One more sleep and this year is over...........

I hope you all have fond memories of this past year.......... and I hope you will all have a wonderful and prosperous NEW YEAR........... one that is filled with happiness, sunshine, LOVE, and ABUNDANCE xxx

"So this is Christmas".......... words from John Lennon..........

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and you didn't get washed away with all the rain........ (that is for those of you here on the Gold Coast - those in Europe/North America, well that's another worry - hope the snow hasn't been too deep?)...........

We are furiously working away at the moment like busy little beavers.......... I am working on a knitted lace shrug, in a very, very fine mohair and cotton blend - and at the same time I am sewing up a patchwork skirt with lots of lace and frills........... while Rainer is working away on a new masterpiece.........watch this space for photos........

Just to let you all know...........

The Gallery will be open this Saturday and Sunday (1st/2nd January)..... from 10am till 3.30pm - do call out to see us........

shops 255-256  - Marina Quays Village Markets, Hope Island, Queensland, 4212.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all........

cheers - Carol & Rainer

p.s....... don't you love this picture????  It is from "I Dream of Jeannie" - I have been watching the re-runs of this fabulous vintage show - every weekday at 9.30am on the GO channel (and again at 5 pm)......... I hope you can watch it too......... it is wonderful, and is followed by Bewitched at 10am.......... please do watch.

And now for "So This is Christmas" by John Lennon..............

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

It may be raining here - but I am still furiously knitting away at my bags.  I've finished another one - called it "Guardian Angel"

Here is her story..........

Guardian Angel

There are times when you feel all alone, and at your lowest ebb,

And there are times when you feel that all is lost.

 But for some reason, at the eleventh hour of your despair,

For some unexplained reason, your wishes and needs are inexplicably filled.

Have you ever wondered how this can be?

There are many names for this – but I chose to call this phenomenon my Guardian Angel.

 Always there – you only have to call.

Your need must be real, and the emotion must be raw.........

True love, True need, True hope..........

May your Guardian Angel be with you

To show you the Truth –

With Love and Hope.

Blessed Be.............

Just to let you all know that we will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day - but we will be open this Friday (24th) 9.30 - 3.30pm.

New Years Day weekend - we will open as usual: Sat/Sun 1st & 2nd Jan - 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Do call out to see us if you can.

May I take this opportunity to wish all our valued Clients and Friends of the Gallery a very Merry Christmas and hope you all have a wonderful and prosperous New Year.

One has to ask the "Gods of Weather" - WHY?????????

Every weekend it has rained - and I mean every weekend!!!  Without fail!!!   From Monday to Friday the sun shines down on us all, creating great humidity and sleepless nights - but come the weekend.......... it PEES DOWN!!!

Well, we are made of stronger stuff - so we are soldiering on, relentlessly. 

As many of you will now know, we have closed our 'Emporium of Stuff'............. but you should see it now............. WOW!!!   The lovely Ingrid has transformed a shabby old shop into a Magical Palace of Wonderment.......  Funky, Fun and Fabulous.  You must call in to see her.  I tell you, this is one lady who knows what she is doing.......

Here is a photo of me and Ingrid today - the umbrella was a 'must-have' item for the weekend...........

When will it stop raining!!!

It is impossible to remain optimistic with all this bad weather being dished out to us every weekend - but we will try......

Have handed our 'Emporium of Stuff' on to a lovely lady (Ingrid) - and she will turn it into something absolutely marvellous I'm sure.  We couldn't keep an eye on both shops, so sadly we decided to let the Emporium go.

I have finished another handbag - "Hermione Hedgehog Dances the Tango" - pictured here.

Here is her story.......

Hermione Hedgehog Dances the Tango (c)

At the bottom of a Secret Garden young Hermione Hedgehog sat.

For many days now she had been feeling a little lost and alone, not knowing what to do with herself.

”I know!” she said to herself, after pondering her loneliness for a while, “I shall set out on an adventure!”

And this is what she did..........

Down the lane she shuffled, past the bluebells and the budding blossoms, looking neither left nor right, but steadily forward.

As the evening started to settle in around her, and the moonlight began its gentle dance across the night sky, Hermione noticed in the distance the sound of music and laughter.

Scurrying closer, she saw a band of Gypsies gathered around a large campfire.  Beautiful ladies with swirling skirts of lace and satin were dancing with handsome young men as they clicked their heels and strummed stringed instruments. 

“Oh please!” she politely asked one them, “Can you teach me to dance like that?”

“But of Course, my dear,” came the reply.

And so that is how Young Hermione Hedgehog learnt to dance the Tango............

Today was our first day's trade in our new Emporium of Stuff.  It was a challenge - the skies just opened and the rains rained on down!!!  Not a good start.  Not to worry - there were a few brave souls venturing out and about, so we had a few lookers to keep us enthused. 

While it was raining away outside, inside our Gallery next door, Rainer and I worked quietly away on our own creations.  I am putting the finishing touches onto a new handbag - but you have to have a look at what Rainer has created today...........(photo opposite).

He's calling it WOODLAND SPRITE........ a fabulous assemblage artwork.  It's now hanging in our Gallery if you would like to pop in and have a look.  I think it is just wonderful.