Inspiration equals motivation

This stunning Persimmon tree above, is the inspiration for a new tea cosy. Every year I say I will take a photo of this tree and sadly the fruit disappears and I still haven't taken a picture.

It's an old gnarled tree and a few metres away there is another one. You can see where cattle have 'pruned' the bottom of the canopy to a nice even shape.

As the leaves fall, the fruit hangs on the tree and on foggy, winter days the orange persimmons glow like bright orange orbs in the mist, just stunning.

This year both trees are laden with fruit, but the crows soon eat it. The land is private property so it is hard to get a decent picture of it, but I am happy with this.

I would like a photo of it 'glowing ' in the fog, so shall have my camera and boots ready to head out and snap some pictures.

Here is the tree, it's covered in beautifully coloured leaves with a carpet underneath.

Click on the photo to enlarge. I usually stick with black thread for my embroidery using fabric and scraps for the colour. Obviously this wasn't going to work with small objects like leaves.

I'm really happy with the picture and now all I have to do is finish the other side which will have an appropriate saying.

Sometimes it's good to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. You might just surprise yourself!

Uploaded in the wrong order!

The tree shortly after beginning. Don't you just love that feeling when something comes together just as you imagined it?

Our Maples along the driveway continue to colour up nicely. They are probably at their peak now and when the sun is shining on them, it's just brilliant.
A couple of more book covers:- the one above is of dried Agapanthus stems. They make great dried arrangements. Once all the flowers have fallen off the lime green stems look spectacular.Gradually, they fade to a parchment colour, I used black so that they would stand out.
Another butterfly cover with a quote from Hans Christian Anderson :- "Just living is not enough", said the butterfly "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower"

I wonder if that flower could be a Zinnia?

These little treasures are a bit early, but nonetheless very welcome in my garden. I love Jonquils and while some people may find their scent a bit overpowering, I love it. It makes me think of Winter/Spring and I love to bring them indoors and let their beautiful perfume waft through the house.

This is a vary rare photo. The gorgeous little grey cat was a stray who adopted us and it took many years before I could get near her and pat her. Alot of patience and cat treats were required. Here she is with the 'love of her life' Tigger.

She is still very shy and usually sleeps on a dining chair underneath the table, but I placed her on the ottoman and she was very happy to curl up by her mate and even let me take a couple of snaps.

Not bad being a cat, you get to sleep alot, play eat fish and curl up in front of the heater. Life could be worse.

I hope you all had a good weekend and I hope that the week ahead holds some time for you to be creative and enjoy the beauty around you.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by and saying 'hi'

Claire X

When the Red Red Robin goes Bob Bob Bobbin along.

There's a whole lot of Sweet Birdy Love going on here at the moment.

As promised here is the gorgeous little fella I have been waiting for.
He's had a long journey from the UK, but made it safe and sounds thanks to his friend and constant companion Batman.

He is the work of talented textile, artiste, Karen at http://www.mimiloveforever.blogspot.com/.

Take a little trip over to her blog, she always has me in stitches (no pun intended!) and her work is amazing. Make sure you have a peek in her etsy shop too.
That's where I found this little fella and I actually gasped with delight when I spied him. I LOVE Robins and as winter is on it's way so are the Robins, yippee.

As is my way I 'ummed and aahed' for a couple of days before deciding I really couldn't live without him. During that time he sat there waiting patiently, knowing that eventually I would come to my senses and realise he needed to be living "Downunder".

Karens work is quite detailed, Batman and all the words are embroidered in a very fine cotton. She must have super human eyesight or a great magnifying glass! Click on the photo to enlarge and see all the detail.

Anyway, Mr. Robin has settled in nicely here at the Sweet Birdy Love household.
Two furry felines are oblivious to his presence, which is just how it should be!!

Another purchase I made recently was this sweet little brooch I spied whilst window shopping in town one evening.

As I needed to be in town again the next day, I just happened to pop into the same shop and purchase it.

I am a brooch kinda gal, particularly with winter coming. I mean to say just about everything you wear has either a collar, lapel or somewhere to put a sweet little brooch!!

This one belonged to my mum and I remember seeing it in her jewellery box when I was a child but I never paid any attention to it.

After she passed away, I decided it needed to live with me and you can guarantee that every time I wear it, someone will compliment me on it. I'm so glad I kept it as it's a lovely reminder of her.

Unfortunately, my camera wasn't co-operating so that photo is a little out of focus

Another out of focus shot, think I might have to spend some time reading the manual for my camera!!

This little beauty I bought at the Rose Street Market in Fitzroy, last time I was in Melbourne.

I love owls and had a bit of trouble deciding as there were quite a few owl brooches for sale.

I figured this was good value two owls for the price of one, aren't they sweet

A little bit of sewing has taken place today.

This is a little softie I made for a friends new baby.

Recycled jumper, crochet, free hand machine embroidery and voila.

It's going to be winging it's way to New York on Wednesday, tucked safely into someones suitcase.

Just had to capture this view as I stepped out of my front door last week, the colours were so striking.


And this is making me smile too, a full wood box and a barrow load of kindling collected from the paddock.

So I can sit by the fire nice and cosy and wait for those Red Red Robins to come Bob Bob Bobbin along!!

Hope you all had a good weekend , and found some time to be creative.

From my little corner of the globe , till next time

Claire X

P.S. The handsome little chap at the top of my post is a Red Robin, the Robins that visit in my little corner are called Flame Robins. There are a lot of different varieties in Australia, some are even yellow!! Flame Robins are insect eaters, I usually have only one or two males visit over winter. That's why I get such a thrill when I see them sitting on the fence.

When I was a child there seemed to be alot more around and the winters seemed colder too!!They leave the Alpine/mountains in winter and head down to the lowland where it is warmer.

If you would like some more info. just google - Robins Australia - and you will be able to find out alot more about these colourful little chaps.

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.

Taking time out to enjoy Autumn

A gorgeous carpet of leaves underneath this lovely rustic, timber seat and on top a leafy cushion. If I had some time up my sleeve, I would have enjoyed sitting there with my crochet, maybe another day.

The gorgeous Manchurian Pear at the top of my driveway. Click on the photo to enlarge and really enjoy the beautiful colours. There is a carpet of leaves beneath it and in Spring, Paperwhite Jonquils surround the base of the trunk.

The gorgeous buttery, goldeness of this tree is just stunning. Unfortunately, my photos don't do it justice. Believe me, it was just glowing in the sunshine and in the backgrownd a row of Liquid Ambers are slowly changing colour. In a week or two they will be a riot of beautiful reds, golds and amber.

I found this leaf on the ground on Sunday morning whilst at the market and was quite taken with the decaying process. Not sure if it is due to some little critters munching on it, but I loved the shadow it made. A little bit awkward trying to hold the camera and take the photo with one hand whilst trying to get the right angle for the shadow!

No crafty photos for this post, I think the beauty of the creation around me is far more enjoyable. I love Autumn and all that it brings. Today we had 29 degrees and the weather report said on Tuesday just 3 days away the temperature will be dropping down to 15 degrees. That will definitely be time to light the wood heater.

Just as well my hubby ordered a load of wood, which was delivered today. I was unaware that he had ordered it but pleasantly surprised when it arrived. Unfortunately, our delivery man drove over something sharp in the grass and with a hiss and splutter the air rushed out of the tyre on his trailer. Just as well he was prepared but this was his second flat tyre for the day, bet he's glad it's Friday.

Well, wherever you are, I do hope you have had a good week and that the weekend ahead will be enjoyable. Don't forget to take some time out to enjoy the beauty around you .

From my corner of the globe to yours,

Till next time,

Claire X

A mixed bag of goodies

Guess what turned up in my letterbox last Friday?
Was I excited?
What do you think?
Questions, questions, questions!

Tucked into a 'straw nest" was my pincushion from the lovely Amanda of www.eco-possum.blogspot.com, who also happens to be a chook lover.
Hidden in the straw was a yummy Kinder Surprise egg and a little container of pins with bows on the end of them and some buttons. Thankyou Amanda, I just love it.



Here she is. Amanda has made her completely from recycled fabric and thread. The wings have a beautiful cross stitch picture on them. The stitches are so tiny, I would have gone crossed eyed trying to do them. One wing has a bird on it and the other wing (pictured above) has a flower on it, beautiful embroidery.

Just look at those teeny tiny stitches.
The swap has been alot of fun and thanks Kate for all the work in organizing it.
One problem - I don't think I can bear to put a pin in my beautiful pincushion!

I would love to have a flock of these girls if they all laid chocolate eggs

Market day today, the trees are putting on their Autumn colours and are just beautiful. The weather was perfect for the market and people came and went all morning.

This photo is taken looking up the street, just after everyone had set up.

Also at the market today were Skye Flamme and her partner Chris, from Bird and Blossom Skye sells lots of wonderful things, toys, retro clothing, jewellery ,cards all sorts of lovely goodies.

She doesn't have a blog (yet) but does sell vintage and retro gear on ebay if you want to have a look.

Here is the latest, creation, finished last night, while I watched a very old episode of Midsomer Murder, which I had seen twice before!! I just love the scenery so will watch any episode.

The flowers were cut from the one jumper and I wouldn't have thought to put these colours together, but they have turned out really well and I was very happy with the final product. It's not until you add the stitching that it all comes together and it can be hard to visualise the end result, so it's always a bit of a gamble. But this one has paid off.

I decided to keep the other side simple and just embroider the design. The saying reads " A single rose can be my garden. A single friend my world'

The lovely Ella who has been after a cosy for some time, turned up just after I had set up my stall and snapped this up quick smart.

She got a bit teary when she read the little saying, obviously it touched her, so I was happy that she was happy.

So it's off to it's new home and I am sure she will be boiling the kettle and warming the pot ASAP as she puts this little number to work.

Here is my stall, (click on the photo to enlarge) the tea cosy is in the back RH corner behind a few others, which are looking for homes as well.

I had a good morning and there was less to pack up which is always a good sign, so more sewing required during the week.Don't get me wrong , I'm not complaining at all!

The last major event of the week, No1 son had his hair trimmed.

It's been over 2 years since he set foot in a hair dressers, but decided he needed a trim to get rid of all those pesky split ends.

I made the appointment and I had some rope handy just in case I needed to tie him to the chair!

Fortunately it wasn't needed, the hair was trimmed and looked much neater afterwards.

I think the look on the face says it all - "how much longer do I have to sit here?"

You could almost smell the fear!!

Is it a nightmare, am I really sitting in the hair dressers?!!

Of course I couldn't miss this photo opportunity as it is one for the records as they say.

What would a post be without a 'garden' snap, last week the butterflies, were invading my Zinnias in the nicest way possible. I couldn't believe how many there were, so I had to race inside and grab the camera. The plants have really put on a show and are about a metre or so high. Still putting on plenty of flowers, but they are getting smaller as the season comes to an end. It's certainly going to leave a huge hole in the garden when I have to pull them out.

Well, I hope you have all had an enjoyable weekend and all the best for a creative, inspiring, rewarding week ahead.

Till next time,

Claire X

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

Finally a photo of the pincusion I made for the challenge that Kate over at http://www.foxslane.blogspot.com/ organised. Thanks for all the work you put into it Kate .

This is my first swap and it was alot of fun, although having a few things on the go, time slipped away, but I managed to pop it into the letterbox a couple of days before the deadline and it has arrived at http://www.samssewingroom.blogspot.com/ safe and sound. Phew!!
My 'Camp David' roses have been putting on a wonderful Autumn display and I have being picking bunch after bunch of them to bring inside. They have a beautiful oldfashioned rose perfume, and we all need to take time out and smell the roses don't we?

This little beauty popped it's head up recently. I didn't think I was going to get any Dahlias flowering this season and this one is very late, but the tubers have been slightly neglected, so this was a lovely surprise. More so because it came from my late mums garden.

A little bit of tea cosy sewing taking place. People are stopping me in town and asking when they are going to be available so the pressure is on to get creating. "Oh, what a chore!!"

"What does washing have to do with a tea cosy?" you ask
Well, I would rather sit down and have a cuppa any day than hang out the washing, wouldn't you?

There has been alot of sewing taking place this week , due to a market on the weekend which I had completely forgotten about. Never mind, I always have plenty of stock on hand but like to make some new bits and pieces and keep my stall looking fresh and interesting.
Crochet hook rolls seem to be the flavour of the month and with Mothers Day just over the horizon, I know there are lots of mums out there who could do with one of these rolls to keep their hooks together. I love my crochet hook roll, don't know why I didn't make one a long time ago!!
More photos next post as Mr G. and his computer expertise is away for the weekend and I need a little bit of help sorting a couple of things out.

Till then, take care, enjoy the weekend and the lovely weather we are having at the moment.

Claire X

My corner of the globe and a little crochet to boot!!

I have been inspired by Fi's crocheted coathanger covers over at http://www.marmaladerose.blogspot.com, she has just posted a tutorial on how to make them. In the mean time I decided to have a little "play" with some wadding, a woollen blanket and of course some lovely crochet cotton. This is as far as I have gotten and I am quite happy with the result. I must admit it was a bit of a fiddle crocheting the shell edge as I had the coathanger inside the cover. Have picked up a hint or two from Fi's tutorial and the next cover will be made quite differently.

I will crochet a small bouquet of flowers to put at the base of the hook, that's tonight's little task sorry no pics yet.
Some wonky stitches going on so perhaps best not to look too closely !!

I thought I would like to show you our driveway which is lined with Canadian Maples -October Glory. They started changing way back in January, ever so slowly. This year they seem to be taking their time which is fine by me as it is well and truly worth the wait.

They start off a very dark red and change to a bright scarlet, which is just stunning. I love this time of year, hopefully we don't get too many storms and the 'colour spectacular ' lasts for quite a few weeks.

The above photo was taken standing out on the road ,looking down our driveway, there are about 10 trees all up.

The Zinnias are still putting on a wonderful display, some of the flowers are a little smaller, but the colours are as vivid and vibrant as ever.

I actually planted them in the vegie garden as it was the only space available, I can see a few silverbeet leaves to the left of the photo, which make a lovely contrast in colour.

As I wandered around the garden with my camera I thought I would take a snap of this gentleman. He has been a fixture under the Wisteria walk for a few years. I did a mosaic course some time back and really enjoyed it. I went on to make a few more stepping stones and they are placed in the gravel walk way leading to my chook house.

You see the fox is chasing the rooster, handsome devil that he is and ..............

The rooster is chasing the hen. Thankfully none of them have actually caught up with their victim!!

This little lady was the very first mosaic piece I made, so you will have to forgive her slightly unusual appearance. The fact that she doesn't appear to have any feet is because she is standing in some lovely , long , lush grass!!

When we got a dog some years ago, I had intended to do a mosaic stepping stone with him in it and he would then be chasing the fox, but sadly he passed away and I think my mosaic -ing days are behind me now. Give me a crochet hook or plug in the sewing machine and I am in my element.



I hope you have all had a lovley break over Easter and enjoyed your time with family and friends.

Make sure you give those people you love an extra special hug , you never know what's around the corner. One family in our communtiy no longer have a father and husband and the sadness touches everyone whether you knew him or not.

Sorry to end on such a sad note, but it's times like this that make you stop and take a look at life and re-evaluate things.

From my corner of the globe to yours, take care and a quote from my favourite James Taylor song "Shower the people you love with love" (I can't find his CD to check whether he actually wrote the song ,but the words are great anyway!!)

Till next time,

Claire X