Finding Inspiration

How do you manage to keep the creative vibe going when you are working on a production line?

In preparation for next months market I have quite a bit of sewing to get through and am finding it difficult to get motivated............

So, still thinking about strawberries, I decided to have a change of 'scenery' and have made some sewing needle books with strawberries rather than the usual chooks.

The weather obviously is influencing my creativity and Spring themes are in the air.

It's taken me a while but I have found a few little tips and tricks to make the job of sewing multiple things a little easier.

Obviously, a production line of drawing, cutting and sewing makes the process quicker but new designs no matter how simple make it more interesting.

The back looks just as interesting as...........

The front........

'Berryliscious' is obviously an amalgamation of delicious and luscious !!!!!!!

I think you know what I was getting at..........

There's plenty more sewing to be done, so hopefully I will keep working away at it building up stock slowly rather than my usual last week rush.

After two weeks away No. 1 has returned home.

While he was way up north at Airlie Beach he picked up some sea glass for me............

Discarded glass tumbled and smoothed by the ocean and then thrown up on the shore.

I love it and the fact that he thought of me and bought it home.

The blue piece is beautiful and reminds me of the black faced sheep down the road..........

After being away for so long he was keen to get on the ride on mower and mow the 'lawn' green stuff outside so it looked cared for...........

Who was I to deprive him off this pleasure?

Another little job he likes to do is keep the glass screen on the wood heater clean.

Two weeks of soot build up wasn't going to move without some elbow grease.

He did suggest I could've cleaned it while he was away.

But once again who am I to deprive him of the satisfaction?

And you do know if you can see the flames, you feel warmer!!

I have to smile to myself, when he says things like this. Not that long ago he was having a dig at me about being so fussy as to how the housework and certain jobs were done.

Now I see it coming out in him and I just smile...........

Don't get the wrong idea, I am definitely not an obsessive housekeeper............

Read: don't turn up unannounced, you might be in for a shock, hehehe............

The fine weather continues and trees are blooming well out of their usual time.

The Manchurians are still putting on a lovely display. The first is now in leaf with the second just in blossom. The bees are having a field day.

The Crab Apples are starting to come out in leaf and it's still August (just).

A beautiful time of year and it's so nice to have sunny days, but once the sun disappears behind a cloud, you do notice the drop in temp.

I am slowly but surely getting on top of the weeds in the garden, along with the help of some feathered friends.

I wish I had their eyesight, they are so quick to grab the tip of a disappearing worm or grub.

Akin to crop circles.......but I know what causes them.............

Two weeks ago I noticed these 'interesting' vapour trails in the sky.

Obviously there was fog at Tullamarine airport in Melbourne and they were killing some time till it cleared.

Or were they just bored?

It made for interesting viewing. I wonder if anyone else noticed?

I love seeing things like this..........

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Well, that's a little bit of news from the Sweet Birdy Love household.

I hope your week is going well and that maybe you see something small and discarded , the beauty of which makes you smile.

Thank you for taking the time to drop by and see what I am up to.

Till next time, take care,

Claire X

12 Days in April May

What can you say when someone offers to cook dessert after the dishes are done and the kitchen is clean?

You say "YES" of course.

Not the cooking techniques Nigella would use, but just as effective.


Cheesy grin, warpaint flour on the cheeks and standard cooking outfit, gotta keep the feet warm!!

"What did he make?" you ask, his current favourite of course - Golden Syrup Dumplings and I must say they were yummy, light as a feather .

This post is a little late, but he turned 19 on the 28th of April. Where did all those years go?We went out for a coffee and he took this photo, not bad for a one handed attempt.

He's just decided to grow the little goatee thingy on his chin and it makes him look soooooooo much older, sigh!!!

Standard Autumn leaf throwing photo. Couldn't resist taking a few leafy shots .

What do you buy a 19 y.o.? Driving lessons of course and 2 tickets to see Powderfingers last concert. They went on sale before we realised, just as well we are in the country and the tickets to the Albury concert didn't sell out, phew, big sigh of relief!!

A little bit of sewing going on here. Two more book covers rolled off the press. Kombi love is still going strong. Not sure about the angle? I made a drawing from a photo in a magazine and there was only one headlight showing and two tyres but the more I look at it the more I think I should've added in the other headlight and a tyre on the right front.

What do you think? All opinions welcome. Mind you this is a prototype, so I will do it somewhat differently next time.

It's coming into Hottie Hugger season (H.W.B. covers!!)

A friend commented on some at my market stall and I said I could do one with a caravan on the front for her as she often heads off on holiday with her hubby in their van.

So far so good, just need to put it together and fill up the hottie .
(Click on the photo to enlarge)

The 'writing' says "wherever I park my van that's my home" also on the Kombi book cover.

Woke up one morning last week to find the sky chocabloc with vapour trails.

I have never seen so many at the one time. In the above photo there are 9 if you start counting from the top RH corner and there were another 2 possibly 3 outside of the shot.

The planes are flying between Sydney and Melbourne a busy route, obviously.

No volcano clouds preventing planes from flying here.

These beauties are putting on a wonderful display in my garden at the moment.

Had to cut a bunch for the bedroom, so I could admire the stunning colours.

The photo just doesn't do them justice.

I really can't think of the right colour to describe them, except to say they are a burnt red with an almost gold tone on the centre petals.

Absolutely, divine and very Autumnal ( ooh I do love using that word)

I didn't realise until I put them on the dresser that they match the doona cover. No photos, but there's an idea. Designer flowers to match your bed linen, hmm.

I'll just put that out there, for anyone with a creative flair!!

Another shot of the maples in the driveway. Just keeping track of how they are colouring up. It's been a long process this year, as they started to change colour way back in January.


Shall finish with a final photo of the birthday boy.

What can I say about No 1 son (only child actually) so that will give you an idea of how special he is.

We drive each other crazy sometimes, he is like me in alot of ways and has my worst personality traits poor kid.

On the up side he has a wonderful sense of humour, we laugh alot, talk with silly accents and say lots of stupid things that only we get.

We communicate fairly well considering he's a teenager!!

He gives me lots of great hugs and he tells me he loves me, I enjoy each and every one of them.

I love the fact that I have been able to show him how to enjoy the beauty in the simple things in life:- sunsets, the stars at night, the colours of Autumn and all those things that don't cost a cent.

He said the best thing about his birthday was the fact there would be a full moon.(Could've saved myself alot of money, but how do you wrap the moon?) We love watching it rise over the mountains.

He's a talented musician, if you would like to see and hear a little of what he does he has a music myspace you can check it out at www.myspace.com/richardperso or look him up on Youtube

Thanks for letting me be a little self indulgent, after all , birthdays only happen once a year.

Well, that's some of what's been happening in my little corner over the last 12 days. I hope all is well with you, till next time.

Claire X

P.S. I am waiting on a very special parcel which is 'winging' it's way from the very talented Mimilove in the UK. You can view her blog here at www.mimiloveforever.blogspot.com

Shall share with you all when it arrives.