Let there be Light.......

........and there was!
For ages now I have been squinting and straining my poor old eyes, those ocular instruments of mine, when I sew late into the evening. Of course, if my sewing table was positioned under the central light, this perhaps would not be a problem. But, being a gal who embraces the aesthetics of a room, my table is positioned near the window. During the day, Old Man Sun radiates his embracing rays of sunshine into my sewing room, warming both my body and my soul. Not to mention of course, when I sew, my outlook is a very pretty one of our garden, where there is always some flower nodding it's pretty head towards me.
 

So action needed to be taken. I had pondered this problem for a while, and whilst I had seen various lamps that would illuminate my space rather brightly, they were either a little expensive, nor pleasing to my li'l eye; and of course if I chose a light  that would hang from the ceiling, it would cost a bomb to have installed by our friendly sparky.

 

So.........what to do, what to do??

 

Then I remembered that a li'l while ago I had espied a rather rusty light in my husband's man cave....the shed. He has used it occasionally when he tinkers away in a little dusty corner of his shed. Now there was nothing that set this light apart from any other light. It was bottle green in colour (not a hue that sets my heart racing with joy) and just a tad 'normal' for the likes of my sewing room. Indeed there was many a prettier light in the lighting store!!

So, with my heart in my mouth, I stepped over the threshold of the man cave, where angels sometimes fear to tread; and claimed the rusty artifact for my own. It's okay....my husband gave me his blessing, though I must admit, he wasn't at all convinced that I could revamp this rather rusty beacon of light into a funky decorative statement, befitting of my bright and pretty sewing room. 'Oh he of little faith'!! So I whipped it away and started some fixer-uppering.

Now, in my mind's eye I envisioned this rather 'plain Jane' light being transformed into an objet d'art.....a thing of great beauty, that would enhance the aesthetics of my sewing room. 

So I gathered some Mod Podge, a paintbrush and an old book on roses that I intended to rip out photos and decoupage them all over the outside of the light!. Oops....there I go again, defacing a beautiful book.....it seems to have become a regular occurrence on my part. Oh well....not to worry....it's not as if it is the only book pertaining to the subject of botany and gardening, that sits in one of the many bookshelves that reside in our humble abode!!

 

One by one, I cut out the  photos of roses, covered the back of the photos and the light with the Mod Podge and adhered them to the outside of the light, until it was covered with a smattering of pretty roses. Alas, there are no photos of this process as unfortunately I was 'knee deep' in glue!! Then I covered the lamp with layer after layer of Mod Podge. I might add that there are many more layers of Mod Podge to be applied, to help the photos meld into one overall decoupage surface! I will do this later on as I am much to impatient to illuminate my sewing space!! I then hot glued ric rac around the bottom on the inside to cover any untidy edges.

 

Now.........there was the problem of the ugly grey, metres long length of electrical cord. Oh dear......quite simply....U G G E R L Y!!!!! AND.....certainly would do nothing to enhance my lovely room!! Why oh why can't electrical cord be a pretty mauve, or perhaps  fuchsia pink or azure blue?????

 

So, of course I lookity looked in my fabric armoire for a fabric with which I could cover this monstrosity of an electrical cord. Bingo!! Of course there was a brightly patterned fabric.....in fact there were several. I chose an old doona cover that I had unearthed in an op shop for the proverbial song. I cut  several lengths (3 times the length of the cord)  approximately  20cms wide, stitched the lengths together, folded the length in half and stitched along the length to make a long tube. Then I threaded the cord in the tube gathering it in the process. My husband drilled several holes in the ceiling, to insert toggles, holding the cord as it trailed across the ceiling and down the wall to be plugged into the electrical socket.

Aah yes.......not only does my sewing room have a gorgeous view of our garden by day; at night it also has the best seat for viewing the drama of the night sky. Here in the country, the theatre of the night sky is truly awe-inspiring. I am always in complete wonderment at the majesty of God's night sky!

 

 

 

Now, not only is my sewing machine  illuminated with scintillant light from above, a light that indeed lightens my sewing path; I have one very funky light which, I think adds a certain whimsy and a bit of fun to my sewing room.

 

 

 

'Twas the night before Christmas.......

.....well actually.........there are 41 nights before Christmas (just to reassure y'all in case you think that you have just awoken from a 3 months' comatose slumber and missed out on all that Christmas preparation joy....you know you love it)...... before the benevolent and jolly fellow, attired in his mighty fine, red garb, squeezes his rather ample frame down my soot-covered chimney; to deliver some goodies and stuff them into my christmas stocking.

Now, I know some of you don't like to give this annual event a thought until the very last minute....until you espy good ole St Nick's shiny, black boots dangling from the chimney... (and I deeply apologise for bringing this to your attention)....but for me, this event seems to each year, come around quicker than Rudolf can find a battery for his nose. So.....because there are no little elves in this far rural outpost,  maniacally stitching away for the anniversary of goodwill and good cheer, I have decided that now is the time to start thinking about my christmas stocking, in which the good ole benevolent fella might leave a little present or two!!

Yes, I am sad to say that there is just li'l ol' me....(I am  feeling your distress about my predicament....you can wipe away those tears now)!! No sign of elves, working their fingers to the bone, in my humble li'l ole abode. So, I suppose it is up to me to stitch my good self, a mighty fine christmas stocking, worthy of a visit of the eminent, rotund gentleman!!

Although I have stitched many a fine christmas stocking for friends and family, I have decided that this year I am going to stitch one for  my good husband and also, one for me. Me thinks that the time has come to retire the old  (that was stitched many a Christmas moon ago) and replace with a stocking or two, resplendently hanging from the mantelpiece, befitting of our 'parlour' in our humble abode!

So to the drawing board.

Me thinks an elegant and opulent Louis XIV parisian style boot for me, covered in a slew of lace (who would've thought), flock velvets, satins, damasks; embellished with the odd button or two, vintage buckles, brooches, ribbons and whatever other pretties needed to make an 'oh so elegant' article of high stepping footwear, befitting of the Sun God, Louis XIV!

And.......a court jester boot for my good husband. Me thinks that a parisian boot smothered in lace and ribbons is not really his style!! Can't imagine why ever not!! I mean, really, if lace worn in royal circles, was the height of fashion and considered to be quite dandy for all in the 17th century, why not now!!! Now.....Louie (please excuse the informality) sounds like my kinda of guy!!!

So it's time to dig out my patterns that I designed eons ago and pin them to the base fabric. I have used a blockout curtain lining fabric as this will give the stockings a little body.

I have gathered a basket (the biggest one I could find)  of goodies..........scrumptious fabrics, swirls and swirls of ribbons, lace, doilies, braids, tassels, buckles, buttons et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I selected an assortment of fabrics and layered them onto the base fabric in an arrangement that is pleasing to my li'l eye. Then I added lace, doilies and whatever else I felt was spiffy. The more the merrier is my philosophy.  Now those of you out there in blogland who are minimalists; now is the time to cover your ears, because what I am going to say could be regarded as blasphemy!! I am afraid that I am a soul who does not adhere to the gospel of minimalism, that 'less is more'! Indeed, 'more is never enough' when creating a parisian boot with which good King Louie would be immensely impressed. Naughty of me I know, but after all, I need to use some of my vintage treasures that I have acquired over all these years.

 A closer look at the laces and fabrics that I have used. The laces in the bottom right hand corner are some of a collection that my daughter bought me in a flea market in Paris. One is part of a heirloom collar that I imagine was part of a 1940's dress. My Pip knows her mother very well, very well indeed!

Now it's time to start having fun and I am afraid, make an almighty mess!! I fear that when I start to embellish, my sewing room always resembles a site where a fabric and lace bomb has been detonated!!

 Each stocking must have it's own individual name....after all we can't have St Nick stuffing the wrong stocking with fabric, now can we!!

One, two.....buckle my shoe parisian boot!! 

Oodles and oodles of twinkling, scintellescent stars have been stitched on with beads to the court jester boot...after all it is Christmas!!

I have lined both stockings with satin fabric.

Now I realise that my parisian boot is rather slim (afterall it is an elegant look that I want to add to my mantlescape) but if dear ole St Nick fills my stocking with fabric, maybe some lace, some stitching paraphernalia and perhaps a book (or two); this gal will be deliriously happy!! And....of course, if St Nick should place a drill, or perhaps some other kind of tool in the court jester boot, then my husband will likewise be beside himself with great joy!! 

Me thinks that my christmas stockings adds a certain 'joie de vivre', to our mantlescape when on 1st December our li'l ole 'chateau' magically begins to look a lot like Christmas!!

Linking up to Lovely Stephanie's, The Enchanting Rose.

My cup runneth over.........

.....with loving kindnesses from dear friends. Each day I find there are thousands of fibres that connect us to our friends, discovering fragments of yourself in others..........even friends that we have never met.

One such friendship; (a friend whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting face to face), started just a li'l while ago in 'The Land of Blog'. I met Vicki of A Quilters Mission  perchance, whilst wandering (as you do) through cyberspace. You click on one blog, which leads you to another blog and another, and another; until you find yourself  wandering with amazement and awe through a maze of delightful blogs written by clever stitchers; showcasing their glorious handiwork and writing about their creative lives. 'Tis a wonderful world filled with colourful inspiration!

I happened upon Vicki's lovely blog and discovered that a lot of quilts that she stitches are for charity. Vicki (together with other ladies) stitches beautiful quilts transforming them from 'lemons' into 'lemonade' and raises money for local and worldwide relief, thus giving many a warm hug to those who are finding travelling along the road of life rather tough! The work that Vicki does is such a blessing to many........indeed the work that Vicki does (I think) is eternal!!

Anyway...........why am I telling you about my friend, Vicki? Well.....after a particularly sad day (I had just received some very sad news), my friendly postman delivered a rather substantial parcel, all the way from the USofA!! Imagine my surprise when upon looking as to whom the sender might be, I discovered 'Miss Vicki's' name printed thereon. When I opened my present, gorgeously stitched items by the clever Miss Vicki spilled out.

There were 2 scrumptious polka dotted strawberry pin cushions, a needle ring, a needle book, a thread catcher (I had never heard of these before entering the Land of Blog....I know, I know...I don't get out much), a zipper pouch, an armchair pin cushion and 4 gorgeous mug rugs!! All of these items are made of gorgeous fabrics from hues that I love!! There is even a Laura Ashley, cornflower blue, fabric design from which I had fashioned curtains, long ago in my humble abode in Sydney!

 

The two buttons on the strawberry pin cushions are some of Vicki's mother.

Though I love every fabric that Vicki has chosen, I particularly love the cheery aqua and pink/reds of the armchair pin cushion! I love the lemon backing on the mug rugs to remind me of the 'lemonade' quilts that Vicki so tirelessly stitches for charity! She's a treasure, is Miss Vicki!! I am so very thankful that I have 'met' her and so very thankful that she has travelled through cyberspace and happened upon my life!! 'Tis a blessed gal that I am!!

 

 Now........my cup runneth over with yet another token of thoughtful friendship. Anne, another dear friend, said to me the other day......."Miss Kim, I have a surprise for you!! I have bought a 'few' buttons for you!"

Mmmmmmmmm................just a few!!!!

  

 I might add that this is just one jar filled with these pretties. There is enough to fill ten more and then some!!

Thousands and thousands of glorious buttons spilling out in rainbow-filled hues.

 

 Those of you who follow my li'l blog, will know that every afternoon after school I teach children (prodigies....well I think they are) the art of stitching. And.......as so many of the projects they stitch demand oodles and oodles of buttons, I am slowly running out of these fastening doodads! And......of course these children who attend "The Kim Sharman School of Stitching Excellence" seem to have developed a sophisticated and expensive taste in pretty buttons.........mmmmmmm......I wonder from whom they have developed such cultivated taste!!!

I predict many a contented hour sorting through these buttons over the next couple of weeks. There is something soothing about running your fingers through a plethora of buttons!! I know, I know...I am a tragic.....but I LURVE buttons!!

 

Both these expressions of friendship, in their own way, have warmed my heart this week. They have been perfect illustrations of how daily miracles appear in the most ordinary of circumstances.

 

As I sit and indulge in a cuppa and home-baked treat (a favourite pastime of mine); with my mug resting on one of my gorgeous mug rugs, I can't help but be reminded of how "my cup runneth over" with warm friendships! Yes indeedy.....'tis a blessed gal that I am!!

Spring is bustin out all over......

....well perhaps not exactly 'bustin'........but ever so slowly, the flowers are awakening from their deep winter sleep, to pop their pretty little heads from their wintry cold and damp beds and greet Old Man Sun (that is of course, when He decides to grace us with his presence and shine his radiant beams on my li'l corner of the world); with their smiley faces. Yes indeedy, the stage production of the flower kingdom, 'The Dance of the Blossoms', has well and truly begun down here at the bottom of the world. Each flower is waiting in the wings, until it is their turn to take centre stage and sway merrily across the stage, act by act, when, with the final crescendo, all of Spring's performers take their cue, burst onto the stage and join in the merry dance of Spring.

In our garden, the 'First Act' of Spring is abloom with daffodils, jonquils and tulips. The long and bitterly cold Tassie winter is just bearable, because there is always the promise of the most brilliant display of these bulbs. The William Wordsworth poem comes to mind, because wherever one goes in Tassie, one sees "a host of golden daffodils" (and every variation of the same theme) everywhere; not only in gardens but also along the roads, in paddocks; indeed in every nook and cranny. Funnily enough, in Tassie, tulips even grow by the seaside.

Oh....pardon me.....let me introduce y'all to Maisie, my ever present, faithful companion.  'Crazy' Maisie loves to 'garden'!! As a matter of fact, Maisie's favourite pastime seems to be digging in the garden....a pastime I might add, that her master, the gardener of the house, does not approve!! Maisie is always planting a new specimen of the plant kingdom.....a doggy, skeletal, animal substance; which try as she might, just doesn't seem to sprout and multiply!!

Sharing the stage simultaneously with these bulbs are the beautiful Camellias.

 

 

 

The 'Second Act'......introduces a wide variety of Irises; Dutch and Bearded; for their moment in the spotlight. The bare wintry branches of the Wisteria transforms into a visual delight of showy, pendulent clusters of blue-violet flowers, sharing the stage with the Irises; forming a spectacular troupe of colour.

 

 

Joining the Irises and Wisteria for the Second Act are the Azaleas, Granny Bonnets (one of my favourites) and the lovely Clematis. The Granny Bonnets (Aquilegias) are abloom in the prettiest of colours, blue, mauve, purple, pink, cream, crimson.....all providing a show of riotous colour.

 

  

 

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Next, it is the Lilacs and Foxgloves time to shine with the Rhododendrons waiting impatiently for their chance to take centre stage.

 

The 'Third Act'  of the Dance of the Blossoms is well and truly under way spiriting along in spectacular fashion. Every flower is contributing to a magnificent show, every one adding their own beauty providing a breathtaking show  of colour explosion and fragrance.

 

I might add that the Forget-me-nots, Peonies, Poppies, Zinnias, Hollyhocks, Asters, Roses, Nigellas, Liliums, Hydrangeas, Cosmos, Canterbury Bells and so many more 'dancers' of the botanical world are all waiting for their turn to amaze with their vibrancy and colour. Yes indeedy, over the next six months gardens here in Tassie are quite simply breathtaking

 

Not only is Spring bustin out all over with colour and pattern in the garden........there is an explosion of colour and pattern of the fabric kind in my bright and cheery sewing room. The School fair is just over a week away and I have been busily whipping up oodles and oodles of fabric flowers, flower fairies and other pretties for my li'l stall. My fabric flowers have taken on a life of their own. It seems that  the folk in this rural outpost are wanting to take an everlasting bouquet of prettiness home with them. Mmmmmm......when I grow up I want to be a florist!

 

 Every colour of the rainbow is represented.

 

Pinks........

 

Blues, Greens.........

 

Purples.......

 

Oranges and yellows........

 

En masse, an overspilling yummy bouquet of floral prettiness.

I have hot glued the fabric flowers to both knitting needles and lengths of wire to make single stem flowers. The flowers look so pretty bunched in overspilling bouquets of floral extravagance!

 

 

Overspilling vases of my fabric flowers in situ, in front of patchwork curtains which I stitched from the Designer Guild sample swatches that my lovely friend, Margaret, bestowed upon me. Yes indeedy.....it is springtime every day in my sewing room!!

 

 

 And last but certainly not least, Li'l Miss Dahlia has been joined by many other flower fairies, all waiting with great excitement to make their appearance at the School Fair. The more the merrier is Miss Dahlia's philosophy.....she just has more friends to play with!

  

So all in all, outside and inside, 'Spring is bustin out all over'. Me thinks that I might just sit in my garden swing, read a book, drink a cup of tea or two (in a fine bone china tea cup of course), chat with my faithful companion, Maisie; and drink in all that Spring loveliness.

 

 

 

Afterall.......as 'Spring is bustin out all over' everywhere in this li'l ole neck of the woods, one should take an hour or two or three and make the most of it....don't you think!!