My beaded bird

I thought you might like to look at my entry into the EXOTICA exhibition being hosted by the ATASDA Assoc. This exhibition is being shown all over Australia at the quilt shows being hosted at all major capital cities. It is the first time I have done this type of exhibiting and I have to say I was very excited.
My girlfriend and I went to Darling Harbour last Wednesday to have a look at the exhibit and it blew us away. The effort the girls go to, to show our work is amazing.
Some of my students where there as well and said they enjoyed the display of everyones work.
Mine is a beaded piece using silk as the base. He is supposed to be a rare bird. The piece took on a night time feel which made him look very mysterious.
I do hope you get a chance to get along and see the exhibition.
Cheers Larna

Fabric collage

These are some pics of a fabric collage workshop I'm doing on line thru Joggles.co

The class is with Jane LaFazio and it is very interesting. It certainly is stretching & challenging my boundaries with what I usually do.

I have painted fabric and then stressed it with salt. Shiva paintstick the leaf and then tissue papered the butterfly on. I'm waiting for it to dry before I continue

A couple more photos follow with different stamping techniques etc.

It has been fun seeing the other girls work and talking on the forum pages. I haven't had any luck downloading the photos so I thought I'd put them up here.

Have a great weekend

Sorry it's been over a month since I posted. Life has been very hectic but good. I received this gift of a charm and ribbon in the post from Pat Winter a couple of weeks ago. She is a very clever lady and also very generous. I plan to have a play with making a charm myself as she has inspired me to do so. The charm arrrived on this lovely tag too.

Speeking of time I can't beleive it goes so quickly lately. Does anyone notice this too. I have been pondery this a lot and can't seem to get a handle on it. I ask myself 'Where has the time gone" "What have I done over the last 50 year"

"What have I got to show for it"

You know the drill. I guess this is a time in my life I wonder whats ahead as much as whats ahead.

My husband and I are comming up for our 30th wedding anniversary and I truely can't beleive it has been that long.

Two great kids and a life of memories and love.

I should be very grateful, and I am.

But where has the time gone.

My first jonquil

II thought you would like to see some of my birdhouses that I love to put our and about in the garden. These three hand together in one of our firewheel trees near the house.
I think they look good together when grouped. I will post more of my birdhouses as I take photos of them. Not all of them are in the garden. Some are on the verandah of the house too.
They are great little features and I love my little houses.
I'm a bit surprised they are not occupied by my little bird friends.

I was in the garden over the weekend, in the rain, doing some much needed weeding. The day was dull and cool but a lone flower, the first for this time of year, showed it's face under one of our trees near the house.

Just goes to show that when you look around sunshine is there in the most unexpected places.

I thought you might like to see some creative girls from a class we did on an evening bag day. The girls did a great job of doing their bag bases and then getting a lot of embellishing done the next day. Everyone had their own colour schemes in mind so they all looked different.
We had a lot of fun and everyone was happy with their creations.
This is a two day workshop on offer at Packing Shed Patchwork Studio.

I've been tagged

Pat thanks for the tag. I'm pretty new to this but I will follow what you have done and list 5 favourite things and 5 friends.

Favourite things
1. Crazy quilting
2. Collecting things for crazy quilting
3. Antiques
4. Friends
5. Lasagna

Great friends from blogland (I'd put Pats' name but she tagged me)
1. Sharon Chapman
2. Lilla le Vine
3. Sandy Berry
4. Karen - The Graphics Fairy
5. Lynn - The Vintage Nest

Politics is everywhere

Wow, the politics and emotion was really a combination on the live coverage of the inauguration of the new president of the USA. I have a strong feeling of hope for the rest of the planet after watching all of the festivities.
It's not only our American friends who want a good president but also the rest of the world.
Speaking of politics we had a fantastic turn out at one of our local clubs for a community meeting that myself and a couple of other friends organized. It is in relation to the rezoning of prime agricultural land and the building of high density housing into this land. The public were fantastic and we have elected a committee to tackle our local council and oppose this threat to our beautiful area.
We live in rural residential living on the edge of the Blue Mountains and a developer wants to make a lot of money at our expense.
The local people have the power to overcome this obstacle. I have faith and hope in people power.
Wow haven't I been on my soap box. I guess it's in my blood as my grandmother was a sufrajet and I am related to our first Prime Minister Barton.

Christmas holidays

In the distance you can see the wind powered turbines that generate lots of power for the town of Cowra and surrounds. It is called a wind farm. There are ten of them in the distance. Because there is no noise or pollution the site is so peaceful. On the right is the campting ground and picnic facilities. If only generating power could be this user friendly to the environment in more locations.
DH and I decided to spend and few days out west and visited a little historical town called Millthorpe, outside Cowra. We walked and took in the sites. I couldn't get over this doubled fronted building with hydrangas growing underneath the verandah. So colourful. I hope you can see the distinct and vivid colours. This little town has had quite a few movies shot there on location as it has so many buildings in tact as they were many years ago.
This photo is of my husband Don and Graham on the dingy rowing off to shore from our boat. The area we set ancore at was an Island off the Gold Coast. Very popular for day trippers. Mum and I decided to stay on the boat and organise the lunch and have a swim.


My husband and I went to the Gold Coast to visit and spend Christmas with my mum and her new husband Graham. One of those days was spent visitng Vesage, a holiday resort that is open to the public for meals and Hi tea. We decided to have Hi tea instead of lunch, plenty of food for all four of us. Little sandwiches, cakes, scones, jam & cream, tea and coffee. Just like I used to have as a little girl with my Aunty Ellie. Very special. Very civilized. I'd like to see more of these old pass times come back to slow us down and spend time with friends.

A cancer survivor & inspirational lady

I just had to get this info on my blog ASAP. My husband and I went away for a couple of days out west to Cowra, Millthorpe area to visit and enjoy the view. On our way home we came across an amazing lady Deborah De Williams on a round Australia run to raise money for breast cancer.
Deborah is a cancer survivor and has decided to spend 12 months running around our country to raise awarness and money for the cause.
Her husand is her crew and Maggie is her beautiful dog who goes along with them in their caravan, which is their home.
What an inspirational woman. We stopped and introduced ourselves and found out about Deborah by just having a chat.
They plan to be in Sydney for Australia Day so keep your eye out and please give generously. They do not as yet have a major sponsor but I hope they pick up one along the way.
Please visit her website www.runningpink.com.au and find out more about this amazing woman. Deborah also has a blog site which I will post too.