The birds & Leroy.....

I am so blessed where I live. Will you look at these two Wedge Tailed Eagles that stopped off near the house to sun themselves on the weekend. Absolutely awesome birds!!! They allowed me to get within 50 metres to take this photo (you will have to click to get a better look). I dont have a camera with a fancy lens (but I would love one...its on the list). So, this is the best I could do. We have lived on this property for nearly 21 years now and each year we have a group of eagles nest in the trees in the hill behind the house. We started with two and there are now six. It appears their offspring are happy with their parents nesting site too.

And now for a bird of another type. I have recently done a swap with Gaby of Colourful Adventures (her ATC's are truly beautiful). I am getting quite a collection of her gorgeous ATC's from a couple of swaps we have done recently. I will have to take a photo of them for you, but really you should check out her blog.... so much detail. Gaby requested a fabric ATC for our swap...I hope she likes this little fellow.

This is my latest Klimt Doll for a swap with Mieke in the Netherlands. I hope she likes this doll made especially for her. Sorry the photo is not the best, the colours are a bit washed out... and looks much better in real life. She is winging her way to the Netherlands as we speak.

And just for a bit of fun, this is one of our dogs (we have 3!!!!). This is Leroy and he is nearly two years old. He is the most beautiful and gentle soul and we love him to bits... doesnt he have the sweetest face? I took this shot of him as he waited patiently while I took photos of the eagles....and I was worried he would scare them off...He knew to sit very quiet and still.

I hope your week is bright and cheery and I will leave you with this lovely quote that I found on my sister Lee's blog recently!

"Nothing is worth more than this day."

- Johann Van Goethe -

Jacky xox

Look who arrived today !!!

I went down to the front gate this morning to check the mail and guess who was waiting for me?????? The gorgeous mrs. mizzle. To say I wasnt excited when I saw my package from Lynne was an understatement. Beautifully packaged in Lynnes very personal way....

A gorgeous butterfly card (that is sure to be part of a journal very soon), some amazing feathers artfully held together with copper wire and a safety pin. The tag Lynne made is wonderful too. I must take a photo of it to show you in my next post as you need to see the texture. What a gift mrs. mizzle is. She is already dispensing of her sage counsel and offering some good advice. Very, special. Thank you Lynne for sharing your wonderful art. At present she is residing on my bookshelf.... she tells me she loves to read in her spare time.

Love in a package from Sesga. More art goodies in the mail this week. My dear friend Sesga from Wales sent me a lovely package....check out the beautiful vintage owl brooch, the scrummy fabrics and beautiful little key ring. Not to mention the hand printed birds on the silk... the birthday fairy was good to me.

AND a beautiful book from the talented Nic Hohn, sharing her love around. This is the back cover, but I just love it (show you the front another time...some of my photos didnt turn out too well this time).

Each day I open it on a different page. This was my page for today, beautiful sentiment. Thank you Nic...just perfect.

Dont you just love this owl??? On Sunday my sister Lee and I went to a lino cut and print making demonstration by the talented Helen Timbury (who I am pleased to say lives locally). Now, I would love to say this was my lino cut, but that would be a fib.... Helen generously let us all have a play at making prints with her lino cuts. I just adored this owl.

and this beetle

and this bird.

Lee and I (and maybe Dot) are going to take a class with Helen in August to learn printmaking techniques.... really looking forward to that.

Sorry if I have been out of touch this past week, but computer problems hit our household. We were without our trusty computer for nearly six days..... back on track again now and will try and get to visit some blogs again .... I have been having withdrawals.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and you have a week filled with happiness.

Jacky xox

Plenty of stitching ....

I have been doing plenty of stitching these past couple of weeks. I am involved in another fabric book Round Robin with Dot, Linda and Sesga. Each month we make a page for each others book. I love working with fabric and really enjoy stitching. This week my book went to Dot for her page to be added to my book. I am looking forward to seeing what Dot creates for my book...she is the Queen of Embellishing. My book all finished and ready to be packaged off to Dot. The cover and a glimpse of some of the internal pages.

Inside the front cover (I love this page with its random strips and stitching).

Some Kaffe Fassett flowers adorn the first page. I did many a stitch on this page. Click to have a closer look.

Back of the KF flower page. Lots of stitching again and some KF circles for good measure.

Inside the back page a little pocket for any notes the girls want to leave me.

After looking back at these pages I have noticed that there is a bit of a floral/garden theme coming through in the pages. Initially I had started with a blue/green theme.... I dont know what happened, but thats half the fun, seeing what evolves.

I have started my knit up for Dneese ( Grrl&Dog).... lots of fun this freeform knitting. Might have a pic. of that next week too. Check out Grrl's blog to see what she is up to.

Bye for now and have a happy week .....

Jacky xox

Luscious felt ....

As part of my birthday present this year my art buddy Dot booked her and I into a felting class with Elizabeth Armstrong.... what a fabulous day we had. When we entered Elizabeths studio it was like walking into Aladdins Cave... lucsious fabrics, threads, fibres... a riot of colour. I was in seventh Heaven. Her studio is such a happy and colourful environment. My camera card was full so couldnt take many photos but my dear friend Dot said I could use some of hers for my post. (thanks Dot!!!) Elizabeths beautiful studio were we had our workshop.

Layering before welt felting.

The finished felt collage after welt felting.

What a wonderful experience .... I loved all the layering of beautiful colours rovings, gorgeous fabrics, silk threads, soy threads and much, much more. But.... boy were my arms sore after the class. The rolling...... 900 times!!!! But once you see the finished piece, it is all worth it.

Felted Flowers.

Mmmmm... these leave a little to be desired. I obviously need to practice these as they are rather tatty looking (look like they've been out in a storm!!!)

Cecille.

As part of my birthday gift Dot had commissioned one of Elizabeths handmade felted dolls...isnt she gorgeous. Such beautiful colours and sooo lovely to hold. Thought I should share her with you all.

Also for my birthday my sister Lee and another girlfriend of ours, Jen, had lunch at Donovans down by St. Kilda Beach. Perfect day, perfect food, best friends ...just the best day. After a most delicious lunch we took a walk down by St. Kilda Esplanade.

Street art in St. Kilda dont you just love this owl!!!





Entrance to Luna Park at St. Kilda. Brings back lots of childhood memories for me of many family trips to this Fun Park.

WIP Journal for friend. Have since bound the spiral part with fabric.

And this beautiful Kaffe Fassett Pencil roll made for me by one of my lovely patchwork girlfriends.... One of my favourite KF fabrics and about to be filled with my Inktense pencils. Thank you Coral.

This week I have been working on fabric pages again. Will have pics to show you soon (thought this post was quite full enough).

Take care and have a wonderful week of creativity.

Jacky xox