Memory Albums....

'Memory Albums'
7" x 5"
$40 AU each.

(Contact me if you would like to order one.)

I've been busy creating these
'Memory Albums', using antique curtain rings,
music scores, and old botanical illustrations.
They're ideal as keepsakes for saving all those
little mementos and ephemera...
bits and pieces that you can't bare to throw away.
I particularly admire the old designs and lettering
styles of the early nineteen hundreds, as seen here
on these papers. Much care and artistry was taken
in the designs of these old scores.
The albums are seen here sitting atop the
window sills in our old house.

 

When one comes back from a trip to the
dentist, all you want to do is snuggle up with
a warm cup of tea in front of the fire...
especially when it's 10 degrees outside
and you've taken public transport.
I was sitting in my lounge room, with a cup of earl
grey, and had to take some photos of this very
serene moment. The cushion is hand stitched by 'moi'.
The original pattern -
'Crabapples'
featuring in a book of tapestries
adapted from William Morris' designs
by Beth Russell.
As it happens, we have a crabapple tree on our
front lawn...should start cooking with them soon!

Views from the washroom

Morning photographic still lives of the washroom
in our old house.
Only a simple room,
I often admire the down to earth simplicity
of this much used room in our house.
Doing the laundry needn't be a chore
when you can use beautiful accessories to make
the task more enjoyable.
That's why I like to embellish my linen in
crochet that I make myself....
hand made soap,
and old fashioned peg bags that are easy
to stitch up and look lovely in a well chosen fabric.
The best cotton materials aren't always found
in expensive stores as I found this
pretty quality print in a cheap department store.
Speaking of washing, I'm off to hang some out
before the day gets too late.

Warmth and good tidings to you and yours over Easter....

Been a long time since....
I last blogged.
Suddenly had an urge to update, after disapearing
from the scene for a couple of months.
I heard somewhere on the grapevine the words-
"Blogging Without Obligation'
Ha Ha!
I'll use those words as an excuse, but no, I have a very
good excuse as to why I haven't been around and that
is due to the fact that my family moved house
late February after a very trying
two months of trying to find a property to lease.
An absolute nightmare to say the least,
but I've learnt a thing or two in the process.
That the most generous and compassionate of people
are those that are not caught
up in their own little comfy worlds and
don't regard possessions and material
wealth as being of prime importance above
PEOPLE!
It is those who have less,
have known hardship and sorrow,
and are not afraid to face it,
who are the most compassionate
and generous....and you know why? Because
their priority in life is not MONEY, POSSESSIONS,
and seeking that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Ironically , these are the people who are most resilient and
will cope when difficulties arrive.
Anyway, now that I have that off my chest,
I thought I'd post some 'fluffy'
pictures of our easter tree that we concocted together
as a family...a nice little house warming ritual
to welcome in the new season.

above : still life on a little table featuring a vintage book
by one of our favorite authors, Edward Ardizzone.

Well it's that time of the year,
when the sun shines most days, and one is
reminded of sunny days on the beach,
dipping into the waves, and relishing the sight
of the vast blue distance of the sea.
I'm yearning to visit the beach again.
Alas, without transport, sometimes we miss out,
and so, painting what I miss is the next best thing.
I tell you what, when I was in the thick of painting this
mural, it felt almost as if I were there - so engrossed in

the work was I.

This is the mural I painted for my children's bedroom.
Yes, I have posted images of this mural before,
but this is in a new location.
We rent, so, the mural comes with us, and we pin it straight

back onto the new walls theres no stopping us!

Sometimes we're lucky enough to stay at our
very generous friends beach house -
'The Shack' as they like to call it -
a little, run down beach house
on the Ninety Mile Beach.
What a delight it is to camp outside as I like to do,
and hear the distant sounds of the waves as they crash
on the shore. In a word 'bliss'.
There's something about camping out
as opposed to boarding a luxurious motel,
give me a run down shack or a tent anyday!
It is then that we can savor the delights of what
nature has to offer us - and she is so generous!

So until the summer holidays I must wait and hope for the opportunity
to arise again!

*please note - we are a normal family and I
tidied up the kids bedroom before these shots were taken!!! he, he!