2014

 As 2013 draws to a close I would like to thank my followers and supporters: your comments are appreciated.

It has been a challenging year in many ways and there have been times when the creative urge has deserted me as well as times when other priorities meant I couldn't spend time with my fabrics and threads.

 I am hoping for a more productive year in 2014.

These photos show the beauty in flowers even after they have bloomed.

I love the fading colours and shriveled petals on the gladioli.

Daisies always look so much more complex when the colour is gone and roses are so intricate after the petals have fallen.

 

HAPPY 2014

 MAY IT BE FILLED WITH LIFE AND LOVE, CREATIVITY AND CONTENTMENT, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

Little bird lost.

After a very hot morning yesterday, a  cool change brought strong gusty winds with it.

 There were small branches and leaves blowing around and I think this young magpie may have been blown off course too.

He was sitting high up on this branch in our garden for quite some time.  

I first noticed him when I looked out the kitchen window this morning.  He was very quiet and not moving much.

These young birds are usually very noisy and demanding food if their parents are nearby but this one was all alone.

After a little while he spread his wings tentatively and flew into a higher tree where the magpies often congregate.

I hope he found his way back home.

After Christmas Tree

 I started this piece of embroidery quite some time ago but it has been sitting in the basket neglected through lack of imagination.

 It is worked on yellow cotton and the basic outline of the tree trunk and limbs are worked in wool yarn.

 The little flowers are worked in cotton thread in various colours and stitches.

 The next step is to add some more beads - actually lots of beads.

 After that there will be more threads, maybe even some silk ribbon.

There also will be buttons and  embellishments.

 Maybe a little painting too. Let's see where it takes us.

Summer Solstice Sunset

bunting from the stash

 This is my first attempt at making bunting and I think it turned out quite well.  I used some bits and bobs from the stash and will add bells to the points of the flags.   

This is going to be hung in the carport I think. 

Christmas decorations

Thoughts of summer

 The weather here continues to confound us: hot one day - cold and raining the next.  I cannot believe we have had several days at the beach in past weeks and now we have the central heating on again.

At least when it is cold outside there is an opportunity to sew.  I have so much planned. 

Today I made 2 little skirts for each of the 2 little girls next door. 

At more than 3 years old now they are growing fast and always need new clothes so I thought some  summer outfits would make ideal Christmas gifts for them.   They love to be outside and especially at the beach and these little elastic wasted cotton skirts will be easy to wash and should wear well.

I was planning to make little tops but I think I will just buy plain T shirts and add an applique or some embroidery to match the skirts.

So you see even though the weather is wintry at present I am optimistic about the impending summer.

mirrors and flowers

 I have been decorating a mirror for a friend.  The request - very flowery, over the top.  Well I think this will do.  First I painted the frame cherry red, then added lace, paper flowers, fabric flowers, glass flowers as well.

Very sweet. 

catching up with projects

 Yesterday I had some treatment on my knee and while I was waiting for the surgery I did quite a lot of stitching.  My sewing room is cluttered with partly done work or sample pieces I have done in the past. 

I have a stall at a christmas market soon so I am trying to finish things off.  This little piece with french knots on silk will make a pretty  button or hair clip. 

This second piece is a needlebook.  Hand dyed cotton fabric with silk ribbon, beads, sequins and embroidery.

 I will line it with green felt to hold the needles.

There is batting between the fabric and the felt to give it a softer feel.  

 

The last item is silk ribbon on calico over a self covered button.

It just needs some metallic threads to finish it off.

I am always so happy to finish things that have sat around for a while.

Looking for Inspiration

I am going through one of those creative slumps at present: rthe bronchitis has almost gone which is just as well as I am booked in for an arthroscope on Friday.

 I am sure the endless coughing and of course difficulty breathing results in a different mindset.

Survival mode kicks in and there is no energy for anything else.

 I have spend some time this evening photographing some of our garden and the improvements we have made to the house over the past year or so.

The birds were starting to settle for the night and it is interesting to watch them vying for the best position.

It is quite noisy and busy and then it all goes quiet when the sun has gone.

Yesterday I bought these two little cabinets  to keep my current craft projects in.  This little space between the kitchen and lounge has been a bit bare lately and I think this is a great solution.  I could have bought one large cabinet but I like the fact that I can move these around whenever I want.  By next week I think there will be Christmas decorations on them.

This is my first hand made Christmas cracker.

It is made with lutrador, hessian, lace and paper flowers.  Quite pretty I think.

Now I have to make some more for the family feast.

Peninsula Arts Society Reef Display

 I thought I would share some pics of the display in the foyer of the Peninsula Arts Society.

The Friday Textile Art Group has the responsibility of creating the  Christmas display for the foyer.

It was decided that we should create a coral reef and most of the members crocheted all kinds of beautiful coral. There are mermaids and wreaths as well.

It really looks spectacular.