rose of the west

I have found out what who she is.


(pic from http://www.malleenativeplants.com.au/eucalyptus-macrocarpa-mottlecah/)

Eucalyptus macrocarpa (Mottlecah or Rose of the West) is the best looking australian native I have seen. Ever. I found some gumnuts (the caps actually) underneath a local plant in North Beach here in Perth and have been on the hunt since. I think I might get me one in a pot?

Bathtime Bernie!

Here are a couple of photos - you'll see he is getting a big round tummy which is perfectly lovely!

we'll go dancing in the dark, walking in the park and REMINISCING

Friday curlypops is hosting a 'remember when' daggy groovy old photos are scanned and posted...
Me (little big one) and big brother Geoff and Grandma Hilda: how much do we love Hilda's dress and the abundance of 'mission brown' paint? No-one mention my thighs.


My first birthday (July 77): loving the from behind pigtails on cousin 'Hullun'.


On holidays at Urunga: favourite terry towelling shorts and short hair. Checkout my mum's jumpsuit in teal....


First day of school: Narranga Primary in Coffs Harbour. On Fridays we had a special 'Narranga Sandwich' day at the tuckshop. It involved a banana (being Coffs Harbour) in brown bread, to MATCH OUR SCHOOL UNIFORM!!! I loved that port but especially that groovy sticker from a surfboard designer... i wonder if it is in the roof back at home...?


Play along and dig out some treasures.

Bernie's here....

Last week, a pretty wonderful thing happened...

Bernie arrived!
He was born on Thursday 9th Dec, and is all happy and healthy and hand-eating.



He is lovely.
We are smitten.



Me and the bear came home today.


And my big boy can do THIS while i was outta town..



In the words of the chief - This blog will now self destruct and become an ode to small and smallish people. Some creativity may return in the new year...


Wishing you a lovely christmas with your folk. Eat, drink and be merry!

flea market find NOW smells like christmas...

FOund this gorgeous glass butter box at my local Salvo's this week. Please note - the neatest BIG thrifty i have ever stepped foot in at Greenwood in WA. Cost $4. I have another, lidless, which doubles as my coffee machine bits box.

This one was hiding under a cover of ants... orange cordial + rain perhaps? It is now our 'SMells like Christmas' box...




Recipe for a pretty lovely scent:
- Some gumnuts (these from the park nearby - these are just the caps!!) Still have not taxonomied if someone can help with that...
- Some dried out spices: I used cinnamon quills, star anise (fave) and nutmegs.
- Some whole nuts perhaps

Other finds here this week.
And join in with this wicked giveaway here at Shabby Vintage Junk for her 100th post. BEAUTIFUL old glass ornaments to be gifted to someone lucky.

a quick and dirty snowflake ornament tute....

A tute... from ME!!! Those who know me well know i like it quick and dirty.

This is not a 'how to sew a ...." tute, more an idea generator for a spare hour... Since there is nooo way I should be teaching anyone anything about stitching. While I was whipping these up yesterday, the machine broke a needle. The loose end went missing down into bobbin zone and here is my learning. It is a good idea to have a magnet handy in your sewing kit... I managed to retrieve the sharp bit AND replace and finish the job.

So
Ingredients: (yes this will read like a recipe)
- An old nana doily - thankyou Salvos
- Some felt (mine is lovely double-sided from B&M Felt in Freo)
- scissors
- a machine or needle and thread
- Some ribbon or string or something to hang ornament with


1. Cutout some crochet circles / squares / whatever shape you like. Try to snip off all the extremities if you are going for a circle. You'll note i didn't.

2. Match them up on your felt, then cut the felt with about 1/2 or 1cm outside the crochet shape

3. Cut a piece of ribbon to form your ornament hanger
4. Lay these all on top of each other (shag the pins)
5. Squidge them all under your sewing machine foot
6. Go go go! You may go round, do four sides, just make sure you get the ribbon in securely
7. Snip the hundreds of ends off

8. Ta-da!

my lovely man..

Happy wedding anniversary Roo.
I love you.





may we endure a whole other bunch of sleepless nights and dreamy days together...

Creativity... & my creative space...

Once upon a time (in 2002ish), I was catching a flight between Melbourne and Darwin. I had been double-dared by my wicked very bestest friend to embellish the tale of my purpose for travel...

(these snaps taken today at our local Dept of Ed 'come and check out the animals' farm which we loooove)



So, for that flight, I became a large breeds vet specialising in artificial insemination of cattle, travelling to the NT to collect specimen... How on earth did I keep a straight face?

This week, less fibbing and more needling.

The advent calendar progresses, yes it is December but I am now on the home stretch. It may be hung before Christmas day...


Some quick little deco's that created a lot of mess both on the table and then when they were finished not much neater...





The scrabble bag continues - i think i am going to start again...


Oh and i am sTILL creating one inside o me.

Head to Kootoyoo for an array of other saucy tales. Better yet, play along & comment and tell me your favouritest white lie...

It's december...

This book was recommended.

OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER. A story about a dog, who thinks she is a reindeer, since she has heard the lyrics "...you would even say it glows, all of the other reindeer, used to laugh..etc"

I have bookdepositoryed it for christmas, and found it has also been animated. So here tis the link - seems to be Drew Barrymore as Olive?



Operation advent goes on. Up to number 17 today.... on the 1st December....