Winter

When all is cold
hard skies
wet
shiver
ache
then ...

through glass ...
golden light
thank you.

Looking for colour and finding so much more...

On Saturday night I took the camera for a walk – oh yes, Archer was there too. My aim was to capture colour in the bush this final winter's month. For many years I have sent postcards to various relatives in England; I sent one to my Grandad each fortnight until his death in 2005 – at the grand age of 95. My Aunty and I shared one a week, for over a decade, until she too went to heaven. Now there are my Nana and her sisters left to write a few lines to every couple of weeks. How I love these ladies, two of my great Aunts have painted and participated in other arts – all are well into their 80’s now … understandably they have had all the postcards my area has to offer; I buy a handful each time I travel. However, mostly these days I stick a photo to card and make my own postcards. A quick few lines about the fur babies or the family are much appreciated. Scenery, birds and flowers are also popular; and as eyesight has become an issue I focused this walk on finding colour and contrast. Some I will tweak to bring out the colours, others I will zoom in on a single bloom and enlarge it. What fun.

Back to the walk – I returned with 65 photos and was happy with about 55 of them! So I guess I will have enough to share for a while. Archer was delighted to run back and forwards and asked that I tell you how good he was.

The wattle is always a favourite, drifts of yellow pompoms scenting the winer air. Flowers emerge by colour in general, the whites and then the yellows, followed by the blues and reds. There is a lot of white in the bush at the moment and the yellows are beginning their season.

Beautiful contrast between the dead twigs and the green background and then the most delicate flowering creeper. The red flowers are about 5mm (1/5th") in diameter.

I promise not to send this one to the Aunts, they will think their vision is getting worse - but I loved the haziness created by the blossom blowing gently in the breeze.

If you enlarge this shot you can see the plant is in flower. Below each flower shaped leaf arrangement their are fragile white stems with red petals.

A serendipitous shot: Archer barked and I glanced back to see the orange sunset reflected on the walls of the old quarry we had just walked through.

Peaceful moments and a giggle or two.

on etsy

Life currently seems to be a series of moments, or links in a chain; rather than a flowing river. Perhaps that was the inspiration for these two beaded charm bracelets. I was so relaxed and at peace as I chose beads and twisted wire for these two. In case you are wondering I have made the hooks for the closure but left the eye's until the wearer gives me a wrist measurement.

Of course in a house which still has three furry people the experience could not be totally relaxing - Archer managed to eat a chopstick, some tissue paper and several beads during the creation of these bracelets. Each new find accompanied by his mad dash out of the art room through the cat door and out to the back of the garden. I managed a straight face as I corrected him, but he looks so ridiculous as he escapes with the latest treasure their are a lot of inner giggles to accompany my sighs of frustration.
While my tulips continue to delight a friend gave me these three simple stems of jonquils yesterday and their scent is filling my home, just looking at them makes me smile.

I had to giggle though. I said to one of the men who shares my office, "I do love these, Mum hates them in the house -says they smell like cat pee." His response, "My wife thinks the same, we always have them in the house." The mind boggles. I love the scent and their delicate little cups.

Gifts and Giving

I came home last night to find this glorious bunch of tulips on my table – a gift from my brother and SIL. I adore tulips – more than any other flower they seem to hold secrets within. I can never wait for them to open before I begin to be peek; I can be found peering regularly through pinhole size openings where the petals meet at the top of the flower. My aim: to glimpse their kaleidoscope of stamens and colour within. I have a waking-dream which sees me in a field of multi-coloured tulips - that never wilt or drop their petals, bliss.

This pin has arrived at its new home, it did not photograph well, but I liked this one because it was less cluttered and each of the charms have their own space, thier own story - and sometimes that is more than the collective.

Another art work which should have arrived home ... these door hangers are made of balsa wood and were 79c at Macro when I was on camp. I only bought two and wish I had grabbed a handful as my head is still buzzing with ideas for them. I think I will have to cut some out myself. This one had a crackle background, some texture paste, transfers and lots of washes with Golden colour before being over stamped.