Thursday 26 April 2018

APRIL SCAVENGER PHOTO HUNT (2018)

A set of words to find photos for, hosted by Kate.

1.  SWIRL.
A chance photo I took last Thursday, whilst out at a National Trust property, Gulf Station in the Yarra Valley.  These wee little cyclamen were under a huge tree amongst much leaf litter & once uploaded to my computer I could see the cute swirly stems.  A great find as I didn't have one for this word.  (you may have to click on the photo to enlarge,)

2.  ROCK.
One from the archives, taken many years ago whilst on holiday in New South Wales.  Sawn Rocks in the Warrumbungle Ranges National Park are fascinating as to how and where pieces of rock have fallen from the cliff face of the mountains here.  One lot of these look like steps.

3.  WOOD.
Another from the same trip showing the inside of a gigantic woolshed in Mungo National Park near Broken Hill in the very west of New South Wales.  This is not used anymore, but can you imagine it full of sheep, shearers, wool classers & pressers, plus tarboys with their pots of tar in case a sheep got cut accidently.  It was awesome.

4.  LETTER.
Aha, the letter "S" which makes up my three initials.  We pass this frequently if we shop in a nearby town.  It is located in a laneway between the shops & I've been going to take a photo for years.  Well, I took my camera over the weekend and captured it.

5.  BALANCE.
Koalas do a "LOT" of sleeping.   Amazingly they balance on very slim branches in deep slumber and don't fall from the tree.  Taken on one of our visits to Raymond Island in East Gippsland.

6.  MY OWN CHOICE.
Another photo taken last Thursday of the farm dam at Gulf Station.  Although I could see the reflections, they came out better than I thought in the photo.

That's my lot for this hunt.  I do hope I can get some more blogging done next month, but we've much happening at the moment and I'm just a tad overwhelmed with everything.
I'm looking forward to the other photo hunter's take on the words.
Take care all & lots of huggles from down under.
Susan.

Thursday 12 April 2018

CRAFTY CHAOS.

Yep, I'm still lurking about, although I've been quiet on this little blog.  Sore backs don't bode well with my computer chair, so I've done some quick catch ups  and that is about it.
I'm not one for sitting still for long, so it's been fitting in some craft around housework & the mundane stuff, but alternating what I do, which helps with pain management.  The garden is being quite neglected though.  Just a few photos of what has been keeping me busy.

BABY QUILTS.
These 2 are going to wing there way across the skies to Yorkshire next week, hopefully, after I've made some labels.  My youngest two nieces (sisters), have both given birth recently to baby boys & it's been lovely to make these.  I've actually got a third one to do now, as my Doctor is also expecting. What do I let myself in for?



The quilt above is called "Owling Around", which I designed to use the owl fabric I had on hand.  The quilting pattern (above right) is Oscar Owl.


 

This one is from a very old pattern I adapted to paper piecing, as the templates didn't seem to fit together right.  I've called it "Up, Up & Away".  The quilting is one called Kites.

I've also had another one on the machine in the trio of quilts I named for three of my granddaughters who live here in Oz.  It just needs it's binding now, but I'll give you a sneak peek.
My own design.
This is quilted with a pattern call Ribbons & Bows from Apricot Moon.

TRYING TO BE ARTY!!!!!!!

Out came my tin of paints, which haven't seen the light of day since Xmas 2017 and then came the messy part, but fun anyway.
I'm definitely not very clever, although I've wanted to give this a go for a while.
This piece of pegboard came along with our other items from the Indian Restaurant that had closed down.  I posted about the fancy lattice panels, last year,  which we put along side the shed to hide our water tanks.  I'll be putting some beading (well, hubby will,) on the edge & hang it in the sewing room to hold a few of my tools.


Last weekend we visited 4 Makers in our "Open Studios West Gippsland" guide book and look what one of them made me. 
This particular man makes all sorts of sculptures, large & small, from "junk", which he collects from all over.  I was fascinated by his talking of plasma cutting & asked if he ever gave a demonstrations, and the answer was, "Come with me".  Out to the workshop & I was asked if I'd like a cat, bird or whatever and said a dog, please.  Well before that, when we had entered through the gate, there was a black dog sitting under a tree, and me, being me the dog lover, went over to say hello & I'm positive he smiled at me & said a pat would be appreciated.  Then he lay his head to the side and lapped up my petting.  This looks just like Barney smiling.  K made the stand for him yesterday.  Wasn't I a lucky girl & he was free. 
It turned out to be the most fascinating of days with four absolutely amazing Makers.  Pity my small camera battery was flat, which is the one I keep in the car.

OK, just a quick catch up & motivation is returning slowly. 
Take care & huggles to all.
Susan.



Monday 2 April 2018

MARCH PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT.

Better late than never. I suppose.  Life has been a tad tedious & difficult of late with lots going on in the wide world, but I've missed my blogging circle, so am back at the computer with the Hunt.


Joining in with the lovely Kate at I live, I love, I craft.

1.   HOLE.
                                         A "hole" in the rocks off Walkerville Beach.

2.   MAKING.
                                      The toy steam train Hubby is busy building in his shed.

3.   READING NOW.
                                 Reading, to learn how to use this more complicated program
                                                         for my quilt designing.

4.   BLACK & WHITE.
                                          Some of the magpies who frequent our back yard.

5.   STARTS WITH AN......H.
                                            Whitby Harbour taken whilst holidaying in UK.


6.   MY OWN CHOICE.
                                           I love this sign outside the cafe at Willow Grove.

OK, that's it from me for this month and hopefully I'll be back next month with a little more energy, less pain & a more spirited hunter within me.
Take care all & huggles.
Susan.