Merry Xmas.....

The silly season is upon us! I would like to wish you all a Very Merry Xmas and thank you for reading my blog this year. Next year is going to be full of new adventures and projects I look forward to sharing them with you all in the New Year.....So have an Excellent Silly Season..
till next time..sew a little something and pop the champers.....

Bern x

Paper flower frenzy...

We have been in a tissue paper frenzy here. Me making huge paper flowers and the kids using my corner off cuts and gluing them to anything they can get their hands on. I started with a few but now I cant stop...I have made about 20 now and wondering if I need to do MORE...

So easy to make...think I might go and make a few more...
I hope you make paper flowers too.
Bern

Hard times........

Just by looking, you would never imagine that these girls are a challenge! I remember before they were born I thought "I want kids who are strong willed with strong personalities...well lucky for me that's what I got...and now I struggle...so today I send back a thank you for the good...not all the hard bits that piss me off...

1. I love the way you laugh.

2. You rhyme words like no other kids I know...Anika spanika...

3. So many songs and stories! When we walked home from the market today I listened to two little voices singing their own songs.

4. My cherub, you cuddle with such love.

5. Rules are so important when you are the "maker". It is a skill to be able to cover the house in toys, blocks and clothes in a short space of time. Is a clean house a happy house?

6. Our kitchen table is always covered in art and found things...a rock here a stick there, and today flower petals...so very pretty.

7. The times you play well together a longer than I think...like now as I spy you packing up a game together!!!!!! quick don't let them see me looking.

8. Creative inquisitive drama queens! Wearing up-sleeves and down sleeves.
So be strong my pretties! You make me proud.
x o

A spot of UP-CYCLING

My lovely new green bag is made out of my singlet. Sew up the bottom and Voila! So very easy and full of feel good. I had some curtain material that has been waiting in my stash just for the right project......

I have always been a little scared of the artichoke...until now. I have found a great recipe to turn this into this....

I found a great book called Mangia! Mangia! by Oats and Villella. 
I highly recommend this book. A couple of Italian Nona's recipes written by their daughters. Check it out.
I haven't had much luck so far with my olives...If anyone knows of a tried and true olive marinade I would love to hear about it.

I now heading out to take my new bag for a walk..
Happy Wednesday!

In my day we didnt have eyes....

We had to look through marbles...Marbles, luxury.....and so it goes...I could go on for hours with that silliness but will spare you.....

I was having a chuckle as I drew a camera onto a block of wood. The girls thought it was amazing and have been taking lots of pictures. It is digital so they are always checking the image on the back....I love the way kids just go with the flow....
So here's to off cuts of wood...
Bern x

Blowing in the wind....

I have finally finished and sent how the many meters of bunting....and to tell you the truth I am still feeling a little addicted...I plan to make myself some cherry flags for Xmas decorations...
perhaps with a small break....
I cleaned and reorganized the sewing room today..It is always such a treat to have a clean place to work....now I just have to do some...
It is back to exhibition mode full steam ahead...no more distractions...I may even put up a few sneak peek pictures for the exhibition...we will see....
Until next time...make yourself some bunting for Xmas this year....
Bern x

Camping at Melville Caves

Recently we went camping at Melville Caves. Here are a few snaps from our trip...

  

 

I love the Australian bush...the twists and mangled trees, rocks that balance on each other and wild flowers and wattle...
x

Late night rant of a bunting nut...

I have been out in the sewing room cutting triangle and heart shapes for way too long...I feel that all my making at the moment has become BUNTING!!!! How did I become the queen of bunting, you may ask? Well it may have something to do with offering. I am not complaining. I am actually wondering if I am using bunting as a form of procrastination......hmmm.
So as soon as bunting madness is over I will get back to making sea creature Mola pieces for the exhibition...

Bunting is such an easy way to spruce up your garden or house for a celebration...so get your serrated scissors out sister (or brother..) and whip up some bunting..
I have used lengths of ribbon and sewed the unbacked pieces straight on...and it looks great and not too time consuming.
Happy Sewing
X

Spring and a table almost finished...

Ah spring! I just love the nanna bulb flowers that fill our garden every year. As one lot ends another starts. its like a lolly jar of joy...
As for my mosaic table.....

This photo was taken before I realized the mistake I had made with the grout....I got a bit slack and figured I would clean it off later...and now I have a bit of cleaning to do. It is going to look good, its just I wish I had done it right the first time. It is my learning project so I am not too annoyed at myself. Next time I will put the tiles onto cement sheet to stop them from moving. 
I have another electrical spool so stay tuned for a new project...

Creative weekend!

Day 3 of Mosaic project. I managed to get all the tiling done..Now I need to do some grouting. I think I will use black grout for contrast. Yes I know there is lots of white but I used what I had rather than buying anything. And I quite like how it has turned out so far.  I have a few ideas for adding extra colour but you will just have to wait and see!

I managed to almost finish the treasure bags for the kinder fete. All I need is straps and we are done! If you really love them and I know you do...then get along to the Castlemaine Kinder Fete on the 17th Nov 2012. There will be plenty of other crafty mums pressing their feet to the peddle. So there should be some excellent stuff.

Well after a week of intense wind and rain it was a delight to spend the weekend outdoors!
Hope yours was a peach!

Bern x

Day 2 of project...

Day 2 of project has come and gone...and day 3 seems so far out of sight...wind and rain have stepped in and put a stop to all mosaic fun. I was so enjoying the smashing of ceramics and wondering where the exact spot was going to be....instead I am sitting tight wondering if the roof will be taken off. Should I dress well just in case I am sent to Kansas city..Yes, better keep my boots on!

To take my mind off the wind.... snip snip snip go my scissors as I cut bunting for the fete...wearing my best dress and boots.

Take Care

Bern x

With Spring comes PROJECTS!

Yep Projects. I have started to mosaic an electrical spool as a bit of a test. I am planing to do some amazing design in our bathroom but have never really done any thing like it before. So I thought I should get some practice!

Here is day 1........

may not look like much...yet!

Not sure if this is my special way of procrastinating. There is the exhibition and a heap of sewing for the kinder fete...And wedding bunting...so sew! Well at least I am procrastinating with something creative....I am really enjoying breaking up plates and tiles...Cathartic art.

So Welcome Spring and all the projects you bring...

Hope you have projects galore.

X

A Succlent Wall

Here is the start of one new Spring Projects. GREEN WALLS. I plan to cover my studio north facing wall in herbs and mint. And a little bit of Hundetwasser style mosaic. This man rocks my world. So much of his art has inspired my world of textiles.

And because I love him so...here is a little of his Fabulous work.

Happy Thursday to you all.

B x

My new bike will be ORANGE!

Our new stead! It is still in the making, but soon my pretty I will have a very fancy new carrier. Jamie is my fantastic bike builder...just you wait till its finished. You will all want one..and if you do..well you can.

Lemons and the thought of spring days...

Today we set out with treasure bags in hand...to go for a walk along the creek. Not a cloud in the sky and the sun was warm. The girls collected plenty of rocks and slowly bit by bit all their clothes were removed. I love how kids just nude up...Yep spring is so close. I am very excited because I get a burst of joy. That fabulous feeling that something excellent is going to happen.

I have a few knitting projects on the go..one is a blanket using up all my scraps...and another is learning how to use my knitting machine! I have had a few lessons but I am still pretty crap at casting on...but I cant wait to cover the house in knitting...holy scarves for Christmas this year. He he

B x

5 Things...

5 things that bring me joy at the moment!

1. Inspiring friends! The kind that love you just for who you are...

2. Beautiful icy misty mornings...

3. Sea Horses and Mola....oh and a trail of little cutouts all over the floor.

4. The nanna bulbs that are coming up though out our garden..Spring is going to be such a delight and surprise...

5. Kinder Art and colour....

My nights are mostly spent sewing work for the exhibition next year....So there is not much to show as I would like it to be a surprise!

I am thinking of going back to study...oh my! what a daunting and exciting thought. At the moment I am contemplating textile design. Only problem is all the courses are full time and I cant do that. So if any of you have any suggestions, they would be most welcome.