Birthday at the Beach

I have been very spoiled over the weekend....
Hubby whisked me away to beautiful Noosa for my birthday. We stayed in a very swanky Penthouse unit at  The Noosa Crest - it was just lovely. The staff presented me with a bottle of champagne and gourmet chocolate brownies on arrival. The view from the roof level of our unit was fabulous! 

Our boys and their partners came and stayed one night.
Here we are walking back from our morning coffee on the beachfront.
(no photos of me - I always seem to be the one with the camera...)
The boys cooked us a nice barbeque breakfast upstairs on the rooftop level.

Hastings Street
Saw this old car parked in town. Isn't she a beaut!

Santa must be around here somewhere.......

I think this is the Sheraton Hotel.

One of the little beaches in Noosa National Park. 
A glorious day to soak up the sunshine.

Noosa National Park

A pretty native flower growing alongside the walking track.
We could hear lots of birds in the bushland around us. Saw a big Brush Turkey casually strutting past the tourists.

We followed the main walking track, which hugged the coastline. Just around the corner there were some big rock pools. The tide was coming in and there was the occasional big wave crashing over the top filling them with swirling, foaming sea water.

It was a very relaxing weekend away.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and was so happy to be surrounded by my family and friends who came to visit.

Cheerio for now,
Sandi xXx

Sweet Sunflower Trivet

My latest craft pattern has a sweet surprise.
Can you guess what it is?
The centre of the sunflower trivet contains sweet, spicy cloves.
The heat from your teapot releases the beautiful scent.....mmm....just lovely.

Out now in newsagents, Volume 14, No 8.
Cheerio for now,
I'm off to enjoy a nice hot cup of tea!

Sandi xXx

The Tiniest Visitor

Aww, isn't it sweet?
I found a baby Asian House Gecko inside, this morning.

I just had to snap a few quick shots of it before releasing it outside.

Do you get geckoes at your house?

Cheerio for now,
Sandi xXx

Cutie Koala Redwork

My latest stitchery project is out now in Country Threads magazine.
Introducing - Mr Koala.
He is very sleepy
 as he has been eating gum leaves all night
 and needs to have a big sleep during the daytime.
Shhh be very very quiet, we don't want to wake him.....

xXx

I love the setting and props the stylists have used for this shot.
Gum leaves and gum nuts - of course! lol!

 

Here's the issue - Volume 14, Number 6

A wee close-up of my project on the front cover.  :)

Have a wonderful, creative week everyone,
Cheerio,
Sandi xXx

Redwork Lyrebird

Do you like my redwork Lyrebird pattern?
I have stitched this lovely lyrebird on linen and framed him in white.
I forgot to include this pattern in a previous post!
It is featured in Country Threads magazine (Vol 14, No 5) (just after my profile)  :)

Sandi xXx

Mystery Flower

I had a mystery flower come up in my garden.

In the back of a drawer, I found an old packet of mixed cottage garden seeds, when I was having a tidy. It was way past its' use by date, but I thought I'd give them a go, and sprinkled the whole packet over the garden bed.

Just a couple of seedlings came up....and (sadly) only one survived!

Not seeing a flower like this before, (I didn't keep the seed packet), I googled 'pink cottage garden flower', and sure enough, after a bit of scrolling, there it was.
- a Corn Cockle! 
Apparently, these are found growing among the wheat in Europe.

Cheerio for now,
Sandi xXx

Thank You Country Threads Magazine

I can't believe it!
 *grinning*
That's me on the front cover of this month's Inspiring Country Threads Magazine!
I was so excited (and a little daunted) at being asked to be featured in the mag. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. :)
I would like to send out a big thank you to Danielle Tebb (Editor) for all her wonderful advice and encouragement she has given me since I've been contributing to the magazine. She is a delight to work with.
And also thanking my gorgeous friend, the very talented Sandrine Marsh of ImageInCafe Styling & Photography  for the fabulous portrait shot for my profile. Sandrine has a way of making you feel at ease when taking your photo. We had lots of fun 'on location' in my garden. 

Ooh, and there's my latest project (above my head) - a Lyrebird stitchery. You know, I have only ever seen a lyrebird once - very fleetingly - running across the road when on holiday in Victoria......lol!

And being Friday afternoon, I will have a little celebratory glass of something bubbly!
Cheers!
Thanking you all, dear friends and readers,

Sandi xXx

Sneaky Peek - New Stitchery Patterns - Coming Soon

Today I've been playing with coloured pencils in the studio. These ones are watercolour pencils, just colour in first, then with a little paintbrush dipped in water (with a little fabric medium mixed in), they magically turn into paint - lots of fun.

Here is a peek at what I am working on at the moment.
This new stitchery - a downloadable PDF pattern, will be available in my Etsy shop soon.

Now to get out all of my embroidery cottons and start stitching!
Have a wonderful day!
Cheerio,
Sandi xXx

Kookaburras Calling

A couple of kookaburras dropped by for a dip in the birdbath.
They sat there for quite a while....
splashing around....
and soaking up some sunshine.

One of my favourite birds.

What are your favourite birds?
Sandi xXx

Big News

Have you noticed anything new about my blog lately?
Yes, I've added some tabs along the top to help visitors find things more easily,

AND ......drumroll please......
My new ETSY shop - ta da!

You can buy my patterns right here!
I will be adding more and more stitchery patterns on the site.
The patterns are in PDF format, which means that my customers will be able to download  and print them right away - no waiting for the postman (plus a big savings on postage costs) - great for my overseas customers!  :)

I am so excited about my new little shop!
Happy Stitching!

Sandi xXx

Sneak Peek

I can't show you too much, but this is a little glimpse of what I am working on at the moment. 
You will just have to wait to see the whole design, (teasing, I know! (wink) 
I will give you a hint - the pattern will feature a cute Aussie animal.
It will be featured in Country Threads magazine later on this year.

Cheerio for now,
Sandi x

Sunflower Experiment

I don't know what sort of sunflowers these will grow into....you see they were from a bag of bird feed.
I started the seeds off in little peat pots, so they can be planted straight into the ground - pot and all.
This morning I planted them out on a sunny corner of the veggie garden and mulched with some lovely grass hay raked out from the chook pen.
Can't wait so see what flowers I will get!
Has anyone else grown the sunflowers from bird feed before? I would be interested in hearing your results.
Cheerio for now,
Sandi x

Easiest Passionfruit Slice - Ever

Who can resist a delicious homemade Passionfruit Slice?
This sweet treat has a crunchy coconut base and a creamy passionfruit top (with a hint of lime).
And it is super easy to make.
Would you like my recipe? - I knew you would ask :)

Ingredients

Base
1 cup Self-Raising flour
1 cup dessicated coconut
125 grams / 4.41 oz  butter, melted
1/2 cup caster / superfine sugar

Top
1 x 395 g /14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon or lime juice + one tablespoon of zest
5 tablespoons of passionfruit pulp

1. Preheat your oven to 165 degC / 329 degF.

2. Combine the base ingredients in a bowl. Line your slice tray with baking paper. Tray is approx 19 x 29cm / 7 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. Tip mixture into slice tray. Press firmly with the back of a big spoon till you have a smooth and compact base.

3. Whack it in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, mix up the topping. I used limes for this recipe. Zest the limes (or lemon) first before juicing.

Combine all the topping ingredients in a bowl. 

* get another spoon and lick out any remaining condensed milk out of the can while you are waiting for the base to cook - you know you want to.  :)

5. Remove the tray from the oven and allow the biscuit base to cool a little. Pour the passionfruit mixture over the top. Return it to the oven to bake for a further 15 minutes.

6. Let the slice cool in the tin. Cut into portions.  Store slice in a sealed container in the fridge. The passionfruit slice is best after a couple of hours in the fridge. 

Serve on nanna's best flowery plates, accompany it with a nice pot of tea. 
Enjoy! 
Guaranteed to become a firm favourite.

Cheerio for now,
I'm off to make myself a cup of tea.....
Sandi x

Tie Skirt

Do you like my new skirt?
It's a little bit different - it's made from upcycled navy and yellow ties!

There are all sorts of patterns - including flowers, stripes, diamonds, even pineapples! lol.
Very colourful indeed!

Feeling happy

wearing a splash of sunny yellow on these cool wintry days.

I love the way it swishes around when I walk.  :)

Wishing you sunshine and happy days,  

Sandi x