Sister Four

Lil' Bec is Up, Up and Away

2011-10-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

As I write this, my friend Lil' Bec is over the Pacific somewhere on her way to visit her sister in America......I'm so jealous!
I finished her headband in time and she's taken it with her. Darn should have gotten a photo of it on her pretty head.

I put it on my glass head stand to take the photo. It was made on my Mirrix Loom

On Saturday night I went with some friends to see The Motown Show at Merrylands RSL, what a top night. The show was fabulous, they performed all my favorites from that era and were as good as the originals - well, you know what I mean.
Akinga is the name of the band that puts on the show, along with added performers, wonderful music made my night!
Live music is to be encouraged, not just live but exceptionally well played and done professionally.
In my job as Zoo Keeper at the Jungle Bar I get to listen and watch many bands and artists and I must say some of them leave quite a lot to be desired!

That's it for this week, I'm going to try and update weekly.
I'm off to warp my loom and make another couple of headbands before starting on my big project....more about that later
Cheers, Dinah

Into The 21st Century and Beyond

2011-10-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

I've done it, I've caught up on all things techie/geeky. I got myself a Tablet PC and love it!
I will be/ am using it for my beading patterns, trying to save some trees.
So with the pattens on my tablet, I don't have to print out anymore and
it's so cool having it beside me as I sit at the loom,
I can keep an eye on Facebook, the news and even watch a tv program, all whilst getting on with my work.
I'm finishing off a Tapestry Beaded Headband for my girl Bec.
Lucky Bec is off to the States on Sunday to catch up with her sister amongst other things.
So jealous.
Not to be left out I am going on a girls night out on Saturday, off to Dinner and a Show.
Will tell you all about it next week.

Till then cheers,
Dinah

Looming Large

2011-10-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well I'm enjoying having the time to really get into my craft's.
I took the plunge and bought a Loom, not just any old loom but a Mirrix Loom!
It's fabulous!
I intend to do a wall hanging of a frog , of course, but firstly I needed to learn all the
fun things this loom can do.

So here is my first serious project it's a beaded cuff.

I enjoyed making it so much I made two and am in the process of doing a headband also.
Need to pay homage to the ladies from Mirrix, they share lots of tips and tricks as well as patterns on their blogs
http://awordfromelena.blogspot.com/ and http://mirrixlooms.blogspot.com
and the Mirrix site http://www.mirrixlooms.com/
Looking forward to bead weaving my frog, lots of pretty beads ready to use.

Cheers, Dinah

So what is Semi-Retirement?

2011-03-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

Well I finally took the plunge and now only work 3 days a week ( actually I do nights, but that's another story!)
People have been saying for years that when you retire you need to find things to do.
I still run out of time with all my projects and learning new tricks with my beading and related craft.

I've gotten back into reading also, which is bliss. I have a stack of books waiting to be read.

I'm still transfering my old vinyls to cd as well as photos.
I found this great one of Mum yesterday, it's only a little photo, but it's a great photo of her

Must dash, have lot's to do still so little time
Nospoj

A Great Night Out

2009-06-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Just got back in from a great night out. Started with dinner at Thai Pot Hong Restaurant
The food was delicious and the service excellent, but the wine OMG!
It was Lillypilly Red Velvet a Rosé. This wine has to be tasted to be belived.
I have become a rosé fan again after not drinking wine for many years, and have tried a few nice ones lately this is the absolute best ever!

Then went off to see the stage play of my all time favorite movie - Steele Magnolias
an absolute delight.
Jackie Weaver was great as Truvy and Geraldine Turner played Ouiser, who has my all time favorite line from a movie,
" I'm not crazy M'Lynn, I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years!"

The other great line comes from Clairee, played beautifully by Jennifer Hagan,
"If you can't say anything nice about anyone, come sit by me."

The entire cast are brilliant. Annelle is played by Ana Maria Belo; Shelby is played by Marian Frizelle, and M'Lynn is played by Debra Lawrence.

It's on at the Seymour Centre till the end of June, and is then touring round the country. Don't miss this one!
Cheers
Nospoj

Unforgettable Lady

2009-05-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

It is with much sadness that I make this posting, My sister passed away on Friday 1st May, this is my tribute to her.

Barbara Therese Snow was born 27^th April, 1940.It was Mum and Dad's 5^th Wedding Anniversary.

Barb, as we all called her, was Peter and Vera's second daughter.

With Aileen in place, as eldest,Carolyn and I just had to keep the alphabet going.

Just in case you didn't realise we are A, B, C, and D.

Barb liked to travel and in her younger years Queensland was the destination,it was where she met her late husband, Brian. They had two boys, Alan and Gary.

Barb was widowed in the late 80's and continued working for many years.
A Telephonist/Receptionist for two high profile legal firms, she was held in very high regard all her working life.
She continued her travels taking the boys on a cruise, and joining friends for a trip to Canada and later to Japan.

Barb realised one of her dreams after retiring, when she moved to Diamond Beach. A Bottle Shop and a Butcher’s had just opened and she often jokingly said this was the reason she settled on the property.

The beach and the sunshine is what she really enjoyed.
Barb loved living on the coast, and made many friends in dune care and craft classes, however as her health failed, she went on outings with the Senior Citizens, and the very supportive Lung Net group.

Her Visitors Books are filled with fabulous comments from all who visited her, and Barb was a wonderful hostess in the days before she became really ill.
If you didn’t get a birthday card from Barb on your birthday, then you would worry something must be wrong.

Barb was a vibrant lady, straight forward and full of fun, a wonderful sister/ sister – in - law, a loving mum and grandma, and a very caring auntie to her many nieces and nephew’s.

Rest in Peace Barb.

This Just In

2009-03-04T22:22:00.000-08:00

Shoot on over to Craft Gossip they are giving away 440 prizes in their
March Madness Giveaway.
Don't be shy it's only an email to win!
Nospoj

Name That Tune 2 Revealed!

2009-03-02T22:11:00.000-08:00

G'Day Everybody,

Name that Tune 2 = "She's A Lady"; she's got a "Ticket to Ride" and she's got "Bette Davis Eyes".
The words to the last song go:- "

Her hair is Harlowe gold
Her lips sweet surprise
Her hands are never cold
She's got Bette Davis eyes

So I got a pic of Jean Harlow, and
one of Bette Davis'eyes.Played in photoshop.
The result you can see.
The lips being a small rose therefore a "sweet suprise"!

I will continue to post here when I finish a page,
as I have officially resigned from the BJP2008\9,
but I will finish the project,
only not in the official time frame.

Thanks to everyone for your support over the last few months.
Cheers
Nospoj

I'm still standing!

2009-02-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

Been awhile since I last posted here, but have been dealing with some health issues that saw me suddenly in hospital for five days.
I'm fine, had a minor heart scare, I say minor as they couldn't find out what really caused the chest pain I experienced.
Did lots of tests but only could come up with that I have high cholesterol (I already knew that!) but it's not high enough to be on medication for!
I lost two weeks work which in this economic climate I didn't need.
I am now on a two week holiday, taking it easy catching up with friends and family.
I haven't beaded since January and here it is nearly March.
There is a Craft Fair next week, and I'm hoping to find the inspiration I need to get back into it.
Cheers
Nospoj

Name That Tune 2

2009-01-12T08:28:00.001-08:00

G'Day,
Here is Page Two of my BJP for 2008, there are three songs in this one, hope you have fun guessing.
Cheers Nospoj

Seasons Greetings

2008-12-15T23:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas And a Happy New Year To All!

Name That Tune....

2008-12-07T19:08:00.001-08:00

one
Originally uploaded by nospoj

is the theme this year. Each page will have one, sometimes two or three, songs depicted on it.
I'm revealing the songs depicted in the first one, but at the end of the 11 months, the names of each song and corresponding month will be revealed!

The songs in ONE:-
It's the "Best Disco in Town", to get there "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" and the dress code is "A White Sports Coat and a Pink Carnation". Remember it's my interpration of the songs, so you may not guess correctly, then again you may!
Nospoj - Dinah

I have been beading......

2008-11-26T21:32:00.000-08:00

and here is the latest - not for the BJP - but a pressie for my bestest friend for Christmas. As she hasn't a computer I know it will not spoil the suprise putting it here for you to peruse.
She is the Eeyore to my Tigger, she helps keep me grounded when I go bounding all over the place!
And for this I give much thanks!

My BJP pages are coming along nicely thanks and Yes in a few days time I will post what I have achived in the first quarter. I have finished September and October and November a doing well also.
Cheers till then
Nospoj

Time Time Time

2008-11-25T03:43:00.000-08:00

G'Day, if anybody wants to give me a gift this Christmas, I have decided on the perfect one for me!
Any spare time you have, that you aren't going to use, then wrap it up and put it under the Christmas Tree for me!
I could make really good use of all the spare time you don't need, from a minute to an hour or more.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could do that! Sometimes when I'm at work and there is nothing happening, I often think of all the things I could be at home doing.
My Bead Journal pages are suffering at the moment from lack of time and I have quite a few Christmas presents that have still to be made. I know I'll get there but would be nice not to have to rush.

Happy Holidays Everybody

I'm Still Standing

2008-11-04T23:25:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since my last post but then life has a way of catching up with you. As John Lennon once noted -
"Nobody told me there's be days like these, strange days indeed, most peculiar Mama".

I've been working on the BJP08, making earrings,bracelets and also went to see "My FairLady" at the Theatre Royal last month.

It was a great show but not really my cup of tea. Richard Grant was very good but I really loved Nancy Hayes as Professor Higgins Mother, she to me, was a standout.

Looking forward to seeing Steel Magnolias in June next year, it's playing at the Seymour Centre in Chippendale.

And So it's nearly Christmas so time will fly even faster now as we head into the 'silly season'.
I've noticed that once Melbourne Cup Day is past everything just seems to go haywire!

I'm not a political person but I must congratulate Barack Obama on winning the US Election.
Hopefully he can bring some sanity to world events
Talk again soon
Dinah

Spring Has Sprung

2008-09-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

Aaaah, Spring! A time for new growth and what an aproporiate time to begin the new Bead Journal Project 2008/9. Like the other 258 participants, I now pick up needle and thread and begin another fabulous journey, my theme is planned but that dosen't mean I'll stick with it. I am a Gemini after all and will (as is my right) stray from this during the course of the year.
I will share my journey here with you but there won't be any photos until after the third month as on the main BJP Blog.
I hope to have a few suprises for you then.

So What Do You Care About?

2008-08-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

Do you have a thing for the environment?
Concerned for Animal Welfare or other Humanitarian Rights?
Do you strive for excellence in all that you do?
Do you sometimes feel that 'we the people' are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to our elected officials not to mention our "superiors" at work?
Need a break, then check this out :
Randy Cassingham's Blog
Randy writes a newsletter each week that I have subscribed to for about five years now and it's part of what get's me through the week.
This is True - and yes there is a feeling of "Only in America" in there, but even I get embarrassed by the Australian entries and there have been a few over the years. Having said that I also notice this is a world- wide - dare I say - epidemic!
Hope you will enjoy This Is True as much as I do, or at least it will get you thinking!

Birthday Celebrations

2008-06-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

Been a while since I posted anything, I've been having a little holiday from my beading and other things.
It was my Birthday last Saturday and I thought you might like to see the great Beer Glasses my friend bought me

BJP 2007 Completed 9:20am Today

2008-05-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

This page I had the most trouble with.
I have two unfinished pages for August,
which will now go into the BJP 2008.
I love this pendant and I finally decided that as
I don’t wear necklaces and only make them
on request, I’d use it as a center piece
in my August page.
The song ‘I never Promised you a Rose Garden ‘
went through my mind and thought
it was apt as the August deadline
has long past, it’s now May 2008!
And this is definatey NOT a Rose Garden.
I'd also like to share with you my May page
As I made this the song,' Windmills of Your Mind'
kept going through my head.
Especially the line,
' Like the circles that you find,
In the windmills of your mind'
Then I read Robin's post about using symbols
in our work and did the test.
Yes, Spirals were No1 for me, go figure!
Link to Robin Atkins Post on Using Symbols in Artwork and their meanings

Walk on Cherry Shoes

2008-04-10T02:53:00.001-07:00

This is my April page for the BJP.
I was inspired to do this one because of a song written and sung by my friend Adam Dwyer. If you go to his site http://www.my space.com/platypus25
you can hear the song in question.
"Walk on Cherry Shoes" is one of my favorites.

I am Sister Four

2008-04-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly I finished this BJP page for March, but to be honest, there are not too many beads on this page. I decided some time ago that I would do a page to honor my 'Sisterhood'.
I am the youngest of four girls, we are all so very different but at the same time so much alike. We are also in alphabetical order, yes we are!
The eldest is A - Aileen, next is B - Barbara, then C - Carolyn and me D - Dinah.

I don't believe that Mum and Dad planned this but by the time I was born I think it was a given that whether boy or girl I'd be a D.

We don't see each other all that often these days, as we live in different parts of the state - NSW Australia - but are in touch often via telephone or email.
This depicts how we are connected by a chain (Daisy) of genes.

I am also in the sister(and brother)hood of beading and I cannot tell you how much support I have received from my fellow beaders. The other members of the BJP 2007 group, who are going through this journey with me, and another group here in Australia, all the girls at the Paradise Bead Forum.

To see this one and all my BJP pages and everyone elses, go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/2007_bead_journal_project

Love, Love, Love,Love Is All You Need,

2008-04-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

This is not my usual posting but as you know I'm a beader and involved in the Bead Journal Project 2007. The Page I made for February is so about music and my all time favorite group, that I thought I'd share it here as well!
Hope you like it!

Local Hero

2008-03-29T04:46:00.000-07:00

I have a young musician friend who had a gig tonight at the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle.
Naturally, I went as support for him but I also love his music, so it was a win win situation.
I took a video of his performance, picture quality is not great, as I am a beader not a photographer, but it's a small sample of his work.

Adam Dywer is his name and a name to keep your eye out for as I'm sure he will go on to bigger and better things. Adam has been in bands before but has now ventured onto a solo career. He writes all his own material and tonight played an acoustic set.
You can see the video on Webshots

by nospoj

If you'd like to hear more of Adam's work, check out his My Space Page and give his songs a listen!
www.my space.com/platypus25

It's the Music, I tell you, Love the Music!

Billy Elliott - DoYourself a Favour!!

2008-03-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

This is a show I wanted to see but none of my friends were too sure about it. I finally persuaded my friend Kerry to come.
Well, now she says if I say let's go - she's coming!
The young man playing 'Billy' here in Sydney is a name to watch in the future - Nick Twiney. As a lead actor/dancer he is fabulous and only 14 according to the programme.
This show selling because we've seen the movie and loved it! No big names, no stars,the only thing I'd heard was that the music is by Elton John.
Well as I said earlier - Do yourself a favour go see this show, you'll laugh, cry, and just be swept away by the high energy of the cast. Oh yes there is some great eye candy for us ladies! We were sitting second row back and wow I even spied a good sort in the orchestra pit!!!
The kids in the show were all great, but there was one real scene stealer - we decided he was played by Joel Slater and only 11 - he plays 'Michael' and the lad has real attitude, and is a great comic.
So off you go now grab some friends and tickets and have a truly great night out!

You Know You Make Me.........

2008-03-04T05:48:00.000-08:00

Wanna Shout!
Just arrived home from a fabulous night of entertainment at the Lyric Theatre here in Sydney, went to see "Shout!" the Legend of the Wild One - Johnnie O'Keefe.
An amazing cast Tim Campbell, Colleen Hewitt, Glen Shorrock, Mark Holden and who would have believed that John Paul Young was a comic genius!
The chorus of singers/dancers never out of step kept us tapping our feet, iching to get up and dance ourselves!
Felt sorry for the people sitting in front of us as we sang, clapped and cheered our way through every song.
Alexis Fishman has a fabulous voice and can really belt out a tune!
High energy, great music and a good story all in one Australian show. Wow!
Can't recommend this show highly enough!

Is This Just The Beginning?

2008-02-28T17:47:00.000-08:00

In 2007 I made a New Year's Resolution - To go to every concert/show that I wanted to see. I had such a great year that is now my permanent resolution.

In 2007 I saw Eric Clapton; Steely Dan; Bob Dylan; two shows at the Sydney Opera House featuring Beatles Music - The White Album Concert and Let It Be; Priscilla The Musical; The War Of The Worlds - Live and Dame Edna Back With Avengance.

Last night Feb 28 2008 I saw Santana - wow what a show, two and a half hours of non stop fantastic music. Carlos was on fire showing what a superb guitarist he is, whilst the rest of the band were equally impressive.
The drummer,Dennis Chambers, played a solo during 'Soul Sacrafice' that went of for at least 20 mins; raising the roof at Acer Arena here in Sydney.

If music be the food of life I might just put on weight!

----------------
Now playing: Carlos Santana - Soul Sacrifice
via FoxyTunes