A winter or summer wedding anniversary, depending on where you are ...

Another close relationship - our dog and our rabbit!  Just before I took this shot, they'd been lying down facing each other, enjoying each other's company ... ahh ... really they are the best of friends ...

Yesterday was our 17th wedding anniversary - how fast the time has flown!  We still remember the day as if it was yesterday, a little civil ceremony at the town hall on the Isle of Wight, a very small wedding party, surrounded by friends and family, some who had travelled from the other side of the world to be there.  One of my friends has remembered every single anniversary and always sends us a card - email these days, very lovely to watch and I'm always surprised to receive it!  But it makes me smile and I send her lots of love back, although I don't always tell her this.  But thank you my dearest birthday buddy for your best wishes, and also for being there on the big day and making the most delicious, never to be forgotten, bestest chocolate wedding cake in the world :)  xxxxx

We didn't do too much yesterday, just relaxed in the garden, and because it's the middle of winter here, we sat and ate our dinner with the rest of the family outside in the garden by our warm and cosy brazier.   Actually it probably was the same temperature as our UK June wedding - British summers being what they are :)

More hexies

Here's what I'm working on at the moment - a knitting bag from the Cath Kidston book 'Sew'.  All the hexies are cut from remnants of vintage fabrics.  Some really 'groovy' patterns happening here!

Winter's arrived, which I'm glad about, but not so much the side effect of sinus problems.  It's making me decidedly grumpy, a problem made to look worse by the fact I have to squint when looking at people because my poor head hurts :(  Someone told me I have to give up dairy products as they exacerbate sinus issues, but that would mean giving up cheese and yogurt and I don't know if I can do that.  So I'll just have to stay looking grumpy for a while longer until the pain gets bad enough that I think the sacrifice is worth it!  Does anyone out there have any remedies for relieving sinus pain? 

I'll keep on sewing the hexies, pretty sure they can make anything feel better ...

A week of veritable vegetable (and fruit) colour ....

I've been really busy in the kitchen lately, making yummy things.  A friend of mine had a problem with an avalanche of lemons on her kitchen workbench, so I relieved her of some of her burden and took some of them home ...

The cordial was pink when finished - thanks to the addition of a dozen raspberries ... nice ...

So, I've made lemon butter (or curd if you're like me and grew up in the UK), several jars of marmalade, as well as some ginger and lemon cordial.  I got really carried away, and made some spiced mixed fruit cordial at the same time.  You know how it goes, one massive pot boiling away some sticky sugary syrup, may as well have two on the go ...

Berries, cinnamon and citrus ... scrumptious

Oooops, lost my train of thought now - dad phoned just as I was typing this to ask why I hadn't blogged for so long and we ended up having a really good chat.  Great reason for losing one's ideas!  Also feeling quite virtuous that I was actually blogging as dad phoned up - maybe there's truth in the telepathy theory?

Cooked, grated beetroot waiting to be made into chocolate and beetroot brownies - from a recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - I've followed him since he first started out you know ...

Anyway, just wanted to say I'm still around, still enjoying making stuff and getting a kick out of seeing the colours I could make with food.  All natural and lovely.

You might also be interested to know that I've listed some more stock on my Made-it store - including some art works and a spirit doll.  There will be more added very soon.  You can visit my store by clicking on the button in the sidebar.

Stay tuned for more random thoughts ...

Quilts galore ...

hexagon heaven

I was lucky enough to visit the Perth Craft and Quilt Fair this week, and the entry fee of $16 was well worth it to discover the treasures hidden within the quilt exhibition at the end of the endless rows of shops and stalls.  I took a few pics to share with you, so you can 'oooh' and 'ahhh' over them too :)

This quilt particularly struck me, it's about a theme close to my heart and depicts the journey through depression to recovery.  As a work of art it's absolutely beautiful, but it also has a very powerful message - what a wonderful way to express it (sorry I didn't take a note of the quilter).  But isn't it amazing?

detail - 'free'

the whole journey (slightly cropped when edited for this post)

detail - 'depression'

No self-respecting quilt expo would be complete without hexagons, look at this variation on the theme:

If anyone does know the name of any of the artist's whose work I've photographed please let me know, I'd love to give them credit.  There was so much to see at the show, beautiful work, a myriad of expressions, wonderful!  I feel very inspired.

To finish where I began,

Ironing - the new meditation

An old line drawing of mine ... found amongst lots of papers when decluttering recently ...

Today I ironed my way back to sanity.  My head is a bit jumbled, lots of stuff happening, and unfortunately not a lot of it related to creativity.  I feel like my lifeline has been cut!  But I do have plans to fix it.  And ironing is part of that - it gives you plenty of time to just be ... to think about not much ... to derive a strange kind of pleasure at making something crumpled into something more orderly and flat ... to achieve something ... to give my restless mind some peace ... 3 hours of ironing can do all that ... guess what I'll be doing tomorrow?

My very talented daughter

When I looked at HB's pictures she created as a small child, I just knew she was going to be an artistic one!  She used to draw beautiful, kooky characters - purple mermaids and curly haired ladies in eclectic fashions :)  Yesterday she unveiled this lovely digital artwork, just for me, for Mother's Day.

Thank you gorgeous girl, I feel very honoured and very proud (smug) that I was so right about your creative gift!  Thank you.  Love you.  xx

Happy Mother's Day!!

Mother's Day tart - and I don't mean me!

Hoping that all the mums around the world have been spoilt on Mother's Day - mine has been a little different, starting with picking up HB from an 18th birthday party sleepover (not great timing girls!); having a walk in the park with friends and our dogs, and having dinner cooked for me.  Little Man did come into our room this morning with presents carefully chosen from the Mother's Day stall at school and a big hug.  Then he went off and made Marmite on toast, and brought it in on a silver tray :)

The treat to myself and the family was the lemon tart I made for dessert - we all had second helpings whilst Duncan was on the phone.  I can't actually move from this chair now, which is ok by me as the fire is roaring and I'm all toasty warm.  Might have a sleep when I finish this ... lovely xxxxx