My sewing machine still works….

Happy to report that the Bernina still goes, despite being forsaken for a Canon.  In fact I really enjoyed making these items and began to look at my stash with slitty eyes, thinking what things I could do with it – there is rather a lot, I must confess……including many fabrics that have been aging for 20 years or more.  Almost original repros so to speak.

Some simple 9 patches, made with ‘real ‘repros….as part of a joint effort of a group of friends.  They are destined for a Disappearing 9 patch quilt, that will be raffled at a Retreat in Bendigo in 2013.

Then I made this bag from that piece of patchwork mentioned a couple of posts back.  I really like this, a useful shape and size for taking needlework to meetings etc.  I knew if I waited a while, inspiration would strike!  The twisted cord is made from a bunch of lurid Procion dyed cotton threads I received in a lucky dip at the Embroiderer’s guild Christmas luncheon.  Coincidentally the colours were a perfect match.

You might notice a button in the sidebar which says Beyond Layers…….this is a 52 week course with Kim Klassen, and looks like it will be a whole lot of photo fun.  One of the first images I posted on Flickr to share with the group was this one.

I obviously hit the mark – Amazingly, to date I have had nearly 320 viewings of it on Flickr, 32 comments, it was selected for Flickr’s Flickriver Explore on 21/1/12, and there were three invitations to post it on other selective sites featuring special photos.  Who’s a happy snapper then?

A dog named Squid….

My daughter’s faithful hound…

Old Blue Clock….

Look what I found at the market today for a couple of dollars……it will be used as a prop for photos probably, or just sit on a shelf somewhere and look interesting…  Love the colour and old fashioned style – in fact I have looked online at the Westclox site, and one which gives the history of the company with images of its timepieces, and think it was made at their factory in Illinois in the 1930′s.  It does not work, but the alarm bell will still ring, and one could never sleep through it!  I think it’s great.

Thanks for the ideas for a use for that pieces of patchwork……I think I might let it mature for a while, and perhaps something clever will come to mind…..

Home Again

The dogs and I have just had a few days in Melbourne, staying with my daughter in the inner city, and we all had a great time.  I went primarily to have a mini holiday and take some photos in a different environment……….but in the end, did not shoot much at all.  A couple of her dog, but that is about it!  I did however go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner, go swimming early one morning in the rain at the famous Fitzroy swimming pool, go dog walking in the local park on another, buy a couple of pairs of shoes and some fabric, go to a couple of movies, catch up with an old friend, and see a wonderful exhibition at the Ian Potter Gallery, called Tjukurrtjanu: Origins of Western Desert Art, a selection of Aboriginal Art from the 70′s.  I was not allowed to take photos, but there are a few online at the Gallery website above.  I immediately thought of the colours obtained from natural dyes on wool and silk, and how this sort of graphic design could well suit the pieces I have dyed so far.  I really need to do something with them, rather than just enjoy the process and stockpile the results – such as these from my latest evil looking Eucalyptus and Walnut dye pot.

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This piece of lurid cotton was dyed with Procion dyes in 2010. Though I liked it, I could not decide how it might be used as I thought it was too bright.

So I cut it up into 2.5 inch squares…… rearranged it several times….

and stitched it all together again……

The true colours are more like the photo above, I like it, but I still don’t know what to do with it.  Do I really need another cloth bag??  A cushion??  Or shall I just put it back in the stash cupboard?  Suggestions welcome!!

PS.   I do wish WordPress would not put all the photos into the slideshow – the last three were not to be included, but I cannot stop it happening – Sorry for the duplication, I think I shall contact them to see what the options might be.

2012 – Post #1

Some good things have been happening for me recently through my photography – which is really good as life was a bit stressful towards the end of last year, so it is reassuring to be moving on from all that.

I sent a small gift to a new internet friend before Christmas, and in return this happened on a beach in Florida – what a great idea, I was very chuffed!  Thank you Patsye, it made my day!

This was the beach – absolutely beautiful – I would love to walk there. My favourite beach time would be in winter, and that is Florida in January!

Some of you might know I like owls, and have a small collection of owl figures…..not crass cutesy ones, but carefully chosen, well designed and with character – I might share some images when I run out of other things to post!  They live in a glass cabinet and on a bookshelf where I can enjoy them as I pass by.  My daughter also finds good looking owls on greeting or post cards wherever she might be, and sends them for no particular reason – it is always a thrill to find one in my mailbox.

Today this one arrived today.

This is a Boobook owl, painted in watercolour, pen and ink between 1790-1800, and now part of the National Gallery collections.  His feathers look so real!

This is another favourite one from a couple of years ago.  It is a Merry-go-Round card, designed to be reused by replacing the message insert and sending another time.  I like it too much to lose it in that way.

I have actually spent a day sewing, the first time in ages………more of that later when I decide what it is I’m making!

Farewell 2011………Welcome to 2012

Thank you everyone for your good wishes, and for sharing my excitement about winning the photo competition.  I still can’t quite believe it…Thanks also for being regular readers, blogging brings so much extra in the way of friendships and shared interests……it is hard to remember the times when daily use of the Internet was not part of our existence.

I would like to wish you all the very best for the New Year, may it bring health, happiness, good fortune, heaps more friends and everything you might hope for.

And it gets even Better!!

A month or so ago, I submitted a photo to Michael’s Camera Store Online site as an entry for their monthly Covershot competition.  It was this one of a butterfly, shot sitting on one of the back garden shrubs…….another macro photo with my beloved Canon.

The prize was a ticket to a workshop with Arte Wolfe in March next year in Melbourne. I had read about this well known American nature photographer coming to Australia and his lectures and workshops, thinking I might try and go to a lecture as I could not afford the nearly $400 for the workshop…….

AND I WON!!!

I have been doing a happy dance ever since I read the email this morning, and cannot wipe the grin off my face. Lucky me!  What an opportunity and chance to learn so much from such a skilled and talented photographer. ……….Did I mention I’m really pleased??

May I boast a little?

I subscribe to Australian Photography Magazine, and the first volume for next year arrived today in the mail.  Imagine my delight when I opened it up and saw this:-

I submitted this photo of Maggie to the magazine a couple of months ago, as an entry into their monthly competition – I did not win anything, but it is the first time a photo of mine has made it into print and I’m rather chuffed to say the least!

Thanks to those of you who continue to say good things about my shots, and for suggesting I should try and sell them online.  I had never thought of this, but have now followed up by doing a bit of research into those companies that sell stock photos, and how one can submit your images for sale.  I’m not convinced that one might make much money from the sort of pictures I take, but I think I might give it a go…..watch this space!

PS – A few days after this post, I received a phone call from the Publishers, to advise me that they would give me a six month extension on my subscription for the publication.  How good is that??

Christmas Eve…….

Wishing all my readers the very best for the Festive Season,
and 2012.
May it be everything you hope for.

Garden Zoo

A week or so ago I went to the Melbourne Zoo – specifically to take photographs.  I was disappointed as the place was full of long lines of chattering primary school children with their teachers, most animals were only visible through (dirty) glass, and the elephants and lions were not in their outside areas.  I took a few decent photos, but not enough to make the trip worthwhile.

In contrast my own property is full of interesting creatures, and I can always find something fill my lens.  For instance:-

This Koala was in one of my back garden trees recently, I was alerted to its presence by my dogs barking as they chased it up the tree.  I think it is a relatively young one, and in very good health.  I don’t actually see these very often, and this one did not stay long after it had a short snooze, but they do live in the surrounding forest and I have certainly heard their growling and snorts!

You have seen this bird before……….A Currawong.  There have been a pair in the garden for a while, and I sometimes feed them so they are less frightened of me than one might expect.

In the last week, they have appeared with a young one……..still fluffy although fully grown, it follows them around and squawks constantly for food.  It already has that grumpy look!

Here it is demanding to be fed a strawberry.

The parent birds are omnivorous, and obviously love berries.  Despite careful netting, the raspberries are not safe at all.

It shows no respect for a wooden bird either!

At this time of year my garden is full of young Litoria ewingi, Southern Brown Tree frogs, and a favourite place is amongst the Hydrangea which grow just outside the back door.  These were caught briefly and photographed on a flower pot of moss, which may give an idea of their size – about the size of a finger nail.  All hopped away unharmed.

And then there are the insects……more of which you can see on Fractions in Time so don’t forget to visit the photo blog.