MORE JEWELLERY

The last posting reminded me of my own hand-created jewellery that I wear from time to time.

A few years back, I had fun creating some pendants from Crazy Patchwork. They were a great deal of fun, and not difficult to make.

And you can make them as colourful as you like if you want them to add a bright spot to a black or neutral outfit. The one at the bottom is designed to be worn for the Christmas season.

These are basically made by wrapping a small piece of patchwork round a shaped piece of board (like a heart or oval), with a little wadding in between. Some of the embellishments are added after. Felt or suede is added to the back, and a hanging cord sandwiched in between. The dangly beads and those around the outside are added last. They can be made into brooches by adding the appropriate clip to the back.

This one was made by inserting the shape into a ready-made pendant base. It really sparkles and attracts lots of comments.

When I first made them, I remember I made several in pastel colours. A friend in New Zealand sold those ones in her Quilt Gallery for me.

Now I am really keen to make some more. Perhaps I will do a few Christmassy ones for gifts!!

HEARTS OF GOLD - AND SILVER

I am a little conservative when it comes to jewellery. I like it to complement what I am wearing rather than look like a part of a suit of armour. Some of the necklaces of recent years look more like oxen yokes and neckbraces to my eyes. When I hang something round my neck, I like it to drape and nestle and follow the contours of my body. I am particularly fond of pendants and strings of beads and semi-precious stones. I do not have a lot of jewellery, and much of what I have has been around for a while

When I was at our local Sunday markets a couple of months, I was passing the stand operated by our local Postmistress/jewellery artist, Deb Simpson, and a lovely necklace caught my eye.

It was a chain with a cluster of hearts hanging from it on chains of varying lengths, pendant style. I immediately thought of a little collection of assorted hearts I had at home, which I had assembled and saved some years ago for someone to make a necklace for me. I had envisaged hanging different hearts at intervals around the chain. The girl who was going to do it for me had left the island before we got around to it.

Now here was the perfect answer! I asked Debbie if she could custom-make me a chain of hearts using my own collection.

When I got home, I realised I had enough hearts for two chains - one in gold and another in silver.

Here is what Debbie has made for me, and I am just so delighted. They are just so "me"!!! But I will have to learn not to fiddle and play with all those wonderful dingle-dangles while I am wearing them. I have a bad habit of treating my necklaces like "worry beads."!

Thank you so much Debbie. I fully intend to pay the favour back as well as forward!!

THE HAUNTED WOOD Between our home and the road, there is an area of woodland. On the night of Halloween, it became a perfect setting for Halloween adventures.

Charles and Kim have had the event in the planning for ages, and they went to so much trouble that it took more than two weekends to set it up - and the finishing touches were only being made minutes before our first visitors arrived!

Bats flew in the trees.

A whole long fence of guava was erected to seal off the area from unprepared explorers!

Solar powered sleletons spent the day in the sun gathering energy to glow in the dark.

Here is the headless bride.

And here is the ghost who made an appearance as a flying fox last year.

There were pumpkins galore.

Teddy makes an early visit to the witch.

The woodland was a wonderful setting for all the models and effects!

Kim and Tina discuss some last minute touches.

There were ghost and pumpkin biscuits, honeycomb, toffees and popcorn ready for our visitors.

Kim has been transformed as the "head witch" ready to accompany the kids through the woods.

The first arrivals.

Helen has a quick helping of curry and rice before going off to perform her role as the Grim Reaper.

I loved these two glamorous young witches.

We got each group to pose for a photo before setting off on the "Trail of Horror."

Some of the kids looked pretty scary.

Young Theo was content to just sit and eat popcorn.

We had fruit punch for everyone, especially appreciated by those who were thirsty after all the yelling and screaming.

Lots of the parents were dressed up too.

Another group poses for the camera

Some of the younger ones were content to stay on the patio with the grown ups.

Brett and Basil discovered a mutual attraction!

Bernie and I decided to go on the final trip for the evening through the woods. The effects were just wonderful.

At the end of the trail, Charles made a sudden appearance wielding the chainsaw. The chain had been detached, but the sound effects were pretty scary. The kids really screamed as he chased them back onto the lawn. But Cloud the cat was obviously not too concerned!

I think all the grown ups had just as much fun as the kids.

But it was all too much for one tired little witch and a spotty dog!

It was a wonderful evening, and we must have had between 150 and 200 kids, not to mention the parents and adults, many of whom lingered, just enjoying the happy atmosphere and seeing the kids have heaps of fun. It was a great family occasion.

MORE FUN AT THE SHOW
I am told that nowadays many local Shows are in the doldrums, and their Societies are feeling the pinch financially. Participation and interest are undergoing a downturn, and as many formerly rural areas are being urbanised, so the traditional activities of many local Shows are seen as irrelevant and out of touch for the people in their local areas.
Not so the ROYAL Norfolk Island Show (we earned royal patronage back in the 70's.) It is true that our committee is largely a group of faithful oldies, and that most of the hard work is done by just a few.
But when the day comes around on the second Monday of October each year, then everyone seems to rally round to make it a really good community day!
Here are just a few more somewhat random pictures taken at this year's Show. This participant in the Equine Fancy Dress came as "Barney Duffy", a legendary hero from the convict days.

Sarah and Amy dressed as jockeys.

There is always an enthusiastic crowd of spectators!

Anna and Emily dresses as Western Sheriffs - but Em looks more like a bandit!

The girls were in a relaxed mode as they watched the adult riding events.

The Cat Show is always popular. My niece Mandy, who was visiting the island, is a real cat lover.

I walked around the corner to see some Martial Arts in action.

The Junior Fancy Dress participants lined up.

Trevor the Blacksmith visits from Alice Springs every two years. Faithful "Gotta Luvit" is happy to co-operate in the shoe-ing demo.

Emily and Anna parade their stuff.

Miriam and Em's godmother Gracie watch proudly.

Sarah comes back to her Mum with a yellow (2nd place) ribbon.

We have just about recovered from the Show. Bernie is involved in stewarding for the Cattle Judge, and I judge needlework. We are both involved generally with the activities of the Society, which still fills a very important role in our community. It is important to showcase a communities talents and resources.

We know that in a rapidly changing world, local Shows may have to adapt and be flexible to meet changing needs. But we do hope that our A&H Show will remain an important activity on our community calendar.

P.S. Now here is a bit of trivia.....Did you know that the very first Agricultural Society in the world was founded by John Christian-Curwen in Cumberland? This gentleman was actually Fletcher Christian's first cousin!!

A&H SHOW - THE EXHIBITS

Here are some of the exhibits that caught my eye at our Show on Monday. This 'sculpture' won the award for the Best Exhibit in the Hall. It is an amazing arrangement of fruit and vegetable carvings done by Moo, a lovely Thai girl who works here as a chef. The carvings feature a watermelon, a paw-paw, a pumpkin, and two turnips.

There are alwaysdplenty of island pies entered.

I love this array of dried fruit preserves.

The freshly baked homemade breads looked very tempting!

I always enjoy the children's entries, especially the art.

Now these two displays, the roosters above, and the colourful circles below, would lend themselves to being printed onto fabric!

Charles entered three really large yams, but someone else's were even bigger! It is always good to have some competition!

Traditional Norfolk plaited hats are getting better each year. The addition of colour adds such stylish variety and flair.

A very tempting and colourful salad!

Just loved this arrangement of gourds!

When you come up close to the frame on the right, you discover it is nothing more than a collection of 'flotsam and jetsam' (mainly plastic rubbish) that has been washed up on the beach, and artfully arranged!


Kaye's wonderful vertical arrangement, displayed on a specially made Guava easel.

SHOW DAY 1- BEHIND THE SCENES

The girls get the horses ready at the stables. It has been an early start.

All ready to set off for the Showgrounds.

The night before they had been polishing their gear. Here Anna and Sarah are decorating bridles.
Quite a few jodphurs and jeans have been going through the wash.

Early in the morning, people start turning up at the Hall with their entries.

Annette and Vuta set up a station where they are going to take people's blood pressure as a public service.

The stewards arrange the exhibits.

An entry in the Cut flower section gets a last minute trim.

The stewards on the Cooking section share a joke with an entrant.

Rotary sets up the Barbecue area.

People are unloading all sorts of exhibits from their cars.

The Lions Club are setting up their ever popular Merry-Go-Round.

Judging gets underway in the Needlework section.

Jack has a sneak preview in the Hall before he starts his duties in the Showring.

The Cooking judges have a busy task - this is a very popular section.

At least the Fruit and Vegetable judges don't have to taste everything!

There is a tea and coffee station where the judges and stewards can take some refreshments while they confer.

The season has not been the best for Cut Flowers this year - but what was entered still made a lovely display.

The preserves section was well-entered.

Bernie also had a sneak preview of the displays in the Hall.

Show President David says everything is ready to go!

The Official Opening on the steps of Rawson Hall.

The activity outside is well and truly underway.

In my next postings, I will show you some of the exhibits and the other activities!

MORE SPRING FAIR

As promised, here are a few pictures of some of the things I had on my stall at the Spring Fair.

Here is the car loaded up. It doesn't look much, but it took up a lot of table space when I set it out!Some of my Christmas stockings.Bottlle carrier bags - oops! Picture is not very clear!

The white lace collage bags are much admired, but I may need to dye them if I am to sell them. White would probably only be suitable for a bride.

You saw these little needlebooks before when I had just finished making them. These are little silk drawstring bags, with ribbon embroidery. The one on the left is fine muslin. with shadow embroidery.

These felt balls were popular. I suggested they would make good toys for pets and children, or pincushions. One customer thought they would also be good for people to exercise their hand and finger muscles, especially after a stroke.

Some of my colourful funky Christmas stockings.

These bags were made using my lace collage technique.

Patchwork cushions using rose prints and doileys. I got an order for a couple in blue.

More of my bags, pouches and spectacle cases.

Bookmarks, with a couple of little patchwork bags to the right.

The "sugar-frosted fruits." I have more of these in the pipeline for Christmas!!

Some little patchwork tissue purses.

More stockings!

Spectacle cases.

Little felt hearts. I am also thinking about more of these for Christmas.

Still more bags and purses.

I am planning some more of these "Rose" patchwork bags in smaller sizes.

The felt pincushion apples sold quickly.

Still more bags, using colourful prints.

Wool potholders. kitchen hand towels, and in the background, some of Annette's soaps which I placed in cotton organdy bags. (The bags were made from a couple of cotton organdie curtains I bought at the Op Shop.I decorated them with transfers and lace appliques.)

I really went to town on making marmalade this year.

A range of chocolates - hazelnut truffles, choc-coated ginger, and Guava jelly. I made the fudge at the last minute, and should have made more!!

MORE SPRING FAIR GLIMPSES

As I promised, here are some more shots of what was going on out at the Parish Centre last Saturday afternoon.

Lorraine organised these two guessing competitions- guess the weight of the cake, and how many lollies in the jar.

Thee was a silent auction for Maeve's oil painting of the view from Driver Christian Road. Maeve generously donated her work, and Tim Pearson donated the frame.

Watching the activity on the hillside.

We set up a stallwhere we sold tiles for the new Chapel Roof. For ten dollars, you could have your name recorded on the tile, or you could donate it in someone's memory. With over 300 tiles sold that afternoon, Tet was kept very busy with the engraving!

The Parents and Citizens Association had a busy Popcorn and Fairy Floss stall.

Rotary provided sausages and chips

Donna had a stall selling her special jewellery

The Church of England's "General Stall" - the cakes sold out quickly.

John and Mary had a stall selling Mary's books, prints and posters

Lots of chatter over a cuppa in the hall

Helen and Joyce with the "Special Treasures" table


The Girl Guides leaders were kept very busy dispensing Devonshire TeasEven the dogs were enjoying it all

Emily and Amy selling Friendship Bracelet kits

Kaye had a beautiful Plant Stall - it all looked so colourful

Maeve made these traditional Palm baskets, and we filled them with fruit.

The girls also sold homemade lemonade. With ice, lemon slices and mint floating on top. it looked very enticing, and they could have sold twice as much!

Next to the Lemonade stall, Kim set up an "upmarket Coffee stall". It was also very popular - you don't often get a latte at a fete! The picture shows Raewyn, who helped Kim for the afternoon.


There were other stalls and activities I did not manage to film - such as the Secondhand Bookstall, the Mini-Massages and the Pony Rides, and others. All in all, it was a wonderful example of a Community working together - and a wonderful welcome to Spring!!

In my next post I will show you my stall, and some of the things I had on it!

SPRING FAIR 09

A much anticipated event on Norfolk Island is our annual St Barnabas' Spring Fair. This is something that Bernie and I have taken the responsibility for organising in recent years - although there are many people working hard to make it a success closer to the time. Although this an occasion that is sponsored by the Church of England on Norfolk Island, we have now opened it up to the whole community, and several individuals and organisations come along and take part. It truly becomes a day for the community in terms of enjoyment, participation and funds!

The Met. Office had told us early in the week that it was going to be a fine day. It was better than that - it was perfect. Clear blue sky, no wind, and the sort of balmy temperature we usually enjoy at this time of year. In this picture, taken in the morning, Chris has just "christened" the waterslide for 2009.

Our Chief Minister Andre opened the Fair. He had missed out last year, because he had to go away, and reminded us he wanted to be there this year!

One of the "anchors" of our Spring Fair has always been the Waterslide, which snakes down the hillside. Many of the kids only ever see this part ofthe Fair, but at least we have the company and custom of their ever patient parents while they wait for them to tire from their exertions! Sarah took these photos for me, as I was busy with my stall. If you look back in my Blog Archives for this time last year, I recall we had some fairly spectacular ones taken from the bottom of the hill.

Trent kept us entertained in his friendly and jovial way.

Karenne and Celia always turn up to add colour to the "Show"with their helium filled balloons


It was really a day for families to relax, enjoy the activities and all the sweet treats and goodies that were available.

Our Banyan Park Playcentre had a wonderful set -up, with Craft activities, face-painting, and things like colourful cupcakes and craft kits to buy.

William enjoyed being a tiger!

There is so much to show you, I will have to save it all for a couple more blogs!

FOR THE FAIR

I have been busy creating some little things to sell at our upcoming Spring Fair, and thought I should make a pictorial record before I get too busy or they are sold!

I am not a knitter, but I do enjoy working with wool, particularly felt and wool embroidery.

Last year I produced some little wool needlebooks which were very popular. I have refined the design a little, and have made seven more this year. My friend Robyn obtained some Doctor Flannel for me for the pages. Doctor Flannel brings back many memories for me. I recall this was what we used to make our red capes for our Red Cross uniforms!!

Another quick little project has been these little hearts. I used some felted jumper wool fabric to make them and used Silk Sari cord for the hangers. The leaves are also made from a felted green jumper. The berry beads are some very useful ones I bought online in bulk from LUVBEADS (sadly no longer operating.)

During my "wet felting" phase earlier in the year, I made these pincushion apples. They are pure wool right through to the centre! I had a few failures, but I think these ones are good enough to sell.

And while we are on the subject of fruit, look at what I have been making these past few days! The Quilting Arts"Gifts" magazine had this idea for frosted fruits - they showed pears like the bigger one here. True to my usual practice, I adapted the design and made the pears smaller. Then I improvised a similar shape for apples. They are sewn together, using five pieces, which looks more natural than six or four.Then they are stuffed and are coated with gel medium and sprinkled with clear glitter to make them look as if they are sugar-coated. I have my niece looking out for glitter that is a little coarser and less powdery.

I have all sorts of plans for making lots of these for Christmas for table arrangements or tree decorations. I thought I could personalise them by putting peoples' names on the leaves.

LIVING LIKE KINGS - Part 3

"Contentment is a place between having too much and too little."

In a small community like Norfolk Island, people really depend on one another. It is important to share what you have with others. Even a degree of bartering is a great help to the budget, and creates win-win situations.

And because we cannot access some things in a hurry ("it's on the next ship") we tend to be resourceful, and make good use of what we have.

And in recent times, we seem to have plenty!! And plenty to give away, I am glad to say!

Just look at what I have been able to capture on my camera in just one week!

A bunch of Bananas from the garden at the Pitcairn Settlers Village. We had eaten half of them before I got the photo! Courtesy of Marie, Charles and Brett!

A jar of Guava Jelly from Connie. This will be used in making Guava Jelly Chocolates for our Spring Fair this month.

Real English Spinach from Jane at the Markets. A thank you for some books on herbs I have bequeathed to her!

Windfall avocadoes from the one of the big old trees down the back. We share them with the birds - but there are plenty for all. Lovely for our salads, with Vegemite at breakfast, and for Guacamole - my favourite!!

A magnificent leg of pork - given as a thank you for a favour!

An overloaded and top heavy branch of a Paw-paw came down in the wind. Hopefully these fruit will ripen. But if they don't, they can always be cooked as a vegetable or we can make green paw-paw salad.

The "feral" pumpkin vine continues to be productive, with new ones forming all the time. We have given lots away.

A couple of our boys often bring us fish. John brought these around as a gift from a mate, whom he was helping with cleaning and filleting. Thanks Dean!! The Trevally and kingfish were beautiful!

Edie has kept us supplied with wonderful grapefruit for our breakfast all winter long. Hopefully our own "Mary B" tree will have fruit again next year, after a rather severe runing last year.

These delectable greens came from Jane's stall at the markets .

Look at this colourful basket that I brought home from the Markets last week. A delight for the eyes as well as the palate!

LIVING LIKE KINGS -

Part 2

The Farmers Market

Recently there has been some pressure to open up our quarantine regime to allow for the importation of more produce. It is felt that our tourist visitors do not always appreciate the seasonality of our produce supplies, and would dearly love to have access to the range of things they can enjoy on the mainland. Our government is going to trial the importation of apples, because they are, indeed, one of the things that do not grow really well here.

However, there is strong local opposition to going any further than that. Many have quarantine concerns. Others strongly believe this fertile little island is capable of producing all we really need. Many agree it is much better to eat what is local and seasonal.

A recently formed group, called "Sustainable Norfolk" decided to establish a Farmer's Market outside of our local hall on Saturday mornings, so we can not only see what really is available, but to bring the public into closer contact with the growers themselves. It is also great for small backyard producers to have the chance to bring their excess for sale and earn some pocketmoney.

Lovely fresh herbs are quickly sold.

These carrots and bananas may not be the smooth and symmetrical items you see displayed in neat rows on the mainland - but they taste much better!!

This has been a wonderful success, although we hope there will be more taking part in the future. It is an opportunity for growers to bring along their fresh (very) produce and sell it direct to their customers. It is also providing a means of finding out just what people like to buy and try, and perhaps grow new things for those of us who really appreciate good healthy food.


And one thing I have sensed, as we have faced a degree of financial hardship in recent times, is that more people are striving to make their mealtimes more special, and are savouring the special delights on offer in the food lines. The bigger luxuries may have to wait, but there is no reason why we should not be making the most of the small ones!

Anyone who comes along to the Saturday markets cannot fail to feel the "good vibes" there. It has become a great social occasion, a chance to meet up and chat, and perhaps even share recipes and ways of preparing the vegetables.

There is a "no plastic bag" policy at the Farmers Market - another sensible and sustainable practice. I am sure, that others, like me, have taken great delight in bringing out the special baskets they may have had at home, lying unused.

As well as fruit and veges, people have been selling home made pasta and sushi, baked goods and jams, even boxes of firewood kindling.

This last week, Parks and Wildlife had masses of Norfolk Island native trees available for people who presented vouchers they had received in the mail. This was most popular!

Next year, I think I will make a special effort to produce enough marmalade to sell from time to time.

A little lamb came to market on Saturday - much to everyone's delight.

LIVING LIKE KINGS - part 1

We may have missed out on a vice-regal visit a couple of weeks ago, but here on Norfolk Island we often feel we can live like kings and queens. Hard economic times have not passed us by, but I often say that Norfolk Island is the best place in the world to be poor. We seem to eat so well.

Most Norfolkers are actually very proud of the fact that we grow almost all of our fresh produce right here on Norfolk Island, with the exception of some of our potatoes and onions, garlic and ginger (although these are grown here.)

It means that everything is seasonal, and you often have to plan your menu around what is available at the time. It also means there are periods of time when you go without certain items, and it can be either feast or famine.

There are plenty of pluses, of course, including the fact that what we buy to eat is freshly picked and naturally ripened, and has been transported no more than a kilometre or two! We know where it has come from, and how it has been grown.

And although we have our share of pests and nasties, our strict quarantine status means that we can limit these, and there is an opportunity to grow using a minimum of pesticides and herbicides .

Matt is one young Norfolker who is proving that we can grow the very best of healthy produce both safely and in abundance. Matt farms his land out on Two Chimneys Road, and also on an area out at Simons Water.

Matt is one of a growing number of Norfolkers who would like Norfolk Island to be a showcase to the whole world in healthy sustainability!

Now just look at these pictures, taken one morning last week out at Simons Water.

The soil here is known as Steele's Point loam. It is rich and volcanic, and with careful management, Matt is making sure it stays that way. Healthy soils mean healthier plants and better nutrition.

A magnificent crop of pumpkins stretches the length of the paddock.

There is scarcely a weed to be seen - so that all the nutrients go to the vegetables!

Carrots are my favourite vegetable. It looks as if we will have a good supply in the coming weeks!

I have so much to show and tell you about this topic that I have decided to spread it over a few blogs.

SIGNS OF SPRING

It all started with just a jam tin of bulbs. And people said that Norfolk Island was too warm to grow them successfully anyway.

But from those humble beginnings just a few years ago, Edie and Jack's garden is a sea of gold every year from late winter to mid-Spring.

Last year, Edie and Jack dug up all the bulbs and gave thousands away before re-planting them - and they are almost as thick as ever now!

They have wandered into daughter Sandy's house next door, where they present an equally impressive show.

No one seems to be able to grow them quite as successfully as the Macks. Perhaps they just like the south easterly aspect down there at the end of Collins Head Road - or maybe it is because we don't give them the same loving care.

There are plenty more colourful plants in this garden. It is hard to believe that this active and energetic couple are past their four score years. They have admitted to getting a little help with the weeding this year - but there a very few younger people who would be brave enough to take on a flower garden of this size!

Whenever you visit "Tolcairn" you are bound to come away with a cutting or two, or some side shoots with roots - and my garden has a number of plants that have come from Edie's over the years. She is most generous in spreading the gardening pleasure!

Edie is a floral artist, and has passed on her skills to many people. So I suppose that the garden is a bit like her "store room", providing material for her Craft.

Mind you, the vegetable garden and orchard are equally productive, although that is more Jack's area. And there is always plenty to give away from there too!

My pictures do not do it justice, but this garden looks over a valley filled with pines, and at this time of year, all the terns are returning to the island for their summer breeding season. It is a magnificent sight. Beyond that is the sea and Phillip Island.

It is truly a little paradise haven!

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

Last week, on August 19th, we celebrated 30 years of being granted self-government on Norfolk Island. I should say "re-granted" because, in fact, this community governed itself for 107 years after the Mutiny on the Bounty and the settlement on Pitcairn, only to lose their rights in 1896.

But we do not give up easily, and here was an occasion worth making the most of! We have a lot to "show off", both past and present, and that is just what we were doing in Rawson Hall last Thursday afternoon.

It was actually a day late. The day before, the Governor -General was to arrive to add her presence to a very special occasion. But the weather was so wild, her Airforce plane was unable to land, and after three frightening attempts, they turned back for Canberra.

The Pitcairn/Norfolk story was narrated, and acted out with song and dance. There was a recognition of the Polynesian heritage, as well as the cultural influences that have become important to us since.

Bounty hats featured prominently!

A proud group of Norfolkers, in traditional Bounty dress, sat and sang some of our unique Norfolk songs.

I forgot my camera, but Barbara sent me through these pictures. I wish I could show you the five pairs of children, of varying ages, doing the "Bounty Waltz" - it was so beautiful and carried out with great dignity.

As you can see, the hall was decorated beautifully. We are sorry that Their Excellencies missed out on what was a very moving occasion, one which made you feel just so proud to be a part of this Norfolk Island community.

A RARE BEAUTY

A few years ago, this was one of the world's most endangered plants. It is a rare and ancient hibiscus, growing only in two or three clumps on uninhabited Phillip Island, just to the south of Norfolk Island. Over the decades it had suffered the predations of rabbits, pigs and goats, which had been placed on Phillip Island for food and sport in the Penal settlement times.

Today we are well underway in removing this beautiful plant from the endangered list. Many of us have specimens growing in our gardens. The Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney actually has a hedge of it, and it can sometimes be purchased in nurseries.

The proper name for the Phillip Island Hibiscus is "Hibiscus Insularis." It is not a large bush, and is not "showy" like the Hawaiian hibiscus. Most specimens you see have very small leaves. These are actually immature leaves, and are said to remain like this for around twenty years, when the plant finally produces its mature leaves. I have read that the bush rarely flowers before that time. However, our bushes are nothing like that age, and the smaller one produced its first flowers last year. The larger one has just presented us with its first bloom!

This picture shows some buds which will open in the next day or two.

When the flowers first open, they are a beautiful creamy yellow/green.

By the next day they have become a delicate pink.

Finally they change to a red wine colour before they shrivel.

They do not produce masses of blooms, and only flower at a certain time of year - but they are well worth waiting for!

CRAZY ABOUT PATCHWORK

Now I fell in love with Crazy patchwork as a small child. We had a great aunt, living in a little village near Canterbury, who was both thrifty and creative - what a wonderful combination! One of her favoured activities was creating crazy patched cushions for family members. She used a variety of scraps, including the dressmaker's samples from the lady for whom she had worked as a maid. These were embellished with basic feather and herringbone stitches. I thought they were wonderful.

I did not start exploring crazy patchwork for myself until about 20 years ago. The biggest obstacle to overcome was the necessity to learn some basic embroidery, and night after night I would practise on "samplers", until I felt I was good enough to decorate a seam or two.

I did not look back, although the embroidery thing is still only a "means to an end" for me! It is the opportunity to collect and "play" with bits and pieces, and make a creative decision each step of the way until the piece finally looks "just right" that attracts me to the medium. For years I had wanted to make things that looked more "organic", and ibn recent times crazy patchwork, for me, has become a starting point for even more crative and personal textile art and mixed media work.

I have realised over the years that although many crafters admire crazy work, they feel intimidated by it, because there is no pattern or guidelines to follow. There is an old saying among Crazy patchworkers that there is only one rule - and that is that there are "No Rules" (with the possible exception of needing to enjoy it!)

I was really delighted, therefore, when one of our local group of patchworkers asked if I would come and start them of on some Crazy work.

I decided that it would need to be a small project, easily achievable. So I prepared some bases of either hearts or small Christmas stockings.

About 16 girls turned up to try their hand, and we had a busy afternoon mastering the basics of the "sew and flip" method, and learning to "audition" fabrics and arrangements for the best effect.

Auditioning fabrics and embellishments. Crazy work does not have to be "random."

One of the main messages I tried to get over was that there is no right or wrong, and that mistakes are just opportunities to try something you had not planned for! I also stressed that many traditional quilters need to discover a new and different mindset when working on Crazy patchwork, while still using their basic needlework skills and their sense of colour and design.

Raewyn, who has some experience with crazy work and embroidery, tackled a more ambitious teacosy front.These girls preferred to lay their patches down by hand.Getting ideas and inspirations from finished pieces brought along for display It took great concentration at first.But that did not mean it wasn't fun!

Everyone got on really well - and all the efforts turned out surprisingly different, bearing the stamp of their maker! And that is how it ought to be. When Crazy Patchwork first found popularity in the late 1800's, it was not so much about economy and using up scraps - it was an opportunity for women (and a few men) to express themselves and celebrate their own creativity!

Next time, we are going to tackle some embellishing techniques, including some embroidery stitches.

QUEEN FOR A NIGHT

I know I always seem to be writing about birthday gatherings. For one thing you can't beat a good Norfolk party. But I am also conscious of those Norfolkers who live away from here, who "tune in" to this blog to see what has been going on. I know lots of them enjoy seeing some of the old Norfolk faces, even if it makes them feel a bit homesick!
Last week Vonnie had a "significant" birthday. She told me "It is just another day", which is true, and when you get to our age, they are all "big" numbers. But that doesn't stop us having fun!!

The party was a potluck supper in Don's Shed. Actually it is looking less like a shed each time I go there. It is hard to believe that this lovely hall, with that great big stage, used to be an aluminium joinery workshop.

Anyway, the first important task for the evening was to fit Vonnie out with her gown and crown.

I did not get a picture of the food, but "potluck" is a very tame description of what you eat at a typical Norfolk gathering. Most of the food was hot, ideal for a winter's night.

When we had all had more than enough to eat, it was time to light the candles on the two cakes - a big chocolate mudcake, and a croquembouche.

We all joined in singing happy birthday, and wishing this lovely lady all the best.

Typically, all the kids gathered round when it came time to cut up the cakes!

When the music started, Roy got Vonnie up for a dance.

Archie was on the piano, Wiggy on his T-chest bass, the Nobbs boys on their guitars and ukeleles, and Roy on his harmonica.

Soon there were 8 or 9 Norfolk musicians up on that stage, including Vonnie herself on her spoons.

And not a sheet of music between them!



HAPPY BIRTYHDAY VONNIE - AND PLEASE, NEVER GROW UP!!

A GIANT FALLS

Our Norfolk Pine is famed throughout the world.

I have learned over the years, however, that just because someone has heard of the Norfolk Island Pine does not mean that they are familiar with Norfolk Island, or, indeed, that they even know it exists.

About 20 years ago I was at a Quilt Symposium in Armidale, where there were tutors from the United States. One lady, in a lecture/slide presentation, showed us a quilt she had made based on the Norfolk Island Pine. When someone in the audience pointed out that there was someone present who came from Norfolk Island, this lecturer was quite taken back and puzzled, because she had never heard of such a place!

I have also seen in a quilt magazine a picture of a quilt titled "The Norfolk Island Pines of Maui." It is true that they do grow Norfolk Pines in Maui, but they are rather spindly specimens. They bear little resemblance to our magnificent specimens, because this is, indeed, their home. They are endemic to this island. They have cousins in other islands, and the famous Wollomi Pine, that prehistoric that was discovered in recent years in a ravine in New South Wales, is also a fairly close relative.

The Norfolk Island Pine is a long-lived tree, particularly when it is surrounded by other pines. But from time to time, they do have to come down, because they have reached the end of their life cycle,. In this day and age, they would be dangerous if they were allowed to topple naturally, particularly close to roads and buildings.

One thing that affects them is "root rot." This is a naturally occurring fungal condition, which may have been exacerbated by human activity. It was root rot that had taken its toll on the enormous pine up the driveway, just over the fence in our neighbours' front paddock.

It was sad to see it go. Howard the miller did his usual skilled job in bringing it down safely, with as little damage as possible to surrounding trees.

The logs were quickly sawn, and will provide some useful timber.

It was amazing how much new light came in to both our place and the Murrays.

The front end loader soon got busy moving the massive logs.

Then they were off to the mill at Cascade.

INSPIRED BY BUTTONS



There is something about buttons.

This is one of my most treasured possessions - it is one of those litle "dolly jars" that you used to be able to buy from Darrell Lea, filled with tiny boiled sweets. Now it is filled with tiny glass buttons. I bought them from an antique store a few years back, although they are not necessarily really old. Every now and then, I spill them out and run my fingers through them, and admire their delicacy, their smoothness and their glowing transparency.

But that is just the start of my love affair with buttons.

Over the years I seem to have acquired a few - well, a few thousand. In fact they are everywhere, in jars, pretty glass containers, plastic bags, tins, and several under mats, furniture and in hard-to-reach corners, from times I have spilled them and couldn't find them to retrieve them.I do not remember many occasions when I have actually bought any new buttons. Over the years, I seem to have been given a lot, and have 'rescued' a number from OP Shops. Sometimes I have even been given treasured handed down button jars from people who had no one to pass them on to. I have really valued those.

Most of us remember playing with buttons as children. My mother's button box was a real treasure trove for me as a child. As well as buttons, it contained things like the rubber button things from suspenders, buckles, and best of all, some old Cigarette silks.

This is a basket of very big buttons I give William to play with. I am told that in the old days, these big buttons were greatly valued. My aunt told me that when you had a new winter coat made, you took the buttons off the old coat and used them on the new one. Actually William will probably grow up to associate his granny with buttons. He is always handing me buttons he has found on the floor, where I have let them slip and roll.These are some of my favourites - Mother of Pearl buttons, both old and new. The old ones are getting harder to find now, but the abalone ones that have been used a lot in the last few years are pretty too.

I make good use of the M.O.P. (Mother of Pearl) ones, but the buttons I probably use the most are metal ones. I have a couple of biscuit tins of those. They are great for adding a bit of glitz to things. Strangely enough, they are also becoming increasingly hard to find. Many of them are just plastic with a metallic coating nowadays.

So what do I use these buttons for? Well, not to button up clothes I have made, that's for sure. I am not into making buttonholes! But they make wonderful decoration on arts and crafts.

But just in case you think I never use them for their intended purpose, I will show you my jar of trouser buttons, which I think I originally inherited from Bernie's Aunty Floris. Every now and then, one of my boys brings me a pair of pants to have a button replaced.

I found myself collecting pretty glass jars to keep buttons in.

Just lately I have started putting wooden buttons into their own basket.

Now these are some more of my most treasured ones - the glass buttons. I will never part with many of these on things I make to sell or give away. I just love the feel of them. And when you hold them up to your lips, they feel so cool and smooth. Only the "mouth test" enables you to distinguish between glass and plastic when it comes to buttons and beads.

What has made me think of buttons lately is my latest RR page for Jan in New Zealand. Jan's adjective was 'Inspirational'. I decided I was most inspired by colour, and aimed to produce a colour wheel, which I painted on silk. There did not seem anything more appropriate than buttons to pick up those colours - after all, I have been having fun with them from the time I first walked and talked! (And I still like to put them in my mouth!)

This is my "Bright as a Button" wallhanging I made a few years back. Most of these buttons were fairly old ones. Our friend Samantha, who had given me her button jars many years ago, said she still recognised many of her buttons on it as late as last year.

Now I am not a button collector in the traditional sense of the word. I don't go looking for special types, or old ones or rare ones - although I would not say "no" if you were to offer me some. But I think you will agree I have managed to collect a few. They have come in handy on a number of people have been looking for something special.

In this day and age when so few people knit and sew, there is not a great range of buttons available in the stores, and what they have are rather expensive. I have often been able to put together a set of buttons for someone for a particular project. It often involves sifting through the buttons in all the jars - but for me, that is a pure tactile pleasure!!

TAPA CLOTH

Nowadays we have become accustomed to the fabrics from which we fashion our garments being either knitted or woven. The types of fibres we use have certainly expanded since my childhood, when, in sewing classes, we learned that the main fibre groups were cotton, wool, silk, linen and rayon. Soon after that, a whole range of nylons and polys exploded onto the market, but the methods of transforming them into fabric remained much the same.

Our ancestors, of course, made good use of skins and furs, before they learned to spin and weave, but how did the people of the Pacific Islands manage, when these materials were not available to them? We know they made use of feathers and foliage, particularly for ceremonial dress.

The art of weaving was well known to the Polynesians, but was used more for such things as baskets and even shelters. They lacked suitable fibres for spinning and weaving cloth.


A widely used cloth for bedding and clothing throughout Polynesia and the Pacific, and even areas of Asia, was the tapa cloth. The production of tapa cloth was more akin to the process of paper making.


The inner bark of various trees is stripped and beaten into a "fusion." In many Pacific island, the resulting cloth would then be further embellished by dyeing, printing or stamping, often using symbols belonging to the wearer or his/her tribe or family.

My friend Annette, who has spent time on Pitcairn, says the freshly-made tapa cloth is a little stiff for clothing, and was often used for bedding until it had become softer.


My task for last month's "Stitching Together" Round Robin was to interpret the word "Ethnic." I chose to interpret the ethnicity of my DH Bernie and my children, which is best descibed as "Bounty Tahitian."


Because we are a needlework group, and as such fascinated by anything textile, I thought I would feature the making of Tapa cloth.


Pauline is a Norfolk Islander of Bounty descent. She is married to George, who is a Tahitian Tattoo artist. They have been living in Tahiti for some years, but have now relocated, with their two children, to Norfolk Island.

Bernie (right) with George Barff, Pauline and young Mauatua

Pauline is one of those wonderful people who has committed herself to being a type of custodian of those values and skills of her Polynesian cultural roots. She was happy to help me out with my page.


This picture was taken in Tahiti.
It shows Meralda, who is a Pitcairn Islander of Bounty descent, and, like Pauline, very proud of her roots. The little girl is Pauline's daughter Mauatua, who is named after Fletcher Christian's Tahitian wife. Together, Meralda and Mauatua are beating some bark with a wooden mallet to produce a piece of Tapa.


This is a piece of tapa made by Pauline from the bark of the Pacific Banyan, and displayed at our Community Arts Exhibition this year.


Pauline very kindly produced a small piece of tapa cloth for me, and I attached it to my page using a strip of cloth produced by Sue, another Norfolk Artist of Bounty descent. Sue produces wonderful lengths of printed cloth, using Polynesian style designs.


The background of my page is a piece of marbled fabric that I made a while back.


I added some shells and black pearls (faux, unfortunately) to add to the symbolism of the page.

MARMALADE

We do not import fruit or vegetables into Norfolk Island.

We grow what we eat.

We may have to "go without" at times, but what we have is always fresh and seasonal'

Many of us have fruit trees, and we usually have more than we need, so we share what we have with family and friends.

There is plenty to go round, and there is the added bonus of knowing it is grown without lots of chemicals, ripened naturally on the tree, and very little in the way of carbon emissions in transporting it!

This year we are having a great citrus season. We do not have a lot ourselves - just a bush lemon ot two, an old orange tree that has just started bearing again after we cleared around it, a very sour mandarin, and a "Mary B" grapefruit (named after me) that has refused to bear after an over-severe pruning a couple of years ago.

There is also a young Meyer lemon, and an Egyptian lime which are still very young.

But we have been given lots of lovely fruit - Vanuatan grapefruit from John and Jan, yellow grapefruit and mandarins from Edie, tiny limes from the other Edie (they pack a punch!), oranges and mandarins from Shirley. And I have been able to buy plenty from our new Growers' Market.

And I have been making lots of marmalade!I really love cutting the peel. It is so therapeutic. Grapefruit peel is my favourite. It stays firm, but is not as chewy as orange peel. These pink grapefruit were a surprise and made a fantastic batch of marmalade. But as the season, and progressed, the flesh went a yellowy-green - but the marmalade still turned out great!

I must have made more than six or eight different batches - grapefruit, mandarin, sweet orange, 3 fruit, 4 fruit, chunky, fine shred. I even took the squeezed orange shells from Matt's stall at the markets and made a really lovely orange one.

Fortunately our bush lemon tree is loaded with fruit, because I always add the juice and pips of a couple of those to help with the setting.

Here are some of the jars in our old food safe.

There is no mystique about making marmalade. Some of the recipes make it sound complicated. I must admit my technique and process is a little different from most recipes. I always strain both the peel and the flesh really well.

Quantities? Well I must confess to "eyeballing" and fudging, but it always seems to work. And I have won first prize in the local show for the last two years, so I must be doing something right!

I suppose most people would steer clear of misshapen and black-skinned fruit like this in supermarkets on the mainland. But a bit of a scub with a pot scourer brings them up nice and clean. The fruit inside is not affected.

And we are so grateful for our lovely fresh and safe that we enjoy in such abundance here on Norfolk Island.

RAU-TI and other garden friends

The other day, Bernie and I were sitting on the front verandah, and noticed that the Rau-ti bushes were all in glorious bloom.

I was about to get my camera, but was distracted, and did not think of it again until the next day. Unfortunately some wind and rain had meant that the blooms were past their best by then, but they are still so very beautiful.

The Rau-ti plants, members of the Dracaena family, are found throughout the Pacific Islands, and are extremely useful as well as decorative. The Polynesians have used the long, broad leaves for making "skirts". leis and headgear, and other decorative purposes. I notice that our Fijian friends favour it to line serving dishes.

They can be used to wrap around food that is to be baked in an oven or on a fire. The root can be used as a food, but it is far more popular when fermented to produce a highly potent alcoholic beverage!!

Devon has many Rau-ti plants scattered around, both the red and green variety. This is partly because it was one of Bernie's mother's favourite plants. She always had a cutting or two sitting in water in a big jardiniere in the kitchen fireplace. They are easy to strike, and as soon as they had developed roots, they would go out into the woodland or the garden.

Bernie and I have carried on the tradition, although we tend to place the stalks in a garbage bin of water at the side of the house. Gradually we have spread them further through the woodland, as well as the road frontage and some of the bushes have become really big.

You can imagine how the bees love these blossoms!

But yesterday, I saw a lovely butterfly enjoying them too!

I don't know if it is the time of year, but the 'Nutmeg' bush (Iboza)in front of the house has burst out into very similar fluffy blossoms!

Meanwhile, I was ready last month with my camera to capture the old Persimmon tree, beside Devon Cottage, in all its Autumn glory this year. I am usually too slow to get it at its best, but I managed to get this shot before the wind and rain produced a carpet of red and gold on the ground!

GIRLIE TIME (plus one small boy)

It all happened rather spontaneously the other morning.

Tina had dropped Sally round to our place, so we could go through some old photos, and compare memories. She stopped for a coffee, and then Kim arrived with William, so I could mind him for the morning.

Now Tina and Kim have been inspired by Sally's knitting. Over the past few years Sally has produced lots of rugs out of feathery wool for her children, grandchildren and even their pets. They agreed they would like to start on some projects of their own.

Next thing, while we were all discussing things like needles, patterns and wool, I went off and found lots of bits and pieces of yarn in my stash. And next thing we were all getting quite chatty and excited the way girls usually do over things like colour and fabric and needlework.

Bernie walked by a couple of times, and the look on his face can most charitably be described as 'puzzled.' It was a look, accompanied by something between a sigh and a sniff, that said "how on earth could we get so worked up about things like that, and surely we had better things to do?"
But William had great fun. Hopefully he will grow up to be a SNAG (Sensitive New Age Guy)

The time really passed so quickly, but it was fun while it lasted!

My collection of "Big Buttons" - must get William onto playing with them and sorting through them.

TEDDY'S BIRTHDAY

There are lots of good places to 'get-together' on Norfolk Island, and currently one of the favourites is for 'Breakfast at Governor's'. So a special occasion was planned for Teddy's 6th birthday last week, with family and close friends - and all the food you can eat!!! Even more special was the fact that his granny (my sister Sally) had made a special visit to Norfolk Island for the occasion!

Now Teddy loves loves exploring and discovering things. You might say he will be a scientist when he grows up, but Teddy insists he is already a scientist. So his Granny gave him a Scientist's outfit for his birthday, complete with white coat, specs and magnifying glass!

Another of Teddy's special passions is CUSHIONS! That may sound strange, but with cushions, you can count them, stack them, arrange them in patterns, balance them, cuddle them, throw them, jump on them, squeeze them, and when you a tired of all that, you can put your head down on them and have a rest.
Ross the Upholsterer keeps me supplied with remnants, so I made a set of cushions for Teddy using some very special fake fur fabric.

Kim made Teddy a special volcano and dinosaur cake - two more of his special interests! Sister Sienna is keen to tuck into some of that yummy icing.

William just loves parties, and we captured him in a fit of the giggles here.