New project & New Stamp.

 As part of fund raising for research into the migratory birds that visit Australia and other international sites and their habitats, a series of prints is being made in studios and schools around the world.  These will be exhibited in various venues over the coming years.
I decided to focus on the critically endangered Curlew Sandpiper. Here are my 2 proposed images from which to cut stamps and the first 2 prints, both of which need further trimming.

 As these birds are foreshore birds, I wanted some ripples to go with them to indicate shallow water, but this stamp is not correct in perspective at all! The bird carving is pretty well O.K though.

                    The final stamp and image as well as the ripple stamp which will need replacing.

Return to the Cracked Mud & Water.

                Although you can barely see it, all the printed strips of silk have been hand stitched.

I followed the contours of the water patterns in a simple running stitch in the colours of the printed water.

As the stitching is so hard to see, I think that I'll add some more in metallic threads, again in the colours of the water patterns.

As this pattern shows the reflections of some reeds, the colours are much more vibrant and the stitching more obvious.

This shows the piece with the metallic stitches. Click on the image to see it in more detail, and hopefully to see the metallic threads.

Amazing Home!

 While walking into town one morning I spotted this amazing 'home' in amongst the trees. I wasn't at all sure that it was really a home, as it is so bizarre that I thought it might have been an unoccupied 'folly'

However, someone assured me that it was indeed an occupied home. What an fascinating building that is apparently being continually added on to, as you can see on the far left of the first photo.

 

A detail of the house.

 

Pretty Birds.

 What a collection of beautiful birds! On retreat in the country town of Warburton this week we were entertained once again by the colourful bird visitors to the outside deck where the owners of the house put out seed for the birds. Here is a collection of male and female King parrots, the males have the beautiful red heads and the females have green. Top right are 2 Eastern Rosellas hoping to get some seed too.

   The seed dish on the railing is a popular spot too, with this King Parrot pushing out a Galah.

                                               
                                 He, or she, has it all to themselves now and can eat in peace.

Goodbye Brisbane.

                             It was only a short visit to Brisbane, but what a lovely few days!

                                                            Goodbye Mr. Butcherbird.

Great Sign!

 Anyone walking briskly past this sign would just assume that it's the usual Private Property sign, but while I was waiting nearby I looked at it more closely................how lovely is that!

                                     The birds don't seem too put out by the hovering drone.

                    Three species in one treetop, an Ibis, a Magpie and a Butcher bird lower down.

Tropical Flowers.

 Not only does this Poinsettia seem to be blooming at the wrong time of year, it's growing out in the open in a park, just outside a toilet block. I can see what my flower for the month of July will be.

I had a little bit of trouble identifying this creeper which was growing in profusion over walls and fences. It seems to be a Flame Vine, which is very apt as it flowers profusely and just glows with colour.

Straw-Neck Ibis.

 While walking in a city park I spotted this Straw-Neck ibis and was amazed by the colours and patterns on it's wing feathers that were shining in the sun.

                 I'm sure that I could use these lovely colours and patterns in some artwork!

                                       I wonder what I can do in Photoshop with this image.