Christmas Decoration Challenge 2010

Here are the first four Christmas decorations I made as part of a year-long challenge. There is an angel, bauble, christmas tree, and snowflake. All patterns are available on http://www.ravelry.com and is the challenge group.

ThreeSix Five Challenge January pt2

I completed the first 31 days of my 365 photography challenge. Here is the second collage for the remainder of the photos for January 2010. It's a nice feeling when I'm up-to-date.

Macro lens

I purchased a macro filter to take close ups. Whilst the quality isn't as good as a macro lens, the filter will be a good substitute until I have a great deal of spare cash. Here is my first photo taken with the filter. I have to get use to manual focussing (it's only been over 20 years since I've manually focused a camera).

ThreeSixFive Challenge January pt1

A collage of my photos this year for the 365 Challenge.

Rest in Peace

Yesterday morning we lost a true gentleman. Lindsay has been our friend for over 20 years. He enjoyed fishing, raced homing pigeons, loved retro music, and had a fantastic sense of humour. When my first child was born he would come in to hospital every day to see me (it helped he worked at the same hospital) just to tell me how much my life would change now with kids!

He had been unwell for a while with cancer but with treatment and surgery we all thought he was improving, until he suddenly passed on yesterday. My heart aches for his gorgeous partner whom I think about all the time, I know she will cope because she is a very strong person however strength doesn't take away the pain.

Lindsay, I am raising a glass of milk to you.....

Kodak Brownie

Went to a local "trash and treasure" market yesterday and purchased an old Brownie, and it was even loaded with old film! I can't wait to get some time and experiment. Meanwhile the photo has (obviously) been adjusted in Photoshop.

Cherries

Some yummy red (and white) cherries fresh from the Gisborne Cherry Farm.

Chicory Kiln

The Chicory Kiln in Bacchus Marsh (Taverner Street) Victoria has been there since its construction in 1885 and is a well known landmark for local artists. In its heyday the chicory roots were roasted before being ground and added to coffee.

Here are two samples of the same photograph I took. The first is a standard DSLR

and here it is as a polaroid using the FANTASTIC polaroid software at
http://www.poladroid.net/. Note the vivid, vintage colours.

Handspun Angorina

It took me two months but I finally finished spinning 100grams of the most lovely Angorino from http://ixchelbunny.blogspot.com. It is so soft and the colour is much nicer IRL; more jewel toning that in the photo.

Polaroids

Our eldest celebrated his 17th birthday a week ago, and we had our first teenage party at home. We told him he could invite around 8 friends but, Nathan's math isn't that good at the best of times, and we had around 20 at the party. It was a wonderful night, and the kids were a lot of fun. Yep, they did drink alcohol and there were two who drove their cars to our house for the party (aged 18 and 19yo) but were mature enough to leave their cars overnight and come back the next day to pick them up. Obviously we live in a very safe area, when one of the boys returned the next day he discovered his car keys in the ignition with the car doors unlocked!

I don't have any photos of the night to share due to privacy reasons, however today I got a new photography software program which transfers today's photographs to the vintage polaroid instamatic type. Here is a photo of car keys in the ignition (my linking connection with the party story and new software).

Whilst I love my DSLR, I just love this new program which makes the photos vintage.

Bib Necklace

After seeing Violette's amazing bib necklace, she inspired me to make one for myself. I made fabric "roses" for the necklace and added some other sparkly embellishments. All in all, it is a quick project whereby anything goes.

To have a look at Violette's blog please visit http://www.violettesfolkart.com/blog.html

TIAS 1

I am participating in Jane's TIAS 2010 (Tat It and See) game http://tatitandsee.blogspot.com/. Those participating just received their first clue and to my amazement I completed it! This is my first real attempt at split rings too. Thank you Jane, I think this will be fun.

(As a side issue, I now just need to sort out single shuttle split rings)

2009 CAL Afghan

I did it. I completed the 2009 CAL Afghan today by piecing it together! Well within target.

I found this project to be such a huge commitment, that I will not e participate this year but recommence with the 2011 CAL.

Anyhow, I have no idea what I will now do with this but for the moment it will sit in the cupboard alongside the other blankets.

Creativity 2010

As a participant in Creative Every Day 2010, this month's challenge is "Body" and I have busily made a couple of things this month (even though we are only at day four of January). I enjoy having themes to work to (although optional) because it makes me think beyond my comfort zone.

Firstly, Alice Cullen (Twilight) fingerless mittens knitted in the most glorious shades of blues and yellows. The pattern is by Nancy Fry and it took only one day to knit.

Secondly, here is a lace cowl knitted in the most lovely fibre IRL (Merino/Seacell), which can also be worn as a wind shelter aka the photo.Lastly, here is a journal entry on dedicating more time to health, learning and nuturing.