Weekend Wanderings........

Hiya, so how is your weekend going so far?

What's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

What are you up to today"

I've had my fix of knitted mushrooms and I threw in an acorn too.... a bit fiddly, diddly but I'm pleased that what I had on my knitting needles actually looked like what was in the book......success, hehe.... 

I found these little beauties this morning. I was quite surprised to see these Fly Agaric mushrooms growing locally.  I last saw some about 35 years ago and they were growing in a pine forest..... 

There was a heavy frost here this morning and everything had an icy coating........

It was such a beautiful day, No.1 and I decided  to go for a walk down to the creek. Hubby tore himself away from the computer and joined us, something we've not done for an age.....

I could almost imagine I was in England......

The bare trees, the greenery, ivy growing up some of the trees.

I was keeping an eye out for Robins as their visits to my garden have been few and far between since the Magpie scared the last one off.......grrrr!!

I did spot 2 in a paddock, but they were out of camera shot..

We weren't the only ones enjoying the scenery,

there was someone fishing, girls out horse riding and  other locals enjoying the stunning day....

Pretty, pink flowers but it's Oxalis which is a weed and has no place growing in the bush....

A nearby farm shed...old, rambling and falling into disrepair.

The stories it could tell eh?..

Love the broken windmill in the background....

An old cart from times gone by....

Would love to know why they chose an elephant to grace their letter box?

Definitely more fun than raking them up!!

Yep, he's just one big kid.....hehe..

It's been a beautiful day, one out of the box. It's not often I have hubby and son home on a Saturday, so we spent time together relaxing. Of course there were a million and one jobs we could've or should've been doing, but there are some things which are more important...

Once home, I did get stuck into a bit of housework.....

The boys packed up the van and headed off to 'work'. It's the start of the ski season here, so No.1 had a gig up at Falls Creek ski resort.

They'll be home in the wee small hours of the morning, tired and ready to crawl into bed.

I hope you all enjoy your long weekend whatever it has in store for you......

Thanks for visiting and taking time to say 'hi',

Claire ❀❀❀

Camper Van Dreams........

Hello there, welcome to my creative space today......

Please excuse the mess, I've been a little busy.

I've been busy snipping, stitching, crocheting and having coffee with friends which is why I haven't finished this Camper Van cushion, BUT

I'm sure you'll get the picture...

Take some woollen blanketing, yarn, felt and thread...

Snip, stitch and crochet...

Use your machine and 'write' something.......

Add some polka dot fabric to make a happy string of bunting....♥♥♥

Hmmm, just realised as I looked at this pic that I need to add a little more stitchy detail to the camper van before I sew up the side seams!!

And there you almost have it, one Camper Van cushion!

Well, it will be shortly...

Before I plug the sewing machine in I'm heading over here to see what everyone else has been up to.

Thanks for popping by, so glad you could visit and 'hello' to all my new followers......

Wishing you all a creative day,

Claire ❀❀❀

Monkey Business

                Hi there, how are you all?

  Hope you had a great weekend and found some time to create, relax or celebrate the Queen's 60th Jubilee for all my UK visitors. 

It's been a particularly chilly day here, starting off with a foggy morning which I missed as I headed off to work when the family were still tucked up snug as a bug..........

I saw the full moon hanging just above the tree line, it was cloudy but not a wisp of fog to be seen.....

By the time I finished work, there was a leaden, grey sky with the wind whipping up the oak leaves in a very quiet main street.......beautiful.

 I stood there grinning like a loon, watching the swirling leaves!! 

♥♥♥♥♥

 

A little bit of monkey business has been taking place here over the weekend.

A creative brain wave had to be explored and a thrifted, grey, woollen blanket along with some felted jumper offcuts became a nice big, squishy cushion. 

I think it now makes this corner of the couch nice and cosy and perfect for a spot of hmmm......crochet!!

Before you even ask girls, I have to say no, I did not crochet the blanket.

My great auntie Ellie, made it back, way back, in the 70's. She lived in an old folks home and used all sorts of different ply yarns to make a couple of these rugs. As you can imagine they have great sentimental value, but I 'm sure she would've appreciated some of the online tutorials about joining grannies as you go......

Monkeying around....

Inspired by the Hasbro game 

'Barrel of Monkeys'

I felt a little crochet trim was needed to add a bit of granny goodness to those cheeky monkeys......

So girls, guess where I'm going to be spending some of these grey, gloomy days? yep, that's right.......

Sitting in the corner......of the couch, hehe!!

It may be cold and grey outside, but there's still a bit of life and colour in the garden.......

Gorgeous hot pink Camellias, brighten up any day.....

Peer through the leaves and what can you spy, next door?

 Stunning Liquid Ambers...... putting on the most gorgeous display.

Our Maples and Silver Birches have dropped all their leaves, but not the neighbours trees.

I took this pic last week, when it was a little warmer and the late afternoon sun, was bathing everything in a golden glow.   

  The Wintersweet (Chimonanthus Praecox)
 It's been in bloom about a month now. 

If you're not familiar with it, the flowers are quite unremarkable, but it's  perfume is beautiful.

So nice to have it wafting around the garden.

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Tig's not fazed by the cold weather he's keeping warm wearing his Winter coat.

He's doing what he does best.....nothing.

Well, the weekend is but a distant memory.

 I had a lovely catchup over Eggs Benedict and a coffee with two of my sisters on Saturday morning

There was time for some sewing and a little crocheting in amongst the housework.

Another episode of Downton Abbey on Sunday night.....love that show and here we are back into a new week.

Hope you are all well and a big 'Thanks' to all my new followers.

Thanks for popping by,

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If You Go Out In The Woods Today......

My creative space today is looking a little blue....

A couple of Bunnies in Blue have been finished and are awaiting new homes....

Being a beautiful, sunny afternoon, we wandered out to the Wild Wood for some pics........

They were warned not to touch the Fly Agaric Mushrooms and were very careful, but a little concerned about the chooks who were out on their afternoon wander!!

Back inside where it's warmer and safer!!

These little mushrooms are fun to knit and I have a feeling they may be rather addictive too.......

Who doesn't want to hug a cute little bunny all through the night?

Now that the nights are quite chilly, snuggling down under the doona has become a favourite past time......

The best way to finish the afternoon.......a cuppa and a choc cherry muffin, yum.

 I'm back home after a lovely break, it's time to get back into the crafting mode as there will be another market in June.

My sewing room is in need of a tidy up, so that will be the starting point.......

To see other people in creative mode, click here

Take Care,

Claire ❀❀❀

Creating While On Holidays

Helllooooo.......this week's creative, crafty blog post is coming to you from sunny Queensland, miles from home in chilly Victoria...

I've been on hols for a week and it's been very relaxing, but there's been plenty of craft action taking place. In fact I found a UFO whilst packing for my holiday and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to continue working on it.

I started this embroidered panel some years ago now. 

 There is an Angel for each season but this is the first to be completed, well a few more stitches are needed yet.

 They were going to be cushion panels, but I think I may frame them and hang them in my sewing room.....

I finished the Fly Agaric mushroom....it just needs to be stuffed and stitched.....

What am I going to do with it, hmmm, not sure perhaps make a couple more so it won't feel lonely..

A couple of days were spent in Byron Bay, we had beautiful weather, scenery, food and time to leave a small token of my yarn bombing affection!!

The 'wavy' pattern and colours represented:-

sky,surf,sand,sun, green lifestyle and sunburnt tourists

(Actually didn't think of this until I had made it....I really just liked the colour combos!!)

So if you are visiting Byron Bay in the not too distant future, it's on the 'tree' by the playground park above the beach.

Let me know if it's still there..... and to Alison over at 
Tweed Delights, I really didnt' need much encouragement!!

That same afternoon a storm cell formed over the mountains and I snapped this pic.......

Check out the 'sand art' on the beach.....

Lots of creative people around doing 'their thing'....

 Anyone needing a 'sunshine fix' 

Hope it does the trick ☀ ☀ ☀

Eeeeek....I just clicked DELETE instead of ENTER and the whole screen went blank, arrgh!!

All is not lost fortunately.......

One last bit of creativity.....this mornings breakfast for my chauffeur, hehe...

Waffles were ordered with blueberries and caramelised banana and vanilla cream.

Check out the strawberry Mohawk....creative or what?...yummmmm

Lots more creative people over here for you to visit and be inspired by..

Thanks for coming over to say 'hi' and I appreciate all the lovely comments on my Hedgehog brooch post....

Take care,

Claire ❀❀❀

The 3 S's...Sun, Sand, Surf.....oops and Stitching

Hello everyone, thanks for coming over to visit.....

No.1 and I are away at the moment, enjoying some time in warmer climes....

Byron Bay to be precise.

It's a beautiful spot, the weather at this time of the year is just 'perfick' no humidity, yeeeeees!!

Some stitchy time was had in the park by the beach this afternoon.
 No. 1 playing some tunes and me knitting  this Fly Agaric toadstool from my new book.......
It was a little bit tricky dicky and some fudging took place but I am making headway...

The day started off the best way with eggs Benedict for my chauffeur hehe.....

He needs to keep up his energy for the sightseeing tour...

Shall we take a little wander around the town?


Some interesting street art.....

I did notice there was no yarn bombing around .

Hmmm, just wondering if I have time to leave a little yarny goodness on a palm tree or some such?....

A late blooming Hibiscus.
 A colorful reminder of Summer's beauty...

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Some words of wisdom from Pooh....

He's one smart bear 

♥♥♥

Byron Bay is a mecca for back packing tourists and bikes are an easy way to get around town.

Can't beat a turquoise treadly with a wicker basket....

After lunch our sightseeing tour took us to Bangalow.

A lovely little town up in the hills....

I spied one 4 legged local waiting patiently for his 2 legged mate.....

I wonder what he was thinking?

Heading back down to Lennox Head for a wander along the beach, keeping an eye out for sea glass.......

No sea glass to be found this time but a rather colourful Starfish..


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I have a few more days here before I head South to the colder weather. I'm making the most of it and catching up on my Vitamin D intake,enjoying the change of scenery along with walks on the beach...

I'd like to say a big thankyou for all the lovely comments on my last post about my Hedgie Brooch......must say I haven't seen too many broochie kinda gals up this way either...

Hope your week has gotten off to a good start, thanks for popping by and a warm welcome to all my new Followers...

Take Care,

Claire ♥♥

Stamp It, Stitch It, Wear It ♥♥

Hello, thanks for coming over for a visit.....

I whipped up a little Hedgie brooch today and wanted to share him with you as I do love a  brooch or two or three or four or five or more!! 

I spied a set of fab little Woodland stamps over at Modes website and resistance was futile, so I just gave in and bought them......

Well, it was a Mother's Day gift to myself.......

♥♥♥♥

Stamp on some calico and add some some hand stitching here and there.

I'm sticking with the Bluebell theme ❀❀❀

I fused it onto some recycled blanketing and then added the

free motion embroidery.

 I felt it needed a bit more body, so fused it again to another piece of woollen fabric

Stitched around the border once more to add definition and texture then....

Added a brooch back and ........

Voila.......it's ready to wear.


Apologies for the lack of a good close up, my little camera, doesn't like taking them, hmmm!

A simple and fun little project. 

I plan to use a few more of these stamps and turn them into brooches.

Maybe I'll do a series of Woodland brooches.......


I'm joining in with lots of other crafty people over here.


Hope you are all having a crafty & creative week.


Now I must go and finish packing my case as my flight leaves in a couple of hours......
.
Lookout Queensland, there's a lady with a Hedgehog brooch on her cardi coming to visit, hehe.


Take Care,


Claire ❀❀❀