Who is Going to Win the Giveaway?

The time has arrived for the drawing of the

Giveaway for Gratitude

and

before announcing the winners I would just like to express

my sincere thanks and appreciation for

the kindness shown with so many positive comments

from all of my old and new followers

here

over the recent loss of my Dad.

It truly has been a constant source of strength and understanding.

I would like to add that this is hard for me

as, in my eyes, everyone is a Winner!!!

The Random Generator has spoken

and

First gift goes to: Yitte

at http://www.yitte.blogspot.com/

who will receive this:

and this

and this

Yitte is the creator of so many beautiful mixed media items and fabric journals.

Second gift goes to: Sharon
at http://www.craftroomtransformation.blogspot.com/

Sharon makes the most beautiful paper journals in her craftroom.

Sharon will receive this gift:

Dear winners please make sure that I have your email addresses!

You might like to pay a visit to these blogs and view their beautiful creations.

It is wonderful that one gift has gone to a new follower

and

one gift to an old follwer.

Thank you every body once again for leaving such heartfelt comments -
it continues to spur me on in my creative pursuits
and it is from all of you
that I derive so much of my inspiration!

I will leave you with some more Spring Blossom and Magnolia photos of my garden
for you to enjoy
as the weekend approaches here in our part of the world
whilst you are appreciating the more subdued and soft lights of the
approaching Autumn.

"If you see a friend without a smile -
give them one of yours".

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Love, Suzy xxx



Spring Brings New Life to Baby Birds and Me

This is Springtime in our garden at home.

Have you ever seen such a glorious Weeping Cherry as this?

You can actually get in underneath it - it is just so large!

This is what fairytale gardens are made of!

Those blossoms are of the softest shades of pink and white!

And not only does Spring bring such new growth

but

also new life and new beginnings!

Just look at these divine little baby Grey Shriek Thrushes being fed a dragon fly

by their mother

and

to think it is all happening in view from our kitchen window!

Jeff placed this cutdown garden pot on a bracket

about 3 years ago in our outdoor living garden room

and so far we have had

three separate hatchlings.

And

over here nestled in this Sweet Osmanthus

is another nest of baby New Holland Honeyeaters

Look at the expression in it's eyes!

Just how precious is that???

And I couldn't resist showing images of this dear little nest I also found

Look at the colours of these feathers -

So beautiful

I can identify the red ones as being from that of the

Red Browed Fire Tail

We have so many of these little birds in our garden.

I can even see some of the clippings from our Apricot Poodle in there -

Miss Lilly.

Spring and the bird song and the new movement of life

has been the motivation for my new nature journal

entitled

"Little Bird".

The bird image used on the front cover is from Dawn at

http://www.the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/

Dawn has been so generous in allowing bloggers

access to her beautiful images - thank you Dawn!

Other materials used on the cover include scrim which I have dyed and quilted

along with silk for leaves, webbing for the bird's nest,

buttons and a feather from an Australian "Kookaburra".

This opened page view displays a pocket which holds a

First Day Cover

of renowned Botanist, Sir Joseph Banks,

who accompanied Captain Cook in the "Endevour"

to Australia.

The scripted page is from a paper napkin which came all the way from

my dearest friend, Dorthe, in Denmark

http://www.denlillelade.blogspot.com/

and will now be winging its way to Canada

(the world's best travelled paper napkin!!!).

This back cover is made from upholstery fabric depicting an Oak Leaf.

I shall post more pages a bit later!

Finally one last reminder about my

Giveaway for Gratitude

If you would like to enter

you have just two days to put your comment

in the post which is

The post before the last post.

Wishing everyone the best of luck
in the draw!

Hope you are all having a most creative week!

Love Suzy xxx

Spring is Coming and So is Some New Work

But

Firstly I would love to thank everyone of you who

has posted such heart felt and encouraging
comments over the loss of my

Dad -

and

for entering your name in my

GIVEAWAY   FOR  GRATITUDE

which will be drawn in exactly one week

Friday, 23rd Sept.

So

there is still time if you would like to enter -
Just leave your comment in the post below this one.

As we all know:

(From the Byrd's song)

There is "A time to dance, a time to mourn

To everything (turn turn turn)

There is a season (turn turn turn)

And a time to every purpose under Heaven".

So with the advent of the Spring season here where I live
on the far south coast of Australia

I have turned my muse to a new birth of creativity

in the form of a Nature Journal

which is on my table

ready for assembling.



I was so fortunate that this commission came just at the time

when I was needing the challenge

of a new project

to get back

to the place where I belong - in my studio!!!

Thank you so much Gisele

http://www.supersnooks13.blogspot.com/

for the challenge!

Thank you also to every new follower who has joined my blog
and for the inspiring comments you have left!
It is so appreciated and gives me
a reason to continue
to fulfil my purpose
here!

Have a wonderful upcoming weekend

and

take care of yourselves and everyone around you!

You are all special!

Hugs from

Suzy

xxx

A Giveaway for Gratitude

It really is never easy to say

your last "Goodbye" to a loving parent, especially the only remaining one!

The funeral and all the associated emotional events around it

did leave us quite empty.

However, I can't tell you just how many blessings, how much comfort and peace

I received from the most heart warming comments I received from

blogging friends and even bloggers unknown

during this time of grief.

So as a way of expressing my deep gratitude and appreciation to you all

and to help restore some of my creative motivation

I have created

This Giveaway

ending on Friday, 23rd September.

for you all to enter as a Bouquet of Love!

It also provides a chance for my new followers to possibly share in my creations.

There are no rules except one entry per person

and

please feel free to

place it on your sidebar to share with others.

I have two chances for you to win:

The first person drawn will win the above collaged and embellished

Rose Clutch

(This was very popular in a previous giveaway!)

made from a recycled lace tray cloth, a cut lace linen doiley,

scrim and satin ribbon roses with vintage buttons,

a buckle and a bundle of lace fabrics.

The second person whose name I draw

will receive this embellished lace and linen doiley needlebook

with some white silk tassel fringing,

Venetian and cotton laces and

trims.

So here is the total amount being given away:

The draw will take place on

Friday, 23rd September.

I wish everyone including all my new followers

the very best of luck and look forward

to your continued love and support of my artwork

and

thank you all so very much for leaving such wonderful comments.

Enjoy this protea from our garden "Blushing Bride".

Wishing you love, peace and blessings,

Suzy xxx