Easter Feasting

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter. We capped ours off today with a visit from friends at our sons soccer match which was just great. Yesterday we had a feast with the family and I thought I would share with you some of the drool-worthy dishes that we stuffed ourselves with!

The rice had roast almonds and other yummy stuff. The chickens were cooked to perfection on the snazzy BBQ and for the Vego there were pea and haloumi fritters which were unbelievably yummy. Oh and the salad - I have to get the recipe for the dressing because it was sensational - I know there was honey in it! Baby spinach, roast pumpkin and sweet potato and roasted pine-nuts. Are you drooling yet?

And after all of this yumminess, our manly men got to and "constructed". Ok so they didn't make the whole thing - just added the cover but there were some challenges .... The end result means shade and rain protection for the coming Winter anyway!

My food offerings were limited to a trio of dips. I have never really made dips before and was surprised how quickly they came together and how utterly mouth watering they are. I made French Onion, Roast Capsicum and Tomato and Hummous - yum yum!
Can you believe we actually managed "afters" as well? How does home-made custard slice sound - oh yeah! I have been in a carbohydrate tailspin all day today but it was soooo worth it. Of course we managed to swill a few bottles of bubbly and one of the loveliest Verdehlos I have had in ages.

I did make some Easter gifts of the jewellery kind too. A leather cuff for my son which he has only removed to play soccer so I am guessing he likes it! I am not sure how long it will last as I chose the softest leather I had, but oh well, it looks and feels great! I made my daughters fella a leather and neoprene bracelet with some nut beads and he seemed happy too - boy jewellery is always a bit more challenging for me. I made ear-rings for the girls.

This pair for my eldest daughter ...

They are quite long and suit her beautifully. I am having a lot of fun messing around with enameling just now.  Because the green disc is larger than the orange disc, they hang in a nice chandelier kinda way.

Daughter Number 2 received these ...

The colour is called "Yacht Blue" - it is quickly becoming one of my favourites! The shiny green beads are from a strand of Vintage crystals that my daughter and I hunted up in a Thrift Store at Christmas time. There is some amethyst on there too and a nice clear crystal at the top - you can't see it in the pic but I aged a rhinestone rondell and added that to the top bit as well!

Now my darling niece has a 14 month old son so dangly earrings are not much chop most days so I made her some she can wear to work. I chose fairly neutral colours so they should team up nicely with lots of outfits ...

These are a lovely Charcoal enamel with a creamy pinkish shell. They look great on! I have shaped the ear wires so that they become a feature of the design rather than just a hanging mechanism.

 Wow, this turned into a lengthy post - didn't mean to bang on about the jools but I am finally "getting back in the saddle" as it were and I am a bit pleased with myself and my efforts!
Hope no-one suffers too badly from "Its-Not-The-Long-Weekend" Blues tomorrow!

My purse stayed closed ...

Wonder of all wonders, there were no op-shop purchases in this house this week! Our household has been a chaotic mess of people moving in and out over the last 6 months and I think the background noise of all that extra stuff everywhere is finally getting to me! I just couldn't convince myself to add to it this week. Instead I have decided to share some pics of one of my favourite treasure hunting haunts. This is a local place that uses the money it raises locally. It is MASSIVE. It is well-priced. It is staffed by really great volunteers. It is HEAVEN!

So come on in for a little virtual tour and be amazed at my ability not to to succumb to the lure of all these treasures ...

There are lots of goodies to be found ...

Things for the kitchen ...

Books for the den ...

Stuff for fancy dinner parties ...

Or Afternoon Teas ...

... for lots of guests!

Furniture for every purpose ...

And great stuff for your walls ...

And when you buy your lovelies from here, you support people like this ...

The whole place is a feel-good experience so if you ever find yourself in the Barossa Valley make a bee-line for the best  (and biggest) op-shop in town. You will find it on the road between Nuriootpa and Angaston - it is hard to miss! Hope everyone had fun hunting up some special treasures this week. Head on over to Her Library Adventures to check out all the peeps taking part in Sophie's meme, Flea Market Finds.

Other fun stuff about travelling.

One of the best things about a driving holiday,is finding quirky places in the towns you travel through. For as long as I have known Melissa, she has created under the title of Mogs Designs. There is a story behind the name but since it is her story to tell, you can head over to her blog and ask her to tell it!

Imagine my surprise when I saw a sign that said "Mogs Antiques".  I just had to stop for a photo.

Well, I am glad I did stop because just have a look at this amazing place ...

... And that was just the OUTSIDE! You should have seen it inside - literally packed to the rafters with stuff! Some junk, some collectible stuff , antiques and everything from American license plates to fine bone china and truly, everything in between! The owner is clearly not that discerning about what they keep and what they chuck! Still, it was fun to poke through - albeit a tad dusty!

Someone who is discerning about the goods she keeps in her shop, is Kelly from Dear Prudence in Ballarat. The shop has gorgeous vintage wares - china and pictures, jewellery and clothing - lots of stuff, but beautifully presented and sorted. Kelly also fosters emerging artists by hosting regular exhibitions at the shop. Kelly gave me the scoop on where to go in Daylesford and I visited every place she suggested and had a great time.So, if you find yourself in Ballarat anytime soon, head to 434 Sturt Street and say Hi to Kelly and enjoy her lovely shop.

An Artful Journey of the Utmost Kind.

When my dear friend Melissa sent me a gorgeous handcrafted journal to document my artful adventure to Victoria, I made a promise not to censor /edit my scribblings! Of course the end result looks a bit dubious but I guess when I look back on it, I will be glad to have such an accurate record. Here are a few pages so you can see how it looks ...

This was Day 1 -it was a beautiful drive and I found an op-shop!

I loved having different surfaces to write on and Melissa included "windows" and hidey-holes that I could put mementos in.

These are two of the stamps I made in Ro's class - just had to try them out!

It was also fun to try and incorporate some of the words Melissa had stamped into my journaling.
If you would like to see another journal made by another talented craftswoman head over to Rustic Tarts and check out the one Christina has made for her upcoming epic adventure.

Flea Market Finds

During my travels last week, I managed to find a few op-shops open for business and happy to relieve me of some dollars! I loved the ones in the little towns on the way over to Melbourne but I must say they seem to be a bit more expensive than our South Aussie ones. Having said that, I did manage to find 5 decent tops for studio work for just one dollar each. I bought a number of little bits and pieces along the way but this piece was my favourite ...

I bought him in Daylesford. He has had a few repairs but actually works! Who could resist?

I also really liked this vintage fabric which I hope ( with the help of a couple of dear pals - hint hint!) to make into a skirt.

I thought these little crown buttons were too cute to pass up and I plan to use the upholstery nails straight away to fix up a chair for my daughters' flat.

I didn't get to join in Sophies meme last week so I am looking forward to catching up with all the interesting things everyone has found.

Hope you have all had a wonderful Treasure-Hunting week!

The best things in life are the people you meet ...

Sometimes, life puts wonderful people directly in your path. Just lately I was lucky enough to cross paths with some very talented,interesting creative women and I thought I would share them with you!
Firstly let me introduce you to Julie my bench buddy during our lessons with Susan Lenart Kazmer.

Julie made some wonderful pieces. She is very talented, with a really distinct style. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful bench buddy. We exchanged ideas and skills and chattered away about everything and nothing! I think SLK was a real inspiration for Julie and I watched her 'light up" as her creative desires became realities in the classroom.
Then there was the lovely Ro who was not only a student but also a teacher. I took Ro's stamp carving class and it was a really meditative experience. Ro is a generous and calm teacher but bubbles with enthusiasm for her crafts. Check out her work over here.

 Here she is busy making some amazing resin papers in Susan's class.

Now I am a bit annoyed that I don't have any photos of Jen to show you. This lady is pure goodness from the top of her head to the tip of her toes! She is cheeky and funny. Oh and did I mention that she is an awesome maker? Head over to her blog to see for yourself and I bet you will fall in love too!

Of course I couldn't blather on about "great people I have met" without mentioning the Diva herself - Susan Lenart Kazmer. This is an inspiring woman who connects so easily with the people around her that it is a good thing she doesn't have any plans for world domination! A truly gifted artist whose boundless energy seems to spark and light little creative fires in everyone she meets. I learned far more than techniques from Susan. She spoke with such passion and conviction about her creative path. She was accessible and generous and I felt full to bursting with renewed energy and self-belief after 4 days in her company. I also have to mention her delightful sister Cheri - an artist in her own right and also a very warm and funny woman to boot.
Truly, I may be a little star-struck but spending time in Susan's classes has had a big impact on me and I expect the evidence of that impact will trickle out for quite awhile.

And here she is - engaged in lively conversation, tool belt at the ready and fairly bristling with creative energy! The Divine Ms Susan Lenart Kazmer. (sigh!)

I'm baaaack!

Oh my goodness, a week away from Blogland and I feel like I have missed out on a years worth of reading and posting! I have a lot of catching up to do. Last week I headed off on an "Artful Journey Of The Utmost Kind" and had the opportunity to attend classes with the divine Susan Lenart Kazmer. I've been carrying a torch for her and her work for quite some time now. It is always possible that actually meeting your idol might dim the flame a little bit, but  my "girl-crush" on the delightful SLK continues to burn brightly. Turns out that not only is she a terrifically talented artist but a warm and generous human being too! She has a really hearty laugh, quick wit and seems to delight in sharing her gifts. What a woman! If you are not familiar with her work nip on over here and have a squizz.I will tell you more about the Art Retreat this week but I just wanted to share a couple of pics from my journey! It is a reasonable drive from the Barossa to the Dandenongs and I am glad I had a sleep-over halfway!

 I had my i-Pod and my dashboard buddies for company!

.

There were inevitable roadworks and trucks along the way and these guys didn't seem to mind when I sang along with Regina Spektor at top note. If the kids had been in the car there would have been complaints and serious eye rolling! I really enjoyed the drive over and back - I love the countryside and the towns along the way. I had to drive through Melbourne ( not the CBD but the crazy highway/ East link thingo) and I found that a bit challenging - so many trucks that seem to be going too fast, masses of roadworks and speed limit changes! Still, I have lived to tell the tale so it couldn't have been too traumatic now could it?!