colour me happy

Too good not to share. Enjoy...

Watercolor play by Amy Bogard

xo

my creative space - it's in the mail!

My envelope for the Meet Me at Mikes 'envelope project', is off and away...I sealed it all up and then realised I forgot one of the components (a little screen printed number)....
Mmm... indeed my head seems to be in the clouds lately, kinda foggy.   Which is funny because last evening I attended a workshop called, 'Understanding Web Technologies', and the fellow talked a bit about operating in 'the cloud', which to be honest I had never heard of before.  Has anyone else?
Please excuse me if I digress a tad from 'my creative space', into 'cloud space', but go here to view on 'youtube'.  It's really fascinating!

the front

On the back I have stitched on a vintage patchwork heart, and the contents of the envelope are a couple of handmade tags, a little scented linen freshener with my 'secret formula', a page from a 'golden book', and a postcard of a vintage seed packet.

Follow this link to Flickr...for all the lovely creative envelopes.

And if you want to see a knitted kinda cloud, head over to host, Kirsty's 'creative space', and see for yourself!

Have yourselves a great day - it's raining here in Hobart...hooray (we need the water folks)
xo

an envelope, a chocolate cake, and a garden

Well I'm finally back on the sewing machine, and this is just a little sneak peak at the envelope in progress for the Meet Me at Mikes, 'envelope project'....I had so much fun with this...After a fruitless search in the cupboard for some vintage wallpaper, I decided to make do with some other blue paper I had on hand...and after that my envelope just grew organically with the bits and pieces around me. 

I'll pop more pictures of the finished envelope and contents on Thursday.
(oh my gosh, I really do need to dust my foot!)

Yesterday, we had a wonderful, abiet a windy time at the Hobart Botanical Gardens, for a combined celebration for my hubbie and I.  Our birthdays fall 8 days apart, so to keep things relatively simple, we thought one cake would do!  Willow made our chocolate cake, with some guidance from his dad.  It's unusual for me to have nothing to do with a cake being made at home, so it was a treat!  It was also very DELICIOUS!
His first proper cake - I'm a proud mama.

 It was too windy for candles.

They also made a very yummy tzatziki, (from George Calombaris), which featured dill, honey, and cayenne pepper.   We all decided that is was good with a chargrilled lamb kebab, but not so much a dipping tzatziki for crackers and crudities.

So, please enjoy these pictures from the Botancial Gardens....it's one of my favourite places to go and chill in Hobart. 

I love the texture variance of the wall, arbour and plants here...

Then, we spent oodles of time in the vegie and fruit patch....where..(uhoh)...Bethany discovered snow peas growing...and you can guess what she did with those!

Tamarillos growing in Hobart?!

Wouldn't you love this Artichoke at home?  Such a double bountied plant, for foliage and those globes!

Have a lovely week, dear readers.

x

'nothing is worth more than this day'

quote by Johann Von Goethe

Hope you are having a relaxing weekend dear readers.  This afternoon I watched the film 'The Hedgehog', a beautiful, poignant reminder of how precious life is.

Blessings.

xo

my creative space - kale in olive oil

I am trying to spend a fair chunk of time outside these days, as it lifts my spirits to feel the warm winter sunshine on my face.   Sewing has taken a bit of a back seat lately, but a walk, or a potter outside is just great.  I am seeing creativity in other ways!  When I go for a bushwalk, I can focus on what my Creator has made, instead of worrying what I haven't - it's very liberating!

This is the result of a dash to the hardware store to buy a punnet of kale, on the very day of my hubbie's birthday.   We already had the empty can of olive oil I had been saving, and with some leftover potting mix, topped it up with some soil from our defunct vegie patch.  A pretty thrifty gift, which came in at around $5.00, if you include a portion of the potting mix.

  And he was touched by it.

Which is the whole point. 

We try not to spend lots of money on each other's birthdays on frivilous things, but instead come up with inventive little ways to show love. 

I cannot tell you how much fun I had drilling these drainage holes - my first time using the cordless with confidence!  I just wanted to drill everything after this!!  Bethany was safely on the swing, watching. 

But note to self:  NEVER say 'oh this is so much FUN!!', whilst drilling with a toddler in earshot!  

(don't worry, all tools are kept safely high up out of reach and behind an impenetrable garage door.)

xo

Thursday's creative bunch can be found over here.

'the flavourers'

In Italy, they call it 'soffritto', in France it's 'mirepoix'.

Simply onion, carrot, and celery, chopped and started as a flavour base for soups, and sauces, casseroles, and stews, is something my mother would never dream of not doing.  I call them 'the flavourers', because that's what they do!

Now if you want to get all nit-picky, in Italy they sweat these three wonder ingredients off in olive oil, and in France they use butter.    I think the correct proportion is 2:1:1 of onion, carrot and celery, but hey, I'm not that concerned!  I'm cooking for my family, not a three hat restaurant. 

If you are stuck without celery, you can use parsnip, or fennel....it won't be the same, but it does add that extra dimension that seems to complement the carrot and onion.

And, it goes without saying....garlic! ooh..and wine, herbs...you get the picture!? Flavour, flavour, flavour...not a need to buy a 'Contintental' flavour base packet sauce mix with all the yucky bits thrown in, ever again!

xo

a country walk - c'mon let's go see

Would you like to come with me for a country stroll in typical Tasmanian style?  The weather's not too cold and you need some fresh air.  C'mon, this is Tasmania, not Antarctica after all!

We know the air is clean here....lichen abound upon weathered rails....

Pat a friendly local along the way.... 

The perfect spot for a picnic, not crowded at all. Maybe next time....

Admire those beautiful beasts...Belted Galloways..and watch your step, it's a long way down...

Over a wooden, rickety bridge we go...this river often floods, but we've had so little rain this winter....

Don't you love the quaint, quirky cottage with it's little door-way?...

Down the lane, all the way home.....

Thanks for coming along, I hope you enjoyed your little walk in this peaceful place.

xo

Green Therapy

Not sure whether blogging in the wee hours, and meditating on green is going to help my insomnia, but anyway...here is a little green love for you today!  I think green is slowly taking over from blue, being my fav colour. 
According to Peaceful Mind, green is for nurturing, generosity, harmony, assertiveness and to help heal loss.

oops, sorry can't remember where this one came from.

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

Green therapy also states, that 'In using green -- we must accept and allow love in our hearts and learn to give it without expecting anything in return. When our heart center is balanced, we are able to give positive feelings and happiness, unconditionally.' 

Ah...so that's why God invented green.  Well, it makes sense to me anyway.

Don't know about you, but I need green in my life right now.

What is the colour that makes you happy?

x

my creative space - in the kitchen

Does cleaning qualify as being creative?

Only if I'm in the mood...then I can spend time neatly organising the pantry contents in an aesthetically pleasing fashion!

I'd assume you'd rather see something sitting on the kitchen bench!

So after this morning's clean-up, I'm ready for some baking.  Friends are coming over today for afternoon tea, a ginger or chocolate and zucchini cake is on the agenda to make, but haven't decided which yet.

I wonder what lovely creative craftiness is going on over here?

x

I'm not wishing this winter away...

From a coastal to a country walk, we are finding joy in the little things.

x

Goodbye Jonathan

I know this is just a little silly tv grieving... but I am so miffed that Jonathan has left the 'Masterchef' building, from the last elimination round... I'm gonna miss you, Jonathan, you were my favourite!  sniff x

Ginger Tea

I'm sipping on warming ginger tea today, in the hopes I can shoo this cold away.

I'm too lazy to use a teapot, so I just roughly chop up some fresh ginger, and top with boiling water in the cup. 

'What are the Health Benefits Of Ginger?

There is a wide range of benefits of ginger such as nausea, digestive problems, circulation and arthritis. Nausea caused during pregnancy or by travelling is one of the benefits of ginger root. Ginger is also known to have the ability to calm an upset stomach and to promote the flow of bile. Stomach cramps can be eased and circulation can also be improved. Ginger supports a healthy cardiovascular system by making platelets less sticky which in turn reduces circulatory problems.
Ginger oil used for massage can help relieve painful arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is often included in many herbal decongestants and can help to minimise the symptoms of respiratory conditions, colds and allergies.'

How was your weekend everyone?

I had a great time yesterday, my lovely hubbie often lets me go off and dabble in some 'new found interest' - this time it was with power tools!

I got to familiarise myself with drills, a drop saw, (that was awesome!) jigsaw, and sander.  I have to admit of being scared of power tools, that is up until yesterday, and now I feel like it has demystified them somewhat.  My favourite was the hammer drill!  Thankfully we had a very safety conscious tutor.

x

the day it rained oppy shop sheets

It's just timing really. The last ten times I found absolutely zilch linen at any op shop I cared to enter.

Then last week, my luck changed, and I walked away with 6 or so pairs, from an 'on a whim' visit.  So glad I did!

1 fair + 1 market = 2 fun filled days

We had a cracker of a weekend...firstly with a school fair on Saturday, which meant a feast of sweet, hot and fruity olliebollen - yum!  And I found a terrific vintage 'Cyclops' child's stroller with dolly still in tow.

Bethany patiently waited 30 minutes for her first face painting, and took it all very seriously.

Sunday I went to market, and loved meeting the lady who told me that the wicker basket that I found two weeks earlier on a 'prop hunt', was from Buka Island near Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, as she remembers the locals making them when she lived there.

My heatpacks sold like hotcakes...

Thank you to one of my lovely customers, Claire, who came to find me!

A break from the sewing machine, meant I had fun making these tags...

Have a super week, dear readers!

x

the gum tree in our garden

I love to look upwards to the sky through it's graceful branches.

It shades our yard in the summer, brings birds to our garden, and although it's a bit of a pain because our vegie patch is suffering underneath it's beautiful canopy, and okay.... it sheds more bark than a Samoyed in summer, I still love it.