~Sewing Kit for Bushfire Appeal...threads and latest projects~

The above pic is of a postcard of our local area that was sent to Tasmania

and here is the Sewing Kit that was put together to donate to sewers at Dunalley

A lot of people lost everything in the bushfire devastation there recently and my Online Stitching Group Friends in Stitching (FIS) put out a call to see if anyone could donate certain items

The brief was ~ a pincushion, threadcatcher, 2 fat 1/4's, packet of needles, scissors, 3 DMC threads, a pattern and pellon, a surprise and a stitching bag to put it in

Helen Stubbings from Hugs'nKisses has donated patterns to this cause

Helen has been rewarded for her generous nature by being named Barnardos Mother of the Week. The nomination, prepared by her eldest daughter, highlights Helen's passion for helping others.

Thank you so much Helen and thanks to Jo for organizing this

Pic from Jo's blog shows the bridge and area that is now cut off from mainland Tasmania

Meanwhile when I go to a patchwork shop now and I have JoJo with me I ask her to choose a few nice colours of threads for me....and above is what she has chosen this time....

My latest kit from Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

I saw these quilting threads on a wooden spool and had to have those

After hanging on to this fabric for ages it's nearly time to cut into it

My Daughter knew that I wanted some blog cards and she ordered these plus a pen as well...

Thank you so much Jacqueline......they are great

How cool are they......look out now everyone when I see you next!!!!

My First Beachwalk of the Season...or Sea Fever!!!

With Summer finally arriving here I thought I would take my camera down to the beach and take some pics for this Season...I was not disappointed!!!

The view above leading to 'our' beach...

A lost children's shoe on the post...still there 10 days later!!!

Looking south...

North...

Out to the ocean...

This pic above taken at Constitution Dock, Hobart, Tasmania

our beautiful Island State...

I have blogged this poem before and it always comes back to me every Summer so just had to post it again...

Sea Fever by John Masefield

SEA FEVER

I MUST down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Enjoy these beautiful days in the lead up to Christmas...Dzintra

My Space...My World!!!

Recently my Friend Natima invited me along with other Bloggers to show their workspace...so here 'tis Nat... Folk Art Heart on the door to my world...but first...
come up the stairs with me...this Quilt recently was in my workspace room...done on a Workshop with Yan Pring back in Bathurst...I call it my Tulip Quilt...
I had only done 1 other quilt before...this took a record time (oops, 20 years) to complete which is under Labels further down my blog if you want to take a look...So I am very pleased how this Quilt turned out!!!
See to the back of my head Nat...the little Angel Quilt you gave to me when we moved away from Bathurst...



through the door...


Natima asked if I had a favourite spot in my workspace...
this would have to be it...I spent a lot of time here being Queen of the Armchair re-cuperating...this couch catches a lot of sun so is perfect in the Winter for stitching, reading, contemplating, dreaming!!!

To the right of the couch is a Blanket Box...I love to have soft music on when stitching...and I have a candle also...I love candlelight, I light a candle every night which creates a lovely atmosphere...I always celebrate everything with candle...no matter how small...even cooking dinner often I will light a candle...

This treasure we brought back from Tasmania...it is some sort of sewing cabinet...a good chance for me to pop this in...someone might know something more about it...

Opened...spools for thread on the left...
to me it looks like it might be a 1920's piece...

Couldn't resist putting these threads in...they look so colourful...often I will buy one along the way...

Bookcase holding some fabrics, magazines...

to the right is a table where I do cutting...

One of my favourites...John Wayne!!! He is to the right of my sewing machine...

This is how it looks all together...

The Tulip Quilt was hanging where the calendar is...my Hubby is making me some shelves to put where the Quilt was...

Looking in from the doorway...

JoJo will bring you down the stairs now to...

My Stitching Chair where I currently watch Master Chef and other favourite shows/movies...and stitch!!! See the 3 bags with current projects in them to the left of the chair...Do I really need 3 separate bags...of course I do!!!

And a word on one of my favourite things...Handbags...after all...a gal can never have too many!!!

I find it is vital to have one handbag for each of the ten types of social occasions:

Very Formal; Not So Formal;

Just a Teensy Bit Formal; Informal But Not That Informal;

Every Day; Every Other Day;

Day Travel; Night Travel;

Theatre; and Fling...

~Miss Piggy from the Muppets~

Thank You Natima for inviting me to share my workspace with you...It was fun!!!

And just to finish off...my Sister gave me this orchid at Christmas time...

It is an off shoot off one of my Grandmother's/Vecmamin's orchids...

My Grandmother passed away 20 years ago...and to our surprise it flowered last week...how beautiful is this...it brought back wonderful memories of her tending the orchids!!!

I wish you were here to see it♥

Have a lovely week everybody...Dzintra♥

Sea Fever!!!

In these days where one blurs into the other...blissful salty blue days...my mind keeps going over the same poem...so I thought, out of my head and post about this fabulous poem which was taught back in my school days and has never really left me...Sea Fever by John Masefild~1878-1967~English Poet Laureate 1930-1967~

To many...simply known as the Poet who wrote about the sea...also known as a Novelist, Dramatist and Journalist. John Masefield's literary career was rich and varied...he is again being recognized for his wide range encompassing ballads, nature poetry, and mythological narrative and for his attempt to make poetry a popular art...So here is Sea Fever...

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied:

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Above 2 shots taken at Constitution Dock, Hobart ~Tasmania~

Couldn't resist the Pirate Print...part of a limited edition by Chris Collingwood ~Blackbeard the Terrible otherwise known as Edward Teach, Thatch or Drummond c.1718~

Conjures up all sorts of images I think!!!

Happened by the Print at The Swingin Anchor Cafe at Stanley ~Tasmania~ with a very decorative window including this lovely boat with awesome sails!!!

Seagulls having a rest on our beach...now it's off to the sea again for me later on today...and to enjoy another salty blue day...sea temperature 22c!!!

I've Been Pirated Away (so to speak)!!!

Here I am...Post Boxing Day...been kicked out of the kitchen...hence pirated away to Blogland!!! Mum, go and do your Blog they said...I'd had a headache this afternoon...no, I haven't had too much to drink...more like too much sun too quickly!!! We'll do dinner for you...how could I refuse? Yesterday after lunch was spent on the beach in the most perfect of conditions!!! Glorious sunshine...great water conditions...So...an unexpected post, what can I write about?

Then...I spotted Jo-Jo's new pirate goblet from Danelle...which came all the way from the Sea Horse attraction in Tasmania...so I thought...mmmm...okay start with that!!!

So...wind back to Christmas morning...and here's Jo-Jo getting into her stocking!!!
Travelled up to Hubby's brother's place to meet up with all his family...this was a special day as his Mum...who is 85...moved down from Queensland earlier this year and it is the first time the 3 brothers and families had spent Christmas with her for many years!!! Here is Ryan demolishing the Gingerbread House!!!
Back down the coast on Boxing Day and Jo-Jo's brother took her out kayaking...a first for her...he is only too happy to do adventursome things with her!!!

Getting sooo confident!!!

Latest stocking receiver...showing off her new bangle!!!

Delicious food has been eaten, gifts have been exchanged...the house is happy with laughter and cheerful talk... my headache is gone and I am sipping a red slowly...My Cup Runneth Over...Now, they're calling, Mum...dinner's ready....

When friends enter a home, they sense its personality and character, the family's style of living...these elements make a house come alive with a sense of identity, a sense of energy, enthusiasm, and warmth, declaring..."This is who we are; this is how we live." Ralph Lauren

I hope you all are enjoying Post Christmas celebrations amongst your loved ones...

Writing Desk Has a New Home

When we went back the next day our little desk and chair

was waiting
for us. It fits nicely into the little timber nook but looks oh so different when it was amongst the all white timber. The timbers all just fit in nicely with each other. Enjoying everything that has Paris on it at the moment ... the lovely ink pot, timber burl and quill came from Tasmania in a little place called The Nut. Now I have to get myself a nib and then I can have my coffee and get cracking with those Christmas Cards looming on the horizon!!!

Little bouton bag sitting up also full of red and green Christmas buttons ...

Assignment still going on and on and ....

Lots of time spent poring over cookbooks, magazines this week, finishing Susan Duncan's book on The House at Salvation Creek and still cross-stitching Christmas stocking which I will try to post up soon. Meanwhile weather here is very uncharacteristic, lots of wind, choppy ocean and predicted snow in the Mountains ... back to the drawing board now ...