Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!

Australia day, with its own weekend, seems to always bring good weather, and of course , all the patriotic items you can think of!!!

I do love Australia day. So many of us are proud and celebrate it with a passion,lots of life and energy!

But it is also a special day for my mum...she turned '70' on Australia Day, and so there was nonstop celebrations, it was wonderful to see her so happy! We organised her a party, and invited friends both mum and dad have known for 50 years!

Mum is second on the left...

Next month will be just as exciting for both of my parents, as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a holiday!

They really are my mentors especially when it comes to friendships, they have shown me how important it is to keep and treasure those closest to you. I was saying to my children, how 'cool' it is to be able to say you have "lifelong" friends. It truly is amazing, and Im so happy to have been fortunate enough to have a few close friends from my childhood to lean on, laugh and cry with. I hope my children can share such wonderful lifelong friendships as we have...

As far as ebay goes, times are a bit slow, maybe once school goes back, and my girls find work, I maybe able to concentrate!

Well, I went out junkin' today for the first time in a couple of months! Thank god, I was getting worried with all these weird dreams Ive been having, I have found the most fantastic things, only to find I wake up, and so I thought I better do something about it...my neighbour saved me from withdrawals! I had a great morning, found a few specials, and so the painting and fixing begins!!

Ive been tagged....

Thanks Katrina, who has given me this challenge , I'll see if I can do it, here goes!!

I have been tagged by Katrina, '5 Things meme.'

Here are the rules. Link to the tagger and post these rules on your blog. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I like to be the first one up each morning, have a coffee, and watch 'Sunrise', and plan my day.Today was not good, hearing the news of Heath Ledger...

2. I often have 'Junk dreams', Im out fossicking for specials in my sleep, is that a problem??

3. When Im home alone, which is quite rare, I usually have the stereo blasting with 'Jimmy Barnes', it's 'me time'!

4. I am an emotional person at the best of times, cry at the drop of a hat, but tend to hide it quite well, until NOW!

5. My hubby just started calling me 'Dory', I cant remember why...

Ok, I tag;

Jill

Jennifer

Clare

Colleen

Suzanne

Ok, so its all out there now...

Spark of Creativity...

So here it is , Sunday afternoon, and Im sitting thinking, as I do, what have I achieved this weekend...not much! Yesterday was so wet, rained constantly. I couldnt paint, as I had done the day before, in the rain, and it looked terrible. I intended to clean up my studio, but cant seem to get past the door, so I shut them once again!

Then it came to me, at 4pm....Im going to finish the silver tray!

Well thankfully I did just that, and am quite happy with the result. I am going to finish the cute sugar and creamer in much the same way, and will post them soon! Just deciding whether to give it as a gift, or put it on ebay....I'll let you know if interested!

Dont you just love it when a 'Spark of Creativity' comes out of the blue, and knocks you out of the chair?? Wish it happened more often, I'd get so much more accomplished...but for now ,Im satisfied, until tomorrow, when hopefully I can tackle my studio!!!

When is silverware not silverware???

Polishing silverware is up there with pulling weeds out of a lawn by hand...isnt that what sprays are for? Yeh, another pet hate of mine!!!
Anyway these days,silverware is more popular tarnished, when it has that aged patina, it just looks gorgeous, especially when you see it in the garden, or a coffee pot used as a vase,transformed into more unusual things!

I have a fair amount of silverware collected over the years, tarnished of course, so rather than it sit on a shelf, in a cupboard or drawer, I put my creative hat on, and give it a new purpose...

This little card holder was a serviette holder, but my tags and cards fit in there so much better, Im thinking of having it engraved,'Junk-it Junction'.

This gorgeous little keeper, I think is suppose to hold sugar cubes, but I found it useful for corkboard pins!

Silver plated trays with all there ornate scrolls and engravings,are always a lovely

way to serve up afternoon tea, but also make a great display on your wall, the finished product coming soon!!

I just love these , they are so cute, with their little feet! Im thinking, cotton balls, and buds....Ive undercoated them, and will show you the finished product soon!

So check out my next blog, and I'll show you the 'Silverware makeover'!

A "Pause" in Time...

Well ,Christmas is over, and the New Year has well and truly begun!

I'm in a very philosophical mood today...sorry, dont mean to bore you!

My first strawberry!

I find myself lost for words when I try to absorb the past year and it's vast quantity of events and activities which surrounded us everyday....

Then I look at the calendar this morning, only to realize the first week of the New Year is over!

If 'time' could just pause whilst we were thinking,we'd have plenty of 'time' left over to actually 'do' all the things we are spending so much 'time' thinking about!!

Yep, that's me...a thinker!! I drive myself crazy sometimes, not only from my thoughts, but in frustration, I'm not getting anything done!!

Im not into New Year Resolutions, it is too much pressure to be under for my liking, though I do like to have roughly sketched plans to work towards over the following months.

I suppose that could be classed as the easy way out, so if I fail to fulfill a plan, or a target, it doesnt matter, it was only a sketch, nothing definite! Yeh I know, I think too much!! But if you knew me, you'd know Im fairly undecisive, so I dont like to commit...

The Capital Theatre, Billy Elliot, fantastic!!

Anyway, Ive been browsing everyone's blogs, and it has just been entertaining me no end, there are some very interesting people out there in blogland, it is the 'technological' way of socializing! My friend Sue, whom I've mentioned on many occasions, says she reads it to catch up on what I've been doing, and she doesnt have to actually reply, or have a conversation with me, this is coming from someone who lives to talk!

On my very informal list, plan 'to do' this year, I really want to dig down deep and explore some creative and artistic talents I used to have B.C ( before children ).It might take a bit of digging!!

My table on my 'verandah', post Christmas! The table is made from part of a tenpin bowling lane!

Im hoping to sell some more of my 'licorice all sorts' pieces of junk , restored furniture, and household items, and spend more time 'doing', instead of sketching plans!

Whatever effect the New Year has on you, enjoy, hold your head up high, and look forward to the unexpected each new day brings!