The Blitz begins!

After relocating the pot-plants (and stands) to the southern side of the house,and transplanting some herbs to other pots..........
Conan the Barbarian arrived with his Bob-cat!

Most vegetation was earmarked for removal.....except for the citrus tree,the paw-paws and the Golden -cane Palms along the back boundary.

The fairly lush Star Jasmine creeper,just on the lower side of the cement slab in the lower photo was "meant" to be untouched...........but wasn't!

Most all the topsoil was removed......down to the Redcliffe clay.

At this stage,I was beginning to think:
"What have I done!"

Backyard Blitz

In mid February,this is how our garden looked'(with the addition of many pot-plants from our previous home.)
For some crazy reason I wished to create a small,lush oasis as a foil against the outside world.
Okay! We're in Drought!
Level FIVE water restrictions apply.........

BUT,having spent most of my married life being "water conscious" due to relying on rainwater tanks for all my house and garden needs,I reckon I can do it.
The first and third pictures show the back (eastern) side of the house.
The middle pic is of the northern side where there 'was' three paw-paw trees,a citrus tree and a very SAD herb garden.

My proposed plan is to not only extend a patio area on the eastern side,but where the herb garden is now,add another outdoor living area.
So..let the "fun" begin!

More Swap for a Cure ATCs

Well! Messrs Blog and Picasa did not like me yesterday!
I wonder how today's uplift fares!
The predominantly red ATC is "Flora" from Sandra Stewart;
The middle one is painted card from Robin Bell,
and the third,from Kathryn Roberts has an Easter theme
and includes wishes for a wonderful Holiday season.
I'm not sure if it's wool roving or knitting fibre edging the ATC,but I like it!

Open Garden

An ATC by Patrise

ATCs for a Cure

Back March 17 I blogged my ATC attempts for the "ATCs for a Cure" swap.
Earlier postings today did not upload the pics.
So.............here's three of the ten I received in yesterday's Mail.



First is this hand stitched applique by Jenni Kirkham.
Then there's Mandy Collins golden brown work that reminds me so much of the Australian landscape.

ATCs for a Cure

You may remember that back March 17 I blogged my ATC attempts for the "ATC for a cure" swap being organised by Cecile Whatman:

Yesterday's mail brought ten ATCs for me.......how good is that!

Some of the swappers I recognise as members of the Aus_NZ_artquilters(yahoo) group,others I don't,but I hope those that received my cards are as happy as I am.

Techniques and styles varied, and will make a good learning tool for me to explore..........hopefully Mr Picasa will allow me to upload at least some of my goodies for your enjoyment.

Hearts and flowers

I thought it was time to dust the cobwebs off my Janome Xpressions!

Myfanwy of Nuvo Felt and http://needlefeltchallenge.blogspot.com/ periodically issues a "Challenge" and I'm waaaaay behind in responding.

The current? previous challenge was "Hearts and flowers" and I didnt want M to think I had abandoned her completely,so............

Using a chiffon scarf (courtesy of my friend Catherine) some wool roving,some acrylic felt and some kunin felt,here's my answer.
Being chiffon I've left the petals free standing,anchored in the centre with some Angelina fibres for sparkle.
Wool roving supplied the stems and heart shaped leaves in acrylic felt complete the spray.

I'm wondering if I can make the flowers on a base that can be used to brighten up last Winter's tops---much like a brooch. hmmmmmmmm??

Easter Sprite

The last mail before Easter,this sweet little lady arrived in my letter box!
My dear friend Belle sent her to me.
Front view shows her winsome little face,and the rear view is to show her wreath of flowers.

Needless to say,my young grand-daughter KJ thought that "Spritie" should go home with her........
Gran had other ideas!

Thank-you Belle!

ATCs and experimenting

This past week I've been experimenting!
What I've done may be "old hat" to many readers out there,but,I'm on a steep learning curve when it comes to new techniques in fibre manipulation.

I started off with a 'slab' of Timtex;
My first mistake was using Quilters (basting) spray instead of some other adhesive---
WHY?? that comes later!

To that layer of adhesive I added some previously made (Sculpy) art doll molds,bits of zig-zag braid,lace motifs,lace and braid.
When these had dried in position,they were then given a cover of (Jacquard) Neopaque paint;and then
Lumiere paint was used as highlight on the doll face molds and some of the braid.

As I was hoping to use these for ATCs (Artist trading cards for the unitiated) the slab was then cut into 2.5 by 3.5 inch pieces,some plain homespun was attached for the reverse side of the card,and then I attempted to finish the edges!

THAT was when I found that Timtex
PLUS quilters' spray
PLUS Neopaque paint and lace,etc........
does not take kindly to machine blanket stitch.......or any other stitch for that matter!

The result..............I had to hand stitch to complete them :-(

Oh well...........learn something new every day

Doors

The challenge was "Doors and/or windows"

Once again my ambitions exceeded my capabilities!
I had in mind the screen timber doors seen on old Queensland style houses,where the door in question is the external door of the large wrap around verandahs.

The door frame was built up using X-pandaprint on calico;
the paint was heat set and then painted with Neopaque paint to represent weathered timber;
I then cut out the shapes and laid them on a piece of sun printed fabric to represent the yard outside.
A piece of florist's mesh represents the insect screen.........I wasn't game to attempt "making" the timber inserts,although on reflection,a piece of sushi mat would have done the trick!

Back to ATCs I think!

Words of Wisdom

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A message from my friend Helen yesterday sent my trawling through some blogs ,and on BeachysCapeCodCupboard, I found these words of wisdom I'd like to share.......

Today, my heart says this to you...
If you painted hope today in any hopeless heart,
If someone's burden was lighter because you did your part,
If you caused a laugh that chased a tear away,
If tonight your name is mentioned when someone kneels to pray;
Then your day was well spent.

(Thank-you,beachy)

On a happier note,Caddie and Poss seem to be adjusting to Jesse' departure from their lives ,and with a quiet little song Poss shared the bed with me last night.

On a creative note: I've been playing with Timtex,Neopaque paints,bits of braid and lace and art doll molds trying out an idea for some ATCs.
Okay! I should be mowing lawn and weeding................but!

Happy weekend.

Acceptance

The gurlz (Possum and Cadbury) seem to be accepting that their 'brother' has gone!
They are not quite as flighty as they have been the previous couple of days,and Cadbury is looking for 'loves'
which is of some comfort to me.

Jesse ,along with his 'brother' Billie the Kid will always be in a special corner of my heart.

Rainbow Bridge

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

Jesse and the Rainbow bridge

Last evening I had to make the heartbreaking decision to send Jesse across the Rainbow Bridge........
The report from his Vet was that he had a particularly aggresive tumour on his lower left jaw, which would require particularly severe surgery just to try and remove it.I felt it was unfair to cause him more trauma and discomfort .....he deserved to die with dignity.
Our caring and sympathetic Vet sent Jesse on his final journey as he snuggled in my arms .

Jesse was a major part of our family for nearly 16 years,being first saved from being a street kid as a young kitten by our daughter,and then as her circumstances changed,coming to live with us some eight years ago.

Jesse was an incredible personality.........totally cool about everything;nothing fazed him and he didnt have a mean bone in his body; cheeky,mischevious and King of our other three cats.
If he had one fetish,it was shoes!
As soon as one of his humans shed their shoes,Jesse was into them----rolling, wrestling, cuddling, and finally sleeping on them.
He was true foreman material.whatever his humans were doing,he had to check out that it was being done properly.

Billie,his "brother" for 14 years would have been waiting for him last night at Rainbow Bridge.

Thanks Jesse for your company;you will be sadly missed

Update on Jesse

No Xrays or surgery yesterday,after all!

Bloods taken from him necessitated him being catheterised and given extra fluids over night.

Am awaiting phone call from Vet "anytime" to tell me how things went for him this morning.

Will keep you posted!

And above is Jesse in happier times marking his favourite Bauhinia tree before we moved .

Jesse

My black "panther is one unhappy puss!
For over a month he's been battling some mouth trouble and as regular visits to a new vet plus antibiotics haven't alleviated the problem,tomorrow morning he has Xrays and possible surgery.
As my old gentleman is 16 years old we can only hope the treatment is not too drastic for him.
So,I may not be blogging for a few days as his health will be my main priority. 

ATCs for a Cure

Once again my ambitions exceeded my capabilities:
The fan shaped stencils were the result of my first attempt using micro beads.

The "bad hair day" ladies resulted from attempting to
needle felt their hair.
The profiles are back stitched on a cream Homespun over which I pressed Rainbow Paper in an attempt to get a lightly shaded background.
Each lady sports a Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer on her right shoulder 

Squares

Much too hot to do anything outside after 10 am,so
I moved the sewing station down near the Air-con
and re- acquainted myself with my
Janome Xpression.

Nothing really exciting or artistic resulted,
but it was idiot relief.

I've positioned four small squares of felt
and trapped them with "wings" of wool roving. 

ATCs for Cancer

"Breast and Ovarian Cancer are nasty insidious diseases that affect everyone.
We all know someone who has been diagnosed with one of these diseases.
This ATC swap is a fund raiser for the Cancer Council of NSW.
Funds raised will go directly towards research and treatment.Every cent raised will go directly to the Cancer Council"

I'm endeavouring to make a couple of series as my part of the fund raiser..........I think I need to blame my lack of inspiration and motivation on "post moving blues" and summer blah.

Nothing seems to be jelling at the moment,and that March 30 deadline is looming closer.


On another note,I have two gorgeous "white on white" CQ blocks awaiting attention.
Even with the air-con humming at a chilly 23 degree I'm not brave enough to go anywhere near the work with sweaty hands.

"Waste not........"

.......is the title given by Jeanne Kennedy to this
little beauty I received on Friday.
Jeanne explains that she made a wall hanging at a Retreat last year
and in her words,the leftovers were so pretty she had to use them!
Unfortunately my photographic editing dont do the card justice! the way she has blended the pinks with plum are truly beautiful.