Singing in the Choir

It's been over ten years since I was last on a musical stage. [Side note: it turns out I've pretty much never blogged about performing in musicals. So weird! To say I love musicals seems like a bit of an understatement, but not blogging about them seems to contradict this.] 

I'd been singing on and off with our local Shed Choir the last couple of years, but they haven't been super active recently. In any case, I had been missing singing with others and being a part of telling a story, so when I saw that another local Community Choir, Cheep Trill, were doing a term production of "Community Choir: The Musical", I thought: why not! I'd considered joining the choir for a term before, but the timing had never really worked out. This was a chance to step up - not just a choir, but also musical theatre! Winning. 

The show was written by the founder of Cheep Trill, Emma Dean, about a Community Choir that is invited to participate at the National Choral Competition. It's got good Aussie humour, quirky characters and lots of heart. I was in "the choir" which was essentially the chorus. 

Advertising for the show at South Bank!

We did 15 weeks of rehearsals - just one night a week, plus 2 full day Saturdays. I was initially sitting with the altos, but they needed some folks to fill out the bass section, so I shifted down. The whole choir was super friendly. They have been running Cheep Trill for over ten years, and it's expanded to have Northside, Southside, Noosa, Gold Coast and Bayside locations. That's some pretty amazing growth. I was so impressed with how inclusive it was too. 

I met a bunch of great people singing in the basses; some long-time choir members and others brand new like me. My choir buddy, Joe, who I was next to for the show, was such great value and a privilege to sing with. Lots of the basses all lived just down the road in Yeronga, so it felt like we had an instant connection coming from our little part of the Southside of Brisbane together. Rehearsals were fun and sooner than we knew it, we were bumping in to La Boite Theatre to perform as part of Brisbane Festival 2026. 

Checking the lights in this beautiful soprano/alto song that I wasn't in. 

It was different being in a show this time. Not sure if it is because I'm older (probably), or that I've never really played chorus (narrator roles for me), but I did have trouble remembering all of the choreo. It's easier when I have lines and I'm being told what my character is doing. :P Maybe because we were all adults too, and the expectation was there that we would go and practice ourselves, rather than the kids-theatre I've previously been involved with, where we are running things again and again so the kids get it. 

I did put in some extra hours revising, all of my bus trips into practice listening to the songs and by the time we got to the opening show, I was feeling pretty confident with the singing and most of the choreo. Whew! The other cool thing about the show was that there were two casts: Northside and Southside. Each cast performed three of the six shows, which meant on an off show - you could actually go see the show. 

The view from the second back row in the choir rises during tech rehearsal

Since our characters were all people in the choir, our costume direction was so to come in what we would usually wear to choir. Rehearsing through winter meant that I had regularly attended in my kimono and lots of people asked if I was going to wear one for the performance. Initially I thought no, since I figured it would be distracting, but then I saw how bright and colourful everyone was going with their "choir clothes" (including the nurses who came wearing their very colourful scrubs) and figured why not. Also, I was in the second back row, so it wasn't like many people would see me either. 

A last min change at the tech rehearsal left me in charge of part of the Opera House, which might have been the highlight of the show.  The week we performed, the girls were away at a Scout/Guide Camp (Agoonaree), which was good because I was so busy out at rehearsals and then performances. They came home on the Friday and had a good night sleep to see the show on Saturday with the rest of the fam (well, those who were available). 

The other part of our costumes was to add a "pop of colour" which we put on when the choir arrived in Sydney. I made mine out of some doona cover scraps that might have been left over from Rachel's cape, or from when I used it to make the practice of Sophie's graduation outfit perhaps? It was a quick flower hair clip (similar to these ones I made for Fiona's wedding) with a button from the stash. It tucked in my yukata sleeve and I popped it in my hair half way through the show. Perfect. 

Reading on the bus when I wasn't revising the songs.

When it was all over, lots of people were asking if I was coming back for choir in Term 4. I was on the fence - most people were in the show in Term 3 were there because they wanted to be in the choir. I was mostly there because I like musicals. I was getting the emails reminding me I could sign up, but I was not ready to commit yet. 

Anyway, last Monday, I was invited by another Japanese teacher to a Taiko drum group session just down the road. I went along because why not - Japanese drumming is so cool! I was, however, completely unprepared for the three hour full body workout that was waiting for me. I'll admit to not lasting the whole time. There was so much to think about on top of the music, beat & rhythm of everything - stance, arms, hands, bending your legs with each hit. I was exhausted. 

And half way through, though I was enjoying it, all I could think was: "I'd rather be at choir". So I signed up. Term 4, here I come! 

Wine Yukata

Adding to the rainbow collection of yukata that I have is always a joyful time. 

This latest one was the second bolt I bought from the shopping trip to Nippori with my friend David last year. I've already made the Red Yukata (in Japan), but this one came home with me unmade. Not sure what inspired me to dig it out and make it at last, but here it is. 

Another 100% hand sewn, zero waste kimono for my collection. Could be my favourite yet. 

Sushi Apron

Our cooking loving Sophie had grown out of her other apron. She was going to a Japanese cooking event with church, and requested a new one. So I made her an apron. 

Most basic sewing ever. I did a quick google for rough measurements, and sacrificed some more of this bright sushi fabric that Sophie already has in a bag. She loves it, and I'm happy to report, has also been wearing it. 

Book Week 2026: Paula!

Better than making a costume for your book loving daughters: organising one for yourself. I've discovered that in the same way there are people in the world who hang out for Christmas and just love the whole season and everything it entails, so do I love Book Week. 

I wanted to go simple this year, for no particular reason. I think I am really feeling the push for sustainability and environmentally conscious choices. Even though I love making and creating, it's important that I'm not part of the ongoing overconsumption fast fashion problem we are currently living in. 

Anyway (off my soapbox now) I decided to re-use a costume that we already had; Squirrel Girl! I had made Sophie an excellent costume for Squirrel Girl in 2022. Rachel has worn it since (Superhero day at school, no photos), but I haven't. My turn now! 

Though I had the perfect brown boots to wear, I was less inclined to pair them with tights and a body suit for a Primary School Book Week. I was tossing up some of the shorts I had made, when I was fortuitously gifted a pair of brown jeans by my sister Sarah. Problem solved. Maybe not as comics accurate, but still in theme and much more practical for a day of teaching small children. 

I turned the brown cuffs I had made Sophie into arm braces and whipped up a pair of brown ears out of the leftovers. Everything was lined with leftover brown fabric from making pants for Rachel's Ranger costume. The brown Jedi belt and pouches also made an appearance. 

I thought I would have to do a fair few adjustments to the brown vest (or scrap it altogether) to make it fit, but I could get my arms through and it clipped up across my upper chest just fine. Winning! 

Tippy Toe was pinned onto my shoulder and I carried both the comic and the novel that we have of Squirrel Girl with me. Though I was not recognised by any students, except two year six-ers, I had a great time. Book Week for the win!

Book Week 2026: Ranger Rachel

It is quite possible that there is nothing more fabulous than Book Week. Honestly, it might be the reason I stay in teaching as long as I do. What a great celebration of all things I love! 

This year, Rachel wanted to be a Ranger. She has been very invested in the John Flanagan Ranger's Apprentice books, as well as the two spin off series and Brotherband. We had a discussion on the essential cape and I found three different green fabrics in my stash. Rachel opted for the olive-green bedsheet. 

Initially unimpressed with the hooded cape I whipped up one afternoon (she didn't like the excess fabric in the hood, but I couldn't be bothered make a fitted one for a costume), Rachel came round to it after some street friends told her how cool it looked. I knew she had a green shirt, so I figured with some jeans we were actually done. Little did I know. 

Rachel was intent on a pretty thorougher recreation. She scoured the park across the road for the perfect stick to become her long bow for weeks. Then raided the shed for bamboo stakes and long dowels to turn into arrows. Her bow was strung with some leather which I think was supposed to be used for making bracelets. Arrows were fletched with feathers she had collected over the years. There was also the oak leaf necklace, the throwing knives and daggers. Weighted, of course. I dug out the brown belt from the Jedi Costume along with a couple of the belt pouches. Rachel filled these with her "medical supplies" and other assorted things. 

After seeing her work hard at all the parts of her costume (the only thing missing was an arm brace really), when she requested some brown pants to wear, I felt I couldn't refuse. I fortuitously had some brown fabric in my stash thanks to the roller coaster journey of the Princess Bride Costumes of 2025.  So I measured her jeans and sat down on Sunday to make a pair of ranger pants for the Book Week Parade the next day. 

Things were going smoothly (and beautifully), until I realised I had accidentally sewn the front legs together and the back legs together, rather than to each other. There might have been a loud exclamation from the otherwise quiet sewing area before I decided the solution was to cut off the French seams and go again, this time with less beauty, more speed and the correct pieces of fabric. 

Rachel was happy with the comfy brown pants that included four pockets for her to stash even more Ranger things in. She borrowed Sophie's satchel bag to take her lunch in, and also Sophie's brown boots, even though they were too big for her. Rachel is committed like you read about. 

The quiver for the arrows was made the night before, and then I was informed the cape needed a slit in the back for the arrows to poke through. I may have organised that the morning of, but it was a very quick snip and sew. Rachel did win the prize for best dressed in her class. 

Gosh did she look fabulous. She was so chuffed with her costume and the imaginative play options ahead of her. The home made bow and arrows can, in fact, be fired, but she was only allowed to take them to school under strict instructions not to use them. One of the grade 6 teachers completing disregarded this though when the throwing knives (cardboard) were accidentally stuck in a tree and Rachel was asked to shoot them down with her bow. 

Make Up Pouch

This project was a very quick one that was not on any to do list ever. I just decided I needed a smaller pouch for my go-to work make up (rather than the larger box that I had for all make up stuffs). I ended up with some extra home time at the end of the holidays, so I grabbed out some fabrics and went for it. 

I used this tutorial from YouTube, which did come with a printable PDF pattern, that I couldn't be bothered to print out. I just guesstimated my own version which turned out fine, if a little less box-y than the original. 

I used a cotton drill piece I had picked up in Japan, and an off cut of kimono lining fabric for the inside. I was pretty happy to use that actually, because the mon (family crest symbol) on the fabric is able to be a little surprise when you open the pouch. It is also similar to the circular flower design on the main fabric too; like it was ment to be!

I used a zip I'd salvaged from a old backpack ages ago, just replaced the pulls with fabric ones. I'm pretty chuffed with how this all came out, and the speedy-ness of the project. On reflection, my last two projects were enormous quilts which have literally taken years to pull together and days of consistent sewing (here and here), so almost anything in comparison would have felt faster. 

Belated Post: Rachel's Birthday

Continuing my streak of belated birthday posting, (Steve 2025, Sophie 2026 and though I come next in the list, I haven't even done me yet!) here is a short note on Rachel turning 12. 

I don't know if it was the fact that I don't love odd numbers and thus wanted to skip 11, but Rachel felt 12 long before her birthday. As way back as February if people asked me how old the girls were, I had started just rounding up, even though she still had a good five months to go. 

Her birthday fell in the very last week of school, though Sophie and I were already on holidays since we aren't in the state system. This ment that I could make Rachel a fun bento for her birthday, and she got lots of love at school on the day. 

Friday, being the last day of school, was just another excuse to extend the celebrations - after school party in the park, followed by her first "big" sleepover with three extra friends. Saturday we had family around for a chilled afternoon tea to wrap it up. 

Rachel was not fussed with any kind of fancy Women's Weekly Birthday Cake Book cake, so Sophie and I just got creative decorating a regular chocolate cake for her. Sophie actually spent about three weeks in the lead up to Rachel's birthday planning on all sorts of foods that she would make for Rachel. Their closeness is so delightful, demonstrated by this moment I managed to capture of them sitting together wrapped up in a Jeans Quilt watching some One Piece anime. 

In general Rachel is an agent of chaos. At school, one of the ultimate prizes in their reward system is to change the school bell (usually an upbeat pop song) to any song you choose. Rachel recently used her prize powers to change it to Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall; Part 2". Specifically the part that says: We don't need no, education. Definitely gave the teachers a laugh the morning it played at 8:55. 

Happy Birthday child.