more hibiscus

I'm definitely having a run on hibiscus at the moment. I'll get these paintings properly scanned and upload the results to my website - taking happy snaps doesn't do a lot for the colours.

Have a happy new year everyone and a very creative 2009.

radishes

More pink things.

Nothing says summer than a couple of hot radishes.

catch them before they fade

Hibiscus flowers don't last very long. After two days the large apricot and red blooms had withered. There was one pink bloom left so I painted that one.

hibiscus

I picked these flowers on Christmas day and started painting them today.

If you see a strange woman around Sydney picking flowers from bushes on the side of the road she may be painting them instead of just putting them on top of the telly....

Boxing day beach bracelet

It's Boxing day in Sydney and where do you go if you're not going to the sales?

To the beach of course.

Here is a simple pearl bracelet - wrap the strands three times around your wrist for an elegantly casual little bracelet.

Could also double as a necklace.

pastel bead charm bracelet

Season's greetings all.

A slightly different take on the charm bracelet theme. Made of gemstone beads and quartz 'points', interspersed with silver charms and bead drops.

something to sparkle along with the tinsel

gingerbread house

I thought I'd attempt to make a decorate gingerbread house for a family gathering tomorrow (children present). I used a cardboard template made out of a crispbread packet for the house... and of course the bits didn't fit together properly but it's amazing what you can do with a whole bowlful of royal icing!

The first attempt ended in collapse but with a little perseverance and the icing talents of the resident 18 year old we have a centrepiece worthy of Christmas.

Hurrah.

peonies

Oh yes....

I finished the peonies

earrings for a Tuesday

I've been so caught up in the whole Christmas palava I haven't had time to post.

Apologies.

Here is a selection of dangly earrings to counterbalance those festive numbers I've seen dangling from ears at office parties.... I like to call them 'chandeliers for the ears'.




Rose quartz, labradorite, swarovski crystal and amethyst: To enhance wisdom, intuition and truthfulness. For happiness in love.


Turquoise nuggets and coral: To cool tempers and promote friendship.


Amethyst and clear quartz: To promote wisdom, intuition and truthfulness. For balance.


Vintage crystal, amethyst, garnet & cloisonne beads: To increase self confidence, promote wisdom and truthfulness. For luck.



And I'm very proud of these: Indian silver 'tassel' earring fixtures (from Hyderabad), rose quartz, amethyst and swarovski crystal: To promote wisdom, intuition and happiness in love.

Mango frooty spicy tea

To drink with all those cupcakes and gingerbread cookies.

Ingredients: Hibiscus (Rosella), ginger, citrus peel, green tea and cloves. If I'm feeling adventurous I'll add pineapple shavings as well. Him indoors insists on cloves in the mix....

watercolour work in progress

After a bit of a slow-up in the painting department, I've started again.

It really does take me a while to get into the swing of it and pictures have to get built up after days. I bit problematic when trying to capture flowers - by the time I got around to some beautiful peonies him indoors bought me, they'd mostly blown and started to lose their petals and stamens.

Here is a picture of the one remaining peony in full bloom after a week and work in progress.

batik beach bag

So I took note of the feedback from friends asking for a shoulder version of the batik and denim bag.

Here is a prototype.

The handles keep their shape by way of nifty plastic tubing. Him indoors put in the holes - makes it look less 'handmade'.

I haven't gotten around to addressing the zipper in the pocket request yet... I'm thinking about a button fastening rather than a zip.