Positives & Negatives

Greetings dear friends & readers

I am having yet another attempt at resuscitating this poor neglected blog of mine

February was a month of many positives AND negatives & I just did not get any time to blog.

We had endless ups & downs with my Mum during February & then I myself became sick - twice !!

After several Dr's visits & investigations I tested positive for campylobacter & am now taking antibiotics to clear it up 

& get back to some good health.

So blogging definately was not a priority - some days it felt like it took all my energy just to get through the day.

Though my poor garden is rather like my blog - sad & neglected - the roses are still blooming away.

This is a good time of year for picking & drying the many petals I require throughout the year for the potpourri's I sell.

An added bonus is that it doesn't take long for the petals to dry to a crisp these hot summer days.

My friend Carolyn visited early last month & bought me a large armload of Nigella Seed Heads  (Love in a mist)

 from her garden.

When I cut them all up they filled a 10 litre bucket - these will be wonderful to help bulk out my citrus potpourri's

The statice is blooming & required cutting & hanging bunches to dry.

I have picked 3 trays of lavender heads so far (tho' there are many more still to pick) & sat one evening & rubbed 

one tray full into brown paper bags

I had an Order from my friend Marie for 10 lavender bags & 10 mothball sachets, which I always enjoy making.

(The mothball sachet recipe can be found at the bottom of this post if you would like to make your own.)

Quite some time ago I bought this chandelier off Trade me, a New Zealand auction site, similar to ebay 

The seller was demolishing a house & as no-one had bid on the chandelier they offered it to me for $5.00  ....  pointing out to me that it would probably need re-wiring to be able to use it.

I removed the lightbulb holders & pulled out the wiring from it - I had no intentions of it ever being re-wired.

Then I painted the brass with some left over chalk paint (Colour - Yorkshire Stone)

I found 3 matching china cups + saucers in my stash & made soy candles in each cup 

(Fragrance - Black Raspberry/Vanilla)

I used a strong Araldite Glue to affix the saucers to each of the 3 "arms" of the chandelier & then glued the cups 

onto the saucers.

After hanging it up I decided it needed some crystals hanging from the curves of each arm - my photographs are 

not doing it justice - it looks gorgeous hanging up & I am so thrilled with my $5 purchase

What's more - another of the endless ideas floating around in my head  has come to fruition 💕😊 !!

On Friday I had to deliver a tractor part to The Mr at the farm & snapped a quick pic of the dry brown pastures - this countryside is peat & usually manages to keep a green tinge over our hot summer months but everything is brown 

& crisp for miles

Today is overcast but still humid - Miss Pip has spent the day in her banana box out on the deck, & I think Blackie is under the house in the cool - he will return covered in cobwebs tonight.

I have reached a bit of a crossroads with my blog & alot of things in my life of late.

I wonder if my blog has become a bit stale & I don't seem to have as many interesting things to post about compared to when I was running my Cottage ?

I shall be giving it some deep thought over the coming weeks about whether or not I continue.

In the meantime Thank You All So Much for your visits & your continued support here.

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x

Still Crafting ............................................. (trying to !!)

Greetings dear friends & readers

I started January full of enthusiasm & hoping to blog weekly.

I rather rapidly ran out of steam when I had to drop everything & take yet another trip to my Mum's due to some 

health issues she was having.

Mum is doing okay now & I have returned home again - trying to pick up where I left off  😯

These beautiful lilly's above are growing right outside my dining room window - the  picture on the left is taken through the window glass

Their scent is heavenly & wafts in on the breeze - although I know alot of folk are not fond of lilly's, I just adore their fragrance 💗

While I was at Mum's the veggie garden went crazy - I have been madly picking every single day since my return.

I did not intend buying yellow courgette plants as I prefer the green ones - this is what happens when you visit the Garden Centre & forget to take your glasses !!! 😐

At present I am picking a colander full of tomatoes each day - & my sweet peas are still producing flowers this far into January!

One of my plans/hopes/dreams for this year is to become a better knitter & learn to knit more than just dishcloths 😉

I thought I would like to make myself a project bag to hold my knitting.

My dear friend Shirley had gifted me a lovely project bag pattern early last year.

The pattern is for the Finch Bucket Bag by Stitch Mischief

I decided to use up some of my Tilda fabrics as I seemed to have acquired quite a stash

I chose to make the larger size patchwork version which turned out quite a bit bigger than I thought but I am thrilled with it.

It is a lovely generous size & would hold several projects at once.

I used some cotton/linen blend & some red spotty fabrics (already in my stash), to line the bag & make the pockets. 

I didn't have any cording on hand so I used the polka dot fabric & sewed the drawstrings instead.

As the bag is also lined with wadding it has a nice padded effect & doesn't sag.

Early last December our craft group got together & had a small Christmas break up luncheon.

One of our ladies Maureen, had asked her husband to cut out 6 wooden doll/wing/star shapes & we were each presented with a set at the luncheon

Our challenge was "to create something with them"

Mine got put aside over the busy Christmas period & just pulled out again last week.

I painted them with some leftover chalk paint then decided to do some embellishing with the rice paper I purchased from Paint me Vintage  way back * Here * last May

I just applied my rice paper cut outs using Mod Podge.

Then I glued my angels wings & star on, & gave her a face & some hair.

I LoVe her so much 💕

As I have hung her on my dressing table mirror I even painted the back of her, as I couldn't stand seeing the 

raw wood in the mirror - yes I am pathetic fussy like that 😉   

I did not get a chance to catch up with any friends or other family while down at Mum's, but I very quickly ran into 

my friend Claire's house at dinner time one night, (while Mum sat waiting in my car) to drop an Order off.

"I have something for you - here" said Claire ......  & quick-as-a-flash she shoved this doll in my hands!

 This beautiful Tilda Christmas Angel, handcrafted by Claire herself ! Gosh how lucky I am !

I have her home now & she is not going away with the rest of the Christmas decor - she sits here in my lounge watching over me 💖

I have named her Angel Claire.

Have a wonderful weekend dear friends - it's hard to believe we say farewell to January tonight.

 Thanks so much for your visits here today,

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x

Mice, Lavender fields ................................ & A Sad Farewell

Greetings dear friends & readers

Last week, after crossing some jobs off my never-ending to-do-list I decided to reward myself with some crafting time.
My lovely neighbor had gifted me another kitset for pet feeding duties over the Christmas period.

Kitset available from * Here *

These sweet little felt mice thread holders/pincushions.
Everything needed was in the Kitset except the stuffing.

When Blackie heard the word "mice" he decided to come inside & flatten my pattern inspect what I was working on !!

They turned out so sweet - the hand dyed lace included was so very beautiful.

Small Size                                           Large Size

Here they are being used as they are intended - as thread holders & pincushions.  
(Tho' I think they are just beautiful sitting there being decorative)

My lovely friend Sue came over from the city last week for a visit.
We had some morning tea together & then I suggested we go around the corner to visit the local Lavender Farm

This is what greets you (below) when you step out of your car

Luckily they hadn't harvested yet so the view, the fragrance & the buzzing of the bees was just heavenly

Sue & I wandered around the rows just taking it all in & wishing we never had to leave !

Sue is very good at "selfies" - I would've cut our heads off ! 😉

"Bend down a fraction & you'll have a stunning purple backdrop" said Sue 💜

I purchased some soap & a Lavender Relax Balm from the Farm Shop - Sue & I joked with the Owners 
that we really needed the Relax Balm in a large pump bottle, not a teeny pot 😉

Finally dear friends - we had to say a very difficult Farewell last weekend.

We had to say Goodbye to dear little Karma, my daughter in law's dog & constant companion for over 13 years.

Long time readers of my blog will remember how Karma was very much a part of their wedding when my son & Nicole married 5 years ago

In fact Karma was always very much a part of every single thing we all did.  She was the sweetest little soul 

& just happy to tag along.

She will leave a huge gap in her families life but Oh - what a wonderful life she had in that 13 years.
Farewell precious Karma 💕 Thanks for the special memories.


Wishing you a most wonderful weekend dear friends,
Be kind to yourselves & to each other,
Thanks so much for your visits here today,
With much love & friendship,
Julie & the furry ones x0x0x

Happy New Year Everyone

💙 Happy Bright Shiny New Year Everyone 💙

A bright shiny new decade - Two Thousand & Twenty - 2020

I like the sound of it - a nice big rounded out & sturdy number.

Mum has been delivered home again & the decorations have been packed away for another year 

This candle called Christmas Time has the most beautiful fragrance & I am still enjoying burning it each night

We had a busy but wonderful Christmas Day spent with the ones I love & care about 
The day was full on from start to finish & I did not manage to get out of my work dress all day long 
(no one noticed I might add!!)

My grandsons are growing up so fast with the eldest one Alec, due to start school this coming year & 
Sid will be turning 3 !!

I loved this photo taken of Mum sitting on her walker on my deck area - a shame about the Red Bull drinks chiller
 in the background! 😉

I hope no-one is offended by showing this but this is the card I bought The Mr this year.
I could not resist it & must confess I laughed outrageously when I read it in my local Book Store & somewhat drew attention to myself 😆

The inside reads "Wishing you a roasty toasty Christmas"

The main reason is because this is exactly how Blackie sits & gets the very same (sour) expression on his face !

I was very spoilt this year in the book department & have already made a start on the Elton John biography 
which I am loving 💗

These sweet little flock deer were purchased to gift to a friend but unfortunately, they did not manage to leave 
my house.
I just fell in love with them & could not part with them, hence another gift was found for my friend 😉

My only other treat to myself  this Christmas was this mug - I really loved the shape of it & thought the title 
was rather apt 😸

My daughter in laws birthday is always just a few days after Christmas - I had purchased a voucher for her but also wanted to hand make something to go along with it 
These cotton washcloths & scrubby cloths just fitted the bill perfectly as they are simple to do at nights when my eyes are tired, as well as using up scraps of my knitting cotton.

I have really struggled to grow sweet peas this year but have persevered with copious quantities of worm tea & constant watering.
I picked my first vase full this morning & the fragrance in my kitchen is so wonderful & makes me happy I kept trying.

After my return from Mums these two have hardly left my side - this is them right beside me on the couch each night.


I have been having a self imposed break from Instagram & all things social media - I did not like how I seemed to be constantly checking my phone screen.
I think it's good for us to take a break when we feel like this & perhaps re-assess our attitudes to these things.
My blog is something I still really enjoy & the interacting with like-minded folk in the great world of cyberspace.
 I love my little niche in this diverse creative community out here.
So sorry folks - you are stuck with me for the meantime 😉

Wishing you a wonderful Weekend dear friends,
Take care of yourselves & of each other,
With much love & friendship,
Julie & the furry ones x0x0x0