Clean Corners!

good morning!

over the last week or so

i have had a rare rush of desire..

probably brought on by springlike signs...

to clean up some corners

in my house.

over winter a hibernating urge

usually overtakes me to some extent

and my corners become creepy with dust and debris

and general neglect...

so when the light changes in the spring

all of a sudden those corners

look very dreary indeed.

these are a couple of corners

i've focussed on in the last few days....

this little corner at the end of the kitchen bench

was overrun by dust and cobwebs

&

random bits of paper with recipes scrawled out upon them

and then tossed aside...

dusty books and dusty tins.

all is organised with my coffee making bits,

{coffee machine donated by my eldest son upon moving to taiwan!}

chopping boards neatly lined up

and my sweet blue blender ready for action!

this is the newly organised home of my fabrics...

it beats a plastic box on the floor...

kind of colour sorted...

not to the nth degree yet!



some of my eclectic collection of china and glass!

a few of my favourite artglass items...

isn't it great when you rediscover your treasures,

reaffirm just how much you like them

and wash them and they're fresh and gleaming again

looking just like the day you got them!

this little jug and the deep blue vase

were the first pieces of artglass i ever bought.

i saw this amazing glass shop in parnell in auckland,nz

and my sister and i got there just after closing time.

the shop owner saw us with our noses pressed to the window

and opened the shop again

letting us in to browse

among the amazing glassware.

after carefully choosing the little crystal, colour studded jug

and the inky blue vase also shot with fabulous colours

i guarded them carefully

and with a sneaking song of joy in my heart

brought them back to australia

to cherish forever!

i love the memories of a perfect sisterly day out

&

 treasures found,

made possible by an act of kindness

from a shop owner tired from a day at work already...

i am hoping

today

you may find an opportunity

to make someone's day

by being kind or thoughtful...

&

it will make your day too!

naturally Carol xox

p.s...the red bowl trimmed with orange and the vase at the back with the clear top were subsequent gifts from my parents for birthdays.  the small green and white bowl was bought on my last trip over to nz..i love all of them!

Sea Glass by the Sea Shore!

good afternoon

and

h a p p y   b i r t h d a y 

m i s s  b !

{11th march!}

about a week ago now...

please excuse me not posting this earlier but the week just filled up by itself it seems..lol..

i made a cushion to pair up with the first wave one i made...

it is meant to represent the waves meeting the starfish on the shore,

the little buttons are like pieces of sea glass washed up on the sand by the waves...

like these!

this is the last of  the fabric from nancy @ a gardner's cottage,

i have really enjoyed working with it

two cushions made with the sea monkey fabric

 and two made out of the rainforest fabric

have already gone to families who needed a little hand made comfort...

and i have heard they've all been well received in theodore, queensland,

and more are needed, so more will be sent!

if anyone wants to help...please email me

as the demand now is more than i have here...

we have made and received a total of

49 cushions !

i have sent out 24 so far and there is another 8 to go out early next week

plus probably another 20 to go to people in temporary accommodation being constructed

for those who have nowhere elso to go

while their house is being either repaired or demolished and rebuilt.

a local school there has also requested some cushions for their youngsters to sit on..

the school was also flood affected and is relying on donated supplies.

if you would like to help please email me.

the people who received cushions this week

were thrilled that their makers came from around australia

and from america and greece...

just to be thought of and cared about makes a world of difference!

so a big thank you

to teje, irene, debbie, nancy and the spangler

this week...

enjoy your weekend everyone!

naturally Carol xox

Looked Out the Window...

this saturday morning

at the church across the road.

there was hustle and bustle,

marquees were going up,

tables were being set out,

and piled high with goods.

what a lovely surprise

it was time for

the church fete.

this was the view

from my dining room window.

i went looking

for treasure...

and i found...

sparkley cut glass,

little dishes and jugs,

a bargain at 20 cents each...

a pile of books...

enough spiritual food

for a year?

at least for a good few months

for four dollars!

a big bag of

fresh beans

yummmm!

 and 3 homegrown lemons

so much treasure.

the boys and i

enjoyed a sausage sizzle brekky

and peanut biscuits {cookies} and ginger and date muffins

for morning tea.

then to top it all off,

miss b {daughter, who lives in another city}

arrived unexpectedly

and we've had a wonderful day together.

expect the unexpected...

'cos sometimes

when you are least expecting it

the best things just happen.

gratitude is

the best attitude!

naturally Carol  xox


ps....this post joined up with 'weekend rewind' at life in a pink fibro....on saturday, 2oth nov, 2010

Singing a Spring Song....

i bought these glads at the fruit & veg market last saturday.

they've slowly been opening up all week.

i just had to take their picture this morning

'cos they looked a treat.

i am gathering together a little collection

of clear cut glass with diamond shapes that

catch the light and capture my dreams.

i have a friend who makes soy candles

and i am thinking of filling these pretties with moccacino or rose.

soy candlewax does not stick to tablecloths

and will not leave hard residues inside

my sparkling friends.

i will let you know how i go with these.

enjoy today while there is some of it left to enjoy....

Carol naturally  xox