Christmas 2011

Well here it is!
I have been longing for an original,handmade, hall way table for over three years.
This Christmas, my dream has come true!
Here is my special, totally hand built and wood turned hallway table,designed and created by my talented husband!

We're both very pleased with the result!

(Wood type....Mackay Red Cedar)

Garden delights!

I have been picking delicious raspberries from my canes in the backyard for the first time this summer. The canes are bountiful but unless I pick the delicious fruit as soon as I see the red beauties, busy hungry birds will beat me to it!
I must say, I really don't mind sharing.....

Trev gave me a large 'bowl' shape piece of bark the other day and my immediate thought was to plant it up with shallow and interesting little succulents/other unusual plants. Here is the result.......
The plants should clump and eventually cover the whole surface in due course.

I'm quite pleased with the result!

Late Spring garden

Last month I thought I would try and capture the lushness I can behold each time I look out from my bedroom window and take in the view of my south facing garden. This is what I see in late Spring. A variety of foliaged plants in different shades of green and textures.
Among the plantings visible are silver birches, a camellia, a cotoneaster, species gladioli,vinca, hydrangea,peacock iris, double daisies, bearded iris and more.

I have dried a few double daisy specimens and the intense magenta of the flowers is clearly visible.

I now aim to capture this same scene during each season to relish in its diversity and beauty. Hope you may find some peace and contentment with me as you peek into my garden.....

20th Anniversary!

Tomorrow I will be catching up with Richard And Cindy who will be celebrating their 20th.Wedding Anniversary!
I can't believe where the years have flown but they certainly have. I will also get the opportunity to visit them on their new property and home in Stratford. Really looking forward to this event.

Many many years ago,Cindy gave me a single fuchsia cutting from her then garden in another place and time. Here is the result in my front garden. The fuchsia was 'nameless' but I have called it 'Cindy'. It's as lovely as its namesake. xx

As time goes by....

Sometimes I can't help but stop and reminisce.
Memories come flashing back,sometimes unconnected,other times over a sequence of events.
Some memories are warm and loving. Others might be challenging or hard to fully comprehend.
Thoughts and memories can go so very very far back in time. Each and everyone has left its unique imprint on our mind.

I made this necklace whilst delving on past memories.......

Spring garden continued....

My mollis azalea and available earrings:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67405431/mandarin-drops-on-ice-earrings-by

Spring garden

Spring is well and truly upon us and the garden delights continue to unfurl and delight me. Last week, my one and only mollis azalea started to unfurl. Nothing lights up this side garden bed behind my front gate like this plant.

Amazing orange flowers are a sight to behold!

Matching in colour, this pair of quartz earrings were made by me a little while ago and echo the azalea's colour.These earrings are still available in my easy shop.

BBQ's and bracelets

I found my fairly new hardenbergia creeper I planted last year to soften the brickwork around our bbq flowering beautifully for the first time recently.
I love its bright whiteness against the dark brickwork and shady corner aspect.

A recent bracelet I made using beautiful sesame jasper beads in the softest green colour with a delightful dried flower arrangement also in matching greens brings a little of the garden indoors and can be carried around whilst being worn as a bracelet. Available now in my easy shop.

Spring blooms

Yes, I do believe Spring has sprung in Melbourne.
Couldn't resist these azalea and sparaxis blooms from the garden. Flamboyant pink and the deepest purple! What a special combination!

Unisex jewellery

I recently sold a lapis lazuli nugget pendant necklace to a chap in America which made me realise that my Etsy store didn't really stock many suitable unisex items. I have toyed with this idea many times before but not actually done something about it.
Till now.....

Here are the first two in my unisex range of wearable jewellery. What do you think?

Citrus in July

Yum!
My orange tree has produced its first crop of juicy oranges this winter and I'm pleased to say we have 9 oranges ready for picking.

Despite hungry caterpillars having a feast on some leaves, the orange fruit is unmarked and ideal for good doses of Vit C this cold, cold winter!

My little mandarine tree in the front courtyard produced a beautiful crop of juicy mandarines this year too. All gone now but I can still taste their goodness!

Winter delights

My garden is bursting with colour right now. Yes, even in the middle of this very cold winter! Not only colour abounds in the various camellia varieties I grow but also fragrance......ahh! daphne! My all time fragrance in winter would have to be that produced by this beautiful, yet faithful shrub, daphne odora.
I have four (20yr old) daphnes growing along my paved front garden path, having lost two during the last long drought. These remaining plants flower religiously each winter and never fail to amaze me with their beauty.
As for my camellias...... only two varieties were picked for this winter vase. Camellia Debutante and Guillio Nuccio variegata.

I thought this little arrangement would brighten up the ensuite on these very cold mornings......It sure has!!

Nocturnal delights!

As mentioned in my last post, more owl friends were on the way. Well, here they are! A little variety goes a long way I think, and judging by the lovely feedback these night owls received yesterday at the craft market, I know they'll be flapping their wings very soon....!

More owl pendants and a lovely brooch will soon be in my etsy shop. Come on over and have a browse.

www.gojjell.etsy.com

Hoot hoot!

At my last craft market a frequent 'stopper by' and admirer of my work asked if I had any owls incorporated in my jewellery designs. I had been shopping for owls only the previous week and told her I had my eyes on a few ceramic owls handmade by a talented fellow etsian. They were purchased this week but in the meantime, i have ventured into the nocturnal world of open eyed owls.
These two necklaces feature silverplated owls that have remarkable texture. My tree of owls will be featured tomorrow for the first time at my next market.
I'm hoping some will leave the perch and fly to loving homes!

In the meantime, enjoy these two:
(More owls soon to appear in my etsy shop, www.gojjell.etsy.com )

Ruby red in July

My latest creations enjoying the beauty of ruby redness!

Two different style of earrings but each with its inherent style and loveliness.

Meet Ruby red faceted drops and Deep ruby red drop hoops.

Warmth and coziness

Finally finished my super soft and beautifully warming shoulder wrap and listed in my etsy shop: www.lainenbois.etsy.com

A gorgeous,'nude pink' colour. Textured and interesting yarn and even vintage buttons to add to the luxury!

A chunky yet soft neckwarmer is now on the needles and should be ready to wear shortly.

When living was simpler....

I revisited Sovereign Hill Ballarat last weekend after many years.
It was a cold, damp day but rugged up I made the most of the occasion.
Walking amongst local characters in period dress, looking out for passing horses and carriage,watching a dramatic re enactment complete with gunfire and men in uniform! A very pleasant day indeed.

Here are some of the quieter,no fuss inhabitants of this re-created town. The sheep were so big and woolly, I just wanted to cuddle up to them!

Autumn harvest

Finally managed to find my way into the vegie patch after a little neglect. I'm sure all the new growth and young seedlings will thank me for the hard work....I did enjoy every minute of it!

My one and only heirloom pumpkin (variety unknown) just picked after our early frost, and more capsicum goodness. My green capsicums have been fruitful for the last three months and more lovely capsicums keep on coming!
My broadbeans have also made an appearance and are growing stronger by the day. Yum!

New in May....

Thought I might share a couple of my latest additions to my etsy shop, newly added this month.

I love beading haircombs and creating striking hair adornments. My latest is a sapphire blue pair....petite but beautiful I think.

Necklaces are my other love......This black/white creation is quite striking in real life and was a joy to make.

Hope you too will enjoy seeing these new additions.

Wedding Day!

My cousin is getting married today,many many miles away on the other side of the world!.

I could not be there for their special day but I hope they know they're in my thoughts and heart.

I was very pleased to hear from my cousin this morning to let me know my little gift for his fiancee had arrived on time.
I made this delicate but pretty, rose and freshwater pearl necklace.

Blessings to you both today and always.....

Easter goodness....

I recently found a straightforward recipe for Hot Cross buns that I thought I would try sometime this week.

Well, my dearest husband thought he'd beat me to it and got creative in the kitchen last Sunday.

Voila! Delicious, homemade hot cross buns created by Trev! (He actually admitted he failed at attempting the top crosses however!) These were delicious none the less!!

Thanks Trev xxx

Pretty in pink....

I have just recently ventured into the world of creating clip earrings with a an extra dash of prettiness. After heartwarming compliments from my very first purchaser of a pair using vintage lucite beads, I have gone ahead and tried a little different touch.

Here they are.....Fuchsia Pearl clip earrings, soon to be available in my etsy shop.

Still in the 'pink' theme, I made this petite pair of sterling silver swarovski heart earrings recently which happily sold at first sight!

Rich harvest....

Last weekend I was able to harvest the first crop of my very first-time-attempted-to-grow beetroot. The plants have been growing steadily with lovely,colourful foliage and when I lifted the first few,I was beautifully rewarded! They came in very handy in Sat. evening's roast!! YUM!

My pomegranate has excelled itself this year. Many strong, robust fruit and a little surprise......twin pomegranates! This plant is so pretty in flower and fruit. Lots more to pick in the weeks ahead.....

Standing TALL.....

Spent last weekend at beautiful Airey's Inlet. My first time there and it just so happened to be their Open Mic Music Festival weekend too.
We had a really fabulous time there. Walked along the beach,daily bush walks,relaxed,good food, good company, great music and talent and even managed to climb to the top of this wonderful lighthouse! This lighthouse is the actual one seen in the great Australian TV series, 'Round the Twist'.
All in all, a weekend to remember....

Pureness of WHITE

I was thrilled to find one of three belladonna lilies I had bought from a little wayside store in Woodend about five years ago was actually going to flower for the very first time!
I have watched it daily over the last week and finally got the chance to marvel at its beauty and purity.

Just a little further on in my back garden outside Trev's workshop, this Japanese windflower self planted a few months ago and is growing beautifully. Lucky, lucky me!

Healthy harvest

Finally got round to digging up the spuds today from my 'no dig garden' bed.
Mmmmm, very pleased with my crop of King Edward potatoes.

Cucumbers and beans continue to produce and capsicum plants have many baby peppers all growing nicely. First ever crop of beetroot looks very promising and is growing happily.

Revolver Designer Market

Very exciting news to share!
My etsy shop, Gojjell, has been asked to set up a display/stall at the next Designer Market, Thursday 10th March at Revolver Upstairs on Chapel St.
I'm very excited and have been busy creating a variety of goodies especially for this market.
The Art Deco dove necklace is one of my newest range of necklaces as is the amethyst nugget necklace. New suncatchers, brooches and earrings will also be featured.

Hope some of my followers will be able to join me.It should be a very interesting evening.....