Just in case you are sitting around with nothing to do this fine Wednesday, hop on over to the Moda Country Fair - a month long celebration of sewing from September 6th.
The Moda fabric designers have been busy cooking up free designs, wonderful giveaways and a whole lot more inspiration for you to enjoy. The star-studded line up is:
September 6th Sandy Gervais of Pieces from My Heart
September 7th Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
September 8th Barb and Mary from Me and My Sister Designs
September 9th Camille Roskelley of Thimbleblossoms
September 10th Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts
September 13th Sandy Klop from American Jane (Post will be featured on Moda's blog)
September 14th Liesl from Oliver + S
September 15th Joanna from Fig Tree and Co.
September 16th Lynne from Kansas Troubles
September 17th Barb and Alma from Blackbird Designs
September 18th Aneela Hoey from Comfortstitching.com
September 19th Barbara Brackman from Barbara Brackman, of course.
September 20th Bonnie from Cotton Way
September 21st Christina from Cabbages and Roses
September 22nd Deb Strain
September 23rd Jan Patek of Brannock and Patek
September 24th Lauren and Jessi Jung
September 25th Stephanie from Lily Ashbury
September 26th Julie from Cosmo Cricket
September 27th Kate Spain
September 28th Karla, Susan and Lisa from Sweetwater
September 29th Kaari from French General
September 30th Lisa from Primitive Gatherings
and the fun continues into October
October 1st Kathy from Kathy Schmitz Studio
Get y'all over there - you never know what you'll learn! I've already had to Google 'fanny pack' for a translation! Here are just a few things I've picked up:
American vs Australian Fair vernacular
country fair (USA) = 'the show' (Aust)
fanny pack (USA) = bum bag (Aust)
corn dog (USA) = dagwood dog (Aust) - no idea why!
cotton candy (USA) = fairy floss (Aust)
hot tamales and candy corn (USA) - remain a complete mystery to me; no Australian equivalent.
And if someone could tell me what a 'cake walk' is, I'd be thankful!
I would love to hear what you call these things in your part of the world, or perhaps you have a special memory of country shows to share.
Cake walk is something easily accomplished. It originally referred to a competition (dance competition, I think), the winner of which received a cake.
ReplyDeleteWe had a Cake Walk at work - it was a fundraising event - where people buy tickets and put their ticket in the box for whichever cake that they want to win.
ReplyDeletecake·walk/ˈkākˌwôk/
ReplyDeleteNoun: An absurdly or surprisingly easy task.
Verb: Achieve or win something easily: "he cakewalked to a 5-1 triumph".
My children's school has a cake walk as part of the school's Mardi Gras celebration. Here's how it works. Numbered cards are laid out in a circle. The children, who have each paid a quarter to go on the cake walk, each stand on a number. Music is played while the children walk around the circle on the numbers. When the music stops, a number is pulled at random and the child standing on that number gets to choose a cake from a wide variety of cakes that have been donated for the occasion. Big fun!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kathleen...in my part of the US a literal cakewalk is exactly as she describes it. And a figurative cakewalk is as Cathy says, something easily accomplished.
ReplyDeleteBesides corndog, we also call them Pronto Pups. Pronto Pup is a brand name of a company in Portland Oregon that makes the coating for the dogs. Toni
We have a different kind of cakewalk in the UK. It's a fairground ride, an old-fashioned one where you basically have to walk along a moving, jolting platform
ReplyDeleteas a Scottish highland dancer in the US, the Cakewalk is a competition dance that actually has it's roots in Southern culture. It's a dance traditionally done by a boy and girl and the winners did typically receive a baked good or cake. This isn't the best example as far as overall technique, but gives the basics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-_S_GbQMmY
ReplyDeleteWe don't do it often and it's reserved as a special dance, not included in calculations for the trophy/overall winner!
And you all speak the same language? Ha, ha. Imagine how I feel. This is awesome. I'm a Spanish teacher of English, how do I explain this to my students? Thanks for a good laugh
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to believe that there is someone out there who has not been subjected to candy corn! LOL (I am not a fan of it)! I think someone has to send you this treat (lolly?) so you can try it for yourself!! LOL
ReplyDeleteWe always had cake walks(Kathleen's version) at our elementary school's fall harvest party.
ReplyDeleteSaturday morning and I am finally checking into blogs...LOVE the Moda country fair. I so enjoy meeting the designers and seeing into their inspirations. Cake walks are better known at elementary fundraisers. The kids love winning a cake to take home. I enjoy your blog very much and your Australian roots. Even here in the states we have different ways of saying things from one area to the next.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Funnel cake??? - everyone loves it and I've got no idea what they are talking about!!!
ReplyDelete