Coastal Colour and QLD. Floods

Before I begin I would like to join many bloggers calling to give a hand to help the Queensland, Australia floods appeal. Click on the above button to visit Daisy Quilt and read more on how you can help QLD floods 2011. You can also help in other ways by clicking on the list below:

- Oz Comfort Quilts

- Make sewing kit

- Support an Auction or Raffle

- Bake Relief

I will try and make a sewing kit this weekend to send off. Thanks everyone for your emails about us here in Australia. 

Today I just want to share some photos from our Christmas and New Year holiday with you. It was a very low key holiday where Mr N and I spent some peaceful time together. We went to the coast near Seabird, our retirement property we purchased in 2010. We couldn't of cause stay at Seabird, it is only an empty plot of land at the moment, but we did stay close enough to be able to take a swim on our beach! I am so excited to say the word 'our beach'! In the not too distant future I will be swimming there everyday. 

Apart from relaxing and visiting many beautiful beaches in the area I was also looking out for any potential plants and flowers for dyeing. I was reading on kaite yarngarden a while ago about Coreopsis flowers so when I spotted them all over the road side I had to stop and gather some to try. Kaite also told me that sea water is mordant. The recipe for this eco dye batch is 2 bottles of sea water, 48 Coreopsis flowers boiled together for 30 mins. I drained the liquid into a jar and stored it in an ice box until we got home. The Coreopsis flowers also gave out a beautiful aroma while boiling. 

 

I was eager to try my concoctions when I got home. I wrapped some vintage silk around eucalyptus leaves and branches hoping to get some imprints on the fabric. I boiled the fabric  for about 30 mins. I threw one ball of pearl cotton in there for good measure. The result is as you see above. 

Beautiful day at Bawley Point Beach. With my newly acquired camera I was so happy snapping away at it. The upward view of eucalyptus trees with crisp blue sky above. Eucalyptus trees are a common sight everywhere in Australia. I have learned to love everything about the tree from its smell, the shapes of the leaves etc. You can use every part of the tree for dyeing. Eucalyptus trees are used in many famous Australian paintings. 

On the left hand side of the Bawley Point Beach is a beautiful rock structure you can climb and walk around it. From when I was young I loved walking on rocks and searching for interesting creatures or drift wood. I found this star flower caught in between rocks. Simple and peaceful place for it. 

Rocks that lie closer to the water's edge get washed over by waves. The algae covers and gives the rock a vibrant green colour. Bawley beach is a surf beach and you can spot some surfers waiting to catch the big waves at the top of the photos. 

Rock formations give patterns that I can transform into stitching. I was looking out for patterns and lines on rock that inspire me to create a sea cloth. More on that later. 

Well holidays would have to come to an end sometime. We are back and started work for another year. Stitching will have to fit in with my daily routine. Completing projects is getting harder. I am looking forward to my online workshop with Jude starting on Jan. 19th.