ButtonMania & Eight Questions

I just happened (cough) to go past ButtonMania on Swanston St in Melbourne CBD yesterday with a work colleague after we had finished at a Human Rights in Policing course. 

(NOTE: ButtonMania is up three levels of a building that is in the opposite direction to work).

My goodness, what a store. I've never been in there, and can't believe I ever lived without it. I bought the most amazing 1940s Spanish buttons for my Lady Grey Coat. What do you think?

And here they are on the material I have bought for my Lady Grey Coat:

Sorry about the slightly blurry pics - I had such trouble holding the camera with my gammy arm.

It is a navy 100% wool with a slight sheen. I really did want a brighter colour, but the colours I could find in wool were EXPENSIVE! And this coat needs about 4m of fabric. So I would have been looking at close to $300 for a coat. Not on my watch :-) I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has made this coat - did you actually need 4m?

When I've made this one I think I might make one in a brighter colour in a heavy cotton (or some less expensive fabric anyway).

Now, onto the 2nd part of this post. The very inspirational Tilly of Tilly and the Buttons has tagged me in a game of 8 questions. The deal is I answer her questions then tag 8 seamstresses to answer mine! Here goes:

1. What is your staple meal? (ie. what meal do you cook most often, when you can't be bothered to think of anything adventurous)

Hmm, I don't really do the cooking in our house. Michael has three specialities that we have every week: massaman curry, handmade pasta, and handmade corn tortillas for mexican. If I was left to my own devices, I'd probably have some boiled eggs on nice sourdough toast. I'm more of a dessert cook these days.

2. What do you want to be when you grow up?

I'm not sure! The possibilities are endless. I'm thinking of getting back into sexual assault research full time, but the most important thing I could want to be is a mama when I grow up.

3. What book are you reading at the moment (if any)? 

I've just finished reading 'The Book Thief' and now I'm starting 'Dead Man Running' - a book about Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs in Australia. My bro-in-law gave it to me and I'm finding it fascinating. 

4. How do you relax?

I have two ways. 1. Exercise. It is the most powerful way to stop my mind ticking over. 2. Over  a glass of red wine, on the couch watching something trashy on the TV. Like True Blood. Pure trash, but awesome for relaxing. 

5. What colour are the interior walls of your home?

Kind of an egg-shell white. 

6. What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Chocolate. Red wine. Spending a week day at home doing nothing but sew. Sleeping in with Michael (so rarely happens). Buying fabric.

7. What time is bed time and getting up time?

Bed time is around 9.30pm. Getting up is 6am. 

8. How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?

Too long :-) I have a quick look over my brekkie in the morning. Then when I get home I have a proper look, leave comments etc. 

Now, here are 8 people I'd like to hear some random things about:

1. Veronica Darling from Veronica Darling
2. Tasia from Sewaholic
3. Sunni from The Cupcake Goddess
4. Jorthy from Jorth!
5. Lore from SEW RED HOT
6. Miss Emmi from They Have Called Me 'The Bar Nothing'
7. Karin from Ancien-Nouveau
8. Kat from Kat's Creative Adventures

And here are the questions:

1. What is your favourite pattern of all time?
2. What is one place that you really want to visit that you haven't been to before?
3. How do you relax?
4. What is your favourite childhood memory?
5. If there was one pattern you could own, regardless of availability, cost, or whether you'd actually make it, what would it be?
6. If you could spend the rest of your life doing anything you wanted, what would it be?
7. How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?

Phew! This has been quite a post! Happy long-weekend fellow Aussies!