I'm back in the groove.........

......and thought I would show you some of the results!

Basket in situ!

And a close up!

And a couple of spares!!

Back from New Zealand...........

.........and it's so good to be home again!  Had an absolutely fabulous time over there - the workshop was great fun and it was good to catch up with the master (Rik Pierce).

I took so many photos - so I have set up some of them in an album on  Flickr - the link to which is

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lidistroud/sets/72157633122890000/

I hope you go and take a look at them.  I did a huge cull so I wouldn't bore you all to death!!

I did manage to make some baskets while I was away so all in all it was a successful trip.

I have to take this opportunity to welcome new followers to my blog - lovely to see you here!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend.  Take care of yourselves.

Just had to share this.....

I found this gorgeous orchid in my garden today!  I was totally amazed - must have missed the whole flower spike thing - but I didn't miss it in full bloom.  The photo does not do it justice.

I have dedicated this lovely orchid to my poodle Madi who is no longer with me.  She was truly my best pet friend ever and I will really miss her.

And more baskets.........

I have been working - perfect weather really - staying in out of the rain and the following pics show some of the results!

And now I'd better go and do some packing.  I leave for New Zealand at 0 dark hundren on Friday to assist with the Rik Pierce workshop - but I'm taking my weaving supplies with me so I can continue my work.  I'm sure to have some free evenings - I hope!    Will report back in on my return - hopefully with lots of pics to share.

Take care everyone!

Water water everywhere..................

We have had the wettest summer in 50 years but can count ourselves very lucky.  We didn't suffer the severe flooding of Grafton or Kempsey but there was lots of water around Nambucca.

The Causeway to the Island Golf Club 

Parks and boardwalks under water.

Picnic Baskets and ......apology!

First of all, apologies!  I had my e-mail contact list hacked and some of you would have received an e-mail from "Lidi Stroud" - except it wasn't me!!  The problem has since been fixed - until next time!  Can't believe it happened to me.

Anyway, at last I have finished my batch of picnic baskets - 15 in all.  I'm so glad they're out of the way.  By the time they were finished, I didn't want to see another picnic basket again - for a while anyway!!  This is the result of weeks of work.................................

Showing handle details!

And now I'm going back to work.

Rocking Cradles ......

First of all - HOORAY!!  The rain has ceased!

We are very lucky here - no major flooding or damage;  but just an hour and a half up the highway, the town of Grafton and surrounding area is suffering major flooding with three thousand people evacuated from their homes!   I feel for all those people and those in Queensland who have lost so much.  And to think that the State of Victoria is burning!

I've been busy making.  Finished so far are these two rocking cradles - trimmed with some antique lace that I was lucky enough to find a few years ago.

And now I'm going back to work on picnic baskets.  I hope you all have a wonderful week - and take care.

Some new stuff for KDF.....

Sharing a few new items I have been working on!

As you can see, I have not been idle!  But time continues to fly by and still sooooo much to do.  Hope I make it - and retain my sanity, which is doubtful at the best of times!

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

I'm definitely on a roll.........

A friend of mine sent me a photo of a plate basket so I thought I would have a go at making one.  Just a little bit fiddely......but fun all the same!

A little wine, perhaps.........

Just sharing a pic of a newly finished article.  Hope you like it!!  I'm getting back into the swing of this now!!
Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Swing handled basket........

....made for a friend.  Just thought I would share an image before it goes to it's new home!

Have a wonderful day tomorrow (we get there first!!)

Holiday Greetings!

I really want to wish you all a very happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2013.

  It looks as if we could be celebrating the day in sweltering temperatures.

Whatever you plan to do, take care and stay safe!

Thank you one and all for taking an interest in the stuff I do!

A Little Bit of Play Time.............

and this is what I came up with........

I have been a little bogged down with baskets just lately.  I am off to Kensington in May 2013 and have to
have something worthwhile to take with me.  I think I will take Christmas Day off and give myself a break though!

I hope you are all keeping well and are all ready for the holiday season.  Take care and stay safe!

Pie Basket Tutorial - Sydney Workshop 24 Nov

I can't believe where the time has gone - it's been well over a month since my last post.  I must admit I have been a little busy though - getting the last little "tweak" in on my tutorial and then traveling to Sydney where I held a workshop at the AMEA meeting in Auburn on 24 November.  And what a wonderful day was had by all.

At this stage the ladies are still smiling and having fun!  

Concentration Plus!

Getting it done!

Thank you ladies for making the workshop such a fun thing to do - I certainly hope you ended up enjoying it as much as I did!

And a thank you to AMEA (particularly Adelaide Cann) for nagging me until I gave in!!  I had a wonderful day - and the FOOD!!! ......was all fantastic!

And now I have to put my head down and get serious about doing some basket work.  I am heading to Kensington Dollshouse Festival in May 2013 - and that's not a lot of months in terms of baskets to be made!!!  Back to the grindstone for me!!  But hopefully I won't be so long between posts now?  Let's see what happens!

Have a wonderful week everyone.

A wonderful swap finalised!!

Some time ago, Lotte of http://lottesminishoes.blogspot.com.au suggested we participate in a swap and just take a look at what arrived in the mail.  I am thrilled to bits!

How lucky am I?  Not just one pair - but three!

Thank you so much Lotte!

Where did September go???

I knew I hadn't posted in a while....but I didn't think it was quite THIS long!!
I have been in the doldrums of late in terms of basket-weaving.  I have several "new" projects in several different planning stages - some half finished - seemingly getting absolutely nowhere.  So I stopped - which is probably what I needed to do.

I have been doing the odd bit of preparation work for my cane-based baskets - such a tedious job - but also satisfying because this is where one gets the basket shape happening.  I just thought I would toss in a photo so you can see I have done SOMETHING in the last month!!  This shows about half the stash!!  Nothing like working in bulk!

I went to the markets yesterday morning and found these beautiful Waratahs - aren't they just gorgeous.
Waratahs are the floral emblem for the State of New South Wales by the way - just thought I'd throw that in!

I love these flowers!

My doldrums were lifted somewhat by a visit from a very dear friend on Sunday afternoon.  Susan (http://minicrochetmad.blogspot.com.au/ ) and her "Grumpy" came visiting with a picnic in mind.  But what I'm really wanting to show off is what she made for me - can you believe how beautiful this is?  It measures 100mm x 100mm!!! and soooo fine - I can't stop admiring it!  Thank you Susan!

And so I've come to the end of my post for today.  I will take this opportunity to welcome new followers to my blog - thank you for dropping by!  It's always nice to "meet" new people!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Totally off topic...........

How patient is this dog?  We needed cheering up because Jess (daughter 22) and I both have the poxy lurgy!   Jess decided to do a bit of dress up and Monte (who is a dignified standard poodle - using that term dignified very loosely) was happy to oblige - and he is such an obliging dog.  We have two of these standard poodles and they are just wonderful.  Poor Monte however, has masticatory myositis and is on medication for the rest of his life.

Now I'll get back to being serious and do some work!  I'm working on many "new" things in the weaving/wicker department and the development stage is always the most time consuming.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Adding a little colour to the mix.........

was fun!  Hey - Spring is on it's way and I'm so glad of that!  I hate the cold - but only 2 weeks to go and we'll be off!!  So I'm celebrating - adding some colour to baskets - and it was fun!  They look very cheerful!

I hope you're all having a wonderful week!

Until next time - cheers!!!!

Rik Pierce Workshop - New Zealand March 2013

Rik will be visiting the southern hemisphere next year to run his Fair Rosamund's Bower workshop.  With the cost of shipping being what it is, he was concerned about getting his display house to this part of the world.  The Australian organiser of the workshop got a kit sent out and asked me to put it together for the event and I wanted to share the end result with you.  I'm quite happy with it and I hope the master will be too!!

This finished house will end up in someone else's possession but I will be getting a kit for myself and then I can make all the alterations I would like!  I am so glad I had the opportunity to work on this project.