Happy St. Valentine's Day

 This is a bag I made for myself using a pattern by Rhonda Thornley  called 'Sam's Tote'.  It was featured in a recent Handmade Magazine.  I put different handles on the bag and increased the depth by adding a piece of fabric across the top of the bag.

I decided to jazz up the back of the bag by inserting a piece of the heart fabric I had left over.

That's all for now,

Nessie

Yesterday

 Early yesterday morning we had visitors in the form of a couple of cheeky cockatoos.

 One was inquisitive and gave our place a good inspection.

 My husband suggested that they were looking for more of the almonds to eat.



Later that morning we took a drive to Grants Picnic Ground in the Dandenong Ranges.

 There are lovely trails to walk along and the trees are so tall.

 There are plenty of cockatoos here and there is a area for people visiting to feed them

and as a result they have no fear of humans at all as you can  see from the pictures.

 The colour of the inside of their wings are great to see.

 There is of course a café for people to visit.

The cockatoos are flying away to nearby trees in this picture but I am sure it will not be long before they came back!

That's all for now,

Nessie

Jacob's ladder blocks

I enjoyed making these blocks.  I will be giving them to my quilt guild as a contribution to the gift quilt effort.  It will be interesting what block they ask us to make next time.

That's all for now,

Nessie

It is just too hot!

 Our new rose (Blue Moon) has given us some lovely blooms to enjoy.

 Our summer weather does not affect our cactus plants.

 We have enjoyed seeing these fuchsias blooming

 as well as the lavender.

The above is an Australian Native Yellow Hibiscus.   Lovely pleated petals.
Needless to say this flower did not last in all the heat!

We in Victoria have experienced a very hot week with temperatures in 40cs.  We expect a cool change very soon and it will be very welcome!  Our thoughts are with the people threatened by fires at this time.

That's all for now.

Nessie

Happy New Year!

This is the first sunrise for 2014.  A few moments after I took this picture of the sun rising behind the Dandenong Ranges  grey clouds came down and it has been a mostly cloudy day since!

Wishing every one a happy and peaceful 2014.

That's all for now,

Nessie

Christmas Greetings

 I could not resist this card of owls representing a Christmas Tree.  They are so cute!!

I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas with family and friends.

That's all for now,

Nessie

Yarn Garden

 Outside my local library I noticed this Yarn Garden made by a few of the local schools in our area.

    It certainly brightened up the area and added more greenery to the open space.

   I took these pictures with my 'phone camera to capture this event.

    Such creativity!  It is lovely to see that some young people are learning some of the crafts.

That's all for now

Nessie