Pattern Friday

A week of high winds and revolting weather made being indoors very appealing and I squeezed the most out of it by avoiding any kind of housework like the plague (nothing unusual about that!) and reading and painting. So this week's pattern Friday is jonquils which I then repeated in several different colourways trying to imagine them as fabric. Drawing the same thing over several times is more therapeutic than I could have thought.

I also spent ages pouring over projects in a book I found at the library called "Young House Love", they have a blog here. The concept of recycling, being thrifty and just throwing yourself into a project speaks volumes to me. They also have have small segments identifying why you might have a mental block about, say, taking a paintbrush to the walls and how to get past that and crack on with it!

Hand crafted pendant 

Happy getting on with it Friday - Blue x

Hair, there and anywhere

Inspiration can be found anywhere (including peeking into the neighbour's garden!) I love the colour of these beautiful camellias....



A stencil for making a camellia hair tie

Buttons and fabric paint add the finishing touch

Roses are a favourite of mine too...

And this one is from my garden!

The frayed edges give this hair band a delicate finish

Good bye to bad hair days with these cuties!

Now... what else can I find in the garden....

Friday In Season

What's in season in Ripple Bay in September? Believe it or not, Gerberas.........

and Cherimoyas! If you have never tasted a cherimoya before you are missing out, think mild pear drops crossed with hints of pineapple and banana. Cut them in half and they are heart shaped.

Here in Ripple Bay we have flu....... and I am taking advantage of the small things in life like lying in bed and reading this book about Art Journaling by Dina Wakley until the arrival of children home off the school bus............ happy weekend, Blue x

Conspiracy

Some days life conspires against you and with it goes all those good intentions, healthy routines and a decent diet.

Last week yoga went out the window (replaced by work and umpteen dozen kid-related activities). Travel requirements meant that home cooked meals were replaced with food on the run (deep fried, sugar coated everything washed down with some 'evening relief'').

Oh dear!

So I am making amends this week - my hens are providing the most wonderful poached eggs for breakfast. And the orange trees that line our road have oranges that are so juicy and sweet that even my fussy eaters are requesting a glass or two.

Our 'shared' orange trees

Hands off kids!

'What do you mean you poach them!'

 Of course, orange juice also goes well with vodka (I might have to try out this Tipsy Spritzer tonight). There's no point in being a saint now is there?!

Here's to a better week!

Blue Pattern Friday

There is something about watercolour flowers which just lend themselves to wonderful repeat designs for fabric. I had a go at capturing these grape hyacinths gathered from our next door neighbours garden. 

One person who really does have the whole watercolour thing nailed is Fi Douglas of Bluebell Gray from Scotland, I have been coverting a panel of her fabric (or two) for some time now, but perhaps I will have to create my own after all!  

Last night I went out with my gardening group friends to see a film which has been taking NZ by storm, called "Gardening with Soul" a documentary film about a nonagenerian gardener who also happens to be a Nun. Or a Nun who also happens to be a 90 year old gardener. Whichever, she was pretty inspiring and a reminder to be Mindful rather than Mind Full. 

Happy creating Friday, Blue x

Friday Gifts in Yellow

Ripple Bay at its best this week; it rained and poured and there was a biting southerly, but inside was a different story. I seemed to be a magnet for gifts of the food variety which are of course the best type.

 Fresh eggs from the first ones laid by a friend's new hens and then lemons from a neighbours tree. Not the sort of lemon from a supermarket but the sort that you scratch the skin and the lemony smell bombards you. 

Eggs with big bright golden yolks and you practically know the name of the exact chicken who laid it (thank you Houdini!). Now I just need to squeeze in time to make this Lemon and Blueberry Cake by Julie Le Clerc and I will be the perfect mother. Failing which and more likely, it will be Gin and Tonics with lemon juice tonight and boiled eggs for breakfast tomorrow - everyone's a winner! 

View with yellow boat! 

Happy Weekend, Blue x

Weekend Treats

This weekend was full of treats, we had a girls day out  together in our nearest Big Smoke (which actually isn't big at all!) and was full of kris crossing backwards and forwards between stationary shops, fabric shops and cafes - a nine year old girl's idea of total bliss and I have to admit we were both in the happy zone all day!

I don't think there was a more unexpectedly divine hot chocolate in the world than the one presented to Miss Blue, just look at it, an art form in itself. Cute as a button.

And then we came back with a project, a 2 sided heavenly pillow case with dogs one side and horses the other....sometimes you just have to roll with it!

Happy Days, Blue x

From Garden to Table to Paper....

Each week, my kind friend shares her bounty, harvested from the local community garden - complete with a sprinkling of earth and the odd slug.

Does it make me a bad gardener if I don't have the heart to wash the slugs down the sink?







After a thorough washing and some slug liberation, last week's Chinese cabbage made a wonderful coleslaw ... and then some awesome wrapping paper.

 Sorry guinea pigs - you can have the next lot of vege left-overs!