Sunshine, Stitching and Songs.........

Hello girls, I may be wilting in the heat but this Sunflower is loving it.

This is a low growing  variety of but it's certainly making an impact in the garden.

The heat this Summer has been on going.......my poor garden is looking a little worse for wear.......

The tomatoes are red and juicy and fruiting beautifully......and thankfully there's no fruit fly this Summer.

The beans on the other hand are growing but not setting.

There are flowers here and there but leaves are burnt.

I used some old bed sheets to make shade tee pees over them, but I'm not too hopeful of getting any beans.

On these hot days I tend to stay indoors in the aircon. and go out to water the garden in the cool of the evening.

The heat seemed to sap my creativity last week and my sewing machine sat around gathering dust which was most unusual.

But thankfully, my mojo seems to have returned and I've been stitching some little birdies......

The hotter it gets the more I dream about cooler days.

It comes out in my stitching .......

This lady rugged up in her hat, coat and boots seems to be featuring and I think she may become part of a series of stitcheries.

I had alot of fun putting them together

For some time I've wanted to try a different design for a tea cosy.
 I wanted to create a patchwork look and keep it simple.
It's certainly an 'in your face' colour combo.....
not everyone's cup of tea...
 (hehe, no apologies for that one!!)

and on the reverse side......or is this the front.

You figure it out, I'm confused!!

Outside things are very dry, the grass has browned off. 
Living in the country where our water supply is from the tank or dam, we don't waste water on lawn.

It gets brown and crunchy and when the weather breaks in Autumn and we get some rain it greens up again.

Despite the hot days the evenings cool down enough to sleep well....I think I've had a fan on only 2 nights.

Thankfully this week we did get a cool change and a couple of nights I even had a blanket on!!

Temps are back up for the weekend and windy conditions Sunday  mean we'll be on high alert for bush fires.

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of the "Black Saturday" bush fires here in Victoria.

I remember it was still 40 deg at midnight on that particular evening......we certainly don't want to go through that again.



You've heard of Kitty Litter, well there's a new product out called Kitty Mulch!!

Tigger has his own way of keeping cool.
 Not my idea of fun, but you know what cats are like!

2014 is shaping up to be a big year for us here in the SBL household.......

We will be selling our home and building a new one.

There'll be limited time to sew but the creating will still take place to help keep me on an even keel!!

Our little Folk Festival also takes place in March.

I'm really excited about this years line up as one of the performers is a blogger from Melbourne........

Mezz Coleman from Mezz Makes Stuff will be performing.

 I won her CD in a giveaway last year or was it 2012?!!

 I suggested she put in an application for the festival and she was accepted woohoo.......

Can't wait to meet her and see her perform live.

If you'd like to have a listen to her singing

 Shelter by Eric Bogle,

 here's a link, be warned it's a powerful song

 you'll need to have your tissues handy.

Righto, girls that's it for me......time for a cuppa and ooooh maybe some stitching, better dash, see ya and thanks so much for all your lovely comments last post....♥

Claire Xx

Life's a Hoot.....

 Hello girls, just dashing off a quick post before I head off to work. If I don't do it now, who knows when you might hear from me again?......

We had a coolish week for the start of Autumn and my thoughts turned to little artworks aka brooches.

 I couldn't resist stitching up an owl to wear to work.

The number of stitched brooches is growing rapidly......they are a quick and easy little project and fill that creative craving when time is limited....

This Summer has been a stinker and the Sunflower seeds I planted never germinated (probably forgot to water them regularly!!)

 But, I have managed to grow a couple of plants very late in the season.

Summer and Sunflowers, they just go together don't they?

Happy, happy flowers......

I thought I was being watched the other day and I was right.

This little fella has found a home inside the rainwater tank between Cluckingham Palace and the almost full!! woodshed.

He's soooo cute, often see these guys on the outside of the windows in the evening. 

Nice to have them around. 

The presence of frogs indicate a  a healthy environment....

A skeletonised leaf found on the footpath in town this week.

Love that it has retained some colour......

Autumn is here, someone just needs to tell the weather!!

Now that we have our own little op shop in town, it's nice to pop in and find some treasures and yesterday was one of those days.

Do you like old books, you know the sort.....

The pages have a distinct smell to them, I love it.

It comes from another era, when life was slower. 

No internet, Face book the only twitter was of the feathered variety......

Books were the go to, for information, reference or the simple enjoyment of reading.

Well, yesterday I picked up the book in the middle of the pic

Nature Through The Year....

Old books, have to pass a check list for me......

Hard cover,

reasonable condition

interesting story or information

nice pics 

and smell of history, antiquity....

This one ticked all the boxes and more....look at that lovely 

picture on the spine.

Inside the front cover....looking good

Milking time....wonderful photos of rural life in 1946

Wood block or lino print......sold, quick before anyone else spies it.

Check out that haystack.....

This book is chock full of wonderful photos, of life on the farm,

wildlife through the seasons, wildflowers and much more.

The fact that I'm a bit of an Anglophile may have quite a bit to do with it's appeal, but I was very happy to hand over 20 cents and head home with my new treasure.

A quick browse on the net has  shown this book for sale at $15.00......I got me a bargain!!

Oh, almost forgot to say the front cover is embossed with a great pic, but it has been worn down a little over the years.

Are you a fan of old books? What sort do you keep an eye out for?

Do you like the smell of the old paper, of am I the only odd one?

Well, that's about it for the moment.

 I am still working on some projects but can't show any pics yet. 

I think closer to Easter I will be able to post what I have been up to.......

Our little folk festival is on 22-24th March, so things in this household have been a little crazy as hubby is committee chair.

Just as well he has 2 ears and can hold a phone to each and conduct conversations.....it's a much needed skill at the moment.

We are all looking forward to the festival and until then life will be a bit of a blur as everything is finalised and last minute changes/additions are made to the program.

If you're looking for something fun to do that weekend, come up to North East Victoria and enjoy some fantastic music, markets and scenery.....

Hope it won't be too long before you hear from me again and I have decided I will reply to  your comments on my post for a while and see how that goes.....

Must put my skates on running late now,

Ooroo and take care,

Claire x

Another Yarn.........

Hello girls, adventurers one and all.

 Here we are, into our second week in New York.

The last 3 days have been a little cooler more enjoyable for venturing outside......

This morning's wander takes me to the Lion Brand Yarn Studio at

 34 West, 15th street. A nice stroll in the cool air.

I knew it was going to be interesting inside when I saw the window display...... 

A little bit of crochet and some knitting as well and you've got me hooked......

Certainly eye catching and snap worthy wouldn't you say?

Beautiful throws displayed on the wall and with Autumn/Fall here and the cooler temps. my hands were getting twitchy for  some yarn and a hooked stick...

They were all lovely but I think my favourite is the wonky patterned throw.

How about you? 

Which throw do you like?

LHS.  Looking into the shop from the front door.

Love the creative little touches.....

BR. As soon as I saw those door handles I knew this was my kinda shop!!

I was very restrained and purchased 2 balls of acrylic/wool blend and a ball of cotton yarn.....not enough to knit a throw but enough to scratch that creative itch.

Of course I bought crochet hooks with me, they were one of the first things I packed!!

So nice to find Sunflowers growing in this huge Metropolis.
Found these cheery blooms in Washington Square Park...

The last few flowers of the season.

I'm sure they put on a lovely display over Summer.

I bet this busker didn't take the Subway to Washington Square!!

On the other side of the park is the 'Pigeon Man'

Suddenly he'll start shouting.. 

"Run fluffy run....no go the other way

there's a bike....

run fluffy!!"

And scooting across the asphalt is a squirrel he's just given a peanut too.

It's quite amusing to sit and watch him.....

Pigeons aren't the only birds around town.

No. 1 and I spotted these owls as we were out and about yesterday.

The photos on the left are from the Merchant building on Broadway

and on the right this owl was perched above the entrance to the NY University.....

In my wanderings on Saturday afternoon, I stumbled across this lovely, little shop and there in the very middle of the window display was a jar of the good old black stuff.....

Yes, I'm talking Vegemite ladies and if you're a die hard lover of the stuff then there is absolutely no substitute for it.

 It was with some hesitation that I handed over my pennies (quite a few of them too, I might add!!) but I knew it was a necessity. I am coping OK without the coffee I'm used to as I can settle for a cup of tea, but Vegemite on toast in the morning is a necessity....
If you're an Aussie or a Brit and want a taste of home, then this is the 'go to' shop.....

I'm quite surprised at how many apartment living pooches there are in this city. They come in all shapes and sizes and you often see little furry heads peeking out of bags...handbags and also specially designed bags for travelling with your pooch. 

I guess if you are prepared to walk your dog 2 to 3 times a day, it's not so bad. But I'm sure some of those larger dogs would prefer to live in a place that has a big yard to run around in right outside their door.

All the parks here appear to have a fenced off area where you can let your dog off the lead and it can run around and play ball etc. I've also noticed that the streets are free of doggy do, which is great...

Still can't get enough of these gorgeous Zinnias.

 L. are Persian Carpet Zinnias.....

I've never heard of them have you?

TR. lovely lime green blooms

 BR. cute little minis....

Saturday my wanderings took me down to the High Line which runs along  a part of the lower west side of Manhattan in the Meatpacking district.....

 It's part of the disused overhead railway, which went out of service once trucks started taking over the movement of goods etc. Part of the railway was demolished but this section was saved by a group of local residents and has been turned into an urban parkway.....

It's a brilliant idea. You can stills see the disused tracks...

There are areas to sit and relax and there are food and drink stalls around as well.

I love all the greenery around the city.

 The parks, roof top gardens, the Highline and treelined streets are the lungs of this city

Loving the antics of these little fellas.

Some of them are quite cheeky and will come right up to you when you are eating.

"Look me in the eye and admit you stole that peanut"
"Maybe it's here, nope.
 Maybe it's over here.
Nope....."

"So that's where it is! nom, nom, nom"

Mosaics, add a bit of colour to a sidewalk pole.....

A visit to another Anthropology store and an interesting display of embroidered doilies...... I love them.

So quirky....click on the pics for a better look.

I have a collection of doilies at home and have been wanting to use them for a similar project, but just haven't given it the time and thought needed.

I have the time at the moment but not the doilies....

Oh well, I'll put pen to paper and start planning.

Love it when I find inspirational moments like this....

Is it your cup of tea or not?

I ♥ Washington Square Park

So there we have it girls another little round up of adventures.

There were a couple of tornadoes over in Brooklyn on Saturday.
 I didn't even know about it till family back home and some bloggers mentioned it......

It was very windy at times in the morning and then rain in the evening which was great. 
Certainly cooled everything down which was so refreshing.

No.1 had a long weekend so we got out and about together and then went our separate ways at other times.

He's back in the studio today, so I'm venturing on my own, map in hand, compass in pocket, socks pulled up and a big bag of breadcrumbs!!

As a thankyou for your company along the way I picked up a little something at Anthropology and in the last week of this amazing adventure I will throw all your names into a hat, or guitar case or nearest receptacle and draw out a winner......

Thanks for joining me here in NYC.

Claire ♥♥

Goodmorning Sunshine ☀.........

Good morning or evening depending on where you are and

a big welcome to all my new followers.......

Thanks for popping by for a visit.

I hope all is going well in your crafty corner of the globe.

In between trying to stay cool and some other projects I have been doing a little bit of creating.

A lovely lady by the name of Shirley (also a chook lover) gave me a box full of beautiful woollen fabric samples. She asked if I could make her a chook and she chose these colours.

Shirley has a personality to match her colour choice!

So, here's Rosie, she's a bit like the Queen Mary under full steam, but I am quite happy with the way she turned out and the gusset (these things are the bain marie of my life, hehe...)is a success.

Not sure if she's a one off, but for a very long time,I have been thinking of making one.

Sometimes you just need a little push to get you over the hurdle.

I thought a couple of pics in the garden (where chooks often find themselves!!) was appropriate but the sun has washed out her colours.

She did like being out with the flowers, but not so keen on the bees...

For all of you living in cooler climes I thought some blue sky and sunshine pics of my Sunflowers might brighten a gloomy day for you.

They remind me of a choir, all standing up straight with heads held high.......

A bit of blue sky love ♥ going on here too....

They are putting on a great show at the moment...

...and keeping the bees busy.

You know those little fellas were still out at 8pm last night.

Don't they have a home to go to?....

Love the blue sky against the yellow flowers

...just wonderful

It's been pretty warm here this week and I have been wilting in the heat, so I thought it might be wise to pick the roses and bring them inside where I can enjoy them rather than leave them to burn to a crisp in the sun.

L - R

Mothers' Love, William Morris and at the back

Blue Moon with Lady of Megginch.

I placed the vases throughout the house where I could enjoy them.

A pic of the vegie garden

We had a load of wood delivered.....getting ready early for Winter.

Just needs someone to put it away!!

The beans are producing slowly but steadily, there's plenty of tomatoes on the various plants. The Spring Onions are lovely in salads along with the capsicum and there's quite a few little pumpkins developing on the vine.

There's always something from the garden used in our dinner...

There aren't as many Zinnias as in previous years, but they are doing a wonderful job adding colour to the yard.

Tig is doing what he does best.......

Find a disused carton, curl up and go to sleep.

Ah, it's a cat's life.

-----OOOOO-----

Well,it's been very warm this week although not too hot at night for sleeping.

We were planning to head away for the weekend away but it hasn't happened. That's OK later in the year when we have more time and it's not so hard to get accommodation might be better.......

So, they say a change is as good as a holiday and I got a bee in my bonnet this afternoon and entered the SMB shed.

That's 'secret mens business'....just in case you were wondering.

I roped No.1 in to help and we dragged out an old kitchen table which I intend to use for a sewing table.

I also decided it was time to sell a piece of furniture which had been stored for some years.

I rang the local antique dealer he came around half an hour later, gave me a price loaded it up into his car and off he went.

I now have a few dollars to put towards a 2nd hand storage unit of some sort...

So the spare room, becomes my sewing room once the bed is removed.

I have been talking about doing this for some time, today just happened to be THE day...

And, I am going to reclaim my dining table, yay!!

I hope, your week has ended on a good note and things are going according to plan.

Take care,

Claire X