Seaweed

 The seaweed wreath is coming along quite well.

It is a little hard to see the detail in the pics but I am building it up with yarns and beads and anything else that comes to mind.

 When creating something like this I love to have lots of options available.

 

It is rather messy but it all goes back in the basket at the end of the session.

Some of my Santas

Christmas Tree

The tradition in our house is to make our own tree each year.

It doesn't appeal to everyone but I am always very happy with it.

First I find some small branches from the wood pile.  This is not as easy as it seems because none of the branches is quite right so it is the overall effect that matters.

Unfortunately it is necessary to spray the branches with insect killer as the gum nuts can harbour all manner of crawlies: I don't mind them but they seem to disturb some people.

 I don't decide on the colour or number of decorations until the branches are selected and in their pot.

This year I decided on silver - all of these decorations are ones I have used before - some of them I have had for years.

I am not sure whether I should add lights.  I like the simplicity but we always have lights.  Lots of lights.

Of course it is light until really late here because we have daylight saving and we are close to the solstice (longest day) so lights really are a bit obsolete.




If the "tree" stays intact after christmas I usually leave it in place and decorate it again for Easter or just hand things on it that please me.

By the winter it is usually kindling wood for the fire in the dining room.

 

christmas is on its way

As the festive holidays approach I thought I would make a brooch to wear on the day but I wanted it to be something I could wear anytime.

The stitches include bullion stitches, french knots and and spider web flower in the centre.  Buttons fill the spaces.  Because this is on a dome shaped button I had to be sure there would be no fabric showing through so the stitching and the beading is very tightly packed and took many hours to do.
The outer edge is bullion stitches and button hole lace very casually put together.  Again I wanted to be sure there was no fabric showing.  I think in future I would use a coloured fabric for the background instead of the white silk.  

Several people have asked about the size of the buttons and brooches I have been making.

The buttons are 5cm across and the toggle on the previous posting is 5.5cm long and 1 cm across the end.

Thanks also to everyone who comments on this blog.  I really appreciate all the feedback and encouragement.

Happy days and good fortune

The past week has been very busy, with extra time spent in the garden as well as the usual weekly activities.  
However, a highlight of the week was a day out with my friend Anne (Juliet Cherry) who is currently visiting her son and his family.  Anne lives in the UK and her son and daughter in law and two dear grandsons live quite near me.  Whenever Anne visits we manage to spend a day or two together.  We share an interest in needlework so there is always plenty to talk about.  This time I was not sure how much time I could spend having been laid low with bronchitis for some time now and not wanting to spread any illness.  As it turned out we managed to catch up for a few hours on Thursday.  I picked Anne up and we went for morning coffee/chocolate at a cafe suggested by my neighbour.  The cafe is at the end of the road in Mornington with views of the bay.  It was a glorious day and we could have just sat and chatted but we had places to go.  Anne usually buys a few needlework magazines from op shops while she is here and donates them back before going home, so we decided to visit some of my favourite spots.  There is a Vinnies (St.Vincent de Paul) Salvos (Salvation Army) and recycling shop all in one area so we had a ball looking around and finding bargains.

I picked up the partly made quilt pictured:  it is all pieced and has the batting and backing fabric (the backing is especially beautiful).  This was marked $4.99.  Can you believe it.  I am not a quilter but it was such a good buy.

After the excitement of our shopping expedition we rang my husband and he joined us for lunch at a nearby pub.  And so we had a wonderful day and look forward to another one in the coming week.

AUSTRALIA DAY & CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

 Today is Australia Day - a public holiday for most although many are cleaning up after floods or others are still waiting for the waters to reach their towns and properties.  It certainly has been a challenging start to the year for so many here and overseas. For us it is also a special day as it is our youngest daughter's birthday.  My baby is 35 today!!!!  Happy Birthday Bec.

I mentioned in my previous post that the grandchildren had made Christmas crackers for our family lunch last Saturday.  I thought I would show a pic of one of the crackers.  We used some heavy card paper to make a cylinder, into which we popped a little novelty or charm and a "cracker" to make the bang and then it was wrapped in a piece of hand dyed fabric which was later used as a serviette with the meal. Organza ribbon was used to tie the lot together.  Now that we have done it once I am sure the next ones will be much more elaborate.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

Last minute projects

I have been busy making little note book covers as last minute gifts.  I found a tutorial the other day  
and have been inspired to make a few in my own way.  I will post some pics in a day or to.
http://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/idea-notebook-tutorial/

I hope the link works.

Christmas is almost here and I am having trouble capturing the mood.  The weather here has been cold and not at all the sort of thing we look forward to for the holidays.  This country is so vast and the range of weather is amazing.  Floods up in the southern parts of Queensland and in parts of Western Australia.  The Snowy Mountains in NSW have Snow!!!! even though it is summer.

Today is the summer solstice (longest day) - I must go outside and have a look as I believe there is a lunar exclipse tonight. 

tiny slippers & bags

I have been sorting through my box of completed items today.  Thinking ahead to Christmas.  I already have some pretty little fairy slippers and tiny bags which I have made over the past few months.  I use colour streams felt for these and decorate them according to my mood.  They are extremely relaxing little projects and result in lovely gifts.