Murky Moreton Bay

I was awoken this morning by a thunder storm! More rain!
As the weather bureau issued a severe weather and high tide warning for south-east Queensland coastal areas,I thought I might get some good pictures.
With the dams having controlled releases there is yet more flood debris making it's way into Moreton Bay, so much so, that even the most dedicated kite surfers were sitting on the lawns at Margate Beach, rather than risking life & limb.
One of my favourite walkways was covered in light debris that had been blown over the sea wall:sea weed and plant material made the concrete pathway a tad slippery.

Anyway, no really spectacular shots I'm afraid, but I thought you might like to see the Bay when it is not so pretty.
Anyway I ENJOYED my walk, and certainly a few cobwebs got blown away!

Finally....

 

My idea for "Firestorm" started taking shape way back in February 2010 after the devastating summer fires swept through Australia's southern states.
However volunteering at TAFE, joining in Postmark'dArt Round 11 swaps, and completing an embroidered cushion cover for my friend Lottie, put the project on the back burner for a few months

One of my New Year Resolutions was to at least complete the Unfinished Project as soon as possible.
It is with great satisfaction I can now say......"Firestorm" is as complete as it will ever be!

Now........I wonder what can be done with "mud and flooding rains"?

Haiku...January "Beginnings"

Tropic seas dreaming
Coral reef spawning polyps
Life begins anew.

I've got maill!

 
 
Two other cards received in the last days of the year included
From LindaK "The waters of Missouri--the clear streams and the muddy Mississipi"
as her interpretation of the ELEMENTS: Water

Also received was a delightful "No theme" (Leaves) from LynS of Sacramento.
This is one card that will be framed, as Autumn leaves/Autumn are favourites of mine.

I've got mail

 
A couple of days back, I received a fabric and fibre postcard from Janice S of MI state.
It was the final of my Round 10 Postmark'dArt ELEMENTS: Fire to arrive.
As usual, the reverse of Janice's card is as great as the main side.

Today's mail

 
 

Today's mail brought a UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICES envelope to my mail box.
On opening it I recalled that JaniceS said her post master felt the card might be safer in a sealed envelope.

The postcard (another in Round 11 of Postmark'dArt exchange) was Janice's No theme card to me.
She chose "Haiku" which is a favourite of mine....not that I'm too successful in composing Haiku.

Both sides of the card were so good.....I had to share both with you.

Petroglyphs

 
 
Round 11 swap for Petroglyphs has seen four cards arrive in my letter box:
From my good friend Vivian......you should visit her blog sometime

www.vivianhelena.com

Janice Simpson.........we have been swapping postcards for three or four years now.
Liz T in MN
Mary K in Tacoma WA
Some have used batik fabrics, others use stamps and paint.

Landscapes in one colour

 
 
 
So far I have received SEVEN "Landscapes in one colour" for Round 11 swap of Postmark'dArt.
You know of the one from EvieH in New Zealand.
The other SIX have all travelled from the U.S.: From VA, Mi,Ma;Pa (two cards) and Ca.
Thanks ladies, they are all truly unique!

I've got mail

 
 

The weather may be incredibly WET and grey in south-east Queensland (In fact we were 18 mm short of breaking the rainfall record for the first five days of December) but I was cheered to find that two cards from Evie H in NZ had arrived!
One card represented the Landscape in one colour theme: "Hot Landscape".
No
The second fitted the No theme category as was a "Treescape"

Thanks Evie!

Postmark'dArt : Dragons & Peacocks

 
 
 
 


The final swap I chose to share in in Round 11, was "NO THEME"
However I chose to use Dragons and Peacocks: Die cut rice paper shapes I bought in Beijing some eleven years ago.
We were in the craft/sewing section of the Rainbow Shopping centre, when I saw these fragile papers: Dragons, Peacocks and Tigers.
Of course I just HAD to have them....and now I share them with my contacts through Postmark'dArt.
Because the papers are so fragile, I have enclosed them in either black tulle or white Organza and kept embellishment to a minimum.

Now to address them, brave the pouring rain and mail them~~~~~"just" within the deadline.

Postmark'dArt: ELEMENTS: Water

 
 
 
 

One of the challenges in Round 11 Swap that is currently at it's "use by date", is
ELEMENTS.....Water

I tried out several ideas--
The first one, was a BLUE Hole in the ocean: Unfortunately, my ambition exceeded my capabilities. However, I will keep attempting to do it more successfully in the future.
In Moreton Bay (south east Queensland) at the southern end of Moreton Island, is a blue hole, strangely surrounded by shallows where dugongs and turtles live.

The second attempt I tried to think and work slightly outside the square,
in that I tried a reverse applique of the Kanjii symbol for 'water'.
Again I didn't like the result.

Finally, in a weekend newspaper, I chanced upon an advertisement for Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
I had my inspiration!
So, 12 seascapes later, I had completed my challenge. I hope my swappers enjoy my attempt.

TWELVE seascapes I hear you thinking! I only needed make six, but somehow I didn't register the number required...so now I think I'll frame a few for presents.

Mixed-Media Textile Art (Download) - Interweave

Mixed-Media Textile Art (Download) - Interweave

Collage Fast & Furious (Download) - Interweave

Collage Fast & Furious (Download) - Interweave

No fairies at the bottom of my garden

 
 
 
 

Just a few pics of blooms in my garden!
My pocket handkerchief sized "jungle" is blooming luvverly, and is an excellent place to enjoy quiet times.

I love a sunburnt country!

 

 

Finally completed and in the mail system, are my nine cards "Landscape in one colour" for the Round 11 swap of Postmark'dArt.

At this point, I need add that strictly speaking, my cards are not one colour, or shades of one colour;
but I always feel that one colour needsa contrast to keep it alive.

As my inspiration, I used the poem "My Country" by Dorothea Mackellar:

Particularly the verse

"I love a sunburnt country
A land of sweeping plains
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding plains
I love her far horizons
I love her jewel sea
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me"

Think of the reddish browns of the Hammersley Range in north western Australia, and this is what I have tried to emulate

My Country - Poem by Dorothea MacKellar

My Country - Poem by Dorothea MacKellar

Colouricious Christmas - Talking Threads with Mary Gamester

WWF - Tigers - Tigers Among US

WWF - Tigers - Tigers Among US

Come into my garden!

 
 
 

It may be less than a pocket handkerchief in size, but I love the way my miniature rainforest has developed from my original plans a little over three years ago.

A visit from my son over the weekend, resulted in a larger mirror placed on the southern fence, and the reclining buddha regaining his position among the flowering jasmine on the eastern fence

Acanthus

 

Acanthus: also known as Oyster flower or Bear's paw
blooming happilt in my garden