Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Swapbot Tube of Surprises - sent to Michelle

Michelle posted a note to let me know that she has received her Tube of Surprises. Lots of pink and girly stuff for her incorporate into her sewing and crafts. Pleased she liked the package.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Book review

The Gods of Amyrantha (Tide Lords book 2) The Gods of Amyrantha by Jennifer Fallon


My review


rating: 4 of 5 stars
Even though a large part of this book was spent setting up the scene for future volumes and hopefully and epic finale I really enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot towards the end. I liked the fact that its not certain that the good guys are, in fact, the good guys and maybe there might not be happy endings for all of our favourite characters.
An Aussie author I enjoy.


View all my reviews.

Voucher savings

Life is good - during the week I received a voucher from Spotlight (chain craft, homewares and fabric store) that allowed me to save $40 if I spent over $100. So I carefully went though my list of things to do and took a long list of things to buy - I knew that it only makes sense to buy stuff you were going to buy anyway and not buy stuff just to get the discount and I watched the total add up to just over $100 (after my VIP) discount so bingo - save another $40!!

Now I am not allowed back for weeks!!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Biscornu - sent to Carol

Carol wrote today to let me know that she received the biscornu that I sent for her birthday. I used an Aurelle pattern on 18ct Aida cloth and a rich red DMC thread. So pleased she likes it.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Creative Collage - received

I have received my creative collage from the fabulous Niss. This collage is personalised to my tastes including my name in purple (which is a great conicidence because my name means "wearer of purple". Thanks Niss, love it.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Year Long Prairie Schooler Exchange - sent round 1

It also seems that the post out of the flooded north is also working! Rebecca reports that she has received my Prairie Schooler stitched piece and I have not embarrassed myself in the stitching or finishing stakes. I am always nervous when exchanging as I am never confident my pieces are good enough. It was nice to receive some positive feedback.

The mail is starting to flow again!!

Australia Post is working through the backlog of mail and today could only be called a Swap-bot extravaganza!! I received a number of fantastic parcels that I had been waiting on.

Drum roll please...


A magnificent biscornu from Jenna in the US for a Swap-bot Valentines Day Biscornu Swap. Love this one - especially when Robert also bought me a cute cupcake to enjoy with my lunch today also.

...but wait...there's more...



This is from Round 1 of the Year Round Prairie Schooler Exchange - a decorated Altoids Tin. I have always wondered just how big these tins are because we don't get Altoids in Australia. Well know I know how big this one is - its perfect for a needleholder (need to pop a magnet inside). Thanks so much Julianne for stitching this for me.

Don't go away...there's more...

A matchbox shrine from Niss in Brisbane. Another Swap-bot exchange - Niss picked up on my thing for shoes and made this magnificent piece of mini-art. I can't stop playing with it, opening it up and smiling. Thanks so much Niss.

I have also received other things - will post more in the next day or so.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Lizzie Kate Valentine Swap received by Nancy

Nancy received her Valentine's day swap from me in time for Valentine's day. She said that she didn't know much about Australia so I also included a book of photos.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

A helping hand

This photos is doing the rounds on the internet media sites at the moment. Its a reminder of what a fantastic job the CFA and other fire fighters are doing in Victoria. Its also a reminder that even the animals need rescuing from the fires. I saw this koala on TV this evening - he has been taken in by wildlife carers and has had his burns tended to.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Tea time biscornu

Jenna has received her biscornu for the Tea Time Biscornu Swap so I can also show what I sent to her. The biscornu has beads on the teapots as well as the centre instead of a button.


Buttons and biscornu


I am so pleased that Jenna is happy with the piece she received - I also included a book on Australian rainforests for her family to enjoy.

Biscornu to Pirjo


I heard the Pirjo in Finland has received her Valentine's biscornu in the mail so I am able to post a picture. More photos can be seen on my Flickr site (links on the side bar).


The photos below show the contents of the package and the detail on the underside of the biscornu. Long story about the detail - when I stitched the biscornu together I realised that the hearts were upside down - so I unpicked the detail and then stitched it back in without unpicking the sides of the biscornu. Very time consuming but a lesson learned to think things though :)


Package sent to Pirjo in Finland





Detail on the underside of the biscornu.

detail on the upper edge of the biscornu - I was pleased about how this turned out - it was an adaptation of the original Blackyrose Creations pattern.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Updated my Look

Well I have learned how to customise this blog using a background designed by another. I also managed to work out how to include code for a flickr badge. Not bad for an old dog who is not all that into playing with code (hooray for cut and paste).

I thought that this tropical look would brighten my day up - its been constantly raining here for weeks now so I can guarantee that the water does not look blue and lovely now. Picture brown and filled with debris washed down the river. During the past week our outrigger paddling coach has fished out three large empty drums out of the inlet while we have been training.

We went for a big paddle again this morning - Tuki, our coach picked out 6 of us who he thought must not have worked hard enough during the week and sent us off on a paddle around Admiralty Island - about 18km. He took the remainder of the gang (12 paddlers in two canoes) for a lighter paddle and the idea was that they travelled around the island in the opposite direction to us - when they saw us they were to turn around quickly and it was our brief to try to catch them on the way home. We sneaked up on the other two boats and overtook one of them but the one that we would have liked to catch stayed about 50m ahead of us all the way home. I was wrecked at the end of that paddle.

I have now paddled around the island three times this year. Only three of us have done that - which while is not bad going - is exhausting!