tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85907615171812383852024-03-14T23:04:28.124+11:00Blue Koi Studio BlogBlue Koi Studio Blog is home to Kim (Valois) Mathieson's artist's blog. Check out Kim's explorations into painting, inspirations, and musings about pursuing her journey into art. This blog is new and still under construction--more graphics and color coming soon !Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-72297082959294718092016-10-17T22:30:00.000+11:002016-10-17T22:33:39.078+11:00Back again<span id="goog_742069356"></span><span id="goog_742069357"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaOdpg_H3Td1l3hztzqkAyVrX1eKqPv7nmWARtjlzFy5lGDzXnXe-sJwS3qSUrCOmWb4PN5NzT4q8Y2xdyWQdXW0HGD5jqqpwxCWmMNxFzJZsUvuSUfEAMayTY7aTa3t_nYXk8msuaiUH/s1600/ceruleanfuschia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaOdpg_H3Td1l3hztzqkAyVrX1eKqPv7nmWARtjlzFy5lGDzXnXe-sJwS3qSUrCOmWb4PN5NzT4q8Y2xdyWQdXW0HGD5jqqpwxCWmMNxFzJZsUvuSUfEAMayTY7aTa3t_nYXk8msuaiUH/s400/ceruleanfuschia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful vintage hard art pastels, <br />
found in my father's storage boxes</td></tr>
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I've been a bit missing in action here for a while....my online & social media self has been overtaken by other business related social media accounts and content. But this was a great little blog to post my explorations in painting and artwork, and a bit of lifestyle content too. I'm reviewing what to do here...do I update and start carrying on again ? or do I archive these posts and find ways to refer to them from other newer feeds and platforms ?<br />
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More soon, as I ponder & consider what next<br />
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Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-11971757331808470182014-03-10T18:19:00.000+11:002014-03-11T12:00:36.591+11:00Bluebirds Continued<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7nyWuzQwFNS6cuIob5ATFr8eqj5Tbd6qePMGPf15CS1knSauyU7let3ORdx7006RcC0ZptQSKVVMTxD6Vx8_FoLvK0yC6ocoBerP3JKblWwDPNkwXhPXi4blz08LkwErJu12nq8BAmjx/s1600/bluebirds_window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7nyWuzQwFNS6cuIob5ATFr8eqj5Tbd6qePMGPf15CS1knSauyU7let3ORdx7006RcC0ZptQSKVVMTxD6Vx8_FoLvK0yC6ocoBerP3JKblWwDPNkwXhPXi4blz08LkwErJu12nq8BAmjx/s1600/bluebirds_window.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Always & Forever Bluebird</i>s, <br />
oils on canvas, Feb 2014</td></tr>
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We have been moving right along….and I realise that I did not post the completed Blue Birds painting. Here it is, turned out fab and I really love it ! <i>Always & Forever Bluebirds, </i>oil on canvas, Feb 2014. Shown here in our shop Valentines & early Feb window display<br />
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And it would become a gift, except turns out it is a bit too large to carry in a checked bag, even in large suitcase. A few cm too big in both dimensions. In May I have a trip to get out and about, and among other things meet a new grand-daughter. My daughter Karen and her partner Mike expect her arrival any day now (literally !) Karen really liked the BlueBirds painting (and earlier did ask if I would do a painting for the baby's nursery) and so I have started a second one, this one on a slightly smaller canvas that I know fits in the suitcase I will take along. So, Bluebirds 2 !<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EoyhAbDGPQK2p33H9EnfvMHpFJi1j1RLxN6fXrrjahbWp-4YRC8e7ubwpUAR1E2KIXln307N4A0lJCcQzwSl7UYQQGoyjVQN6ZYg8btjqVQrEuGPNFCStxGsFcrhZuQa7IKXaXHxYlf-/s1600/P1070342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EoyhAbDGPQK2p33H9EnfvMHpFJi1j1RLxN6fXrrjahbWp-4YRC8e7ubwpUAR1E2KIXln307N4A0lJCcQzwSl7UYQQGoyjVQN6ZYg8btjqVQrEuGPNFCStxGsFcrhZuQa7IKXaXHxYlf-/s1600/P1070342.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">construction on enclosing of the studio as resumed--Yeay !</td></tr>
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I am really enjoying the painting in the studio to be. Ian's fingers have healed and in mid-February he started back on construction work to enclose and finish the space. Its such a nice area, great light and now all four windows are in place. Plus a new beam for the back door, the one that leads up steps to the clothes line (a good ole Hills Hoist, an aussie icon !). And he recently put in the new door too (it isn't painted yet, that minty green door you see is it).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EoyhAbDGPQK2p33H9EnfvMHpFJi1j1RLxN6fXrrjahbWp-4YRC8e7ubwpUAR1E2KIXln307N4A0lJCcQzwSl7UYQQGoyjVQN6ZYg8btjqVQrEuGPNFCStxGsFcrhZuQa7IKXaXHxYlf-/s1600/P1070342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I do have to share the workbench (my workbench !) with tools and all manner of bits and pieces used for work on the enclosure during the week. I can honestly say, it takes more time to set up, and then pack up/put away as I spend on the painting session each Sunday. I will love it when done, because I will be able to have some painting things out (neatly. kind of. maybe !) and will not have to put away and set up every painting session. I am hoping this will get me into more painting. Because, I have a big pipeline of ideas to turn into artworks !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqWjbEBSVQqfKfUUDsEo2rpkgFoaQeKroTBG9eUY0pLyHY9k4JpBREXs3QiKqNcK9goFH0HDHTa_DWiNRKjVwgVLa-ZA5xtMyN2wg5k_I6daHs2TUwqNGWE-rXjYErQKb9fMde5RNoo9p/s1600/P1070170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqWjbEBSVQqfKfUUDsEo2rpkgFoaQeKroTBG9eUY0pLyHY9k4JpBREXs3QiKqNcK9goFH0HDHTa_DWiNRKjVwgVLa-ZA5xtMyN2wg5k_I6daHs2TUwqNGWE-rXjYErQKb9fMde5RNoo9p/s1600/P1070170.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sketching the composition <br />
for Bluebirds 2 on the canvas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hYhS44lDTJ1xKIjkPpoofMhRX8Fgdxy72iUH6GAfgW3dys5chZ5D9-zNqLPzH3jgsbGbfv1JOnlNaXhbioIfpO2oKxf5ySsIi0OGmmWFDSMCGxkiS323AZG4Y7POEYhuSwaR3FGET6S0/s1600/P1070171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hYhS44lDTJ1xKIjkPpoofMhRX8Fgdxy72iUH6GAfgW3dys5chZ5D9-zNqLPzH3jgsbGbfv1JOnlNaXhbioIfpO2oKxf5ySsIi0OGmmWFDSMCGxkiS323AZG4Y7POEYhuSwaR3FGET6S0/s1600/P1070171.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">working on underpainting:<br />
Bluebirds2</td></tr>
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Anyhow, back to Bluebirds 2. First, Bluebirds 1 got its typography and I couldn't be happier with it. Though, it was not easy to do, I found a good way to get the spacing and shape for the lettering onto the canvas and then used black paint and a whisker fine paint brush to paint it in. With some later little touch ups when the paint was dry, it looked great. For Blue Birds 2, I made a few changes. Actually thinking the composition looks a bit better than the first one. I like the big heart frame on this size canvas. 5 small hearts, instead of 10, but I really like the look. Birds and big centre heart frame same size as on BB1. I sketched out the composition and spent a painting session doing an underpainting in thinned oils. Again, working in water soluble oils, paints by Daniel Smith and also Lukas Berlin. I am IN LOVE with the texture and workability of the Lukas Berlin water soluble oil paints. Outstanding ! And I am delighted I can mix the Daniel Smith ones in too. This allows me to extent my collection of paints & colour. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8WE5Fz0kpBWPROiHmg3ZiHRSKwr9AkjuZI2r5vcKdtW9TBBuOO8I81EkD3018_uk8DZ1KzyjpM8Cqu72sFP5vBTcgNA1U0oEaNDgCyiVXVAwaIue8NnZ2Y9R4Xu3UqnN_0ZlxC3tzb5C/s1600/P1070174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8WE5Fz0kpBWPROiHmg3ZiHRSKwr9AkjuZI2r5vcKdtW9TBBuOO8I81EkD3018_uk8DZ1KzyjpM8Cqu72sFP5vBTcgNA1U0oEaNDgCyiVXVAwaIue8NnZ2Y9R4Xu3UqnN_0ZlxC3tzb5C/s1600/P1070174.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">end of Bluebirds1 Session 1:<br />
underpainting done, but<br />
much more to do !</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzug9w2EXnZHA2uMvGoADEfY9J4rpUZBvzLdXKbq2qNQ3KaUZnoFt1G8WwPS1ftjdiKGBRVLNBuJFYOdy3n9S6CaVoqSpQf-NstvitGKAaOTQLSjmhhTox8BqNNacPi2wRF6RsmwW06vnK/s1600/P1070228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzug9w2EXnZHA2uMvGoADEfY9J4rpUZBvzLdXKbq2qNQ3KaUZnoFt1G8WwPS1ftjdiKGBRVLNBuJFYOdy3n9S6CaVoqSpQf-NstvitGKAaOTQLSjmhhTox8BqNNacPi2wRF6RsmwW06vnK/s1600/P1070228.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebirds 2, Painting<br />
Session 2</td></tr>
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I knew that BlueBirds 2 would require 5 or 6 painting sessions and then dry time before packing and traveling. So I planned weekly painting sessions, on Sunday afternoons, which have been glorious for painting and are a bit of free time for me. The second painting session for Bluebirds 2 focused on everything actually, but lots of time spent on the birds. And flower sprays, big heart frame and edging, and smaller hearts. I decided to use some lighter/brighter colours. Miss Baby Grand-Daughter's nursery has been painted a tropical coral colour (walls) and so I decided to use colours that would go with that and also the baby quilt I am making her, which has aqua and periwinkle blues, coral and soft tangerine, fresh spring greens and charcoal & black (it looks better than this may sound !). So Bluebirds2 got more Quinacridone Coral (hearts), and Cerulean (birds).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G9s8omwILfiXz2567o33OxXkpuR9mMs29cf2WcpOEYMTIpI3ZvFUv251oZ6h0n6iOKhPdtfirTOUA6StNz5l806zbgv1SYhdIYMjmxcYf5livHeaB4Gs4ZkW-AMQM1t5EaXlH8drAlht/s1600/P1070343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G9s8omwILfiXz2567o33OxXkpuR9mMs29cf2WcpOEYMTIpI3ZvFUv251oZ6h0n6iOKhPdtfirTOUA6StNz5l806zbgv1SYhdIYMjmxcYf5livHeaB4Gs4ZkW-AMQM1t5EaXlH8drAlht/s1600/P1070343.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebirds 1 shown right, Blue Birds 2 on left, during<br />
painting session 3 and just after I got the lettering<br />
painted on. Looking good ! (see how I must share the <br />
art workbench with construction tools <br />
like saw and level ?!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I haven't yet decided on what to do with the background, but mulling this over. I think I do like the duck egg ground in BB1, and may do something similar. But not same-same. I brought BB1 home to help be sure I got the birds in BB2 equally cute ! <br />
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BB2 session 3 was yesterday. I added more yellow to the birds bellies. They are now nearly done. I added last touches to the sprays of blue and pink flowers, and the leaves are close to done. The hearts got some shading. And I added the Always and Forever quote (in french). Again, some simple transfer of graphite to the ground to get my spacing and shape of the font lettering correct as I could, then filled in with paint, which was a slow and careful process. But looking better than BB1 I think !<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuNHaJfztPMu19uQ9p7xxiPm2LLVoo20XQZxc_TgCTpFRDTTQPaUEa4Vsc8gUlq7VOrNP_8-RRQO8UergmXLAtJ4-d5-_AdEDc9Q2V4ESRPMAq2KWYvqFuLbifRkPFM5KlQ0XbSe2Pj3i/s1600/P1070344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuNHaJfztPMu19uQ9p7xxiPm2LLVoo20XQZxc_TgCTpFRDTTQPaUEa4Vsc8gUlq7VOrNP_8-RRQO8UergmXLAtJ4-d5-_AdEDc9Q2V4ESRPMAq2KWYvqFuLbifRkPFM5KlQ0XbSe2Pj3i/s1600/P1070344.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebirds 2 at end of Painting Session 3, 0<br />
9/03/14</td></tr>
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That's it for the week. Fine-tuning next Sunday. And actually for days there after. Then I need to leave well enough alone, and let it dry !<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyJfvve1CZoSG996r1H39yZDBHDdAyDxfkTcLZcMoQfhNypzTFlF8bK1BA17eNYxsnIY3hfi6czU_mKayFtcDPRogRqgBD29qzB0yp_ZZXZSkdyTA2AWa9g9drhvEypW-KikLPoAgrjGI/s1600/bluebirdscolour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyJfvve1CZoSG996r1H39yZDBHDdAyDxfkTcLZcMoQfhNypzTFlF8bK1BA17eNYxsnIY3hfi6czU_mKayFtcDPRogRqgBD29qzB0yp_ZZXZSkdyTA2AWa9g9drhvEypW-KikLPoAgrjGI/s1600/bluebirdscolour.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping point today. The Bluebirds painting<br />
with palette (foreground left) and a board<br />
(foreground right) capturing colour<br />
mixing record</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did not get to work on the Bluebirds painting this week until today….but I did call in at a favourite art supply shop earlier in the week and bought some Water Mixable/Soluble Linseed Oil to use with the water soluble oil paints. The art shop had a brand from Germany by Lukas. I also bought some of the Lukas Berlin water mixable oil paints, with a view to compare with the Daniel Smith ones, but hopefully to use the two brands together, so I could extend my colour selection. I needed Cerulean Blue for better mixing (I already had Ultramarine Blue). I also bought a light bright green, an Earth Brown, and a very large tube of Titanium White.<br />
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I found today's use of the paints to go better than last week. The modified linseed oil medium was very nice and so were the Lukas paints. Buttery rich and soft consistency, outstanding colours and texture. I am really impressed with them. They worked and mixed beautifully. I was able to mix the two brands of paints well too.<br />
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I made a colour record on a piece of board. Since I'm still learning my way with the new paints, the colour record is a very good idea.….as I am working on mixing, texture, and colour. It will make a practical record for future reference and use with these paints.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoznHq1ufkOzdWBh-Ib-r2SmFqGLh4gyVOcT0_ER6JCFsyKIChM_OwaHRh_bx-7HStBKrMQ5KbS3FudNpWINMD-JA0P7XwUtLSZbG4W7SxvBbqZFtmkboQe7AU_4Xzq_xizp_nzi6uV2g/s1600/bluebirdscloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoznHq1ufkOzdWBh-Ib-r2SmFqGLh4gyVOcT0_ER6JCFsyKIChM_OwaHRh_bx-7HStBKrMQ5KbS3FudNpWINMD-JA0P7XwUtLSZbG4W7SxvBbqZFtmkboQe7AU_4Xzq_xizp_nzi6uV2g/s1600/bluebirdscloseup.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the blue birds, closer up</td></tr>
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Today's session focused on the blue birds, getting the flowers and leaves done in the oils, and adding some detail to the background. Its all coming along. I must decide on the words for the big heart. Decisions, decisions !Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-75430480784263258762014-01-19T20:41:00.001+11:002014-01-20T00:16:52.069+11:00Bluebirds Painting--on its way<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCAaQXjNH74JtSAjUm6WENj2FH51ER8UQ-951EPASZANCo5uV35So0DEjZ5SYdRxrsPKMxGMFjb2RE2fAr-i2iIacf-qo40_AN0xvUDutW1N-bxovhajKbRhDV9nfivNia4mnbcZbvWP3/s1600/P1060937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCAaQXjNH74JtSAjUm6WENj2FH51ER8UQ-951EPASZANCo5uV35So0DEjZ5SYdRxrsPKMxGMFjb2RE2fAr-i2iIacf-qo40_AN0xvUDutW1N-bxovhajKbRhDV9nfivNia4mnbcZbvWP3/s1600/P1060937.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bluebird detail</td></tr>
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The Bluebirds painting was started 2 years ago….and has been asking for its turn to get more done to it. Today I decided to tackle that, as a warm up to a new painting I will be starting soon. I also decided to try out the new water soluble oil paints by Daniel Smith that I brought back from USA in December.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNT9roxWc4X2ifxSUwybtVG0D6XeZO7fvroYg-gdTSnGkXjDwuKu2FToPQFgNMT0QU7FY_FIA9oKgi7zfd-snWAIIAXewBNTwrVVsBBiLhOtuYihVSyu3oZFYrmp80BiuTNkdQ4Qq9GXP/s1600/P1060926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNT9roxWc4X2ifxSUwybtVG0D6XeZO7fvroYg-gdTSnGkXjDwuKu2FToPQFgNMT0QU7FY_FIA9oKgi7zfd-snWAIIAXewBNTwrVVsBBiLhOtuYihVSyu3oZFYrmp80BiuTNkdQ4Qq9GXP/s1600/P1060926.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the underpainting, my starting<br />
point today</td></tr>
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This composition is of an antique Valentine's Day card. When I did the initial painting 2 years ago, I created a copy of the card at massively expanded scale, so I would have the detail that is in the original card. However, I did make a few changes in the painting, like leaving off the text that is on the card. Somewhere I have the antique card, but can't find it at the moment, so the monochrome blow up image is my model for now. That plus memory.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfSF6MttyEYkOnHJXGkZqX1aHGQGqzMxf_86m8qmz90-5Uy5qDyhhncOe62cXKx-KSbhTGJ6nsZaLKOS0WkoVS270MYNEu8-aXoneW60sLpXxuWF4BERA8sqUUqx9wTK4TXQC21brokS5/s1600/P1060928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfSF6MttyEYkOnHJXGkZqX1aHGQGqzMxf_86m8qmz90-5Uy5qDyhhncOe62cXKx-KSbhTGJ6nsZaLKOS0WkoVS270MYNEu8-aXoneW60sLpXxuWF4BERA8sqUUqx9wTK4TXQC21brokS5/s1600/P1060928.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">creating a record of the<br />
colour palette using<br />
the new paints, <br />
along the bottom of the <br />
monochrome copy of the card</td></tr>
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Like some other paintings I recently finished in oils, the painting was initially done in acrylics on canvas. And I wasn't happy with it, and wanted to finish it in oils. Trying the new DS water soluble oils put the painting's work into experimental territory, as I wasn't sure how the new paints would perform, and how they would behave differently than each acrylics and oils. It also meant I needed to do some work to colour mix, as I did not have a big collection of the DS paints (and for oils, I do have a good collection of colours). I enjoy colour mixing, so having to mix colours was quite OK. As I do for any project where colour mixing is involved, I create a simple record of the colours I create, and this time I put the paint dabs on my monochrome sheet of the card that inspires this composition.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dxVivxcPJ_p9vr8wPqmwLhZiohqXTEcHiNP2K7fmIo9dhqzqvTG6z11UnyEO5X6Jx7aFeSvPdP7FOC1AsbLqbR7408Qauz52qON4JmF2XjooK5vCdYrs_gwC7MfcfJ36Jcs0xjEROdC4/s1600/P1060927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dxVivxcPJ_p9vr8wPqmwLhZiohqXTEcHiNP2K7fmIo9dhqzqvTG6z11UnyEO5X6Jx7aFeSvPdP7FOC1AsbLqbR7408Qauz52qON4JmF2XjooK5vCdYrs_gwC7MfcfJ36Jcs0xjEROdC4/s1600/P1060927.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">working on the painting</td></tr>
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I worked on the background, and warmed it up, with more duck egg blue hues. I also worked on the borders of the centre heart, and the smaller hearts. Then I tackled the birds, which were sketched, but only partly painted in. I wanted the birds to look cute, with sweet faces, as they have in the antique card image. <br />
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I like the Daniel Smith water soluble oils, but they dry on the palette faster than regular oils. They were also a bit dryer on the brush without water in the mix, hard to explain….but seemed so. I am also not used to using water to thin them, I may need a bit of practice and experimenting with it. I might get some water soluble linseed oil medium to try with them (I left it behind, as I wasn't sure I could bring it on commercial aircraft). The clean up is brilliant, EASY water clean up of brushes and also the palette. Very nice ! All in all, I am pretty impressed and liked the paints. <a href="http://www.danielsmith.com/" target="_blank">to learn more about the Daniel Smith water soluble oils, check out www.danielsmith.com</a><br />
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I think the birds came out very well. They look good and have cute expressions. They need just some fine tuning to the shadings and highlights on them, and a bit of fine tuning detail on their little faces and also their feet. I also need to tidy up the background, maybe put in some pattern on the stripes. The hearts need the white border tidied. And the flowers and leaves will be some work too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBQ3MV9qsvFc_JEX8spipOe_QwEOWDBFyF5aSsGHG9evYS0cyW9JgLK_hN4op6CJTvEx-LbRE3lf6eaLyWuiv3Ituq6bQlzwAJbOT9STHhJAMCTX5-9wFX9ChVc7_izf_cjRobpywyo4R/s1600/P1060938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBQ3MV9qsvFc_JEX8spipOe_QwEOWDBFyF5aSsGHG9evYS0cyW9JgLK_hN4op6CJTvEx-LbRE3lf6eaLyWuiv3Ituq6bQlzwAJbOT9STHhJAMCTX5-9wFX9ChVc7_izf_cjRobpywyo4R/s1600/P1060938.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My stopping point today. Its on its way !</td></tr>
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Another UFO (unfinished object, (this one a painting) is now on its way to completion. I'll post it when done !<br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-54456312759193669162014-01-03T12:15:00.004+11:002014-01-03T12:15:49.448+11:00Happy New Year 2014<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZEeeSCV-pN0a5SPf7pFR9HDIvC8xUw-LbF91ICespPnxB3SzK3rrxPT-sHeCfMA9Hzi1rsuqgLzdYhveRgiviZQ7eLAlZd46nwrOQKOqZ23jJKrFaWtsM69Io9IJrokUnCyXAmfdXDY5/s1600/P1060803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZEeeSCV-pN0a5SPf7pFR9HDIvC8xUw-LbF91ICespPnxB3SzK3rrxPT-sHeCfMA9Hzi1rsuqgLzdYhveRgiviZQ7eLAlZd46nwrOQKOqZ23jJKrFaWtsM69Io9IJrokUnCyXAmfdXDY5/s1600/P1060803.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a>Wishing you a Happy New Year 2014, with prosperity, good health and happiness to all.<br />
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We ended our 2013 year here with a bit of the unexpected ! Ian was injured seriously and has one hand injured to the point of needing to take a complete unscheduled break (see 3 January post on <a href="http://placeandtimedesign.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">placeandtimedesign.blogspot.com.au</a> to see more about this unsked break !). Thankfully it was not more critical or life threatening, but it was scary, and loss of good use of a hand to weeks or months of recovery time is a pretty big impact for us (Ian is always busy and uses his hands for his work).<br />
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So what to do ? Well, New Years Eve turned out to be a bit of a quiet evening as you might imagine, with quiet rest and pain killers for Ian. As for me, I had good fruit on hand and set about to prepare it for the next day. Something to do while counting down last hours of the year ! January 1st saw me making what has turned out to be a stellar batch of jam ! Apricot-Rose Jam, recipe credit to <i>Blue Chair Jam Cookbook, </i>an awesome reference to follow either literally or use for inspiration. I don't always (I am often more an "inspired-by" sort of cook !), but this time followed the recipe pretty much to the letter, though with a scaled down quantity of fruit, suiting what I had available in peak condition. And it has come out well indeed. Here is a short photo journal of its production.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDGxOBha4TXfcUOoGdHjRD_ws0YtfWGE6PpqiYNDYmpxemb0KqG0WUrmljMhfdtCA3Gl2Zes94N9ODDjJlOcOhGfxE3KdiLsn7PAjYqaQndR8RRis8bWDu5D_L0HngCMie0Du8V8Qq5XO/s1600/P1060780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDGxOBha4TXfcUOoGdHjRD_ws0YtfWGE6PpqiYNDYmpxemb0KqG0WUrmljMhfdtCA3Gl2Zes94N9ODDjJlOcOhGfxE3KdiLsn7PAjYqaQndR8RRis8bWDu5D_L0HngCMie0Du8V8Qq5XO/s1600/P1060780.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apricots macerate in sugar<br />with lemon juice overnight<br />under wrap and in fridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPmgye5VCqIfFk3obNXGjHhu_D77C9EmSXPI8tPhbGcPNfGU0nyOTFm1y_tC5eabZeorNAsJW_ClyCuQiyyb1j3v8OjyNIkvXDZGVNdtz_MHI9PvCE1jrC_7XJgDagCFa3XB81p2KBX7h/s1600/P1060781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPmgye5VCqIfFk3obNXGjHhu_D77C9EmSXPI8tPhbGcPNfGU0nyOTFm1y_tC5eabZeorNAsJW_ClyCuQiyyb1j3v8OjyNIkvXDZGVNdtz_MHI9PvCE1jrC_7XJgDagCFa3XB81p2KBX7h/s1600/P1060781.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cracked the apricot pits<br />to get the soft almond like<br />kernel inside. Chopped up<br />and put in tea strainer to<br />cook in the jam mix</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipL-33j4eUHQwP2eiLAW891bHBtMYTWcVAXLsAv_rRXr6qU5VEoYm-xX8Rijb_1vPEAMYBzOtHKnZEJUO8ny0UWLGwc8SgvDlpJnkco_VFRZfFb6Jhmd46uQj-k0331xmMWrOuNTqONjm1/s1600/P1060785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipL-33j4eUHQwP2eiLAW891bHBtMYTWcVAXLsAv_rRXr6qU5VEoYm-xX8Rijb_1vPEAMYBzOtHKnZEJUO8ny0UWLGwc8SgvDlpJnkco_VFRZfFb6Jhmd46uQj-k0331xmMWrOuNTqONjm1/s1600/P1060785.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My gel set test worked great--its perfect !<br />(used freezer method)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-8BXdxS_dX29NTDWjxuDDDBX68huAUk-z3_qMw8vmTzVhfdODd0nOoOt8TcPwXXZ0SB6DqYwI51Gw7IRQDOBDMEq91NokCMEtZeYEV9j8GaDiIq3UgRyGZ0sPsniJokPiSLw6GsIAS8G/s1600/P1060787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-8BXdxS_dX29NTDWjxuDDDBX68huAUk-z3_qMw8vmTzVhfdODd0nOoOt8TcPwXXZ0SB6DqYwI51Gw7IRQDOBDMEq91NokCMEtZeYEV9j8GaDiIq3UgRyGZ0sPsniJokPiSLw6GsIAS8G/s1600/P1060787.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jam is ready. Take off the heat now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYlcHTtWh52oOKXUoMZ04Fj0D3I4iRHrjCC81NIo4apYJyAX6jrj7tvDBtEIWjQWyDfyewXE4LIBrbTlVUVAykAn8gVXBMK_8mEZ26S93pGldKMUvdxtW4mN_P1AZNzWALuZnGhyNU0TQ/s1600/P1060791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYlcHTtWh52oOKXUoMZ04Fj0D3I4iRHrjCC81NIo4apYJyAX6jrj7tvDBtEIWjQWyDfyewXE4LIBrbTlVUVAykAn8gVXBMK_8mEZ26S93pGldKMUvdxtW4mN_P1AZNzWALuZnGhyNU0TQ/s1600/P1060791.jpg" height="200" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jam in jar, jar edge cleaned, <br />lid about to go on</td></tr>
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The end result of the jam was outstanding. Bright beautiful flavour, perfect colour, and excellent texture and set too. A good result and sign for a fresh start in 2014, under a New Moon, and channeling healing thoughts and reminders about what is most important. Ian's injury is healing and now we give it time and rest. A good time to take stock and clear the decks for the next stage of things around here. More soon !</div>
<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaND6Ru11IEDvKyXwCCz37DnYCcGBHS5W4JHU1VuQYIi-o3maM7WDAXb6gT6U0hVr98otuvGKcvRlsP46L865B9TUsniWi1f9lg2GHlKqACM9QU7EaeYGxVlW0OTLGS3dtxJS9no5V-U2h/s1600/P1060802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaND6Ru11IEDvKyXwCCz37DnYCcGBHS5W4JHU1VuQYIi-o3maM7WDAXb6gT6U0hVr98otuvGKcvRlsP46L865B9TUsniWi1f9lg2GHlKqACM9QU7EaeYGxVlW0OTLGS3dtxJS9no5V-U2h/s1600/P1060802.JPG" height="258" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Kim's</i> <i>Barossa Apricot-Rose Jam</i></b></td></tr>
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Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-73006368735139027472013-12-29T16:30:00.000+11:002013-12-29T17:08:59.158+11:00My Barossa Kitchen: Jam Season<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3zJpOBO0aZCju8T8C4ZdQFRmMVQJR2GbwAsLQhCsaESfhjs164jEchqBk7aHg047psNFoSgfaZAWRdAogX_2ZPb06uCnmciOWuUgnNgpC-nTH5RJITNPocm9pvZNdzWQB02foXqp-ySH/s1600/P1060756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3zJpOBO0aZCju8T8C4ZdQFRmMVQJR2GbwAsLQhCsaESfhjs164jEchqBk7aHg047psNFoSgfaZAWRdAogX_2ZPb06uCnmciOWuUgnNgpC-nTH5RJITNPocm9pvZNdzWQB02foXqp-ySH/s1600/P1060756.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly, putting the jam into jars. <br />
In a red apron, best for working with red fruit !</td></tr>
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A relaxing and peaceful day off. I love working in the kitchen in this house. It keeps calling me to bake, cook, try new things. We have a fridge full of leftovers (having plenty of turkey leftover dinners here !). And also full of some stunningly beautiful fruit. Raspberries, red currants, blackberries, strawberries, rhubarb, dark cherries, apricots, nectarines. We also have on hand lemons, oranges, and a stray grapefruit and banana, plus a few kiwi fruit. This is my best jam making season, summer fruits are gorgeous. What jam I make is influenced by what is looking best and available in suitable quantity at the right fair price point. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSXpdEGx2SZ-G2mGAXHVyFWb32bqzBkjqxbIe-xCmp84XXM5A3mUCc0WoFEIRwIyBjq3oRpLAO10GE6FEZTxA4CqiTe4RHPXtrylXsKsy_Vgvoenz6S8pkyfzKZlvB6_LWGiOQaj8ZbbO/s1600/P1060715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSXpdEGx2SZ-G2mGAXHVyFWb32bqzBkjqxbIe-xCmp84XXM5A3mUCc0WoFEIRwIyBjq3oRpLAO10GE6FEZTxA4CqiTe4RHPXtrylXsKsy_Vgvoenz6S8pkyfzKZlvB6_LWGiOQaj8ZbbO/s1600/P1060715.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rinsed red fruit</td></tr>
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I planned on using the raspberries and red currants. The latter would keep, but the raspberries were at their peak and needed to be used before they were lost or past it. I made a mini batch of raspberry and red currant jam last year, stealing fruit from the Christmas dessert plan (I kept a bit of it plus strawberries and made a different dessert with what I had left !). It was outstanding, albeit a bit of an accidental plan. So my plan was to start my jam making season doing this one over, documenting the proportions and making a bigger batch (enough for 5 half pint jars or more). I knew I could get fantastic raspberries at the Barossa Farmer's Market. $7.50 for a 200g pun net box. I got four and had a few extras from the week before that were still good. I bought blackberries too, as a plan B. Because I could not find red currants the week or two before Christmas ! Then on Christmas Eve, I found them at Nuriootpa Foodland. I bought 2 small boxes of 125g each. I needed about 200g for the jam and the rest was to garnish our Christmas dessert, a Rose Petal & Rhubarb Berry Trifle.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZm2ASxt07rrhvYNY6PxIHSPkO-m81GaBGgl_JTmU3r3kQ2vgPWFxuNSeWPpX7iCeomVF8f6Rf2gW0Z1VPvHCYRQP0jxYhT-8U4swdn9imVLEFdoDSZLI8vHvyCOR1D9fG3CNW_4veg1I/s1600/P1060734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZm2ASxt07rrhvYNY6PxIHSPkO-m81GaBGgl_JTmU3r3kQ2vgPWFxuNSeWPpX7iCeomVF8f6Rf2gW0Z1VPvHCYRQP0jxYhT-8U4swdn9imVLEFdoDSZLI8vHvyCOR1D9fG3CNW_4veg1I/s1600/P1060734.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bowls and measuring cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Had the radio on to hear the Ashes test Cricket on the ABC (I enjoy listening to test cricket on the radio) while I set about getting the work area ready for jam making. I have a very large stainless steel stockpot with a clear glass lid and a small tray for the bottom to hold the jars off the bottom of the pan. First thing is to get the water in that and start heating it. It takes the longest time to heat it to boiling and the jars then get boiled for 10 minutes to sterilise them. The same pot and boiling water will be used for the boiling water bath to process the jam once it is put into the jars. I have a smaller pot to use for sterilising the lids and rings. That one is kept on hand also for boiling water to dip a clean cloth in for cleaning off the edge of the jars before putting the lid on. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7FOk7E64sVkqNAPFs5pQmEtLZVgcWi7XJRxy60mE444S4ZOZUOyGiS2X83eVVLvyiNli1RCbReq-JfOX7J_d0NpZSmhlhSrHs2f7rckhkjVb4alVuE8lQCzN1xBdJn5eorhUkiMOLBfO/s1600/P1060730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7FOk7E64sVkqNAPFs5pQmEtLZVgcWi7XJRxy60mE444S4ZOZUOyGiS2X83eVVLvyiNli1RCbReq-JfOX7J_d0NpZSmhlhSrHs2f7rckhkjVb4alVuE8lQCzN1xBdJn5eorhUkiMOLBfO/s1600/P1060730.JPG" height="154" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">towels & cloths: <br />
red is practical for handling fruit !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once that big stockpot got going, I assembled the rest of my tools. A stainless steel funnel, jar tongs, lid tongs, stainless steel spoons of various sizes, timber pot coasters, all the jars and lids (already washed), and vintage glass measuring cups (my favourites). Small little sauce dishes and small spoons get put into the freezer, for later testing the jam setting. The funnel and spoons all were clean and got dipped into boiling water. Then I got a variety of cloths at the ready. Red and dark pink tea towels are practical, because red fruit stains (an inevitable part of jam making) won't ruin them. Little dark cherry coloured cloths used for holding and wiping jars. Silicon coasters for the big brass handles of the jam pan. I also put on an apron (red, best for working with red fruit).<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiQcz7gWTPO8scDoEaaUTpUc46MtvYQ3zOxy8jKNOy6Bjl1jP_mJSZqFgqXKMBOR-l5d0uVVnEvNEbZZnxMSpFIt-A0yYqZY0Vug4yGEEt2D31WPCuy5h-UH7QH8ixoZb-ZrR70ah-6Pf/s1600/P1060716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiQcz7gWTPO8scDoEaaUTpUc46MtvYQ3zOxy8jKNOy6Bjl1jP_mJSZqFgqXKMBOR-l5d0uVVnEvNEbZZnxMSpFIt-A0yYqZY0Vug4yGEEt2D31WPCuy5h-UH7QH8ixoZb-ZrR70ah-6Pf/s1600/P1060716.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red raspberries, red currants, <br />
one lemon plus sugar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then came the fruit. First raspberries. Rinsed and then weighed in a stainless steel bowl, so I could calculate fruit weight and work out how much sugar I would need. Then red currants, pulled off stems, rinsed and also weighed, then put into a duck egg blue Bisonware ceramic bowl. The raspberries weighed 816g and the red currants 199g. With just over a kilo of red fruit I measured out 5 cups of granulated sugar for the jam, dumped that into another stainless steel bowl. I had a lemon and cut it, squeezing its juice through a strainer into a small glass measuring cup.<br />
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I have a fabulous hammered copper jam pan (Mauviel) . Fruit put into unlined copper must have sugar mixed in straight away. So I tipped in the sugar first, then topped it with the red fruit, and poured the lemon juice over the top. By now the jars and lids were into the boiling water to sterilise, so I turned on the burner under the copper pan. I mixed the fruit into the sugar and we were off and running !<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabDkP9JEAwhLo55OHtAZQpfJRs3k9wkIQ9amHbfA6RGa4HMESzaj0SNpLtRr7kfAO5CCYzP6iRPOwDTMicnfmh7RLyPTrOj-xwGyA3Uku007K9P9Xf8DqBSIBZgyvT6WtPTCfeyeKzMaS/s1600/P1060727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabDkP9JEAwhLo55OHtAZQpfJRs3k9wkIQ9amHbfA6RGa4HMESzaj0SNpLtRr7kfAO5CCYzP6iRPOwDTMicnfmh7RLyPTrOj-xwGyA3Uku007K9P9Xf8DqBSIBZgyvT6WtPTCfeyeKzMaS/s1600/P1060727.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red fruit atop sugar, in copper jam pan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufzNVeMm3YYb_IYg6vyqrUFHnlRtecUkbPAKauoSLMqCG68gsmksi7az2VU8RWVd2PA-EDeO6nfcGQWOwwhaN3SoIQ-d-oMpE4Vp22g-GJuzdh1vdxo8_bcKzUfUMruxa-AzNZn97YyYq/s1600/P1060736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufzNVeMm3YYb_IYg6vyqrUFHnlRtecUkbPAKauoSLMqCG68gsmksi7az2VU8RWVd2PA-EDeO6nfcGQWOwwhaN3SoIQ-d-oMpE4Vp22g-GJuzdh1vdxo8_bcKzUfUMruxa-AzNZn97YyYq/s1600/P1060736.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jam heating up, on cooktop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It did not take long for the heat to cause the sugar to dissolve and the fruit was mixed in well by then, taking care not to over stir the raspberries to the point of breaking them down too fast (they are delicate). The fruit had the most divine aroma, bright, red, and nice mix of tart-sweet. Red currants are a perfect partner to raspberries. Before long the fruit and sugar mix was getting nice and hot and then all of a sudden it bubbled and foamed up. I used a large spoon to skim the foam off into a separate bowl. I am still getting used to the copper pan, and am carefully making adjustments to my jam cooking. The copper pan heats up and stays hot longer than the stainless steel one I used to use. If care is not taken, the jam can go from set to caramel stage very quickly (which would be ruined). The jam started to bubble away, foam was skimmed, and it started to reduce. When it was reduced to half its volume, it was time to test if it was at set or gel point.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4SYfD3Osh7EbjZdqKt8V01dYtTKM_QNs7a_7JdvPxFqVcCW2rK4IWlNi01VBWaa-VpQgbQ931GrmlwXB7J9aSb2kQU5KMXrsV_FSxKS3tNMcyqRnk6IU2Azya1OeoHZZzL-dr9fycFkb/s1600/P1060742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4SYfD3Osh7EbjZdqKt8V01dYtTKM_QNs7a_7JdvPxFqVcCW2rK4IWlNi01VBWaa-VpQgbQ931GrmlwXB7J9aSb2kQU5KMXrsV_FSxKS3tNMcyqRnk6IU2Azya1OeoHZZzL-dr9fycFkb/s1600/P1060742.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jam bubbles & foams up, <br />
I skimmed off the foam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftCwAqk2qC2x7W5penUpSpNr7hzAzSKrx6xsRHLk6XatYEshKk3EkpweXb7DPbYUYq7MTCAQCVoLgAUkbIV4se-cTnd-xbIk0r3Yq-5kIpog82q9NPqZ7zpe3agkWPzYNVgq6xOmeUUPJ/s1600/P1060748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftCwAqk2qC2x7W5penUpSpNr7hzAzSKrx6xsRHLk6XatYEshKk3EkpweXb7DPbYUYq7MTCAQCVoLgAUkbIV4se-cTnd-xbIk0r3Yq-5kIpog82q9NPqZ7zpe3agkWPzYNVgq6xOmeUUPJ/s1600/P1060748.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">testing gel & set of the jam,<br />
freezer (spoon/dish) method</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I use little dishes and small spoons put in the freezer for a freezer method set/gel test. I get one of each out of the freezer and carefully use another spoon to get a small bit of the jam mix and pour it into the spoon taken from freezer. Then the bottom of the cold spoon becomes room temperature, then I carefully pour the jam into the cold dish. And let it sit a minute or too, then run my finger through it to see if the trail stays separated or the surface wrinkles, both signs of a good set. Today I had to do 4 set tests in fast succession (2-3 minutes between). The last one I was pretty sure was it, so I turned off the heat under the jam pot. I was right, and so the jam pan rested for a few minutes, then got put near where I would jar the jam.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPpEgxySl7ysTsO8T8vBocMXsDe-wxng17wg05yhWQTrCmBeKSzzpEwTAQ2Pmz7Yk4vQCQ0L2LxJJM6IGRt9HtThzWpCrudVTyoGkaTqt1qKkcgoDsZ8YuqXDPOygvrwP__lp9HnhFxWo/s1600/P1060752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPpEgxySl7ysTsO8T8vBocMXsDe-wxng17wg05yhWQTrCmBeKSzzpEwTAQ2Pmz7Yk4vQCQ0L2LxJJM6IGRt9HtThzWpCrudVTyoGkaTqt1qKkcgoDsZ8YuqXDPOygvrwP__lp9HnhFxWo/s1600/P1060752.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filling a jar with jam, <br />
through funnel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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One by one, I took a sterilised jar out of the hot water in stock pot, tipping the water back into the pot. The funnel gets put in the jar, next to the jam pan. I spoon the jam into the jar through the funnel. When full, I carefully wipe the edge with a clean cloth dipped in boiling water. Then place a lid and ring on the top. It is tightened to light finger tight, so air can escape during processing in the boiling water bath. Then the jar is returned to the stock pot, using the jar tongs. This process was repeated six times. When all six jars were in the stock pot and water, I turned the heat back up to bring it to boiling. And processed the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.<br />
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Each jar was removed from the boiling water bath in turn and placed carefully on a timber coaster to cool. In very quick succession, the jar lids popped as they cooled, indicating they had a good seal. Each will have a shelf life of a year (if they last that long !). When the jars were cool enough, I tightened the rings on them a bit more. And fixed small labels to each with date of the jam and a best by date of one year hence. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir703eQOhaqSG6VOM3cG2oH90-4XbpVJ9TZ3TUkkgczBSe4vg8u_1fpg_JqOW9G5BY7EHiCfo22EnOc8s-SGNcsRd1XViYngaHK6UMzJZFaXR7enBgmJxUBtyY1tqvPOkwKIoKx1gDSAtg/s1600/P1060753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir703eQOhaqSG6VOM3cG2oH90-4XbpVJ9TZ3TUkkgczBSe4vg8u_1fpg_JqOW9G5BY7EHiCfo22EnOc8s-SGNcsRd1XViYngaHK6UMzJZFaXR7enBgmJxUBtyY1tqvPOkwKIoKx1gDSAtg/s1600/P1060753.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filled jar of jam being put<br />
in stockpot for boiling<br />
water bath processing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF47WDqcZRxZC5vHpVPjoS2D9oAgtWBz_GhsLTY3-87xHrkMjmOTX6cY3ZFXhcwDj8Hz0Azn_jJGq4Xi-lQyhF5TJYARiXeyPcPGjWhSqsa9BoC1PCf5PEunkpCz0SXkF5YddFC0MXjo-/s1600/P1060757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF47WDqcZRxZC5vHpVPjoS2D9oAgtWBz_GhsLTY3-87xHrkMjmOTX6cY3ZFXhcwDj8Hz0Azn_jJGq4Xi-lQyhF5TJYARiXeyPcPGjWhSqsa9BoC1PCf5PEunkpCz0SXkF5YddFC0MXjo-/s1600/P1060757.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last bits of jam in the pan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The dregs of the jam pan got scooped out and put in a clean small jar for testing tomorrow morning ! There was not enough in the jar to sterilise (a partly empty jar will bob around in the boiling water bath….yes, I have tried this and do know !). Also, I discarded the foam skimmed off the cooking jam and underneath there was a lovely syrup. I put the syrup in a another jar. It will make a nice topping for ice-cream. The test jam and jam byproduct syrup do not have a long shelf life, they will be used this week and went right into the fridge !<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhF3vorIrXwT1NEK9U_JxPLtjOLqKqyNS8ymw6UAbU9NbM2irjvGQeY2pC7MdNtTF4KZRAAZ8T12QxRPadxfkYCrCuVfG5rZ4xzRzdMGi125-pqetKENqjGZFgKzdaklbu4mRF24uqxYJ/s1600/P1060758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhF3vorIrXwT1NEK9U_JxPLtjOLqKqyNS8ymw6UAbU9NbM2irjvGQeY2pC7MdNtTF4KZRAAZ8T12QxRPadxfkYCrCuVfG5rZ4xzRzdMGi125-pqetKENqjGZFgKzdaklbu4mRF24uqxYJ/s1600/P1060758.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper jam pan wash up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmwuKzY52JGJg_jHYNGJmzRKpYkYnPrAmJzfxRwKDK_KyTterm5DjtVMPAJGjdZ80YDNFlMIJV9n6hJ2gHsXoZnUY2esM8Ym5F4cnZ_4BnCjAn8gHGhfc-DHbIQxTfLHxJe0pw-p6P2sS/s1600/P1060775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmwuKzY52JGJg_jHYNGJmzRKpYkYnPrAmJzfxRwKDK_KyTterm5DjtVMPAJGjdZ80YDNFlMIJV9n6hJ2gHsXoZnUY2esM8Ym5F4cnZ_4BnCjAn8gHGhfc-DHbIQxTfLHxJe0pw-p6P2sS/s1600/P1060775.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">clean &ready for next batch !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: center;">I clean up all my tools and things right away, so it can all be put away and ready for next batch of jam. Which might be tomorrow ! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrIcnnn73iQFgA1XXGjXgwvj5wfW0GwEvghX1WWl0amMFL67laxtTtbcCRuwJMK3yuHDAVcCHw1rsLhqcBCkZr7fFrSvYa2m-l2PLRRbggaNYWwX1Ot9o2EIt8l-DJAyo5QQab-Dtn-CD/s1600/P1060774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrIcnnn73iQFgA1XXGjXgwvj5wfW0GwEvghX1WWl0amMFL67laxtTtbcCRuwJMK3yuHDAVcCHw1rsLhqcBCkZr7fFrSvYa2m-l2PLRRbggaNYWwX1Ot9o2EIt8l-DJAyo5QQab-Dtn-CD/s1600/P1060774.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashes Raspberry - Red Currant Jam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The cricket had been going pretty well. So I decided to name this jam <i>Ashes Raspberry - Red Currant Jam</i>. <br />
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Looking forward to soon have studio space again for painting. To see recent progress on the last phase of the renovations, completion of the studio, see <a href="http://placeandtimedesign.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">placeandtimedesign blog, where I post renovations news and progress.</a><br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-50040408568632062632013-12-20T12:50:00.004+11:002013-12-20T17:06:59.505+11:00When Life Gives You….<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXGnh2kORsWGDqpGNq7GLma0fXVOcvwPfsTlX1Bno7Jt-q3ogoZU63IhTEJU7SD8ffhOuzGe3mnAXT0n1E0yy9x9qtwGx7hjZsFjeBQ2IW0IGpADLWKgF4LY9oDBaPNr2lvP07k5ji60O/s1600/cherries2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXGnh2kORsWGDqpGNq7GLma0fXVOcvwPfsTlX1Bno7Jt-q3ogoZU63IhTEJU7SD8ffhOuzGe3mnAXT0n1E0yy9x9qtwGx7hjZsFjeBQ2IW0IGpADLWKgF4LY9oDBaPNr2lvP07k5ji60O/s1600/cherries2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Cherries ! <br />
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I saw a great interiors photo of a beautiful kitchen last week and it had in it a cute sign that said Cherries on it. I decided I would like one for my kitchen. So I set about to do a prototype sign and work out my composition options, colour palette, and so on. <br />
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I have been wanting to integrate typography into my art, but free hand efforts have not looked how I want….so decided to use some form of an image transfer on this sign to get the composition of the letters as I liked before hand painting the lettering in my colour palette. And last week I was in the middle of doing some experimentation with image transfer techniques and was timing and comparing the use of them, before teaching a variety of methods in a new workshop <a href="http://brocante-in-the-barossa.com/workshop-events/" target="_blank">Brocante in the Barossa NEW Image Transfer on Chalk Paint ™ Workshop</a> in January and March. So I used an image transfer of the lettering onto the board (and did a time trial on it too). <br />
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First, I did a trawl online to see Cherries signs and motifs I liked. I did not copy these, but definitely was inspired by fruits of the trawl. I combined elements inspired from a number of sources into my design. Then, I created the actual motif lettering in Microsoft Word, using WordArt feature, trying a number of fonts and shaping to the word before I found one I liked. I used a pale colour, because I intended to paint over it all. Then, printing the word art in reverse (mirror image), I used Annie Sloan's Decoupage Glue/Varnish to apply the word "CHERRIES" to a board painted in Chalk Paint ™ decorative paint by Annie Sloan (colour of ground is Old White). <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnW1DR8HQrgAO85_ZQL8-dphgComoEu19e7IpyTaRcVU4BHoGEAUak0vEO7XixRexEVJygu-f4QT5pUiYIyY4DGP4qk7ejR99v0B-ZSFEWGbJSSmQP-ydFwhL0103P0VAzlnTwttIIaUGP/s1600/P1060461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnW1DR8HQrgAO85_ZQL8-dphgComoEu19e7IpyTaRcVU4BHoGEAUak0vEO7XixRexEVJygu-f4QT5pUiYIyY4DGP4qk7ejR99v0B-ZSFEWGbJSSmQP-ydFwhL0103P0VAzlnTwttIIaUGP/s1600/P1060461.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
I began to paint over the lettering by hand and used Chalk Paint ™ by Annie Sloan in Primer Red, Emperor's Silk and a bit of Graphite for a little shadowing effect on the letters. This took awhile and it does have a hand painted look to it. I was as steady as I could though and used small taklon (4 and 6) flat and bright paint brushes for the painting work. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHV6pKU4DMUzXs7FyxLcKYcMu_WMMO7rtc8pcUwtevoUQem_oIclb3w42P9ol3LhZg5xbCmGumy5VanA8MlMN6JUJLwudQYuRBJtCvz4XNG0QQxN_7zTxyCPOcSzq1XQK7y5CZK6hmAKG/s1600/P1060463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHV6pKU4DMUzXs7FyxLcKYcMu_WMMO7rtc8pcUwtevoUQem_oIclb3w42P9ol3LhZg5xbCmGumy5VanA8MlMN6JUJLwudQYuRBJtCvz4XNG0QQxN_7zTxyCPOcSzq1XQK7y5CZK6hmAKG/s1600/P1060463.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Then with small (2 and 4) bristle brushes, I used Antibes Green, and a more emerald looking mix of Antibes and Florence to create some leaves around the lettering. I did leaves free hand. I put in some shadows with Graphite, so the lettering would stand out more and to give the leaves a look of part shadiness. I used the darker red Primer Red to paint on some clusters of cherries amidst the foliage. Emperor's Silk is a brighter red and was used for the brighter parts of the cherries, along with it mixed with a very bit of Old White (to make a quite bright warm pink). To complete the cherries, I lightly put in some Old White highlights where the light would dance on the cherries.<br />
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To finish my prototype sign, I used Annie Sloan Soft Wax, first in Clear, then in Dark. I gave the sign a bit of distressing with sandpaper. And I rubbed back a bit of the dark wax, especially on the white bits around the letters, to brighten it up.<br />
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I like the sign. I want to make a bigger one and will be planning that. My immediate design dilemma: How big should the sign for the kitchen be ?!<br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-61628399464395910452013-10-20T18:52:00.001+11:002013-10-20T19:08:47.329+11:00Painting Again<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzdwG29Hfnq5rOr-rUSq7t7V3QvDQvVYfPbAlmvRsZ6N3tBeEmhag-QTK1wUFsm9lqNGdJakKnw8iZLiZC_9kEaoRCQC4mfY5qZdJdISbZQkJWPxb5p4eYr_6UDQKtXu9qnLc8ATSeNV5/s1600/IMG_1549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzdwG29Hfnq5rOr-rUSq7t7V3QvDQvVYfPbAlmvRsZ6N3tBeEmhag-QTK1wUFsm9lqNGdJakKnw8iZLiZC_9kEaoRCQC4mfY5qZdJdISbZQkJWPxb5p4eYr_6UDQKtXu9qnLc8ATSeNV5/s320/IMG_1549.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">completing Unfinished Paintings: <br />
Golden Celebration (yellow roses)</td></tr>
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I have been away from blog posting, but only because life, working full-time and running a local business have kept me rather busy ! Also, I don't yet have a proper studio space. Though, good news, now that the weather has improved, Ian is working on that. Meantime, I do have the al fresco (under cover) work area, and during the week it is busy fixing furniture or building things. On the weekend I can sometimes commandeer it myself. And today that is exactly what I did !<br />
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Lovely warm weather, about 31 C, or about 88 F. I decided to finish, or add to two previous works, so they can go to their new places or homes (this actually has yet to be determined). But too many partly done or not how I am happy with them things is getting in the way of pursuing fresh projects and paintings. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCfAqUcH921MxQxg9edfdChxEg1QqCTzRZVt5j0BVm__W4fTEtzwKPz4gFKAWS4G9nAEeMCNUgPc6TH4JupQI49HEbtSRxLdjk0TXJkeifw14XM8vbKZDoXw-m6CHXTIy2oTmc2kqwXpj/s1600/magnificentsunflower2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCfAqUcH921MxQxg9edfdChxEg1QqCTzRZVt5j0BVm__W4fTEtzwKPz4gFKAWS4G9nAEeMCNUgPc6TH4JupQI49HEbtSRxLdjk0TXJkeifw14XM8vbKZDoXw-m6CHXTIy2oTmc2kqwXpj/s200/magnificentsunflower2010.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent Sunflower 2010 (before)</td></tr>
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First I decided to fix the background of Magnificent Sunflower, a painting I did in Jan 2010. It was painted from life and its subject was an un-opened sunflower. I love this painting and I liked its background, but it was a bit uneven, lacking in balance (even I admit that). One side had a dripped paint treatment in the background and the other side did not. I liked the dripped paint background, it was fun to do. But maybe it is not best suited to this composition, as most people who see it like the not-side (without the dripped paint). I decided to unify the background, so the painting can be more balanced. I worked in oils, as this painting was given an oil glaze several years ago. Oils were very easy to work and I finished this in half hour, maybe a bit less. I gave it a softer look, framed by fresh greens and yellows, plus white. Not quite impressionistic, but with a romantic soft frame of colour. It did not need much and I am happy with its new look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYy7hhe1Io9QOC1IBrmtu_Y2PKzB7ckEUERGFzqRSidjfGoxnRo2r_g6Yuc5jVCItzUZu0rUPHb0nChIYbQcoQ9fdQhkvov5kKZSNmInxfohBihHBUi4rw_Rk5-lk5EG0C-LrSU_fGR7Z/s1600/IMG_1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYy7hhe1Io9QOC1IBrmtu_Y2PKzB7ckEUERGFzqRSidjfGoxnRo2r_g6Yuc5jVCItzUZu0rUPHb0nChIYbQcoQ9fdQhkvov5kKZSNmInxfohBihHBUi4rw_Rk5-lk5EG0C-LrSU_fGR7Z/s200/IMG_1524.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of new background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoWTIVvpZg7x2sXhbvYhOLy7aurk65PwaOy7QQcchWdELyweK11H0DpyP-hq0aybBKOP2OonljaX-KV8lB0lZRaHLL6e7P9WX08O8-cbAygVZhHtQE_WXGTvLoYSUAmu3dRCKNqOVPnHf/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoWTIVvpZg7x2sXhbvYhOLy7aurk65PwaOy7QQcchWdELyweK11H0DpyP-hq0aybBKOP2OonljaX-KV8lB0lZRaHLL6e7P9WX08O8-cbAygVZhHtQE_WXGTvLoYSUAmu3dRCKNqOVPnHf/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent Sunflower, with new background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGqhxjlgBW2-yFU4oWpTQi0SHsJ-b8RUd1q-2IGpYs1wjQ6V7fJE_npgR5DnxiBv3SV5z3cdAHt6eYrof5-z0QpsIDEYphiASiniOPIjsS4PBGxbwUuDmCyaQ4RP5xWx7kgZFEWI3CUXI/s1600/yellowroses2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGqhxjlgBW2-yFU4oWpTQi0SHsJ-b8RUd1q-2IGpYs1wjQ6V7fJE_npgR5DnxiBv3SV5z3cdAHt6eYrof5-z0QpsIDEYphiASiniOPIjsS4PBGxbwUuDmCyaQ4RP5xWx7kgZFEWI3CUXI/s200/yellowroses2010.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Celebration, 2010 (before)</td></tr>
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Then, with a bit more paint on my palette and a whole bunch of things that need to be transformed, completed, or painted over to start anew, I picked a painting of Yellow Roses that I call Golden Celebration. They are yellow roses of the David Austin type 'Golden Celebration' . I did a photo shoot of them in Dec 2009 and painted this originally in May or so of 2010. I also have a version of it--also almost finished-- in my US West Coast "studio" (my parents home in Nevada). I will be there in November and will be finishing that one too. Three-year paintings !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_0EV6cGtvrhCKndPXRfte6gHO_s6No0PMfGGecLQ7oXgS1uml7FnTYutYvqlQYqPgF_VeRyTjfK2pOW9yUsqTOHZVRiy063afX298SpPtej9S2jO8Rs_KHLcqI1R4rzeoSzVPV0J29q-/s1600/IMG_1527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_0EV6cGtvrhCKndPXRfte6gHO_s6No0PMfGGecLQ7oXgS1uml7FnTYutYvqlQYqPgF_VeRyTjfK2pOW9yUsqTOHZVRiy063afX298SpPtej9S2jO8Rs_KHLcqI1R4rzeoSzVPV0J29q-/s200/IMG_1527.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Celebration, during</td></tr>
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So what did the Australian version of Golden Celebration need ? Well, actually a fair bit of fine tuning. Edges in the composition could be better and neater, with better colour. Colours needed a bit more tonal definition. I wanted the painting to have more light playing in it too, so it would not look 'flat.' As with Magnificent Sunflower, I decided to work in oils. Golden Celebration also had been painted in Acrylics and then given an oil glaze. I had struggled with the edges of the petals, and getting them right. Painting vivid yellows is harder than it looks, shadows and edges are particularly tricky. Bright pigments like Cadmium Yellow are a bit "bossy" and easily domineer everything around them. Which isn't very interesting. How to keep the yellows clear and looking right and get edges, shadows, and such from looking murky or muddy ?! That was the challenge at hand.<br />
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I worked slowly with size 6 and a size 4 flat brushes. My oil brushes were so happy to get some action ! I used pure gum turps with my oils and a very light hand as I wanted to refine the painting, not do it over. Three times I declared I was done. OK, the third time it was really so ! The previous two times I considered and photographed the painting and found it not quite as I wished it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkOy9I51NqpHH-9K9N7Tq3qtQ_rrIZgoP-RwbN5TbBn6auJ_fA_YUPC4T8Mjsu9zwClGK61VTs3PFfxuer6dzuAY2mnfOFXTrCBj1R2sc5q2q1uYyeYL2zYRTji8yZpWNV7UcQ4HkIQPD/s1600/IMG_1548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkOy9I51NqpHH-9K9N7Tq3qtQ_rrIZgoP-RwbN5TbBn6auJ_fA_YUPC4T8Mjsu9zwClGK61VTs3PFfxuer6dzuAY2mnfOFXTrCBj1R2sc5q2q1uYyeYL2zYRTji8yZpWNV7UcQ4HkIQPD/s320/IMG_1548.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Celebration, 2013 (after)</td></tr>
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For the flowers, I used Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Australian Red-Gold (by Art Spectrum), and only a small bit of Raw Umber. For the foliage and dark shadows among them I used Sap Green, Australian Gold Green (Art Spectrum), a bit of Titanium White and Lemon Yellow, Raw Umber, and for a bit of high lights, Art Spectrum's Tasman Blue.<br />
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Time flew on by and seemed to be very short. However, I spent 2.5 hours on this, with only one break to put out a load of clean clothes on the line. I worked without music, listening to bird sounds and the Sunday afternoon sunshine instead. There were native parrot chirps, chooks (chickens) up next door clucking loudly about the eggs they were laying, and the junior magpie (young bird) was squawking really noisily. I asked Ian if this is what it sounds like here during the weekdays when I am in the shop and he said it was !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9ORJw-qIi21MQ3httkrtViobJYPFM2yL66tdHSV5hUPLbURqcOayEn-BjgTPuA4jXzQXW1U4xTMXvqE9z7cRCPZ_QZcD4slAbxEqqxa2crkpixTXKBMHuIb_ufNwZli4rWJVGGbXLmfE/s1600/IMG_1546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9ORJw-qIi21MQ3httkrtViobJYPFM2yL66tdHSV5hUPLbURqcOayEn-BjgTPuA4jXzQXW1U4xTMXvqE9z7cRCPZ_QZcD4slAbxEqqxa2crkpixTXKBMHuIb_ufNwZli4rWJVGGbXLmfE/s200/IMG_1546.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Celebration, completed 2013<br />
(shown leaned against one of the new studio doors !)</td></tr>
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I like how this turned out. It needs some dry time now. But it is worthy of being displayed now....I will be tackling more unfinished paintings soon, then will be starting some new works. I may integrated multimedia techniques, as in the shop I have been experimenting with transfers. I also acquired an old fashioned overhead projector (ex govt) and have gotten transparency sheets for use with ink jet printers. I will use either or both for lettering or finely detailed images that I am not confident about doing freehand.<br />
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More soon :)<br />
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Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-5252251622093374222013-07-27T08:53:00.000+10:002013-07-27T13:39:38.130+10:00Obsessed with Colours<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmKls-2lCpn5T3GWN9WV_3_j75ov-Uy8ZH1zXQxHDDSuHY-KmtvEV0zUH9_JWCEjsg9qqLstHjeyGzufaJ0574l4ynln7PzVVEOjq1sFTyMNans2HPX1d2JRJuStT6qu12SZpoE-4e03c/s1600/colourwall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmKls-2lCpn5T3GWN9WV_3_j75ov-Uy8ZH1zXQxHDDSuHY-KmtvEV0zUH9_JWCEjsg9qqLstHjeyGzufaJ0574l4ynln7PzVVEOjq1sFTyMNans2HPX1d2JRJuStT6qu12SZpoE-4e03c/s320/colourwall.JPG" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brocante in the Barossa's Colour Wall Display</td></tr>
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Blog posts here have become few and far between, but only because we are still so busy with Brocante in the Barossa at the moment. As might be expected of a new venture. For more info, check us out at <a href="http://www.brocante-in-the-barossa.com/" target="_blank">www.brocante-in-the-barossa.com</a> and there are links at top right of the home page to also link to our Facebook and Pinterest pages.<br />
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As the business itself and its infrastructure are getting set up, I am turning my thoughts to creative directions. So a few little forays into some musings here. </div>
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I am particularly loving being surrounded by colour, and exploring colours of the Chalk Paint (decorative paint) by Annie Sloan that we sell. It is pretty amazing as a product and I love that customers buying it are happy using it and come back so happy with what they can and have done with it too. That is tremendously uplifting. One of the really fun things I get to do is advise on colours. And mix colours. And help customers choose colours that will suit the project they have in mind, or a room they want to use it, or that they just love. I guess I feel happily obsessed with colours !</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruhJK8NIE24Xt541Muywx8TU_R5PReCVJCIjSwZuZniqh2gpgoOGNl-bt2dL7QlIrislBiq0AtOimXxWgcmOLZBQcGFXjasqXfBGA1pNilShetjPw872FTWmJnYgusGTz9r7lkTwKolJf/s1600/redsgreens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruhJK8NIE24Xt541Muywx8TU_R5PReCVJCIjSwZuZniqh2gpgoOGNl-bt2dL7QlIrislBiq0AtOimXxWgcmOLZBQcGFXjasqXfBGA1pNilShetjPw872FTWmJnYgusGTz9r7lkTwKolJf/s200/redsgreens.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">small timber spoons, painted<br />
in Chalk Paint <span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> decorative<br />
paint by Annie Sloan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdByAjFsJodO9SQ8NDQTEDMY4IRs0z7GENKVLtZC1gNxlhSBAnOB0_H4uG4VERXJHyyXP988iL16zDPMbVOb2ueyApGOWpL-l4JJDkK_v5TNEiJO5Br4dvMu7Vyfw7iRDb-HYHUQjhRSR/s1600/greenbluespoons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdByAjFsJodO9SQ8NDQTEDMY4IRs0z7GENKVLtZC1gNxlhSBAnOB0_H4uG4VERXJHyyXP988iL16zDPMbVOb2ueyApGOWpL-l4JJDkK_v5TNEiJO5Br4dvMu7Vyfw7iRDb-HYHUQjhRSR/s200/greenbluespoons.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">timber spoons in blues & greens, L to R<br />
Antibes Green, Florence, Provence,<br />
Duck Egg, Aubusson Blue, Greek Blue, <br />
and Louis Blue</td></tr>
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So before a short business travel, leaving the shop in good hands for the week, I created some cute vignettes of colours from the Chalk Paint range. I have been using little timber spoons I bought a couple months ago and I painted each in one of the 30 colours of the range. A note about painting spoons: Until I did the first one (and while standing there holding it covered in wet paint), I did not realise how I might be letting the paint on them dry ! Hmmmm....what to do. Well, Ian to the rescue--he drilled a small hole in each handle and I slide that over an S-hook to let the paint dry. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yTa121OxQk17BqauLvfx8PehVYpXhrxuE3LzAa_VWxt85XeVzMJGRN94ZLSy4ji5eijWOTT-MjOPQTAiKMyConjhbft7fsUx_0FVxg2G8esBvq4fDUwSTefCV8Aq5JiU-OjTGBgVT6zN/s1600/napoleonicyellow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yTa121OxQk17BqauLvfx8PehVYpXhrxuE3LzAa_VWxt85XeVzMJGRN94ZLSy4ji5eijWOTT-MjOPQTAiKMyConjhbft7fsUx_0FVxg2G8esBvq4fDUwSTefCV8Aq5JiU-OjTGBgVT6zN/s320/napoleonicyellow.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.Colours on spoons, L to R: Arles, Napoleonic Blue, Greek<br />
Blue, Louis Blue, and Old White Chalk Paint.</td></tr>
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Now I scatter the spoons in little displays all over the boutique. We have a colour wall display, with boards painted in the colours too, and then waxed so customers can see the clear and dark wax finishes over each of the 30 colours. But the spoons are much cuter, sitting around in and as part of little displays. Often in arrangements of colours to complement something they are perched on, or visually close to.<br />
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Just on the upper right, a palette that speaks of clear sunny days and blue skies, all bright cheer. Inspired by and against a backdrop of a dark blue dresser we painted in Napoleonic Blue and finished with clear and dark waxes. On it is an arrangement of yellow, blue, and white ceramics and vintage ginger jars.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYy3kcayy25cMhWyCs-jM0qyaTlsVRdYi6wJdbwAUD4nPlhpQc9AHfUp5rJcMn1I5rA0hfJP2REcCX_A8i0fGg0I7JdbHh3kttme4NbpXXYUjCUaT5l19Mitx8g8dVfnBEmmAxiCwkFIS/s1600/lavenderpinkgreen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYy3kcayy25cMhWyCs-jM0qyaTlsVRdYi6wJdbwAUD4nPlhpQc9AHfUp5rJcMn1I5rA0hfJP2REcCX_A8i0fGg0I7JdbHh3kttme4NbpXXYUjCUaT5l19Mitx8g8dVfnBEmmAxiCwkFIS/s200/lavenderpinkgreen.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoons show colours, top to<br />
bottom: Versailles, Chateau Grey,<br />
Emperor's Silk, Scandanavian Pink,<br />
Antoinette, Paloma, and Emile.</td></tr>
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On the left, a very different looking palette. Delicate pretty colours informed by a backdrop of vintage fabric from France in a pretty floral and figures print. The colours speak of roses, reds, lilacs, and with some delicate greens in the mix too. I could see these colours on antique china cups, or all but the greens perhaps on pink lustreware pieces. For a bit of whimsy, small miniature french playing cards have been thrown into the mix and and also vintage numbered tapes (maybe used originally for size tags ?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCw3P2cFjyjv6U2yPEZVrN8hccgaFYjGEU0N4hT4DYZSdDuPTtzlXM2U3zG7Juuj3WpnYMRYZG2qhpAv8qNlzzvdCUbOay32Gup6l5NIM8aL3g61zXOV_dbnQXGgu3dd9nvkCPWSTIH1o/s1600/aquabarcelona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCw3P2cFjyjv6U2yPEZVrN8hccgaFYjGEU0N4hT4DYZSdDuPTtzlXM2U3zG7Juuj3WpnYMRYZG2qhpAv8qNlzzvdCUbOay32Gup6l5NIM8aL3g61zXOV_dbnQXGgu3dd9nvkCPWSTIH1o/s200/aquabarcelona.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colours top to bottom: Old<br />
White, Florence, Provence,<br />
Duck Egg, Barcelona Orange<br />
and Coco</td></tr>
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The last vignette for today shows some fresh zing in it with an energetic combination of colours that takes advantage of complementary colours principles. Aqua Blues, with Tangerine. Soft whites and cocoa to anchor and make them not overly fruity. I love this combination and thought the small cherub decals echoed it quite well. These colours will be used for some furniture painting being done while I am away. Can't wait to see how that turned out !<br />
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Soon I will need to find something else to paint up to add to the in shops samples. I have to find 30 of whatever it is going to be....and reasonable size. If not spoons, then what ?!</div>
Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-11478795772797652032013-05-16T17:30:00.002+10:002013-05-16T17:35:33.147+10:00More Colour Fun<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGYEHcdI6xfPNtFpQAqyby_Bivi9E8Q-7-AfbqBBMCxBKnNjm3IfFM1d_x4Y8Fm48YeAbz4KAZywOUqPbqL0QBC84okdAklcb3gWAXiRtvlhHNCAotuhSoGO9YTE7vYtvHgFYOEqkqfAp/s1600/window10may.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGYEHcdI6xfPNtFpQAqyby_Bivi9E8Q-7-AfbqBBMCxBKnNjm3IfFM1d_x4Y8Fm48YeAbz4KAZywOUqPbqL0QBC84okdAklcb3gWAXiRtvlhHNCAotuhSoGO9YTE7vYtvHgFYOEqkqfAp/s320/window10may.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our latest window display !</td></tr>
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I have been remiss in my posts, big apologies for that. Art is to come around soon enough, but all energy has gone into getting our business venture off the ground and into flight. Check out our website <a href="http://www.brocante-in-the-barossa.com/" target="_blank">www.brocante-in-the-barossa.com</a> to see more about what we are working on. There is a new blog there for the business (Blog link in menu). Also Workshop & Events info on menu bar. The home page is now getting updated regularly. Construction being completed in coming weeks--and most of that currently is on the Products pages, as we prepare for launching the online shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYGzauuxy8za8Qu-Cr6zWsd9EGUC8sekj8DiwYH4KYTybCD3dBnO-GsTYSM6Mij0GNkMQA_bz0-U5sYdeOkZrc2YOmQaS1OCc5ZUqfd6Hq3vzO-wC1IWqLtLRSagSCxPPKsg0JUyGTvpm/s1600/lotsabison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYGzauuxy8za8Qu-Cr6zWsd9EGUC8sekj8DiwYH4KYTybCD3dBnO-GsTYSM6Mij0GNkMQA_bz0-U5sYdeOkZrc2YOmQaS1OCc5ZUqfd6Hq3vzO-wC1IWqLtLRSagSCxPPKsg0JUyGTvpm/s200/lotsabison.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bison ceramics, <br />
made and designed in Australia</td></tr>
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So what have I been up to ? Well, busy painting with Chalk Paint decorative paint by Annie Sloan. And helping people learn to use the paint, the soft wax. We also began carrying Royal Design Studio stencils <a href="http://www.royaldesignstudio.com/" target="_blank">www.royaldesignstudio.com</a> and recently added Bison home ceramics to what we have in the shop <a href="http://www.bisonhome.com/" target="_blank">www.bisonhome.com</a>. Bison glaze colours are gorgeous (and many match the Chalk Paint colours).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYmCRfGbhOAL6bQ6_bFtPBOR8ugntOHemSVFyEcaWxW1lpJHgnYH8709VPay20yySpgHtgUCFHU58YfwBvsqrk4t9Rn-7HeMy-2AksZhrRICFmqivgrwmoLEaD8OfCWEItps6-VYRb9lr/s1600/Stencilled+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYmCRfGbhOAL6bQ6_bFtPBOR8ugntOHemSVFyEcaWxW1lpJHgnYH8709VPay20yySpgHtgUCFHU58YfwBvsqrk4t9Rn-7HeMy-2AksZhrRICFmqivgrwmoLEaD8OfCWEItps6-VYRb9lr/s200/Stencilled+wall.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antoinette Damask stencil pattern,<br />
by Royal Design Studio. <br />
in Coco Chalk Paint.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPXSd9sNEDHQfoQGgBRj-CnC72k0ai4NpKCepLmtL4ppSu8fNO65lsIzk75lrWvWUd9bCIh4QixHnWEcfTGkSmeUK79BJ00LugX_ehTdRymwWY26lPrCOmMBZPXXNJpLmXtWSqGvHbThP/s1600/ascp+chart_mar13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPXSd9sNEDHQfoQGgBRj-CnC72k0ai4NpKCepLmtL4ppSu8fNO65lsIzk75lrWvWUd9bCIh4QixHnWEcfTGkSmeUK79BJ00LugX_ehTdRymwWY26lPrCOmMBZPXXNJpLmXtWSqGvHbThP/s200/ascp+chart_mar13.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colour chart</td></tr>
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I have worked on a lot of colour mixing. First, hand painted colour charts. Actually, Ian is the designer of the process by which we build them...which is time-consuming. The swatches are hand painted onto labels and then he lifts them on and places each onto the printed colour chart card using a precision cut template (that he made), so they are aligned perfectly straight and exactly in place above the colour names. And of course, the charts are beautiful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuHbAg9voPOtto-cGz2BWD-nYR9CWrjs4rAjKC0TB3NYGo1mjfTPE5uOz-Ql1ii0SIGBPUk3lLV-jomDfN3iB9e9Ues2olC44-8rQevTd2oW1j8TWFsWBgsqR6WrPbCJOmkUsDJ5fqsn7/s1600/graphitecoco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuHbAg9voPOtto-cGz2BWD-nYR9CWrjs4rAjKC0TB3NYGo1mjfTPE5uOz-Ql1ii0SIGBPUk3lLV-jomDfN3iB9e9Ues2olC44-8rQevTd2oW1j8TWFsWBgsqR6WrPbCJOmkUsDJ5fqsn7/s200/graphitecoco.jpg" width="161" /></a>I work on colour mixes and colour recipes for them. Sometimes on swatches, and sometimes for customers. Other times just what I feel like painting up. Or experimenting. I make up colour recipes and mixing onto 300 gsm watercolour papers, which I cut into strips with a small paper cutter. I have made some nice ones. If the colour is nice and as a mixed colour hasn't already been dubbed by someone else, I may give it my own name. Like Driftwood Grey, made up of French Linen and Paris Grey. Now I need to name this mix of Coco and Graphite (just above).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CLAY6GnvsJs8iCE4uoIqceh39UZZw6ao2_X0FpkXcxy1cxtExrdXSojQtQ8uPKLrcK7iTib92Wl7rsjw9hmWQB8kR7pukWEL-hiv14uqVcJI7Dvlkn4bNK92kdW59JD-kfTu0LLShsUp/s1600/heathermauveclock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CLAY6GnvsJs8iCE4uoIqceh39UZZw6ao2_X0FpkXcxy1cxtExrdXSojQtQ8uPKLrcK7iTib92Wl7rsjw9hmWQB8kR7pukWEL-hiv14uqVcJI7Dvlkn4bNK92kdW59JD-kfTu0LLShsUp/s320/heathermauveclock.JPG" width="266" /></a>Other colour mixes I do on the surface I am painting. This is a lot of fun, and I can be creative and also let the piece evolve. The latest one I have done this way is a timber framed clock and I call its paintwork Heather Mists. Mauve tones inspired by some mauve coloured tarnish patina on the gold tone frame. Its paintwork is done layers of different purple and mauve colours, first Emile. Then Paloma. And into Paloma, I pushed in a bit of French Linen for soft subtlety. And for a bit of elegant pizzazz, I used Henrietta on it too, before the Paloma paint layer was dry. Henrietta sits the fence between mid tone purple and pink. I thought it was too bright and sweet, but I am liking it when it is mixed in with friends :) The clock frame got a clear wax, some distressing to expose the darker purple Emile layer and then a bit of dark wax to finish it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rAgZVvIH78Y_PR18zLCa2GrBCXtcxMo7gSJ-xvZn0A8uyxoiBNYbQgUlr22IQ-HC60GV_H_TqyzKCUocYJ9uVqPwReoqhbH9rK1kbaXXBtP4tqFE7y2f3a8NnW3_ui7KP-JPD3p5A6D-/s1600/colourmixpurplegrey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rAgZVvIH78Y_PR18zLCa2GrBCXtcxMo7gSJ-xvZn0A8uyxoiBNYbQgUlr22IQ-HC60GV_H_TqyzKCUocYJ9uVqPwReoqhbH9rK1kbaXXBtP4tqFE7y2f3a8NnW3_ui7KP-JPD3p5A6D-/s200/colourmixpurplegrey.JPG" width="200" /></a>More colour work to come. and will work better on blog posts too !!<br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-24695096667421576272013-03-31T22:48:00.000+11:002013-03-31T22:48:04.812+11:00Antique Easter Greeting<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lbS2ZCdjyBVNto2CKiwCn6zSbSc_xm_HZHr1l2Q_cP1ZfDXLE_8At14EA0reDi0bBdfyNYwvWYtd5o6rWAbXUf4Icc3MFayGiAgXgS8VEbbdhcjl6pwfy0nF95XCEA-0E6hdEBsU8q9P/s1600/easter+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lbS2ZCdjyBVNto2CKiwCn6zSbSc_xm_HZHr1l2Q_cP1ZfDXLE_8At14EA0reDi0bBdfyNYwvWYtd5o6rWAbXUf4Icc3MFayGiAgXgS8VEbbdhcjl6pwfy0nF95XCEA-0E6hdEBsU8q9P/s320/easter+card.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antique Easter card, postmark dated 1911 </td></tr>
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I have been collecting old post cards for a few years now, mostly choosing ones that have old postmarks and cute visuals or messages. This is one of my favourites and it is more than vintage, it's a bonafide antique, being over 100 years old ! A sweet Easter card, with pretty spring landscape, an Easter Lily and such a cute Easter chick. I love the typography on this card too, a beautiful lettering for the message.<br />
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Wishing all a happy peaceful Easter. Nearly over here in Australia, just starting in USA. Europe half way through !<br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-17713358190121905512013-03-24T18:12:00.000+11:002013-03-24T18:23:30.720+11:00The Perfect PinkDear All, I meant it when I said I would do more posting...and could not resist adding this little post about colour mixing. You can see why I find selling decorative paint to be creative--I love colour mixing and I love working with colour (and pattern, texture, etc).<br />
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Good friend and artist Jacqueline Coates (try <a href="http://www.jacquelinecoates.com/" target="_blank">www.jacquelinecoates.com</a> for more info on Jacqueline's work) is seeking the perfect vivid and deep pink colour for her Salon Rouge Gallery decor (see <a href="http://www.salonrougegallery.com/" target="_blank">www.salonrougegallery.com</a> for more detail). If we can get it right, she may paint some of the gallery in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint decorative paint, and source the paint from our boutique, Brocante in the Barossa. She called in yesterday to pick up flowers at neighbouring Viva The Flower Store boutique (see <a href="http://www.vivaflowerstore.com/" target="_blank">www.vivaflowerstore.com</a> for info) and looked at some of the colour charts I had. None was EXACTLY right, yet. But I agreed to work on mixing some colours today and paint up some swatches for her consideration this week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhgR2Dj-xBBi7AeAlT2NOYn45neIU_m09Z3mt3Bx-HzbPm1TRrZo2zZOcjHehSilx53oVGCqV2m3C2spzhiCZeiSSw9gyHY52Gcg9ltI759pWbinldnKUpakaO8V0KKLGr49WmUbqMFxa/s1600/colourmix_SRPink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhgR2Dj-xBBi7AeAlT2NOYn45neIU_m09Z3mt3Bx-HzbPm1TRrZo2zZOcjHehSilx53oVGCqV2m3C2spzhiCZeiSSw9gyHY52Gcg9ltI759pWbinldnKUpakaO8V0KKLGr49WmUbqMFxa/s400/colourmix_SRPink.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Colour Mixing dabs, marks, and notes. Entered<br />
into my copy of the Annie Sloan Work Book<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here is what I came up with. Colours I mixed are Emperor's Silk, a brilliant bright red. Greek Blue, a clear blue, a bit on the cooler side (I am sure it has<br />
some magenta in it, just a teeny bit). And Pure White, for a clear bright neutral white that has no yellow, blue, pink or grey in it.<br />
<br />
I needed to knock back the Emperor's Silk a bit, to bring things closer to the magenta side of the equation, instead of scarlet. So I added a bit of Greek Blue. It changed the character of Emperor's Silk only slightly, but that is because Emperor's Silk is very strong, and is not a shy character at all ! A bit of Pure White made things look more pink, but the colour was not deep and vivid as I thought Jacqueline is seeking. So more Emperor's Silk and more Greek Blue. Much better. Adding more Greek Blue pulled things towards (blue) violet. More Emperor's Silk pulled it back to magenta. And adding more Pure White tinted it carnation pink.<br />
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I think it is possible the two dabs at the bottom are what she is after. I think the one on the left is about right, but it could be the one to its right, or a mix of those together. We shall see !<br />
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This was the fun bit of the afternoon !Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-59888579726635471842013-03-24T00:48:00.000+11:002013-03-24T01:02:01.841+11:00A Grand Opening !<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpD-QEr6Fx1x5ECu2bCRi5IJKqqmRn0J8XKpKHBj66j8U12tboT-9vd397smF4YtT5axuKnFPqbqAk7pKQIPhoWkoJFBz4T8z-hzbanBQ9mqR1rplHR4BJHUe9PgLLl8RStESF_nOysMg/s1600/kim_prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpD-QEr6Fx1x5ECu2bCRi5IJKqqmRn0J8XKpKHBj66j8U12tboT-9vd397smF4YtT5axuKnFPqbqAk7pKQIPhoWkoJFBz4T8z-hzbanBQ9mqR1rplHR4BJHUe9PgLLl8RStESF_nOysMg/s320/kim_prep.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours Truly, working to prep an old chair <br />
before painting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Again I have been quiet on this channel and will be working to post a bit more often going forward. But with some new channels and business venture, I have been a bit busy. Here are a few things to bring you up to date, if you aren't already Liking our Brocante in the Barossa's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrocanteInTheBarossa" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> or <a href="https://pinterest.com/brocantebarossa/" target="_blank">Pinterest page</a>.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned before, we have a local business venture going and Ian and just launched our interior decor Brocante in the Barossa boutique yesterday, with a Grand Opening...Open for business then an Open Shop Celebration in the evening. We have been doing heaps of work leading up to this: business planning, logistics, supply chain, a shop fit out build, set up, and now we are open. We still have more inventory to acquire or take delivery of, to fill the store up more...but we have the core start and are adding complementary products. So exciting times !<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENhCz4NYF2zxwhf_YgxcBfBtXBj8R-0WZo7yVPCL0Zjer5hUhr-g6AALEmeF-9zdKCwG9CccHOWn43IXwkZ8KSKGbu6ba9Xdew4BeuDqC0IiLNi1Qkcuu6Gi2gJH3vIypKqedw5LL2bje/s1600/workbook3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENhCz4NYF2zxwhf_YgxcBfBtXBj8R-0WZo7yVPCL0Zjer5hUhr-g6AALEmeF-9zdKCwG9CccHOWn43IXwkZ8KSKGbu6ba9Xdew4BeuDqC0IiLNi1Qkcuu6Gi2gJH3vIypKqedw5LL2bje/s200/workbook3.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complementary colours and mixing using <br />
the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint range,<br />
painted into our shop copy of the <br />
Annie Sloan Work Book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the key and exciting products we are bringing to the local and regional market is the Annie Sloan product range, including the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint decorative paint. You can read about the product on <a href="http://anniesloan.com/" target="_blank">anniesloan.com</a> We are delighted to be an Annie Sloan stockist and Ian and I attended retailer training in Melbourne in February. Since then we have done planning about what our initial order would be of the product and also a lot of work preparing some product displays and marketing, including local ads. <br />
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The product is very expressive artistically, and I look forward to working more with it. I have done a couple workshops when in USA last year and also the retailer training was very informative. I am so impressed with the product and how easily it can be used to achieve beautiful effect for furniture, walls, floors, and other items around the home. I certainly do not see old items in my home the same way anymore--they are all getting sized up for a paint job !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wD-7A8N27Qv4WDYYa4OxrdAyaYoOwvBGh8d_f8JHrIl_tTGUmD2IIEwkhETzLd9kVfnPCnLuaA2gmsev9GFWlV2SyZZnbfvnthEnlwr5aLTdfYZ-VaUuYM7Vb1p3z6yhWmIt2Ad8dlF0/s1600/gold+leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wD-7A8N27Qv4WDYYa4OxrdAyaYoOwvBGh8d_f8JHrIl_tTGUmD2IIEwkhETzLd9kVfnPCnLuaA2gmsev9GFWlV2SyZZnbfvnthEnlwr5aLTdfYZ-VaUuYM7Vb1p3z6yhWmIt2Ad8dlF0/s200/gold+leaf.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie Sloan Chalk Paint can be<br />
used for gilding. Use acrylic<br />
gold size (fast drying) over the<br />
painted surface, lay on the gold <br />
(or other metal) leaf onto the size. <br />
Seal with the soft wax.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have been bringing sample jars and a few tins of this paint back in my checked bags when traveling from USA to here. It's water based paint and can travel, though TSA sure does test it to be sure its really paint (yes, they have opened the tins and the small sample jars too, a few of which have then leaked in my bag !). I have not been able to get the Annie Sloan Soft Wax product here, as it cannot travel in commercial airlines, even in the hold. I have been using various other products I have found, but none as easy to use or as effective as the Annie Sloan Soft Wax. So I am delighted we got delivery of our first inventory yesterday, and I have a few tins earmarked for shop stock, so I can do some items we have painted up to sell in the boutique.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9A7YlXCcWVpJCmz_-DKIT_1Jvm_HJb6ni9RV41UBmb13MkYHpOOQbrg5xe7_CmZQej50etmOrSgBPHKUDVzHUJVwi_ZpMoxXSA1_Je_CUrA8Con1bAOMbLuH7UJ5-2qDjxSP9gz5rqgF/s1600/painted+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9A7YlXCcWVpJCmz_-DKIT_1Jvm_HJb6ni9RV41UBmb13MkYHpOOQbrg5xe7_CmZQej50etmOrSgBPHKUDVzHUJVwi_ZpMoxXSA1_Je_CUrA8Con1bAOMbLuH7UJ5-2qDjxSP9gz5rqgF/s320/painted+chair.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transformation of chair I was prepping<br />
in top photo above. Painted and waxed in<br />
<i>Deep Ocean Waters</i> finish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The chair to right is an example of how artistic this product can be. This was done in a pale olive colour called Versailles as an undercoat. A rich warm blue base coat, called Aubusson Blue. It is nearly teal. The chair may look teal, but that is because I lightly distressed the Aubusson Blue to expose a bit of Versailles. And I applied a dry brush wash of a vivid deep coppery green called Florence over the distressed parts. The chair got sealed with a clear wax finish and then just a little bit of antiquing wax has been used to bring out the carved detail in the back and turned spindles and legs. The result is a finish I call <i>Deep Ocean Waters</i>. It looks like the water I have seen when boating in New Zealand, when the sun is shining over the deep sea water and looks deep teal and aqua colours. This chair is in our boutique window display (and it is for sale). <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9meBem3As1Notgw7DT-dQ-FK7x44qF0CA6VHZIV0F9zwV_eJpHu4xlN7ENwlXsE4DQtczqhverLuX2sjO_euvb7jiUCRp6c569BtsBJnfEFfyHmPzGo1y_Y78F7TbP5XnXhbMedxbtf1/s1600/coppery+green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9meBem3As1Notgw7DT-dQ-FK7x44qF0CA6VHZIV0F9zwV_eJpHu4xlN7ENwlXsE4DQtczqhverLuX2sjO_euvb7jiUCRp6c569BtsBJnfEFfyHmPzGo1y_Y78F7TbP5XnXhbMedxbtf1/s200/coppery+green.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted finish on metal clock<br />
frame, showing beautiful<br />
vivid coppery greens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Those of you who recall my verdigris lions and other green moods in my paintings might not be surprised by this next project. The clock here is a little IKEA hack, I took a metal enamelled IKEA wall clock and put Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on it. Yes, it sticks to metal !! This is one reason I did the project, to show customers that the paint sticks to nearly all surfaces, including metal. For paintwork, I used layers and blends of Florence, Antibes Green, and Old Ochre. Applied a clear wax layer to seal the paint. Then I distressed the painted finish with a very light hand. And lightly applied a dark antiquing wax to deepen the coppery green colour. The clock is now on the boutique wall, by our counter.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkiNraN_2Z4Izrr9AGHVztX8DYncakd_uW79U8ags_9uBTCVFOaeYY_EF1q9aZlaL51rUSVG0Mhl7HKwv19LzBJagSNRPpJ1ts4akxUqmU6TjNPZukuWC48pMmFv7HxrKeOf899RTMCVI/s1600/Stencilled+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkiNraN_2Z4Izrr9AGHVztX8DYncakd_uW79U8ags_9uBTCVFOaeYY_EF1q9aZlaL51rUSVG0Mhl7HKwv19LzBJagSNRPpJ1ts4akxUqmU6TjNPZukuWC48pMmFv7HxrKeOf899RTMCVI/s320/Stencilled+wall.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Novice job comes good. Stencilled feature wall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For a feature wall in the boutique we stencilled an allover damask pattern onto the wall. Using Royal Design Studio's Antionette Damask stencil and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Coco colour, which looks like hot chocolate with a bit of milk in it. I had no prior experience and was pretty happy with the result, which looks like old fashioned block printed wall paper ! Most people who see this wall think it is wall paper, and are amazed it only took half a day to do this ! I am so impressed with the Royal Design Studio product, that we will be retailing their products in our business. We are now putting together our first order, so hard to choose from their many gorgeous patterns ! To see more about the company and its products, see <a href="http://www.royaldesignstudio.com/" target="_blank">www.royaldesignstudio.com</a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcVsBQUGVVEvnyhlvgpvMnr6puFzzWOe97S3zKKMEPaAgm-N26Gdz9DXHzAfoyJRW_eHvMzRHUyXbIjLYKqOEeg6XtmuVxmuOVGhx1Bh-Ebm5Sj1NwUoitutIL_aCbnUSFCbpTxzYTblD/s1600/wallsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcVsBQUGVVEvnyhlvgpvMnr6puFzzWOe97S3zKKMEPaAgm-N26Gdz9DXHzAfoyJRW_eHvMzRHUyXbIjLYKqOEeg6XtmuVxmuOVGhx1Bh-Ebm5Sj1NwUoitutIL_aCbnUSFCbpTxzYTblD/s200/wallsign.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laser cut letters by JAG Signs.<br />
Letters are painted and<br />
installed on the feature wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Our sign writer has been busy this week. Laser cut letters for inside feature wall signage, and we painted them in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colour Graphite.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3soMlTLbZ-CRXPL7klAarV2Huvz5ouKvuFYQbnK3JMCXI-Gd0tsDhb4un5_wEufKGaAzDTTnXfkORWCmYndLKfLhTiKRmS5BRBueZhcY8HhP2vTAhXt1WbTeWOnCScaQEOEoZZDdqBmGn/s1600/shop+window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3soMlTLbZ-CRXPL7klAarV2Huvz5ouKvuFYQbnK3JMCXI-Gd0tsDhb4un5_wEufKGaAzDTTnXfkORWCmYndLKfLhTiKRmS5BRBueZhcY8HhP2vTAhXt1WbTeWOnCScaQEOEoZZDdqBmGn/s320/shop+window.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window signage !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Outside, we now have signs on the faschia marquis area. <br />
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And <i>a best I could do in that light</i> shot. Showing the signs done for our windows, including the Annie Sloan stockist logo badges.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9LANX9_r2kO-h8VSA67uJ-LNn5TStej0PbtDTm4_5HefZT0uGdggMDW71nlVDYrwQ2rjTJ-HGiiDe9f86sz0iwigARL_f8Wz-M8I74lnbc8fhkA0uB7SUxQ1XrVBSHLRrUskguLxKtwA/s1600/shop1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9LANX9_r2kO-h8VSA67uJ-LNn5TStej0PbtDTm4_5HefZT0uGdggMDW71nlVDYrwQ2rjTJ-HGiiDe9f86sz0iwigARL_f8Wz-M8I74lnbc8fhkA0uB7SUxQ1XrVBSHLRrUskguLxKtwA/s320/shop1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exterior signage, shown from Murray Street, Angaston</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More soon about how its all set up inside. We have started selling the paint. And we have begun taking bookings for the April sessions of the Introductory Workshop series covering basics of using the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint decorative paint product.<br />
<br />
<br />
More in a post soon about the artistic directions planned for this business ! And as soon as the new website is ready, I will post a link to that too (its under construction currently, another week and it will launch)Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-32039447954288729902013-02-24T21:45:00.000+11:002013-02-24T21:45:56.830+11:00A Hot Summer Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLaJrSEqhjLm0qrxYy2lQJLfiX2Q3S4zzL-1L1aZgvbMk7hGAbwDkvycVcXZgUwx1C8pcclbuWA464FV9GVyJBmBUZXf99TcXqY1Hm2MrEJn8EGaaofE-jOqrJrh4_XKrAbvydRwUMuee/s1600/sunset+clock3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLaJrSEqhjLm0qrxYy2lQJLfiX2Q3S4zzL-1L1aZgvbMk7hGAbwDkvycVcXZgUwx1C8pcclbuWA464FV9GVyJBmBUZXf99TcXqY1Hm2MrEJn8EGaaofE-jOqrJrh4_XKrAbvydRwUMuee/s320/sunset+clock3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timber frame clock painted in <br />Annie Sloan Chalk Paints, in a custom<br />finish I call 'Sunset.'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been remiss and slow to post here on the blog. Mostly because I have been quite busy with a new venture that will be launching next month. Our new interiors boutique Brocante in the Barossa will open in March in Angaston, South Australia. I'll put another post about this here in coming weeks. But for now, if you want to see a bit of sneak preview, you can find contact details on our under-construction website, <a href="http://www.brocante-in-the-barossa.com/" target="_blank">www.brocante-in-the-barossa.com</a>. And you can also find us on Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BrocanteintheBarossa" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/BrocanteintheBarossa</a>. And on Pinterest at <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/brocantebarossa" target="_blank">www.pinterest.com/brocantebarossa</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhySCeWc5rrZWyOIbej1kmj6ND4tqUc2M8r3Eo96fSYO_-fGcIYQZlgrnuPxgiFc9Ti18f2FyFpch2C884p8eqgeQGv7GjCAYUg86wkvF36jCH3clbOQe_GwL331RIdGgCLXR7MPG4p1N/s1600/Brocante+Facebook+Avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhySCeWc5rrZWyOIbej1kmj6ND4tqUc2M8r3Eo96fSYO_-fGcIYQZlgrnuPxgiFc9Ti18f2FyFpch2C884p8eqgeQGv7GjCAYUg86wkvF36jCH3clbOQe_GwL331RIdGgCLXR7MPG4p1N/s200/Brocante+Facebook+Avatar.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xDFKcWycwin6dHVRMeln3adRqgCo3xecLNqk-eyDDJ-yfxmXHZTqGjl5C4LFHGBddBghJckBTHw-e_hPkIg1nUsLeH8Gr_H0Ikf-Fao7mP77iIkt70h76BE88OySRBbxl7tH7aI0w5Gp/s1600/workbook+and+tins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xDFKcWycwin6dHVRMeln3adRqgCo3xecLNqk-eyDDJ-yfxmXHZTqGjl5C4LFHGBddBghJckBTHw-e_hPkIg1nUsLeH8Gr_H0Ikf-Fao7mP77iIkt70h76BE88OySRBbxl7tH7aI0w5Gp/s200/workbook+and+tins.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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We are very pleased to be Annie Sloan stockists. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Soft Wax products are amazing, expressive, and a lot of fun too. Great to do up furniture and other items. We attended stockist training in Melbourne earlier this month and learned how to create gorgeous effects and finishes with the products. So versatile and in amazing colours too. I am beginning to work with the samples I have on hand, ahead of getting the entire range and the inventory we will be selling. Colour mixing and layering is a lot of fun and creates beautiful results too. Like the frame of the clock shown at top of the post, in a custom finish I call 'Sunset,' made of Primer Red and Barcelona, mixed and layered dark to light (so red to orange) for a glowing finish that was sealed with wax.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_tRTnjkEkPSQiEFfd7MOHe7q7mkYfjvWGUxiZRaPCIaz47GSCsKZ5lPTpGUCnT3lxTmJdfg47fhOwlucxOAcP-uRTVaoVtP4dvimDI0-K-PntfUvP5W3ZxtkgDa7toTsvTzijLEqATMx/s1600/colour+range.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_tRTnjkEkPSQiEFfd7MOHe7q7mkYfjvWGUxiZRaPCIaz47GSCsKZ5lPTpGUCnT3lxTmJdfg47fhOwlucxOAcP-uRTVaoVtP4dvimDI0-K-PntfUvP5W3ZxtkgDa7toTsvTzijLEqATMx/s320/colour+range.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 30 colours of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint dabbed into<br />our copy of the <i>Annie Sloan Work Book</i>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Tc-JHymZIlHJV2b835DOMqaJUS_WeWZ64OyzITk2Oe_RABhySX69C2qBqi8VhqogOgqEmGxkO4o0Mi1HaGyFsmammx28jzhEw8e5ujWPcwF_VQEF0CYv1EatDrqsKGtuKu2dYa9amzN/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Tc-JHymZIlHJV2b835DOMqaJUS_WeWZ64OyzITk2Oe_RABhySX69C2qBqi8VhqogOgqEmGxkO4o0Mi1HaGyFsmammx28jzhEw8e5ujWPcwF_VQEF0CYv1EatDrqsKGtuKu2dYa9amzN/s320/IMG_0697.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool: a snow cone on a hot day </td></tr>
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So we are busy at the moment. I must be working on the largest punchlist since we were doing first phase of renovations here ! It was a hot hot summer day today. 38C. One last day of the local country fair, the Angaston Show. It is held right across the street from our house. We went to go see the goings on. And in a moment of reminiscence, I got a snow cone. Have't had one in years. But seemed just the right thing for a bit of cool on such a hot summer day !Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-69497484067756982612013-01-27T18:21:00.001+11:002013-01-28T17:46:12.397+11:00Busy January<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfnQdpXyoZCWm2gD08zRbdO-Q7I6AS_lIXBYFLdrut20Wu5Zm4U8Ac-5GQ_SmtxyyeTwcRo5-NytRz26Oq5IIQOgmKP8jOMasIoahOabryoTQS4fyobJtsdgX54u1YwYFsS8jirZ0Aa_e/s1600/IMG_0417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfnQdpXyoZCWm2gD08zRbdO-Q7I6AS_lIXBYFLdrut20Wu5Zm4U8Ac-5GQ_SmtxyyeTwcRo5-NytRz26Oq5IIQOgmKP8jOMasIoahOabryoTQS4fyobJtsdgX54u1YwYFsS8jirZ0Aa_e/s320/IMG_0417.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lovely garden statue vignette<br />
inside Old Lucketts Store</td></tr>
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It's been a crazy fast start to the year already. I am currently on a work travel. But also busy advancing plans for a new ventures in our personal life. More on that in weeks to come !<br />
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So what to do to use time when highly jet lagged over a weekend. Two weekends ago I was in the UK, then last weekend unexpectedly in Washington DC area. Was supposed to be on my way towards home, but a few days delayed. So a weekend there too. In UK I visited Oxford again, and enjoyed that a lot. Various shopping and looking around. Annie Sloan Interiors where I got a (signed copy !) of her Workbook and also some more of her paint brushes. A call in to Cath Kidston, a fave place to get a few things. Stopped at Objects of Use, to buy black pig bristle paint brushes with stainless steel ferrules, made in Britain. There found also some amazing french made tailors measuring tapes and got pink and blue. And a navy blue leather British satchel bag. For dinner I stopped at Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant and enjoyed a wonderful meal and great wine and service too. Then Sunday, a visit to The Packhouse antique centre near Farnham in Surrey. Found there some vintage linens. And saw great statues and things outside, but too big to send home !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwx508n-hL7-adbVu_rzRqTXFrxWUGAVZx_83mjpfr8BUwb5erT6fj6ChyphenhyphenEO9s3j6fje0u3Ax2PjB17izFuSHMCnU9pcWs-UFaoZ8vIvRLys5MZRl9jVRqVTKf4f1TRYK2qPk-DGjUNIX/s1600/IMG_0404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwx508n-hL7-adbVu_rzRqTXFrxWUGAVZx_83mjpfr8BUwb5erT6fj6ChyphenhyphenEO9s3j6fje0u3Ax2PjB17izFuSHMCnU9pcWs-UFaoZ8vIvRLys5MZRl9jVRqVTKf4f1TRYK2qPk-DGjUNIX/s200/IMG_0404.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Lucketts Store</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LFMY5l47DksXjFLuZVJvEs9gZSQUNyb5zBJa_BPeRXVNKw25SWS4FxH7dZCLONYkAcpOAWpCGEe1Mp6VIqWEBZba4HZ-ewWwz408iVMv6yXF7y_jkBtD7L0uZoXiFWrFqwZxgvDi3mCe/s1600/IMG_0429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LFMY5l47DksXjFLuZVJvEs9gZSQUNyb5zBJa_BPeRXVNKw25SWS4FxH7dZCLONYkAcpOAWpCGEe1Mp6VIqWEBZba4HZ-ewWwz408iVMv6yXF7y_jkBtD7L0uZoXiFWrFqwZxgvDi3mCe/s200/IMG_0429.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">staircase in Old Lucketts Store</td></tr>
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In Washington DC, I decided to do a short day trip to Frederick to check out Stylish Patina's monthly barn sale. A nice drive once I escaped the concrete jungle path called the Beltway and I-270. Lovely country scenery, though a bit stark in winter. Old barns and farms on hillsides. I found the Barn sale and it was a popular outing apparently, lots of people there and the car park full. Lovely things inside and furniture, old bits, and pretty decorating ideas too. Good prices. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHosLhJpGC6G9TCVuUYb86gPtwFg64LX2eYDqUhe7ulmQfdWzNU4sKdy2BTuIo2K_qlXhOEFbZ2F4sh-mf2Elphe71c58gsWGWxZYpuxrFfHeYqppKjJKAgTbLpyR7eA6uoUxeXeln6FI/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHosLhJpGC6G9TCVuUYb86gPtwFg64LX2eYDqUhe7ulmQfdWzNU4sKdy2BTuIo2K_qlXhOEFbZ2F4sh-mf2Elphe71c58gsWGWxZYpuxrFfHeYqppKjJKAgTbLpyR7eA6uoUxeXeln6FI/s320/IMG_0442.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great mirrors with frames made of not-sure-what. Love it !</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgILDF-yRoTUSBYWX-WXBZZoMexOKgALpK4_RS0exGfwaAoZ_Y8B1iOHRsfGZqKHlKHX-RbGdh5rgBwfV1O8N5v8yQDS9B7AquaWB6TtADs_w91lTJpWirtsdye5P5zVRu4pNZd6rNaGCQ/s1600/IMG_0433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgILDF-yRoTUSBYWX-WXBZZoMexOKgALpK4_RS0exGfwaAoZ_Y8B1iOHRsfGZqKHlKHX-RbGdh5rgBwfV1O8N5v8yQDS9B7AquaWB6TtADs_w91lTJpWirtsdye5P5zVRu4pNZd6rNaGCQ/s200/IMG_0433.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winter sunshine streaming<br />
through window,<br />
french linens on armchair</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5-Qu96s3EScBClRPLI0M2xw5uJ6jlISe5AEPbV9b_jjhovxBqCFS4y925mnq16-YtASS4gzS3Nu1nARtsWsR_C41MkdijWVPkfS3V43R8nBJe7zoepuZqyjqoLSmNhBSJ3pzo9de-67u/s1600/IMG_0436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5-Qu96s3EScBClRPLI0M2xw5uJ6jlISe5AEPbV9b_jjhovxBqCFS4y925mnq16-YtASS4gzS3Nu1nARtsWsR_C41MkdijWVPkfS3V43R8nBJe7zoepuZqyjqoLSmNhBSJ3pzo9de-67u/s200/IMG_0436.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old copper lightning rods, <br />with fluted glass balls</td></tr>
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From there I drove 20 minutes down the road to Lucketts. To visit the <a href="http://www.luckettstore.com/" target="_blank">Lucketts Store</a>. Recommended as a fantastic place to find vintage and antiques. And correct in that, gorgeous and charming. Picked to the gills with interesting finds. I found lots of things, but bought only things I can lug back in allowed checked baggage. 1940s grain sacks, 30s-50s era tablecloths and embroidered textiles, several rolls of NOS ribbons, grosgrain and satin. Unused Vintage stickers from Germany, featuring angels and children. And some very cool signs from a racecourse, complete with magnets on back to display them. Seen were old lead light windows, old cabinets, and even these great copper lightning rods with aqua glass insulator balls on them. The ladies at Lucketts store were first rate. I'll be back next time I'm here and have a free day !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI1LQN8wb-jVmFbuyC1axq3tbOxLvip4iw8kL9qUtu70KJHPW00gsMaS0bQqTDYKfVedg6HybzXqMyuxCOuY_FfcCjdy6KpBToFBSwXvwpbHN5WEh2Yus8VNQk33zUXqjeRlKVttaM8Sh/s1600/IMG_0458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI1LQN8wb-jVmFbuyC1axq3tbOxLvip4iw8kL9qUtu70KJHPW00gsMaS0bQqTDYKfVedg6HybzXqMyuxCOuY_FfcCjdy6KpBToFBSwXvwpbHN5WEh2Yus8VNQk33zUXqjeRlKVttaM8Sh/s200/IMG_0458.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great old freight trolley, <br />
but would not fit in my checked bags.<br />
Maybe next time !</td></tr>
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-45256719282418969442012-12-31T19:34:00.001+11:002012-12-31T19:34:25.469+11:00Welcome New Year 2013<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jNY9VXaUm8s7NTFcTpb5tQq4ebNPD_WeNop7QE651RzG2Ww1UCawaqQFUJwkxscQWBVY5IAtGbdZPThsPNQnbDqPiFmvQbJRdrZEU55z83jjAqNKPPzqZJP8mr7qjx4T3RHx5f_kYIW9/s1600/IMG_2931+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jNY9VXaUm8s7NTFcTpb5tQq4ebNPD_WeNop7QE651RzG2Ww1UCawaqQFUJwkxscQWBVY5IAtGbdZPThsPNQnbDqPiFmvQbJRdrZEU55z83jjAqNKPPzqZJP8mr7qjx4T3RHx5f_kYIW9/s320/IMG_2931+-+Version+2.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice tick. Vintage Elgin pocket watch, 1920s era. <br />(from my personal collection)</td></tr>
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Wishing you a very happy welcome to New Year 2013. It's almost here !<br />
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I hope any and all who have been enjoying end year holidays have had a fab time. I know it is cold and wintry for those of you reading from your cozy dens and lounge rooms up in the northern hemisphere. As you know, it is summertime here. Rather warm and no rain, which is a pity (the gardens and vineyards would all like a little rain about now). But the days are long and brilliant, with a lot of sunshine. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwD6Or3JudJAvQEUnCLBVLe9sWO3GGE7lNqxi-20izZxS9d0YC3Jt_jomR60ONmy3mnAqkoepWOoonaQrr-NRp_bwJjYj3SI5c4xIGvWcQYBW_JGBQoKhJqU90OIh8oaLpump4wLiDd1s/s1600/IMG_0158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwD6Or3JudJAvQEUnCLBVLe9sWO3GGE7lNqxi-20izZxS9d0YC3Jt_jomR60ONmy3mnAqkoepWOoonaQrr-NRp_bwJjYj3SI5c4xIGvWcQYBW_JGBQoKhJqU90OIh8oaLpump4wLiDd1s/s320/IMG_0158.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grapevines in an old cottage garden <br />in Angaston</td></tr>
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Along my walks this week I snapped this pic of gorgeous grapes growing in a garden of an old house in town not far from here. The vines are very old and are a small two rows, to side of the house, right beside the fence at the foot path (sidewalk). This garden does not irrigate or water (anything) and it is possible the house is derelict and vacant (think so, never seen anyone living there). We saw a bloke pruning them in winter though, so we will be watching to see what happens with the grapes on the old ancient vines in coming weeks. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVCyUp6dcJvsq-8YivfMcSXvQ7mct6Dp8M2rpRUu6E5ukOcZQNzAn4NUseR9PnqOtcm9dH0AuXAgyRcRBmIopwTPw1Yf1Q1b6FAEYzD0zbjKXpWmB4E-cvMAahUKuJcov11dytR_4KQYs/s1600/IMG_2846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVCyUp6dcJvsq-8YivfMcSXvQ7mct6Dp8M2rpRUu6E5ukOcZQNzAn4NUseR9PnqOtcm9dH0AuXAgyRcRBmIopwTPw1Yf1Q1b6FAEYzD0zbjKXpWmB4E-cvMAahUKuJcov11dytR_4KQYs/s320/IMG_2846.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We want to be Jam" <br />Said the bowl of red raspberries and red currants</td></tr>
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And summer's bounty from the Barossa Market tempted me to steal some of the red fruit I bought for Christmas dessert and make jam instead ! The dessert did not get shortchanged too much, I just picked something that was not only about the fruit ! The red raspberries were amazingly bright and fragrant. To them, and on a whim I added red currants, little jewel like berries that had a burst of tartness to them. And on Christmas morning I whipped up a batch of jam with the fruit you see here. This is the joy of having all the stuff to make jams now, I have all the tools and can make up a batch fast and on a moment's notice. I keep a variety of things in the pantry at the ready. Besides that, just need good fruit and a bit of prep and off we go.<br />
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In this case the batch was small, because raspberries are never very inexpensive and I only had half kilo to contribute to the cause (had to save some of them plus a few red currants for the Christmas cake !).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Christmas Jam</td></tr>
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The batch turned out amazingly well, 3 small jars all sealed nicely. Labels put on jars--Kim's Red Christmas Jam. All in time to tidy up and start a dark chocolate torte, before preparing the Christmas roast.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkvG8ffw5VkedVBhu2aFcgeheUaBTQVq_2dFwuHGEYA45udNIDjiot5x4DAjr85pVWtqyttTzLU7VmtaaWZX89r6QZ5I2nyo7COVbAL7Om6kyVaRDgJ3tyrQMyFXfBkB3bZM_cqKo7uO-/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkvG8ffw5VkedVBhu2aFcgeheUaBTQVq_2dFwuHGEYA45udNIDjiot5x4DAjr85pVWtqyttTzLU7VmtaaWZX89r6QZ5I2nyo7COVbAL7Om6kyVaRDgJ3tyrQMyFXfBkB3bZM_cqKo7uO-/s200/IMG_2881.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing blushing apricots,<br /> for more Jam</td></tr>
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Hiding inside the fridge was a bag of the most beautiful and largest apricots I have ever seen. Thursday I got them out and let them come to room temperature, and took in their fragrance. I cut and de-stoned (pitted) them and prepared a vanilla bean pod too. These became a batch of Apricot and Vanilla Jam. Also delicious. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU0iVqUdY1JRGmFA9PLi1tnjeizxZGfeinIMLEut1nnjm8L56aOs_qvmJhuIfLSvBu5BA-dEDDg6qM06lnsmX4DllCU1-5S86LtfibKIWJmNgjhOttbVIFQfvsdix4hYrtX0Ua3WB_QAi/s1600/IMG_2884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimU0iVqUdY1JRGmFA9PLi1tnjeizxZGfeinIMLEut1nnjm8L56aOs_qvmJhuIfLSvBu5BA-dEDDg6qM06lnsmX4DllCU1-5S86LtfibKIWJmNgjhOttbVIFQfvsdix4hYrtX0Ua3WB_QAi/s200/IMG_2884.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stainless steel funnel,<br />filling jam jars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKb9gj8C_n2S22TANNfrJwJ2Km8dk688QiYq2C1zeDfYQ_p15Krecu9zXQ9qEigcC9YyySrP1t4MjPKrCfP5FA8L69QySJNQGmpj__rvGJlHgvDiVPkXFo8lCh_GYLw_cPfX4WLaN2kFlp/s1600/IMG_2893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKb9gj8C_n2S22TANNfrJwJ2Km8dk688QiYq2C1zeDfYQ_p15Krecu9zXQ9qEigcC9YyySrP1t4MjPKrCfP5FA8L69QySJNQGmpj__rvGJlHgvDiVPkXFo8lCh_GYLw_cPfX4WLaN2kFlp/s320/IMG_2893.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apricot Vanilla Jam. </td></tr>
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I have three more batches of jam to make in coming days. Then will pick back up on that again on my return from the January work travel out. Something to look forward to on my return. The kitchen here likes being a good country cook's working kitchen (who knows what jams and preserves it has supported in its history ?!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8wz6f0Gy3FpogH8u99-ADRmuaUDVzfmvaFAhS_xzFvX6WWTTXEpmdV3D0oIa4Jm8Uzl5bhqunfy4Prh-2JMpD0yX11ZuVnA0topVcL_sBIZ2kD0T5hZseDli6IKiK2V5rFmcE32tJaIu/s1600/IMG_2818+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8wz6f0Gy3FpogH8u99-ADRmuaUDVzfmvaFAhS_xzFvX6WWTTXEpmdV3D0oIa4Jm8Uzl5bhqunfy4Prh-2JMpD0yX11ZuVnA0topVcL_sBIZ2kD0T5hZseDli6IKiK2V5rFmcE32tJaIu/s400/IMG_2818+-+Version+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year !!</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, back to enjoying the New Year's arrival. Toasting your health, good fortune, and happiness. May 2013 bring all you hope and wish. Cheers !<br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-1409212228276768452012-12-22T14:21:00.002+11:002012-12-22T14:21:18.061+11:00Happy Holiday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pF9kTeg_HUE_p-PCoupwSeMm5MaZd3H7SZKCiVsVFTVDjivKcNN5I1f3pnag3luBOuJeUsrTUtE8u2lr6SNXxytJPXH3zbVtHm5I7tJbsvzskRxp76XbpfrfAVn6_dMSRUD3ZKTrlgsL/s1600/IMG_2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pF9kTeg_HUE_p-PCoupwSeMm5MaZd3H7SZKCiVsVFTVDjivKcNN5I1f3pnag3luBOuJeUsrTUtE8u2lr6SNXxytJPXH3zbVtHm5I7tJbsvzskRxp76XbpfrfAVn6_dMSRUD3ZKTrlgsL/s320/IMG_2806.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">little humming bird figure, atop holiday flowers</td></tr>
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Holidays have caught me so busy this year, I have been way behind on posting to this blog, and nearly everything else. This year we have had a series of mini holiday get togethers with (some of) our grown children and other family members here in Australia. It was nice to declare December a Holiday Tour sort of month.<br />
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Which makes this a quiet time now to enjoy the season. I don't even have the tree up yet (today's list). But the cards are out (maybe a bit of a delayed dispatch). I was at the Barossa Farmer's Market this morning, at 730AM when they opened and got a big market bag full of stunning raspberries, farm fresh eggs, locally roasted coffee, jersey cow thick cream, organically grown garlic, fresh herbs, and my favourite golden yellow Roma tomatoes. I was out in 15 minutes and back home (for a work meeting, amazing, but true--such is working world hours from this side of the globe !) Our cooking will be simple and fresh this coming week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYnX5ekz8nQMNZe3fIkb1OFejt-2seiPj1I8Gz1Efu2SYbRn1X1DQIhSRdvRI5KtYOkz3-8DiPrHBMJnP3eXIvKh8KOwXcqeQEJcNhCp-A12Z_08wkLL2ejwGFpTbqNP-IJR4wBsN2C4P/s1600/IMG_2798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYnX5ekz8nQMNZe3fIkb1OFejt-2seiPj1I8Gz1Efu2SYbRn1X1DQIhSRdvRI5KtYOkz3-8DiPrHBMJnP3eXIvKh8KOwXcqeQEJcNhCp-A12Z_08wkLL2ejwGFpTbqNP-IJR4wBsN2C4P/s400/IMG_2798.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous flowers from Viva, displayed in glass cases<br />with old sterling and mercury glass</td></tr>
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The thing that really signals to me it is now Christmas is to arrange some Christmas flowers. I've always enjoyed this, but it probably has become more important for my southern hemisphere holiday celebration, given sunny weather and not always chilly enough to do rich baking. <br />
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I collected my stunning flowers from Viva Flower Store in Angaston just before midday. This year I did not order any particular thing, but they knew I would be calling in to pick my flowers up. They know I can't have any lilies, because Winston is a flower grazer (and lilies are very poisonous to cats). I looked longingly at deep scarlet coloured Amaryllis in the shop, but a quick search on google confirmed they too are toxic to pussy cats. I just cant risk it, he is a bit naughty around flowers and its a fair bit of trouble to keep them away from him. Thankfully, Viva's owner Avril had put aside a stunning selection for me. Rosey hydrangeas. Pinky lisianthus that matched and some lime green pompom ball looking flowers on long stems whose name I don't know. I added branches of green and gold coloured holly greens to the flowers and brought it all home to arrange. With some holiday music in the background.<br />
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The finished arrangements are stunning and I snapped photos of them to share here. Arranged on a greeny-gold hand sewn quilted table runner. And some old sterling candle holders of my grandmothers, with the natural beeswax taper candles I love in them. And mercury glass ornaments for extra glow and shine. Plus cute little hummingbird ornaments that usually go on the tree, but look so cute sitting atop the flowers !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOYG-whdj8pdHH7A6RtDbBQTkI1ryVdaGAk0R8LSOOf1Ns-BCwnp2ktKx5ZKh3lTxlNToBl5iM6R7aVgPc9GoH1XOWkd1mSsaQxc1FrscJZ9lSrk-4cZY5uoudSiASsozc6896oahTBEW/s1600/P1040211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOYG-whdj8pdHH7A6RtDbBQTkI1ryVdaGAk0R8LSOOf1Ns-BCwnp2ktKx5ZKh3lTxlNToBl5iM6R7aVgPc9GoH1XOWkd1mSsaQxc1FrscJZ9lSrk-4cZY5uoudSiASsozc6896oahTBEW/s200/P1040211.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">roast turkey, settling before carve up</td></tr>
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Now, it feels like the holidays are here.<br />
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Last weekend we roasted a turkey when Katy visited, as part of the December Holiday tour (she flew in from Sydney). Turned out to be the best turkey I have ever made. A fab recipe from the latest/current issue of Australian Gourmet magazine, Turkey with Cornbread stuffing. The Cornbread stuffing was amazingly good too. I made very few adjustments to either it or turkey recipe, and we all thought the finished meal was really great !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTsLDYlf6I_IYpDxmTIJLY-SsfF85Xshv_cB6hnOTlge0ewdL19-HybbWCOUpRJcZaeoSGzCoXfvBXTARKZuSNeAYtqn_H9MS1AO7PzX_DawuykIhuzPpwYsMGC2nWb_aQjsBjg0DpcA7/s1600/P1040222+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTsLDYlf6I_IYpDxmTIJLY-SsfF85Xshv_cB6hnOTlge0ewdL19-HybbWCOUpRJcZaeoSGzCoXfvBXTARKZuSNeAYtqn_H9MS1AO7PzX_DawuykIhuzPpwYsMGC2nWb_aQjsBjg0DpcA7/s200/P1040222+-+Version+2.JPG" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers Katy !</td></tr>
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It was fabulous having Katy here, for a weekend visit. We did lots of holiday things...though with out a tree up. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJtTbgBaf0gCJTQknp8eM82BZB7ke47WWRSmhg7xslKhPIPZ1hh90f6Do5TAq7IFF91FU6RDtlAn1Nzmcqy1jRI4MSbNhGsLs4TD4hzSR0OUQNsyo2x-wSwCPuTTfSquW9DZZYx9qwPt8/s1600/P1040212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJtTbgBaf0gCJTQknp8eM82BZB7ke47WWRSmhg7xslKhPIPZ1hh90f6Do5TAq7IFF91FU6RDtlAn1Nzmcqy1jRI4MSbNhGsLs4TD4hzSR0OUQNsyo2x-wSwCPuTTfSquW9DZZYx9qwPt8/s200/P1040212.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy has full attention of Winston <br />and Maggie</td></tr>
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She got some feline helpers while wrapping up gifts too. The cats love ribbons, and quickly positioned themselves close by, so they could play with ribbon streamers being put on some packages.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSWFHhC2d1uk4vv353X9ExVuL4qJijO4QEJYZpCGkEsakaUmTvPrQoQojwFKdkYguYTGalbCNLPI2NFFsPmMwfXwYKsMdLDBj2hO3a6Ch4z4xTSQq8prTpTHkFUuyVklf6iMGG0vtl01R/s1600/IMG_2614+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSWFHhC2d1uk4vv353X9ExVuL4qJijO4QEJYZpCGkEsakaUmTvPrQoQojwFKdkYguYTGalbCNLPI2NFFsPmMwfXwYKsMdLDBj2hO3a6Ch4z4xTSQq8prTpTHkFUuyVklf6iMGG0vtl01R/s200/IMG_2614+-+Version+2.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bright red standard<br />floribunda rose in<br />front garden</td></tr>
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Our roses have had a jolly hurrah, though in the past week looking a bit tired of the run of hot days we are getting each week (over 35 C) Here is the gorgeous red standard one in front, when it was at its full bloom best. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEab1G5Y2StKrlBsv14_mwK-3u7j8YMsjvEKpp-sNJ4z7FrSNX578kcJJtEwnKss1WrqNf-C2MEAC-q8lTSwL4iTMrdb3rcBAPRPU9lDqLhlCB2D7Xzluiu7R2wc8-QKE-TqU1Sf1OzNU9/s1600/IMG_2804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEab1G5Y2StKrlBsv14_mwK-3u7j8YMsjvEKpp-sNJ4z7FrSNX578kcJJtEwnKss1WrqNf-C2MEAC-q8lTSwL4iTMrdb3rcBAPRPU9lDqLhlCB2D7Xzluiu7R2wc8-QKE-TqU1Sf1OzNU9/s200/IMG_2804.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. Hope you enjoy a happy holiday break :)Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-12328746408158574042012-11-28T22:24:00.001+11:002012-11-28T22:27:17.879+11:00A New Recipe (and a Parrot Cameo)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JSHestlFGS5gzRV-7aTh_es-tj7FdvUB3iAKwsPWwR5lISa6AwAcXEYhb1aGcLlrIwN3GPGEnCVpL8_Ymg1-4V72HbpoBiZsOYo3OPE43eE2XNL4SbQKFGuh-md18JWKJi8dedqQCPS_/s1600/IMG_2688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JSHestlFGS5gzRV-7aTh_es-tj7FdvUB3iAKwsPWwR5lISa6AwAcXEYhb1aGcLlrIwN3GPGEnCVpL8_Ymg1-4V72HbpoBiZsOYo3OPE43eE2XNL4SbQKFGuh-md18JWKJi8dedqQCPS_/s320/IMG_2688.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">melted 72% dark chocolate for florentines</td></tr>
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I have a big magazine habit. Mostly interiors mags, but several times a year the habit expands to include food mags too. Especially at Christmas time. I like to try something new a bit before the holidays, to trial something to make and take to some outing or event.<br />
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This time, I found something in <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/delicious/" target="_blank">ABC Delicious, December 2012 edition </a>, <i>Cranberry Macadamia Florentines</i>. They looked amazing in the photos in the magazine and I had most of the ingredients. I decided to do half with white chocolate and half with dark chocolate (the recipe did them all with white chocolate). <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71gLZntbeRds68U8RKNieQMB6ETymxPbpPhkbg3MqOM_lmnoknxtsKg7n_PcBQYJrSlc18tcET70JfQA8IaFlyXihPuRNbhRl8_ZZV2bDflUudHv9l6_xhySJeW2J3MgqODgrqgmrlxR-/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71gLZntbeRds68U8RKNieQMB6ETymxPbpPhkbg3MqOM_lmnoknxtsKg7n_PcBQYJrSlc18tcET70JfQA8IaFlyXihPuRNbhRl8_ZZV2bDflUudHv9l6_xhySJeW2J3MgqODgrqgmrlxR-/s200/IMG_2690.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnebGXLKIhM71y-A_TK794Ae7g7I78NQtE19gYf9S5qhpxSdInI_BtVMe2AST0OUj-wQ3P8SdCi6xD_VPPhOuTn1xA4Whf35AJsL255ThpF-EUbpDAtjjL92E6omctp1i7ejKewrYHaSxY/s1600/IMG_2691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnebGXLKIhM71y-A_TK794Ae7g7I78NQtE19gYf9S5qhpxSdInI_BtVMe2AST0OUj-wQ3P8SdCi6xD_VPPhOuTn1xA4Whf35AJsL255ThpF-EUbpDAtjjL92E6omctp1i7ejKewrYHaSxY/s200/IMG_2691.jpg" width="133" /></a>I've never made these before, it was not that difficult, but there were a few steps and you pour the buttery-sugary base into a baking tray and then after it bakes a bit, you put dried cranberries and chopped macadamia nuts over the bubbling base and cook some more. The base is a toffee like one, and it tastes good.<br />
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It all needs to cool a bit when it comes out, then you use a small round cookie or biscuit cutter to cut the florentines out. This part is a bit fiddly, because the base has to be cool enough not to be a molten mess, but still warm so its toffee character is not hardened too much to cut into rounds.<br />
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After they are cut out, you chill them in the fridge. While you melt the chocolate. I tried dipping the florentines in the chocolate but found it quite messy (a lot of chocolate also on bottom of florentine). I used a spatula to spread the melted chocolate on half the florentine instead and found this to work well for me. After the chocolate hardens a bit, you pop the tray with these back in the fridge to let the chocolate cool and harden some more. (best to remove them from fridge 30 minutes or so before serving).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6_aa7k-6ep91euvlaWw_h6fy-jkEDyHu1fFElErsyKs-LPEwbdFDj53Juhc0G1qUUyv5-m8jtNYZeSQRSN4nQkt-UbtErBHqlWI0EBp_0xJymqY1qpiMBd_KOLtgSUlQLSXFbDC68Ity/s1600/IMG_2694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6_aa7k-6ep91euvlaWw_h6fy-jkEDyHu1fFElErsyKs-LPEwbdFDj53Juhc0G1qUUyv5-m8jtNYZeSQRSN4nQkt-UbtErBHqlWI0EBp_0xJymqY1qpiMBd_KOLtgSUlQLSXFbDC68Ity/s320/IMG_2694.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up shot of the Cranberry Macadamia Florentines<br />
on vintage pink chintz plate</td></tr>
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The florentines passed a taste test with flying colours. Ian liked the dark chocolate on them best. I took a plate of these to a Bernina Club meeting later that night and they got very nice reviews. They make an impressive looking dessert and make a special treat, good for when you want one really nice not too big thing to serve.<br />
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And below, two shots of one of the Adelaide Rosella parrots that has nested here at our house. This may be the mother bird. I don't have a good enough zoom lens to get a better quality photo, and she won't let me get too close when she is sitting in the tree. She and her partner seem to take turns doing a watch duty across from the nesting box. Ian has seen them perched on the little landing he put outside and below the hole doorway to the box.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsfpJE0fB_U5WtUigQC9sus3qplbpc1TY1FooEM4_brIQ97oaOyOYiF8peC3IOB5S5Iy1oaO_6VKMTiDPdJ9Zz32n9ffdKAcAt9q9O3q_-2v9qyuHKZPiPi2pwatRalA7bH6aC75CB7I3/s1600/IMG_2717+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsfpJE0fB_U5WtUigQC9sus3qplbpc1TY1FooEM4_brIQ97oaOyOYiF8peC3IOB5S5Iy1oaO_6VKMTiDPdJ9Zz32n9ffdKAcAt9q9O3q_-2v9qyuHKZPiPi2pwatRalA7bH6aC75CB7I3/s320/IMG_2717+-+Version+2.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now looking to the left, one of the Adelaide Rosellas<br />
Nice orange colour on chest, yellow neck, banded<br />
blue tail and wing feathers, and subtle blue <br />
cheek coloration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The baby birds have not emerged yet, but must be getting closer to that stage. They flap about in the box a lot and this week have begun to make little chirpy and tweet noises.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK_uqtGL6JmQX_PTyXRRHe0eT_FADbZCGMtWquo9bQSmytzKkGuy8lqUi0dLKcy-uV3_WrvTgmISXJLhItEu_VHVAdlI-MplRgGIRJL22j1RnSOJUoATV_6BBoFii4xqVonaJROER7s7w/s1600/IMG_2718+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK_uqtGL6JmQX_PTyXRRHe0eT_FADbZCGMtWquo9bQSmytzKkGuy8lqUi0dLKcy-uV3_WrvTgmISXJLhItEu_VHVAdlI-MplRgGIRJL22j1RnSOJUoATV_6BBoFii4xqVonaJROER7s7w/s320/IMG_2718+-+Version+2.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the nest box, from tree opposite</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJSpmvJRRT4juNZu5f_VlwKcETiwpF_7iCEeiZ-KUIgoNQgt3mPlS2X1EOtoWVF1DwWhP2hvn729kRwNhgwZ73iPKXQ0145P15iJKIWV7zcenqySVk-dE9E7UjVBNh87tP32oB2OuSQu8/s1600/IMG_2592+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJSpmvJRRT4juNZu5f_VlwKcETiwpF_7iCEeiZ-KUIgoNQgt3mPlS2X1EOtoWVF1DwWhP2hvn729kRwNhgwZ73iPKXQ0145P15iJKIWV7zcenqySVk-dE9E7UjVBNh87tP32oB2OuSQu8/s320/IMG_2592+-+Version+2.JPG" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of the nest box Ian made and tied<br />
to our roof gable. The parrot parents <br />
like to perch on that landing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-39924803657787831062012-11-24T19:32:00.000+11:002012-11-24T19:32:04.573+11:00Colour Mixing: Mariner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mIfGceaDcGr83I2e85RXpn_6uKSvx-a7p4qUQjAYvB89O2LBNfv9O9hOALPTR5VFzEVSXAMuiyOs0kngjAec0mJuc635FRm7rHU8_QAaviYsdxEtqYPPv817V8wwR2iEu5MoWUla4RLa/s1600/IMG_2665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mIfGceaDcGr83I2e85RXpn_6uKSvx-a7p4qUQjAYvB89O2LBNfv9O9hOALPTR5VFzEVSXAMuiyOs0kngjAec0mJuc635FRm7rHU8_QAaviYsdxEtqYPPv817V8wwR2iEu5MoWUla4RLa/s320/IMG_2665.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
It was very hot today, so I had to take refuge inside and escape the heat of the day. I had a good play with my clay and chalk paints. I have a number of items I have been collecting that need to be painted up. And I did some colour mixing too. I made a lovely soft navy blue colour out of a bright blue and a dark charcoal. I dubbed the new blue 'Mariner.'<br />
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Having made a decent batch of Mariner to get a good colour mix, I had enough to paint several items. The board backing a new towel rack/hooks for the new shower area. a small timber milking stool. A sample board and also a shabby old finial I got for painting colour samples onto. And a small vintage birdcage. Most all is waxed and tomorrow will be buffed and soft polished. Except the birdcage, which will get some touch ups before sealing with wax.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0S9WSWJF2xo7XpxivlsT38Mtnwrzu6ktJD43bZ39RVg48Z4n-FHA2aXM2e1BHnLqxZO551dwUFDUu5bsWdrE7NvFSms29lTX73H2XIRGRfjpoizNNoERgYI4mX0nxVtnH8bUypUOw0UK/s1600/IMG_2670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0S9WSWJF2xo7XpxivlsT38Mtnwrzu6ktJD43bZ39RVg48Z4n-FHA2aXM2e1BHnLqxZO551dwUFDUu5bsWdrE7NvFSms29lTX73H2XIRGRfjpoizNNoERgYI4mX0nxVtnH8bUypUOw0UK/s200/IMG_2670.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
I also went to a garage sale today and got some good industrial stuff: wheels ! Here is a sampling of them. There are enough to mount three cabinets or tables on wheels. I cant wait to work out what they should go on !<br />
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More colour mixing next post: from Pistachio to Margarita !Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-46341048571964502282012-11-20T21:44:00.000+11:002012-11-20T21:44:59.055+11:00Parrot Season<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UeEWnyC7kINh4q1pKiIUTvAO9cHjr0EHb_1joJQgJZFMFZFlgpNzdfP2F5pzrDKWsRcyiyT5Bz8tzJ1fVpYd9g2heGhRUSqLb_miBZxP03gHHCH4hVrY_f2TGv6pfo3GCE-YM_9ZeRlr/s1600/IMG_2598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UeEWnyC7kINh4q1pKiIUTvAO9cHjr0EHb_1joJQgJZFMFZFlgpNzdfP2F5pzrDKWsRcyiyT5Bz8tzJ1fVpYd9g2heGhRUSqLb_miBZxP03gHHCH4hVrY_f2TGv6pfo3GCE-YM_9ZeRlr/s320/IMG_2598.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrots Inside !</td></tr>
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I am so remiss, a lax blogger of late. Another biz travel overseas now done and I am back and recovering from jetlag.<br />
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Here is the BIG news that happened while I was away ! Our home became a nesting place for some lovely Adelaide Rosella parrots. To see a nice pic of what they look like, check out this link <a href="http://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=445" target="_blank">an Adelaide Rosella photo link</a>.<br />
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First, I must tell you, I really like these parrots. They are gorgeous and have multi colours, with banded colour and black feathers on wings and tails. Cute blue cheek spots. Shy and swift, slender graceful parrots. Sweet little bird songs and chirps. And I read that they are fastidious, preferring tidy and clean nesting spots, not soiled or marked by other creatures, like possums. That clinched it for me. Parrots that are fastidious about their homes and nests, my kind of parrot !<br />
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So, what happened while I was away ? Well, all the excitement it seems. Apparently the parrots were already in residence here before I travelled. In fact the cats and I heard something above the front window, over the ceiling one night before I left (we thought it might be mice--yeew !)<br />
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Anyway, when some electrical wiring work was being done, the access to the roof (from the kitchen) was open while guys were going up and down ladders into the roof. And a parrot flew into the house from the roof ! One of the electricians told Ian a parrot was in the house. Ian found it, at the window in the Dining Room, and he opened the door to let it outside.<br />
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But he wondered how a parrot flew from the roof cavity into the house and when the electricians left, he went to go see what was going on. And he found a clutch of four young parrots in there. He also found how the parents got in the roof, they chewed through some of the original timbers up in the eaves area, to gain access. However, the access for fledgling birds to egress when ready to leave their nest did not look promising. And with hot weather, he worried the birds would perish up in the roof one hot day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttWQg8RJX7X6nmp2dZaq_sBn4K_tBRy6EgWaFfPjXlNmfvdX6W_kAKEPbJgSD8WI7d_M6fE7IwZONFwzL5fPwuYoaCbZVDGbDdxT5cfdl03mJcN-jiO9K8JCKBndKvA-3vNmfydA2UTM6/s1600/IMG_2593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttWQg8RJX7X6nmp2dZaq_sBn4K_tBRy6EgWaFfPjXlNmfvdX6W_kAKEPbJgSD8WI7d_M6fE7IwZONFwzL5fPwuYoaCbZVDGbDdxT5cfdl03mJcN-jiO9K8JCKBndKvA-3vNmfydA2UTM6/s320/IMG_2593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the entry to the improvised parrot nest box</td></tr>
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So what to do ? Well, make a nesting box. Ian fashioned one of cardboard. He used gloves to put the small parrots inside (he said they all went off, squawking something tremendous--I miss all the fun !). And he tied the box up at the top of the gable, right under the eaves of the roof peak. happily one of the parents found the box within an hour, as Ian saw it go in.<br />
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Now we hear the parrot babies thumping in the box, and sometimes I hear small bird sounds. So long as they keep active, we are optimistic they are being fed and looked after. They maybe half grown by now, so perhaps have another several weeks before they become fledglings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZX8iY-8GKW3RHlyB9HD7J7C-9m6nWyS9E3g_ve-XvfFPZbEiyehNZ2odQ2U6Chhj4DXtAA57NMQCD98T6UjuaOtv7a4mkQgSDWNFGDzNKZYQxaJOmKBu2JEYq1kPV2FrKeWklCvZChXX/s1600/IMG_2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZX8iY-8GKW3RHlyB9HD7J7C-9m6nWyS9E3g_ve-XvfFPZbEiyehNZ2odQ2U6Chhj4DXtAA57NMQCD98T6UjuaOtv7a4mkQgSDWNFGDzNKZYQxaJOmKBu2JEYq1kPV2FrKeWklCvZChXX/s320/IMG_2597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">parrots' nest box, tied under the top of the eaves of roof</td></tr>
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We are wondering what to do next year. Will these parrots want to come back to our roof again ? (they often do return to a nesting place). This winter I had wanted to put a proper timber Rosella nest box up in one of our big gum trees. I got over-ruled by that, but maybe it is not such a bad idea. There is time to work out a plan for this though. <br />
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Meantime, we hope the small birds get looked after (thought we do have Young parrot food to mix up and give them if we think they need it...but seems best not to interfere if they are OK). And get to fledgling stage. I hope to see one of them. For now, I will be content with seeing the parents in the tree opposite the makeshift next box.<br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-89813313815794767672012-09-22T19:20:00.000+10:002012-09-23T16:46:07.872+10:00Now It's Spring<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT3qcdWDWxSQlpZsjCEfzETx1fSbbzD_qZ7tq7T6SVt_odcFsL_qa94esZntzqFOnIz7Cpd__RRXXXhvA-K30Crl7vdLn7x_MZirt4QIJIymYukqVeUQ0SBcMzGoVrY-R2eFF1TXFCtn1/s1600/IMG_2358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpT3qcdWDWxSQlpZsjCEfzETx1fSbbzD_qZ7tq7T6SVt_odcFsL_qa94esZntzqFOnIz7Cpd__RRXXXhvA-K30Crl7vdLn7x_MZirt4QIJIymYukqVeUQ0SBcMzGoVrY-R2eFF1TXFCtn1/s400/IMG_2358.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gum blossoms in pale pink !</td></tr>
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I have returned from business travel, and slowly recovering from more work and less rest than usual. So blogging has not kept up, in light of this. But slowly but surely I feel more on top of things. And, happily it is SPRING now. It's hard not to smile or enjoy the signs of the new season unfolding in front of me. <br />
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I spent some time in the garden this past week and last weekend, planting things to give them a start before the weather gets super hot and dry like it can here. And I am still learning things about this garden. Like the colour of the gum nut flowers on the big tree at the top tier of the garden. I was surprised to see they are a delicate pale pink, like little ballerina costumes hanging from the branches. They are just beginning to open, and there are lots more buds to come, so they will be even more beautiful soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnCK5w9NR0YoAJtgC0zkH4zo3m-8JX8__FEBtKk5befqel7B275bNRzlrAYFbXVqPzOw6sOGyOxRa95zhRTKD8mGWARJlGdTy97k7Cfo2cH5cPWbitlujUzYvdw3-IDxn9GhOBP3uKywo/s1600/IMG_2348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnCK5w9NR0YoAJtgC0zkH4zo3m-8JX8__FEBtKk5befqel7B275bNRzlrAYFbXVqPzOw6sOGyOxRa95zhRTKD8mGWARJlGdTy97k7Cfo2cH5cPWbitlujUzYvdw3-IDxn9GhOBP3uKywo/s200/IMG_2348.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first roses to bloom, bella !</td></tr>
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Up in the top tier or terrace of the of the garden are also some tough as nails (with thorns to match) roses along the fence line, that get a lot of sun and bloom earlier than the rest in the garden. It was exciting to see the first flower just about to open, and it is a pretty pale shell hue, with a lovely perfume (and this noted before it is even fully open).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxybs1GS6awOYynXOAT9CS2Xfg_5czOsPQiQ9CaiOm8ij-Vy66f5jAjij3BAen4ROQ5TwjDlN4wSYBZdzcipSL74Dby4_i19Rxt7RcW6KqB7VRZQ-oDga0h4ZnFr1CzXraahdwHrQfBBP/s1600/IMG_2320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxybs1GS6awOYynXOAT9CS2Xfg_5czOsPQiQ9CaiOm8ij-Vy66f5jAjij3BAen4ROQ5TwjDlN4wSYBZdzcipSL74Dby4_i19Rxt7RcW6KqB7VRZQ-oDga0h4ZnFr1CzXraahdwHrQfBBP/s200/IMG_2320.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">prone banksia in flower</td></tr>
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Then in front the ground cover banksias I planted when we moved in are looking quite nice and one of them has put up two banksia flowers, russet red coloured cone shaped and like the deeply serrated leaves, quite sculptural. And when I went to the middle upper terrace garden, I noticed that the first apple blossoms have opened, with more to come. The bees that spend their time with the rosemary hedges (which now are covered with flowers) have found the first blossoms. We now have one large and three small apple trees, and hopefully some good pollination partners among them. The crabapple is supposed to help with that task too, but it hasn't bloomed quite yet, it seems a bit slower to flower.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZVC_LExSBSc2v1HFN9dunT-gPoxcysaw88AqiMG-X0MNFqQzmn8nlOa1vQOuKqRz7pJv-_CXHHWEGwF9lQhjYjXpZ-L8JwhfhM8OyGSl5WI1NiyaQvfcgCaHAbj8uPbu9TA5bks8EHOo/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZVC_LExSBSc2v1HFN9dunT-gPoxcysaw88AqiMG-X0MNFqQzmn8nlOa1vQOuKqRz7pJv-_CXHHWEGwF9lQhjYjXpZ-L8JwhfhM8OyGSl5WI1NiyaQvfcgCaHAbj8uPbu9TA5bks8EHOo/s320/IMG_2382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">apple blossoms on Pinkabelle (dwarf pink lady apple tree)</td></tr>
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My neighbour's chooks are getting quite broody and letting everyone know they have eggs in the works (or in the nest). They are a beautiful flock and seem to like the attention from the camera.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOrcCzST4UdMvmY7ii6bvITYX3ondY1d9UtUPEvMFrxtO7EmKflhDAu2d4SwgjVqKtb0xNt6-fEnK_uDOyr4KIyeeh1-IPW30YCVcghfjM4k7w2azn7Ny9oqJ-OlAW97fdSqcnd9alZ3a/s1600/IMG_2368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOrcCzST4UdMvmY7ii6bvITYX3ondY1d9UtUPEvMFrxtO7EmKflhDAu2d4SwgjVqKtb0xNt6-fEnK_uDOyr4KIyeeh1-IPW30YCVcghfjM4k7w2azn7Ny9oqJ-OlAW97fdSqcnd9alZ3a/s320/IMG_2368.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda's Chooks, posing for the cam</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKLpu6eku9vw6qPH2X9CC4CjFKo6SJUfE_m-UnnC4NdEcQWHQNZKnk3SBrld99v5K1K8hO5Go18qxwen_9HxP3XWwncrileyy1ewFb_CveLP3KsbaIcxigq8t8IdsFOrXkBarCC5MZCa5/s1600/IMG_2303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKLpu6eku9vw6qPH2X9CC4CjFKo6SJUfE_m-UnnC4NdEcQWHQNZKnk3SBrld99v5K1K8hO5Go18qxwen_9HxP3XWwncrileyy1ewFb_CveLP3KsbaIcxigq8t8IdsFOrXkBarCC5MZCa5/s200/IMG_2303.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pookie, looking trimmer<br />
(but still a big cat)</td></tr>
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The cats are feeling spring in the air too. Pookie has been wanting to run outside for a bit of a jog, perhaps taking to heart that the vet said he needs to be trimmer around his middle ! (he enjoys his kibble and his fish). Maggie likes the beautiful middle eastern carpet covers for pillows I got not long ago. These will be for the window ledges in the studio, when the enclosure is done. But she likes them so much, she perches atop them and even let me photograph her (and usually she is shy around the camera). The best pics I have gotten of her in a long time, maybe ever !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIEfcIMYtK1s83FnTw0AUpboprefp2OOOdHbry3sjMlIq1EsE0wVrkrAkYcnyBM-PARnRI5ifeIuSKTRkiEC7zVrsmFOpqtM9FIXspGvOH47jZmKeW6MnLPC1hm0-d7_bH2ZaZkVOLCIi/s1600/IMG_2415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIEfcIMYtK1s83FnTw0AUpboprefp2OOOdHbry3sjMlIq1EsE0wVrkrAkYcnyBM-PARnRI5ifeIuSKTRkiEC7zVrsmFOpqtM9FIXspGvOH47jZmKeW6MnLPC1hm0-d7_bH2ZaZkVOLCIi/s200/IMG_2415.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie, serene on her new-old<br />
carpet pillow</td></tr>
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And last but not least, my birthday. Growing up it was an autumn birthday Here it is in spring. Thanks to everyone who sent wishes. It was a lovely day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl0HbzpUy_EqN6vis8eLTonnFlg91bwkK-6V8OBP1iUkYD8Y0sZgFwW3aROwyC-kUKIDs0KBNFKoBIO6pLOPAMq598kZK3ZxwT85sSr6nQDrIJqfxqqdh74iSMBmCRSPSqKih5n1enp6s/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl0HbzpUy_EqN6vis8eLTonnFlg91bwkK-6V8OBP1iUkYD8Y0sZgFwW3aROwyC-kUKIDs0KBNFKoBIO6pLOPAMq598kZK3ZxwT85sSr6nQDrIJqfxqqdh74iSMBmCRSPSqKih5n1enp6s/s200/IMG_2304.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another birthday, happy spring !</td></tr>
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More soon, with more projects art, and a link to posts & pics on the Engineering & Construction Department's renovation work out back too.<br />
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<br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-78857034951505074502012-08-31T13:24:00.000+10:002012-09-02T16:27:43.912+10:00Total Makeover: The Lions Cabinet<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GzCeRreJAguOHl8T9ZEvy56f9th8B2VAl8KLsennxSxZPRCk9_ZQBjrBZbyJSgMkUpD_YFCH4zzp49O0l0ZhwQ_zn4rRzlDF0d3sCIYjTINmZjbq4vcZdXMOVDzRY8dbGBhzNZv0RHGR/s1600/IMG_2269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GzCeRreJAguOHl8T9ZEvy56f9th8B2VAl8KLsennxSxZPRCk9_ZQBjrBZbyJSgMkUpD_YFCH4zzp49O0l0ZhwQ_zn4rRzlDF0d3sCIYjTINmZjbq4vcZdXMOVDzRY8dbGBhzNZv0RHGR/s320/IMG_2269.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of detail on door and inside<br />
of Lions Cabinet (when done)</td></tr>
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I have nearly completed a new project ! I have begun experimenting and learning to use Chalk Paint and Clay Paints to make over furniture pieces. Or maybe I mean little ugly duckling or plain & ordinary pieces. And finish them off with a bit of distressing, and then sealing with wax finishes. Not long ago I made over a sweet shabby little timber table in <a href="http://www.anniesloan.com/" target="_blank">Annie Sloan Chalk Paint</a>. This was a second project, and this time I used <a href="http://www.coloursbynature.com.au/about-volvox/volvox-clay-paint" target="_blank">Volvox Clay Paint.</a> These have very similar properties as ASCP does. However, without the ASCP waxes, and with the paint not yet available in Australia, I have been looking for other paints with similar features and attributes. The Volvox Clay Paint is no VOC, all natural, and very lovely, adhering and covering quite like Chalk Paint.<br />
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So below, here are a few snaps of my latest Makeover Project: The Lions Cabinet.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeRmC2rQd0rFME6khVPQpHTGT3ofPApJSZk9HfKaHQEpSuL8Xj7h5PYRiV0CwFHCE6jnr1NHmuKeES8-aWHCeQ8ufb8XU3JIOuDXrfLj5ynFMP3EgZWQr6XdQBe6svxQCGw2elFHdVleI/s1600/P1030996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeRmC2rQd0rFME6khVPQpHTGT3ofPApJSZk9HfKaHQEpSuL8Xj7h5PYRiV0CwFHCE6jnr1NHmuKeES8-aWHCeQ8ufb8XU3JIOuDXrfLj5ynFMP3EgZWQr6XdQBe6svxQCGw2elFHdVleI/s320/P1030996.JPG" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lions Cabinet: Before State</td></tr>
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First, I found a fabulous petite wall cabinet that had a plexi glazing (plastic) in its door and the timber finish stained in dark wood, a mahogany-like colour. With a great looking carved crest at the top, featuring two lions, and nice turned and raised relief patterns on the door. (found at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BowsersBarossa" target="_blank">Bowsers of the Barossa,</a> a terrific source of vintage items of all sorts). The timber finish, especially inside the cabinet, was a bit rough cast and not of a fine finish, which made me think it would take well to some textured paint, a bit of distressing, and dark wax to bring out the carved relief details. So, a piece with potential and I was sure would makeover nicely, even though I am still learning to work with these paints and also wax finishes.<br />
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First I decided to paint the inside of the cabinet a vivid blue. I made a custom colour mix of two of the five I had on hand of the Volvox Clay paint. I love the colour, like the deepest cornflower blue. A soft sapphire.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOhFwW6EWXJFwhXwLF2Wi21OF_1Fh5NoEa8cKvZrgO_PkUVY4BWSPuoB0j0TW528qZzckAJyPIaoDekIrjvwnNPuscgpmIQ4p6HkSkxLMKf2txwDZzdgCYg0cCiuPpgjzCozKnqh8VxyB/s1600/P1040003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOhFwW6EWXJFwhXwLF2Wi21OF_1Fh5NoEa8cKvZrgO_PkUVY4BWSPuoB0j0TW528qZzckAJyPIaoDekIrjvwnNPuscgpmIQ4p6HkSkxLMKf2txwDZzdgCYg0cCiuPpgjzCozKnqh8VxyB/s200/P1040003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous deep cornflower blue</td></tr>
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Then I mixed two more of the colours, a mocha grey with good depth and a light creamy white. These made a fabulous french grey colour. That went on the rest of the cabinet, back, sides, top, etc. I know this looks oh so neat, and the photos do show it that way. I was working at Salon Rouge that day and took this cabinet painting with me, including all my supplies in and out, to be tidy ! Hence the need to be bit tidier, in some one else's space !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVRBPdHdhkU29uA6juXHkJTpBWUaxxzeGBWexoM45ss0j7f0-pWyDI_8gGfOL1wFfEgb4jUylFofFTZyd54UmR0klbyW889ARcRN-bK0lMGta4TG0HGnCAXHHthTDpXMyCHYSgavledY0/s1600/P1040005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVRBPdHdhkU29uA6juXHkJTpBWUaxxzeGBWexoM45ss0j7f0-pWyDI_8gGfOL1wFfEgb4jUylFofFTZyd54UmR0klbyW889ARcRN-bK0lMGta4TG0HGnCAXHHthTDpXMyCHYSgavledY0/s320/P1040005.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custom mixed french grey paint<br />
for the outer cabinet surfaces.</td></tr>
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I always intended to paint the lions and some of the detailing on the little cabinet door in a creamy white, to light the look and detail of the piece. When I got this done, it was very exciting to see how great it was coming along.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZksjW24qJJkxRPCavQyCJyE0NLbhyphenhyphenSI79EYI7AwdmIXmC63cuLjCaAIAkdo5yYtLWw13Td6k7Nrs_kYjAtBBkUI9AXc5tIZCrhLlU-wesrO-mqN4vVUeg5lde1HaWSXUX7rCY82rQNs2O/s1600/IMG_2249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZksjW24qJJkxRPCavQyCJyE0NLbhyphenhyphenSI79EYI7AwdmIXmC63cuLjCaAIAkdo5yYtLWw13Td6k7Nrs_kYjAtBBkUI9AXc5tIZCrhLlU-wesrO-mqN4vVUeg5lde1HaWSXUX7rCY82rQNs2O/s200/IMG_2249.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lions get a coat of rich<br />
creamy white.</td></tr>
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And to this point it was all about the paint. Then time to put on wax. I have used a lovely emulsified beeswax, with a soft buttery consistency. And that smells really good. I worked it into the painted finish. And gently distressed a bit of the edges of it lightly with sandpaper. A bit more clear soft beeswax. Before putting on some Fiddes & Sons wax in Rugger Brown.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh592IB50auH8IaFw0WEMxKQl9QiMim8VLCSpMVSeok3DPNAyixzg1STSN8P6aFVk85PLEDIsSGgkbXZLXjs3cOLmLIUtXTFF0P1CZeXdKA6WoDJEiezbWJnFKplDWpBBQuXYgR97Qv5fdM/s1600/IMG_2261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh592IB50auH8IaFw0WEMxKQl9QiMim8VLCSpMVSeok3DPNAyixzg1STSN8P6aFVk85PLEDIsSGgkbXZLXjs3cOLmLIUtXTFF0P1CZeXdKA6WoDJEiezbWJnFKplDWpBBQuXYgR97Qv5fdM/s200/IMG_2261.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dark wax antiques finish <br />
on side of cabinet.</td></tr>
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The dark wax is amazing and really gives a rich look to the piece, though initially it looks a bit scary, like you are going to ruin the paintwork ! But I have read so many other blogs and accounts of using this, I was prepared for the same to happen. Still, it takes a bit of practice to get the hang one what is enough and what works to get it just right ! I used brush and rags to push the dark wax into the relief and edges, rubbing it back a bit with clear wax to better blend into the paintwork. I waxed the inside of the cabinet too, which made the deep cornflower colour absolutely glow.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqU_BLtiVgRyOoZbcu3WuY86sWLFtG248ywvm8LFf8mhOd1vsZVicyWIdCIjTXrpA2oNFJCeLhEhDnH8ph7NIoZCcqANwWvcjETbdsdbpkEXqyTYO-sfn-uwxu5k4lWXNYceM6LDTY4cU/s1600/IMG_2276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqU_BLtiVgRyOoZbcu3WuY86sWLFtG248ywvm8LFf8mhOd1vsZVicyWIdCIjTXrpA2oNFJCeLhEhDnH8ph7NIoZCcqANwWvcjETbdsdbpkEXqyTYO-sfn-uwxu5k4lWXNYceM6LDTY4cU/s400/IMG_2276.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lions Cabinet: After State. <br />
Painted and finished in clear and dark waxes.</td></tr>
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So here is my finished painted and waxed cabinet. It still needs glazing work to put glass in to the door. A job to complete on my return from business travel. But I am pretty chuffed with he job on this lovely piece excited to see it on display. What do you think ?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zBRB832V2e-m0OHiYPZtcdw0cDG-WGeANMb41k0C-zeDHhCpmXu9J-KHD210r6Fjp86Pbe3tHHPZaedIgbboVJdHRhyphenhyphen73txJ9ml77GN0yMnDL5WOC4ngx5E7FcpLmAxmBqAoo0eKv5qW/s1600/IMG_2294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zBRB832V2e-m0OHiYPZtcdw0cDG-WGeANMb41k0C-zeDHhCpmXu9J-KHD210r6Fjp86Pbe3tHHPZaedIgbboVJdHRhyphenhyphen73txJ9ml77GN0yMnDL5WOC4ngx5E7FcpLmAxmBqAoo0eKv5qW/s400/IMG_2294.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up detail of lions and cabinet door,<br />
carved relief detail highlighted with dark wax</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-33806792835435962172012-08-18T13:06:00.003+10:002012-08-18T13:29:30.171+10:00Vintage Sewing Machines, and more<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_uyCnfxwJuponIr2njoIgxN7tCsv5JQcirdwvMafmsfZrDXay89MPtlOS5DDiyrIUMupx64f3MedRq3uqKxb3ytLGcoWEE4P9I3I_fEYAg3no6vGTEkRpyGGlT9CKG6n8_U70Yf26_XB/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_uyCnfxwJuponIr2njoIgxN7tCsv5JQcirdwvMafmsfZrDXay89MPtlOS5DDiyrIUMupx64f3MedRq3uqKxb3ytLGcoWEE4P9I3I_fEYAg3no6vGTEkRpyGGlT9CKG6n8_U70Yf26_XB/s400/IMG_1963.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singer Model 319K, made in Scotland late 1950s era. Solid all metal gears. <br />
Retro two tone green enamel finish. Shown taken out of its<br />
original timber cabinet and under restoration by Engineering Dept.</td></tr>
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Been working on things to do at end of winter that can be done indoors. Some of this is planning or research for a home wares and interior design services business we will launch, hopefully in autumn (for you in Northern Hemisphere, that means March to May 2013 !!). It's all in preliminary planning stages now. Names, registrations, Internet hosting, branding, business plans, inventory, and more ! Stay tuned for more on that as we develop it.<br />
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One of the things we decided to acquire for the business is some old sewing machines. Not to sell, but to use for workshops in the shop. Vintage sewing machines. We started looking around online for old used ones for sale and now have a five, and plan to add another 1-5 to that. Each one is carefully picked for its era, we are focusing on solid made machines with good reputations as mechanical electric sewers, mostly from the 1950s to mid 1960s era. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA23Sc-yyzx5ttrxOhzvJvxgZq68w6pa7e3ynIO3t4wUGMJTl8EAPh8a82umll3R5lKr0EZ8ASAhfYoGbrgBziKm2vXAsyW0eJiVLEJeoyCm4icECKwUoy0UOAeYOmAI2ytjIzf-FA9q3N/s1600/IMG_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA23Sc-yyzx5ttrxOhzvJvxgZq68w6pa7e3ynIO3t4wUGMJTl8EAPh8a82umll3R5lKr0EZ8ASAhfYoGbrgBziKm2vXAsyW0eJiVLEJeoyCm4icECKwUoy0UOAeYOmAI2ytjIzf-FA9q3N/s400/IMG_2210.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie's Vintage Sewing Machine. Late 1950s Husqvarna model with<br />
amazing metallic green paint finish. Currently being serviced.<br />
I am still not sure I understand Maggie's interest, but her affinity for this<br />
particular machine is very clear (she is protective of it and shoos away<br />
the other cats if they get too close to it !)</td></tr>
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Ian is spending evenings and weekends restoring the machines to perfect operations. Some of this is less than simple. Some of the machines have come to us with "issues." Missing parts. Retrofitted with the wrong parts, or with adjustments that have caused damage or poor function. two take a special and hard to source needle and using the wrong ones causes problems. We have had to research the machines and work out where to source the missing piece, and then Ian works on rebuilding it. Sometimes he machines a missing part we can't get. He has had to rewire two of the machines. Thank goodness he has good skills for all of this. In all, we have spent not a lot of money (average per machine between 35 and 80 dollars, some of these include cabinets or their old vintage cases and accessories). And have found some gorgeous old models that now or soon will operate very nicely. One (see photo above) fitted into a timber cabinet that I will paint to complement the two tone green finish. They will be a great feature in our business and workshops.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sNO4Hew6GwgqSvZyrxUeQdiZbWSoX7zPg790b3_FhaIi-ufDiCZsHGwqhenO-sMciAsOhlWHPulyX77Q4_n76-4pn53-e8dqvqObQp0FNkZ44PT91CkVX3qv2jez6guJlpSZBkrrbtMt/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sNO4Hew6GwgqSvZyrxUeQdiZbWSoX7zPg790b3_FhaIi-ufDiCZsHGwqhenO-sMciAsOhlWHPulyX77Q4_n76-4pn53-e8dqvqObQp0FNkZ44PT91CkVX3qv2jez6guJlpSZBkrrbtMt/s200/IMG_2025.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ASCP colours on timber trim, from back<br />
French Linen, Coco + Old White, and<br />
Duck Egg over Scandanavian Pink<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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Another thing I am doing is market research with specialist paints, that will be a feature and part of our business. Here are a few samples of colours I have begun working with, from the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) range. You can learn more about this very popular paint (overseas)at the <a href="http://www.anniesloan.com/" target="_blank"> Annie Sloan Paint website.</a> Still not available here in Australia yet, but I brought some back with me from last travels through UK and USA. Though, unsuccessful at getting the wax to use with it. So I have been experimenting with <a href="http://www.organoil.com.au/waxpolish/index.html" target="_blank">Organoil's emulsified beeswax product</a> and find its texture works well and it is a lovely wax to use, with citrus oil in it that makes it smell wonderful. It seals off the chalk paint very nicely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCeMN9LAq_Q4MpzmVCqoP4jg43lx3MgtgQ8qK-miY5RjZkG2lNPAFZDPJw3x0sU465yMAMaN_Efl-LcGm26elnSJCBcSCI6r8cT05I6pOM5fqpQPEWHJHpbvghlCdck_aEsZ-pgvyeAO2/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCeMN9LAq_Q4MpzmVCqoP4jg43lx3MgtgQ8qK-miY5RjZkG2lNPAFZDPJw3x0sU465yMAMaN_Efl-LcGm26elnSJCBcSCI6r8cT05I6pOM5fqpQPEWHJHpbvghlCdck_aEsZ-pgvyeAO2/s200/IMG_2083.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tools ! paint and wax brushes</td></tr>
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I am also working with a new paint, Volvox Clay Paint. Has similar properties to the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and is available in Australia from <a href="http://www.coloursbynature.com.au/" target="_blank">Colours by Nature</a> based in Bega, NSW. I am using the same Organoil wax with this paint, and it seals it up beautifully. But I just got shipments of <a href="http://www.fiddes.co.uk/product.php?name=supremewaxpolish" target="_blank">Fiddes & Sons Supreme Wax</a> in Light and Rugger brown I had to buy these overseas too, and got some from UK and also another source in USA, to experiment with sourcing and shipping methods. I will begin experimenting with this wax this week to compare its use to the Organoil wax.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWgaDrErkbQdJQizc3v2FL2CAouHarBWxRBtVmlw4UBimZH8NEPgA5KuyvGyBAlRS5hyphenhyphenpN1bRSiEi5oBtDdyxl0aVCyLGj3Qn4QY-pv3tRmjF7vucOc0vr_M4pTwJWSWQuJ2Y0BozsAJ5/s1600/P1030939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWgaDrErkbQdJQizc3v2FL2CAouHarBWxRBtVmlw4UBimZH8NEPgA5KuyvGyBAlRS5hyphenhyphenpN1bRSiEi5oBtDdyxl0aVCyLGj3Qn4QY-pv3tRmjF7vucOc0vr_M4pTwJWSWQuJ2Y0BozsAJ5/s320/P1030939.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine O'Clock. A break from<br />
colour swatch and sample painting</td></tr>
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When in UK and USA in June, I bought gorgeous Annie Sloan and other paint and wax brushes. I got one called Waxine from <a href="http://www.stylishpatina.com/store/products/annie-sloan-wax-brush" target="_blank">Stylish Patina-wax brushes</a>, a shop in Falls Church Virginia (outside Washington DC) I am enjoying these tools with the sample paints I brought back. Next travel I will be buying a few more brushes for the dark waxes.<br />
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And, we are now working on building in back of our property. Laundry, storeroom, and a big lofty roofed studio space with outlook to the garden. <a href="http://placeandtimedesign.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/back-construction-now-in-progress.html" target="_blank">Check out latest post on our back extension renovations, on sister blog Time and Place Design</a> The photos are not yet glamorous to look at, but they show early stages. And I know some readers enjoy seeing those early before and construction pics !Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-65294871320667225602012-08-05T19:02:00.003+10:002012-08-05T19:05:10.920+10:00Little Cyclops<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OuD_0i_hHJqLZho3snw2qUxVMjuJbFn4nC29eJoSUThKDQYKwSpiy5SvcKcJeqOx5qTWHiHTthBYDUttYhuGPx03XMev3xf97v1_BCz2Yo-UxPYj5pitHz0kc7yDmLRSDU6Px44lGZgz/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OuD_0i_hHJqLZho3snw2qUxVMjuJbFn4nC29eJoSUThKDQYKwSpiy5SvcKcJeqOx5qTWHiHTthBYDUttYhuGPx03XMev3xf97v1_BCz2Yo-UxPYj5pitHz0kc7yDmLRSDU6Px44lGZgz/s200/IMG_2154.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wanted to come with me, wants a clean</td></tr>
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I still love old wheeled toys. I still have several, some real favourites. A vintage early 60s era blue & white Tonka farm truck. A plush white rabbit on a wheeled platform. I have a framed poster of a flying tricycle (sprouting feathers, as it flies up into the sky). The child in me delights in them; the sight of them always brings a smile. And I continue to be drawn to old style tricycles, vintage bicycles, and red wagons. Favorite and familiar icons and emblems to me, I guess.<br />
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So I there was no restraint to my imagination possible when I saw a red wagon outside of Bowsers of the Barossa vintage goods and consignment shop a little over a week ago <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BowsersBarossa" target="_blank">(Check out their Facebook page here)</a>. Alas, I could not stop that day, needed to be somewhere by some particular time, something like that. But several days later I did pass that way again and called in to inquire whether it was already sold, because it wasn't outside that day. Lucky for me, it was just inside the front door, sheltering from possible rain showers ! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltSNV6S0H8ZiOwz9J2l-9maREPWHLplTfNv_vKdImJG_JsEk-RYMQS3OEBGuZlD264s80oE7sFeWhiH01uVH6Xbv-p-gFu8oRanST0_sUx1ApLYs70RYOrUP4IDmH0MzzVJoX5wG34buq/s1600/IMG_2185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltSNV6S0H8ZiOwz9J2l-9maREPWHLplTfNv_vKdImJG_JsEk-RYMQS3OEBGuZlD264s80oE7sFeWhiH01uVH6Xbv-p-gFu8oRanST0_sUx1ApLYs70RYOrUP4IDmH0MzzVJoX5wG34buq/s320/IMG_2185.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">awesome old metal wheels, <br />
bright yellow paintwork (albeit rusty).<br />
Coaster lettering faintly seen (yellow).</td></tr>
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It is a seriously cute Cyclops Coaster red wagon, with the sort of handle that apparently was clipped onto for towing by a Cyclops pedal car. Probably vintage from late 50s or early-mid 60s era. It has a lot of chipped paint and wear on it, but still has great old yellow metal wheels, with lots of spokes. A blue undercarriage/chassis. And you can still tell it used to be all red ! The side has a light outline of where the lettering Coaster used to be, and you can still see a bit of Cyclops on the side. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVwbtOXXzoAsPL0ZwUxjchtfYLtmgRyn-Q-s5Fsybi56iAY4FhMg1FyS0A2el1MA6fhvdKye1rx_tlVIoOnddNtKwEzv7YxPL_e6R_RTGefSywkLI6fwpxSlbmOF-Jd8G_ePR7DMB6Yb9/s1600/IMG_2184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVwbtOXXzoAsPL0ZwUxjchtfYLtmgRyn-Q-s5Fsybi56iAY4FhMg1FyS0A2el1MA6fhvdKye1rx_tlVIoOnddNtKwEzv7YxPL_e6R_RTGefSywkLI6fwpxSlbmOF-Jd8G_ePR7DMB6Yb9/s320/IMG_2184.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaned and given a protective finish<br />
of beeswax. Too Cute !!</td></tr>
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The wagon came with me. I was covering hours at Salon Rouge gallery right after I picked it up. It was my afternoon project. I cleaned the dust and surface dirt off it and then carefully rubbed in a light as can be coat of beeswax to protect the finish and the patina. Too cute ! Don't ask what I will do with this just yet, but I have wanted a vintage red wagon for awhile !!Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8590761517181238385.post-1001658446531285782012-07-30T21:56:00.002+10:002012-07-30T21:56:31.878+10:00Spring Around the Corner ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXxYAe3UzZJTWf6KUaMLFhTHhU0PELJouQygBWXLz-cGidjsQiQmkb84cYF9DQow6UIAjtD_XBgcTEUxy4nIuC2LE4qcXhw2Xd5glD4Im9PR4QETdwxQtxA3sfMqZQUTqk50GI9wAJarQ/s1600/IMG_2116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXxYAe3UzZJTWf6KUaMLFhTHhU0PELJouQygBWXLz-cGidjsQiQmkb84cYF9DQow6UIAjtD_XBgcTEUxy4nIuC2LE4qcXhw2Xd5glD4Im9PR4QETdwxQtxA3sfMqZQUTqk50GI9wAJarQ/s320/IMG_2116.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
It has been so dreary lately, I am desperate for signs of spring. Any and all of them. One of the tasks I need to do is to prune the roses. While they can be done in July, many suggest waiting until 1 August to do this, so any new growth will not get frost bitten, as risk of frosts should have passed by 3 weeks or so after that date (when new growth would emerge). I know from past experience that roses here spring to life fast and well, this is a perfect growing area for them. So I went out to trim the first lot, it being quite close to 1 August. And I have many to do, so will be doing this off and on all week. I got about 20-25% of them done in this first session, and have nearly filled our green bin already. (the rest will be piled up to fill it after it gets emptied next Saturday).<br />
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I found a few early signs of spring coming soon. Lovely coral red blossoms that open just before and during the month of August, I will have branches for the next few weeks, to put into a favourite cut glass vase. And small marguerite daisies. Paperwhite jonquils, which are especially fragrant filling the room with their scent the first several days after I bring them in. And a few creamy and bright yellow jonquils too. Cute little grape hyacinths, with their intoxicating perfume. And a few crazy silly roses that have still been blooming, right up to Rose Pruning Week ! A few pink, two yellow, and one red.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFg3MOQfEQC7aNZOD2mPAUyNthgmlBdEEHyVJNnM5wae_eTIjZq57JTZiuG2180nX11bQxidvIVzZmUXWzO5pvk9iRB-UOxm8b9wScRbzvsNZhqLqHZEDRYesQ94wRXhyIxfHEaIqco_g/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFg3MOQfEQC7aNZOD2mPAUyNthgmlBdEEHyVJNnM5wae_eTIjZq57JTZiuG2180nX11bQxidvIVzZmUXWzO5pvk9iRB-UOxm8b9wScRbzvsNZhqLqHZEDRYesQ94wRXhyIxfHEaIqco_g/s200/IMG_2120.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lalala...Pookie.just happens to turn up<br />after a basket of flowers <br />is brought in the house</td></tr>
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I collected a basket of flowers to take in. It did not take long for Pookie to come around to check out what was happening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxPT_1FhbLKz3qvi88piDP45qEdpoMjhY3Q1AkImTCc9Z2HjILI__N2vVlMq2UNgn_VhFln7mpdrUmewrKTbcbm7Z3fFfazcbcmhXtSB36d45KGCWpVR6v0nLXC4F-5NM6_jMKiBGKt3i/s1600/IMG_2121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxPT_1FhbLKz3qvi88piDP45qEdpoMjhY3Q1AkImTCc9Z2HjILI__N2vVlMq2UNgn_VhFln7mpdrUmewrKTbcbm7Z3fFfazcbcmhXtSB36d45KGCWpVR6v0nLXC4F-5NM6_jMKiBGKt3i/s200/IMG_2121.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now he is curious !</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBFmvM1vjgAKbTCn_HAdejLxwn0FtnC_Y075936K8NjkmQJoA9pr5yMqyUowqdQEcvGc66zQXOdEJKxL5WJ2CYOGYnmITpXXAFh5pnaLvjwBzFmZI6sgZABkSal9S6pMqIGI3TSu4w-ES/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBFmvM1vjgAKbTCn_HAdejLxwn0FtnC_Y075936K8NjkmQJoA9pr5yMqyUowqdQEcvGc66zQXOdEJKxL5WJ2CYOGYnmITpXXAFh5pnaLvjwBzFmZI6sgZABkSal9S6pMqIGI3TSu4w-ES/s320/IMG_2122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming in for a little sniff. Yum, jonquils ! <br />(fortunately the cats do not eat these, but the last of winter's roses have already been "enjoyed" and grazed!)</td></tr>
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The flowers make it feel like spring is soon to come.<br /><br />Kim Valois Mathiesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14418953851327347692noreply@blogger.com2