them down here to try and keep myself honest and on track.

In 2014 I will be sewing:

1. Two queen-sized quilts for our bed (finally!) One will be a bit complicated, the other quite easy. I haven't decided if I will quilt them myself... am I up for the challenge?
2. A log cabin twin-sized quilt for my daughter (yellow, of course).
3. A yet-to-be-decided twin-sized quilt for our 9 yr old son.
4. A big ol' picnic rug-type quilt
5. At least two tops or dresses or something for me to wear.

The first queen-sized quilt underway

I will also be attempting to:

1. Free motion quilt one of the above projects.
2. Paper-piece something. Anything. I'm yet to decide.
3. Sort out this blog's design (bit of mess at the moment, sorry).
4. Write up a pattern for sale.
5. Perhaps start a newsletter.

Speaking of the blog, I know many of you enjoyed the travel posts I would put together on France, but I'm not sure if you're as interested in Australia. Here's your chance to have your say in the poll over in the right-hand sidebar. Or feel free to leave a comment.

But now, on to more pressing matters: The Pantone 2014 Colour of the Year - Radiant Orchid.

How are we feeling about this?

Source: Pantone website

I have to admit I'm feeling a little disappointed because I'm not a purple person (literally or figuratively). I was hoping one of the blues would be chosen. Maybe by the end of the year I'll be feeling the love.

Right, back to the sewing I go.

I hope 2014 has started off on the right foot for you all. Have you made your own 'to do' list? Have you made it public?

Until next time, may you all have plenty of sewing time and may your bobbins never run out mid-seam!

* Guilt-free fabric shopping? Not really. Like many of you, (I see you there, trying to close your cupboards without me noticing) I have a healthy sized stash that could do with some thinning out.

Therefore: I will try to make all of the projects on my 2014 list from fabrics already in my possession.

Yeah, who am I kidding?

Wordless Wednesday. (What we've been up to.) Words are okay in the title, right?

:'-(

*1*

*2*

*3*

*4*

file://localhost/Users/mkcleverly/Downloads/pinterest-08f1d.html

Happy New Year, Goodbye (and a little bit of Gordes)

Did you all have a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays? Can you believe 2012 is almost over? (Already over for all my Australian/NZ friends!)

I wonder what 2013 will bring us all?

I have a few last photos to share of our anniversary overnighter in Gordes.

(We also stopped off in Bonnieux for a few minutes to enjoy the view in the last light):

Once we arrived in Gordes we ahhhhed over our nice room (an anniversary gift to each other):

The lobby

I only took the sewing kit. Such restraint.

Mirrored wardrobe in the bathroom. Noice. Seeing my backside reflected to infinity, not so noice. 

We took a stroll through the deserted streets, admiring the Christmas lights:

Puddy tat warming his buns on an uplight

Then it was back to the hotel for a decadent dinner:

We both marvelled at how little admin is required when it's just the two of us. So easy!

After a huge meal we headed back to our room.

Have to love a hotel that leaves such lovely treats when they turn down the bed.

The next day we drove home to relieve the babysitter and took the kids to the Rognes Truffle Festival. I was hoping to post about that before we left but time is getting away from me.

We have five days left in France and only three nights left in our home. Things are pretty busy at the moment and I can't see me having time to blog again until we are settled in at home in Australia.

I'm still planning to blog once we get home although obviously the travel component will be greatly reduced and much more Australian. The crafting and sewing will continue.

My feelings on our imminent departure are mixed. Given I've already had two glasses of wine (hey, it's New Year's Eve!) and I'm feeling a little emotional, let me just say this:

• I love France. 
• I love Australia. 
• I love that our fourth baby was born in France. 
• I could not have enjoyed France as much as I did without knowing Australia was there for me to return to, whenever I wanted. 
• I'm sure Australia has changed in our three years away. I know I certainly have. It may be hard to readjust to my old life. 
• Travelling with four children can be tiring, frustrating and expensive - but none of that will be what we remember when we think back on our life in France. I'm so glad we pushed through the difficult stuff and made the most of our time here. We have no regrets. (Non, rien de rien...)
• I'm actually looking forward to sitting still and not travelling everywhere for a change. 
• I miss being able to deal with difficult things in my mother tongue.
• I know as soon as I get home I'll miss speaking French. 
• I'm so, so glad we had the opportunity to live overseas.
• I'm so, so glad I decided to start this blog. 

Merci beaucoup to all of you who've accompanied and encouraged me along on this journey. This blog has forced me to finish projects, process photographs and keep a journal I will treasure in the years to come. The bonus has been meeting so many wonderful new friends, either virtually or in the flesh. You guys rock.

So, I'll see you in February, okay? We are stopping in Hong Kong for a week on the way home so if any of you have any hot tips for things to do/see/eat I'd be eternally grateful if you left me a little note below.

Happy New Year, tout le monde, and may 2013 be your best year yet!

P.S I'll be turning the word verification back on for comments while we're away. Sorry, but I'm tired of Canadian pharmacies trying to sell me (and you) viagra. Seriously Canada, what gives?

Fromage, tu vas me manquer. *sob*

Apt in the Luberon Valley

Before I take you on a short tour of another lovely village, I wanted to say thank you to Pink Chalk Fabrics for choosing my Modern Chevron quilt tutorial for the finals of the Handmade With Love Tutorial Contest 2012.

Voting closes today so pop over and vote for whatever takes your fancy in the four categories. You'll also find a link to all 130 tutorials that were submitted to the contest - tons of free inspiration all in the one spot!

So, back to the lovely town of Apt which is located in the Luberon Valley, Provence.

We visited about a month ago on a Saturday, because Saturday is market day. And Sara Louise had told us Apt is one of her favourite markets so we thought we'd better check it out.

Sara was right. The markets are large, stretched out along many of Apt's picturesque streets and alleys, and have a great variety of vendors.

Provençal quilting (known as boutis) where stuffing is used between two wholecloths

I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the cheese.

Walking through the stalls we came upon the 11th century Cathédrale Sainte--Anne.

Looks a little spooky, huh?

If you want more spookiness you can go down under the main altar into a pre-Roman crypt.

And then down another level to the spot where Christian worship supposedly first occurred in the town.

The passageway has stone tiles (around 1000 years old) decorating the ceiling and there are relics housed behind the grate (said to be the bones of Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, but I have no idea how they verify these things.)

Notes and prayers to St Anne had been stuffed through the grill:

After the markets began to close up we walked a little further, trying to find a restaurant for lunch (they were all full).

So instead we went to a wood-fired pizza van and picked up some lunch-to-go:

Which we ate in the park across the road:

The pizza was fantastic and the kids had a ball running around the grounds.

So don't forget - if you're looking for a great market, try Apt on a Saturday.

It's exactly two weeks and two days until we leave France. I think I've finally come to terms with it.

Plus we've run out of Vegemite so it must be time to go home.

Have a great weekend, everyone. We're off on a one-night getaway in Gordes for our 14th wedding anniversary. Photos will follow! (Of Gordes, not our anniversary celebrations. Ahem ;)