Wednesday, December 27, 2017

let's recap

So long since I have posted... though the intention has been there for some months now. A change in my photo program han't helped, as I'm finding uploading photso a bit more difficult now - or maybe it is just me, and I have more to learn.
2017 has been very busy, with ups and downs, and I have gradually been getting back to stitching. I'll take a few posts to recap some of the highlights of the year.

On the invitation of good friends I flew to Canberra for a few days. Having lived there for 10 years it is always good to catch up with our friends, and to see how the place has changed. This is very different - offices, apartments and a marina in the Kingston area.
 
Although very hot, it was quite relaxing, with good company and good friends. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Versailles Treasures at the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery. I didn't take many photos but I did like this sculpture near the National Gallery.

 On a less grand scale I enjoyed, a visit to the Bus Depot markets. Here a great gust of wind launched a large stall umbrella into the air and into me. Everyone was very attentive, but I luckily only suffered a sore and bruised arm from the pole. Found this cute echidna brooch there.
 
 I had a look at the property we had outside Canberra which we were preparing to build on before Max got a job in Sydney. It was good to see water in the 2 dams we had put in (seen to the left and right of the centre tree) and that many of the trees we planted had grown. The other picture gives the view from the house site across the valley.


Around this time I made some scrapbook covers for a gift. Thought I was doing 3 but it turned into 6. I used some bird prints, made them up to the right size with collage/scraps, incorporated a piece of Indian braid on each, and finished them with some machine embroidery and quilting.

 Front view, and then full front to back view






They were very well received.

To finish, here is a little quirk of nature. A small urn beside the fish pond (which is supposed to be inverted to trickle water in when the garden is being watered) had been moved and wasn't working. When I finally investigated, I found a stalk (frond?) of papyrus had grown through the handle and lifted it as it had got stronger and thicker!

Next time some local sightseeing, in Adelaide and on Kangaroo Island.