Canon printer inks

After many years of faithful service our Canon printer died earlier this year and we replaced it with a HP. When I went to change an ink cartridge on the HP I discovered we still had the unopened boxes for 4 Canon Pixma 8 printer inks. If you live in Australia and have need of these inks, I am selling them at a discounted price of $50 for the 4. This includes packing and registered postage. They normally retail at $27 each.

Please e-mail me if you are interested.

Pizza and jam

No, not a jam pizza, although I've had a dessert pizza in Melbourne. Ali makes an awesome pizza. Of course the temperature of the wood burning pizza oven is crucial to the success, so we thank Chris for that.

How beautiful is this pizza oven?

And this is the wonderful pizza, fresh from the oven. Thanks Ali  And on the way home through Araula we stopped to buy some of Trevor, ex-Army cook, and Dot's jam and preserves. They are on Elizabeth Street opposite the Fruit Barn, if you are looking for them. There is an honesty box for the money, with the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today is the last studio we'll visit in Oceania. Sue Domeney lives in Tasmania and shares her working space with us. I have enjoyed seeing the studios of our members; the big studios, the small studios, the views, design walls, storage areas and everything in between. We love making our art and no matter what the size of "our" space, we love spending time in it.

A day in the countryside

Why are country views so good for the soul? Combine this with good friends, good food, some art activity and you couldn't ask for a better day out.

Memories of the past- old milk urn and meat safe.

Merody and Jenny rubbing a country gate, using oil paint sticks.

My rubbings of collected textures from the property.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today Jenny Bowker from Canberra shares her studio with us. Jenny is well known for her wonderful Egyptian inspired quilts and working with the Cairo tent makers.

Clean-up cloth

Rather than wash the paint out of my roller I kept rolling it over a white cotton, clean-up cloth that became something more. The metal trivets are under the cloth.

I got my oil sticks out and continued to play. This turned out better than expected so will probably be a background for future work.

Another new top

My black top required some imprinting with my trusty foam roller, Seta colour shimmer paints and 2 metal trivets I couldn't live without, bought a few years ago from a garden centre. I didn't realise when I got Bob to take the photo, but the oval trivet, in this position, looks like a head.

A few beads sewn to the V neckline and voila!
Yes, Jan I've already worn the cream top and will bring to the 2QAQ meeting. Annette, Dye-na-flow is a product I really enjoy working with- instant gratification.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today we take a look into the private world of Alison Laurence, an Oceania member from New Zealand. Her studio is hosted by Ali George and worth a visit for the view alone.

New tops

With the cold weather upon us, yes even in Queensland! I bought a couple of long sleeve cotton tops with a view to adding surface design and making them unique.

This is a conversion using Dye-na-flow, a large gesso brush and 2 favourite colours, orange and blue. Dye-na-flow is by Jacquard and is called a fabric paint, but it acts as a great dye with no washing out of the colour or messy rinsing after applying the colours. Heat set and wear! Dye-na-flow also can be used for sun printing.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

I don't know how Brenda Gael Smith gets any work done in her studio, with the view that she has in this idyllic location in New South Wales. Enjoy!

Autumnal colours

Playing with trains

The Open Garden Program allowed us to visit Glenfinnen at Springbrook and there were 4 trains to play with!

This is Emily and she took us up the hill side, past trees in their Autumn glory to Ferntree Gully.

The models delighted young and old and we could all ride in comfort over bridges, through a tunnel and wind through the delightful gardens.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Felicity Clarke is hosting a studio visit today. Felecity is a Brisbane based mixed media artist and is well known for her mastery of the embellisher.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today we will visit the studio of Pam Holland. Pam is a well known internatioal teacher, author and wears many hats in her professional life.
Welcome to my new blog followers and of course I'm very happy to have all followers who have been with me over the years- thank you for your support.

Spot the difference

I am feeling a little silly this morning, so am posting these photos. Artists interpret many things in their work; can you pick the real from the fake?

There really is no substitute for the real thing. Let's respect and protect our planet's wildlife.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

Today you are able to visit the studio of Ali George,  one of our co-reps for Oceania. Ali lives in the countryside, not far from Toowoomba or Brisbane. I have been enjoying my trip around our country to these creative studios.

My bundles

The creative textile group Broadstrokes have included me in their latest project, a collaboration with Tricia Smout, artist-in-residence at the Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane. We have each wrapped up a bundle of 'stuff'- cloth, paper rusty stuff! One bundle has been buried in my garden and already dug up by the dog and reburied.

And 2 bundles are going to hang in trees for a month. This one is in my home garden and Tricia will hang the other at the Gardens.

More of Melbourne

The ambiance in this Melbourne cafe, Madame Sous Sous in Brunswick was very Parisian. No complaints about the yummy food.

Around a corner or 2 and we are greeted with this.

Don't forget to visit Sally Westcott in her studio today. Did you go to Canberra on Sunday to visit Beth Miller? Her studio is being hosted on Brenda Gael Smith blog so go to the Sunday May 13 post please.

Melbourne food

So many places serving great food in Melbourne; this cafe in Seddon made Turkish food and had wonderful decorations.

Werribee zoo

Werribee , an open range zoo near Melbourne is a great place to visit. It is easy to wander around on foot, past the African animal enclosures or take a safari bus trip to the savannah area.

It looks like the animals are posing for us, but they are free to wander at will on the grassy plain.

The distinct African decorations near each enclosure add to the atmosphere. This is a picnic hut.

A hippo skull.

SAQA Oceania Studio Blog Hop

The inviting studio of Ave Stuart-Head awaits you in Italy. I've just had a wander around and it is in a very picturesque setting.

Natural surprise

How perfect is this natural surprise that was under a pot. This is growing on a wooden seat and suggests all sorts of interpretations. This is not in my garden, so this photo is my only record.

Old Schoolhouse Gallery

On the road to Cleveland Point you pass the Old Schoolhouse Gallery which features paintings, jewellery, photography and textile work by local artists. Outside are old pier posts which have ceramic barnacles and shells on them.

The old weathered wood is a little piece of history.

The Grand View Hotel

This is a fitting title for this hotel, set high on a piece of land, overlooking Stradbroke Island in Moreton Bay.

Had to eat seafood in this location! Grilled fish with goat's cheese mashed potato, green beans and a lobster bisque for me.

While Bob managed to eat his way through one kilo of mussels, Portugese style.