Beginning of Mouse Adventure

A couple of quick sketches last night before going to sleep at midnight. Some thoughts on soft Christmas decorations - mouse style
I really like the idea of creating the ruffled neck/ collar on my little fat friend- he has an appealing girth and sweet demeanour. Perfect as a Christmas mouse.
I think I will make a little leaf stamp and print the dress material for the young maiden / princess mouse and work on these two.
the other mouse /male / robin hood I can live without.

I've entered another Christmas ornament swap on lady bird diaries. and have been scouring my swap partners blog pages to get a feel for her tastes Woolly Dog. She seems to have a penchant for mice and rabbit softies as well a large appreciation of the wider artistic community. Funnily enough she appears to be attracted to similar colourings and styles as I am

Last night I also received a pleasant email from Homespun and was notified that I had won February's (up and coming issue 2014) Readers Showcase with my interpretation of woodland wonders.

I've utilised fabrics received from the handprinted fabric swap as well as my own prints to make my version of the hexagon Christmas stocking. I am thrilled and cant wait to see what my prize is as well as seeing my work in print.

Full array of pictures of Hexagon Christmas stocking here

Garden Display

  beaded collections for new wreaths with a  little garden beauty

this ink drawing looks a little like the seed /flower heads above'

 A sun drenched bathing beauty

Some garden loving..

hellebores - acryllic

magnolia - oil

Naturally Dyed

Some naturally dyed scarves that were originally a little plain and very muted
But after dip dyeing in a hotter colour really have a bit of pizzazz don't you think?

Shell Wreath

I'm a natural born fossicker.

Whenever I'm at the beach I'll have my head down and rather than pace walk the beach to get exercise, I will stroll along looking directly in front of me for the unusual or colourful.

Our beach although usually barren of most shells occasionally offers up special treats that are washed ashore and wedge between rocks. the long conical shells are generally not expected to be found on the foreshore of Adelaide beaches but just once in a while they are there to be found.

The pink butterfly shells can be found at Port Elliot and the south coast beaches and are plentiful but break easily. The white small snail like shells are found on the York Peninsula.

So it has taken many walks to fill my jar with the bounty of the sea and only took moments to adhere to my wreath

My mother is also an avid collector of the sea and has upon her coffee table a platter of dried corals and shells, mainly collected from Queensland. They are beautifully presented on a handmade doily that my Oma (grandmother) made many years ago. Today they caught my eye as I looked at the lovely patterning of nature that I had to take photos and later on today proceeded to make my beach themed wreath.

Words of silence

Words of silence bound us
barriers set up by you
picket fences divide us
dreams divided in two

A veil of silence
words unspoken
You are swift to leave
As I sit next to you

How can you be so cruel
wordless and unkind
imprisoned thoughts
no opportunity to unwind

I begin to hate your face
the silence
and solitude
that isolates me from you

How long do you think this veil will persist
my armour battered and bruised
fighting to hear you
a voice with no front, no compassion
that's what I get from you

Little Visitors

We had a little visitor this afternoon. The dog was going ape in the backyard and normally she is pretty quiet. I wandered outside to see this little fellow strolling past.
He wasn't very happy with Matildas barking and puffed himself up nice and fat and let out a few hisses. He toddled off to the road toot sweet, really didn't like our company. The warm weather must be bringing out the blue tongues and that means the snakes will be out and about as well. That 's the end of walking through the back nature reserve for a while, as snakes are particularly aggressive at the beginning of warm weather/ summer

Finishing off Christmas wreaths

Glenelg

I had the pleasure this evening of spending time in Glenelg. Jordy was at the Beach House fun parlour with the surf club and I decided to dine out and take in the sunset on such a beautiful evening. I wasn't the only one playing in our very mild weather... there were lots of families and young couples about.
The light at sunset is lovely and sets everything a glow with warm golden rays.

A little streak of a rainbow could be seen for a very short time and disappeared just as quickly.

A couple of friendly locals hoping for a feed. they look pretty well fed to me.
The world's greatest chip thieves.

A such a lovely sunset

lots of people on the jetty

i know this photo is out of focus but I liked the effect...kind of echoes and resonates with movement . Ghostly undertones and shimmering light.

Its funny how the light changes with a change in direction, the photo above and below taken one after the other - opposite directions

Sundown and my nephews continue to enjoy the water, little rascals.

Such a pleasant evening... good for the soul.