recently...

...after some heat & then a big rain, we've been having quite mild weather, cool overnight, with sunny, breezy days...

...I've shared some photos from each of the big stops/attractions along our road-trip: mt gambier | great ocean road | apollo bay | melbourne...

...spent a lovely Christmas in Adelaide with family, including Holly, who had her first visit to a beach...

...we had a wonderful time at the Christmas Bazaar & we're very much looking forward to the birthday/valentines Handmade with Love market...

...posted some photos of the silver pieces I finished before the bazaar & started a batch of bronze...

...had a lovely time visiting beautiful places around our region - stopped at Weeroona Island before Christmas, spent a lovely evening having dinner by the beach at Pt Germain - walking along the jetty & wading through the incoming tide & spent most of a day wandering through the amazing Alligator Gorge...

...baked a batch of double chocolate banana muffins - totally delicious, very moist & chocolaty. I didn't make the topping (they were our snack for the visit to Alligator Gorge), but I reckon that would be pretty awesome too...

...have had some lovely visits from family members...

...& shared photos of some rather grand buildings that I saw while I was away last year (my trip seems like forever ago, but also quite recent).

recently | on my bench...

to market, to market...

Very pleased to tell you about my first market for the year (along with Hollipotamus) - we'll be at the Flinders Street Market Handmade with Love market on the 7th of February. They'll be celebrating their 1st Birthday & being only a week before Valentine's day it's the perfect opportunity to pick up something gorgeous & unique for that special someone (or a lovely treat for yourself).

I'm aiming to have some beautiful new designs available (making their public début), along with more fine silver & polymer jewellery & the Hollipotamus girls have been working on some cute & sweet new things (including a new batch of dragons!).

We'll also be back at the Wirrabara Producer's Market on the 15th.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Handmade with Love - Saturday 7th February, 230 Flinders Street, Adelaide
Wirrabara Producers Market - Sunday 15th February, 40 High Street, Wirrabara

a few good things...

1.an abundance of roses in the Veale Gardens.

2. early evening walks in the ocean.

3. finished a big zentangle.

4. pretty pink & yellow flowers on the kitchen table.

5. playing with letter stamps & bronze clay.

6. my 2015 calender - full of photos from my big adventure last year (printed by redbubble).

7. water & reflections in Alligator Gorge.

natural grandeur | alligator gorge

A lovely sunny morning walk in Alligator Gorge this past weekend. There was more water in the creek than when we last visited, burbling over the rocks in some places & still pools in others - reflecting the grand walls of the gorge. With rich colours, beautiful scenery, some lovely flowers, a profusion of butterflies & a gentle breeze - it made for an altogether lovely outing.

recently | on my bench...

wishlist wednesday...

we aim for the stars...

Moon and Stars Original Watercolour by NatashaNewtonArt

 Southern Cross Constellation Pillow Cover by bellesandghosts

Chalkboard Art Print by  LilyandVal

Romantic Moon and Stars Necklace by NangijalaJewelry

Fir Arrow Letterpress Notebook by oliveandthevolcano

of palaces & kings... | europe 2014

1. Schloss Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangu. \\ 2. Wilanów Palace, Warsaw. \\ 3. Versailles, Paris. \\

 4. Łazienki Palace, Warsaw. \\ 5. Karlštejn Castle, Czech Republic. \\ 6. Prague Castle, Prague. \\ 7. Schloss Nymphenburg, Munich. 

melbourne | sisters head east

The final part of our trip was a few nights Melbourne, which was our 'luxury' stop - we splurged a little & filled our days with good food, pretty gardens, wandering & generally having a good time.

We visited the botanic gardens (& had scones for breakfast), had a fancy picnic, dined on a tramcar, were delighted by the Fitzroy Gardens conservatory, wandered through arcades & lane-ways, browsed, enjoyed a pancake breakfast, did a little shopping, wandered the city & had our share of coffee (or tea) & cake.

& then, tired (but happy), we spent the next two days driving home (catching up with our sister in Broken Hill was lovely, but gosh it's a long drive!).

1. Royal Botanic Gardens. \\ 2. Como House. \\ 3. Fitzroy Gardens Conservatory. \\ 4. Block Arcade. \\ 5. Carlton Gardens. \\ 6. picnic from Stables of Como. \\ 7. Royal Botanic Gardens.

photo 4 + 5 by Kathryn