November - The Month That Was

Wow another year almost over, not just another month. I am really glad for this photographic diary otherwise I feel I would never have done anything. Looks like a colourful month but really only captures a few moments in time. I haven't included a day on the beach snorkelling because I didn't take photo but it was magnificent and the fish were fun to look at, or construction of Ikea furniture twice...two days of merciless screwing together of bolts for someone else- never again! and lots and lots of paper cutting for the ward decorations- currently only half done. I haven't included op shop days and purchases and also a few days of being sick. Really it was a busy month. I gained weight urggh! Too many dinners out and too many glasses of wine ( really never too many but my waist is telling me so)
Well heres to hoping for another eventful but sake month. Cheers!

Oh Still time to enter into the draw for Kathy Doughty's Lush book leave a comment here at GIVEAWAY open until 10th December

If you want to view other monthly mosaics go to my pages - Monthly Mosaics at the top right hand corner

Crochet jam cover

I had a little crochet session last week and had these little jam jar covers done before last Thursday but I hadn't gotten round to hot gluing them onto the lids and photographing them.

I am making these jars in preparation for blackberry picking season.

The blackberry photos are from last years trek to pick berries where I got bitten by the hugest inch ant you ever saw.
I dont know whether it was providence or pure luck but on the way to picking we stopped in a bakery that had apple cider vinegar with the mother available to purchase.  I of course bought one.
Why am I telling you this?
Well when I was bitten by this TWO inch ant ( it was bloody enormous and I really must be expansive about its size) , I was able to relieve the stinging by applying vinegar. So I was always meant to be bitten by an inch ant or I was always going to be able to alleviate the pain with the good fortune of having purchased vinegar. It really was a strange thing for me to buy in  a bakery.

Anyhoo I am madly making a  million jam jar covers of varying designs in preparation for the exceptionally large number of jars of jam that I will produce of course..nothing like being ambitious.
I am down to my last jar of jam from last year ( I eat a lot of it on my yoghurt in the morning with muesli...mmm mmm yummo) so I will be happy to replenish my stocks

The white flowered jar was my first effort and wasn't a grand fit but my second effort is just peachy...23 more jar covers to make.

PS There is still time to leave a comment to enter the giveaway here

GIVEAWAY

I'm feeling the love today!

 I am always pleasantly surprised to discover new followers and am very appreciative of the fact that some of you find this interesting enough to bother follow along and for that I am truly grateful.

 I think knowing that a few select people are reading and participating in this blog journey makes my life a little more interesting, it certainly makes it more of a global adventure. I have never advertised to friends that I want blog followers because this is not the purpose of journaling my  crafty adventures.
I love the spirit of like minded people and enthused artisans sharing and divulging techniques and thought processes that will help others hone their skills.

The internet certainly has been beneficial in my craft education. If I am unsure of how to do something my friend Google and the advice of fellow bloggers is enough to enable me to carry on a project

So firstly Welcome to new followers and to the old faithfuls thanks HUGELY for hanging around.

Well there has to be something to follow all that and that is a little present,, just in time for Christmas and only for followers.

I love Kathy Doughty's work in the quilting arena. I think she has exceptional use of colour, a good eye for design and line and yet makes her patterns simple enough to follow but intriguing enough to challenge.
Have a look see!

For Followers of this blog if you would like a copy of MAKING QUILTS with Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession then leave a comment below and I will draw a name on the 10th of December 0900hours , my time in Adelaide South Australia, and  I will order a book to be sent out to you at home. (Make sure I can contact you so that your gift wont be delayed)
Good luck and enjoy!'
This giveaway is closed thankyou...Winner is Brigitte

Wildflowers

I was reminded recently whilst driving to get my car repaired that the thistles were in bloom soon  . I could see them on the distant hillside as I drove past and I was determined this year not to miss their flowering. Normally by the time I get round to walking around to see them the have metamorphosed from vibrant purple to a dried but still beautiful dried golden flower head.

So this morning I trotted off over the hill to see what i could see.

There have been some pretty decent rains lately so the hillside (or at least one side of it) was in full bloom with weedy growth. I say one side of the hill because there must have been some recent burnoffs to rid the hill face of feral fennel bushes which are taking over the landscape from the natural scrub. One side black and tarry, the other teaming with weedy floral beauty.

Happily I traipsed along picking  flower heads to make a wild bouquet 

Over this hill is where the thistles normally grow. i was suitably disappointed when confronted with yet another brown landscape, this time the area where the expressway had been developed and half the hillside used as a dumping ground. This area (commendably) has been cleaned up but in the process they have bulldozed all the thistle plants that were to be my photographic opportunity. Disappointment to miss yet another display of beauty. A little further along the path I found one hidden beauty, just for me and you, a little show of glory to take your breath away.

My favourite

And the bunch of flowers I picked I ended up giving to mum when I went and had a cup of coffee with her, directly after the walk.

Subtle Colours

 I went to the shops this evening to get bread and got diverted by the night sky, so I decided to head in the opposite direction towards the beach and arrived at dusk. Just enough light to get a subtle sunset shot over the ocean. Don't you just love natures palette. Then I deviated to the jetty and took a few snaps but most of them were blurry - so i wont bore you with them. All in all a pleasant diversion and a nice way to end the day after working indoors all day


I almost forgot to add my latest stamp to show and tell! Carved this one up Sunday morning before going to work. I thought I might print up some Christmas paper
I will tidy up the edges before I do

Snowflake Ballerina

Following the theme of snowflakes I googled snowflake ballerinas and found Krokotak's beautiful designs to continue the theme for the ward Christmas decorations.

I made one more figure in similar design of a ballerina leaping but there are 3 downloadables to be found here if you wish to make your own.

I'll show you a pile of other ballerinas when I have hung them up on the ward next week

I really love this reverse image and think I will make some birthday cards from it.

Speaking of lovely things I squealed with delight when we stopped out the front of my girlfriends house and saw all her lovely lilies in bloom I have taken lots of photos shortly after a drizzling rain..the sun is back out again and the general climate is muggy, but the flowers appear to love it.
I have threatened to sneak back tonight and steal her blooms...my way of saying they look lovely.. I took photos instead.

What an unusual hibiscus

 Even the garlic flowers look beautiful