Sweet Birdy Love

Joy Is The Flag Flown High...........

2012-01-31T16:19:00.001+11:00

Hello there and a late welcome to Tuesday.....

I am sitting at the table pictured with the windows open and a beautiful breeze blowing........it's lovely and cool.

Yesterday the rain finally arrived, during Sunday night we had over 30mls, of steady, gentle, quenching rain.

It continued to rain throughout Monday, but the sun did appear and when it did, ooh , it was rather steamy....not nice.

But, today, ah.........breathing a sigh of relief from the heat.

Last night I finished off the flags for my bunting......I was very good and darned in all the ends and gave them a gentle steam press as one or two unruly corners continued to curl up.

Tonight I shall crochet them all together and hang them up.

I had intended to stick with paler colours but couldn't get the mix quite right and when I added some of the brighter shades, whammo ........

It's been hard to stop crocheting these flags they are soooo addictive and a fun project.

I sat in the main street at my favourite cafe drinking coffee and crocheting, much to the amusement of gathered friends!!

Hey you've gotta push the boundaries sometimes, right?.......

My dining table hasn't been this bare/tidy in oh, ......years!!

No.1 said 'it just doesn't look right' and hubby thought he'd come home to the wrong house!!

Gotta love 'em

Stormy skies yesterday......love the inky blue clouds.......

Hoping the rain will come this way......and it did.

Beautiful, cooling, refreshing rain.....

The garden looks renewed today. It had been wilting in the heat and no matter how much you water it, t needs the rain fall to bring it back to life.......

While it rained yesterday, I moved 'stuff' from the dining room table and put it in the spare room.

Yes, that's it above.

No ta dah moment yet.....probably not for quite some time....

Baltic pine (orange) furniture will have to do and you know what I'm over the moon that I have my own space so the furniture, pffft.

Does it really matter?

Not one jot...

I am surprised (ever so slightly) at the amount of 'stuff' I have collected, amassed, found, thrifted..........

I have to find a home for each and every bit, eeek!!

Until it is sorted, or until I can move freely without having to climb over things, I think the sewing thing will be on the back burner.

Crochet will be my craft of choice for the next little while, it's portable and not as messy as the other stuff i 'do'.

I have been drooling over Cecile's crochet at

Eclectic Gipsyland

Oh, the colours she uses and things she makes are wonderful, beautiful little purses, bags, flowers......all sorts of things.

Pop over and have a browse but make yourself a cuppa first and make sure you have a spare hour, you'll need it.

If you've never crocheted before you're going to want to learn after visiting Cecile's blog.

Well, I am off to enjoy this cool weather, maybe I'll do something exciting like the ironing and dream about my next crochet project.

Thanks for popping by, I wish I could package up some blue sky and sunshine for all in the Northern Hemisphere.

Sounds like it's turned rather chilly recently.

Lovely to hear from you and take care,

Claire XXX

Colour, Colour Everywhere

2012-01-27T19:34:00.003+11:00

Hello and welcome, here we are at the end of another week.......

I had hoped to post earlier but.......

It's been very warm here and on Wednesday our air con. decided to play up, aargh!! No one available to look at it till next Monday, so in the meantime I have been trying to 'keep cool and carry on', hehe.....

In between other projects I have been crocheting some bunting.

Little triangles of colour, you can see them stacked together in the basket. Some blocked, some waiting to have 'their curls tamed'

It's been a great portable, little project. Pop a ball of wool and a crochet hook in a plastic bag and take it with me. Trips in the car have been measured not by distance, but by how many flags I can crochet. I can hook up two flags as we head into 'big town'....

I found Heather's easy to follow tutorial over at

Pink Milk Jewels.

Today I made myself a little helper, she's taking her job of choosing colours for bunting very seriously.

She was inspired by some sweet little fairies Ruth made from the book Scandinavian Stitches by Kajsa Wikman.

It feels like ages since I made something different, my crafting mojo is returning in fits and starts.

I have been busy, turning the spare bedroom into my sewing room.

The boys have been very good helping move furniture out and furniture in.

My 'space' won't be designer material, but, it will be my space where I can leave everything set up and just walk out and shut the door.

We will reclaim the dining room table,oooh, I am looking forward to that.

Earlier this week I received a parcel from Finland a little Etsy purchase.....

I was very pleased to find it waiting for me in the letter box and check out that gorgeous tape........squirrels and acorns.

Inside a brown paper package and a hand stamped card......

Inside the parcel is the necklace I bought from Delila over at

Robin and the Sage.

She lives in a little village in Finland and makes woodland inspired jewellery.

My necklace has a hand made acorn and lovely beads hanging from it.

It will be a piece of jewellery perfect to wear in Autumn and Winter.

I have admired her work and enjoyed reading her blog for quite some time, so......

If you haven't visited Robin and the Sage before, pop over and take a look and be inspired.

So, what have you been inspired by recently?

I would love to know.

-----OOOOO-----

I'm hoping we will get some rain over the next couple of days, the garden will certainly enjoy it and I think I will go outside and do a little rain dance. It's very dry and watering is quite a chore in the evenings.

I also hope to finish off the 'moving' process into my sewing room this week and find a home for everything. I will no doubt be making another trip to the op shop as I continue to have a sort out.

Looking outside there are some stormy clouds gathering, so maybe we will get some rain a little sooner than expected.....fingers and toes crossed!! B

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thankyou so much for popping by for a visit.

It's always nice to hear from you.

Take care,

Claire X

Goodmorning Sunshine ☀.........

2012-01-20T07:20:00.007+11:00

Good morning or evening depending on where you are and

a big welcome to all my new followers.......

Thanks for popping by for a visit.

I hope all is going well in your crafty corner of the globe.

In between trying to stay cool and some other projects I have been doing a little bit of creating.

A lovely lady by the name of Shirley (also a chook lover) gave me a box full of beautiful woollen fabric samples. She asked if I could make her a chook and she chose these colours.

Shirley has a personality to match her colour choice!

So, here's Rosie, she's a bit like the Queen Mary under full steam, but I am quite happy with the way she turned out and the gusset (these things are the bain marie of my life, hehe...)is a success.

Not sure if she's a one off, but for a very long time,I have been thinking of making one.

Sometimes you just need a little push to get you over the hurdle.

I thought a couple of pics in the garden (where chooks often find themselves!!) was appropriate but the sun has washed out her colours.

She did like being out with the flowers, but not so keen on the bees...

For all of you living in cooler climes I thought some blue sky and sunshine pics of my Sunflowers might brighten a gloomy day for you.

They remind me of a choir, all standing up straight with heads held high.......

A bit of blue sky love ♥ going on here too....

They are putting on a great show at the moment...

...and keeping the bees busy.

You know those little fellas were still out at 8pm last night.

Don't they have a home to go to?....

Love the blue sky against the yellow flowers

...just wonderful

It's been pretty warm here this week and I have been wilting in the heat, so I thought it might be wise to pick the roses and bring them inside where I can enjoy them rather than leave them to burn to a crisp in the sun.

L - R

Mothers' Love, William Morris and at the back

Blue Moon with Lady of Megginch.

I placed the vases throughout the house where I could enjoy them.

A pic of the vegie garden

We had a load of wood delivered.....getting ready early for Winter.

Just needs someone to put it away!!

The beans are producing slowly but steadily, there's plenty of tomatoes on the various plants. The Spring Onions are lovely in salads along with the capsicum and there's quite a few little pumpkins developing on the vine.

There's always something from the garden used in our dinner...

There aren't as many Zinnias as in previous years, but they are doing a wonderful job adding colour to the yard.

Tig is doing what he does best.......

Find a disused carton, curl up and go to sleep.

Ah, it's a cat's life.

-----OOOOO-----

Well,it's been very warm this week although not too hot at night for sleeping.

We were planning to head away for the weekend away but it hasn't happened. That's OK later in the year when we have more time and it's not so hard to get accommodation might be better.......

So, they say a change is as good as a holiday and I got a bee in my bonnet this afternoon and entered the SMB shed.

That's 'secret mens business'....just in case you were wondering.

I roped No.1 in to help and we dragged out an old kitchen table which I intend to use for a sewing table.

I also decided it was time to sell a piece of furniture which had been stored for some years.

I rang the local antique dealer he came around half an hour later, gave me a price loaded it up into his car and off he went.

I now have a few dollars to put towards a 2nd hand storage unit of some sort...

So the spare room, becomes my sewing room once the bed is removed.

I have been talking about doing this for some time, today just happened to be THE day...

And, I am going to reclaim my dining table, yay!!

I hope, your week has ended on a good note and things are going according to plan.

Take care,

Claire X

Surprise, Surprise

2012-01-13T13:42:00.006+11:00

Shortly before Christmas I found a parcel in the letterbox, addressed to me........

I wasn't expecting one so it was a complete surprise when I opened

it up and found the most amazing teacosy inside.

My clever, creative and amazingly talented friend Meralin had whipped this up for me, intending to give it to me before she moved house to another corner of Victoria. But in between packing boxes and house cleaning and all those squillions of jobs you have to do when moving....she never quite got around to finishing it.......

Anyhoo, here it is........

Last year I showed her how to free motion embroider!!

Check out the other side......she even used a recycled blanket inside it...gorgeous green woollen blanketing too.

Those cup cakes look absolutely yummy and Mez has used seed stitch and bullion stitch to make all those little sprinkles on the swirls of frosting.

Knowing Meralin she probably whipped up a batch of these gorgeous cupcakes and took her inspiration from them.

Her skills don't end with the sewing machine, she's a whizz in the kitchen (move over Nigella)an amazing artist..oils, acrylic, pencils, pastels and then there's the knitting.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention gardening and writing children's stories.....her sense of humour is very sharp.

When creative talents were being handed out, she somehow managed to snag more than most, hehe.......

Am I jealous.....no way.

I love knowing such creative people, they're inspirational, motivational and she has been a great supporter of what I do and encouraged me no end and boy do I miss her.

The little bird on the cupcakes is a nod to

Portlandia - "Put a Bird On It"

I saw this clip on Youtube last year, what a hoot.

Not sure if it still available to see but is

"a sendup of the ubiquity of birds in decor"

"what a sad little tote - I know I'll put a bird on it"

You get the picture and I love birds.........

Surprise, surprise.....no birds here.

Flowers and hearts yes.

Slow stitching (embroidery) yes

In the latest edition of Mollie Makes to arrive at the newsagents

there is an article on Vintage Handmade Gifts.

So, I grabbed an old woollen jumper, some embroidery thread and set too......

Now I have to say that this very idea had been forming in my little old brain for some time.

It was put on the 'To Do' list when I had time, but you know how it goes!!

Anyway, Mollie you have given me the rocket I needed to put said plan into action and here we are.

Just need to embroider the other side and gather the top of the cosy and finish it off.

I'm loving the colours, quite a change from what I normally do.

Another beautiful surprise from my garden is the first flower from William Morris......

a delicate, apricot bloom with a lovely fragrance.

Surrounding him is Mothers Love, hehe.....

The Zinnias continue to add colour to the garden...

Still loving those beautiful, bright, clear colours.

Surprise,surprise this year the Lillium sent up not one but two shoots

Obviously from a little bulblet and I thought they were difficult things to grow!!

It's very happy in it's spot in the garden and has rewarded me with two stems full of gorgeous flowers.

I will bring one stem inside where it will continue to flower and put on a lovely show for some weeks and the second stem I will give to my sister.

I daren't leave them outside in the heat and weather, plus I can't smell their gorgeous perfume if I'm not out there too.

Well after 2 1⁄2 weeks away playing at a festival in Queensland and gigging, No. 1 returned home last night.

A surprise for Tigger who is always up for a cuddle.

He doesn't seem to mind that Rich has just gotten up bed hair 'n all.

Despite the fact that there is 'stuff' strewn through out the house , it's great to have him home again. As I type he's back on the freeway heading to Canberra for a gig tonight. He will return sometime over the weekend and have the pleasure of putting all that 'stuff ' away!!

Hubby flew in last Sunday, so my two weeks of peace and quiet have come to an end, hehe...

Did you know that Peanut butter M &M's make cute little flowers too.

Sadly, these ones don't multiply .....

once they are gone they are gone.

If you've never tried them, hunt them down, they are worth the effort.

Peanut butter and chocolate a wonderful combination. Just don't forget to hide them from the rest of the family in your crochet bag or your tumble dryer!!

Another lovely surprise I received last week is the Liebster Blog award from Anna over at Esme Rudy.

Thankyou very much for that Anna.

As there are soooo many wonderful blogs out there, I always find it hard to pick just 5 to hand the award on to.

I think you all deserve a gold, sticky star for being such a creative lot.

Pop over to Anna's blog and say "hi" and read about her forays into the world of crochet and crafting.

-------00000------

Well, another week has passed, hope it's been a good one for you all wherever you are.

We have had topsy, turvy weather here for Summer......19deg.on Wednesday with snow up in the mountains. High winds as well and it was quite a surprise to hear a loud crack and then watch a tree fall down on the verge and block the road.

It is starting to warm a little today, but is still very pleasant.

I hope you all have a great weekend, thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment, ☎

Till next time,take care,

Claire X

It's In The Bag......well almost

2012-01-06T17:39:00.006+11:00

A little project on the side is always good when you hit a snag, don't you think?......

The dress was coming along swimmingly, when suddenly out of nowhere there was a hiccup....

just one,

very small,

quite ladylike really,

but until I could figure it out, I needed a distraction.

An easy, peasy make, that would keep the crafty vibe alive but not cause any hiccups!!

It couldn't get much easier than sewing two rectangles of fabric together.

Because I love this green floral fabric so much, I had bought an extra metre and thought it would make a great bag to keep my crochet in.

I'm very happy with how it has turned out, although if I make another I will tweak it a little.

I love the gingham lining, it was going to be polka dots but I didn't have quite enough fabric, so gingham it is and it looks nice and cheery....

There's a spot for 3 crochet hooks and a pocket for some scissors or some chokky, hehe.....

Good place to hide your chokky stash, the family would never think to look in your crochet bag would they?

There's room for my rug......

hopefully not for much longer as I sit and hook a round or two in the evenings...

It's growing ever so slowly.

Earlier this week a bubble/cardboard/paper wrapped parcel arrived in my letter box.

In it were a couple of books I had ordered from New Zealand and I had been waiting patiently!! for them....

'The Story of My Ruin' and' I know A Garden' by Marion Cran.

They are lovely books, written back in the 1930's telling of her gardening exploits and of renovating old homes in England.

She was also the first gardening radio broadcaster.....

It was a completely different era, with gentler ways.

Who would've thought that a book purchased for 50 cents from a jumble stall at a school fete, would turn into a journey that has given me hours of enjoyment.......

There may be a little less crochet taking place in the evenings now!!

I'm also swooning over those David Austin roses...

Lady of Megginch♥♥

And to end the week, here is my first op shop find for the year.

A lovely woollen blanket, with lots of colours,

MAUVE

BLUE

GREEN

LEMON

PINK

I haven't seen one like this before and hesitated before I bought it BUT I have plans which I am a little bit excited about, as it feels like my sewing mojo may be returning.

In my defence I would like to say that I was at the op shop dropping off bags and boxes of bits and pieces that I can live without.

I was having a little clear out, so when something new comes in, something old has to go.

So, 2 'new to me' books arrived and out went a bag of magazines and 4 books, along with a bag of clothes and some kitchen ware, yay...

It feels great decluttering....

-----00000-----

You can see how much the countryside has dried out in the last little while....less green and more brown, but a beautiful, blue

sky, in the last photo.

We are in for another warm day tomorrow, but hopefully some rain on Sunday which will be lovely.

I hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are and thank you to everyone who left a lovely, encouraging comment on my previous post.

It's always great to hear from you and a big thanks to Georgia over at Little Blue Mouse for her advice on my hiccups!!

Have a great weekend everyone and take care,

Claire X

P.S. Silly me, forgot to say that Emma over at Lemons for Lemonade is hosting a fab giveaway for those of you who would like to learn how to crochet. Lots of great things to get you 'hooked'

(I just had to , sorry!)

It's open till the 31st. January and she will post worldwide.

Pop on over read her January 4th post and throw you name in the hat and good luck!

✄.......Sew Far, Sew Good......✄

2012-01-04T17:26:00.005+11:00

Welcome to the New Year, another year of blogging and sharing.......

It's been very hot in this neck of the woods, Summer has sapped the energy flow, like a 'kinked' garden hose....

But, I have started sewing 'the dress' above and sew far,sew good.

It's pretty straight forward, so only rudimentary sewing skills needed.

I'm still loving the colours and hope that when it's finished the colour and pattern won't be too overwhelming.

I imagine I will turn a few heads in town....... more for the fact that I am wearing a dress, than for making a fashion statement, hehe....

I have bought my granny square blanket out of hiding and am hooking a few rounds in the evening.

I started this earlier last year, but my enthusiasm resulted in a dose of RSI, ouch.......lesson learnt.

Take it easy, slow but steady wins the race.

Summer isn't really the time to be crocheting a blanket but if I sit under the fan and have the rug off to the side it's quite comfortable and very relaxing once you get into a rhythm.

If I tire of the rug I can always move onto another crochet project, nudge, nudge, wink, wink!!!

Along with the heat, Summer also brings beautiful Gardenias and picking a few for a vase on my bedside table, always feels special.

It's one of life's simple pleasures don't you think?

Even the flowers which are yellowing still emit the most beautiful perfume and as the fan moves the air around, a cloud of scent wafts through the room.

I often wonder about people who have squillions of dollars.

Would they ever grab their secateurs, head out into their perfectly perfect gardens and snip some flowers for a vase on their bedside table.

Or would they pay their minions to do it?

Perhaps they would they ring a designer florist and get a posy delivered......

Ever seen one of these mug covers?

Having coffee with friends this morning I was presented with this little gift.

Everyone knows I pop my saucer on top of my mug to keep my coffee warm.

It really works and I do like a hot coffee.

Anyhoo, a couple of friends spotted this mug cover in a shop selling Japanese knick knacks in Melbourne and instantly thought of me.

We all had a good laugh about it and the little heart, has a groove in it, so you can put a note or whatever in it.

The mug cover is made of soft rubber, it looks like a sink plug and when you push it down in the middle it creates a vacuum and clings to the mug.

I wonder who on earth thought of it.

Not sure if they'll catch on.....what do you think?

-------OOOOO--------

Today has been slightly cooler, a nice reprieve from yesterday's heat.

No matter how much you water the garden, the plants still end up droopy after sitting out in the 39 deg. heat.

Ronna has told me it's going to be -20deg. in Eastern Ontario, Canada and I see you need to hold onto your hat in parts of Scotland.....

I hope the weather hasn't been too extreme where you are.

Thanks for visiting,

Take care,

Claire X

P.S. Happy birthday Rosie, hope you had a nice day and although you drive me crazy at times, I love you sis XX

Hold On To Your Sunhats...........

2011-12-30T20:21:00.005+11:00

Hello there and welcome to my last post for 2011...

Can we be on the verge of a new year already?

Not too many words you'll get the picture,so to speak.

But remember, not a word to anyone...

Escapades late at night.....

The first event.....

I do hope those bike riders appreciate the effort to 'pretty' up the boring, old bike racks...

A last wander around the garden, the sun is on the wane.

The temperature has dropped, it's quite pleasant out.

This sunny specimen is creating quite a show in the garden and keeping the bees busy......

It's a beauty and my girls are going to enjoy those seeds in a couple of months time.

Beautiful baubles on a tree, red, shiny and very tasty.

Eaten straight from the tree, the warm juice dribbling down your chin and running down your arm.....

Gertrude Jekyll, she was planted quite late in the season and I held my breath as she slowly took root and sent out the first tentative shoots.

She's a hardy thing and now here she is in all her glory and a beautiful perfume to boot.

Nearby are the Daylillies, blink and you'll miss them, they are aptly named.

Burnt orange and crimson red.....

Matching the warm weather we are experiencing at the moment.

We're in for a hot New Years Eve and more heat to follow.

Summer had to arrive at some stage.......

The Tomatoes are ripening and beans are coming on, zucchinis are turning into marrows if I don't check them every day.

The garden is where it's all happening at the moment......

-----OOOOO------

I hope you all enjoyed the recent festivities and didn't over do it.

I'd like to wish you all a happy, healthy and creative 2012.

Thankyou all for stopping by to say 'hello', leaving a comment or becoming a follower.

You are all very welcome, it's nice to have visitors.....

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

We Have A Winner Folks............

2011-12-22T20:14:00.008+11:00

Take one top hat when No.1 son isn't looking.

Preferably, while he's not wearing it as he has been known to chase people down who try and run off with it..........

Write down names on pieces of paper and place in upturned hat.

On the appointed day, just after finishing breakfast ask random person (aka hubby) to pull three names out of the hat.

And here they are in drawn order.........

First name drawn was

Emma from Lemons for Lemonade

followed by

Jacquie from Bunny Mummy

and

last but not least

Alison from Tweed Thoughts.

Jacquie and Alison, I have been following their blogs for some time, but Emma's blog is quite new to me.

I found her blog when she wrote a post late November about a pub she visited The Gwdihw in Cardiff which had a lot of owl ornaments.......

We 'chatted' a bit and there was a funny little story unfolding which she posted about recently.

If you haven't 'met' these crafty talented ladies, click on the links and say 'hi'........

It's a stormy evening here .......

Grey skies with the hint of a rainbow.

No rain for us, but someone, somewhere is getting wet.

Screeching Cockatoos, disturbed from their roost, wheeling across the leaden sky.

This is the same view but a different angle.

You can see how things have dried out, but there is still some greenery around.

Yes, we have ripe tomatoes before Christmas, yay....

These are meant to be cherry tomatoes, but they are hoouge.

You can't beat the taste of a homegrown tommie...

My favourite Summer flowers....Zinnias.

The first for the season.

A little red Robin or three came to live in my garden courtesy

of my talented, artistic friend Ella.

She used some above ground pool, corrugated metal and pop riveted some wings and legs to the body.

Sorry about the dark pick , but the wind had whipped up and it was getting late.

I still have to show you the wonderful tea cosy I received from another friend......next time.

It was quite a different story last night......

A beautiful sunset and a freshly washed piece of fabric drying on the line.

I spied this fabric at Spotlight yesterday and had to buy it.

I love the vintagy colours, very CK I thought.

Hopefully it will be put to good use very soon.

Sharing a meal with a friend.....Tigger and Mrs Kafups

--------OOOOO-------

Thank you all for entering my first ever giveaway, I've had a lot fun reading about your blog reading habits and welcome to all my new followers.

Well I do hope you've all had a great week, not too hectic........

We're heading towards a warm weekend with 32deg. forecast for Christmas day and a possible thunderstorm.

Wherever you are and however you spend Christmas day I hope you enjoy the time spent with family and friends.

Till next time, take care

Claire X

JOY and HAPPINESS

2011-12-19T14:27:00.009+11:00

Hello and welcome to another week.......

Just wanted to share with you some of the things that are making me smile right now and bringing a touch of happiness and a smidgen of joy into the world of Sweet Birdy Love.

Op shop finds......for just a few dollars I came away with a bag of beaut vintage buttons.

Gorgeous colours and patterns.

Some lovely green vintage Ric Rac made in Czechoslovakia, still on the original card and for a few dollars more some great beads.

Sparkly, shiny, in lovely pinks, greens and amber.

I have plans for the beads, a little bit of play time over the holidays, fingers crossed and tongue in the correct position and hopefully I'll have something interesting to show you.....

Vintage buttons = JOY

Sometimes it only takes a couple of dollars.

Other times no money at all.......

Toadstool love is in full swing here.

These little specimens are 'growing' quite happily in the

Wild Wood of Silver Birches......

I'm predicting a few more might pop up here and there.

Fresh berries = JOY

Picked straight from the garden......

They are starting to slow down a little but there will be more in a few weeks time.

In the meantime they have been frozen, turned into jam, given away, eaten and enjoyed.

Christmas shopping was completed here over a month ago....

No fighting your way through crowds of shoppers.

No driving round in circles looking for a car park.

One catalogue, many gifts to choose from.

Giving to those who have little or nothing brings great JOY

TEAR Australia

Visit the website and browse through the catalogue you're bound to find something that will make a huge difference to someones life.

If it all gets too stressful take a leaf out of Tigger's book and 'chill out'......

-----OOOOO-----

I had my last market for the year on Saturday and I am

pleased to say it was my best ever ......

Consequently, I didn't have enough stock to hold my stall on Sunday at the local market.

But hey, I think that's a good problem to have.

Over the holidays I would like to try my hand at a few different projects and hopefully learn some new skills.

I will post the successes and hint at the failures....

Of which there may be a few,hehe.......

I have some wonderful things to show you next post.

Gifts from clever, talented friends who never cease to amaze me with their creativeness.

I will also be drawing the winner of my giveaway on Thursday morning as I have my breakfast.......

There is still time to enter if you haven't already, please read the previous post for details.

Till then take care,

Claire X

THANKYOU IT'S BEEN A 'HOOT'.............

2011-12-08T13:44:00.008+11:00

Some things take a while to sink in.....you know what I mean?

I love owls as do alot of others, so the question is 'why haven't I been making any owlie things?'

Who knows apart from the fact it can take awhile for the penny to drop.

I think I was just too caught up in one of the hundreds of other ideas that invade my brain.....

So I have just finished and I mean JUST finished these owls.

Ladies they are hot off the press, still smoking, hehe......

Who doesn't love having an owl or two, or three or even four, perched in a nearby tree?!!

We often hear the Boobook owls calling across the valley at night.

A sound that makes me very happy as I drift off into the Land of Nod.

Not only are these little owls cute but............

They're also useful for holding your needles.........

Yes, these little fellas are sewing needle books.

Lots of bright polka dots along with felt a bit of stitching, some buttons for eyes and there you have it.

And guess what I'm giving 3 of them away, so keep on reading if you're interested.

I'm also giving away this little pendant I bought at the market last Saturday.

Told you I had something in mind for it, didn't I.........

I made a little pouch for it to travel in, to keep it nice and safe..........

I really had fun making this little pouch and it reminded me of when I was a child handsewing bits of fabric together to make 'things' for my dolls or myself.

Details of the Giveaway at the end of this post, but let's take a turn around the garden and see what's blooming.

The Chinese Star Jasmine is putting on an awesome display. It's been growing in this pot since we moved here 9 years ago. This is the best season yet, due to the rain. We all know how much more the garden appreciates natural rain compared to hand watering...........

If you are not familiar with this plant it has a beautiful perfume which fills the air in the warm weather and is just divine.............

Grows quite happily in the garden or in a pot.

The beautiful Buddleia is in bloom.

I love this plant, the honey perfume is heavenly.

Unfortunately, all the flowers are on the new growth at the top of the shrub which is about 5 metres high. Hopefully, we'll get some blooms lower down so I can pick an armful and bring them inside...

Further along in the shrubbery the Dahlias are starting to bloom.

The bright orange of this cactus Dahlia certainly makes a splash against all the surrounding greenery.

Along the driveway we have the ubiquitous 'aggies' or agapanthus.

They're hardy, they survived the drought and are frost hardy, so obviously they are a good choice to line the driveway.

They have just popped out of their little papery coverings and are about to open up fully.

Purple and green another great colour combo.

As you can see the countryside is starting to dry off as the temps rise.

Still quite green but Summer is creeping in.

There is rain due over the next day or so. It will give the 'lawn', lol a good drink and freshen up the garden.

Fingers crossed for more than half a dozen drops!

Now, remember last post I was talking about doing a bit of yarnbombing, ssssh!!!!

No words needed, it's self explanatory......

Dressed in black complete with beanie (took it off 'cos that would look suspicious and it was just too hot!!) my accomplice who shall remain nameless came into town with me.

He held the torch and the crochet while I stitched as fast as I could.

The old time dance was ending so there were cars around and we were trying not to look conspicuous!!

Mind you two people loitering in town late at night, always looks conspicuous, specially when you are dress in black!!

I haven't heard any comments yet, I do hope someone has noticed but there it is.

FYI I used a size6 hook and double yarn so it would hook up quickly.

I did a nice little picot edging at one end and a shell edge at the other end, just to give it that certain touch, hehe.........

Hubby thinks I'm barking and he's probably right, but hey, we got some good laughs out of it and that's what it was all about.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Ok, this giveaway has been a long time coming.

I never had giveaways at milestones.......

100 followers

100 posts

1 year of blogging etc. etc.

I didn't want to just because everyone else did.

But now the time is right, we are heading towards the end of the year and I just want to say THANKYOU

to each and everyone of you who pops by to read my ramblings, whether you comment or not.

You have been encouraging, helpful with computer/blog issues (Cuckoo, Tanya Anne and Alison),

inspiring, motivating and all those good things.

Like everyone else who blogs, I really enjoy this community of people some of whom I have had the pleasure to meet (Tanya, Lee, Chris) but the majority I haven't.

Thanks for sharing your lives, makes, ideas, the good, the bad and occasionally the ugly, hehe.......

It's been such fun and whilst I think my blog can be rather pedestrian at times, I don't have all the fancy bits and pieces that are available due to my dinosaur computer skills you keep coming back, so Thankyou

Ok, let's get to the nitty gritty.

First name drawn out of No. 1's top hat will receive the pendant in it's unique little travel pouch, plus an owl needle book.

2nd name drawn will receive an owl sewing needle book as will the 3rd name drawn

(No.1 told me I couldn't have two prizes the same, but I said

"who are you the giveaway police!!" )

I will also add some other bits and pieces to these prizes but that's a 'Bgurk' surprise.

What do you have to do?

Just leave a comment, maybe you should give me two colour options for the owl just in case!!

There is a question I would like to ask

I'm just curious about your blog reading habits.........

Do you check out "Blog Lists' on other blogs or click on comments that are interesting to find out a bit more about who wrote it?

Are you a blog hopper or stick with your favourites and don't venture to far from home?

This giveaway is open to all and sundry from Tangambalanga (say that 3 times fast) to Timbuktu (which is actually in Mali/Africa)

Whether you are a follower or not, blogger or not, commenter or lurker, please de-lurk and say 'hi'

I won't bite, promise........ despite the fact hubby thinks I'm 'barking'

If you mention this on your blog please let me know for another ' bite of the cherry'

The giveaway will close at my brekky time 7.30am on Thursday December 22nd..............

Please make sure I can link back to you or leave your email in the comment or I will have to redraw.

The winners will receive their prizes after Christmas.........

So once again thankyou for taking the time to drop by and say 'hi', nice to hear from you it's been a 'HOOT', oops, just had to, sorry........

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

To Market, To Market..........

2011-12-04T22:15:00.006+11:00

Recognise any of the above patterns?

Maybe you had a plate, saucer or cup with one of these patterns on it.........

This is the work of Robyn Steele one of the stall holders at the market I attended on Saturday.

She takes broken crockery and turns it into wonderful ceramic pendants.

She goes by the name of Five Poppies but as yet doesn't have a website, but her email is

steelero@gmail.com

Her kids are trying to talk her into getting a website up and running and I certainly hope she does.

Beryl is Robyn's mum, so naturally she had to make this little pendant.

I think it's a great idea...........

I had a lovely chat with Robyn.

It's always nice to catch up with other crafty types and talk about what you make and swap ideas...........

It was a gorgeous day and there seemed to be plenty of people coming along to the market.

It always turns out to be a bit of a social outing as well..........

It was a difficult decision and I ummed and aahed for ages before deciding on this cute little house pendant.........

It has come home with me and I have something in mind for it, so stay tuned.........

Something else I spied at the market were....

these gorgeous padded coathangers.

Now this is only one part of one of four tables full of coathangers for sale.

Seriously, there were hundreds of them, adult and children's coathangers.

They are beautifully made and I would love to see the fabric stash belonging to these crafty ladies.

Two sisters were running the stall and unfortunately I didn't get their names, but I did get.....

Two gorgeous red and white coathangers.

Of course it had to be polka dots and gingham was the other obvious choice.

These were actually a little swap......one of my Bgurk brooches for two coathangers.

I just love doing that sort of thing.

When it was time to pack up I didn't really want to, I was having such a pleasant time.

I also met another local lady by the name of Sue she had been talked into sharing a stall with some of her friends.

Sue makes lots of wonderful things, fabric bags, cute as a button knitted hats for kids, and jewellery amongst other things.

It was her first time selling at a market and I think it was quite a learning curve for her.

We did another swap a pair of her earrings which I had been admiring for my Nest brooch....

Once again we had a lovely chat about markets and creating and it was really enjoyable.

So Sue if you do read this, it was so nice to meet you and I hope I see you at another local market on a stall of your own very soon.

The trip home only takes about 40 minutes but as I drove through Tarrawingee I had to stop and take a pic of the local pub The Plough Inn.

It was looking a treat on this gorgeous day, pots of flowering petunias out the front.

I have been driving past it for the last couple of years thinking I must stop and take a photo.

Well, I suddenly found myself pulling up in front of it and jumping out of the car, camera in hand.

This pub was built in 1864 by Hopton Nolan and is still in the Nolan family almost 150 years later.

I think part of the appeal to me is the 'Englishness' of it........

Another stop to photograph what we refer to as 'the Billabong' just outside of Beechworth.

It's quite an expanse of water, I don't think it's particularly deep, but during the drought the water level dropped dramatically.

With all the rain we had over the past twelve months it's filled up again and is a haven for ducks and other waterbirds.

There are lots of little islands with tufty grass and reeds growing up out of them

Great reflections.......I wish I could've climbed through the fence and gotten a bit closer, but as I only had my little pocked camera with me, I decided not to.

Plus just having summer sandals on my feet, I thought my outdoor boots were needed just in case I encountered some to the local wildlife!!

The last stop on the trip home....Beechworth.

I can't go though without stopping and popping into a couple of my favourite shops.....unfortunately I was too late for the op shops, they had already closed.

But I did discover someone had been doing a little bit of 'Yarnbombing' yay !!

Hooray, someone has finally done it.

I wonder if they snuck into town in the dead of night and sewed it over the railing.

I would sooo love to do that here in my little town...........I think I shall head into town in the morning with my tape measure in my pocket and scout out a few possibilities.

I think No. 1 might be in on this too, he seemed to like the idea of a bit of Yarnbombing around

the place.

Wouldn't everyone get a surprise to see a crocheted cover over a tree branch or lamp post, but ssssssh, don't tell anyone I'm thinking about it.

Might need some help with the crocheting too....

A close encounter with some local wildlife, just before I got home.

Love the red nose, it looks just like a great big Maraschino Cherry, yum

So glad it stayed put and didn't run out onto the road..............

You have to admit it looks pretty cute.

And just for good measure a pic from the garden, or orchard actually.........

The Feijoas are flowering and they look stunning..

The combination of deep pink and red is just gorgeous and all those little bristly bits, remind me of little bottle brushes.

Looks like we're in for a good crop come March 2012.

------OOOOO------

Well, the jam making continues as the berries ripen here. No doubt there will be another batch on the go this week, just as well I have a good supply of glass jars.

The days are rolling into each other and it's a bit like Ground Hog day sometimes, but the weather has been good, despite a very warm and humid day Tuesday. We did have a storm, plenty of thunder and a wonderful lightning show, but not a drop of rain. At least it cooled down enough to have a blanket on at night and get a good sleep.

It's very windy this evening and I even pulled a fleece jacket out of the wardrobe to keep warm.

So that's a little sneak peek at what I've been doing over the weekend.

I hope you've all had an enjoyable weekend what ever you did.

Thanks for stopping by and saying "Hi" always great to hear from you,

Till next time,

Claire X

Muriel Loved Polka Dots...........

2011-11-28T18:50:00.006+11:00

Mondays seem to be rolling around pretty quick these days and after a relaxed weekend I find it a little bit hard to get back into the routine.

Today is meant to be a 'production line' sewing day.........

I have managed to work my way through a few jobs on the 'to do' list but there was a little bit of 'play time' first.

"'Muriel loved polka dots.....'

A little idea that popped into my head and I needed to play around with it before I could settle down to the jobs at hand.

When todays 'to do' list is completed I will play around with the idea a little more.

A little chooky fun needed to be explored too...........

I was thinking brooches.

The one on the left turned out to be just a little too big for my liking, so I scaled it down and it's a better size.

Just a bit of fun before I get into the 'production line' sewing.

I have a market coming up on Saturday, it's not the usual but an extra and although I have enough stock I always like to have something new and fresh.

Since Friday we have had 3 inches of rain.

It was very on again off again, heavy, light or not at all.........

It hasn't been torrential which is good and the garden will certainly be enjoying it.

With warmer weather forecast for this week, all the plants including the weeds will be growing whilst we watch them.........

I have been picking lettuce for the last two weeks and it's so nice to pick just what you need.

This cage belonged to a friend she used it for clucky chooks and gave it to me when she moved house.

It's a little on the wonky side but has come in very hand to protect the lettuce seedlings from the chooks and birds.

The Spring Onions in the foreground are ready for use, so with the warmer weather it will be salads galore.

The tomatoes are still a long way off but we do have bucketloads of berries.

It's time to think about using them up...........

I kept this old book of my mums, there's lots of interesting recipes in it, like Walnut Ketchup !!

Or, if that doesn't take you fancy how about mushroom ketchup?

How does preserved pears with coffee jelly sound?

Sorry, but I'm starting to feel slightly queasy.......

I don't intend to make any of the above but if you are interested just leave a comment and I can send you the recipe, hehe...........

I thought I would start off making a small batch of jam after being inspired by Jules over at Little Woollie

Easy peasy recipe, 1kg of sugar and 1kg of fruit and a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice.

I can see myself making quite a bit of jam over the coming weeks.

The raspberries are coming on thick and fast as well, so the pantry shelves will be groaning with jars of jam very soon.

Plenty for us and some to give away to family and friends.

Sadly, there were no freshly baked scones so a slice of bread had to do for a taste test.

It was yummy and No. 1 declared it to be a lovely colour, so I think it was a success!!

Did you know that I actually worked in a local jam factory for 7 years?

We made the most delicious jams there but we used 100's of kilos of berries at a time.

My favourite was/is blackberry and apple and raspberry jam.

The smell when the berries were cooking was amazing and just like making jam at home if you turn your back on it when it's boiling.................

Well, you can imagine the sticky mess it would make if a kettle full of jam boiled over, eek.

Fortunately, it only happened once or twice and I have to say it wasn't my fault either, phew !!

Thought I would let the chooks in for a treat while I picked the berries and had to laugh at Noddy's acrobatics.

He jumps up and picks a berry then drops it on the ground and 'calls' the girls over so they can enjoy it.........

He's very thoughtful like that.

There's plenty to go round.

The netting over the orchard has been very effective in keeping unwanted birds out this year, so we can enjoy more of the fruit.

There are plenty of apples and pears coming on that aren't netted.

Very soon the parrots will be paying us a visit to enjoy the bounty.

A snap of Just Joey........it's a beauty and the perfume is delightful.

The rain didn't spoil too many of the roses, but there are plenty of buds just waiting to bloom.

For some reason the girls and Noddy seem to find rose petals irresistible and rush to eat them.

I wonder what the attraction is?

--------OOOOO--------

So there you have a brief roundup of what's been happening in this neck of the woods.

Once December is done and dusted I would like to pack away my sewing machine for a little while, or at least unplug it and have a go at a few other little projects which have been in the back of my mind for a few months now .

I feel like the noise in my head, you know, all the ideas which keep popping in and wanting your attention.

Yes, all that sort of stuff has died down and I am really enjoying the 'peace and quiet'.

But it would seem that my blogging has dropped off a little too, which is fine.

We all know how life gets in the way.........

But I am still here and definitely getting around to blogs and keeping tabs on what you are all up too.

So thanks for dropping by for a visit, always nice to have a visitor or two and your comments are always appreciated.

Till next time,

Claire X

Let's Get Cosy............

2011-11-17T14:54:00.005+11:00

It must be time for a cuppa.............anyone like to join me?

I finished the "Wibbly Wobbly" tea cosy today, so here's a photo to prove it, hehe.

It sat on the 'to do' pile for a few weeks but with a market coming up on Saturday I thought it was a good time to finish it off and see if anyone fancied a wibbly wobbly tea cosy!

I found the best light in the house for taking photos was in my bedroom so here it is on top of my dresser............

Here's the back view with it's wibbly wobbly verse..........

I love my little cup with it's bluebird. I bought it at a market when I lived in New Zealand back in the 90's.

Hmm, definitely time to pop the kettle on.

Ooh and I think there might be a banana and date muffin hiding in the cake tin too.......

Another beautiful bunch of roses to grace my dresser.

I have a mixture of Old Fragrance or Old Stinky hehe.......

as my friend Mabs jokingly calls it.

Mabs gave me a cutting off it a couple of years ago and it has grown like topsy even through out the drought and just before you start to worry......it has the most delightful fragrance.

That beautiful old world perfume that makes you swoon..............and I just ♥ the deep pink.

It would have to be one of my favourite colours, not that I wear it or have anything in my wardrobe in that shade.

Oh, almost forgot, tut, tut, David Austin's , Lady of Megginch is in there too.

See the heavily quartered flower at the front that's her.

Isn't she beautiful?

Whilst out in the orchard picking off the shield bugs I let the girls in so they can eat them, but unfortunately some of them are finding the berries much more appealing even though the lower ones are far from ripe.........

Our rooster Noddy, is quite a tall chap and when he stretches his neck he can reach quite a way up the canes.

Hmm, I don't mind sharing but.........

He's definitely airborne here........feet off the ground, trying to impress the girls with his acrobatics.

I think the grass needs a bit of a mow don't you?

Somehow No. 1 son seems to forget

this area as it's tucked away behind the wood shed..............

Red, yes........edible, no.

Don't even think about it !!

Won't be long before we are picking lots of beautiful berries.

Berry iceream, jam, sauce, muffins, hmmm.

I'm already out of ideas.....any suggestions.

---------OOOOO--------

Well, I hope you are all having a good week wherever you are.

My little Janome has been whirring away all week and there has been plenty of stuffing and stitching taking place.

I'm off to my fortnightly craft night and will be finishing off some stuffing and stitching, along with lots of chatting and laughing no doubt.

It's great to get together with other crafty ladies and see what they are all busy making.

I also received a packet of Sunflower seeds in the mail today.

Tanya from Suburban Jubilee sent them to me as a fundraiser for the Nettlefold Foundation which helps people understand and cope with depression. They also provide opportunities for life changing experiences for young people.

For $3.00 you will receive a packet of seeds which will bring sunshine into your life when they flower and you know how much I love Sunflowers..........

It's a great idea, pop over to her blog and read the story behind the foundation, it's very touching.

Righto, what was I going to do now, oh yes, time for a cuppa, so are you going to join me?

Okay, maybe next time, thanks for stopping by to say "hello" lovely to hear from you.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

Shortbread and Jam Bunting

2011-11-10T14:23:00.004+11:00

Hi there, I'd like to share some pics from this mornings diversion crafting...........the things you do when you really should be doing something else.

Yeah, you know what I mean?

Good then I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this.

These little embroidered hearts were started oooh, about 2 years ago and then tucked away in the sewing box until today.

It's bunting, yay.............. not quite finished.

Well, I thought I had and was just about to sew it onto the ribbon when I decided to hang it up to check spacing etc.

No. 1 said I needed to add a couple of more hearts and give it a bit more length, doh........

Ok, I have to admit he's right.

So a little bit more snipping and stitching needed and then I can hang it up.

He also said it reminded him of shortbread hearts with a jam filling.

Yum, that sounds delish.

I originally started making this having been inspired by some red and white Scandinavian embroidery that I had seen and this was my take on it.

I love the simplicity of the colours.

I'm also enjoying the roses which are blooming their beautiful heads off at the moment.

A bunch of Camp David roses on my bedroom dresser..............

Straight from the garden, beautifully scented and a gorgeous, rich, red.........

Let's back track to Tuesday morning and a beautiful, cloudy morning ( you know how much I like rainy, days !!)

There were two or three 'holes' in the cloud and the sun's rays shining through.

By the time I had found the camera it had changed slightly but was still beautiful.

You might get a better view by clicking on the pic to enlarge it.

So nice to get up early to see this sort of thing.

It looked like we were in for a stormy day, but the weather was teasing.

Black clouds, blue sky, black clouds........... nothing in the way of rain.

But, in the last 24 hours the heavens have opened up and most of the state has had a good drop of the wet stuff.

We had 60.5 mls (almost 2 ½ inches) so it's quite damp underfoot.

Fortunately, not too much water entered the garage (this time) but there was a 'mini tornado' in a township 40 mins away and some houses lost their roofs or part thereof.

Must've been rather scary for them, but no one was injured which is good.

Our berries will be enjoying the drink, we appear to have a bumper crop and they are plumping up nicely.

The 'undergardeners' have been put to work as the green shield bugs are back, sucking all the goodness out of the berries.

We don't spray, but pick them off by hand.

I think they smell like coriander when squashed, but I would prefer to feed them to the girls than squash them.........

I wonder if they'll lay coriander flavoured eggs?...............

A quick trip out to the shrubbery to snap a pic of

Gladiolus Cardinalis

which is flowering a the moment.

The heavy rain has bowed all the blooms, but they are beautiful and creating a lovely display.

A shovel full of bulbs from my mum's garden has multiplied quite a bit.

They always look elegant to me with the flowers borne on long stems.

Had to show you this pic taken 3 weeks ago when No. 1 and hubby were heading over to Adelaide for the Fleurieu Folk Festival..............

In the middle of nowhere (hmm good name for a blog!)

No. 1 decided it was a good place to break the drive, stretch the legs and go for a skate, as you do!!!!

Obviously there was no traffic around, but it does remind me of the Magilla Gorilla cartoon.

Remember, Magilla driving along in his little car and when it conked out he opened up the boot and took out a smaller version of the same car and when that conked out he opened up the boot and took out a pair of roller skates and strapped them on..............

Mind you I don't think Magilla had a top hat on and a guitar slung over his shoulder........

I'm heading into Albury to visit the Twilight Market which is on this evening.

I had put in an application to be a part of it, but it seems they have enough stall holders selling childrens goods.

I have to say I was quite disappointed as the concept is great.

An evening market centred around a lovely grassed area, live music,

food stalls and a craft market selling the stall holders' handiwork.

I understood their reasoning but.............

Oh well, next time I will just have to be a little quicker off the mark.

Hope you are all enjoying the week, whatever the weather.

Thanks for taking the time to visit and leave a comment, so nice to hear from you all.

Till next time,

Claire X

It's Flower Power People ✿

2011-11-05T21:42:00.008+11:00

Hello there and welcome to my garden..............I wish.

It could almost be my garden as it is directly across the road from my home.

For a few weeks each year ( if there are no heavy Spring downpours) I get to enjoy the

amazing array of Irises, without having to do any of the work, hehehe......

I went for a wander recently and snapped a few pics to share with you.

If you click on the pics, you will get a better view of the colour and markings on some of the blooms.

The variety of colours are amazing and I have to confess, I do have one or two Irises in my garden.

I mean, how could I possibly wander around and not order some for my very own !!

If you look closely you will see a beautiful golden haired, bathing beauty amongst the flowers.

I had to strategically position myself to take this photo so as to preserve her modesty!!

I love the way the trees frame the view of the nearby hills.

The sun was shining over in the distance, lovin' those big fluffy clouds..........

A sea of pink, blue and yellow with gorgeous roses at the edge of the garden.

So many colours, so hard to pick a favourite....

I did spy these chooks in the garden, fortunately they weren't escapees from my chook run.

I don't think they were doing much harm, just looking very cute.

Shall I tell you a secret? Promise not to tell?

Some years ago when these new neighbours moved in across the road.

My chickadees used to free range far and wide.

They liked to play 'chicken' and cross the road to get to the garden on the other side.........

I was rather horrified when I discovered they had scratched up all the mulch on newly planted carpet roses lining the driveway.

I raced home and grabbed the rake to quickly put all the mulch back in place and tidy up before the neighbours came home and discovered the mayhem my girls had created.

Needless to say, I kept a closer watch on them after giving them a stern telling off and forbidding them to play 'chicken' again.

Here's the real deal posing amongst the flowers.

Not too manly to have his pic taken in the garden.

Showing his more sensitive side hehe......

--------OOOOO-------

Been very quiet on the blogging front recently, not alot to say and not much taking place on the creative side, apart form the usual makes for my market stall, hence the silence.

But all is well........the weather continues to warm up and the Roses are blooming their heads off.

The perfume from plants in the garden is amazing, you can smell them across the other side of the yard........and we have a large house yard.

No 1 and I have been busy outside whipping the green stuff into submission getting ready for the coming bushfire season and short grass makes it easier to spot unwanted visitors......

This fella was enjoying a dose of sunshine on the nature strip on Monday, it's a red bellied black snake.

They are venomous but not fatal.

I have heard they eat baby brown snakes and sometimes their own.

It was quite happy just basking in the warmth and not particularly perturbed by my presence.

It's only the second snake we've seen here since we moved here 9 years ago, so that's not bad going .

-------OOOOO-------

Before I say 'ooroo, I must tell you about a lovely giveaway with a Hebridean twist that Alison is having over at Tweed Delights.

Think cute little croft houses, sheep and then something with a bit of sparkle on it.

Pop over and say 'hi' and put your name in the hat, the giveaway closes on November the 10th.

Ok, now is there anything else that I have to tell you before I go?

Nope, all's good.

Anyway, thanks for popping by, it's nice to hear from you all.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

Its A Wild, Wild Life.............

2011-10-24T18:23:00.006+11:00

Hello there and welcome to Monday, a little late in the day here but Monday all the same.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, I certainly did despite having to work Saturday.

I felt I needed some smaller 'makes' for my stall, so today I have been drawing, snipping ironing and sewing up some yet to be filled Lavender Bags.

First up I snipped into an old doiley and mixed it up with some polka dots.

I love the combination of colours..........red, blue and yellow, very vintage looking.

The rest of the Lavender Bags have wee houses on them, click on the pic to get a better look.

Lots of nice and bright,eye catching polka dots.

Sorry about the pants pic.............

Another three to be made up...............

So, after a bit of playing it's back to the usual 'makes' for my stall.

I'm thinking of doing another market next month, so I better stop talking about what I'm going to do and get on with it..........

I'd like to introduce you to a little visitor I found womble- ing around my yard today.

It's an Echidna, or Spiny Anteater.

I had spotted it out in the paddock yesterday and today it has come into the house yard.

It might be small, but it's certainly not slow.

They have very powerful legs for digging and they're like a mini tank barrelling along and not letting anything stop it ...........well almost.

A baby Echidna is called a Puggle ( although there is some dispute about this) I think that is such a cute name.........

I don't think our rooster was too keen to see it enter the chook run.

It followed the fence line till it found a space under a gate and disappeared into the orchard.

Wild life of a different sort.............

The late flowering Crab Apple is covered in a frothy, sea of beautiful blossom and some little beetley critters were enjoying the bounty.

No idea what they are, but there were quite a few of them, on the flowers and flying around and not just by the Crab Apple but in other areas of the garden as well.

If you have any idea what these beetles are I would love to know.

I did a search online, but couldn't see anything resembling them.

The roses are starting to bloom at long last and this beauty is Abraham Darby a stunning David Austin rose.

Wont' be too long before I can cut a few bunches to bring inside.

Fresh flowers in the house, on my bedside table and in the bathroom...........

There have been a couple of interesting visitors recently.

I found this young Magpie sitting in the garden Sunday morning.

It wasn't moving and it let me get close enough to touch it.

Obviously, it's just learnt to fly, but was struggling a bit.

It was still covered in alot of down with a few wing feathers.

I couldn't see mum anywhere and was worried that it had been abandoned.

I rang a friend who's a Wildlife Carer, Jo advised me to just keep an eye on it.

She said the Magpie mum would be around somewhere, but it was a warm day, so I put a dish of water next to it.

Mum eventually showed up and the baby followed her around the yard. I had to go out and when I returned a few hours later they had both disappeared.

It's nice having these interesting visitors, I much prefer them to the long, brown, slithery kind which can be found at this time of year !!

--------OOOOO---------

It's been fairly quiet here in the Sweet Birdy Love household, with the boys being away for a few days but they will be home in a couple of hours which will be lovely.

I have been busy doing all those houseworky things that I have been ignoring for a little while, lol.......

It's been a dull, overcast day here and trying hard to rain. We haven't had any decent rain for close to a month and with the warmer days the garden is drying out. I don't want to start the watering regime just yet..............

I even did a load of washing and hung it out hoping that might help the clouds drop their load and give the garden the drink it needs, but sadly they didn't and the washing dried, hehe........

Well, I have some Lavender Bags to fill, so I'm off to do that now.

Thanks for swinging past to check out my ramblings, it's nice to have you come visit.

You know I like interesting visitors.......

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

P.S. It's raining, woohoo...........finally.

I can hear it running down the spouting, but more important I can hear all the plants enjoying a drink, hooray.........

Markets and Gardens and Everything in Between..........

2011-10-19T17:38:00.008+11:00

Hello there, how are you all?

Things have been a little quiet on the blogging front, but not on the sewing scene.

I had two market stalls last weekend so leading up to them, I was busy sewing up the proverbial storm.......

My 'new' sewing basket made an excellent display stand for some pincushions.

The markets were a lot better this month which was reassuring after the last two duds.

I whipped up quite a few Blanket Bunnies and Moonbeam Babies thinking they would last me quite a while................not so.

The little 'white' flecks on the Moonbeam Babies are stars, sewn with metallic, silver thread.

The writing 'Wish upon a star.....' is sewn in 'glowy' thread which glows softly in the dark.

The little egg cup which has tipped over in the photo was one that No.1 hand painted when he was very young. I used it to prop up the egg cosy.

My great auntie Ellie owned the little brown case, she kept her piano music in it and I've had it sitting in the cupboard for some time.

Not sure why I kept it, but it's certainly come in handy now.

Let's take a 'turn around the garden' shall we?

My late planted Poppies, have started to bloom.

Their beautiful, bright petals are so delicate........so far only orange Poppies have bloomed, I hope I get a variety of colours.

They are quite a splash of colour out in the garden.

Ah, Lilac.........I absolutely love it and this variety is dark purple with a white border.

The Irises are blooming, putting on a wonderful display........

You can see those little maroon leaves of the Forest Pansy tree, are a good match for the Iris.

Lots of sweet,

little,

heart,

shaped leaves, which will increase in size over the coming weeks.

As you can imagine the Wisteria is a mass of purple and the perfume is heavenly.

Our trellis is completely covered with this and I have to walk under it several times a day to feed the chooks, get to the vegie garden and potting shed so I am certainly enjoying this display.

Racemes of flowers hang down from the trellis, creating a floral curtain..........

A well placed garden bench, provides the perfect spot for a relaxing cuppa.

I decided to have a little play today and came up with this 'Wibbly Wobbly' town tea cosy. I would have finished it only I misjudged the measurement of the lining fabric and after sewing it on I then had to unpick it...........the whole three rows. grrr!!

Oh well, you have those sort of moments......don't you?

Well, the weather has started to warm up quite a bit and a drop of rain would be nice or I will have to start watering the garden soon.........

Monday, No.1 and I spent outside mowing and raking and turning the green stuff into something resembling lawn.

It was a beautiful day and we were certainly happy to count our blessings as we enjoyed the beauty of the countryside.........

I'm off to a local craft night tomorrow night.

It's being run by the local community centre, gold coin donation and bring along a project you are working on.

I thought I might pop along and see what's going on, should be interesting.

Not sure what I will take, probably some crochet, so I can sit and chat as I hook.

Speaking of crochet, have you seen Jules wonderful blanket over at Little Woollie.......

She had her 'Ta Dah' moment this week, when she finally finished her beautiful blanket. She's been posting regular updates about it's progress and I think you will love the colour and design of it.

Pop over and have a look for yourselves.

Well, that's it for me, Tigger is here on the couch sleeping as cats do and I'm about to do the same.

Thankyou for coming over for a visit and sorry, I've been away for so long.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

I ♥Red

2011-10-09T11:37:00.008+11:00

Hello there and welcome to the weekend, or the last half of it for some of you.........

I hope you are able to enjoy some down time, me time or creative time.

I enjoyed some 'me time' last Tuesday and took myself off on a little 'road trip'

Nothing too lengthy, just under two hours drive down the road.

Stopping along the way in two towns and doing a spot of treasure hunting at Op shops.

Yes, you guessed it, I found this wonderful sewing basket at an Op shop at my destination , Benalla.

I heard the two volunteers talking about sewing baskets and my ears tuned in........

no it's not eaves dropping, ear wigging or being rude, hehehe...........

I was down the back of the shop and fortunately I didn't have to fight my way through crowds to bag this little beauty.

Isn't it just gorgeous...........red, I ♥ red.

Despite it's age, it's in excellent condition, with the fabric on top being a little discoloured and rust spots a few marks inside.

It's pure vintage Made in Japan not cheap rubbish and I know you can pick up new ones at Spotlight, but this is the real deal and it was only..............$2.oo

Yes, the dot is in the correct place, that's two whole dollars !!

I assured the ladies that I would give it a good home, where it would be loved and admired for it's beauty, practicality and general gorgeousness.

Ok, I better stop there I think I am getting a wee bit carried away.

We had something similar around when I was young.

It was made with plain varnished cane and had a lovely pale green satin lining.

I wish I knew where it ended up, must ask my sister I wouldn't be surprised if she had it tucked away at the back of her cupboard.

This was the day I chose for the road trip.

Clear, blue sky for as far as you could see and although this photo doesn't show it.

This view is absolutely stunning on a clear day and that line of blue on the horizon are hills and mountains, which were clearly visible on this day.............

Just as well I chose this day as the rest of this week, has been mostly grey and gloomy and has been trying very hard to rain.

Today it has managed to do so, in brief spurts............

One of the mandatory requirements for a 'road trip' is coffee and cake and I didn't let myself down, lol.........

On my way home I found a cafe where they had a delicious display of cakes, so it was decided that a slice of baked raspberry cheesecake and a pot of tea was needed.

I can assure you it was as yummy as it looks too.......

Coffee was also involved but that was at breakfast time, which was hours ago and sustenance is important to maintain energy levels for hours of Op shopping.

Sadly, my sewing basket was the only treasure to be found, but you know what, the whole day was a treasure as I had a lovely little catch up with my cousin's beautiful daughter and I also spent some time mooching through a second hand book store.

Do you ever walk into one of these shops and the aroma of history and old books pervades the air? I love it, breathe deeply and enjoy the antiquity.

I love it and this shop was a rabbit warren of little rooms, beautiful, old books and when I thought I had seen everything, there was an upstairs section as well. I could've spent hours there, but had to be content with one book

'Afoot in England' by W H Hudson printed in 1911, which was given as a gift

'With best wishes from S E B ' on August 8th 1915.

So my week continued with some sewing at long last............

A pretty little tea cosy was on the 'to do ' list.

Flowers, maybe a chicken and definitely a ladybird were asked for.

It's for a one cup teapot and is a lovely fit.

I was very happy with the way it turned out and it should be winging it's way across the oceans

to warm the teapot of a tea loving blogger ........

Let's take a peek at the back view............

A cheeky hen is loose in the garden, but don't worry, I don't think she caused any damage.

Talking about hens or chooks, I have had to cover seedlings in the vegie garden with an eclectic array of wire cages, hanging basket frames and other wiry bits and pieces, to keep the girls from scratching up the seedlings and kicking the straw all over the place.

They have had the run of the yard over Winter as there wasn't anything they could damage, but now I have to keep an eye on them when I let them out of their run which is quite a pain in the neck, so drastic action was needed.

It's not the most appealing look for garden ornaments, but if it does the job !!!

Yesterday I headed down the road to Beechworth, another lovely sunny day and I needed to

visit it's two Op shops as they weren't open at breakfast time on Tuesday.

Rather inconsiderate I thought, hehehe..........

Once again no treasures, but a relaxing couple of hours were spent wandering around the lovely shops and admiring some beautiful spring gardens.

I spied this wheel barrow full of ornamental Kale which is running to seed.

It reminds me of little trees and the colours are stunning.

Another gem was this little corner of garden at a nearby gallery.

Love the olde world lamp post next to the the Silver Birches and underneath ..........

a brilliant display of Sparaxis.

I have only seen pictures in plant catalogues, so this display very nearly took my breath away.

It wasn't just the flowers, but the setting as well.

Let's take a closer look...........

Aren't those colours stunning?

I have a bank o Silver Birches on the slope in front of my house, there are about 30 of them.

Imagine if they had Sparaxis growing underneath them.

What a stunning display it would be.

Hmm, one problem, the chooks, love spending time under the Birches scratching away for hours and doing a wonderful job of breaking down the leaf litter and eating all the creepy crawlies.

I will have to see if I can track down that catalogue and order some for next season..........

One little beauty from my own garden, can't remember the name of this Iris, but isn't 'she' a beauty.

The colour and markings never cease to amaze me.

The Irises are on the verge of blooming and the Iris Farm directly across the road, is gearing up for it's annual opening. Shall have to wander over there with my camera and take a few pics and show you.

Well, I better get going, there are dishes on the sink and I have to go out so I will find my skates strap them on get moving.

Thanks for popping by and reading my ramblings.

Welcome to Followers new and not so, you're all very welcome.

It's always lovely to hear from you, so take a minute to say "hi".

Big thanks to Cuckoo for her techy help this week.

I ♥ bloggers...............

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

Afternoon Delight

2011-10-03T19:40:00.004+11:00

What can make a beautiful Spring day even more enjoyable?

A letter

with a Royal Mail post mark on it,

one that has travelled thousands of kilometres across the ocean

a hand written letter from my sister in the UK...........

As this is a special occasion, I decided to set up an afternoon tea tray take a break from my sewing and head outside into the garden and enjoy the letter with a cuppa and something yummy.........

My sister and her family have just returned from a holiday to Tuscany and included with the letter was a lovely, little fridge magnet.

I love the picture, blue skies, sunshine, Sunflowers and a beautiful Villa..........

oh, I think I am a little envious.

I had been busy sewing another Sunflower tea cosy when the post arrived.

A moment of serendipity..................

While I'm outside let's 'take a turn' around the garden shall we..........

October and daylight savings has arrived.

The Wisteria is starting to open up, in a week or so it should be a mass of purple.

I think there will be quite a few cuppas had while sitting on the garden bench.

The perfume from the Crab Apples nearby is divine but what's that I can detect mingling with it?

Hmmm, Dynamic Lifter.............

Viburnum Plicatum, always puts on a beautiful display.

Crisp, white flowers line the branches, reminding me of snow on the boughs of trees.

Further along the shrubbery in the foreground is a Loropetalum .

It's a member of the Witch Hazel family.

It's pink 'shaggy' flowers and purple/green foliage contrast against a white May.

The roses are all in leaf with buds appearing.

Shouldn't be too much longer before I can pick a few flowers to bring inside.............

Around the corner is a Forest Pansy tree.

It's been covered in pink/purple pea like flowers for over a week and the recent rain hasn't dampened it's display, although there is a carpet of pink underneath it............

Let's take a closer look...............

In a few weeks it will be covered in heart shaped reddish purple leaves.

Throughout the drought it hung in, didn't grow all that much but has now put on some growth and looking so much happier.

Go Cats.............

While the AFL Grand Final was being played out on Saturday.

Tig was a chillin'........

Maybe he knew something we didn't !!

The boys were home for the weekend which is unusual for this time of year, so we turned on the TV, No.1 made 'killer Nachos' and we watched the Grand Final.

Well, I was sewing and watching, No.1 hung around till the food disappeared then went off to play some music and hubby was fully committed to the game.

Things have been a little quiet here this past week or so.

It's been very wet, typical, changeable Spring weather and I have found some of the grey, gloomy days haven't been the most inspiring when it comes to being creative.

Hopefully, this week will bring sunshine and the sewing machine will be whirring away once again............

Thanks for popping by and saying 'hello' .

It's always lovely to hear from you.

Till next time, take care..........

Claire X

Hooked on Bowls...........

2011-09-21T14:21:00.005+10:00

What's a girl meant to do when all yarn is 40% off at your local Spotlight?

Obviously........buy some is the correct answer.............

So I did and I have been busy crocheting up this little bowl, using the wonderful tutorial Jacquie posted over at Bunny Mummy.

She's having a giveaway of some of her crocheted bowls, so if you'd like to enter, the giveaway is open till the end of September.

This is the smallest size and is 4 inches across and just over 2 inches high, but you can fit quite a bit in it.

I decided to add a bobble edge to it for a bit of interest, but you could do anything, the options are endless..........

Next time I might add a flower or two.

Almost forgot to upload this photo, so it's out of order but anyhoo.........

This little Joey (baby kangaroo) was the companion of my neighbour Erin at the Bright market last Saturday.

She's a wildlife carer, when you find injured animals you give Erin a call and she'll come and rescue them, nurse them back to health and then release them back into their environment.

These people are very dedicated, not only did Erin have this little Joey but also a baby possum, both of which need four hourly feeds!!

Righto, where were we?

Talking about yarny, hooky exploits.

This is the cotton yarn I bought on sale, gorgeous colours . They tumbled off the shelf and into my shopping basket before I could say a word and as I was in a bit of a hurry I just didn't have time to put them back ............

The little flower is from a pattern in the latest Mollie Makes...........

Well, this is the latest edition to arrive in our newsagents.

Remember, we get UK magazines weeks after UK residents.

So, I have to read all about it on blogs before I can get my mitts on my own copy.

I have finally got myself a snakeshead Fritillary, which I picked up at the market on Saturday.

A cake stall held by a local church also had a few plants and as we were all in the process of setting up our stalls I spied this and nearly had palpitations.

I have seen pics of these in English Country Living mag for many, many years, but this is the first I have ever seen in person.

It may not be the best specimen ever, but I just love the little chequerboard pattern on the flower.

It really is very interesting and intriguing.

I was assured they are very easy to grow and will withstand heavy frosts so I will find a special place in the garden and hope that it thrives.

So the market got off to an interesting start..........

I had spent money before I even set my stall up, lol...........

Once again it was a beautiful day for the market, lots of stall, lots of people, wonderful live music supplied by one of my favourite musos of the moment......Tom Tuena.

But, unfortunately I didn't sell very much at all and this is the second market in a row.

I know for a fact it's not the product but more a sign of the economic times.

I came home feeling very deflated and flat and it took quite a while to shake off this feeling.

I am booked in to the Bright markets till December and I do love my day up there, it's very social and lots of fun.

Anyway, I shall look at my options and think about how I do things, whilst keeping any eye on where everything is going and see what I come up with.

This week has been such a mixed bag of weather......no surprise there.

Would you believe it was 28 deg. on Monday, I spent the day out in the garden, working up a sweat, whipper snipping, weeding, digging, raking and doing all sorts of jobs. It was just lovely and No. 1 was my partner in all things gardening and we whipped the lawn (green stuff) into shape and it looks a picture, but definitely not perfect.

Monday night it was doona on, doona off until I couldn't stand it any longer and got rid of the doona altogether and grabbed a blanket...........

Tuesday, the warmth had disappeared and it was down to 15deg. and four seasons in one day.

So the doona reappeared with the blanket as well............

Today is chilly, sunny, overcast all at once and about 14deg.

I am feeling alot cheerier today and have been surprised how my emotions chopped and changed like the weather yesterday.

It always helps if you have a ..................

----------FRIEND---------

These two little fellas have become firm friends.

The little white faced calf has been the only calf about for a few weeks and all he wanted was someone his age to play with.

I would seem him run up to some of the older beasts looking to play, but they would always ignore him and keep on eating. I felt so sorry for him, all he wanted was to have some fun. Life seemed so boring for a little fella full of energy and mischief

Then a month ago the second calf was born and it's so lovely to see them running around together.

Calf No. 2 was having 'brekky' the other morning and Calf No. 1 was patiently standing there waiting for brekky to be over, so they could go and play...........

It reminded me of when you were kids and a friend would turn up and have to wait till you had finished your jobs or whatever, before you could go off and have fun.

Well this is just a snippet of the last few days.

I have another little crochet bowl on the go, I think I have caught the bug...........

There will be more sewing taking place a couple of orders to fill and when the weather warms up more gardening too.

Thanks for popping by to say "hi" and to new followers "Welcome, nice to meet you".

I hope the last few days have been creative in some way or another for you and that the weather is kind whichever hemisphere you live in.

I have to say I am loving reading about Autumn in the UK at the moment..........

So, till next time, take care,

Claire X