Etsy Treasury "Winter Roses" and My GYB Giveaway

A little Rose Display to brighten your day!

Sarah Bennett from www.etsy.com/shop/mylittlesomethings

has just featured one of my rose quilts in her treasury

so thought I might share this bit of news

with you! 

If you are a lover of roses, especially of red and pink,

then go on over to Sarah's Etsy shop

and have a look of all the many vintage items she has

for sale and if anyone is interested in buying my quilt above

which is available in My Etsy shop at

www.etsy.com/shop/suziqu

The quilt which measures 68" x 68"

has been created from a wide selection of 

the best quality rose printed cotton fabrics

ranging from soft pastels

to some deep rich red tonings.

the backing is of a soft cotton

and the batting is of a soft wool mix -

a cosy and comforting quilt.

Just send me an email to let me know if you are interested

at suziqu@tpg.com.au

♥♥♥

As part of Vicki's 

Grow Your Blog party

I am hosting a Giveaway 

also

 which will be drawn here on

Friday, 1st of February

so if you haven't been for

for a visit to my blog to view the 400 plus blogs

entering this amazing event

then

go to the previous post and enter your name

there to be eligible.

You don't have to be a follower or even own a blog

just make sure you leave a contact email address 

for me to contact you.

♥♥♥

I would also like to thank everyone for the most

comforting and thoughtful comments

left on the previous post

about the fires that were surrounding us a week ago

We are safe and sound at this stage and sooooooo very much

looking forward to some lovely refreshing rain

to clear the air and replenish our water tanks.

Thank you so very much!

x Suzy

Relief at last!!!

Well, at least for the time being,

it looks like our prayers have been answered with the

most welcome arrival of some beautiful refreshing

rain after an abnormally hot and hazardous week of bush fires

surrounding many properties and homes in our area.

(100's properties damaged but thankfully no lives lost).

I have been totally pre-occupied this week with the

care and safety of ourselves and our family and friends

living close to the bushfire areas here where we live in a coastal

area of the far south coast of Australia in New South Wales

Our family - kids and grandchildren

have just this morning travelled

back to their property which was undamaged.

♥♥♥

I do apologize to everyone, who left such supportive comments

in my last post, if I didn't get back to you this time but

your kind thoughts were soooooo appreciated and

I thank you for each and everyone 

and 

welcome all my new followers also!!!

  

This is how some of our hydrangeas were looking only a

couple of weeks before we went into the heatwave

and after one day of 42 deg.C (107 deg. F) with a roaring hot wind

it turned these gorgeous blooms into this! 

  

burnt and scorched (like much of the garden and trees)

but 

 it will all recover -

maybe not this year but certainly next Summer

we will see their beauty return.

♥♥♥

This morning I went out into that lovely soft warm rain

and visited a local market where I purchased 

this!

Being a lover of spinning wool (particularly that of our

angora goats) and still owning my spinning wheel

of almost 40 years (now that's almost vintage - hey???)

I couldn't resist this beautifully hand crafted spindle

from the 1800's made from copper and brass

with tiny rusty hooks

and 

it weighs a ton too!

♥♥♥

Just before Christmas I was commissioned to create a needle book

as a gift for another fibre and textile artist as a surprise

and I used this beautiful image of William Bouguereau

to create this.

The image depicts "Sisters"

I dyed the smooth woollen felted pages in a soft mushroom pink

before embellishing with 

pieces of vintage printed satin, dyed laces and silk fabrics.

Now before leaving I thought I might just remind you that

next Saturday, 19th January is the

"Grow Your Blog" Event

which is being sponsored by Vicki at

vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com

so if you would like to visit the list of bloggers

entered into this along with my own

then you will be entered into

my small Giveaway

Here 

on the 19th by leaving a comment.  This party was so very

generously created by Vicki as a way of promoting

an awareness of new bloggers as well

advertising their creative arts and skills.

So

come on over and join in the fun then.

Until then, I'm sending you some rose love from

some of the roses I have recently dried from

my garden.

See you soon!!!

xxx Suzy

A New Year Greeting, Grow Your Blog and Giveaway Coming

Whether you are freezing in the Northern Hemisphere

or toasting in the Southern Hemisphere

New Year is a time for:

new dreams, hopes, aspirations and resolutions!

I hope half of your dreams come true,

some of your resolutions too

as well as lots of your aspirations
and inspirations for your much loved friends, family
and creativity.

I read these beautiful words on Judy's blog today
which I thought was so very special and wanted
to share them with you.
"If we lit a candle for each person who loved us
and helped us along the way 
we would be astonished by the number"!
(we would probably be blown away!!!).

♥♥♥♥♥

Already for me a dream has been fulfilled this past year

where I am published in the Winter edition of

Crazy Quilt Gatherings Magazine

thanks to the wonderful recognition and support of
Pat Winter, Editor, from
wwwgatherings100.com
(You really do need to go and check out this
 really beautiful magazine!)

Oh my goodness my article on a Fabric Garden Journal
was spread over four whole pages!
thanks to our kind-hearted Pat! 

Pat did such an amazing job with the layout using

embroidery and lace 

to enhance the images!

And none of this would have been possible had I not established my blog some two years ago to expand
my knowledge by opening up my heart and mind
to connect with like minded souls
 to share my creativity
with others.

Now you too can have this opportunity
by availing yourself of the most generous offer by
the likes of Vicki who really does have the interests
of bloggers at heart always trying to look after
the needs of others through her many causes 
by organizing a party to help grow your blog.

The aim is to bring new people to your little part of the world

to showcase whatever your passion/ art/ craft/ collection/ Etsy shop

etc. may be that you wish to share with 

the rest of the blog world.

This party will take place on  Sat. January 19th

by clicking here to see the list of all the 

blogs taking part in this

and

by leaving a comment here you will be entered into 

My Giveaway.

♥♥♥♥♥

Thought I might just share this new collage which I

have created for my dear friend Andrea.

Andrea presented me with this

very beautiful photo of

her grandmother, Pearl

Pearl is on the right of this image!

In my usual style of using all things vintage

 combined with layers and layers

 
 of cotton, lace and tattered doilies
combining some burlap webbing, vintage
button, and string

vintage chain with sari silk ribbon

This was the result!

I decided I would use this photo 

and return it to her in the form of a collage

for her Birthday in December.

So with our New Year of 2013 I'm wishing you

good health,

a giving heart 

and the continued gift of good judgement!

I have a number of new projects to show you soon

including the completion of another Fabric Book

so

if you come along with me on my journey into 2013

you may see some more creations which

I hope will appeal!

Thank you heaps for all of your lovely comments

you left me also throughout the past 12 months -

it is appreciated!

xxx Suzy