Backyard Renovations

Here is a sneak peak of an aquistition I made on Friday from the amazingly talented local artist Nathan (click to go to his web site). This particular art work is 1.1mtrs x .9mtrs and will feature in the our Kitchen Renovation eventually. Now she is home I will take some yummy shots of her myself and post them later of the exquisite details. Mind you  I was supposed to be just commissioning a feature for the backyard works with Nathan but had to have this one too when I saw it in person. The backyard art work Nathan is designing for me will be a triptych approx 3mtrs long and in similar colours with a Medusa inspired female and food feast theme given it will go above the cooking areas.

Nathan has done some stunning work together with Kester who has just completed the makeovers mentioned in my last post on our backyard and the front water feature- you must check out his website for his amazing works like the one above. He has placed a similar version of this pond in our backyard with a 3mtr  water wall where this peacock mosaic is in this picture beside the alfresco dining area. This pond then flows into the main feature which is a second larger Water Wall into a Koi Pond which is approx 12mtrs + long  and has a 2.5mtr long glass section in it to see into the pond and the Koi Fish like an aquarium of sorts. This has all been stage one and we now have stage two commencing with  3 new cedar roofs to go in next over the outdoor kitchen area, the Alfresco Dining and Entrance from the Back Door.  More noise, Chaos, Early Mornings and Dust! 

Cherish Friends - Weekend Class Results

Here is a sneak peak of a weekend class I did with Miss Mel Connell at Scraptivate - more to come, gotta get the housework done first LOL!

You can check out all the photo's on this project in the meantime on my Flickr Account here

Okay the worst of the housework is done so here is some more. I went to a class with my friend Nicole on Saturday to do this beautiful Shadow Box Canvas designed by Mel at Scraptivate. Nicole has just become a Grandma for the first time so it was perfect for her 'precious' baby boy Nate with a few twists on the colour theme of course.

I on the other hand had no idea as usual what photo I was going to use but this one just popped for me on the day with the colour theme of some very cherished friends of mine I made whilst last at a Medical Retreat oversea's for some much need holistic health care called Sanoviv (click on the word to check it out or on Dr Wentz Blog Here ). The above photo was taken before I placed the clear plastic over it with it's front frame for protection. Mel had us use a canvas reversed so we had a shadow box to work with, so we covered all the yuckky staples with a very clever frame made with with gesso and stencils. 

 We played most of the time with the golden paints and gesso getting the frame ready and making just a little mess :). I've never really played much with butterfly's before but must say I rather liked it. Mel has this 'pen and palm' of your hand roll that just makes them come to life that was so easy! I guess I will be playing some more with butterflys now....

Newest Family Member - Sun Conure

UPDATE  - WE CALLED IT "CHU CHI"

It was my partner Nino's birthday recently and he has been so wanting an Avery for such a long time I decided I would  get it started for him as a surprise this year (and they say grown men don't cry!). 

Months ago we ( Nicole and I ) schemed up a plan to get him a hand raised baby Sun Conure as close as possible to his birthday. Well we were able to bring this one home on Sunday only a week late so I was pretty happy with that and Nino was esctatic. In the photo slide you will see the parents, the breeder, it's first feeding at home and it's siblings all taken since Sunday.

You may wonder why I am calling it 'it' because we can't decide /agree what to name it. You cannot tell with Sun Conure without invasive and expensive surgery what sex they are which makes it even harder to decide. So any one who has a suggestion it would be well received - at the moment it is just known as 'cheeky' because he is such a character.

Sun Conure's apart from being so colourful are the most affectionate and cuddly bird I have ever known. They can be taught to talk some what but they are best known for thier personality and cuddles. I can see more to come in the coming years along with 28's and Rosella's I am informed. I daresay the second backyard is about to become a bird sanctuary knowing Nino.

Had to Share - De Hua Long - 6yrs

Today I got a lovely surprise in the mail and  just opened a letter from World Vision on  my sponsored child from the Luchun County, Yunnan Province  in the Peoples Republic of China. Inside I found a photo of a very happy little girl who is looking so much better than in her previous photos in recent years in my mind.

Her name is De Hua Long and her birthdate is the same as mine ( less a lot of years of course) which is why when choosing to sponsor a child it was such an easy choice for me on this occaision. Nino and I  have been sponsoring De Hua now for the past 4 years and are so looking forward to her watching her growing up in the years to come and to one day maybe even get to meet her.  I hope you enjoy her photos' as I do.  I think De Hua has a very special smile that signifies hope and real joy.

This is the photo that arrived in the mail today, the first photo is from when we  first started to sponsor Du Hua. Of course being a milliner the hat attracted my attention at first and then the birthdate sealed the deal with a very special attachment in my mind as if it was always meant to be especially considering I had always wanted a girl of my own having only one son myself.

Above is a letter that was sent on behalf  of De Hua's father (who also cannot write ) to tell me some of Du Hua's life. I understand she lives in a village surrounded by mountains and tree's, that the main crops are paddy rice and corn with some vegetables grown in the winter months. They speak Hani minority as thier native tongue and he hopes that I will like his child and be good friends.

Preserving My Family History

This was my very first ever attempt some time ago to produce my own work upon being introduced to scrapbooking as a means to preserve my treasured family photos that I had the great fortune to be entrusted with.

These photos are of my grandparents on  my mothers side and my great grandparents also on my mothers side. The cutie on the chair is my grandmother and the curly hair cutie is my grandfather.

I loved making this one for all the sentimental reasons attached to creating something special as a true treasure. More detailed photos are available on Flickr on this project under my Antique Photo Albums Collection.