Stilll going to be away for awhile.....

"The good and the wise lead quiet lives" Euripides


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i'll be away for a bit......

thank you for your visit! it's always appreciated that you show interest in my happenings. I will be taking a brief break from blogging after having a carpal tunnel operation yesterday. The operation went well and i'm adjusting to being a lefty, quite well. thanks to all for your love and support!(the flowers are from my very sweet daughter.)

Zip-Itself-Coin Purse

I'm still having fun surfing the net and making fun crafts! This little gem of a coin purse is SO ingenious, made with a 20"zip and 20"of ribbon!I found the pattern at www.craftpassion, "Zip-itself-coin purse tuturial, along with lots of other fun things!

Shaggy Heart T-shirt

Just having a little fun trying out some new techniques.There are SO many wonderful Indie crafters out there and so much fun to be had!This technique is done by using strips of another T-shirt, sewn into a heart shape to give a textural, "shaggy" embellishment. I'd like to thank Ashley at www.makeit-loveit.com for her wonderful tutorials and ideas!!!

more of the sunflowers....

Just a few more photos of the sunflowers in our back yard. I just love them. the bees do too!

Handmade leather bag

I have been very fortunate to get some free top grade leather. What to do with such beautiful leather? Make a handbag of course! This is my first attempt at sewing leather on my machine. It was slow going, but in the end I'm very happy with the results!( 14 x 14 x 5")with a chain strap, with leather woven inbetween. The lining fabric has little blue birds on it!

Sunflowers

Sunflowers always remind me of my Parents. Being Dutch AND Artists they saw the beauty and elegance of them, and no doubt thoughts of one Vincent Van Gogh. To see them blooming and their wonderful display reminds me how much I love my Mom and Dad (dec). Thank you for showing me the beauty in the simple things in life.

BAGELS!!!

Just made these bagels a few days ago,true dinkum New York style bagels! Wish I had had this recipe 25 years ago when I was homesick with not a REAL bagel to be found. Thank you, www.sophisticatedgourmet.com!

Sewing and Embroidery

I subscribe to Jenny/Sublime Stitching newsletter. Jenny Hart has some AMAZING embroidery patterns that are too fun for words! Awhile back she appeared on Sew It All TV. Being in Australia, I am unable to get this television program, but I was inspired by Jenny's newsletter entry. http://www.sublimestitching.com/sewitalltv Teamed up with Christine Haynes they made some really fun tops. Christine designed the boat neck top and Jenny the embroidery. So I thought I'd have a go!
This is my first attempt at this project and the steps I went through. I began by making Christine's boatneck top out of a mulberry homespun fabric. My inspiration for the embroidery came from the gorgeous fuschia plant given to me by my daughter. Then I made a drawing, transferred it to the top, and embroidered away!!!
Next time I would like to be a bit more adventuresome with the emboidery design ;)!

My apologises for the dreadful photography!

Another surprise..

Amongst my collection of cacti, this beautiful shining star!

Floral surprises.

I love our garden. It's simple, but it's a wonderful sanctuary. We get surprises, off and on, like thes tropical flowers (I have NO idea what they are...) suddenly blossoming in our garden.They must have been in hybernation for years, and now there is a beautiful profusion of them! Standing between 4 and 7 feet tall, they sure have made their presense known! Not to mention the amazing fragrance!

Well what can I say?

I'm grateful for fun, fashion and wonderful imaginations!

Karl Grill- Spiral costume, from the Triadic ballet

c.1926-27
J Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Friends...

Growing up I was a very shy child. And had only a few friends. But as a young adult I married a lovely Australian man and moved halfway around the world to share life with him. Although,I am very fortunate with the family I wed into, there is nothing like friends to make a place home. Selina(also an expat, from Singapore) is one of my closest friends and I am very grateful for her companionship. Had a lovely afternoon today with Selina, as she shared her adventures of attending a Mumbai wedding! What fun! She brought me back this beautiful scarf from her travels.

Night time rainfall.

During the night we had an amazing downpour! The sound of the rain on the rooftop is always such a soothing sound to me, but especially now when we're in special need of it!!!

Gratefulness...

Awhile ago I read about a woman who was terminally ill, and despite her illness and pain she was in, she wanted to acknowledge all the little things around her in her life, to be grateful for. She posted everyday on her blog for a year. I thought it was such a beautiful idea.

I am grateful for the special person I share my life with.

The holidays are over............

the naked Christmas tree...

Wow, It's been such a busy year that I haven't even realised that I haven't posted for MONTHS! The holidays are over, I'm packing away the Christmas things, and it the beginning of a Nëw Year!!! I'm hoping that everyone has a wonderful 2012!!!
All my love!