Lucy's Birthday Gift..

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I knitted  a scarf for Lucy's for her birthday gift. She telephoned to say she really liked it and the wee silver ear rings that were included in the gift bag. It was a fun knit, with  yarn called Circus. I purchased the yarn some years ago with both girls in mind.
I was so thrilled to receive a call from Lucy to tell me how much she loved her gift. Lucy's sister received hers,  a lemon coloured scarf of the same yarn,last year..

Commemorating the Beginning of Our Wonderful Nation.

 
  

Australia Day is celebrated on January 26th each year. It is the commemoration of the time that the Union Jack was first raised on the shores of Sydney Cove. This is where European settlement began, to bring us to the wonderful, accepting , multi cultural, nation, that we are today.  Sydney was settled as a penal colony back in the 18th Century, with the declaration of British sovereignty. At that time in human history the way of the world  operated very differently.  In that period of history, those who were the local indigenous inhabitants of this beautiful land, along with those other wretched souls, the convicts, times were indeed very cruel and despicable.

 The painting above , is by  an English artist Algernon Talmage 1872-1939. it was painted in 1937 and is held by the Mitchel Library, the state Library of New South Wales. One would assume it is held in perpetuity for  ALL the people of Australia, with accompanying information for the world to read. See below.

• Copying Conditions

Out of copyright: Artist died before 1955
Please acknowledge: : Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

• General note

This work was offered for sale in 1999 by Hordern House, Sydney in their Rare Books, Manuscripts, Paintings & Prints catalogue, item no. 35. It had previously been in the possession of the late Douglas Hope Johnston. In 1937 Hope Johnston issued a printed version (ML ref. V1/1788/3). Another version was also published in 1937 by the Medici Society, London (ML ref. XV1/1788/3, 3a).
The Hordern House catalogue notes that: 'The selection of the artist and the responsibility for the historical accuracy of the picture were borne by Douglas Hope Johnston, the great-grandson of Lieut.-Col. George Johnston ... Hope Johnston was the founder of the Australasian Pioneers' Club and a keen student of Australian history.'
There are two finished versions of the painting, for which this is the preliminary oil sketch: In the Tate Gallery, London, dated 1938 and measuring eight by ten feet, presented as a Coronation Year gift to Great Britain by Mr M.F. (Frank) Albert of Sydney. It was loaned to the Australian Government for the 1938 Sesqui-Centenary Celebrations; the second large version, dated 1938, hangs in Parliament House, Sydney (colour transparency at ML ref. FM2/1803).
A tapestry based on the version of this work held by the Tate Gallery, London was unveiled in 1996 at the Royal Military Museum (Old Wardroom), Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth. The tapestry was woven by the Victorian Tapestry Workshop. (Information from Mr R.O. Albert, January 2001.)
Digital order no:a128112

• Signatures / Inscriptions

Signed, dated and inscribed in black brushpoint lower left by the artist 'A. Talmage 1937 Sketch for Founding of Australia'.
Frame label lower edge centre with title and identification of (left to right): '1st Lieut. Newton Powell (i.e. Fowell)'; Lieut P.G. King R.N. H.M.S. Sirius'; Lieut George Johnston A.D.C.'; Capt. Arthur Phillip R.N.; 'Capt. David Collins Judge Advocate'; 'Commdr. H.L. Ball R.N. H.M.S. Supply'.

• Name

Phillip, Arthur, 1738-1814

• Subject

First Fleet, 1787-1788.

• Place

Sydney Cove (N.S.W

Australia has  become one of the most desired countries  for folk wanting to change their allegiance  and start a new life.  Australians are known for their friendliness, generosity and openness.  We welcome those who wish to share our culture and way of life, our fabulous country with exquisite scenery and our remarkable Fauna and Flora.

I am forever grateful for those folk be they aboriginal or, convicts who were transported to this far away land, and even those who were the custodians of that time. I am grateful, dare I say, for the cruelty, sacrifices,  for their collective hard work,  brave spirits and amazing ingenuity, which is instilled in most of us as part of the "Australians" we are today.


Our beautiful Australian flag, is an apt reminder of where we are in the world. The fabulous colour of our skies and oceans, the beautiful stars of the Southern cross, the Federation star to mark our unification as one land, along with the Union Jack to remind us forever, of our harsh and cruel beginnings for both  18th century Indigenous and European folk'

Nothing like Blue & White in Most Treasures.

I found this photograph in my emails this morning, from the Quilt Jane website.
It brought to mind someone, who I think, likes chocolate very much. So the only thing to do was to encourage her with this picture. Enjoy, Marilyn & all those who  think chocolate is one of the major food groups. Not me, I prefer savoury items.:):) Fabulous dish 'tho. K.

My Beloved- Song of Songs.

I managed to complete this piece  last week. It is my first cross stitch completion, for  2018. It was a relatively quick finish, although it was started 6 yeas ago
. I enjoyed stitching it and using the lovely hand dyed threads from Crescent Colours, known now as Classic Clourworks, Weeks Dye Works, along with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and a DMC white.

Classic Colourworks were, Dandelion Stem and Blue Beadboard, which I substituted for GAST Morning Glory.
Weeks Dye Works, Kadzu.
Gentle Arts Sampler Threads,  Cidermill Brown.

The fabric is  28 ct, Country French Latte from Wichelt Imports.
Enjoy.

.

A Christmas item from the 2018 "to do' List.

This is one of the three, Just Nan items, from my current Stitching 2018 Goals.
I hope to get it started later in the week.  It is not the  Christmas item I planned to stitch  first.  It is the one to hand for now and it has been waiting for attention for some many years.
I thought it might be too much however, on reflection, it is made up of small parts so not too daunting.
Kay.

First Stitching for 2018

This year I have decided to have a goal plan for my stitching projects. I have a few  projects that  have been started & filed in the "to do" folder. Maybe that should read the "to Complete " file.
A collection below for both files.

First & foremost I have a large quilt to be hand quilted.
Two, a small sampler see below. started years ago.
Three, a large Moira Blackburn Sampler,  fabric gridded only, threads organized.
Four, a Just Nan, Halloween,  3D piece, not started.
Five,  a Just Nan, Halloween, 3D piece, started 10 years ago, 30% completed.
Six,  a Just Nan, Christmas 3D piece , not  started.
2 small Halloween ornaments yet to be chosen for exchanges.
2 small Christmas ornaments, yet to be chosen,for exchanges.

 It seems like an ambitious list,  so  nothing better than a challenge to see how one travels.

This is 'My Beloved' from Country Cottage Needleworks. It has been waiting for completion for some years. Why it was abandoned way back then, I can no longer remember.   As I work on it,  I am thinking it is a quick stitch. I hope to have this one completed and removed from my "to complete" list  by the end of the weekend. Enjoy, Kay.

First Day of The New Year, 2018.

This is the day to reveal one's efforts for the ODW Challenge for December, 2017.  It was once again my choice for the theme. I chose a Christmas theme, for others who maybe don't celebrate Christmas, whatever December theme appealed.
This is my stitched piece for December. A Shepherds' Bush Christmas stocking. Yet to have trinkets & beads attached, then made up into an actual stocking. I was keen to get this posted, so it was not  pressed before the photograph.

This is the final of the ODW Challenges, for me.  It has been an interesting time, sharing

 alternative months with another stitcher. It is now time for us both to move onto other challenges for 2018.  Enjoy.