Christmas Day, Memorable Music, Amazing Nature Photos and Festive Trifles.

Hello lovely readers, in todays Weekend Blog Post  I share with you Christmas Day, Memorable Music, Amazing Nature Photos and Festive Trifles. Happy Reading xo♥

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was here before we knew it, and before the festivities of the day kicked off, we decided on a morning walk on the beautiful south coast.

It was a pretty picture and once again, we were reminded how lucky we are to live here. 

Spotted on our walk was this sweet little South-western crevice-skink, who was happily catching some sun... 

but he didn't stay very long, just enough time for a quick photo; quite a photogenic little chap don't you think?

Then back to reality, our walk was over and it was time to head home for the final Christmas Day preparations, including making individual trifles, a recipe I will share later in this blog post. 
Memorable Music
Triple J Music News recently published this article: 
"15 of the most memorable lyrics of 2013."
I love alternate music and choose to listen to Triple J Radio over any other station, for  the diversity of music played and the support of upcoming unsigned Australian Artists through Triple J Unearthed. 
The article states : 
"From French pastries to prehistoric herbivores, here are a bunch of the memorable lyrics that made us sit up and take notice in 2013"
Take these for example: 
1."We've been drivin' round singing songs about drivin' round singing songs" 
The Smith Street Band - 'Don't F*** With Our Dreams'
2."Yeeeeuuuuh" Lorde - 'Tennis Court'
3. "The paramedic thinks I'm clever cos I play guitar / I think she's clever cos she stops people dying" from Courtney Barnett - 'Avant Gardener' 
(which you can listen to below) 

If this has piqued your interest, you can read the full article here and listen to the songs featured: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3915672.htm
Amazing Nature Photos 
There is the most Amazing Nature Photos exhibition at the Residency Museum from the 6th December 2013 to the 2nd February 2014 - open from 10am to 4pm Daily. If you can, visit this and see the best of the best, these images will captivate you.  

Photo of "Rosie" by Angela Robertson-Buchanan, New South Wales - 

her website + gallery can be viewed here: http://www.angelarobertsonbuchanan.com/

Here is a little more about the exhibition: 
"The Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year is an exhibition of spectacular photographs which capture the breathtaking flora, fauna and landscapes of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea. Compiled of entries from the annual ANZANG photography competition, this exhibition highlights the need for conservation and protection of these unique regions. The Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year is owned by the South Australian Museum." 
If you can't get there in person, you can view the online photo galleries here:
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2013/08/nature-photographer-of-the-year-/
Festive Trifles
Trifle is such an easy dessert to make, but it doesn't need to be sugar laden.
Here is my take on Individual Festive Trifles. 

Festive Trifles
Ingredients (four serves): 
1 Sachet Sugar Free Port Wine Jelly Crystals
4 mini sponge jam rolls
4-8 Teaspoons Sherry, Brandy or Liqueur of your choice
I plastic jar of Weight Watchers Diced Peaches
Carton of Long Life Vanilla Custard
I small carton of Whipping Cream
1 Teaspoon Organic Vanilla Bean Paste
Crushed Nuts to decorate.

Method:
1. Make up the sachet of Sugar Free Port Wine Jelly Crystals according to the packet directions. Place in the fridge to set.
2. Slice each sponge roll into 6 rounds. Divide the rounds into four lots and arrange in the base of small dishes or drinking glasses to create four serves.
3. Spoon even amounts of sherry, brandy or liqueur of your choice over the sponge roll rounds.
4. Spoon in an even layer of weight watchers diced peaches.
5. Spoon in an even layer of long life vanilla custard.
6. Spoon in an even layer of prepared sugar free port wine jelly.
7. Pour the whipping cream into a bowl and add the organic vanilla bean paste. Whip until stiff peaks form then spoon an even layer over the sugar free port wine jelly layer. 
8. Sprinkle over crushed nuts to decorate, chill and serve. 

note: I find that muscat is a good liqueur to give a nice flavour.

Dear readers, that concludes Christmas Day, Memorable Music, Amazing Photos and Festive Trifles. See you all on New Years Day for a new Wednesday Wishes blog post. 

Friday Friends - Australian Makers - sjsmith.com.au

It's Friday again readers - how was your Christmas break? I am grateful it is all over for another year, truth be told. Is it too early to take down the tree yet? Bah Humbug I know, I know. 

Today I introduce to you a new Friday Friend and Australian Maker, meet the very clever Sarah-Jane from sjsmith.com.au. 

Sarah is a skilled artisan and her creations include gorgeous textiles, paintings and home-wares.  

I love these urchin bowls - stylish and super practical storage solutions! 

This darling Crocheted Crocodile Stitch bag is too cute for words!

And for a different gift wrapping idea that can be used again as a sweet hanging decoration, try this heart garland!

Lovely readers, I invite you now to put your feet up and to relax for a short while, to read The Story of sjsmith.com.au. Have a lovely weekend and I will see you all on Sunday for the weekend blog post xo♥

The Story of sjsmith.com.au
sjsmith.com.au is just me, Sarah-Jane Smith crafting and designing away at my home at Brisbane’s Bayside.

I’ve always drawn and painted and, occasionally, sold my art work but it’s been sporadic.  My aunt taught me to crochet when I was about eight and I’ve always loved watching a piece grow and develop.  About five years ago I crocheted a lap rug for my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law said I should sell them. 

I didn’t take the hint at the time.  A few years on I was visiting a local gallery and the owner remarked on my crochet handbag. “You should be selling your bags”.  Luckily, this time I took the message the universe was sending me.

I opened my online shops on Etsy and Madeit  and started a website, joined some local craft organisations and off I went.  I am still a babe in the woods as far as marketing goes but I love learning new things and the comradery the craft community offer.

My most recent work is mostly crochet but I have also worked in recyclables and exhibited at Reverse Garbage, Brisbane.  You can see some examples of this on my facebook page 

Asking if I have a favourite piece is like asking if I have a favourite child – they are all special in different ways.  

I love the white flower cushion because I learned about layering and beading. 

I love the lap rugs for their texture and luxury and, 

I love their bags for their colour and vibrancy.

I am currently re-evaluating my business as my focus on mainly one-off designs may not be the way forward.  It’s not always easy finding time for my passion as I also work full time running a cleaning business with my husband.  For the future I hope to be creating more and working less.

Dear readers, do you want to see more? Here is how you can connect; 

Visit the sjsmith website here: 

http://www.sjsmith.com.au

become a follower on facebook here: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/sjsmithcomau/136210333115145

buy lovely things on Etsy here: 

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/sjsmithcomau

and on Madeit here: 

http://www.madeit.com.au/sjsmith

Merry Christmas - Wednesday Wishes

It's Christmas night here in Australia. 

The madness of  Christmas Day is over, the left overs are tucked away in the fridge, presents have been unwrapped and tummies are full. 

Maddabling wishes you much Christmas Cheer, on a day that is Merry + Bright. I hope your Christmas Stockings were full, and that you had nice things to eat and drink, and that you got to spend time with those that are near and dear. 

And most of all, that there is Peace on Earth, if only for a short while. 

Merry Christmas one and all! 

Christmas Cheer Gift Tags, Vintage Styled from EllenasPaperHouse

Merry + Bright Holiday Banner from tuckandbonte 

Beautifully Crafted Green + Gold Christmas Stocking from DontTellLaura

 

Plum Pudding Christmas Ornament w/ Vintage Copper Mold "Cratchit Collection" from 12LegsCuriosities

Christmas Handmade polymer clay 3 Word Pears peace on earth  from SkyeArt

Seasons Greetings, Festive Craft Swaps and Healthier Festive Fudge

Hello dear readers, welcome to the Monday night (weekend) blog post. Tonight, I share with you Seasons Greetings, Festive Craft Swaps and Healthier Festive Fudge. Happy Reading xo♥

Seasons Greetings

Maddabling wishes to take this moment to wish all my lovely fans, my dear friends and my family a happy and safe festive season. If travelling, please take care on the roads. Enjoy and cherish time spent with family and loved ones, be kind to one another. Here's hoping Santa is good to you all                    Merry Christmas 

Festive Craft Swaps 

Last week Maddabling shared with you a snap of the craft swap parcel she sent to Alex as part of the DUST Team Festive Craft Swap. 

As promised, now that the parcel has been received, it's time to share with you all what was sent! There are gift tags, bath teas, a original image mini print, a signature line Kilt Pin Brooch and an original image Christmas Card. Alex mentioned that she liked her goodies a lot ♥ Merry Christmas!

Maddabling can share with you too, the sweet parcel of handmade goodness from the lovely Deb. Spoilt was she with two bracelets, a crocheted star (which is hanging on our tree), some pretty craft papers, a birdy card, a makeup clutch and even a tiny headband for our new grandchild. Thank you so much Deb - Merry Christmas to you and yours! 

Healthier Festive Fudge

This recipe is courtesy of http://www.rawfoodrecipes.com and tastes pretty amazing. We have an abundance of fresh raspberries in the garden at the moment. Try topping a piece of fudge with a fresh raspberry for a decadent festive fudge treat. 

Healthier Festive Fudge with Fresh Raspberries

Ingredients:

1 cup organic coconut oil 1/4 cup organic raw cacao powder 1/4 cup homemade almond butter 1/4 cup organic maple syrup 1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract

Method: 

1) Put all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and stir until well combined.
2) Pour into a 5 x 9 glass bread pan (for thicker pieces) or an 8 x 8 glass baking dish (for thinner pieces and more servings).
3) Put in freezer for approximately 1 hour or until hard and firm.
4) Keep in the fridge until ready to serve because they will become soft and lose their shape if left out at room temperature.

My dear readers, I do hope you enjoyed Seasons Greetings, Festive Craft Swaps and Healthier Festive Fudge. See you all on Wednesday for a new Wednesday Wishes blog post xo

Friday Friends - Australian Artists - Imagino + Nuviart

Welcome to Friday lovely readers, and a brand new edition of Friday Friends. 

I hope your festive and New Years celebrations were filled with much love and good cheer. All the Christmas parcels have been sent, perhaps I should put up the tree this weekend! 

This week it is my very great pleasure to introduce you to Mely (Melissa Ramirez) the very talented creator behind Imagino and Nuviart. 

Mely paints and draws beautiful images designed to tickle the imagination and get you thinking outside stylised boundaries. 

Take for example these three pieces, that really caught my attention. Take a moment to study them to see what you can see! 

1. blu platapus bird

2. Imagino Sticker Familia

3. Mr Uh oh

Dear readers, I invite you now to explore The Imagery of Imagino and to let your imagination run wild! See you on Sunday for a new weekend blogpost. Have a fantastic weekend xo♥ 

The Imagery of Imagino

Artist name: Melissa Ramirez

Biography:  

My full name is Nuvia Melissa Ramirez Bourdett,  I am from Panama City, Panama, residing in Sunshine Coast, Queensland for the past 6 years. I have been part of collective exhibitions and have worked in commissioned projects. 

I am contracted to work as a Scenic Artist with the Art Department of the US Television show "Survivor" periodically, as well as other TV and Photo Shoot productions. I am also a Vinyasa Flow Yoga instructor currently teaching at Limitless Health in Nossa Junction, Sunshine Coast.

Painting is my main passion, I enjoy the process, it relaxes me. It is almost like meditation, where I can concentrate on something in particular and leave aside everything else. It can be clean or messy, big or small, detail or blocky, abstract or realistic, and all it's forms makes me happy. 

Depending on the project, I use acrylic, watercolour, oil base, stencil and spray paint, colour pencils, ink and pens, Posca markers and Sharpies, on plywood, canvas or paper. The illustration style is my favourite, 3D objects and still life. 

Artist Statement

Creating watercolour "Imagino series" characters, came from a brief thought I had of making something fully spontaneous, using water to collaborate in the process. I started by painting shapes with water onto the paper, randomly adding colours to the water, letting it dry. The colour paint will change, move, mix and blend while drying, which was really amusing to me. Once it was dry, an image appeared, very different to what I started with. 

I would look at the shape, then draw with ink pen what I saw, as I saw it. I wanted the process to be freestyle and almost non-stop. I made one character and found myself with more, as I enjoyed so much. They represent to me, new friends, almost like the type you have when you are a kid, imaginary ones. They come from an image I see, that then gets interpreted in my mind, and becomes a colourful character, which I play with. They'll love to become your friends too! 

About the work

Each painting is an original watercolour painting, one of a kind, NOT a print, signed on the front and back. They were made using watercolour paint on 300 Gsm Arches watercolour paper and white card stock paper, Artline black pen, love and imagination. Paper size varies from A5, A4 and A3.  

Each painting is safely packed with a recycled corrugated cardboard sheet backing, inside a clear cello sleeve. Original paintings also available online at imagino.etsythemeshop.com - Open to custom orders. 

Dear readers, do you want to see more? Here is how you can connect: 

Buy Imagino art in person at In.cuber8r Gallery in Fortitude Valley Brisbane from Friday 13th December 2013 to the end of February 2014. 

View the Artist Website here:  

http://www.nuviart.com/

Become a follower on Facebook here: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nuviart/224545394290051

Buy lovely works of Art on Etsy here:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Imagino?ref=si_shop

see what inspires on Instagram here:

http://instagram.com/imagino_#

View the full Artist Portfolio of works on behance here: 

http://www.behance.net/Nuviart

Festive Geekery - Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts - festive finds for those fond of geekery xo♥

TARDIS Inspired Small Painted Blue Box Christmas Ornament from SciFiMC

Set of Five Origami Starburst Book Ornaments in Gold Fleur de Lis from SproutsPressDesigns

CELEBRATE Christmas, Dalek Santa - Doctor Who card fromBrixtonStudios

Christmas Nail Transfers - set of ten, stocking filler from BeckaGriffin

Printable Christmas and New Year photo booth props from kutzypartyboutique

Craft Markets + Craft Swaps, Summer Clouds and Island Chicken Wraps

Greetings dear readers, I hope you had the most wonderful weekend. Tonight I share with you Craft Markets + Craft Swaps, Summer Clouds and Island Chicken Wraps. Happy Reading! 
Craft Markets and Craft Swaps 
Maddabling visited the Denmark Arts Market to pick up some last minute hand made gifts for Christmas. As always, it was a delight to visit and there were so many wonderful crafts to see. It's wonderful when you can give the gift of Handmade for Christmas. 

This sentiment transpires into the lovely DUST team. There are regular craft swaps held throughout the year, but the Festive Craft swap definitely generates the most interest. I have made some lovely things for my Secret Santa recipient, and they have been wrapped with love and care, and posted out.  

I am pretty sure that the parcel hasn't arrived at it's destination yet, so I can't share with you yes what it contains; I promise if I hear the news of the parcels arrival, I will share some pictures in my next weekend Blog Post ♥ 

Summer Clouds
Summer is well and truly here, so too are the wispy summer clouds which seem to be edged with gold as the sun goes down. I captured this shot at sunset the other night and had to share. It almost reminds me of a bird in flight....

Island Chicken Wraps
I found this recipe on the back of a pack of Spinach + Herb Wraps. This meal is quick to make and delicious, perfect for when you running short of time on weeknights. 

Island Chicken Wraps 
Ingredients:
4 Spinach + Herb Wraps
2 Grilled Chicken Breasts, cut into strips
1 Red Capsicum, cut into strips
1 Green Capsicum, cut into strips
1 Mango, cut into strips
2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
Juice of 1 Lemon
1/4 cup Flat Leaf Parsley, finely chopped
100g Mixed Salad Greens.

Method: 
1. Combine the oil, lemon juice and parsley in a small bowl, mix thoroughly. 
2. Combine strips of cooked chicken, the red and green capsicum and mango in a large bowl. Pour over the oil, lemon juice and parsley mix, toss lightly to combine. 
3. Warm the wraps per packet directions. 
4. Arrange the chicken mixture in the centre of each wrap, top with salad greens, roll up and serve immediately. 

That concludes Craft Markets + Craft Swaps, Summer Clouds and Island Chicken Wraps. Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead, see you on Wednesday for a new Wednesday Wishes blog post xo♥