Cross-post from moly_x_32:
Queenslander houses, with their high stumps, polished floors, deep verandas and wooden lace, are not designed to keep heat in. They are freezing in winter (they also have many of the features of a wildlife corridor, but that’s another story), and so instead of working at one of my desks (one of which is in the annex and so basically a cold-room) I did my first entry on the coffee table while sitting crosslegged on the floor in front of Inspector Rex.
Here is my coffee table and floor:
This is the full spread of my first entry, featuring bougainvillea, veranda railings and flowery prose:
And a detail of the pop-up (with real Queenslander architecture in the background – those are coloured glass windows looking over the back yard):
And some real bougainvillea from my parents’ yard:
All pictures are on Flickr, so you can click through and click on “all sizes” above the picture if you want a close-up.
ETA: It is posted and on its way to Robin. I didn’t take a photo, but the sign-in page is just the inside front cover – draw a little thing (I did a flower) and put your name and general location. I also put a flower postage stamp on the front cover, so if you have any stamps or stickers and this book comes through your hand, feel free to add them! And there are some moo cards in the back pocket for those what wants one.
Kathleen Jennings 
that is gorgeous!
Wow, that looks lovely (and the project sounds like a great idea). Brrr to Queenslanders in winter though. Stay warm!
That. Is. Gorgeous!
In all your art and writing, I think you do Queensland best.
:)
Thankyou Jason.
Emma, I just spent a weekend in Sydney so I am now feeling comparatively warm!
Aimee – thankyou. I’m working on a story about the windows.
Queensland! Is! Not! Cold!
It is inside my house! I agree that Queensland’s outdoors isn’t cold – it is certainly colder outside in Sydney than it is in Brisbane, but it is colder inside an uncarpeted, unenclosed Queenslander in Brisbane than it is in a regular house in Sydney.
I’m not sure whether you can compare an uncarpeted, unenclosed house to one that’s carpeted and enclosed, regardless of architectural style or location. Queenslanders are perfectly serviceable in Queensland “winters” if you keep the windows/doors closed and maybe have the heater on in the morning. I’ve returned from Canberra with no tolerance to such complaints!
Uncle!
(For anyone reading here, Deb and I spent the afternoon arguing these points in detail – Deb logically and me from purely personal experience and preference. While I would like to post the entire debate for posterity, I will just quote my favourite line from her argument: “Wood stoves are a source of carbon emissions. But presumably they are contributing to global warming, which I suppose works for people who feel the cold so terribly… ” :)
I am of course arguing this for the same reason I am still trying to get to work without taking my coat and scarf off: I like the cold and try to prolong the tiny bit we get of it by trying very hard to feel it more than I do. Your absolutely legitimate and convincing arguments are not helping me here!
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