My friend Donna

Hello dear friends & readers,

Today the rain is steadily pouring down & I cannot believe it is now the 20th October & we are STILL having our fire lit!!

It has been a busy past week with a trip to Thames & some family from Australia coming to stay.

Last Monday morning (very early) I set off with my car loaded up to travel to Thames to take part in the Thames Creative Fibre Group Open Day.

I had been invited to have a merchant stall through my good friend Donna who is on the Committee & was their President for a few years.

Donna & I met many years ago when we were both sharemilking & I used to travel past her place to visit Grahams elderly Aunt.

I always noticed this house with a little wooden sign that said "cottage flowers"     

Donna had planted half a paddock with statice & other dried flowers & sold them from her carshed.

It was she who first introduced me to gourds & I have been "hooked" ever since.

We both became close friends & it is a friendship that has endured many years & seen our children grow from small beings into young adults.

I took a few quick pics of my stall while I remembered..
.

It was a full day which included a guest speaker - a lady named Pat Old who spoke about fibre & fleeces & then - as a surprise - a side door opened & they bought in 2 very woolley sheep which they then proceeded to shear in front of the hall full of ladies . . . 

The first one being shorn

In the 2nd pic you can see they have thrown the 1st fleece on the table & the guest speaker then described the fleece & talked about how good it would be for spinning etc

It was very interesting - especially to me who has no knowledge of fleeces or fibres :-)

The ladies of the Creative Fibre Group gave a small fashion parade with garments they had made themselves, spun, felted etc

I took this pic as this lady (their President) said this was a white top & she had scrunched it up & tied it at different intervals 

& then dunked it all into black dye

I thought it looked amazing

A very nice lady too

 We then went back to Donnas for the night

Donna lives a few kilometres out of Thames & has the most amazing house & garden along with a gallery/craft shop at her home called River House Gallery

This is where it gets its name from. . . 

Donnas dog Moe, swimming with a stick - there was LOTS of stick throwing this day

Looking up from the river to the house - Moe waiting for another stick throw

  
 This was beside my bed at Donnas

some jasmine, a water jug & chocs (in a felted bowl) - 

what a treat ! !

I always like to take a walk around her grounds when I visit

Her gardens are full of natives & I love the ferns especially

Steps up to the gallery - the grannys bonnets came from my garden :-)

On her deck she had the loveliest pot of poppies blooming away

 

         Also on her deck - a recent purchase . . .

    

But inside her shop is another treat altogether

she is an amazingly talented artist

All painstakingly handmade by Donna

I ADORED this display

My favourite wall

And then outside the shop is just as enticing. . .

Just have to add this little character

Donna needlefelts these little pincushions - stunning! !

I had the most loveliest visit as always

we chat into the wee small hours over our glass of vino
& put the problems of the world to rest ! ! !

 Visiting with Donna is always a real "tonic"

she inspires me to try new things & I always come home full of enthusiasm again

I even made a purchase from her - have loved these for a long time now so treated myself

Beautiful detailing with vintage wool blankets

   I have photographed it on my bed but it actually resides on my couch now

Donna - I am so lucky to have your friendship - 

thankyou - you are a real treasure :-)
 

Inspired by the cushion I dragged out this book again

this book has some AMAZING ideas in it

    

  I remembered seeing these cushions made from old potholders

And absolutely LOVING them

but as I didnt have any potholders on hand

I decided to do a similar effect with some doilies & ribbons

& a few vintage buttons from my stash

 In between my overseas visitors I have been working on some christmas crafts

I am hoping to do a christmas display in the cottage before the end of the month (but dont have alot of stock to put in it ! !)

I have been working on these stockings off & on

And finally completed them this week

My favourite - I love the feathers in this one :-)

 They will look lovely hanging from the fireplace in the cottage

Well friends I am off to milk at the farm as our worker is away -

not a job I fancy in this pouring rain :-(

 wishing you all a great weekend

Happy Weekend from my friend Moe - PLEASE throw another stick

 sorry it has been a bit of a "picture overload" this post

but wanted to share it with you all

take care out there - sending warm hugs out to you all

Love/friendship/smiles

Julie :-)  Xoxo