Creating for Christmas

Creating from the heart

is the way I try to create!

It's certainly why I just love to 

purchase these adorable metal hearts

so

I always look around for these when I see

Christmas decorations starting to appear at our

wonderful local nursery and gift shop.

I do love the plumpness and smoothness of this particular shape 

as well as its shiny silver tone.

It really puts me in the right frame of mind

as I start to create some Christmas Cards for friends,

family and a few orders too.

I don't see myself as a religous type of person, however,

I am very drawn to images of the Madonna and Child

at Christmas time or any other time for that matter!

I love the images used here from these (Holy) cards

where they sit amongst a few gifted pieces like these 

 vintage watch faces, brown embroidered lace and 

rhinestone pieces which were recently given to me from

Lisa  (Tarnished and Tattered Blog) as part of a 

recent swap - more about that in a later post!

Besides using some favorite images, I included stamping

but I do love the no fuss - simplicity of these finished cards.

as well as Washi tape which I rarely use at other times.

On the cards below I used some tiny scraps of

some special vintage laces 

that will be going off to some special friends.

These last three I created as part of an order

for a local shop. I just love the combination

of the blue/grey and browns

in these ones.

 I'm linking my post to Grey Dey Thursdey

over at Petite Michelle Louise Blog where you will see

some stunning Winter greys of Christmas.

Thank you always for your lovely comments - they truly

are always appreciated!

xox Suzy

A Christmas Lace Book/Journal

Several months ago I was approached by a customer

to create a "Christmas Lace Book/Journal using

rusted items, Arthur Rackham images 

and embellish as I see fit".

Well I have to tell you dear bloggers - that was

quite a challenge. So here is what I came up with!

It is the story of St. Nicholas delivering his

gifts to children on the Eve of Christmas

and the celebration of the day of Christmas.

I decided to incorporate some varying shades of gold

(Front cover)

which I felt would complement my rust dyed linens and silks

with splashes of red and deep maroon.

Sari silk was used in the binding

of all the pages.

I added many gold and silver embellishments of bells

stars, teddies and toys.

Several pages show a display of dyed mohair from our goats

with touches of red sari silk ribbons

and several different images of these 

delightful little red breasted robins.

All in all I think it came together reasonably well

in the end! What do you think?

Of course there is lace upon every page - it would have 

never been complete without heaps of beautiful

laces in varying shades of white, cream and blue.

♥♥♥♥♥

Now this is quite off the topic but I just felt I needed to share

this very important news and as a favour for dear Karen

of Todolwen,  who 

has asked me to share some updates for her~~ while attempting to change the URL of her blog, she accidentally deleted it!  And in doing this she
accidentally also lost all of her 1000 plus followers.  If you were a follower of Karen's blog and have noticed that she is gone -- you can now find her here  at her new blog location!

Please pass this blog link onto any of your own followers

who might also be following Karen.

Can you imagine how upsetting this incident could be?

Thank you dear bloggers always for your kindness
in visiting and commenting. It is always so
wonderful to see new followers too.

Much happiness in your Christmas creating activities!
May the joys of this season accompany
you everyday and always.

Love and hugs, Suzy

A Peek into our Rambling Rose Garden

It's that time of year when everything seems

to "spring" into life here in our 

Old World Rambling Garden

where we live on the Sapphire Coast of S.E. Australia
whilst most of the rest of the world is beginning to
close in as Winter approaches 

so

why don't you join me as we take a little look around.

It is a very extensive garden so I'll start with some of what

you can see at the front as you arrive.

This "Pierre de Ronsard" climbing rose 

is such a highlight as you approach the verandah of the house.

It is growing on both sides of a timber gateway entrance.

Behind this climber you can see a very vigorous

flowering Ornamental Grapevine.

Past the Crab Apple trees is a shaded deck. 

A view through a fernery from the kitchen window.

down to the Ornamental Pear trees near the goat paddock.

 Nearby in a damp spot (for Australia!) grow a profusion
of perennials like fox gloves, roses, bulbs and
shade trees like Silver Birches and a Ball Bay Magnolia.

Over this pergola grows a couple of David Austin roses
called "William Morris" (pink) and Teasing Georgia (gold).

Moving further out is a newer section once again

planted out in more roses, Silver Birch trees,

lavenders, a White Weigelia, wormwood

bordered by a row of Feijoa trees

The little structure you can see is a very recent
addition constructed from recycled corrigated iron,
some very old paint peeling weather boards and vintage windows
to create a shabby little "Garden Room"
still in the process of completion.

Looking back towards the house you can see

these magnificent Chinese Elms which

we planted about 5 years ago.

A favourite rose growing here is "Honey Dejon".

 This is the view from our Garden Room facing towards the house.

A pleasant place to sit on a hot sunny day!

Moving now to around the back of the house

in a jungle of climbing roses "Lorraine Lee"

you can see on the left my special place where I create!

and just around the corner you can see the
sunlight catching the reflection of the garden
onto this depression glass display in
our tiny sunroom!

Some Chinese Lanterns growing happily here 

as one of our Angora goats "Baby" is plotting a way to get over

onto the other side of the fence inside the garden!!!

(No chance Baby!).

The creek below is a place of utter beauty to me

with its beautiful stones and mossy rocks,

ferns, native grasses and shrubs.

"Ballerina" (I think!!!) an old fashioned rose

spreading herself all over this pergola

also around the back.

 And from our bedroom window we look out onto this
amazing view of bush and climbing roses
including "Apricot Nectar"  and

David Austin's "Umbridge".

You might also be able to see "Bonica" peeking through
amongst the Valerians.

 This is "Sally Holmes" showing off once again this Spring and

she never fails with her stunning beauty!

I would have to say - a simple single favorite!

I know this has been a very long post but I really hope

you think it was worth the stay to enjoy

some of the beauty

we can share 

in our little corner of the world.

I will be linking this post to Mosaic Monday so click on

this link if you would like to view more beautiful gardens there.

Thanks for visiting and always a special "thanks"
to all who love gardening as much as I
because
this is where you will find me if I'm not ensconsed
in my other happy place  - my studio!

A very big welcome also to all my new followers!

Suzy ♥
PS  Down the track sometime I'll share the other part
of our natural bush property and creek.