At our local quilting group last week, I made one, six-pointed star. I didn’t think that was much of an outcome for half a day. Thinking about it later, I realised so much more had happened. Talking to new people, learning more about those I had already met. laughing (lots of laughing!), sharing stories, and […]
Welcome
Hello! I’m Erica Spinks and I’m so pleased you are here.
Welcome to readers who have followed me from my Creative Dabbling blog and to all of you who have just found me.
I write mostly about gardening, reading, writing, quilt making and creativity.
Five books that made me cry
Novels teach us a lot about human interaction: how we behave in particular situations, how we react to crises, and how we deal with our emotions. I have learned so much from fictional characters – thank you to all the authors who have created them. I have cried while reading many novels. Here are five […]
In my garden column: April 2021
This month is all about autumn leaves in my garden. The deciduous trees in our area are showing all their glorious autumn colours this month. It’s hard not to gaze at all the shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. But what to do with all those fallen leaves? Please enjoy my column from our […]
Weekend reading
The leaves on local deciduous trees have turned the most glorious colours and the temperatures have dropped. We have had two frosts this month! I love that we have distinct seasons here and that they don’t just merge into each other. Autumn is the most glorious time. Here are some of the things I’ve been […]
Dahlia days are coming to an end
We had our first frost for the year last week. That and the cooler temperatures are signs of seasonal change as we slip through autumn. It’s also a warning that my dahlias are coming to an end. Their leaves are starting to yellow and the blooming is slowing but I’m still able to pick huge […]
Cathy Daniel: three questions
Welcome to the eighth in my Three Questions series, where I ask makers about their creative practices. I’ve admired Cathy’s ceramics from afar for ages, especially those featuring motifs from crafty pursuits. With their clever designs and delicate colouring, they are things of beauty. I’m so pleased to be able to feature her work here. […]
My book of the month: April 2021
I wish I’d discovered this book when it was published in 2019. That was a busy and stressful year for me so I guess that’s why I missed it. But now I’ve read it and wow – it is the most astonishingly poignant story I have read in a long time. Immediately I started reading […]
Weekend reading
We’ve had one complete week of constant rain (294 mm) followed by a week of gloriously sunny days. Of course, it would have been better if the rain had been spread out but weather systems don’t work like that, do they? Many plants in my garden drowned. That means plenty of tidying up to do […]
In my garden column: March 2021
I’m starting to write my April gardening column for our local newspaper. I checked to see what I’d written in my March column and realised I hadn’t shared it here. Can’t let that happen, so here it is, complete with newspaper creases. This time, I’m looking through seed catalogues. What seeds are you planting for […]
Brenda Gael Smith: three questions
Welcome to the seventh in my Three Questions series, where I ask makers about their creative practices. I met Brenda through QuiltNSW, a state-wide groups that aims to promote the art and craft of patchwork and quilting. Since then, we have worked together on various projects for that group and enjoyed ‘creative excursions’ to further our exposure […]