Lost Trades

 Took a drive to Bendigo, to attend this event:

Lots of talented artisans demonstrated their skills, and displayed incredible examples of their work. 

As you might imagine, I spent a fair bit of my time in the textile and fibre area in the centre of that map. This was one of the intriguing demonstrations:

Spinning with a walking wheel. I had never seen one of these in action before. There is a nice article about this type of wheel at a museum in Canada here.

This patchwork silk coat was impressive:

It is inspired by the description of Gulliver's coat in Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. The design is that of a frock coat from that time (the book was published in 1726). The silk patches are from recycled clothes, and it is lined with silk from discarded wedding dresses.

I didn't take anywhere near as many photos as I should have, but it was a wonderful day out.
 

Springfest

Springfest is an annual market of about 500 stalls around the shores of Lake Wendouree. The market is put on by Rotary, and raises funds for charities in Ballarat. Today was a beautiful day for it.

We parked a bit of a walk from the lake, because otherwise you would never find a parking spot. Our walk to the lake took us through the "Show n Glow" car show. Hundreds of owners of "all vehicles through to and including 1980 chrome bumper vehicles" had brought them along to show off. The cars really did glow in the brilliant sunshine:

This picture because my first car was a Mini:

And this one because I think it was the ugliest vehicle on display:

It definitely meets the chrome bumper criterion!

We reached the lake and the actual market, and began the 6km walk around the lake:

Along with thousands of other people.

I always enjoy seeing the swans and cygnets on the lake:

After about 45 minutes of the market we had only made it about a quarter of the way around the lake. None of the market stalls were selling anything that we wanted, and they were all starting to look the same.

The crowds made walking difficult, and we decided we had seen enough.

It was a beautiful day for it, though.

Too Much

As I mentioned yesterday, there are so many things on this weekend that it became impossible to do them all. We could have got up early today and gone for a bird-spotting walk around Lake Wendouree. But we skipped that one.

Today is the annual Lal Lal Market. We had to pop in and have a look there, just because there aren't many things that happen in Lal Lal:

Notice that grey sky and how rugged-up everyone is. That will influence how many of today's events we actually get to.

There are three gardens open in Buninyong today, so we decided to go and check out one or two of them.

The first one is the garden of the Old Vicarage - formerly the Anglican vicarage. The house was built in 1857, and several of the trees date from that time.

This is probably not the best time to see this garden - the roses are not open yet, but the bulbs have all finished.

The 160-yr-old trees are impressive though. The back yard was not open to the public unfortunately. I'm not sure why this garden was open, as you can see all of the front garden from the street.

While we were in the area we popped in to the Buninyong Festival. I think it is a shame that it is on on the same day as Lal Lal market. I wonder if that was accidental or a deliberate choice. Perhaps the organisers of one or the other thought people might go to both, as they are only 10 minutes drive apart?

There were a lot more people and stalls at Buninyong than at Lal Lal:

 We took a quick walk though but didn't buy anything.

The second open garden, Mossmont, was worth seeing because it is hidden away from the road, so you would never know it was there. The driveway is lined with sugar maples:

This house was also built in the 1850s, and the garden features a 160-year-old elm tree:

Not in leaf yet, but it must give wonderful shade in summer.

A Victorian-style circular garden and fountain:

Orchids in flower close to the house:

I wonder if they move those pots somewhere in winter, or if this spot is sheltered enough for them to be OK all year round?

Garden bed with irises, euphorbias and proteas:

I was surprised to find that this weeping cedar is a deodar:

I've only seen them as upright giants in the Himalayas.

We decided we may as well take a quick visit to the third garden. We drove to the parking area, then walked and walked and walked. The property is on a narrow dirt road, with no room for parking anywhere nearby. So the walk to the front gate took longer than we had planned to spend on the whole visit.

Once at the property, there was a walk along the drive:

Stone walls:

And an amazing view across the valley:

Also a pizza oven, a swimming pool and lots of fairly young trees dotted around between the stone retaining walls.

The garden beds near the the house are in a cottage style, which is surprising given the modern building and the dramatic setting on the side of the hill.

My plan for the afternoon had been to visit Steiglitz for their quilt airing, on the way to the Geelong Patchworkers and Quilters exhibition. But after the busy morning, and given that I still have lots to do to get ready for our own exhibition next weekend, I decided to skip Steiglitz (today is not good weather for an open-air quilt show anyway) and Geelong as well.

Instead I spent the rest of the afternoon finishing the binding on Bloom:

Just a few hanging sleeves to do now.

Creswick Market

I haven't been to Creswick Market before, so it was interesting to check it out today:

You can tell that it is not your average country market by the fact that almost everyone is wearing black.

Garden Lovers' Fair

Our destination is somewhere behind the dust cloud:

The parking area for visitors to the Mount Macedon Horticultural Society's annual fair. It is seven years since the last time I went to the fair, and in between it has changed venue. Now it is held at Bolobek, a historic property at Mount Macedon. And as an added bonus, visitors to the fair get to wander round the Bolobek gardens as well.

The gardens are very green and white:

And seem to go on forever:

Not the best time of year for the walled rose garden:

But the rhododendrons were beautiful:

Meanwhile, back at the fair:

There were all sorts of plants to buy, although no daylilies this time. (That's all I bought last time.) There were lots of peonies, but I don't need more of them at the moment. The only purchases were some dwarf bearded irises and a small selection of perennials. But the highlight of the day was the beautiful Bolobek gardens.

Market Stall

An attractive stall at Vic Market. Someone with an eye for design has used an umbrella, some galvanised vessels, and blackboards for prices to create a unique look.

Strange Market Venue

Today I visited the Pentridge Farmers and Artisans market, which is held in the former prison:

Although the venue might have some historical interest, I found the visit an unpleasant experience. There's a creepy atmosphere, or maybe that's my over-active imagination. I was surprised there were even stalls directly under the gallows, which is not my idea of a nice place to buy wine or chocolates. The uncomfortably-loud "music" provided by two beatboxers didn't make a positive contribution to the ambiance, I'm afraid. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

Farmers Market

Proof that this suburb has changed a quite a bit since I moved here:

Coburg Farmers Market started today at the local primary school, and is scheduled to run twice a month. It will be interesting to see how it goes. There were lots of people, but I don't know how many were buying. Having bees, chooks, a vege garden and fruit trees of our own meant I didn't need most of the things being sold. It should be good for the school, though, as they were asking for a gold-coin donation from everyone.

Camberwell Market

Thousands of people enjoying the Sunday Market at Camberwell. It's the first time I've actually been; the end of daylight saving overnight meant it was easier to get going early enough this morning!

To Market, To Market

Took a trip to Vic Market for some fruit and veges. The stalls seem to have moved a little up-market in recent years.

The colourful signs, awnings, bright lighting, and wrought-iron display stands are new, but shopping at the market is still good value. It also brings back lots of memories of trips there as a child.

Day Out

Took a trip to Mt Macedon for the Plant Lovers' Market.
 

Lots of interesting plants for sale, but no vireyas that I could find.  I did buy some Dragon's Eye, Ginny Mitchell and Huckleberry Candy daylilies.

Day Trip

Fountain in the middle of Gisborne, with the "Olde Time Market" in the background.

Around Hobart Town

Do some shopping at Salamanca market, look at Mt Wellington in the distance.


Follow the sculpture trail around Battery Point.

This is called "Gift from the Earth", by Keizo Ushio of Japan. In fact it is not one of the sculptures which make up the trail. The trail is more informative than artistic.

Check out an antique shop or two.


Finish the day with chips from one of Hobart's floating fish'n'chip shops.

Vic Market

Waiting for a tram outside Queen Victoria Market - which is rather deserted at that time.