broderie

11th day 11th month and 2011

this day and date brings lots of thoughts to me of times and people in my life

not red poppies, but hollyhocks in a garden in a place that is special to me

my grandfather kingston died on this day

a friend's father died on this day 30 years ago and she misses him everyday, still, but we are so lucky to have these special thoughts and memories that are treasured

 

many fathers and grandfathers would be remembered today

remembrance day

lest we forget

 remember my pruned roses just a few weeks back

remember the sticks

now look at the forest ...................... of roses, they open from their buds so quickly, but are a joy of pink to look at, nature is amazing and melbourne is looking so lush and green, it is so nice after all the years of dryness we have had and the gardens have suffered, but not this year, they are lovely, beautiful and gorgeous !

and some beautiful embroidery i saw during the week, a blanket for a new baby

and some old friends i found in the cupboard in a box

i bought these many years ago and the pattern from the hawthorn market and made some too, they asked nicely so they are out of the cupboard for some time with me

a friend who has not long returned from a trip to france found these in the window of the hermes store

yes, they have used many cotton reels to make the shoe and the handbag, very clever

i also have 3 friends that have celebrated their birthdays on this day 11/11/11

to deb, deidre and pamela good wishes and love on this remembrance day and happy birthday to you all

 

where do i begin???

a few posts back i told you i was sewing while a good friend was doing the dusting and vacuuming, and i did say i would show you what i was up to. well it is ready to reveal !!!!

these are just to brighten up the 'kid's room' at phillip island and give it a fresh look, new covers for the beds and pillow cases, all different, but the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mmmmmmm! i wonder if she needs any more sewing done for her, because i need some dusting and general housework and ironing and !!!!!!

now some more of my last nine days in hobart.

'let them eat cake', well we certainly did and it was delicious and the company was good and we had such a good day, lots of talking and laughing and laughing and more laughing. it was so good to catch up deb and a new very best friend geraldine and my cousins, paula and barb (they were supposed to be working, but the job was put off at the very last minute) so were able to come. i am sure you would love to see the cake!!!!!!

deb just whipped this up, oh i would not mind another piece now! oh the diet!!!

this was coconut, cherry and almond ! also very nice.

and dutch apple cake from a bakery in sandy bay! very delicious and a well known favourite. and we were all busy!

   

 here are some photos of my days away! red ones first !

kangaroo paw

sedum

little wheel

big wheel

of this red tractor, which is getting an extension to the barn to house it ! i am told it will be over hauled and receive a makeover and will look like new ! this father, builder, farmer has always wanted a tractor !

tess, the goat, enjoyed a tickle !

the 'neigh'bours were enjoying a chat over the fence !

and i loved the colours and form of these (not sure what you call them)

and wouldn't we sewers all like one of these ! my cousin was lucky enough to come by this recently. it is an old cash register from a department store, each employee had there own key in those days and would have had to balance their draw at the end of each day.

well i was going to finish with another photo, but typepad does not seem to want to let me upload it and it was just of the pathway leading to a back door i have passed through many times, like so many others of a welcoming home, to be greeted by those i love and who love me in return. we have all had a good time together. 

  

   

creative days

there were the wonderful creations of nature, we saw this one, it was really special ! look at the echidna i posted about 2 days ago

this beautiful summer evening sky, the promise of another lovely day to follow

some things i have started

there is alot more to this

i have had mistletoe on my mind

and these birds will come flying back as a cushion soon for jan

and the humble teatowel shines again !

and i have told you before that i am often spoilt, my friend lyn made this for me! a small pocket of boutis work, very spoilt again!

and we like all these old boys that lie around in the garden at phillip island

and back to nature doing its thing with these old bits

and a piece of wood and seeds sculpture

and times up, the bell is ringing for me to go to bed.

while i have been doing this post, i have been drawing and fussy cutting, i could keep going but i had better curl up and go to sleep, just like my friend here! this is the phillip island cat, charles, who belongs to my friend.

and i am fortunate that these words have always rung true for me

'home is a feeling

of peace, comfort and satisfaction.

a sanctuary to rest, heal and refresh'.

and i am also fortunate that i have several places where i feel this.

  

shopping ?!#

lots of it being done at the moment, with today being the last day of november, have you finished your christmas shopping or not started it yet? i am somewhere in the middle or maybe muddle of it!

here are a few ideas if you want to shop without the crowds#

email me or check out give these girls ago to see these items and others available at very reasonable prices.

these little plaited bags are great for allsorts of things, all handmade with a zip closure.

great for your sewing essentials, makeup, jewelry, running away from home money ! they are really pretty and practical and made by a good friend.

a christmas wreath, not quite a perfect circle? these little silk bags are so useful for making your camera or your mobile phone look glamorous when you are out and about, useful for containing other items in your bag or around the house.

i hope that wherever you shop, you enjoy the experience, don't get too frantic and best of all enjoy these days leading up to christmas 2009!

check out the website or email me, there are lots of bargains for embroiderers, paper craft and some very good books and kits. prompt and friendly service guaranteed.
  
 
  
 
  
 
 

standby update !!!!!!!

well i am happy and content with my new look, i have tried hard enough over these past few weeks to get a heading, banner or 'make it look a bit more official look' about my blog and today i am finished, i got there with perserverence and persistence and alot of fiddling, which got me in the position in the first place! i have gone full circle!

oh, talking of circles, i have been doing other things, alot of other things! i am about to start quilting my circle quilt, show you later! one day when i was on house sitting duties, no it was not a duty, it was a pleasure, I noticed lots of circles, think of all the things that are round????? here are some photos i took.

my necklace for 'round' my neck

a 'round' pot and rocks

'round' candles in a round pot

'round' red dish with 'rounded' rocks

'round' candles in square holes

when you start looking there are so many things, ideas start going round and round in your head. I'm spinning!!!!!!!!!

hope you like my new look, i'm content, plain and simple, that's me!

tickled pink

this rose was given to me some years ago by some special friends when my father died. the rose is called 'tickled pink' and without them knowing, it was an expession my dad used frequently when he was happy about something. i put it in a pot and it has always struggled a bit really, but it surprises me often also and this easter has been no exception. one single beautiful bloom and another unopened bud.

 

some years ago when i managed an embroidery shop 'bustle and bows', there was a stitching group who met once a month. they met together as a group of friends stitching elizabeth bradley tapestry projects and also shared their lives, thoughts, their happiness and sadness. one of the girls today said it was a 'spiritual' group that she misses.

joyce chew was a member of that group and sadly she died on good friday. joyce was a gentle lady who was so clever, her stitching was amazing and the amount she produced in a lifetime was unbelievable. I had the pleasure of sharing some of joyce's decisions about what she would stitch and how from needlepoint, cross stitch on linen over one thread and on silk gauze. many of you who read this blog will remember some of joyce's work which she loaned at times for display in the shop. I am lucky enough to have a silk gauze piece of roses that she gave to me, that I will always treasure and that has always been loved. to her husband and family, i offer our sympathy, joyce was a much loved friend and i was looking forward to that cup of tea and a cake we were going to share. this rose is for you joyce!

 

 

and just some of the work this group produced

 

i am sure that if there is a stitching heaven, joyce will have already found it! stitch in peace forever and eat cake!

hooked on - free to a good home

my shop fittings are up for grabs !!!!!! all the hooks supplied by dmc for all the threads are available to anyone who may think that they could be useful . the wall brackets screw to the wall and the rows of hooks are adjustable at different levels to suit various lengths. If anyone has a studio or area as a work room and they are in need of such items, you are most welcome to them for nothing.

 

 

these photos were taken on opening night about 3 years ago, i note my glass of champagne standing alone on the table! i started out with all this as a new venture called 'broderie', hope in my heart that it would all go well, but not enough money in my pocket to sustain it! lots of happy time spent, lots of help and support from those around me and now i miss it all very much. these are the wall brackets that are available 'free to a good home', just leave a comment or email me if you are interested. ( i would be happy to have them in my own workroom at home, but the landlord may not like that idea.) they are situated in Bentleigh, Victoria. 

the book writers

last sunday we all made a visit to mary's to start writing our books! it was a beautiful sunny warm day, just right for inspiration on the outside, the skies were blue, temperature rising, birds singing etc. then we entered mary's, it doesn't matter about the conditions outside, inspiration abounds inside this artists home! the work mary does is extraordinary, the amount she does and packs into her very interesting house never ceases to amaze me. over many years i sold so much 'raw material' to people in the way of fabric and theads etc., it is always so interesting to see how it has been used at mary's place. she also has some wonderful journals!

the two large panels on the wall in the background are all stitched, floor to ceiling!

   

we had paper, paints, beads and lots of bits, good company and afternoon tea!