Camping

The little blond poppet is Caitlyn, my 3 year-old great-niece, and she had her first camping trip this weekend with her grandparents and our friends, Peter and Heather. It was for one night only but the bush telegraph reports it was great fun. Of course, she had to have her own camp chair! Wanting more photos?

A NEW IDEA ( for moi at least!)

The early mornings have been stunning the last few days...calm, clear...the early morning colours always have a coolness to them, even the oranges and golds of sunrise.

I thought I would do a series of posts about colour and randomly choose a different colour for each post. The posts could take any form. I'll write some colour words on little cards and then draw one out each day and that will be the subject for that day's post. BUT...then....remember, the only rule is no rule! The thought of 'randomness' is intriguing......

.....Noosa....you love it!

The things to love about Noosa?Because I am a water/bush/beach/river/boat type of person, the things I love about Noosa generally centre around the water and the national park. Perhaps that's also because it's slightly less crowded out on the water or walking in the national park.

Above, sitting on the little ferry that plies the Noosa River between Tewantin and Noosa is wonderfully relaxing. Below is the Noosa Sailing and Rowing Club which, from it's wide and completely open verandah, has great views up and down the river, and to the distant hills. It is a stunning place to sit with a glass of bubbles and good company, and solve the world's problems.


Noosa National Park is the perfect cure for the crass, extravagant side of Noosa. The walking tracks goes all the way round the coast to the beach at Perigian, and also explores the hills and more forested areas. A few years ago, I walked straight past a tree here where a koala was sleeping! Thank goodness my walking companion was more alert!Below, a lone surfer paddles round the point. The water was not as clear as usual due to recent very heavy rain.


This photo shows some of the typical coastal vegetation of pandanus, cotton trees, palms and eucalypts, and looks towards Cooloola national Park.

Noosa....you either hate it or......

Ah, Noosa. I think it would be fair to say that anyone who's been to Noosa, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, has a definite opinion about the place and it tends to be either black or white, and not much grey. Visiting the area again, last week, when I was staying at nearby Tewantin, it was easy to see both sides of the argument.

So...today the black side. The beach, above, reminds me of one of the crowded French Riviera beaches, where all the 'beautiful' people lie side by side, in the latest resort gear. The main street, Hastings Street, is home to restaurants, cafes that look like something on the Champs Elysee, expensive resort wear boutiques or cheap, imported souvenir shops. Below,houses lining the river or the man-made canal estates sell for up to $8 million.

Enough! Next...the things to love about Noosa.

The Three of Us, 1985 - 2007

My two special friends in the photo above are Veronica, on the left, and Tricia, on the right. We first met in a pub in London, in early February 1985, when we were Australian exchange teachers with the League For Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers. The three of us quickly became great friends and did many amazing and memorable things that year. Even though they both live in Queensland, our friendship has remained precious to the three of us, and we try to get together at least once a year.

Below is the three of us, in a photo taken in Jerusalem, in April, '85.

New ATCs

Today, a bit of show and tell about some recent work I've been doing with Artist Trading Cards, and in particular,different techniques for backgrounds.

Above, are cards I made for an insect swap. I just love dragonflies, and believe they are my totem. Below are the cards made for a Dream swap I'm hosting. Amazingly, they are nothing like my original idea, and I'm not quite sure where that idea disappeared to. The original thought was characteristically dark and obscure, so the final result couldn't be more different.


These last two were done using a technique from the fabulous book by Bernie Berlin, "Artist Trading Card Workshop". 'Confronting ' is something I think I strive for in my work.



I'll be away for a few days.....I'm heading up to Tewantin, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, to spend four days with my two special friends from our exchange year in London, wa-ay back in 1985.

Recent Jewellery

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It's been a while since I've had a show and tell with some of my recent creative output. So, I'll devote the next few posts to both jewellery and ATCs, and then I thought I might take you on a brief zip around northern Australia, aka the Top End. We'll visit some of my favourite places from 2003.

But for now...of course, I had to lead off with a charm bracelet...I just LOVE them! Below is a necklace made with moonstone, and three red-pink coloured gemstones( the names escape me, but one of them is probably rose quartz)



And finally, a necklace and earrings made from rose quartz and polished onyx.


Now , a plea for help! I would be grateful for anyone who can explain to me , in words of one syllable or less, how to post larger images on my blog. Thanks in advance.