Wonderfully Lush Yarn

Check out lush yarn

I saw them today at the St Ives Heritage Craft Fair and their wools are so beautiful. I can't knit but it is on my 'to do list' and as soon as K-Rudd's check is banked I will get myself some. Australian Merino wool. Yummy. They have a website, a blog, and an Etsy shop which was featured in the Etsy Treasury. Now it is time to get someone to teach me to knit!

xxx

Bird and Fish

This is my first draft of a little story I wish to write and illustrate. Because I am a sponge for all things I see and hear I get concerned that there may be a story like this out there. If anyone can tell me that they have seen something like it then I will fix it. Any feedback would be good too.

Bird and Fish.

Bird knew the sky and the land but did not know the ocean. Bird knew the mountains and air, the warm, green places, and Bird knew the other birds who were his friends and family. Bird dreamed of knowing what was below the surface of the water but Bird could not swim or breath without air. If only Bird could somehow know what lay in the depths of the ocean.

Fish knew the ocean but did not know the land and the sky. Fish knew the hidden treasures that lay beneath the surface of the water. Fish knew the nooks and crannies, the dark, cool places and Fish knew the other fish who were his friends and family.  Fish dreamed of knowing the sky and the land but fish could not breath out of the water. If only Fish could know what lay above the surface of the ocean.

One day Bird hopped out onto the furthest branch of a great arching tree which hung over the water. Bird wanted to peek past the surface of the water and see what was beneath. Fish came to the surface to see what Bird was doing, knowing that Bird might tell him of tales of the land and sky. 

Bird chirped to Fish in Bird language, and Fish gurgled to Bird in Fish language. Neither Fish nor Bird could speak each other's own language but somehow they knew what the other was saying. Bird flapped his wings, and arched and dove and flew in circles at great speed. Fish jumped and splashed and swam in circles at great speed. They found a way to communicate by playing and chirping and gurgling. 

As their friendship grew from days of playing and flying and splashing, Bird and Fish slowly began to learn about each other. They learned what each other ate, they learned how each other played, and they learned about where the other came from. Fish slowly learnt about what was above the surface of the water and Bird learnt what was above it. No longer did the other long to be somewhere or something else. They had both found a friend who could tell them.

xxx

New Days of Winter

It has been a long time. A long, long time. Of not posting, of doing new things, of being busy busy busy AGAIN. Of not drawing. Sigh. 

However...In recent days the images have come forth again in a little black book that fits in my handbag and comes out when I need a break. Here are the pages of the little black book so far. 

It comes out when I am not studying - or meant to be studying, when I am not in Chatswood shopping, eating Asian noodles and buying delicious treats from the Asian bakeries, when I am not being caught up by everything else.

Much has changed but there are so many new things - a new house, a new flatmate, new cats, new neighbours, a new job, new friends, new places...and a new title for my blog. Froghopkins stays in my heart but Marshmallow Beanie is today, and it is here that new memories and experiences will develop. 

I hope you like it as much as I do.

xxx

Sparkle

It's been a while since I have been able to be crafty/creative - I have been soaking up the sun - surfing, snorkling, walking, etc. Making the most of the holiday atmosphere. Instead I post images I did a while ago but which I have not had a chance to post. Terrible photos - taken with my imac but cest la vie. I love having this forum to post and write so I keep plodding along, waiting for that one sparling moment when I sit down again with brush and paint.

These images were all done with watercolour pencils.

Bless you all and hope you had a relaxing xmas

xxx

Witches Charms

I bought myself the book "The Little World of Elves and Fairies" for Christmas. $11 second hand. It was in a bookstore in Dee Why for years and every time I went in I would say "no, I don't have the money". Finally, the other day, I spent half an hour looking for it until I finally found it and bought it. After about two years!!!

The illustrations are beautiful. They are by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. Ever since I was little I was in love with this image. Being a witch was my very first career aspiration. Bless. 

 

Witches Charms

The weather is fair, the wind is good

Up, dame, on your horse of wood!

Or else tuck up your grey frock,

And saddle your goat or your green cock,

And make his bridle a ball of thread

To roll up how many miles you have rid.

Quickly come away,

For we all stay.

The owl is abroad, the bat and the toad,

And so is the cat-a-mountain;

The ant and the mole sit both in a hole,

And the frog peeps out of the fountain,

The dogs they do bay, and the timbrels play.

The spindle is now a-turning;

The moon it is red, and the stars have fled,

But the sky is a-burning.

Ben Jonson.

I know it is Christmas and not Halloween, however it is always the right time for witchy things. Here are a few relatively old pics of mine (2007)

The Fortune Teller

Halloween 2007

xxx

Pepperkake fun

I took inspiration from the blog 'Tiny Happy' and made Norwegian spicy Christmas biscuits - Pepperkake. There are a few recipes on the internet and I just used one that I thought was the best for me. They were really really good; the white pepper is fabulous. I iced them with an icing sugar and lemon juice mix. 

The dough needs refrigeration for 24 hours and rather than rolling it out and using my lovely cookie cutter shapes, I was lazy and cut the dough into irregular 'bits'. I thought they looked terrific. The dough was enough to make heaps - I still have a ball of fresh dough in the fridge (I wrapped three large orange size balls). 

All the cooked ones are gone...only crumbs and the absent smell of nutmeg and ginger. A few for the neighbours, a few for a friend and the rest for us. Fat and happy.

Happy Christmas Blossoms!

xxx

Bag of Bliss

On my doorstep from Susan. It smells divine. Will drink some tomorrow.

xxx