Raising the Bar

I popped over the other week, to see T. T and H are working on a lovely renovation of their house in the 'Hills'. I always like to see what T's been up to, there's always something in the woodwork. T was my chalkface colleague, back when she was a rookie, and frankly, she quickly superseded me in lots of areas!

I'll admit it, I learnt a lot from her, but it was her fault that I spent most of my weekends in 2010, doing chalkface work gratis, rather than at major shopping centres, buying frivolous frippery.

I didn't have time to, because she raised the bar.

I don't hold this against her, I rather liked it.

I knew T and I could be friends forever, when she presented me with this card, at Christmas about eight years ago.

It was personalised, she had, 'gone to a lot of effort'.
I still have it, because I- am-a-hoarder.

Inside there was a mixed media collage.

She'd written all this true stuff, like me being just like Barbie, well-dressed, smart,
versatile, classy and sophisticated.
Her insightfulness rattled me.

 I was shocked that she seemed to know me so well, in such a short time!

And she'd also really exploited the media and used g-l-i-t-t-e-r!

I took advantage of this weakness and got her over to my place soon after, to craft a Christmas fairy together, here's hers.
It was very nice. She knew just when to 'stop' with the frippery.

Below, is a slightly more frivolous project she exhibited last June, pretty good, hey?
 She's got two of them, they're both triple A+.

I love how she dresses the her little Ts and Hs.

T also knocks up Granny Square rugs like there's no tomorrow.

Here's a quiet look at T and H's creative space (glitter free, unless I have visited with a craft activity).
There's no artifice, it exudes a quite, relaxed atmosphere, full of good vibes, for sure.

Their traps have 'good karma'.

T loves knocking herself out in the garden, so much in fact they've built part of the renovation around a lovely tree trunk.

Look at these water plants.

I've got a succulent collection going thanks to her cuttings generosity. I am going to install them soon.

T's leopard wellies.

She's responsible for me growing a crop of watercress. I've followed her instructions to a 'T' and I've got a bit of growth goodness, flowing out of an old takeaway Chinese food container.

Here's some lovely old things, from H's Grandmother, and a few trips here and there.

Star and moon-like pendant lights, illuminate a creative space in the Hills.

Meanwhile the Hat Salon's taking shape.

This is a close up of a Flora-One-of-a-Kind, Orchid Society inspired piece.

The studio's looking more Bacon-esque everyday.

And I'm off to the Aspley Orchid Society's Show tomorrow, excited!

The Leopard Orchid, against a faux (don't worry good people) zebra rug, demonstrating vision splendid.