Merry Xmas

Merry Xmas everyone. hope your day is blessed with family, good times and peace.
I decided to use what I had around me in the studio to wrap my presents this year.....here are the results

posies in my garden

I've been working very hard in my garden over the past couple of months trying to transform it from jungle to pretty! lately the flowers have been putting on a lovely display and there is colour everywhere....love it

 these pretty posies are an old style rose I actually grew from a cutting....one of only two successes I've had

marigolds will always remind me of our visit to Nepal last year....they were everywhere

such a pretty view first thing in the morning

xmas is coming

I love Xmas. I love the excitement, the looks on kids faces, time to party, Xmas eve, cooking for Xmas day (mmmmm pavlova!), everyone wishing each other good times and good cheer, and the love of being with those I treasure.

 I also love making Xmas decorations! this year groups of these trees are going to adorn my table and cupboard tops.

 and these gorgeously coloured fabric balls are going to be grouped in bowls around the house

 and these pretty hearts are going on the tree....see the tiny antique frozen charlotte doll body all the way from germany...

music to my ears...

if you would like some of these to brighten your home too this Xmas I've listed some in the shop just now. be quick.

xmas gifts

these little treasures have been a real hit in the shop cute as a button pocket journals made from playing cards and recycled papers

 by yesterday morning they were sold out, but last night I added some more...

along with some of these slightly larger versions made from vintage children's flash cards...perfect for the little farmer in your life...or pilot or football player or fireman or.... 

great little stocking fillers. head over to Magpie House and have a look before these sell out too...

varanasi

this time last year......

madeit.com

have you discovered madeit? I'm pretty sure you have but just in case....you should head over and check out all the aussie handmade goodies, all ready just in time for xmas.

 I opened my little shop on madeit a few months ago and there are some very clever australian artists and crafters selling lots of wonderful things

now...listen up...madeit is running a choose handmade xmas campaign and that has to be a good thing. buy aussie handmade goodies for all your loved ones this year and know that your gift is made with love. you could buy one of my purses or brooches....or you could browse through madeit and find that special gift all without leaving home. now what could be better than that?!

and if you would like to make your own gifts for xmas why not check out madeit's sister craftumi where you will find everything you need in craft supplies

so much fun....!

diwali

this time last year we were in Nepal trekking through the Himalayas....I get goose bumps when I say that! I can't believe how lucky we are to travel to the places we do, meet wonderful people along the way, and see the incredible places we visit....so lucky. when we travelled to Nepal the festival of Diwali was just finishing. on our first night in Kathmandu we lay in bed listening to bells ringing, firecrackers exploding, excited voices, dogs barking and cats wailing!  

 as we travelled throughout Nepal and then down in to India the remains of Diwali were everywhere...mandalas in doorways, marigolds, signs, coloured powders on animals, etc. my favourite remains though had to be the countless garlands made from whatever was available in the environment. these two photos show some across waterways we crossed whilst trekking....in those Himalayas! I'm inspired to get out and make some from my garden now...but it's raining so it will have to wait til another day.

 marigolds were draped everywhere and contributed so much colour.

Diwali is also known as the festival of lights and is celebrated by various religions. for Hindus it is celebrated in families with traditional activities and in Nepal and India it is an official holiday. the word Diwali translates as "row of lamps" and small clay lamps are lit to signify the triumph of good over evil.

a little break

I've had a little break from blogging this past week.....I wonder if I overdid it a bit during blogtober and now have nothing much to say!! on the weekend we went to coffs harbour and coming home via glenreagh saw this wondrous creature!!!! i've been watching him come to life over the last few months and now he seems complete next to his home the golden dog hotel at glenreagh. if you're in the area you really should stop for a quick hello......woof, woof!

monday memories

well blogtoberfest has come to an end and i'm glad to say i've hung in til the end. I did miss a few days but I managed to post something most days which has been a much better effort than last year.
so thanks so much to cathy for organising  blogtoberfest once again....couldn't have done it without you xx. thanks to those who have stopped by here and posted a comment or even just popped in to have a look.
I have to say that i haven't got around to looking at everyone's blog who has particpated (there were so many!) but i hope to still do that over the next few weeks. but i have really enjoyed seeing what others have been up to this month.
a final photo memory for blogtober

sunday snippets

you may have noticed that I've added another shop to my side bar. magpie finds is now open on craftumi. I've already had my first sale...thank you Nat!

 yesterday I added these gorgeous frozen charlotte kits. each kit has a frozen charlotte torso, some old lace and ribbons, some very old music and bible papers, flowers and pearl accents, and some gorgeous mother of pearl buttons from my own collection...love these and collect them everywhere.

 and for lots of fun you'll also find games ephemera from my very large collection of old games and toys. these are great for mixed media, collaging, journaling, artwork, etc.

there's also some lovely packs of paper ephemera with over 50 pieces of vintage papers from old books, music sheets, dictionaries, play money, cards, old postcards, punched shapes.....

saturday showcase

do you have green frogs at your place? we do....i've read that it's a good sign of a healthy garden. I hope so 'cause i've been working hard in my garden this last couple of weeks. anyway, these little fellas (or girls - who can tell a girl frog from a boy frog?!!) are showing up on our window sills, steps and railings each evening and sing their little frog songs to each other whilst checking out what's for dinner - usually bugs who are silly enough to come too close. here's a couple of snaps I took tonight with my phone.....do you like the googly eyes?!

thrifty thursday

I found this cute as a button tea set a couple of weeks ago at one of my regular op shop stops. it isn't complete - i'm sure there would have been a teapot with it originally - but I still love it. the china is super fine and its perfect for playing tea parties!

monday memories

hello world...

hi mum....

sunday snippets

today has been very exciting at our place - we have a new arrival and he is beautiful. now, I'm afriad you will have to wait until tomorrow to see some photos of him because we are all just a little too tired tonight to upload the photos from the camera, onto the computer, onto the zoom, etc, etc......
can you guess what "he" is??? check in tomorrow to see if you got it right. nite nite.....zzzzzzz sleep tight little one.......

friday feast

old timber, peeling paint, weathered surfaces.....some of my favourite things

thrifty thursday

I have been on leave this week from work while James is doing his HSC exams. now what else is a girl to do whilst sweating out exam times than go op shopping?! and there have been some good finds.....oh yes there have been many good finds! yesterday I found these gorgeous cotton white sheets with pretty embroidered turn over ends. so soft from many washes but still in lovely condition. today I washed them and hung them in the sun to dry.....and a little cat just had to get in the picture. such a celebrity! and now they are ready to put on my bed....mmmmm!
apologies for the absence of Wednesday words yesterday.....I was a bit wordless after a very long day.

tuesday travels

today's tuesday travels takes us to nepal.....aahh looking at these photos just makes me want to jump on the next flight and go there now....

 these photos were taken in Muktinath which was the highest point we trekked to on our trip last year. they were taken at the temple just above the village. peaceful, spiritual, relaxing, beautiful. prayer flags, bells, running water, stones....amazing landscape

 these towers are houses to heaven built by people who come to the temples to worship. there are many many towers/houses of all sizes

 we built our own and this is my tower with it's little marigold. I wonder if it's still there.....

 and of course there are prayer wheels everywhere...also large and small. we even saw some made out of australian milk tins!

if you have ever thought about travelling to Nepal don't keep thinking...just go. you won't regret it. trust me.