NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA

Well I have certainly been missing for a while!!! Hopefully I will have new stock being added to the shop from next week and on a more regular basis.

Hubby and I have been to Aussie for the 4th time and had a fantastic time as we always do in this wonderful country.
We flew via Singapore, and although we have been here a few times, the city is constantly evolving so there is always something different to see.

 

 

We arrived in Darwin and had rented an apartment for 4 nights right by the harbour and it worked out great. We really liked Darwin and enjoyed the scenery, food, people and many attractions, especially the Deckchair Cinema and Thursday night Mindil Market.

We then hired a 6 berth motorhome for the next 10 days and headed to kakadu National Park, stopping off on the way for a jumping crocodile cruise which was awesome!!

Part 2 to follow .......

WORDS OF ROMANCE

Words can be so powerful ..... often encouraging, often evoking happiness or sadness.

Two of my favourite poems about love and romance are as follows:

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways ....

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight.
For the ends of being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, .... I love thee with the breadth,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! ... and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

A Chinese Wedding Poem

I want to be your friend
For ever and ever without break or decay.
When the hills are all flat
And the rivers are all dry,
When it lightens and thunders in winter,
When it rains and snows in summer,
When Heaven and Earth mingle
Not 'til then will I part from you.


In fact these two poems where part of my recent Wedding Renewal Ceremony ...... in Australia!!!
Yep, I have been to Aussie for the 4th time ......more on that trip to come!

NEW ITEMS

Today is glorious and I took advantage of the lovely light to take photos of some new additions to my Etsy Shop.
First up are two leather clutch bags which really highlight the natural drape and shape of a leather hide.

This first clutch is made from a soft velvetty black leather and teamed with a beautiful patterned silver leather. A large zipper keeps your purse, phone, keys, makeup etc nice and safe.

Front

Zippered Pocket

Back

 

The second clutch is made from soft brown buttery leather which is teamed with a colourful animal print leather.

Front

Back

Zippered Pocket

SPRING

The feeling of Spring is definitely in the air, and with it comes a sense of renewal and starting things afresh, with an alternative view.

I love the fact that in the UK we still have 4 distinctive seasons, and I know I would miss them if I were to ever live in another country.

I had a busy and stressful last 6 months, with the deaths of my mother in law and then my father 2 months later. Now things have calmed down and I am able to start working hard on my 2 Etsy Shops again, I think that I am coming back to them with a fresh take and really look forward to building up stock and mixing things up a little.

My ethos has always been to make unique one of a kind items that make the person buying them feel that they are getting something different and something only a handful of people will own. I have considered making bags in batches as this would certainly be easier for me, but to be honest, that would go against what I am trying to achieve, so I will move forward keeping that the same but work on different styles that I can mix and match a little.

I aim to work harder on my whole work routine as I am a bit like a kid in a sweet shop, who has money to spend but way too many choices and decisions to make.

 

DIFFICULT TIMES

Life is a series of journeys, which have a start and an ending, and I for one am well aware of this with working in a Hospice with Palliative Patients. But does life really prepare us for losing a loved one?
I lost my dear mum 15 years ago, at the age of 60 from lung cancer. She was diagnosed and died 6 weeks later. I can still remember a conversation we had on the day she was diagnosed. She said to me " you always knew that I would die one day "....... and I sat staring straight at her, feeling as though someone had punched me, and thought to myself .... No, I don't think I ever did.

Well, my husband has just lost his dear mother, albeit at the age of 87, but she was very healthy and independent and it has come as a huge shock. She was kind and caring, but immensely stubborn and could be arguementative and would talk to perfect strangers when out and about.

I truly believe that we all die when our time is allotted by a higher being, but sometimes we have to grasp the concept that life is for living and really make sure we live every moment as fully as we can, and not get bogged down by trivial worries.

So for all of us, just remember ........

 

New Additions To Share

New Wool Brooches!

Made using the 'wet felting' technique, I have created  unique adorable and one-of-a-kind brooch/corsages for you to make a real statement with!
Made from 100% merino wool, these brooches cannot be reproduced making them original designs.
They come with a pin attached to the back and can be pinned on your jacket, scarf, handbag etc.

They would make a great gift or bridesmaid favor or just a lovely accessory for yourself.

The brooch is approx. 4.5" in diameter and consists of 2 layers with a metallic grey bead sewn in the centre top layer surrounded by cream beads, adding to its wow factor.



Made from 100% merino wool in shades of red and black, this brooch has two layers and a chunky effect black button sewn in the centre top layer.
White silk fibres add to the wow factor.



This small brooch in shades of brown has a wonderful ornate brass/bronze coloured button at its centre. I have sewn individual copper coloured beads to each side or wing for effect.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

 

 

Well folks, I have certainly been missing in action as they say, for quite a few months. We have had a couple of illnesses in the family which threatened to be very serious, but time has revealved brighter news on both fronts.
In late September, hubby and I managed to get away for a week to Dubai for some relaxation of sorts. I have a yearning to visit as many countries and places as I possibly can and whilst neither of us are beach people or indeed sun worshipers, Dubai was a place that intrigued me on several counts.
There is so much wealth on show, with cars, jewellery etc but it is a very comfortable feeling place despite having to cover up so as not to offend locals. Boy, it was HOT and very humid! I had read about the etiquette of dressing suitably and was surprised to see so many westerners adhering to this code of dress. In fact those who wore strappy tops and shorts/short skirts really stood out from the crowd. We drove to Abu Dhabi and into the desert for a few days, which was fantastic. Some of my favourite memories are ....

** DUBAI FOUNTAINS -
Choreographed to music, the Dubai Fountain shoots water as high as 500 feet –that’s as high as a 50-story building. Designed by creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Vegas, Dubai Fountain Performances occur daily on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake. ( per own site )

** HERITAGE VILLAGE -
 Located in the Shindagha near the creek’s mouth, the Dubai Heritage Village (Hatta Village) provides a glimpse into Dubai’s traditional culture and lifestyle, including Emirate’s maritime history, pearl diving traditions and architecture. Displays include a tented Bedouin village, ancient armory, wooden chests and cooking utensils. ( per own site )

** CALL TO PRAYER -
Hearing this sound especially in the old quarters which very spiritual. I did find it very odd though when walking around Dubai Mall and witnessing the spending on luxury items and no apparent call to prayer.

** SHANG PALACE RESTAURANT, SHANGRI-LA HOTEL -
Named Dubai's "Best Chinese Restaurant", What's On Awards, 2013-2014

** SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE, ABU DHABI -
Truly beautiful and awe inspiring.

** QASR AL SARAB DESERT RESORT BY ANANTARA -
The setting and ambience of this hotel is stunning and everyone should be able to stay here at least once!

Dubai Fountains