Christmas decorating with flowers

When our middle child was due 4 years ago we had a flurry of activity around the house, as expectant parents often seem to :-). One of our jobs was replanting our small front garden with native Australian plants, which I have a real thing for. Luckily the Mr agreed with me on the focal point being a red flowering gum tree (though I didn't win the Kangaroo Paw argument :-).



And now for the third Christmas in a row we have been rewarded with the most gorgeous bright red flowers. It feels like they are celebrating with us and cheers up our little streetscape immensely. The flowering time is short, unfortunately, so I try to make the most of it by cutting some to enjoy in the house and the kids love picking up those have dropped each day to put in little vases here and there.



Another way I like to use them is to place them in a simple wreath made of dried willow, little red glass baubles and ribbons. I love using natural elements to decorate the house and particularly love how the gum flowers add a bit of vibrancy and life to the wreath.



Do you have a favourite Christmassy flower or plant?

Flower love

I don't think of myself as a particularly patriotic Australian, but then I think about how much I love our wildlife, our landscapes, our scenery, and especially our lovely flowers... and I guess I kinda am.



Not traditionally thought of as 'pretty' as English Cottage garden flowers are, ours tend to be unusual, striking and sometimes quite odd looking. I have raved about them previously, so will restrain myself this time :-) But I did want to show you these Grevilleas, glorious in their shape and colours, which range from the delicate soft pale yellow through to blushing pink and bold bright red.



And all are found on our walk to school. Ahh.



PS. I'm solo parenting this week so might be quite quiet on the crafting & blogging front. No speed sewing for me this week!

Natural inspiration

The kids and I visited the Botanic Gardens in the city yesterday as a school holiday excursion, and I was struck by the absolute beauty of some of the plants. I'd forgotten that each time I've visited I feel this way, and it occurred to me that for an artist, nature can hold so much inspiration. Some of my most favourite plants and flowers are Australian natives, including the flowering gum (pictured above), along with Kangaroo Paws, Flannel Flowers and Waratahs. I thought I'd show you the design of one of my favourite little purses (and I'm lucky enough to have the satchel bag to match) by the very talented Australian textile designer Nicola Cerini. It features a waratah design printed onto silk:



There are many other Australian textile designers inspired by Australian native flora (and fauna), as I come across them in future I think I'll post on them to show you.


Another lovely flower, set in front of beautiful blue grey stone.


And a section from the wonderful sculptural cactus garden (obviously not native).


The kids found a huge old Morton Bay Fig with a hole in the base of the trunk large enough to play in. I think they imagined they were characters in the Enid Blyton classic book The Faraway Tree that we've been reading each night.



What makes this fig even more special is the view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from the front (can you see them through the winter mist?).



The kids didn't care so much about the view though. There were lots of things to forage around for amongst the impressive roots of the fig, looking for grubs and bugs to put in their new bug viewer. We all found inspiration in our own ways!