Wot U Lookin At?

Someone's got attitude, they're not happy !!

They're sad, so I don't blame them for looking a little upset.

This little fella sprung from a bag of felted woollen jumpers and a recycled blanket. He's soft and snuggly and still needs to be sewn up on one side, but I was in a hurry to take a photo!

Click on the photo to enlarge, the small sign on the front reads ' I need a hug" turn him over and on the back, I have sewn "Hugs make my world go round, a frown is a smile turned upside down"

Some new cards I have been working on. This is a different direction for me and I must say I am loving every minute of it. Old book pages, colored paper and pen, easy, simple, effective.

I have all my bits and pieces on a tray which I can place on my lap and sit and watch TV in the evening whilst I create. Not too much mess to clean up and I am being productive whilst being entertained!!

I would love to know what you think of them - positive comments or otherwise, all welcome. The big test will be at my market stall next weekend.

You guessed it there was a birthday in the 'Sweet Birdy Love ' household last week.

This little 'beesting' was all I needed to pop a candle in have Mr. G. sing 'Happy Birthday' to me ( at double speed as he's tone deaf!!!) and then cut in half and have for dessert with a cuppa, delish.

I had a lovely day and wasn't overly perturbed about this being my last birthday in my ........'s.

Next year may be an entirely different story!

The cards piled up on the table as the week wore by and I was determined not to open any of them until the appointed day.

The envelope at the back with the huuuuuge stamp on it has come all the way from my sister in the UK and I knew along with the card would be a lovely hand written letter, something worth waiting a few days for.

This lovely envelope and picture is from a very talented friend from church - Meralin. She started drawing a picture which didn't turn out quite the way she intended so she cut it up and stuck part of it on the back of the envelope and some on the front.

I can tell you I was very anxious to see what was inside the envelope after hearing this little story.

I can imagine this picture took quite some time, but to then cut it up.....

Here is the card - it's inspired by Angie Lewin a very talented lady who carves and prints wonderful pictures.

The more I look the more detail I see, it is a work of art in itself and I shall put it in a frame.

Meralin not only draws, paints, sews, she is a wonderful gardener and cook. She made me a stunning hazlenut and chocolate cake for afternoon tea at church. It had 8 eggs and 750gm of chocolate in it, absolutely delicious, she just had the date wrong and was a week early, we laughed and enjoyed it just the same.

My corner of the globe as the last of the suns rays disappear from the mountain tops.

Aren't the colours wonderful?

Wherever you look there is inspiration. Don't look to hard at the garden you might see where the chooks have been kicking the mulch about!!

There's never alot happening in the garden in Winter, but one favourite is this shrub it's called -Chimonanthus Praecox commonly knows as Wintersweet. It has pale lemon coloured flowers which don't stand out that much, but it has the most beautiful scent and I look forward to it flowering. I love to cut bunches of it and bring it inside and let the perfume waft through the room. Fortunately, the scent doesn't make me sneeze!

The girls doing a spot of gardening. That little Camellia in the background has had a bit of a tough trot with the drought and probably not being in the best position in the garden. But this year it put on a burst of flowers and I didn't have the heart to nip them out. It's so pretty, I shall have to give it some extra TLC for the effort.

Two new arrivals at 'Cluckingham Palace'. These girls are Barnevelders and have beautiful markings on them. As you can see there was a lovely frost and I had to smash the ice on the water bucket so they could have a drink. On cold, frosty mornings I like to make the girls porridge and give them something to warm them up. Not sure if they all appreciate it though!!

These two lovelies will lay eggs with dark brown shells with flecks on them, can't wait for the first one.

I haven't named them yet, which is unusual for me,...........any suggestions?

The same morning the cows lined up along the fence to watch the chooks eating warm porridge. I didn't have anything for them and felt a little guilty, but I think they were enjoying the suns warming rays more than anything.

Tig, always manages to find the perfect spot in the garden and sleep most of the day away.

Life's tough when you are a cat.

Well I hope wherever you are the last week has been a good one. I hope you found time to be inspired by your surroundings and be creative, whether it's with a brush and palette, pen, needle and thread , on your knees in the garden or whipping up some treat in the kitchen.

Until next time, thanks for dropping by, please take the time to leave a comment and say "hi".

From my corner of the globe to yours,

Claire X

Time is flying by........

A little visit to my favourite op shop, yielded the above treasure. It's a beautiful, fine lawn? handkerchief, with a design by Dessin Depose.
It was the design that attracted me and the lovely feel of the fabric.
I couldn't leave it there , so for 50 cents it found it's way home with me.
What am I going to do with it...... enjoy the lovely vintage/retro design
Have any of you heard of Dessin Depose?
I found another handkerchief with a different design by the same person? on Ebay. Not alot came up when I googled the name......
Can anyone solve the mystery for me?

Some little birdies waiting patiently to be put onto cards for my next market stall on the 20th of June.
"Am I getting organised ahead of time?" you ask

Surely you know me better than that by now!

It's time, I have been postponing this event, but today was D day and the Zinnias had to go.

Althought they were still valiantly flowering, albeit smaller and on thinner stems, they were still putting on a colorful show.

This is one of 3 wheelbarrow loads I took to the compost heap.

Talk about value for money....... Out of one packet of seeds, I had months of the most vivid colourful flowers in my garden. I gave away many bunches to friends, bought plenty inside the house to enjoy and they even inspired some book covers.

I made a friend of Gayle over at http://www.patchofzinnias.blogspot.com/, we shared a love of this flower and one of my notebook covers found it's way to her home on the opposite side of the globe.

As I pushed the overflowering wheelbarrow to the compost heap the bees were still following the flowers eager to extract the remaining pollen.

They are such busy little workers.

Now that Winter has arrived it is time to start using my 'Winter" mug. It's a Brambly Hedge design, I have one for each season.

I bought this mug many years ago and just love the picture. Two mice in front of a blazing fire, lovely mantle above and beams on the ceiling. Mr. Mouse is in the big comfy chair with the cute little paned window behind him and Mrs Mouse has a fresh baked pie on a plate. No doubt they are going to have a big slice for their supper.

The scene is just so English and I am sure that some you who are reading this post, could quite possibly live in such a cottage ...... only without the mice!!

I spent some time out in the garden today, raking up leaves in the orchard. Of course as soon as I let the 'girls' out, they were into those piles of leaves looking for a tasty morsel.

Then it was over to the shrubbery and mulch was flying left, right and centre!

Did I mind, no not really, it's such a lovely country scene and they enjoy a bit of freedom to roam around the garden and of course they eat a lot of pests so I didn't begrudge them their 'time out'

When my back was turned 3 of them headed for the silverbeet which they love. There was still plenty left for me!



Another photo of the Persimmon taken on my way home from town today. It has dropped all it's leaves and there is still a heap of fruit on the tree.

I couldn't get any closer for a better shot and the colour of the fruit is quite washed out in this photo, but it has taken me close to 10 years to getting around to photograph it, so I think I shall be posting a few more shots before all the fruit disappears.

I had some problems with my camera last week and couldn't sort them out. Hubby who is in the States couldn't help, so I took it into the camera shop today and one of the staff sorted it out in about 60 secs !!!

It's times like this I wish I was a bit of a techno geek, or I wish I knew where the instruction book let was!!

I hope the past week has been a good one for you and you have your instruction booklet at hand for reference if needed!!

Thanks for dropping by and saying "hi", take time to enjoy your day and the beauty that surrounds you in your corner of the globe.

Till next time,

Claire X

One Perfect Day

How would you describe your perfect day?

Well today was a perfect day for me.

I slept in till 8am, the room was dark as it was a cloudy morning. It had been raining during the night... rain on a tin roof, bliss!

Breakfast in bed ( actually I do that every morning!!) looking out at the hills swathed in low swirling cloud.

A few domestic duties to get out of the way, followed by a coffee made using the coffee machine. Yes, I think I have mastered it!! A little 'surfing' on the net to see what everyone is up to and then plug in the machine and sew to my hearts content.

Sitting inside with the wood heater going, looking out at the rain, clouds and the last of the Autumn colour, it was just wonderful, peaceful and I feel very blessed to have been able to do so.


Here is the finished Autumn tea cosy.
I lined it with a burnt orange cotton. 'twas a bit of a fiddle at first but then the brain kicked in, I thought about it for a few minutes, changed my whole plan of action and it worked out beautifully.
Will either sell it through the local gallery or on my little market stall, but at the moment I just want to look at it and enjoy the picture.

Back view - quote reads:- 'The creation of a thousand forests is one acorn ' by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I love it and when you think about it ...............

Here is another already on the go, I think I need to add another leaf or two.

The quote on the back ( sorry no photo) reads :- 'I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers' - Claude Monet.

I love tulips, I remember buying a pack of bulbs and growing them when I was a teenager, I was so proud of them.

Finally, I finished a pincushion I started a few weeks ago. I bought the button for it and then misplaced it......found it last night and finished it off, very satisfying to get another UFO off the list!!

View of the mountains through my kitchen door, taken about 11.30am.

The Wisteria has turned a lovely gold, it covers a walk way to the chook house -Cluckingham Palace. Underneath there is a beautiful golden carpet of leaves. To the right are the espalliered fruit trees and a pear is colouring up nicely. So much beauty around in Autumn, you can't help but be inspired by it.

Out through the kitchen door is a weeping cherry and it has the most beautiful range of reds, yellows and oranges.

Sometimes I wish I were a painter or a poet so I could capture the beauty around me in either a picture or with words, but all I can do is take a photo to share with you.

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to take a walk through the Botanic gardens in Albury.Something I haven't done for quite a long time. It was a beautiful sunny day and I took my camera to capture some of it's beauty.

Don't you just love the combination of dusky pink and lime green in these hydrangeas?

This is a beautiful Gingko Biloba -Maidenhair tree in the foreground. With the sun shining it was positively glowing. You can see the beautiful carpet beneath it.

In the background you can make out a Nyssa Sylvatica -Tupelo, gorgeous reds and oranges.

Love this photo, the colours, the palms in the background and the old world lamp in the foreground.

There were quite a few people making use of the gardens which was lovely to see. Families having picnics, someone having a birthday party, young couples enjoying each others company and me and my camera.

Ah, when my boys come home, guess where I am taking them?

I hope that you have been able to enjoy 'a perfect day' recently.

No matter what the season even in the middle of a drought, there is beauty! All it takes is for us to stop and take the time to look.

Inspiration is all around us hope you have been able to put pen to paper, paint to canvas or thread to fabric and create something that inspires others.

As I don't have an etsy shop if you are inspired by anything I make and would like to own it, please email me.

Thankyou for dropping by and leaving a comment, I appreciate them all and it's lovely to think that someone who lives on the other side of this globe, has taken the time read my blog and spend some time in my 'neck of the woods'

Have a wonderful week, till next time.

Claire X

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