27 October 2009

THE GREATEST LOVE for PURPLE RAIN
.... and the joys of Mother Nature

Green-Header

This week's challenge over at ABC Challenge is G for Green. So here is my 2nd design team creation for ABC. Hope its green enough though ... well it started giving me the 'green with envy' feeling.

Green-Front

Once again my yummy BG cardstock came in very handy to achieve the Green Factor here. And of course, yet again, another iris folding design. This time its a heart. This design, the same as the previous circle design, is quite quick with less layers. The hearts and sentiment have been stamped with a Pesto Adirondack acid free raised felt dye ink pad. Please take some time and visit the ABC Challenge to feast your eyes on my fellow design team members' creations.
I have also entered this creation for the following challenges:
  • Daring Cardmakers: Favourite things {my favourite five products I've used on this creation are: clear jewel stones, iris folding, Basic Grey cardstock, acrylic stamps for hearts and circle punches}
  • PaperPlay Challenge Week 39: Favourite embellishment {clear jewel stones are definitely my favourite way of adding bling to my designs}

Green-Flat

Green-Flat2

Sunday me and hubby left for Pretoria at 5am to see whether we could capture the Jakaranda trees in soft early morning light. This is truly nature at its best. Just love how the interesting dark branches are offset with these beautiful purple blossoms. It really makes one feel as if you are in purple heaven. These photos we took in the Brooklyn and Nieu Muckleneuk suburbs. This is proof that Jakaranda deserve the status of the Jakaranda city here in South Africa.

Jaks1

Jaks2

Jaks3

Jaks4

We also took a drive up Fort Klapperkop to enjoy some vistas of the city. The Telkom 2010 Soccer Tower below, is a true beacon reminding us of South Africa hosting the 2010 Soccer World cup. During our 10 year stay in Pretoria we often did training runs around this tower and its surrounding suburbs and the endless hills will never be forgotten.

Jaks5

Then of course there is the EXCITING news that Mrs Wagtail has hatched her two eggs Friday afternoon, excactly 12 days from when she started sitting on the eggs. The chicks are doing well and has gained some weight and more feathers/fluff. It seems that Dad is on 24 hour watch and is always in close proximity, should an emergency arise i.e. Bull Bulls perching too close on neighbouring aloe trees. The pics aren't very clear as I did not want to be a too great disturbance. Will however take same more pics as they are growing.

Wag1

Wag2

Thanks again for all your heartfelt comments and taking some time to pop in here. Your ever loyal following is truly appreciated.

39 comments:

  1. YOur photos are so pretty Desire!! You are much more than a crafter my friend!!Phenominal photography too!!

    That card is so pretty!! Love all the green!! Your paper pieced images and layout are divine!!
    ~Chris

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely card Desire with all those green tones. I don't know how you have the patience with the iris folding.
    Gorgeous photos the purple is so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow stunning card Desire...and those photos are so beautiful
    Mina xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous card Desire! I just love all those greens!

    Fabulous pics too, the jacaranda trees are amazing and I love those sweet naked little birds!

    (-: Heidi

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stunning card!! The Jacarandas are certainly a very beautiful plant - now you can understand why purple (and shades of it) is my favourite colour!!. Baby wagtails are too cute - very special to be witnessing their development. They knew it was a good thing to be in your garden

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Desire

    Wow, where do I start.

    Your card is amazing, love the colours and the absolute elegance of it.

    Mrs Wagtail is a clever girl, it is wondeful to watch the young hatch. We have lots of wagtails in our garden but never seen them like this.

    We did have a family of blackbirds hatch and reared in one of the sheds - she built her nest atop a broom head - we feared for them every day, but all four eggs hatched and the grown youngester are still around our gardens.

    And we had a family of swallows hatch in one of the stables, but they have long since flown.

    And as for the Jakaranda trees, they are just stunning. I have heard the name before but had no idea of their sheer beauty. I even called my hubby to take a look and he was eually in ore of them. Thank you so much for sharing.

    B x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your card is wonderful - I love the way you've incorporated your favourite things into it - perfect for this week's Daring Cardmakers Challenge
    Thanks too for the one you made last week, which I've just seen - it's lovely.
    Your photos are fabulous, I really enjoyed seeing them

    ReplyDelete
  8. Desire... What can I say? These photos are truely breathtaking!! I'm so glad you got up early to take them and shared them with us.
    Your card is stunning too. I can see that you are loving your iris folding.
    Hugs
    Sandra x

    ReplyDelete
  9. what beautiful photos - thanks for playing along with DCM:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Stunning card so creative and clever. Beautiful photos hope Mr & Mrs are taking good care of their chicks.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh my word you have caught nature at it's best with those Jacarandas & the baby birds...amazing photography...truly some stunning shots there & another lovely layered card. Your cards are all works of art;-D

    ReplyDelete
  12. whoa.....love your card chickie! i just love your iris folding..and those colors are scrumptious! beautifully done!

    and WOW...love those pics of the trees...just beautiful! i would love to see those irl!

    and awwww...those birdies are just darlin! thankx for posting the pics..it's so great to see their growth!

    hugz
    melody

    ReplyDelete
  13. The card is fantastic! I love green, and I especially LOVE this green card! And wow, what AMAZING photos!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful card Desire - love all of the papers! :0)
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your card is absolutely fabulous - love your choice of favourite things. Thanks for joining in with DCM this week. I loved looking at the rest of your photos too - great blossom trees and love the one's with the little chicks too. Nature is good.

    Love Lynda xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonderful photos Desire, love Jacarandas! your cards are stunning as always ;o) oddly enough I had a dream last night, of seeing a bird hatch from an egg, must have been a premonition!
    hugs Nettie x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such beautiful photos, and your card for this week over at ABC is fantastic. I have never tried Iris folding, I suppose Origami is similar but not quite the same. Thankyou so much for visiting my blog and leaving your lovely comments, always look forward to reading them.:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! The blossom is amazing!! So beautiful!
    Love the chick pics too...glad they're well.
    Great DT card as well...lots in this post....lovely to see nature at it's best!
    hugs
    fiona x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful card Desire, gorgeous colours and papers.
    Your photos are stunning

    ReplyDelete
  20. You must invest so much time into your wonderful cards desire but each one is a delight to see.... the iris folding is stunning and so different!!
    Thanks for sharing those amazing photos with us too ;o)
    Hugs Tara xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hey, my Friend....your card is absolutely beautiful! WOW!!!!! The purple trees are just lovely -- purple is my favorite color! And the little, bitty birds are just adorable!

    Just so you know....you are so special to me!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Well, I am green with envy. I collect hearts and your card is so fabulous. Your photos are beautiful, too. I've never seen trees like that, WOW.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Stunning card, Desire. The green on green tones are beautiful, the iris folding is perfect. Love it.

    And those photos - wow!!

    Thanks for joining us again on PaperPlay this week.

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh my... love the "green" factor of your card and those flowering trees are absolutely divine.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sjoe, ek verlang!!! Seeing the gorgeous Jacaranda trees really has made me so homesick lol. Such a special time of the year and I miss it soooo much! Amazing photo's again my friend, and a stunning card too. x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous12:51 AM

    very beautiful pictures and your card is brilliant too! Samantha :0)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful photography Desire, love the vivid colours of the trees. Gorgeous card also, love the shades of green you've used. Hugs Michele x

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi again!
    I have a little something for you Here

    Big hug and have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Gorgeous card, Desire!!!
    Love the pictures..wow, so very beautiful!!
    Hugs peet

    ReplyDelete
  30. Amazing - simply amazing. I really love this card - the different greens work so well together and that particular pattern of the heart is just beautiful, so unique! I really love hearts and these are so perfect. Your card is beautifully designed, so clean. You know I just love your photographs. What beautiful trees - the shape of the branches, how they are laid out on the street and the beautiful blossoms. So sweet. So, the little birdies have hatched - what a beautiful sight. I mean, honestly, they're kind of ugly in that early stage but it's a beautiful thing; creation and birthing...beautiful pictures, Desire - you're fantastic! Thank you for sharing such beauty with us.

    ReplyDelete
  31. so much eye candy....love the card all those delicious green papers and oh boy that jacaranda tree is just stunning and my favourite...all those cute little waggies...can't wait for an update on the babes....big hugs kath xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh, we have Jakaranda's here in Ventura! LOVE them although this is so not the time of year for a scene like that here. LOVE the green's of the first card.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Desire,
    Going through this post brought me from one amazement to another. Those trees...wow! So beautiful. Very well captured. It all seems like a fairytale. And then those little birds. So cute. So precious. I love those pics. Congrats to Mrs. Wagtail ;)
    xx Monica

    ReplyDelete
  34. As always, it's a pleasure visiting your blog, Desire!
    I only wish I had the time, to visit you more often, cause I love spending time looking at all your beautiful creations and photos!

    Have a great day! Hugs, Lena

    ReplyDelete
  35. Lovely card, Desire! I love green.
    little birds are so cute, your photos very beautifu.
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  36. Awesome card and the pics are stunning!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous8:17 PM

    Desire, your pictures capture some of God's greatest works! Just beautiful.

    Your creativity shows through in both your card and your amazing photography.

    Thank you for sharing.
    ~Pam
    http://stampsinc.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wonderful Jacarandas, and to think they are not indigenous. Beaut pics.
    Lovies xxx

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your pictures are stunning, super!!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by here at {Doing Life}. Please know that your comment is valued. Hope you enjoyed your stay.
Crafty hugs
Desire