Birthday girls......

I made this little needle case for my sister Lee,   part of her birthday present.  I used a treasured piece of a japanese fabric (I only had a small piece).  Also some of my indigo dyed fabric for the inner lining from a fun day of dyeing with Nat.  Lovingly stitched with rows of Kantha.  I am encouraging my sister to begin stitching/sewing, so I thought this little gift might be well received....  I am happy to say she loved it.

Tied with silk and a pearl button.

Some wool flannel for her needles.  The little scissor pouch made from fabric gifted to me by Patsy.

Ro and Patsy enjoying the sunshine.

And there were more birthday celebrations.  Ro's birthdayis in April.  We .... Patsy, Dot and I all celebrated  with a beautiful lunch at Ro's ..... there was gorgeous Autumn sunshine, perfect for a walk around Ro's lush garden.

 The gorgeous and vivacious Patsy with some beautiful roses from Ro's garden.

A beautiful bunch of herbs for me from Ro's garden.... it was bountiful.  We all went home with flowers and herbs and we ate fresh product from her garden for lunch....bliss!

This young kookaburra is becoming very tame and visits Ro and Steve for a little feed each day.  Of course when he spotted us out in the garden he flew in see what was going on.

Keeping an eye on us from tree in the garden.

Dot, Shirley and Kerry

We recntly had some friends over from Western Australia (they were here for the Creative Souls Art Retreat with DJ Pettit....lucky girls).  While over we showed them around Melbourne a bit...took them to our favourite haunts and eateries....Ziguzagu (of course), Seniors Art Supplies, Wondoflex, Glenferrie Rd. Button Shop etc. etc.  We did stop for lunch.  Here we are having lunch at "Treat" with three lovely dolls from a group of children in my friend Martha's class.  They have travelled to Australia from America....seeing the world.  So we took them on our shopping spree.  They might even come on holiday with me soon!

Tweedle Dum

And I"ve managed a little art.... this is an artist proof of a linocut I've been working on...playing around with handcolouring.  Getting ready for an upcoming exhibition with my art group.

Yes,  I havent blogged for quite a while,  but as you can see I have been keeping very busy...and  I will be busy for a bit longer! 

My sister Lee is taking me to Bali for ten days for my birthday this year  (our birthdays are two days apart, although I am seven years older than Lee).
It will be a special time away together...we will be searching out ikat and maybe megamendung fabrics.  Checking out all of the local arts and crafts that we can in our ten days.
This is where we are staying in Ubud,  http://www.alilahotels.com/ubud  and in Candidasa, http://www.alilahotels.com/manggis.   Soooo beautiful. 

We fly out late tomorrow,  so I will catch up when I get back (not sure if I will be able to upload photos while away...although I will have internet, so who knows).

refuse to sit

 still for

negative thinking

Jacky xox