Bleeding Hearts and Irises...

good afternoon all!

i was inspired to purchase the fabric,

 for the cushion i'll show you today,

by two blogs that have the most delectable gardens

and in amongst all kinds of

blooms and blossoms,

there were branches of bleeding hearts.

"heaven's walk" and "aiken house and gardens"

are both on my blogroll

if you'd like to pop in and visit.

i've made another rectangular one

as the 'branches' of bleeding hearts

just seemed to want to spread out along the cushion...

dramatic and deeply teal..georgeous fabric

the back..more georgeousness!

just on a whim

i thought i'd try these out together..

i think they look a turquoise treat

jumbled together on the black seat!

they are all waiting to be taken into new homes

at my 'madeit' shop online..

button..top right hand corner for a direct link.

i was going to share something else today

but got out of bed too late to put the wheels in motion..

here's hopin' i can drag this bag  o' bones

out of bed tomorrow for it!

have a lovely evening...

naturally Carol xox

p.s... if i pass on an award, i really don' t mind if you decide not to act upon the offer or whether you would like to take it up..it's your choice...however please take it as a compliment from me , that i find your blog wonderful in some way!

pps..'bleeding hearts' cushion cover available at www.madeit.com/NaturallyCarol

Thanks a Bunch!

good morning!

i've been tagged for the 'versatile blogger award'

by beth from boatshedchic

thanks beth!

 

according to the rules:

to accept this award i have to write 7 little known things about myself...

• i always wanted to live in the country..until i got here and was terrified of snakes and so live in the most built up part of town.
• due to many failed or very average essays produced at school i never thought i could write and it still surprises me that anybody reads this blog.
• when i get to choose the movies we watch in this house everybody is surprised when i actually choose one that we enjoy...i know how to pick the duds..they always have an interesting storyline on the case..that's my defense.
• i don't have a favourite colour...or is that really that i do but they change a lot, depending on what fabric i'm looking at or how a room is designed or how i'm feeling on the day.
• i often like a thing until everyone else seems to like it and then i get bored with it.
• my newest project is always the one i like best.
• i used to hate aniseed flavoured food..now i love it!

now to pass this award on to some deserving recipients...

i have just picked 5 today of some people that write about all kinds of different subjects

in their blogs and do it well...

• gill and nic from 'alice becomes'
• laura from 'summerhouse'
• cat from 'raspberry rainbow'
• pam from 'bayside rose'
•  gayle from 'garden of daisies'
• tiff from 'mrs tiff'
• birdie blue from 'birdieblue'

if you don't know these blogs

i recommend that you pop in for a visit...to these cheerful places
&

you will meet a few very accomplished women!

now to show you something a little different...

a couple of weeks ago i bought some vintage replica handkerchiefs

from simone at beach vintage..

i decided to make a throw over..

to keep flies off plates of food on a table,

usually used for morning or afternoon tea..while waiting for guests to arrive.

the hankies are light and delicately floral...

please pretend that it's covering a lovely cake on the table,

not just my bowl of fruit!

folded up after use on the back of a chair...

 

a close up of the seams and corners...

i made seams about 1.2 cm from the border of the hankies

and didn't quite go to the corners.

this means the corners flute up and form a little ruffley bit

which looks quite attractive.

i think my retro hankie throw

will get quite a lot of use from now on!

now...i have to inform my award winners...

naturally Carol xox

Coming Up Red Roses!

hi!

this afternoon i'm linking up with 'maxabella'...

i'm grateful

for a week that started up as

sad

dreary

depressed

&

grey

and ended up as

joyful

amazing

loving

&

coming up red roses!

i am grateful for change...

transitions

steps

oprah

&

coincidences.

this fabric was on my mind this morning

&

i think it just fits the bill!

roses are red

violets are blue

golden ribbons of friendship

remind me of you!

the green apron was posted today...

was it coincidence

that i thought of my friend debbie last saturday

&

then before i could even get the apron made

she sent me a parcel

to spoil me?

was it a cooincidence

that my friend margaret

was at the local shopping centre

at the same time i was

&

we spent a lovely morning

relaxing over coffee and raisin toast

on wednesday?

i think i love red buttons!

as soon as i saw these red buttons in a shop

i wanted to own them and use them...

haha! i'm grateful for red buttons too!

i hope you're having a red letter saturday...

and have time to smell red roses

and collect red buttons.

naturally Carol xox


ps..roses cushion sold at www.madeit.com/NaturallyCarol

Banana Bliss at Ten in the Morning!

good morning!

this morning i warmed up the house

by making a batch of banana bliss muffins.

these were in the 'care package'

along with nestle cappucino sticks

from deb.

easy peasey..just put the packet mix into the bowl

&

add water.

stir.

no adding extra eggs, oil, milk or anything else!

put a tablespoon of mixture into each paper case..

large ones.

it was meant to make a dozen

but i made mine a little larger and it made eleven.

mmm! they're ready to go..

boil the jug.

make the cappucino,

put the muffin on a fancy plate

the flag makes it taste even better

&

debbie i'm thinking of you

as i have morning tea this morning...

just like we used to every friday morning

in canberra!

thank you, deb...

i do feel spoilt rotten..haha!

the smell of banana bliss muffins

got mr t and sharrie out of bed to share them with me..lol

next term he will be a student..so won't be sleeping in!

and the house is nice and warm!

there's nothing like a special friend to warm up your heart...

naturally Carol xox

p.s...i've saved a few for the final moments of oprah this evening!

The Green Apron...

good afternoon!

today i'm even later than yesterday...

the sun is down on the other side of the hills

and last light is fast approaching!

but

i have a good reason

for not posting sooner...

i've finished the green apron.

pressed and on the hanger..

a bit of detail..

a flower shaped button on the frilly pocket

&

the loop.

'fandango'..a great fabric to work with,

beautiful quality

&

a kind of polished look to it.

{thanks kate spain!}

the back and ties...

a black label & 'if''.

hopefully this will get mailed tomorrow

or friday at the latest...it will be a surprise..maybe?

{sometimes she checks out this blog..lol}

i've got other news too...

last night i made my first sale on 'madeit'.

i was so excited

i got up early this morning to wrap it prettily

and post it off on it's way to melbourne..yay!

i've got more news too..

i won a 'versatile blogger' award

from beth at 'boatshedchic'..

i'll pass that on tomorrow.

i think i might see if i can join in with 'kootoyoo' today..

if blogger will let me play!

'til tomorrow..

oh by the way..did you watch oprah last night..

i did..and i'm looking forward to tonight!

two more shows to go ..here in oz..

naturally Carol xox

Frilling!

hello there!

it's late in the afternoon

and the shadows are lengthening fast.

the warmth of the day is ebbing away

and the cool of the evening is seeping in.

i took the opportunity this afternoon

in the warmth of my little sewing nook...

to sew a frilly pocket

onto the apron i cut out yesterday....

frills are thrilling me at the moment

so i'm adding them where i can!

i love the softness they add to an item

&

that added dimension and prettiness.

i'm thrilled about a few things today:

i won one of nikki's new books from jodie at ric rac..yay!

&

got a special package from my friend deb in canberra...

a real pick-me-up!

i am totally overwhelmed with your blessings deb and jodie...

thank you so much.

i'll share more later about these.

by the way..i did comment on some posts yesterday

and then found that blogger wasn't connecting me properly..

so if i'm a regular commenter on your blog

and you didn't hear from me yesterday,

it's not favouritism

it's just 'cos when i had to sign in...

i had to sign in

&

sign in

&

sign in

&

then it made me an anonymous commenter

&

still wouldn't sign me in!!!

so

i gave up and left!

i hope it's fixed itself today.

i forced myself to go out last night

to my usual tuesday evening thing..

and

it forced me to reconsider some silly sad thoughts

that have roamed around in my brain

the last few days..

then being blessed by deb and jodie

put those thoughts away permanently.

as a result i feel my normal self has returned

and the joy i usually carry around is back

where it should be,

in my heart.

i love having friends!

wishing you are having a joyful wednesday!

naturally Carol xox



Lavender & Not a Bit of Lace!

hi to you!

on this sunny tuesday afternoon...

last week i visited

'bayside rose' in her 'madeit' shop..

{she has a link on her site}

&

this is what i bought...

pam made this

from a beautifully embroidered piece of vintage doily.

it is exquisite...

but that's not the best part..believe it or not!

stuffed inside the neck of the little bag

was a sweet smelling tuffet of lavender

&

further down inside

is the 'piece de resistance'...

handmade lavender soap

all wrapped up in paper and string!

just georgeous...thank you pam ~ it's all packaged beautifully

and such good value..for a gift or to treat yourself.

{this one's for me..i just love good soap..

especially if they're made with natural ingredients.}

all that lavender reminded me of my button tin.

i don't know where i got it but i've had it a long, long time

&

it just fits with my lavender theme here today!

i keep using my buttons up..

since i've begun to sew again in the past year!

have you begun to collect little gifts for christmas yet?

i went into a stationery shop the other day

and found a couple of great things

that are now stashed away in my wardrobe..

so the hunt has officially begun here.

some things get left to the last minute

but preferably,

i like to be a bit organised

&

that gives me more time to see things

that each person on my list would really like.

i hope you're having a sweet smelling day

like i am this tuesday!

naturally Carol xox

Monday Quartet...

good morning!

isn't it lovely to be at the beginning

of a fresh week...

stretching out before us

unopened

full of every possibility

and opportunity!

i decided that my trio of cushions

needed a fourth member...

so this one made the cut.

she's a bit smaller than the other square cushion

40 cm x 40 cm

or 16" x 16"

the fabrics on the back

tie her in with the rest of the gang.

here they are in all their splendour

on the black couch

our newest member looks right at home

just hanging out...relaxing!

they won't be lying around for too long

this quartet has an audition coming up

for a gig on 'madeit'

in just a few minutes...

i think they're made for each other..ah ah!

hoping your having an harmonious & wildly musical monday..

or at least mildly musical..monday

ah ah!

naturally Carol xox

Grateful for..the Birth of an Idea!

hi!

have you ever woken up in the morning...

just a little sad and a bit aimless.

looking outside and seeing a dull grey day...

your heart just sinking.

going back to bed just wishing the day

would change.

i did.

this morning.

but

needing a few things from the shops..{again!}

i went out

&

had some of this kinda stuff...

except it was 'cappucino-fied'!

&

a bite to eat...

except it was banana bread...

these are the ones i brought home for mr t and sharrie!

i read the paper for a while

sitting in the cafe

&

thought

what can i do next.

i need a little project

to think about

and get myself out of myself

so i don't just dwell on things

&

make myself sadder.

then

my mind

switched from 'off'

to 'on'

i thought of someone

to make

one of these for

out of

these.

i'm grateful

that thinking about

what i can do for someone else

can take my  mind off myself

&

give today

purpose

&

even joy!

yesterday i finished this square cushion

to go with the rectangles...

for my 'shop'...

i'm going to do a little square 'citrus' one as well,

just to finish the set.

i'm joining with 'maxabella' today

i need to read some more 'grateful' posts...obviously!!!

i hope you find purpose & joy in your weekend...

naturally Carol xox

ps...don't get worried about me, i am usually quite a happy person...i am just between stuff at the moment..i've nearly filled my little 'madeit shop' and need some other bigger project ..until then i am practising patience..sometimes not very well!



Variation on a Theme...

hi there!

i've had this one on my mind for a few days

and cut out some of the fabric,

but today i just wanted to finish it.

if you imagined leaves floating in a pool of aqua yesterday...

then today imagine

cocktails by the side of that pool

with

slices of multi coloured fruit!

mmm...delicious..haha!!

bliss!

mouthwatering!

it's ok..i'm not asleep

just resting my eyes!

letting the warmth envelope me....

and the water slide over my skin as i drift!

it seems...

that thursday's

a good day for dreaming!

naturally Carol xox

Aqua Leaves!

good morning..

i'm still into making rectangular cushions

so just thought i'd give you a look at this one..

it is the first of a few on the same theme.

it is like leaves in a swimming pool!

i love this fabric!

i just get lost in the blue

and the rounded shape of the leaves...

they almost look like fish!

the buttons look like sea glass...

i couldn't resist a selvedge detail either..

.

discreetly sewn in with the seam on the back!

i'm off to do a wee bit of grocery shopping..

no matter how much i buy there always seems to be something more to get.

so i'll sneak in a cappucino when i'm out...

then this afternoon i do my teeny tiny paid job

and hopefully can get some sewing time in.

have a blue sky day

&

a swim if it's warm enough...soak in all those lovely aquas,

hoping there aren't too many leaves in your swimming pool!

naturally Carol xox

Tyre Swing...

good morning!

on the way home from prayer meeting this morning

i stopped by a friends house for a moment

and for once had my camera in the car.

just outside her front garden

there is a little clearing in front some bushland

and some trees

and on one of those trees

is a tyre swing...

did your childhood include memories

of swinging on one of these?

do your kids love 'em too?

i'm in to tyre swings this tuesday!

have a good one...

naturally Carol xox