by Krista | Mar 26, 2015 | Autumn
“Fall has always been my favorite season.
The time when everything bursts with its last beauty,
as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”
Lauren DeStefano
It doesn’t feel like Autumn yet, but I can see glimpses of it in colored leaves and where the sun shines through my kitchen windows.
This week is filled with all sorts of interesting things: a seminar specifically to help immigrants like me navigate Australian business, a bakery date with Bear, and a bustling artisan market in our village of Allora.
I’ve been wood-burning for weeks, nay, months, in preparation, filling storage bins with all sorts of wooden beauties.
Like this picture frame – I love the waves in the wood grain.
And this lovely glossy bowl that shimmers in the light.
This cute little spice bottle is my latest addition to my collection, just added last night.
And I’m smitten by the variations in coloring in these acacia wood salad servers.
It’s been sheer pleasure making all these things, the scent of wood smoke wafting through the house as if we have a wood-stove crackling away.
If you are anywhere near Allora this weekend, or fancy a drive in the country to see the last of the sunflower fields, come on down to the Allora RSL Hall between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to say hello to yours truly, and see all sorts of beautiful handmade objects from an array of skilled artisans.
If you can’t make it to Allora but would still like to see more wood-burned items, pop over to my Etsy shoppe for a visual wander.
Wishing you a beautiful week. XO What creative outlet makes your heart happy?
by Krista | Mar 3, 2014 | Autumn
Autumn arrived a few days ago with a noticeable nip in the air and I’m loving every second of it.
It’s so lovely to go to bed at night and actually want to cuddle under the feather quilt, to wake up in the morning and get cozy in warm flannels before that first cup of hot coffee.
The days are still deliciously warm but no longer sweltering, and it is blissful.
In addition to the arrival of Autumn, there are three things making me smile today:
One: Making Things With Bear
Bear is one of the cleverest chaps I know, and bit by bit he’s teaching me all sorts of skills from simple wood-working to using power tools. I’ve got my own toolbox that we’ve been filling with tools and I get quite a kick out of having my own hammer, wrench set, and power drill.
One of our latest projects was making a medieval stool. Bear designed it and we cut out the pieces and put it all together with wooden dowels. There’s not a single nail in use, but it’s sturdy as can be.
This weekend I finished putting my own stamp on it, wood-burning Viking runes and my own fanciful designs around the top. It delights me no end. Soon I’ll put on a coat of clear, matte varnish to protect the artwork and make sure it doesn’t fade.
Two: Quiet Breakfasts
I’ve been treating myself to leisurely breakfasts each morning before tackling my to-do list. It is exquisitely wonderful to sit quietly in the sunshine, luxuriating in the silence before the cacophony of the barnyard begins.
I linger over ripe, juicy nectarines and an extra large mug of coffee spiced with cinnamon and sweetened with real maple syrup, reading my latest books from the library or getting caught up on journal entries. It’s so helpful in calming my spirit and starting the day off peacefully.
Three: Exploring the Woods
Every season brings new discoveries in our wooded acres at the back of our property. My most exciting find this Autumn has been a flourishing gumbi gumbi tree (aka gumby gumby). Used in bush medicine by Aboriginals and Torres Strait Island people for over 50,000 years, modern researchers have begun using it as an effective treatment for certain types of cancer (source). A friend of mine put me in contact with a local man who grows and uses this amazing plant, and I’m excited to learn from him in the near future.
How about you? What is making you smile today? xo
by Krista | Jul 16, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
The sunrises have been so gorgeous this week thanks to skies filled with scudding rain clouds. They almost make up for getting up at 4:30 a.m. in the winter to feed goats and dogs and assorted ducks, geese, and chooks. Shiver!
In all honesty, once the initial shock of stumbling around in the frigid darkness wears off, it’s downright magical to be out there under a sky full of stars, the dogs so excited to see me as they wriggle in for pats and belly scratches.
One of the first things I noticed about Australia is how different the stars are. I’m used to Northern Hemisphere night skies where I can spot the Big Dipper and North Star in just a few seconds. Now I look for the Southern Cross. Gazing up at the strange skies always gives me a bit of a start, a strange yet rather delightful feeling that perhaps I’ve fallen into another world by accident. When the weather warms up I’m going to drag a few of my folks outside on a clear night to point out Aussie-style star pictures for me.
This week my friend Jackie talked me into selling my wood-burned items (pyrography) at local Queensland markets, so I’m having the jolliest time dreaming up new patterns and picking out new items to burn. Bear is in on the action too, helping me figure out the best woods to use, which ones need to be preserved and which are best just on their own.
This week I started on wood-burned rolling pins and I can’t keep from smiling when I look at them. They’re such cheery little things and make me want to dash out to the kitchen to mix up pie crusts or cookie dough just so I can use them.
The first market is next month, so if things are a bit quiet here from time to time, just picture me curled up in a big, green armchair listening to audio books and old movies whilst I burn, burn, burn.
I’m also excited to make plum brandy for the first time. Doesn’t it seem like the perfect drink for chilly evenings by the fire? I can’t wait to try it.
What is your favorite creative pursuit at the moment? Is there anything in particular you’d like to learn to make?
