The end of another one

 Another year is almost over - amazing where time goes by. We seem to have had another very busy year working up to the last moment today but champagne and a bbq is on its way pretty soon. I thought I would share my little playtime

Newspaper page from The Broome Advertiser - actually a page about the Saturday markets - we didn't get there this year too busy swimming but we always get our soap and mango chillies and limes if they have them. I have used one of the new Joggles stencils - forget the name but it reminded me of the rock formations in Broome. First I painted Opulence paint in Sierra through and then I turned it around and sprayed a blue Starburst Spray through. Plenty of mica you might be able to see it.

Then I screened my thermofax screen of a boab tree in a silver and copper mix. Not so easy to see.

and stamped a few franipanis here and there with a shiny silver white.

What next - well I could bond it to felt and stitch. Let's see. But I do plan to play on some hand dyed fabric next. I might have to print words all over first. Watch this space in 2014. For most of the day I have been cutting and rolling our lovely new hand dyed hessian in yummy colours and writing the newsletter. Begone - it will be 2014 before we know.

Oh no - nearly over

We have had a lovely restful stay in Broome and sadly all good things come to an end


Eaten lots of yummy prawns


Cooked on this wonderful piece of equipment which Ian is in love with - we didn't buy each other any presents but I think this will be it. Not worth fussing in the Boxing Day sales though for $8 off!


Our little bit of Christmas along with two crackers -


And our Christmas roast - beef fillet which we nearly left at home in the fridge


I brought stuff of course and have only done a little but imagine if I hadn't - been doing lots or reading and lots of swimming
This is my felty piece all laid out


And finished - it was a near disaster as I had to rescue it from face down in the water so was heading for a swim with me




Love the boab trees


And in the garden at the back of our villa


And looking into our dining room from same garden - we try to get this one because it the best villa we think


Loads of frangipani flowers out everywhere


My frangipani leaf

Windy today because of the cyclone but still hardly a drop of the tropical rain we keep hearing about and it is actually cooler today but that may be because the fan is on full outside.

Location:Murray Road,Cable Beach,Australia

Merry Christmas from Broome

Don't you just love the Christmas boab tree?


So we photographed it from the other side. It's like you might expect in a Broome - hot - humid - but air con - fans - make for solid night's sleep - must have been tired - slept from 10 to nearly 7
First night we ate at Little India - lovely food - just as well - they are closed now until the end of February


The beautiful frangipanis are out in full bloom everywhere. Promise of rain and lightning but alas not yet - we had prawns and fish on the BBQ last night


And just how wonderful it is to hop in and out of the pool

Have a great day everyone

Ho ho ho and off we go

 For the first time ever, we are closed from today until 30th - hanging up our working boots and off to Broome for lots of r and r - swim, read, air con, stitch, create and all of those things. Ian is planning basically nothing - he has been working non stop all weekend on the emag  and is planning 6 days of not looking at a computer screen at all. I have collected the meat for Christmas Day and apart from knowing we have to get up bright and early tomorrow to do the shopping before there is nothing left for us to buy, we will be as lazy as possible. Having said that I am not so very good at the relaxing and doing nothing stuff but what is new... I actually have so much stuff there is no room in my suitcase for clothes.

 Hope to play with the screens I made and carve up a few stamps

 Here is Issue 3 of the e-mag - Stitchy Stitchy - all sent out last night

and perhaps some lovely frangipanis as well - and limes and fish and garlic and chillie - all good stuff.

oh dear

Oh dear becasue we are still so busy wondering where the hours of each day go to. I love roses and Ian bought me these this week.

We have sent out our last lot of mailing before Christmas and off and about on Monday but loads to do before then. E-mag frantic frantic. My studio is to be tidied up again from Stitchy Stitchy today and on to the next thing. I have even made a thermofax screen in between all my running around. But first I must tidy up all the threads which fell onto the floor when a thread stand decided to tip over - never rains but it pours.

For those who like cooking I have popped a salad we are enjoying and the Christmas deserts on the tag at the top of the blog - this is going to be almost one of the first times I have not made these puddings for a long long time.

mostly foodie and a wee bit more

Lots of people have been asking how Harley is - well she is very well. We have had her for nearly two years now and she has certainly made this a happy home. She has so many exciting places in which to sleep and loves being outside with us in the evenings. She is also, unlike me, in her element now that summer has arrived. One of her favourite spots during the day is a box inside a box under my desk in Ian's office. She snores to remind us where she is and sleeps with a paw stretched out. She likes having that paw stretched out and here she is in the kitchen in the morning reminding us that her breakfast is of paramount importance. Still chats all the time and now weighs 8.2kilos. Tut tut - no Christmas cake for Harley.

Everyone knows we are foodies - of everything I think I do love Indian style food best. The other night we had marinaded in spices and yoghurt and honey mix lamb backstrap on the bbq -

I

with Aloo Dum - this recipe is from Rick Stein's Indian cookbook which I bought in Padstow. Silly really I could have bought it from Book Depository and saved carting it back in my backpack but it was appropriate to buy it there in a fabulous cook stuff shop. His Indian cooking show is on tv here at present and I must say his favourite curry - the fish on - is just that. I must have 100s of Indian style cook books but I do love reading them and cooking treats from them.

I have just bought these two fabulous books from Vicky Bhogal - both out of print but full of good homestyle Indian food. Lots of pleasure ahead. She does have recipes on her website where I looked first.

For this time of the year we have had loads of deliveries. So many magazines this past week or so - I think they are all here now. Plus a pile of Joggles stencils arrived. I love these particular stencils - they are very well presented and have super information on the back - and the couple I have played with work very well. This is starflower - I can see lots of happenings with this one. In the new year we will have a few more. Great little find. Have a look at what we got here - http://www.thethreadstudio.com/catalogue/exp/joggles/joggles.htm

I have also added a brand new Limited Edition to the page on the blog - http://downunderdale.blogspot.com.au/p/limited-editions.html - Blackberry - Jacinta has dyed a very limited number of fibres and silk threads in this special colour so do check it out - they have been whizzing away since I put them up. once gone - no more. We do plan this as something special and almost unique (almost in that there are several of each) from time to time - once they have gone, that will be that.

Issue 3 of threads.In-fusion will be out this week - I am still madly stitching and Ian is madly editing and doing his publishing things. I think my job is easier really.

I have been a little obsessed with fly stitch but having heaps of fun.

Don't forget to check out my things to sell page on the blog as well - I have a fabulous set of Deka Silk  paints - I notice that they are selling for around $7-$8 new - I have hardly used them - http://downunderdale.blogspot.com.au/p/giveaways.html

this coming week - Monday to Friday - I will be having a supa sale deal and a give away offer on facebook https://www.facebook.com/thethreadstudio each day but if you don't visit facebook - not everyone does - then you can check the page at the top of the blog becasue I don't want people to miss out - you don't have to just be a facebook fan to be a wonderful customer of ours.

Back to work - this will be a busy week before we hang up our work clothes next Monday. Tomorrow is the last posting of the Christmas Hampers  http://www.thethreadstudio.com/catalogue/info/hampers2013b.htm
I have really enjoyed putting these together - I know quite a few people have treated themselves and why not - a big bag full of goodies is not a bad idea.

Last day in Sydney

Relaxing day today but boy was the sun strong - I think I got more than a touch of it. We walked to town.


Bit of inner Sydney


Hopped on the ferry to Watsons Bay


And spent time walking around but the sun was very strong





Walked up to the Gap


Beautiful day


Found a pohutakawa tree in flower


And with a nice view as well


Hannah popped her new red shoes on for me. If only.
Home we fly and a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. We have had a lovely break - thanks for all the lovely messages - that's 45 done and dusted......

Mostly on the Sydney Harbour

Most of yesterday we spent on the harbour watching the 18ft skiffs - it was a beautiful day - that was after we went to town to get Ian's elusive shorts - mission accomplished.


I managed to take a few bad shots on the harbour. When the boats were in a good position I was never ready having to enter a password etc until Hannah showed me how to do it easily....


Fisher and Paykel with spinnaker


Heading away from us


But before we started out we went around the corner for breakfast - we are indeed having a relaxing time. Today we are planning to take a ferry and enjoy the harbour once more before we fly home and back to work. Lots of orders to send out and the e mag to attend to not to mention the clubs.

Lovely relaxing wedding anni day

We had a lazy relaxing day yesterday - just as well after I managed a re run of tripping down steps on the way back from dinner the night before and felled the ankle and crashed a knee. Message to self - concentrate on the activities in hand and keep the brain for flat land.


We went for a walk around to the opera house - loads of people around beautiful day for being out


The iconic view


Even asked someone to take our photo - this is an exception for me. Fortunately you can't see us very well


A little piccie in the park




Hannah has several pairs of lovely red shoes which I have been photographing so I can add them to my red shoe work when I get to it. In my dreams I will wear these ones.




Last night we all went for our anni dinner at A Tavola - wonderful meal - wonderful company. And I managed to walk back and down all stairs safely. The really funny thing was that in front of our eyes a guy tripped over the kerb and crashed into Ian and hurt his knee. Made me feel better.

Location:Sydney