Artstamp Gallery - Check out this site to see what amazing things can be done with rubber stamps!
Bell's Beads - All kinds of beads available by mail order from a South Australian Company
Shop Australian Gallery - Check this site for Aboriginal paintings and prints
An Australian crafter who does some great things with beads. Lots of photos!
Lots of people have been asking us for some Australian crafts to try. Here are some simple ones that most age groups can do.
Koala Hugs
Photocopy this image onto heavy paper or light card in a grey or light brown colour. Cut out around the edge and write your name on his tummy. Then carefully fold his four paws over his tummy and finally fold down his head over the top and draw his face on it. Give this to a special friend!
Sturt's Desert Pea
Here is a simple graph pattern for making a Sturt's Desert Pea Hat Pin (South Australia's State flower)
with safety pins and seed beads. There are 2 patterns - one for a single flower and the other for a group of 3 flowers.
You need:
1 packet bright red seed beads
1 packet forest green seed beads
a few black seed beads
11 Size 0 (7/8") safety pins
1 large (Size 2, 1 1/2") safety pin
1 metal nail file
Insert the nail file into the ring or loop at the bottom of the large safety pin and loosen the coil. Thread the seed beads onto the small safety pins in the order they are on the graph. Thread the small pins by the ring or loop onto the large pin in the order they are on the graph. If you want to ensure that they don't fall off if the large pin should open accidentally, push the small pins through the ring at the bottom of the large pin and onto the back half of the pin. This also makes it easier to pin onto a hat or jacket. And voila! One Desert pea to hang on your hat!
Cross Stitch patterns
If anyone is looking for cross stitch patterns with Australian animals and flowers on them, I highly recommend
the following website:
Jill Oxton Cross Stitch Magazine (and yes, they do accept overseas subscriptions!)
(Check out Issue No 39 for some really cute Christmas koalas and other Aussie animals)
Click on our worm to go to our More Favourite Links page
