One day at a time

Hello Friends,

Recently I made this wall hanging for a friend who is going through a tough time, having experienced domestic violence and psychological abuse for many years by her husband. At last she decided to leave, the best decision she could make for her and her teenage daughter's safety. She is much relieved to be out of the 'cooking pot', and is now embarking on a new job, in a new home, and rebuilding her life.

I wanted to give her some support from far away, something that might help her feel better. It's only a little token, but she was very touched when I gave it to her. I chose her favourite tone, aqua, and the bird nest to symbolise her new safe home. The sentiment 'One day at a time' was one I've found useful in huge upheavals. A few other sentiments appealed to me too, so I made a few extras that she could change depending on what spoke to her, and tucked them into an envelope on the back. They were: 

Be still

Breathe

Grateful heart

Be brave

The image of birds is a copy of a vintage postcard. The wall hanging was assembled on a blue canvas vintage book cover and hung with seam binding. I used a found feather, gum leaf and skeleton leaf, old sheet music, old pearl beads, blue and gold tissue paper and various scraps of vintage doilies, fabrics and laces to embellish it.

Now to introduce you to my new girls... At last I have a small chook pen and four darling hens who I hope will lay some fresh eggs for us in the next few weeks. They are four different kinds: A Crested Cream Legbar (who lays blue eggs), a Silver Laced Wyandotte, a Silver Pencilled Wyandotte and a mystery (the cream coloured one). They are settling in well and when they are big enough I will try free-ranging them. Hawks can easily take them when they are small.

Here they are:

I look forward to watching them contentedly forage, making those happy chooky noises I remember from my childhood. I'm linking up to Wen's Simply Neutrals Party #53 at her blog, AppleApricot.

Follow the link to find gorgeous glimpses of neutral beauty and art. Wishing you a smiling heart,

and a hug,

Christmas and New Year Cards

Hello Friends,

Can you believe we are almost through the first month of the new year? With kids back to school, I'm starting to catch up. I sent some Christmas and New Year cards out late - yes, that's typical me! So I thought they deserved a viewing here. (I didn't want to spoil the surprise before they were received!)

A New Year Fairy with embossed butter foil wings, a lace collar, gold star fabric, scrap booking scraps and teabag layers...

A special wall hanging for a friend...

I started in Photoshop, combining several images and adding digital stamps. This was printed, torn and aged using Tim Holtz Distress ink. The base was some old cardboard, torn and tattered.

I embellished it with some old music, a floral doiley, a gathered silk striped scrap, some dried flowers and leaves, scrap booking paper, a heart scrap,  a used teabag, doiley scraps, a wooden gold painted star, fabric scraps and a seam binding ribbon to hang it.

I had fun with the colours on this fairy wall hanging. The crimson and pink laces were from old clothes from opportunity shops. I used an embossed silver butter foil trimmed to shape, some old music, some special tissue paper I'd saved for years,  a gold painted wooden star with crimson glitter, hand-made paper, a crochet doiley scrap and fabric scraps all layered onto a vintage book cover

 It was fun playing with a different palette of colours. I used the old book scraps as texture, too.

This fairy was layered onto a gold star fabric scrap, an embossed pattern inked in gold and some vintage paper, lace and fabric scraps. I love how effective the black striped ticking looks here. The bow was a salvaged one from a long-ago gift.

Now I'm showcasing some special cards I received from lovely friends. The first is from Dorthe. It features a gorgeous bird and a vintage Winter dressed child. The leaf has lovely dimension and glitter along the veins, and the scrap of fragile brown lace looks very old. Dorthe has cleverly used many layers and details of text, print, texture and glitter, finished with two pretty orange stars. I love it, Dorthe!

The next one is from Suzy. I am always intrigued by her layers of aged papers, fabric scraps and text stitched on and put together so perfectly with the chosen Christmas image. It looks deceptively simple, but it just works beautifully all together. Thanks, Suzy! I love your card too.

This card is one Suzy sent to me last year, and it deserves showing. It has a gorgeous fine black lace scrap -I don't know how Suzy has the heart to cut into these vintage laces, but what she makes with them is a worthy display. Suzy has layered fabric scraps, vintage music and a sentiment with a beautiful Christmas image stitched on to the card. Beautiful, Suzy!

To finish, a little splash of colour from one of my dahlias, a very old-fashioned flower I planted just last year. They are stunningly gorgeous happy flowers.

Now, on with the year's tasks so I can get to play as well!

Sending love,

Butterflies and Babies

Hello Friends,

With Spring awakening here in Australia, I'm looking forward to the butterflies, roses and new life happening.  

I had some fun decorating the lid of this pretty yellow box which I am using to store cut out butterflies ready for some projects...

Here's a close up of the lid. I used script paper, a label and a gorgeous image of Maude Feely with an embroidered rose embellishment.

Fascinated by butterflies, I picked up this vintage preserved butterfly under glass...

Speaking of butterflies, here's an unusual one! My kitten, Jasper, was a great model for me, and I used Photoshop to give him fairy wings.

 

He's grown up so quickly - here he is as a small kitten with gorgeous blue eyes, with his cute cheeky brother. So hard to choose!

I was won over by his pretty face!

He was a rescue kitten - he's still in his cage  here, too young to leave his mum yet.

At 10 weeks old, he quickly settled in to his new home. He loves to sleep next to my computer as I work.

He now has yellow eyes - a pity to lose those sweet blue eyes, but he is still gorgeous. Now 10 months old, he's been a great photography inspiration for me...

Of course, he loves lace and fabrics, and always chooses to park himself in the middle of whatever I am doing!

 

A couple of months ago I attended a Doll and Bear Show in Wyong. I was stunned at the artistry of many of the 'reborn' dolls there. I had a cuddle with one of them... so sweet!

You'd easily be tricked into thinking it was a real baby!!!

A paddock full of lambs attracted my attention on a trip to Oberon. I only had my phone as a camera...

The drought is awful, and everywhere farmers are hand feeding and desperate for rain. This looks green after a shower, but there's not much to graze on. And this is usually pretty good land...

Lastly, here's a sweet mother and baby encounter on a trip to Pebbly Beach in the Murramarang National Park...

I'm joining Wen at AppleApricot for Simply Neutrals # 48. Join us there for a feast of neutral beauty... Wishing you a Happy Spring or Fall, wherever you are.

Hugs,