Image: Su Leslie 2021
Wordless Wednesday
sewing
The Changing Seasons, January 2021
Image: Su Leslie 2021
January was a quiet month for me. An introspective month.
A largely stay-home time of tidying and organising and making.
Sewing days, and some new shopping bags. Image: Su Leslie 2021
… and the scraps from experimentation. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Alcohol ink experiments. Saving the “good bits”. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Alcohol ink experiments. Some pieces just work. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Alcohol ink experiments. Some pieces just work. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Scottish oatcakes; feeling pleased with my first attempt. Image: Su Leslie 2021
When I did venture out, my Covid-tracking app tells me that I travelled a narrow circuit between supermarket, DIY shop and library. Maybe that explains why there are so few photos this month?
But the last weekend in January marks Auckland’s Anniversary, so the Big T and I laid down tools and, on the last day of the month, went to the beach.
Port Waikato is a small settlement of mainly holiday homes at the mouth of the Waikato River. Even on a busy holiday weekend, it felt peaceful and uncrowded.
Estuary at Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Estuary at Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Fishermen, estuary at Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Slightly more exciting place to fish. Sunset Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Far from the madding crowd. Countryside inland of Port Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Far from the madding crowd. Countryside inland of Port Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2021
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently — though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.
For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different.
Others focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.
But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.
There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement. (1)
Tags and ping-backs
Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
Create a ping-back to this post, so that I can update it with links to all of yours.
Update
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind
Tish at Writer on the Edge
Marilyn at Serendipity, Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth
Natalie at Little Pieces of Me
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Sarah from Art Expedition
Suzanne from Life at No. 22
Ju-Lyn from All Things Bright and Beautiful
Brian at Bushboy’s World
… cos’ everyone needs a tractor mask
New apron: an afternoon well spent
Practical therapy
I am certain that a sewing machine would relieve as much human suffering as a hundred lunatic asylums, and possibly a good deal more.” — Margaret Atwood
Posted to the Ragtag Daily Prompt | wind
When the packaging’s part of the present
Finished! Toy sack that doubles as gift-wrapping for the mokopuna‘s* Christmas gift.
I am trying to reduce the amount of packaging waste I generate, and while I can’t do anything about the plastic and cardboard encasing the little one’s train set, I figured I could at least deliver it in something useful.
‘Cos seriously, what boy doesn’t collect stuff?
*mokopuna (often shortened to moko) is the Maori word for a young grandchild, niece, nephew — or in our case, first cousin twice removed.
Isn’t moko so much nicer.
Wordless Wednesday
Christmas sewing project: toy sack for the whanau’s youngest member. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Silent Sunday
A good afternoon’s work. Images:Su Leslie 2018
Working in colour
Getting ready. Image: Su Leslie 2018
All the spring-cleaning and re-organising of my stuff that’s been going on has revealed the true extent of my fabric stash, and I am determined to start using it.
Green certainly seems to be my colour. Image: Su Leslie 2018
These shades of blue and green seem to form the palette of my life, and I think look really good on my newly painted work table.
New work table, new enthusiasm. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Sanded, sealed, splashed and sealed again; our old table repurposed. The surface is smooth enough for working with fabric, and waterproof so I can use it for painting too.
It’s amazing how having a fun, colourful workspace improves my enthusiasm for a project.
Of course the painting helps. I bought it about 30 years ago from a friend who in turn bought it in an art school graduate show. I love the colours, and the landscape is Auckland’s west coast, probably either Piha or Te Henga beach.
The Changing Seasons: July 2018
Morning. The Tor, Waiake Beach, Auckland, NZ. Su Leslie, 2018July is proving to be a very inward-looking month. From my photos, it would seem that pretty much all I’ve done is sew, eat and walk on beaches and in gardens.
The sewing started in June, with the “Art Matters” tote I made (supposedly just to hold paints and brushes). It got such a positive reaction from people I seriously considered the economics of making some commercially (not viable). But since I had a stash of fabric and image-transfer paper, I made a few more for friends, and then thought I could do more for going plastic-free if I had a bunch of other totes. The library bag followed, and then some simple calico bags that scrunch up small enough to carry around, and after that a holdall for all the stuff (notebook, pens, glasses, iPad, phone, etc) I carry from office to living room so I can work in either. My journal is filling up with more ideas and designs and I think I am officially obsessed.
Image: Su Leslie
Art Matters. Riffing on the theme. Su Leslie 2018
… something to carry my library books back and forth in. Su Leslie, 2018
iPad sleeve. Su Leslie 2018
Portable work-place. Su Leslie 2018
Weekend craft project; my new tote bag. Su Leslie 2018
Fruits of my labour. Image: Su Leslie
Ornamental kale, Domain Wintergardens, Auckland. Su Leslie 2018
Late afternoon, Lucas Creek from Greenhithe Wharf. Su Leslie, 2018
Morning walk, Waiake beach, Auckland. Su Leslie 2018
Coveting my neighbour’s camelia hedge. Su Leslie 2018
Domain Wintergardens, Auckland. Su Leslie, 2018
Domain Wintergardens, Auckland. Su Leslie, 2018
Domain Wintergardens, Auckland. Su Leslie, 2018
After the storm, Pt Chevalier Beach, Auckland. Su Leslie 2018
After the storm, Pt Chevalier Beach, Auckland. Su Leslie 2018
The Tor, Waiake Beach, Auckland. Su Leslie 2018
Domain Wintergardens, Auckland. Su Leslie, 2018
I’ve already shared so many food photos this month, I’ll leave you with this shot and the question: what did I make with these ingredients?
“mystery box challenge” (ok, I’m watching MasterChef Australia on TV). Su Leslie 2018About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
- Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
- Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
- Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
- Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.
UPDATE
Be sure to check out how these other bloggers have experienced July
Max at Cardinal Guzman: Version #1 and Version #2
Deb at The Widow Badass Blog
Marilyn at Serendipity, Seeking intelligent life on Earth
Joanne at My Life Lived Full
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind
Sarah at Art Expedition
Tish at Writer on the Edge
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Mick at Mick’s Cogs
Ruth at Ruth’s Arc
Jude at Under a Cornish Sky
Yvette at Priorhouse Blog
Ju-Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful
Zimmerbitch 