A Creative Mish Mash........

Who pulled the plug out when I wasn't looking?

I had the day planned and all was going well until I got home from town and then it all went awry......

A 4.15am start didn't help.

 Hubby and son needed to be driven to the airport for an early morning flight north.....

Away for the weekend they'll be enjoying 26 degree days up in Queensland.

Still it gave me the chance to have a breakfast catchup with my sister. Get some shopping done, goods exchanged, shoes ordered  fabric bought sort of stuff and get home and still have half a day left to sew......right?!

Ha...

Someone pulled the plug once I got home and did a few jobs.....crank up the heater, wash bought fabrics, put away shopping, pat the cat and have lunch that was it.....

So here I am.....finally posting after uploading pics for the 3rd, yes, 3rd time, grrr!

A mix of recent makes......tea cosies for an order, a little stitchery and some seasonal stuff to follow.

Grab a cuppa, I'm playing catchup here girls.....

My latest stitchery 

'Miss Mousie'

Makes me happy looking at all the bright, cheery colours.

Something a little different for me and a little wire heart hanger instead of the Silver Birch twigs I have been using.....

It is looking for a new home, just email me if you would like to know more.....

Bluebell tea cosy.....love these colours.

I planted some Bluebells in the Wild Wood last season I hope they flower this year......

Last Saturday it rained...... It was beautiful, the golden, coppery tones of the leaves still hanging on made my heart sing....

It was the sort of day where I couldn't wipe the smile of my face. 

We definitely needed the rain (almost 3 inches) and listening to it on the roof or watching it fall whilst cosied up at home or in a cafe having coffee is just the best.

Definitely soup, stew and dumplings weather.....

Love distorted rain on windscreen effects......♥

More happy colours.....

Love a little woodland scene,

"The woods were buzzing with the news.

 Mr. Whiskers was holding a tea party and everyone was invited...

But the wise, old owl knew every trick in Mr. Whiskers book

 he'd seen it all before....."

 and there had to be more Foxgloves too....

Taken before I headed away recently, our Maples put on a wonderful, fiery red display.

There were still quite a few leaves doggedly hanging on when I returned home, but this week......they're almost gone.

I love the carpet effect they create underneath the tree.

The last cosy to show you.

Head over to

The Empty Nest 

face book page and have a look at my inspiration

Now I've done the fun part of the cosies, I 

 need to crack on and finish them off.

Of course with cold, wet Wintry weather, soup is a must.

I dug up some overgrown Parsnips to see what I would find.

Well, as expected they were monster size, half of this one was cut  off by the shovel!!

 I chopped and cut off the fibrous centre and just boiled it.

Then I 'zjooshed' it up with the stick mixer, threw in a knob of butter and tasted it.

It was surprisingly

 AWESOME

So I then turned the puree into soup.

If it had've been a dud, the chooks would've enjoyed a hot meal, but I have enough soup to last me for a couple of days and there are still more Parsnips in the garden.

No.1 on seeing me serve dinner that night, wondered why I had cooked so much potato mash!!

"Would he like some?" 

"Well, seeing as though you cooked so much I better have some"

"No wait a minute" he exclaimed "what' in it?"

Almost got him, hehe......

I love cooking on the wood stove in the gathering twilight and just looking out at the hills.

Wanted to share my view with you even if it is a little dim outside....

A final pic to share......an op shop find,

 the last day in Byron Bay.

I wandered through those op shops for 3 days, just browsing as you do.

On the last day I spied the polka dots and vintage green....be still my beating heart!

A chipped spout and crazed glaze on the inside did not detract from it's beauty......

50 cents really?

Wasn't until I got it home and had a good look, that I could see the Beswick Ware stamp on it's bottom.

I also found a copy of

 From Lark Rise to Candleford

just my sort of book, loving it.

Oops, almost forgot to show you my new door mat.

Lifelike isn't it?

Guess who nearly got stepped on?

It's time to feed the chooks, throw another log on the fire and think about what's for dinner.

Soup perhaps?

Most definitely....are you a Parsnip lover or hater?

I have just discovered that

Kirstie's Vintage Home

is on the ABC on Thursday nights.

Squeeeeal with excitement.....

I read about things on UK blogs and then it takes months to find it's way Downunder....

So don't ring me at 8.30pm 'cos I won't answer!!

Ooh, hello it's just started to rain, I didn't expect that.

I do love Winter.....

Hoping you are all well and feeling creative and inspired.

Take care,

Claire X

It's In The Post.......

I've just been trying to hang a load of washing on the line and avoid being whipped in the face with wet pillowcases and tea towels. There's a cold wind blowing today, feels like it's blowing right off the snow and yes, there was snow up at the nearby ski resort last night. 

My fingers were like ice when I had finished.

 Get that, last week we were having 25-28 degs. today it got to a top of 18deg.

Autumn temps are finally kicking in.....

Well, I finally finished my Foxglove tea cosy.

After umming and aahing over fabrics to line it with, I made my choice and I'm  very happy with how it turned out.

The mug belonged to my mum and came to live with me when she passed away......

The quote on the mug reads .......

Beautiful gloves to fit a fox's paw......

I think we have mail.....don't you?

One parcel in the letter box was for No.1.....

guitar strings....boring

The parcel on top was for me......exciting.

This parcel has travelled thousands of miles, over vast oceans and foreign lands......

Pretty paper a Royal Mail sticker an address in Devon.

Now to carefully open and see what's inside.

Oh my, under layers of pretty, pink tissue paper there he is.

'Love-Me-Ted' from Elaine of Ted and Bunny blog

He's an antique, not sure what his exact age is.

 He's being coy and not telling.....yet!

He's balding and worn from love and the passage of time.

He has vintage buttons for eyes.

Elaine has patched him with vintage fabric and beautiful hand embroidered linens. 

She's added buttons and stitching and turned him from something you probably wouldn't look twice at to something that's been given another chance and I've already fallen for his charms.

He's very special, to me.

 He represents everything that's good in people and the way the blogging community came together to help one of our own.

You see Love-Me-Ted was one of the prizes in the raffle held to raise funds for Gretel Parker.

 Wonderfully talented artist and blogger.

I need your help girls......

He needs a name, so all suggestions will be thoughtfully considered.

With the arrival of the cooler weather, I feel I may have to whip up a little jacket and scarf for him as he no longer has his fur coat.

I've been sock shopping this week....

That is shopping for wool to knit my very own socks.

It was one of goals I wanted to achieve this year.

I'm getting there slowly......

The wool is lovely with blues and purples in it.

It speaks to me of Scotland, Heather, blue skies and seas.....

I couldn't resist it 

The book is full of patterns 

Ideas....

And lots of photographs and instructions......

I won't be starting these for a few weeks as I want to finish off my crocheted rug first.

I know there are lots of bloggers who have knitted socks and 

I have been inspired by all of you and I'm hoping that I will 'catch the bug' as well.

This little plate was one of my recent op shop finds.

Love the turquoise trim, it was only $1.00 so of course it had to come home with me.

I'm really loving these Dahlias given to me by a friend last week.

I don't usually go for flowers that are orange/yellow, but these are so vibrant and well, Autumnal (love that word).

 I am really taken with them and may have to ask for a tuber or two.....

And a quick peek at the Liquid Ambers 

(part of No. 1's 21st. pressie)

They are looking beautiful in gold and red, a nice contrast against the red of the Maples along the driveway.

They create quite a splash of colour against the grey/green of the surrounding gum trees.

So there you have it girls.......

A little snapshot of what's been going on here.

Thankyou for all the comments on my last post, it's always nice to have visitors and a big welcome to some new followers too.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, thanks for visiting.

Claire x

Let's Get Cosy.......

Monday, Monday, hope your week is off to a good start girls.

I'm back into the teacosy making for a special order.

I've been wanting to sew a Foxglove design for some time, so today was the day.....

Let me tell ya......there was alot of snipping going on and it might look pretty straight forward and simple now that it's done but it took me hours!!

BUT, I'm thrilled with how it turned out and although I love using bright colours I'm also loving the softness of the pastel shades.....

Finding the right quote for the reverse side was the next step and I just couldn't go past Monet.

I think most gardeners would agree.....

A little Autumn inspiration has been stitched onto another 

'cosy in the making'.

 This 'new' blanket is such a gorgeous green,

  the photo just doesnt' do it justice.

Y'all know how much I love Autumn colours....

Talking about Autumn let's have a wander outside and see what's happening....

This Crabapple was looking a little sad after our hot Summer and No 1 was very worried that it was going to turn up it's toes.

Thankfully, it's come good and colouring up nicely with

lots of golden, coppery tones....

Beautiful new growth on the Leucadendron......

The Maples along the driveway are turning on the colour, not wanting to be out done.

Something weird has happened to the photo, hmm!

The bees are still buzzing away amongst the Zinnias which have been flowering for months now.

If any of you girls in the Northern Hemisphere are looking for something colourful and hardy to plant in your garden you really can't go past Zinnias.....♥♥♥......just sharing the love.

As well as some tea cosies I made a red version of my 

'knitting' stitchery......

Seems it's all about red today ♥♥♥

 Finally  a scene from Sunday evening, golden light shining through a smokey, stormy haze.....just beautiful.

The Janome is cranking this week, I'm having fun putting together designs for my cosies. 

It's been a little while since I made one and I have enjoyed the break.

The temp has climbed into the high 20's this week. It seems the warmer weather wants to hang around for a little bit longer and

recent rains have greened up the paddocks.

Gives me a chance to keep working on my granny square blanket before Winter arrives.....it's growing slowly.

So what's been happening with you girls?

Love to hear,thanks for popping by...

Have a great week.

Claire x

If You Can't Grow It....Just Sew It....

For the past three years or so, Sweet peas have self seeded in our open compost/prunings pile. They have put on a wonderful display, at times looking better than what was in my garden!!

This year not one came up and being away in September I decided it was  a little too late to plant seedlings when I returned home.

 A couple of stragglers have come up in the garden and are sporting a flower or two, but I was disappointed I didn't have any to cut and bring inside.

I love their perfume......

Trying to decide what to put on a tea cosy this morning, I thought if I can't grow it then I will just sew it....and I did

I would be more than happy if these lovely colours came up in my garden.

On the reverse will be words from Mr. Keats......

"Here are sweet peas, on tip toe for a flight

With wings of gentle flush o'er delicate white

And taper fingers catching at all things 

To bind them all about with delicate rings"

Last week, we finally got the rain I had been waiting for. 

The garden was in need to a good drink.

46mls fell at out place giving everything a good drenching including the garage floor!!

The combination of grey cloudy skies and green, green paddocks....I love days like this.

This week the grass is drying off quickly with warmer temps and the tractors are out slashing the paddocks for silage.

Giant green marshmallows are springing up everywhere.

It's interesting watching the landscape turn into a patchwork of green, gold and brown......

Planted sometime last Summer this David Austin rose....William Morris is putting on a wonderful display.

 Obviously, very happy in it's new home......

Hard to tell from the photo but the centre is apricot tinged with pink.......

It's just beautiful but rather prickly.....

Gladiolus Cardinalis is flowering like there is no tomorrow.

Just googled this to check I had the name correct and the info says 'it's quite challenging to grow as a garden plant since it is found in waterfalls!!....'hmmm

Well I'm very pleased it's happy in my garden as it was a bulb my mum bought many years ago and it's a nice reminder of her.

Another reminder is this concrete wash trough, mum grew herbs in. .

It now resides with me and I also grew herbs in it until a couple of months ago, when it filled up with water and failed to drain.

The roots had blocked up the drain.......

Drastic measures were required and unfortunately the concrete cracked. We have propped it up with bricks and it's holding fast, but will be used for annuals now.

I  planted it with Marigolds and Snapdragons, which should put on a vibrant display throughout Summer.

Could be the perfect spot for Sweet peas next season.....

What do you think ?....

The Poppies are still going strong, attracting the bees .

This fellow was keen for some pollen even though the flower hadn't fully opened....talk about impatient, hehe.......

A first for this garden are Foxgloves. 

The first spire ever, a little on the small side, but I hope it will be happy and reward me with more blooms next season.

Walking around the garden with Rich this morning, I was happy to show him this bloom.

It reminded him of Beatrix Potter stories.....

I like to pass on some gardening knowledge to him and share the beauty........ 

The Ixias I purchased at last months market are in flower.

One bloom is this lovely raspberry pink and the other is a lemon with a raspberry centre.....

I love them and it's so nice to have more variety in the garden this season.......

The Jacobean Lily is sporting some blooms.

Quite a striking colour and certainly an interesting shaped bloom

Sweet little Dianthus Doris.

 You may have been around

for many years, but you are another 'newbie' in my garden.

I have a sweet posy on my bedside table and the perfume is 

quite strong as I sit here and type this post.....

I think I may have to move the vase!!

This week has been about sewing for the market in Bright on Saturday......

Three weeks between each one seems to fly by.

I felt some owlets were needed.

I like to have something new each market as I get locals coming along each month to see what I've been making.....

'Twit,

Twoo

Who loves you?'

A few more to fill and stitch up and I will just about have enough for a sitting of parliament!!

Did you know the collective noun for mice is a mischief?

A mischief of mice, love it.

They can also be referred to as a horde, but mischief is much more entertaining don't you think?

.

Thankyou girls for all your lovely, encouraging comments on my last post....

I am so pleased all my artworks found new homes.

After the rush and excitement of the art exhibition, things have quietened down and the pace is a little slower here.

Cricket has started on TV and I find myself taking a little more interest in it as hubby and son discuss the days play.

In between sewing, I have been out in the garden.

 The vegie garden is keeping us supplied with greens....

silverbeet, kale and spinach and  the broad beans are now ready to pick and if every flower turns into a bean we will be inundated with them.

Any recipes you have for them, would be greatly appreciated......

Ok, I better go and pick some broad beans before I head off to work.

Thanks for dropping by to visit and if you are new to Sweet Birdy Love, I'm glad you found your way over here.

Take care and have a great week,

Claire X