I heart macro - evening light

Hello friends,

I was out in the garden late last week and when I stopped to look around and go inside, I suddenly saw
how beautiful it looked in the evening light.

So I did a mad dash for the camera (phone) before all sun had totally gone for the day.
Here are a few snaps.

Evening rays on violet leaves.

Evening rays on the new growth of the ornamental grape.

I call this one "elephant ears" These leaves are over 3 feet in length.

Evening light on the lily, "Green Goddess".

And "Sophie's Rose". A little friend is tucked away for the night... is this what butterflies do at night?! What a lovely soft and fragrant little spot! Wish I had seen this as I may have been able to get a little  closer... but it only became visible to me when I loaded it on the computer. Don't you hate that!

I am linking up to I heart Macro... click on the photo link below and it will take you straight there.

I Heart Macro - Australian native flora.

Hello friends,

This interesting plant is an Australian native that I saw last week in a wonderful garden that is full of predominantly native flora at NMIT in Fairfield, Melbourne. ( Australia ).

I have been going there each Monday for the last two week for a few hours to participate in a jewelery making class.

I usually arrive early, go to the kiosk and have a tasty and energising big cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy the garden and birds for a little while before going in to class. It's a great way to start the day.

Just look at this color, furry bits and pollen! So wonderful.

Fabulous colour and precision placement of 'petals'.

 I am really fairly ignorant about our indigenous flora. ( I do not know the name of either plants above.. all information is welcome).

My brother, David was the lover and expert of Australian native plants and had an extensive garden full of them. He used to call my exotic plants "weeds"! Yes, even the roses!

When we move house next year as planned, I really hope to plant a native floral garden. They are a great attraction for the birds and butterflies and easier to look after than 'exotic' plants. They also use very little water, too, which is a real bonus in these times of changing climate patterns. I am looking forward to a garden with a little less maintenance. ( more time for jewelry making! )
Not too sure if I can entirely give up my roses though! 

Today I am linking up to I heart macro... for those who love to take up close and macro photos. Click on the photo icon below and it will take you straight there for a look!

I Heart macro - the flower spike.

Hello friends,

Last week while I was out and about I saw this wonderful plant. It had a large footprint and a HUGE spike with red flowers. I think it was a little past it's prime but the bees were still loving it.

Does anyone know the name of this beauty?

A busy little bee!

The wonderful flower spike.

Today, I am linking up to I Heart Macro... where you can see "photography for  macro makers and the Camerologically challenged" Please do head on over for a look.. just click on the photo icon above and it will take you straight there!

(Also, if you wish to see a close-up photo of a surprise visitor I had yesterday look here... last photo on the post!)

Have  you are having a great weekend,

Sunday Macro

Hello friends,

I have had a busy weekend tidying both house and studio. Just managed to take some quick shots for 'I Heart Macro' while the sun was still peeping from behind the clouds.

At least the Gazanias were still open for the day!

The white iris has finished and now the coloured ones are appearing.

The 'blue' bells under the crab apple tree are opening.If you look closely you will see they are mauve with blue stripes, so pretty.

And the apple tree is getting ready...

Today as usual on a Sunday, I am linking up at Lori's place.

Please click on the photo below and it will take you to see photos by those who love to take close up and macro.

Until next time,

hope you all having a great weekend,

I Heart macro - This Week!

Hello dear friends,

In front of my very eyes.. almost on an hourly basis.. it is just all happening in the garden!
Yes, you know what I am talking about.. Spring has arrived in Melbourne!

Last week it was rain and more rain.. the last few days strong winds.. but today is GORGEOUS and the flowers are agreeing.

Two of these beauties opened up this morning ( "Rock rose"? )

The flowering Crab Apple has started to open in the last few days.

Rich red growth on my "Wife of Bath" standard roses.

And even the little succulents are looking for the sun!

Days like this just make me feel so grateful to be alive and in the midst of such unfolding beauty!

Today I am linking up to :

- a place for those who enjoy up close and macro photography... head on over for a look!


I hope your weekend is wonderful, too.

Love and beads.

Hello dear friends,

After some months, I finally sat down in my studio and had a play with some glass. I cannot say I made anything spectacular... but it was certainly good just to have a play... the way certain types of glass reacts to another has always been a wonderful mystery to me.. and probably the reason why I took up this fascinating craft in the first place. The beads are in the kiln at the moment, so if there is anything worth showing...... might show you tomorrow!

Today I am linking up to "I Heart Macro" over at Lori's place for those who love to take up close and macro photos.

We all need to give and receive it... it has been getting me through these last sad weeks.

Please head on over to Loris for a bit of Macro love. Click on the photo above and it will take you straight 

there.

Until next time,

I Heart Macro - Spring is just around the corner

Hello dear friends,

It is still officially Winter here in Melbourne.... however with only a little more than two weeks to the first day of Spring...dare I say the days seem already a little milder?! ( Touch wood!)

The garden, however is still looking fairly wintery, although the first early flowering bulbs and iris are here,  so I do feel justified in thinking my favourite season is definitely on her way. Here are a few gifts in my Winter garden.

I love the delicacy and shape of the Pieris, a Winter lover. And look at that pretty touch of pink on the stem.

The Green Goddess lily flowers all year round.

The violets are there all year round too, but seem more prolific in the cooler months. I love their sweet pop of colour against their leaves.

But it's the buds on the plant behind these old pots that tells me.."Spring is coming!"

I have forgotten what this is called!! It has LONG upright spikes about a metre in length...this one will be purple. The bees go crazy for it! Can anyone remind me?

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.. I am still browsing through Bead Soup.

Today I am linking up to I Heart Macro for those who love to take close up and macro photos. Please head on over for a look or even join in the fun.

Cheers to all,

Be Still My Heart

Hello dear friends,

I am so excited to finally show you the (almost) completed products I have been working on these last weeks.

Finally the heart is filled. I was unsure weather the resin would colour well with the addition of the oil paint, so to make sure it was lovely and red, I added a paper layer at the base which was also painted with the high pigment oil paint I used to tint the resin. This was then sealed before pouring the resin. I am glad I added the painted paper layer as the resin, when stirred, was pinkish-red and not really a deep red - the combination of the two gave a delicious deep red which I am very pleased with. ( sorry about the dust on the heart ...it is lint and not in the resin itself...the resin is shiny and clean..oh how I love this Ice Resin...magic stuff! Now to drill a hole through the resin for a tube rivet (gulp!)...

I am pretty happy with the clock bezel, too...no bubbles and no overflow ( the heart flowed over a little at the junction of the two lobes..but was fixable) I did seal both paper and metal additions inside the bezel, however a few little rust -type marks have been added to the paper, presumably from the metal...which  gives it a bit more character and I love that.

Time for my Heart!

I did do make one other heart bezel, but it overflowed and I left it too long to remove the resin..aargh...a lesson learnt!

Today, I am linking up to  Studio Waterstone  for 'I Heart Macro'......a place for those who love close up and Macro photography...click on the photo link to take you there and see contributions from other photo lovers.

Have a great day whatever you are doing,

Cheers, 

I Heart Macro - Bead Love.

Hello dear readers,

A few days ago, I went to the Melbourne Bead Expo. This annual event is one of two annual bead shows held in Melbourne, Australia.

This particular show is run by the Bead Society of Victoria.

There were lots of bead suppliers from around Australia, many locally talented lampworkers, classes  available and a wonderful exhibition of jewellery items as part of the Challenge Exhibition. ( all competitors had to use the same beads as part of the challenge)

I was fairly restrained in my purchasing this year, mainly buying strands of smaller  beads and gemstones that I could incorporate with a few pieces I am working on for Christmas presents and on-line beading design challenges.

The blue ones are Peruvian Opal, coloured pearls, Hessonite Garnet, and Grey Quartz to name a few.

Wonderful glass daggers...fabulous aren't they?

Today, I am linking up to I Heart Macro. Please click on the photo link below to take you to see other 'I Heart Macro' photos at our host, Lori's site - Studio Waterstone.

Cheers for now,

I Heart macro - a cold day at the beach.

Hello dear readers,

It seems that Spring has flown ( I am in Australia) and in it's place Winter has returned......today has been grey and raining.
However, that did not stop me venturing out.....looking for some interesting Macro shots.

I am not a beachy type of person. Saying that, I do wish to clarify and explain that I love WALKING on the beach or sitting on the beach on a nice (not hot) day....I just loathe going to the beach with the masses and roasting in the sun...getting all hot and sticky and burnt is not my type of fun.

So today was a good beach-strolling type of day...perhaps a bit cool...but fine to get outdoors for a while and also take the opportunity to find something a little different for my Sunday post!

I was a little disappointed...even the sea life was sheltering from the grey day.....but I did manage to find many different varieties of sea-weed that looked just right for I Heart macro!

Love these green fingers! Look at that texture, too!

There are about 5 varieties of seaweed in this photo.

Love the pretty pink!

Nice contrasts.

Popped bubbles!

And a dash of my favourite aqua.

It always amazes me just how much beauty can be found when you take a look up close!

Please join in and take a look at I Heart Macro for all the other participants photos....

Until next time,

Cheers,