Below is Myrtle The Marvellous Witch Of The South. I received her from Marilyn in a swap I took part in on The Craft Magazines Forum. Above is Lizzie, a doll I made for Bec in the same swap.

TEXTURES, TEXTILES AND TREASURES

The exhibition opening this afternoon was a great success. There was a Fashion Parade of some of the wearable art which was very hard to photograph with the number of people present, so I just took some pics of a few of the exhibits before too many arrived. The following was on the catalogue-
"Textures,Textiles and Treasures represents the diversity of talent within Darling Downs Spinners, Weavers, Felters and Wearable art practitioners. Spinning, weaving and hand dyeing are just a few of the skills utilised to create this exhibition."

QUILTIE SWAP

Now the recipient of this quiltie has received it, I can post a pic here. It went all the way to Di in England. Hence the chosen subject, Aussie wildflowers. I started with a crazy-pieced block and mostly free-embroidered the flowers with DMC threads and silk ribbon. I was happiest with the way the waratah in the centre turned out.

Later today or tomorrow, I will hopefully be posting some pics of our latest local Art Gallery opening, which I'm attending this afternoon.

MY LATEST BARGAINS
The first is a Roslyn fine bone china tea plate. It's # 5 in a series of 6 World Renowned Orchids of Merit. Wonder if I'll ever come across the others? I bought this from Cabarlah Country Markets for $2
The second is a small, very old, Limoges vase. Apparently It originally had a lid, but it still looks fine without it. Thirdly is a small Spode Copelands vase. These were from our local OP Shop and each of them were also only $2. I apologise for my slightly blurred pics.
Next Sunday (4th) I'm going to another of our local Rosalie Art Gallery Openings. This Exhibition will be Fibrearts, some of them wearable, and will include a fashion show. I'm really looking forward to this one as last year's was fantastic and has been the most popular of all the exhibions to date. Will take my camera and hopefully some great pics to post here.

MY NEW JOB
I thought it was about time I posted. A lot has happened here since January. I am now working as my Doctor's receptionist. Maybe that rainbow I photographed over the surgery back in August last year was my pot of gold. The job isn't full time but it's a fairly busy country practice and how convenient is it being on the property just next door? I'm really enjoying it after being out of the workforce for so long. Although it can get a little hectic at times, it's definately not boring. I find that with less time to spare now, I use it more wisely and seem to get an awful lot more done.

I was going to post pics of my latest aquisitions, but the batteries in my camera need recharging, so I'll show you the lovely quiltie I received in the mail from Kerry. This quiltie was part of a swap on Craft Magazines Online Forum. The forum was set up by Express Publications who publish Country Craft and Decorating, Handmade, Australian Country Threads, Patchwork and Stitching etc. I've been a member for several years now and have taken part in many swaps. The ladies I've met there both online, and a few in person, are the loveliest, most friendly people who all share a common bond - their love of crafting. Click on the link to the Forum in my sidebar and go check it out for yourselves.

A BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE


Don't you just love Sam's grin?
I'm very sorry that I've not posted anything for so long. Just before Christmas, I had some abdominal surgery and to tell you the truth, I'm still not feeling 100%. I feel so tired and it's taking me ages getting enough oomph to start crafting again. Our Q.C.W.A. meetings start up again on the 4th of February, so I'm hoping they'll motivate me - We'll be starting our new separate craft day this year with crewel embroidery. Looking forward to that as I find hand-embroidery very relaxing and enjoyable.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas - understandably, mine was a very quiet one.
Only last week, I joined our local Freecycle group. The group was set up for people who want to "recycle" things instead of throwing them away and everything posted must be free. I advertised a monitor and printer I no longer used which was very appreciated by a pensioner who picked it up the following day. I also received a "Steam Dream" steam cleaner in great condition and a huge pile of scrapbooking, stamping and papercraft magazines and 2 Memory Makers books on Scrapbooking. I was rapt.
Here's the link for anyone wanting to join their local group. Just type in your area and country.

Freecycle

MEMORIES OF THE PAST

I've just received a photo of a doll just like the one I had as a child. The pic came in an email from a lovely lady in the UK who identified my doll from a description I'd given her. I was made to give away all of my dolls and a lovely big teddy with growler before we emigrated to Australia back in 1969. I do think that my parents misunderstood how many of our belongings we'd be able to bring and I guess that toys weren't as important as many other items. As it turned out, we actually could have brought nearly everything but a few larger furniture pieces. This photo is the next best thing to having the doll as it brings back many memories. By the way the doll is a Pedigree Pretty Peepers made in 1957. It had jointed legs and a button on its stomach that when pressed would make the doll's eyes turn to the right, then with each successive press, to the left and then the eyes would change from blue to brown

I've also posted a pic of a lovely depression glass rose bowl of my Mother's. It is now missing it's matching glass frog, which would have been about 2 inches high and across. It was broken before I inherited it. If anyone knows where I might find a replacement, I would be most grateful.

These Apostlebirds (Struthidea Cinerea) would really have to be one of the most intelligent of Aussie birds. Very cheeky too! I took these pics this morning, and by a sheer fluke managed the en flight pic. Apparently they are mudnest builders, so I may have to give them a hand with the lack of mud, as droughts can drastically upset their breeding cycle. I do know I had a flock of them here last Summer, going absolutely ape under a fine sprinkler.
Years ago, we were outside talking, and only a few feet from us, a flock of them encircled one of our cats. Well, the cat sat there just stunned, but the moment he made a slight move, they flew off. Do so wish I'd had my camera handy that day.
Another bird that plays games with the cats is the Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) We have a pair of them that nest on a spotlight on the Western side of our house.
Do hope our little fairy wrens return this year. I have noticed some honeyeaters feeding from the flowers on the aloe vera and grevilleas and also some tiny yellow finches that seem to appear at daybreak.
There are several magpies that nest here each year. Each family has it's own tree. The young left their nests several weeks ago. They never seem to worry us at all, but they're often a problem in public parks when they can be very aggressive around nesting time. Years ago my Mum was dive-bombed by them and ended up with a nasty cut on the bridge of her nose. My husband's cousin had a very tame one that visited them each day. It was an albino, having very pale brown and cream plumage. I just love listening to their songs, and that of the cicada beetles.
One of the peskiest birds would have to be the mudlark or peewee. They make such a mess with their droppings on our vehicles' side view mirrors and continually dive-bomb their reflections in our windows. All I can say is, they must have beaks of steel.LOL

Wild turnip would just have to be the scourge of the Downs this Spring. Everywhere is clothed in yellow at the present, and although I don't usually suffer from hayfever, I've been sneezing at the drop of a hat.

CREAMY ONION QUICHE
I found this recipe just the other day and I'd forgotten how good it was. Haven't made it for years.
Pastry
100g/4ozs. plain flour, 50g/2ozs. butter, cut into small pieces, 1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon ice cold water, pinch salt.
Rub butter into flour or whizz in a blender, add egg yolk and water. Mix into a dough and roll out to fit a pie or quiche plate. Chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Filling
2 tablespoons corn or olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 1/2 kg/1 lb. 1oz. onions (thinly sliced), 1 tablespoon plain flour, 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk (beaten), 150 ml/5fl. ozs.fresh cream, salt and pepper
Heat oil and butter in frying pan and gently fry onions until soft and golden. Sprinkle over the flour and cook for another 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the eggs and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Pour filling into chilled pastry case and bake in a fairly hot oven 200oC (400oF)for 20-25 minutes or until filling is just set and golden brown.

I baked one yesterday had a slice for lunch with some mixed salad. Yummy! It is quite rich, so low fat substitutions could be made. Might try it again one day and try a few variations. Maybe some salmon or chicken.

The above exhibition is now showing at our local art gallery in Goombungee until the 30th of this month. Last weekend I was lucky enough to pay a visit to see some beautiful new work by three very talented Australian Artists, Abi Thompson, Debbie Dieckmann and Marlene Page.

Abi Thompson, a Textile and Mixed Media Artist from Woodonga, crochets gorgeous bird and animal tea cosies, hats and assorted cakes and tarts. This talented artist also creates some very colourful and often amusing paintings.

Debbie Dieckmann, is a mixed media artist from Millmerran. To see more of her unique

Debbies Heart

The very talented silk artist in the above picture is Marlene Page from Fremantle. Marlene specialises in handpainted fine wool and silk. To see more of her work go to her website at Healing Circle Silks

HOW LUCKY AM I?
Look what my sister gave me recently. Her overlocker, which has only been used a few times and has just sat in a cupboard for years. It's very similar to mine which is no longer working, but this one has differential feed. It's just like new. I really appreciated it as I miss not using my old one.
I also scored a Breville breadmaker, again, as new. I have successfully used it to make some dough for pizza bases, but I think I'll have a go at some loaves of bread or rolls this week.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
This last week we've had lots of lovely rain. I'm going to start planting some more Summer vegies and hopefully there'll be no late frosts. All of my silverbeet is doing well, although it'll be a few weeks before any of it will be suitable for picking.
I took this photo one morning at about 6.45 am. The building below the rainbow is our neighbour's surgery. She runs a very successful practice from there. It's so convenient for us as we only have to go next door if we need a doctor. A pharmacy has recently opened in a small town about 12kms away and they have free delivery for filled prescriptions. Another of our farming neighbours just a little bit farther away has a dental practice, so we are quite well-serviced here.

INSPIRATION
This is the book which inspired me to thoughts of painting Australian wildflowers on the cupboard doors. There are some really beautiful designs and I've even used the book as inspiration for embroidery.
Kate Broadfoot also has some gorgeous books published.