JAN KNIGHT DESIGNS

All the things I love to see and do. Fabric, Threads and other lovely things.

Friday, April 24, 2009

RAINFOREST TO REEF EMBROIDERIES



Today is one of those absolutely beautiful, autumn days that we have here, in Far North Queensland. Temperature is "crisp" and beautiful blue sky and bright sunshine. I really DO appreciate our wonderful weather but also often wish we could have a "proper" autumn and have all the trees changing colour etc. Can't have everything I guess!!!
I just had to take the pic of the flowering (don't ask me what it's botanical name is!) hanging basket on the front landing. Covered in blossoms and looking so healthy - I might add NOT by my hands but Ross, he's the green thumb person in this household!
The "Rainforest to Reef" embroidery isn't framed yet but hope to have it done sometime soon. Each individual embroidery is 2 1/2in. x 3 1/2in. in size. I actually completed the three of them some time ago and thoroughly enjoyed stitching them. I've used a variety of threads, some handmade paper plus found objects. These are my favourite kind of embroidery when I get the time.







Real shells on the beach embroidery; a genuine handmade wooden button on the rainforest as well as the little gold frog (in actuality it's a hat pin sold in the tourist shops here) and more genuine shells in the reef embroidery. The final photograph is how I would like them to be placed when I get the framing done.
This weekend will be a quiet one as Ross is playing lawn bowls both days but I'm fine with that....lovely to have the house to myself and, no doubt, I will be sewing plus really have to get into my sewing room and put things away to it's tidy again! I promised myself once I got it organised that I'd keep it that way. So far I've done really well but things have been put in a corner just lately - "to be put where they belong another day"...this weekend IS THE DAY! :)
Hope everyone enjoys THEIR weekend and will try hard to be more regular again with my posting.
Read a lovely quote just the other day - "Friends are like a bra...close to your heart and uplifting!" :)
Jan



Thursday, April 2, 2009

MY "OTHER" FAMILY
















Thought I'd show you our "babies" - Megs (the ginger cat)you have met before but HAD to include him in the "family" thing! :) He's getting much "cuddlier" now it's a little cooler. Ross is VERY pleased as he sits on his lap in the evenings now and is such a sook! ROSS that is! lol NOT the cat! The only "look-in" I get is that Megs comes and sits on my hip in the wee hours of the morning and has a nice, comfortable sleep! He purrs so loudly it often keeps me awake but, me being the sook I am, won't move him.
Scooter is the furry one snuggled into the doona and he belongs to Kirsten in Melbourne. I'm looking forward to meeting him in June!!! We are flying down for 9 day visit and to say I'm looking forward to it is an understatement!!! We've been trying to get Ross down there for nearly 3 years now and FINALLY, and only because of the first State of Origin Rugby league game being held in Melbourne this year, we got him to go! Kirsten is taking him for his and her birthday so it will be a good "bonding" :) night for them both. Kirsten and I are hoping to go to see Billy Elliot for "our" bonding night! LOL We're both busily planning on shopping trips etc etc so I can't wait.
Little Ally is the new addition to Matt's household. To say he's turned into a bigger sook than his father is an understatement! To hear this 6'2" BIG guy getting all "soft" about a little kitten is just lovely! He always loved animals as a kid and finally has his own. She's a real cutie but knocked his expensive mobile phone over the balcony the other night so isn't too popular at the moment! I think owning a pet is so good for everyone and they certainly add another dimension to our lives. They say that pets are fantastic therapy for elderly people in homes etc and I DO believe this is true. They give us such unconditional love and loyalty and "round-out" our lives I feel.
I've been busy working on projects for the magazines so will give you some glimpes of them once I get them photographed. Hope you're enjoying the lovely autumn weather if in Australia and hope that spring soon will be "sprung" for those in the northern hemisphere!
Happy stitching, take care and stay safe,
Jan