The Eyes of my Beloved

 As is sometimes the case, I was inspired by something I really didn't like at all.  I saw an art show, which made me frown, and not in a good way.  "If the artist can call that art, then there is nothing to say I cannot create something of interest and meaning, and call it art" I thought to myself.
  So following the current of my recent interest in the depths, I embarked on a piece.

I intended it to be ugly.

 It began as a piece about temptation.  I was going to call it "Take the Bait".
But, it seems, as usual, my hands know the inner workings of my mind before I do, and as I drew, cut, stitched, turned, stuffed and held it, I slowly fell in love. 
His working name is Andy.  He is so ugly, and his bait is unlikely to tempt anyone.  I felt for him.  Then I began thinking, maybe he wouldn't be so ugly to another angler fish...

So meet Angela.

Now it seems I have made a piece about beauty and the eyes of your beloved.  Because being loved for being beautiful is one thing, but I think I would prefer being known for being ugly and loved regardless.

And the Winner Is...

Jacinta!  With an amazing final bid of $75!  E-mail me your postal address and I will get your package in the mail pronto!

  Thankyou to everyone for your wonderful support, thanks to Toni for organizing the whole she-bang. 

The Depths of Imagination

Spurred on by my wonderful friends over at RedBrick Gallery and Emporium, I have looked into the depths of my imagination and found

a prawn

a whale shark

a whale shark funsize, because everyone knows things are MUCH more fun if they're SMALLER

a purse-sized squid, because of all the things in the world that you need to be able to fit into your purse, a squid has to be one of them

and from the darkest depths, the beginnings of an angler fish, fingers crossed!

So I Made a Whale

As the rain hammered down and the wind beat a wild tantrum at my windows

this, turned into

this, which turned into

 

this.

Thar she blows!

Queensland Flood Appeal Auction

All over blogland, online auctions are being held to help raise money for the Queensland Flood Appeal.

I am auctioning a handmade elephant soft toy, and a fully lined childs' apron. 

Auction DOES NOT include the child.

1) The bidding will start at $10 (Australian), and will run on this blog from now until Monday, the 24th of January at 9am

2)You will be bidding in whole dollar amounts, leaving a comment and your email address with your bid amount in the comment section of this post

3)All postage costs will be covered by me, anywhere in the world

4)If you are the winner, I will contact you via email at the close of auction. You will then pay your winning bid to the Premier's Flood Appeal and forward the invoice and receipt number on to me. Once I have received confirmation of payment I can get your package into the post for you. Any donation over $2 to this appeal is also tax deductible (in Australia), so it's really win win.

If this isn't to your taste, click the button on the right to check out the list of everyone elses auctions.

Happy Bidding!

Queensland Flood Appeal

You'll notice I've added a button for the Queensland Flood Appeal Auctions.  All over blogland bloggers are conducting online auctions, with all the money raised going directly to the Queensland Flood Appeal.  I'm hoping to put together a little prize pack, but while you're waiting make sure you head over to Toni's blog (click the button) where she will have a master list of all the auctioneers.
  Keep dry and safe everyone!

So I Made a Squid

So I made a squid.

 Complete with beak.

 Now I just need a name... Billy (the Squid)?  Squid Rock?  Kelly Marie?

Australia!

We have been enjoying a bush creek

in the lovely sunshine.

I love those chubby little feet, and that orange blur is a butterfly we were rescuing from the water.

In anticipation of Australia Day, I tried out a recipe for Anzac Biscuits. 

I used a recipe originally published  in "The Australian Women's Weekly - Sweet Old-fashioned Favourites", but made a few changes (put half the sugar, double the golden syrup, and left out the coconut, I know its traditional, but I don't eat it!), and ended up with the following:

Screamstress' Anzacs

Combine 1 1/4 cups rolled oats (traditional not quick)

1 1/4 cups plain flour

1/2 cup sugar (white, but you could use brown)

Melt 125g butter (I actually always use dairy-free canola based spread)and 2 tbs golden syrup in a saucepan.

Combine 1 tsp baking soda with 2 tbs boiling water, add to the butter mixture, and then add the lot to the dry ingredients and stir around quickly.

Form small biscuits, quite flat as they don't spread much, and place on a baking tray.

Bake at about 160 degrees centigrade for about 20 minutes or until golden.

Yum!  I love them nice and crunchy, and next time I think I may even add some dried apricots too. 

Happy (Early) Australia Day!

What About the Weighted Blankets?

A quiet calm.
A heavy stillness.
With my father dead, and my husband often gone, I have longed for a moment of clear, still, peace.
Last year has had me flailing helplessly like an unwrapped infant.
Yearning for a simple embrace, warm, encompassing, undemanding.
Soft constant pressure.
A weighted blanket.

Since stumbling upon the idea of weighted therapy I have been fascinated.
DandelionMama has a good tutorial if you would like to make a weighted blanket.

Christmas, Craft, and Weighted Blankets

 I have...

made it through my first christmas without Dad

eaten many many things off barbeques

finished reading "The Shadow of the Wind"

 sewn a little, lurked alot

farewelled the Panda as he goes north for work again

skated outdoors for the first time since I was 11

been fascinated

despaired of the children

begun reading "Summer at Mt Hope"

 paddled in a forest stream that has water for the first time in 15 years

 crafted

cherished time with my oldest child, who I will miss greatly when he goes to school next year

questioned everything

I wonder what this year holds?