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Maxine: Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 3:38 PM
I grew up on a farm just west of Maya, Western Australia. Later my parents bought a small farm in Latham. Both are on the Northam-Mullewa Highway, known as the Wildflower Way, about 310km north-east of Perth and 46km east of Coorow, Latham is in country on the edge of the Murchison goldfields noted for its wildflowers and gemstones, although grain growing is the main commercial enterprise.
North and east of Latham it gets pretty sparse and barren, and just to the east of town is the extraordinarily-long “Rabbit Proof” fence that runs north to south in WA in a valiant attempt to keep out vermin such as dingoes and rabbits. That fence, by the way, is longer than the Great Wall of China. Some wags suggest that it has had as much success in holding back the vermin as the Great Wall of China had in dissuading the Mongol hordes.
This is the area to head for between July and September if you want to see some of the best and most colourful wildflower displays in WA. A special favourite among the many species in this area (WA has something like 8000 different varieties) is the well known wreath flower, Leschenaultia macrantha. After primary school at Latham, I boarded in Karrinyup with relatives so that I could attend Scarborough Senior High School and later on lived in Perth city and went to Business College before returning home for a few years. I worked at the Coorow Shire Council Office, which is where I met my husband, Barney and a great mate, Peter. Just after we were married in 1980, Barney got a new position with Melville City Council and we moved back to Perth. I worked in Medical Records at Fremantle Hospital where I met my best friend, Irene. Barney had two daughters and in 1984 we had a son. We now have 6 Grandchildren and 1 Great-Grandchild. We moved to Bibra Lake in 1985 and have been here ever since. We love the lake, its reserve and its wildlife. |
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Maxine: Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 2:23 PM
It is finished!! My "Bead Guild Feb 2011 Bead Challenge" entry I got the package of beads and threads home and poked them around for a few days before I finally had an idea of how to incorporate all the elements into a single item.  The theme being summer - I decided to make a beach bag and use the items from the challenge to decorate the pockets. The bag itself is turquoise linen lined with emerald green ripstop nylon. It has a large pocket on one side and a smaller one on the other. The straps are long enough to wear across the body like a satchel (to make it easier when carrying other items in your hands - or trying to keep the kids under control)  The larger pocket has a garden scene with flowers and a butterfly. I have used the threads as stems and leaves on some of the flowers and in the centre of the large orange "hibiscus". The hibiscus uses the memory wire to keep its shape and be 3D. Above the other pocket, on the strapwork, I have wrapped the heart and flower beads onto the chain and added a "bronzed Aussie" face. The chain and findings are in both silver and gold and are secured to the bag with a turquoise satin ribbon. I used all the elements in the challenge package, plus added a few of my own items to complete this project. |
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Maxine: Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010 9:26 PM
.•°*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°••°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜ .•°*”˜MERRY CHRISTMAS˜”*°•. ˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜HAPPY NEW YEAR˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.
LOVE MAXINE ♥ ♥ ♥ Wishing you and your families a wonderful and safe Christmas and a joyous and successful New Year. I have finished the Christmas shopping (except for Bud, the dog's gift) and have all but one gift wrapped. That one should arrive in the next couple of days. (Fingers crossed). While out on my usual "Girlfriend" day with Irene I bought a couple of books to add to the collection that I plan to read over the next couple of months. Have 3 going at the present (when I have a free moment). Also have the Bead Guild bead challenge to complete. I have managed to do quite a bit of this design so far and use most of the types of threads / beads that we were given, though a couple have been more challenging that others and I have had to think outside the "box". But that is exactly why I like entering competitions and participating in challenges, because you are given the opportunity to use items / methods that you wouldn't generally use. (Sometimes not as successfully as others - but then othertimes you are pleasantly surprised with the outcome.) Whatever you have planned over the Festive season, or on your holidays, I hope you have fun, and loved ones to share it with. With Love & Best Wishes Maxine xxx |
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Maxine: Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:42 PM
This is the link to my handcrafted Jewellery page which is different from my home page. When you have time, take a look and view some of my past and present designs. Remember to add that you "like" it. :o) Love Maxine |
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Maxine: Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2010 6:16 PM
This afternoon was the last meeting of the Bead Guild for 2010. The next meeting will be in Feb 5th, 2011. We all took a plate to share and members who had extra items that they no longer needed etc, had a bit of a jumble sale. I wasn't going to buy (I always tell myself that I have enough things), but when I got there, Leslie had some lovely little white centred, clear size 15 seedbeads and a chain of lovely links - so I just had to get them. The seedbeads, I have been working something out in my head for a while so will use them shortly, but the chain will be added to all the others, just waiting for the right inspiration...... I was lucky enough to also be the winner of the annual "Bead Jar" give-away and have come home with some great loot. I have been sorting through them and already got some great ideas for some of them. Some are not beads that I would usually purchase, so that will make me think outside the box. We'll see what develops with those. This picture shows some of the beads I have sorted so far. The leaves in the foreground are interesting and have two threading tubes down the back of each one. Over the Christmas break the Guild Members have a "Challenge" to complete. This year's title is 'Summer' and from the beads below members can make anything they wish. They can use as much or as little as they like from the kit, and add more from their own stash, but they will earn points for each bead/item used from the kit. When telling us the outlines of the challenge, Di did say that she could be evil, and on seeing the amount of fibre and the colour combinations - I am apt to believe her. Still, challenges and competitions are a great way of getting the creative juices flowing. I will keep you posted on how I am going with this..... The kit contains, memory wire, chain, seedbeads, lampworked beads, bugles, crackle beads, pearls, flower beads and 5 different forms of fibre. Everyone participating in this challenge received the same items, in the same colours, but from past challenges there will be an extremely wide variety of finished items shown in February. Remember the Bead Guild is open to all beaders and new members are always welcome. Come for a cuppa and have a chat with like minded people, bring an item you are working on, or need assistance with, or participate in one of the regular workshops. Hope to see some of you at the next meeting in Feb 2011. Love Maxine |
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