An Easter tree

 HAPPY EASTER

2013

Last minute Easter crafting

Op shopping

Today I visited a couple of our local op shops and was thrilled to find these gorgeous doilies that need to be finished off.  

I often wonder about who started the pieces that are in the op shops.  So many unfinished projects.

These pieces will be offered for sale on ebay and will be finished off and appreciated by someone else.

The question of buying from charity shops and selling on is one that troubles some people.  For me, the selling on provides me with a little cash to indulge my creative habit.
Many of the people who buy this kind of item live in remote areas and are happy to have the opportunity to buy on line and complete the stitching.

I do not buy clothes or shoes or bed linen to sell on.  These are the kind of items that people on limited income should be able to buy from the op shops at reasonable prices.

Apart from buying to sell on, I also buy birthday and Christmas presents for family and friends and of course clothing for myself.  I would rather buy secondhand goods whenever possible - it is kind to the budget and kind to  the planet and of course it provides income for the charities. Win Win Win
  

Perfect beach weather

Today the weather was reminiscent of summer: in fact the last few days have been perfect.

This morning I had some time with the twinnies so we went to the beach.  Canadian Bay is just 5 minutes away by car and is a very shallow and quiet beach.  Perfect for small children.  When we arrived there was one person and a dog on the whole beach.  

 Taking the twins to be beach is a bit of an effort but once we are there it is just so much fun. 

 With the temperature about 30 degrees at 6 pm we went back to the beach when the twin's daddy returned from work.  Mummy was out with big sister at swimming lessons so we took the little girls for another swim before the rain arrived.

The rain has started and I think today might have been the last good beach day for a while.

 Meantime, while we were having fun the weather proved ideal for bush fires and so there are various areas under threat at present.  I do hope the cool change means some relief for those facing these fires.  It has been a long summer and there is so much fuel on the ground that grass and bush fires take hold quickly and with strong winds they are impossible to control.

Making the most of the weather

 Today has been one of those special days: perfect weather and an opportunity to go for a drive with a friend.

Our destination was Sorrento at the southern end of the Mornington Peninsula: about an hour from our home.

It is a beautiful seaside village and we were delivering paintings for an art exhibition. (not mine).  Afterwards we checked out the shops, had coffee, explored an op shop and walked through a beautiful garden.

 

 I did a bit more painting and put this corner of the room back together this afternoon.  The room is looking good although there is lots more to do.

 

After a gloriously warm day we have a beautiful,  clear, mild evening and the moon is so bright.


 


 

A stranger in blogger land

 I feel like I have been away from blogging for months: not that I haven't wanted to blog.  I often think about what I will write and then the days fly by and no writing is done.

 

Up until a few weeks ago I was spending three days a week minding the twin girls from next door.  It was a real labour of love and I was terribly disappointed when their mummy gave up her job to stay home and look after the little ones.

I decided I would make the most of the time and renovate the room downstairs where I do my craft work, keep up with the office work and where the twins had their toys and cots etc.
It is a big room (imagine double garage) with a kitchen in one corner and a bathroom attached.





 Not to be content with plain walls I have decided to paint the bricks in a soft chalky grey (vanilla quake) which is lovely, and then to add some yellow (pale daffodil) in a diamond pattern.



The brick walls and wood panelling made it look very dark and gloomy.



I will paint the wood panelling last as I think it will be the easiest.

So you see I have been busy but I am really missing having time for sewing or other craft projects but it will be worth it. 

By the way isn't the clock gorgeous.