FNSI - Autumn awakening

I've signed up for this month's

Life has a habit of throwing curve balls at you sometimes, and if you don't catch them, and are too slow to duck it can make things interesting.

Tonight I'm taking time out to do something that gives me pleasure and sharing it with my online friends tomorrow.

Come join us.

Robyn

Slow month

I've been posting at least a couple of times a week on my 2012 - Through a camera lens blog and as I've also been trying to set up for market stalls, including sourcing business cards, trying to find reasonable public liability insurance (!) and other stuff, I've neglected all my other blogs.

In the other stuff category I'm participating in another Soul Scrappers challenge. This one is called "Shop Till You Drop" and celebrates the 2nd anniversary of the Soul Scrappers website.

For STYD1 the challenge was to decorate a frame - you could design your own or alter an existing frame. The decorations had to include 3 flowers, a title and a tie or ribbon to hang it with. I decided to design my own. The flower paper on the frame is the top layer of a serviette (thanks to Kerryanne and her Embracing the Passion course for giving me this idea!). The dragonfly is a shiny metal embellishment that I've coloured using Sharpie permanent markers. This will be a gift to my daughter.

The STYD2 challenge was to use 9 flowers on a floral patterned paper with a cluster of flowers somewhere on the item. Being short of cards lately I decided this would be a good opportunity to add another to the collection. The fact that I have many blue items decided the colour choice and I can always add a sentiment later when I decide on its receiver. I've kept it 'flattish' so it can go by mail without incurring extra costs. The flowers at top right were added after submitting it to the challenge as I had an afterthought that it needed something to 'balance' the design.

Thanks for looking!,

Robyn

Final swap from 2011...ho, ho ho

My swapee has arrived home and opened her swap so I can now show it on my blog and it won't matter if she sees it!

This swap was another Our Craft Forum one and it was the Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas one where you could make your partner anything but it had to be a Christmas theme. As my partner Anorina is a brilliant quilter I was a bit embarrassed to make anything quilted, though I know she wouldn't be judgemental - I'm just not a great quilter (yet) - so I decided that an apron was in order as I make good aprons.

Of course, being me, I wasn't happy with the straightforward pattern so I changed it by decorating the bottom and the pockets. The bottom was easy but the pockets had to be cut differently to allow the decoration and I french seamed the join so there were no unravelly bits on the inside. The little pleats behind allow more room in the pockets. It's a generous size and the ties are also long.

Lol, it looks boxy as I had to tie it around a wooden chair to take the photo!

I finally opened the parcel I was sent from Elly, as this was a down the line swap, and she made me a lovely Christmas table runner and sent a quilt label too. This is the first quilted table runner I own :). It will definitely be on the table next Christmas.

Cheers,

Robyn

Last Swaps from 2011

Here's the photos of what I received from my swap partners in end of year swaps at Our Craft Forum.

This stripey bag was from Guiliana in the Down on the Farm Swap. See the little embroidered tractor and the windmill? I sent her these egg cosies.

Jeanette sent me all these items for the Mystery Swap. I felt so spoilt! It was a down the line swap so Jeanette sent to me and I sent these to Shirley.

If you're looking for the giveaway it's the previous post.

Cheers,
Robyn

'Bye 365 days...Welcome 366!

Wrong New Year's Eve, right?

Every NYE I have a drink from this glass to remind me that we all make mistakes and we can all move on after them. It is half of a pair that my sister gifted us (my first husband and I) at our engagement party on that date 26 years ago. The only reason I keep them is the historical significance.

Oh No!.... not historical personal  significance but historical astronomical significance. That was the year Halley's Comet passed over the world and Australia in particular. You can see the interpretation of the comet on the other side of the glass and that's why there are stars and a partial moon also.

I should have realised that comets can burn out quickly and that's what happened to the marriage. It sizzled along for 3 years and went out with a bang and a lot of small after explosions. I'm left with a couple of satellites from the explosion in the form of 2 wonderful kids that I love to pieces and they love me the same.

Just goes to show that one can find positives in most negatives.

'Nuff  negative reminiscing....

Here's to a positive 2012...

New Year - New Experiences....lots of love, support and creativity and wishing all my followers the same and whatever else makes their universe turn :D! 

Cheers!

Robyn

Footnote: please excuse the not so great photography – clear curved glass has its own reflective and mirroring properties that this amateur hasn’t worked out how to make work in a positive way and I haven't started on the wine yet :P. Another experience to add to the bucket list!