Its 2013

Its 2013

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What a busy start to the new year.  I have hardly had time to catch my breath let alone blog.  Summer in Tasmania is always full of surprises.  Whether it's snow falling on the peaks, or thunder storms, or baking sun, you have to be prepared for anything.  This year, 4th January was the hottest recorded day in Tasmania for 130 years.  It also saw a major bush fire disaster begin that was to last for more than a week.  Swallows Nest Farm is situated on the Tasman Peninsula - almost an island in itself except for a narrow strip of land that joins it to the mainland of Tasmania.  The fires cut off access to the peninsula and we were unexpectedly separated from our home and two of our kids.  We spent almost a week away from home, staying with our friends at South Arm, before we were able to return home in a police escorted convoy.  What an experience!  We were so pleased to get home and find all our animals and all the proteas safe and sound, if a little ashy and dry!
Bushfires are a part of life in the Australian bush.  There is a cycle of life in which fire plays an essential role.  Many native plant species only reproduce naturally after a fire.  Proteaceae are among those plants that are adapted fire as a way of reproducing or regenerating.  Seeing the devastation so close at hand it is hard to imagine it ever being green again, but with the first spots of rain, some of the green shoots are already beginning to peep through the blackened soil. Banksias growing by the beach will open their cones and eject seed ready to germinate.  Some plants will shoot from root systems below the ground.  I'm looking forward to seeing this regeneration.

Life cycles are integral to life as a flower grower.  Summer will soon turn to autumn and then winter.  I will stop writing 2012 instead of 2013 and we will be well into the busyness of the year.  I'm looking forward to the cycle, as the plants produce their blooms and I'm looking forward to watching the renewal of the the bushfire affected landscape.  I hope that 2013 brings renewal and growth and plenty of blooms for you too!

Bringing Portraits to Life With 3D Engraving

Bringing Portraits to Life With 3D Engraving

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A new and innovative style of modelling, 3D engraving is increasing in popularity and becoming more specialised. The beauty of the models is developed by the skill of experienced engravers who are also gifted artists and sculptures. These specialised companies are founders of this modern art and therefore have great experience in dealing with the issues involved in crystal engraving. They are also very well placed to give advice and recommendations depending on a client's needs and preferences. They pride themselves on their artistic merits and their technological expertise guarantees quality.

Many fine examples of this kind of work can be found in exhibitions throughout Europe and America. The uniqueness of 3D engraving can also make a personal gift very special whether it is for a wedding, anniversary or birthday.

The Process

The basic process involved in 3D engraving requires that the client provides a 2D image, which is then transformed into a 3D model ready to be engraved by the client. The image must be of high resolution so that the model can be as accurate as possible. As you would expect when turning a 2D image into a 3D model, the more visual information the better. Craftsmen can work from a single image but if they are provided with further images taken at different angles and showing various profiles they are able to get a clearer idea of what they are creating. While more than one image is preferred bear in mind that many experienced craftsmen can create a 3D model from a simple painting or sketch.

Images are best suited to being engraved on the medium of crystal or glass, which is perfect because of its resilience to cracking and its aesthetic appeal. It is a classic material that will stand the test of time and make the 3D engraving something to treasure.

The possibilities of 3D engraving are endless and the market is growing. Artists working in the industry therefore have to make it a priority to increase their knowledge of engraving techniques and potential issues and quirks involved in the skill. This is an holistic process, and by understanding the engraving side they can produce models of the highest quality for the next part of the process.

Many models can be bought online. These range from animals, portraits and flowers to signs of the zodiac and artistic depictions of religious scenes. If you want to create a personal model you will get plenty of ideas from scrolling through companies portfolios, which also gives an idea of what you can expect.

Christmas Cones

Christmas Cones

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Some Leucadendrons are grown not for their flowers but for the cones that appear after the flower.  This hybrid Leucadendron Jubilee Crown is one of them.  It is often called Christmas Cones because it produces these lovely blushing red cones in December, just in time for Christmas.  

The flowers of the Christmas Cone bush are pretty but not really memorable.  After the flowers are spent, the centre starts to swell and a cone forms.  It swells and as it does, its colour becomes more vibrant until it is round and rosie red and ready for picking.  The bush produces lovely straight stems which get longer with good rainfall.  

Christmas Cones are fabulous in a Christmas bunch - their colour and texture lend themselves well to seasonal arrangements.  They are long lasting too, like most Leucadendrons, and will usually be the freshest looking flower in the bunch, after all the others are spent.  

After the cones are spent, they open and dry out, and resemble tiny pinecones.  Last years cones remain on the bush.  They are generally not sold at this stage, but I think they still look lovely and can be used in floral arrangements even as a "dead" or spent flower.  

Leucadendron Jubilee Crown, "Christmas Cones", is not the main event in an arrangement but it is certainly a valuable addition to a Christmas arrangement adding a charming texture and colour.   

Express Your Feelings With A Gift Basket

Express Your Feelings With A Gift Basket

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Whether it is for a birthday, holiday, graduation, anniversary, wedding, or any celebration in between, gift baskets are a fantastic gift option. They come in every shape and size imaginable, making it easy to find just the right one for the intended recipient. Everyone loves the excitement of rifling through the contents of gift baskets. Show how much you care by selecting a basket that expresses your true feelings.

There are two ways in which to go about selecting a gift basket: purchasing one that is ready-made and customizing one by putting it together yourself. Either way, take some time to think about who the gift is intended for. What do they like? Do they collect anything? How do they spend their free time? A gift basket should be personal whether you assemble it yourself or not. Once you have thought about what sort of basket they would like, settle on a theme and let that guide you in choosing the perfect gift basket for them.

Beautiful thoughtful baskets do not have to break the bank. Designing your own basket to give to someone is the best way to keep within budget and still offer something special. Antique malls, thrift shops, and flea markets are ideal places to look for unique items that capture your loved one's personality and tastes. These types of stores usually have vast selections of all kinds of things at all different price points so the chances of finding just the right items to include in your gift are high. You can be sure no one else will give the same thing.

Do not be afraid to think outside of the basket, so to speak. Get creative by choosing an unexpected container. Does the gift recipient like to bake or cook? Arrange your items in a dish or pan. Do they love fashion or vintage items? Use a hatbox. Are they green thumb gardeners? Find a flower pot or watering pail.

 There are no limits on what you can make a gift basket out of. Once you settle on a theme, look for fun ways to incorporate it into all parts of the gift including the vessel. Giving this sort of present also eliminates the hassle of gift wrapping as the gift itself is its presentation.

Gift baskets are just as fun to give as they are to receive. These stand-out gifts are ideal as they are appropriate for every occasion and work for every budget. Best of all, they are perfect for showing how much you care. They express that you put thought into the likes and interests of the person to whom it is given and let them know that you take an interest in their life. Whether you personalize and assemble one yourself or find just the right one on the shelf, your gift basket is sure to be a hit.

The Christmas Rush

The Christmas Rush

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I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have Christmas in winter.  Summer is such a busy season here.  There is so much to do around the farm - the grass seems to grow while you watch it.  The leucaspermums all seems to flower at once, and everyone wants flowers for Christmas.  Add to all this the normal end of year activities and you end up with a great long list of things that need to be done!  But in amongst it all, there are some fun jobs.  I've been designing christmas arrangements and wreaths and I love the creative side of it. 

The potted arrangement above has three types of Leucosermum - Cordifolium (the orange one) Scarlet Ribbons (the red) and Mardi Gras (the yellow and orange).  I've also included some Berzelia or button bush - the creamy white little pom poms, and a selection of leucadendrons.  

This Christmas wreath includes our newest planting of leucaspermums - Scarlet Ribbons.  They've been in the ground just over 2 years and we've had a great crop of them this year.  They are a relatively early flowering variety for us, and they look so cheery on the hillside where they grow.  I love the way they change colour from pink and greyish purple and red when they are just opening, to rich red with orange and tinges of pink as they mature.  

The wreath also has our leucadendron Christmas Cones - the little purplish red cones that you can see peeping out of the foliage.  They are such a great Christmas time plant.  The beautiful swelling cones are so vibrant on the end of the stems, and even look good when they are aged and dry.  They end up looking like miniature pinecones on the end of the stems.  What a useful Christmas plant!!  

I have added some of our Tasmanian Myrtle foliage too, which is looking so spectacular after its growth season in spring.  It's botanical name is Nothofagus Cunninghamii.  It is a beautiful Tasmanian tree that is highly prized for its pinkish toned timber which makes wonderful furniture and wood products.  I love to pick it, because it has a wonderful resinous smell that lingers on your hands. 

You might also be able to see some Geraldton Wax flowers, and some Eucalyptus foliage.  I just love the way the colours and textures of the different plants blend together when I'm creating different bunches and arrangements. 

I think sometimes the busyness of the season can get the creative juices flowing!

The Cost of Renting a Limo Vs Getting a DUI

The Cost of Renting a Limo Vs Getting a DUI

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When you see a limousine approaching, you may think it's a celebrity inside. But have you ever thought of renting a limousine to take you around on a night that you are drinking? Read on to find out why that may be a much better idea than driving yourself under the influence.

Standard Prices

A standard six-person limousine starts around $65 -$100 an hour. The rate can increase to $100 -$300 per hour for newer, more popular, or more unusual vehicles such as a Rolls Royce, Escalade, or a stretch Hummer seating up to 30 passengers.

Rates can change for more popular areas, during peak times, or during big weekends such as high school prom month. Furthermore, many companies have package prices for specific types of events. A wedding package may include a "Just Married" sign, flowers and balloons. A prom or other event might have a red carpet. For an exclusive limousine service between 4 and 8 hours, you can expect to pay at least $400 -$600 for a 6-8 passenger limousine, and possibly $800 -$1,800 or more depending on the type of vehicle, perks, and luxury options such as a mini bar, leather interior or video screen.

Alternate Cost

The alternative to finding appropriate transportation for your night out such as a limousine might be a ride with the police - and a driving-under-the-influence conviction on your record. Even if there were no injuries, the bail, fees, fines, and insurance costs will typically be in the thousands of dollars.

Stiff penalties are intended to discourage the dangerous behavior of drinking and driving. Fines vary among states, but most are hundreds of dollars, some over $1000. Your car gets towed. Your insurance rates will be doubled or even more. Some companies may even drop you the moment you're arrested. A new company will often assess your records for three to five years, during which time you'll need to have no further violations. Legal fees from the attorney will range from $250 for a simple guilty plea, to a few thousand or even tens of thousands of dollars for representation to contest the criminal charge. Alcohol evaluation, education, and treatment are often required on conviction before your license is returned - then there is a fee even for that a leg bracelet that may be part of your sentence. The cost can be well over $1000.