Tuesday, 29 December 2015

Belated Christmas Wishes

 
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!
We spent the day with family and had a very pleasant time of it.
 
I handmade some little Christmas chocolate boxes to give out at a friend's lunch a few days before the big day. I featured our native Christmas tree, nuytsia floribunda, which flowers at this time of year and can be spotted from miles away with its fluorescent orange blossoms. I have been meaning to take a snap of one in local bushland but have yet to get around to it. So this is the best I had on hand to give some idea of what it looks like in the bush. I took this photo from the car window while travelling to Cervantes last year so it's a bit blurry.
 
 
I managed to keep my trips to the shops during the Christmas madness to a minimum, but when I did make an appearance at this local shopping centre it looked very festive and wasn't too hectic.
 
 
Speaking of festive, my friend Corinne always does things with flair. Her homemade fruit mince pies looked very fetching on this vintage plate but they didn't last long! 
 
 
 
 
 One of her lovely roses in full bloom below, and above, a colourful display hanging from her balcony rafters.
 
 
The beach has been very distracting of late with summer upon us.
 
 
 Above is a picture of me at the beach yesterday, covered up and energised after a swim. The maximum temperature got to 41.6C (107F approx.)

 
Divine conditions! As is ever the way, a camera cannot compete with reality for capturing exactly how gorgeous everything is. To make things worse, my phone's camera was doing strange things and I couldn't get nice crisp shots. 
 

 
Below are some photos taken from other recent beach visits.
 

 
 
 The seaweed and shells are so pretty
 
 
 
I was asked to do a mug design for the Wildflower Society's 30 year anniversary recently and here is the printed product.
 

 
Below is my friend Katie reading my book at the iconic bathing boxes on Brighton Beach in Melbourne.
 
 
My book is also now available at the Bodhi Tree Book Café in Mt Hawthorn.
 
 
I am planning to participate in Leslie Saeta's famous 30 day painting challenge starting on the 1st January. This will be my third time so I'm not quite as terrified as I was the first time, but I'm not far from it! 
 
Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!
Posted by at

26 comments:

  1. Sami29 December 2015 at 08:03

    Have a wonderful 2016 Wendy! The whole family stayed indoors yesterday, the visitors aren't used to that kind of heat!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2015 at 01:30

      Yes, sometimes staying in the air-conditioning is the best option! To be honest it was only later in the day that I realised how high the maximum got.
      Wishing you a wonderful 2016 too! I look forward to seeing what murals you unearth over the next six months!

      Delete
  2. Chris Lally29 December 2015 at 12:50

    Great post, Wendy! Love the photos (especially the beautiful mug). Happy New Year and best of luck with the challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2015 at 02:00

      Thanks so much Chris! What inspiring links you have provided on your latest post - I have been visiting some of them - thanks for sharing!
      Happy New Year!!

      Delete
  3. Celia Blanco29 December 2015 at 12:57

    Belated Christmas wishes from me too, Wendy! I hope the New Year brings much joy,happiness and creativity! The water looks so inviting, I admit it...I am a little jealous! Beautiful photos, and the boxes are a wonderful idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2015 at 02:13

      Thanks so much Celia! When are you coming to visit Australia? I can imagine you and your family over here enjoying the beaches.
      I love your plein air watercolours you are doing lately - I'm a little jealous of your Italian landscape :) - wonderful for sketching expeditions! I hope you have a wonderful 2016!

      Delete
  4. Unknown29 December 2015 at 14:16

    what a fabulous idea to create your own chocolate boxes for your friends...did you make the choccy's that went in them too? So pretty. Also love the mug with your wildflower illustrations on it commemorating 30 years; so fabulous Wendy! oh what i would give to join you on that beach in that glorious sunshine, today it was -10 with a 30 km/hour north wind and snow all over the ground. ugh, cant wait to move to Victoria in 2020 when we retire...the only part of Canada that manages to avoid winter! love your festive photos, thanks for sharing this post. Happy New Year! see you on the 30 in 30!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett1 January 2016 at 05:06

      You are very kind Sally! No, I'm afraid I just bought choccies to go in the boxes.
      Brrr, I can't even begin to comprehend temps in the vicinity of minus 10.
      A very Happy New Year to you too and I look forward to being a sister-in-arms on the challenge! One down, twenty-nine to go!

      Delete
  5. Joan Tavolott29 December 2015 at 17:23

    Thanks for sharing a bit of your Christmas with us. I love the photos and your painting of the orange blossomed tree...very unusual. How lucky to receive a box of chocolates from you that look like that. I'm jealous of the beach photos. I will see you in the 30 in 30. This will be my 2nd time participating and I enjoyed doing it last year, even if some of the days were very hectic. Have a wonderful New Year and an inspired 2016!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett1 January 2016 at 05:47

      Thanks so much Joan!
      You're off to a great start with the challenge Joan - I look forward to keeping up with your paintings throughout January. Have a wonderful New Year!

      Delete
  6. Patricia30 December 2015 at 03:04

    Your Christmas boxes are beautiful - lucky recipients! You look very nice at the beach, and 41 deg!! That is too much to bear!
    Happy new year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett1 January 2016 at 05:49

      Thanks Patricia. Yes, luckily I had already cooled off at the beach before it got quite to that temperature. It's amazing how long you feel cool for afterwards.
      Happy New Year to you too!

      Delete
  7. Debra30 December 2015 at 07:50

    Your mug design is lovely-thank you for sharing the beach with us in the cold North!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett2 January 2016 at 04:55

      Thanks Debra! Am happy to share our heat with you!

      Delete
  8. juliefordoliver.blogspot.com30 December 2015 at 10:16

    Neat idea with the personalized boxes. Love - no, would adore drinking a cuppa out of the fabulous mug... pretty colors make me happy!
    Thanks for the beautiful summer pics. The weather has been so destructive in the US they allowed me some tranquility.
    Happy New Year and wishing you many great painting and creative days ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett2 January 2016 at 05:01

      You are very kind Julie! Sorry to hear you've had destructive weather over there. I saw that you'd had more snow than usual for your area.
      Wishing you a very creative and happy New Year!!

      Delete
  9. Loree30 December 2015 at 12:22

    What a pretty mug. You did a great job. Happy new year Wendy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett2 January 2016 at 05:02

      Thanks so much Loree! Happy New Year to you to! I am just about to catch up on your lovely blog!

      Delete
  10. Margaret D30 December 2015 at 19:43

    I really like your Christmas boxes you made.
    That was a very hot day, good place to be was in the sea.
    Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett2 January 2016 at 05:02

      Thanks Margaret! Love all your recent picturesque photos of Tasmania!

      Delete
  11. Barbara Muir30 December 2015 at 21:29

    Wonderful mug,am loving your delightful book. The ocean looks beautiful indeed. 107 F is way too warm for me. Yikes. Happy New Year and thanks for your super comments. You make me happy!

    XOXOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett2 January 2016 at 05:03

      Thanks Barbara, I'm so pleased to hear that you are enjoying my book.
      Happy New Year to you too - your artwork is happiness itself!

      Delete
  12. Jane1 January 2016 at 01:49

    Oh how I would love to be at that beach too , what a gorgeous sight! Love your cup , really lovely , your creativity is immense! Wishing you and your family a wonderful 2016 !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett2 January 2016 at 05:05

      You are very kind Jane - I really appreciate your comments. I hope you and your family have a fabulous 2016!

      Delete
  13. Helen Cooper1 January 2016 at 02:01

    Love the boxes you made Wendy, I'm sure your friends really loved them too! Great to see all the photos and that mug! ......what a terrific thing to be asked to do. It looks sensational.
    Wishing you a Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy Barrett2 January 2016 at 05:09

      Thanks so much Helen! May 2016 bring even more excitement for you on the creative front! I'm so thrilled with my cricketer!

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)