Menopausalmusing

THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS............

2012-02-05T19:40:00.000Z

The last couple of weeks have seen

new skills trialled in the form of

origami stars............ origami has never

really "done it for me"....

till now.

Having played about, I then wanted

to design my own papers for the stars

and decided to use the program that

came with my graphic tablet a few

years ago (but which I haven't really used

to its full potential)......

I was really pleased with the chalky effect......

(and have taken a screen shot to show you the

difference between what you see on the screen compared to Photoshop). Like Photoshop, you have to spend some

(considerable!) time with it to get it to do what you want:

I would love to see a swathe of these on my bedroom wall........

(in a kind of "We are all in the gutter......... sort of way)

On to the next thing I wished to master:

pattern repeat - in order that

I be able (at some time) to have some

fabric printed with my own design by

this company. Looking around the house

I found my grandmother's "Wally Dugs"

and decided to use them as a basis for a

prototype. "Wally Dugs" is the Scottish term

for this type of dog, although mine aren't true Wally Dugs since they don't have flat backs:

(and NO, I wouldn't have the following

designs printed, they were just testing

to see if I could get them to repeat without

any break in the pattern and it looks

like it might work! There was much head scratching and many naughty words along the way).

One thing leads onto another... (or ten)

and a box of pastels has been purchased

in order to go back to the old fashioned way

of producing images............. They are sitting there

waiting for their "turn".......

I had the chance to go

to my local library and sample

another way of enjoying a book.............

(If you ever get the opportunity, I can highly recommend this

as an experience):

And the next tangent to go "off " on?......

Someone recommended a site where amongst everything else, I found stunning images of skeletons clad in jewels. I haven't shown the pictures as I am not sure of the copyright rules on the site.

However they reminded me of some holiday snaps taken in a church in Austria.

They are reliquaries and they fascinated me at the time.

They house bones of saints...........

So my next task is to work out how to illustrate jewels.........

..................

Now, going back to my last post and the stripe in the chocolate: Annie has written a post here explaining how it was done...

but ssssssssssssh........ keep it a secret, because Alice (whose chocolate it was) left this rather lovely comment and it really is every bit as delicious as the chocolate itself!

"I can exclusively reveal that the stripe is done by a specialist oompa-loompa with a tiny little chocolate stripe-painting lorry".

'till the next time......

WONDERING.......................

2012-01-24T11:39:00.015Z

Wondering how they got the cat shape

in the soap (quirky Christmas present)...

and how did they "do" the stripe

on Alice's chocolate????

(When I really SHOULD be doing

a billion, squillion FAR more important things than clicking on pictures to get a closeup. That is one seriously good looking chocolate! ).........

EDIT:

So there you have it........

(I can rest easy in my bed tonight!)

MISS HAVISHAM............................

2012-01-03T01:40:00.001Z

Miss Havisham has coloured my thoughts.....

and continues to do so.....

Such an exquisite production from the BBC...........

ALL THAT'S LEFT TO SAY IS.........................

2011-12-24T12:58:00.000Z

And the happiest of New Years!

NOW YOU SEE IT.......................

2011-12-17T14:17:00.004Z

Now

you

see

"it".................

(About two weeks ago)

and

now

you

don't!!!!

After being bitterly

disappointed at having

operation cancelled last week and

rescheduled for this week, I got a call

to say it was cancelled again but if

I didn't mind having it yesterday elsewhere

then it could take place.

It took place and was a fantastic service from start

to finish..........

Off getting Christmassy now............

with

vengeance!

(Comments disabled: it was such a loooooong

wait, I just want to get on with "stuff" now, but thanks

to everyone who has shown such concern, I really appreciate it).

RECENT MIGRATION..........................

2011-12-04T18:18:00.000Z

Migrating from Lesley's house

to mine were two little Bluetits on hankies.......

such pretty little things (both the Bluetits and the hankies!).....

and migrating from Donna.....

the most amazing package of Doilies

on which to do my embroidery.........

(there were also come Christmas decorations. Thank you Donna!)

Just look at the beautiful tatted border on this linen doiley....

and at the sheer variety and beauty of the things.

(I have also had doilies from Lesley in the past and only this week, something else which will have to wait for its "grand reveal" - the lighting is not right for photographing it!)

I am hoping to do their gifts justice, bit by bit.......

Nothing is planned, I just try out combinations of texture

and colour that "work" for me.

Hopefully, all will go eventually onto what is going

to be one big, heavily embroidered bedspread......

But completion will be quite some time away....

(Just so's you know)......

;O)

EARLINESS..........................

2011-11-27T08:31:00.000Z

I'm always early...........

And so it was that we sat in the hospital

foyer, waiting and watching the building

come to life...........

People being dropped off, carrying

holdalls/overnight bags..............

Porters pushing trolleys of "stuff"

from place to place..............

The elderly hospital volunteer setting

out the raffle prizes to their best advantage

( I have NEVER seen such a marvellous

array of wantable prizes).......

The conversation with said volunteer about

how he sourced it all........

Watching how many hospital staff took the

time to go and chat to him, he is obviously much loved.

The sighting of two Norland Nannies

dressed in their wonderful uniforms,

so very smart and Mary Poppins like.......

The decision that we might as well move on

upstairs to where we should be.............

and the ward not being open...

because I am always early.

The sitting down on the two chairs outside the

locked ward door and being joined by the elderly lady

who didn't want to sit on either of our chairs

because she too was having a cataract replaced

and was too nervous to sit down.

The two members of staff coming down the

empty corridor and the one exclaiming

(whilst looking meaningfully at us) that the elderly lady really

should have a seat..

(followed by much banging on the ward door to have

a nurse open it and the repetition re the lack of said seat).

It was time to open up anyway, so further

embarrassment was saved.........

The arrival of two other patients.... the

taking of blood pressures and dotting on foreheads

above eyes to mark which eye was to be done...

And then........... it was a quarter past nine and he

walked away ................

A quarter to ten and he is wheeled back in, exclaiming

that he had felt nothing, and seen only a very bright

light.........

Leaving the hospital by ten thirty - how amazing was that?

Home..........

One thirty and even the double vision is settling and

colours are being seen as sooooo much brighter and sharper

than they have been for a long time.....

The after care: drops, instructions as to what

might be indicative of problems.........

and

then.........

wait

for

it:

"They said I am not to go near

washing up liquid for at least

three weeks"...........

Allegedly..........

But that's alright, because waiting

for him will be these.............

(Teatowels won in a giveaway on Pomona's Blog,

kindly donated by this company............)

Crisp

and bright

and

new.....

and just

the right

thing for him

to focus on...........

;O)

SNIPPETS......................

2011-10-30T18:12:00.000Z

(And WHOOSH........ October has all but gone!)

WHAT A LOVELY START TO THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.....................

2011-10-04T14:40:00.001+01:00

Flowers and Strawberries picked today............

A huge amount of apples out there

larger than average beetroot and for the

first time since we ( the"Royal We") planted the tree ten years ago

......

"Quinces"!

"Eve's Pudding" will be on the menu tonight

to use apples............

and I shall be raiding this blog for quince recipes.......

Yum!

NEW WORDS...................

2011-09-20T15:09:00.001+01:00

"Fractals" and "Mandelbrot"...

the latest words in my vocabulary......

There are some wonderful things out there....

"Techie Stuff":

Artwork above and below the film were done in Photoshop

using fractal brushes from here

"rainbow" effect by adding a spectrum gradient overlay.

THE CONVERSATION......

2011-09-18T18:53:00.005+01:00

"So.... how long do you think it has been there?"

"Ermm..... actually, I haven't a clue".

"Months?"

(Sigh.........)

"Maybe a year or more, but I thought

it was just a warty thing, part of getting older. I don't

really look at myself that much. I don't cleanse, tone, moisturize or do any of that stuff. I'm more a quick scrub with a soapy flannel kind of gal...."

"And it started to change?"

"Yes, it got little black dots in it, just like a wart,

I thought it was the roots or something, so I still

wasn't bothered".

"Then it would bleed sometimes. It would sort of heal

and then bleed again. Now it seems to bleed most

of the time, so I "googled" it and decided to see

my GP".

"Let me have a closer look then.........."

"Actually, underneath the mess, it has

a "roll top".............

At this last comment he knows that I know and leans forward..

"So.............. what is your diagnosis?"

"Basal cancer".......

"Spot on! I think

it needs referring to the Plastic Surgeons so that

it can be decided how it will be done and by whom".......

"I'm fine with that..."

"It's the proximity of it to the lip.... they don't just cut

the lesion, but a good area round it, and it will be

near the lip".............

" It's alright, really, it's alright..."

So, you lot out there, just in case you have anything that sounds

like it may be similar.... get yourself checked out.

The other worrying patch I had further up on my face was not in the same league - still a form of sun damage, but nothing to worry about.

Basal cancer is not in itself life threatening, but it does

need seeing to as it can be quite destructive locally (it is also known as "rodent" because of how it eats away at the flesh). Obviously, early diagnosis makes for damage limitation.

(Comments disabled on this post - After all, there are many more worse cancers to have and a bit of scarring really is not the end of the world at this age, considering the deformities that some people endure all their lives. I just wanted to nag you all to check yourselves out, especially you fair skinned, blue eyed frecklies...)

GOING FOR IT...........................

2011-09-05T10:52:00.000+01:00

She had been "going for it"

in a big way.........

with

birds,

berries..........

and

blanket

stitch............

for she had decided

to make

THE

most eccentric

of bedspreads

for her

old age............

Well................

Why NOT?.....................

BY A MERE FLICK OF THE WRIST.....................

2011-08-21T22:54:00.001+01:00

By a mere "Flick of the wrist"

I found I could........

Create my own

"Storm in a Teacup"

Simply by pulling the paper lever from side to side.

The above was the last postcard sent to me on my theme of "Tea".

It was from Chrissie and was a lovely card to complete the "Postman's Knock" Project.

All postcards can now be seen here, (all topics listed in that blog's sidebar if you wish to browse by topic).

My own cards that I sent all had a "Youtube" link specific to their chosen subjects so I decided to make

the girls a little film by way of a "thank you".

(Music by Schubert, Pretty Cup by Royal Grafton.

I'm a sucker for a pretty cup!)

BISCUITS AND BIRDWATCHING..................

2011-08-08T17:27:00.000+01:00

The biscuits below are part of what accompanied my next postcard

received from Jane as part of the Postman's Knock project...

They are made from card and the bourbon and custard cream have "cream"

made from felt. I have photographed them at the side of a pretty cup,

since I do LOVE a pretty cup...............

Jane must have sensed this,

because just look at the beautiful

hand drawn card I received...........

What a beauty....

Lustreware cups...................................

My own contribution this time was on the theme of "Water" and I thought back to holidays as a child with my Granny Smith. She lived in a tiny whitewashed cottage in the Abernethy Forest. The cottage had no running water or electricity but made holidays all the more special for it.....

On an evening, she would sometimes suggest that we walk to nearby Loch Garten and see "the birds".

"The birds" were the Osprey which the RSPB were protecting. We were only little and so, to be honest, they held no real interest. Dad would leave us with Granny by the edge of the loch whilst he went and observed the Osprey.

I have memories of us slapping each other hard and shouting "midgie"! until one of us went too far and then the boys would go skimming stones on the water.................

Granny would tell us not to go too near the edge:

She would then laugh and tell us that the "Kelpie" would get us............. It would take us into the water and disappear with us......

( She had dark, dark eyes which sparkled when she told you a story............... and made them all the more believable!)

So this is what I based my postcard on:

Above is the plaid label and paper I made to go with the card.

Now, credits where credits are due:

I didn't design the bubbles, I got the bubble "brush" from here..........

Unfortunately, I can't remember where I sourced the plaid pattern from as I have had it stored away in my Photoshop stuff for a couple of years, but if you happen to be reading this and it is yours, then do get in touch and I shall credit you/link back to you with it...........

Cathy

POSTCARDS ON A SUMMERS DAY

2011-07-24T10:07:00.052+01:00

The wrapping gave a clue as to Penny's "take" on my theme of "Tea"...........

and the inner wrapping teased with its see-through quality.............

The card itself........................

And on the back, the text giving a clue as to extras she had included..............

A lovely response to my theme.

Thank you Penny.

Now, this time round

it was my turn to make

a card for

Lesley

whose theme is

"Taking Flight",

So this fondant cutter

was my starting point.............

and some tracing paper indented with "snow" became my wrapping..........

Rudolph was cut from crafting foam

and snow was added via beading...........

Felt carrots were made (to aid his night vision)...

Of course, no self respecting reindeer would go out without his aviation map............

and off he flew through the post to Lesley.

(with the added addition of these two links hidden in the carrots):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbl5HwhuG9w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooc5eJc5SHA

Why not pop over to Postman's Knock to see the rest of the cards so far............

A CUP OF TEA AT THE END OF A LONG HARD JOURNEY............

2011-07-11T15:13:00.009+01:00

The "journey" had been a creative one -

one which had the title of "Rust"...

She had made a little bird from wire wool,

stitched its breast,

then coated it with "rusting potion"

(equal parts bleach and vinegar, applied in a room with lots of ventilation,

don't you know! I have to put that little health and safety bit in, lest lots of bloggers die suddenly from

corroded lungs....)

She had tried to "cage" the bird as the above photos show,

but neither she nor the bird were happy with the results..

UNTIL... she wandered out to the garage and spotted the most

wonderful of rusted tins.

(Unfortunately it was HIS best rusty tin and she had to grapple

to get it out of his hands, but we shall gloss over this incident quickly)...

"That'll do nicely" she yelped,

and promptly before HE could stop her

she had squashed the tin under the tyres of her car...

(Good job he'd given in seconds before and let go of it, don't you think? ;O))

and that is how the bird came to be sitting on the old rusty tin...

for weeks..........

as it............

S.L.O.W.L.Y

corroded

(the bird, not the tin, silly)

and that was how the "Rust" postcards were produced for

Postman's Knock........

(She photographed the disintegration of the bird over several weeks)

Here is the http: "thingie she added to the card" for

a kind of rust anything you like session:

..............

and the "Cup Of Tea At The End Of A Long Hard Journey"?

Well, that was the beautiful card she received

from Jill .....................

It arrived in an envelope decorated with one of Jill's very distinctive drawings..........

and had the most wonderful quote by Eleanor Roosevelt...........

"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!"

and it had a little teabag tag that swings.................

All in all the most lovely card to add to my collection all themed on "Tea"

Do pop over to Postman's Knock to see the other cards that were produced this time round...

one of the finest sets so far.......

BEAUTIFUL IN THEIR OWN RIGHT..............................

2011-07-04T14:39:00.001+01:00

BUT

pick

the

unflowering

parts,

put

them

into

glass

water,

and

look

what

you

get.......

(They turn silver, as if dipped in mercury.

my shots don't BEGIN to show how beautiful they become...................)

MAD HATTERS AND FISH................

2011-06-25T12:32:00.008+01:00

The mad hatter

plopped

onto

her doormat................

( Joanna's contribution to the Postman's Knock project - see sidebar).

She loved waiting for the fortnightly surprises

that the project offered her. Today's offering had

made her smile............. big time!

For her own part,

time had been spent

handling

her

(small)

collection of lace

and

(large!)

collection of seashells

gathered years ago

by the children........

One treasure was chosen

and used on

her

card constructed

for Jane................

and then

she added

the

"message"

bottle...................

which would

lead

this film, so hauntingly beautiful........

The simplicity with which waves had been executed,

the sparsity of colour

and the exquisite music enchanted her every time she watched it:

Enjoy!

"STYLIST'S OWN".....................

2011-06-19T23:57:00.001+01:00

"Tinker"............

"Tailor"....................

"Soldier"................

"Sailor"......................

"Richman"................

It was at this point she decided to "hedge her bets" and stop eating the cherries.....................

(Red edged enamel bowl: stylist's own... ;O)

Cherries: from the tree next door)

COLCLOUGH AND COWBOYS

2011-06-13T15:09:00.000+01:00

Strange title for a post I know..................

But here is the exquisite envelope I received from Jo as part of our Postman's Knock project. If you click on the photo, the written content on the envelope is fascinating: a problem page.

I really wanted to peel the cup and saucer off and find out how the "problem" was resolved....

But I didn't.....

Inside, was the most exquisite postcard that she had made in answer to my request for cards based around the topic of "Tea". Jo, as you can see, has a way of producing work with an amazing

delicate, ethereal quality......................

The quote was one from Chaim Potok.

And here, a peep at the reverse of the envelope: showing a vintage advert for Colclough china....

And Cowboys?

Where do they come in?

Well, it just happened to be my turn to make a postcard for Jo, who has stipulated that she wants her cards to be designed around the theme of "Ye Ha, Ride 'em Cowboy"............

This is my card wrapped up in paper I designed (ontop of some "also rans")........... I used clip art images......

The card itself, based loosely on the label of a certain brand of beans with the added element of 3D baked beans..

The reverse:

This is a wonderful project to be taking part in and we are half way through now.

Do pop over to Postman's Knock to see the differing styles, methods and approaches to each person's set title.........

TODAY IT RAINS......................

2011-06-12T15:09:00.000+01:00

Giffords Circus: an absolute delight from start to finish. (Go play on their website!)

A truly "class act" from start to finish, the costumes, the acts, the staff, everything just superb.

Today I am visualising the little girl in front of me who

stretched her arm out and opened her palm in the belief that a dove might just land on her............

SHE SAID:

2011-06-04T21:16:00.004+01:00

"First one to spill it down their top does the washing up"..................

Bad,

BAD

Mistake..............

"COLLECTING/COLLECTIONS"...........

2011-05-30T19:54:00.001+01:00

and you never

REALLY

outgrow a

bit of sparkle (whether

real, or virtual!)

There are some lovely interpretations of themes again over at

Postman's Knock

Why not pop over there and have a look?

ON THE WETTEST OF BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS............

2011-05-30T12:52:00.000+01:00

WITH A BOOM-A-LACKA, ZOOM-A-LACKA, WEE.................

2011-05-28T16:08:00.001+01:00

Here is the delightful "crazy" patchwork postcard I

received from JANE as her contribution to the "Postman's Knock" project this time round.....

(click on Side Bar for details)....

thank you Jane x

The front is a wonderful collection of fabrics stitched and embroidered on the theme of "Tea"

and on the back, a song that has stuck in my head since I read it..........

ENJOY!

DEFINITELY A BELOW STAIRS KIND OF A GAL................

2011-05-16T16:05:00.002+01:00

The shabby old paper....

The pretty enamel bowl.........

and the thickly painted cupboards.....

in a shade of green I LOVE......

(all STUFFED full of crockery and glassware)....

"DO" it for me...........
(As did the storerooms.......
stuffed full of "things utilitarian").

Basic taps that looked like they would splutter

if called upon to produce water......

to wash "THINGS" of the night.......

wouldn't put me off wanting to stay here
"below stairs".............
till I grew old and wore purple............
and rode in one of these.........

(Bathtime might be a bit nippy though.........)

Photos taken "below stairs" here at the weekend. No photographs allowed with flash anywhere else (for conservation purposes)..... so servants' quarters were the only place reasonably well-lit enough to take photos. But, to be honest, this is my kind of stamping ground anyway....... I know my place....

loved it..............

"PIMPING", POSTCARDS AND PAPIER MACHE....................

2011-05-02T12:45:00.001+01:00

Popping

post

about

"pimping"

profiteroles:

Postcard

received from Lesley

as part

the

project:

(Do pop over to see the latest batch of cards...

some still

come)

and

the

perfect

papier

mache

cup

from

the

same

very, VERY

clever

lady:

and now

preparing

flowerbeds

for

summer.

(Have also been on a workshop with Lesley and met Chrissie too.....)

Perfick!

WORKING IT THROUGH.........................

2011-04-13T09:49:00.001+01:00

From the first idea...............

Thru' stitching trials.............

(on the machine)

and then by hand.....

Then..........

Having to "ditch it" due to clumsiness with scissors.

Pfft!

(But I still like the graphic simplicity of the pylon in the photo above. Just a couple of stitches and beads made it "work". I shall go back to that one...... sometime).

So that would have been my next card for
Jane as my contribution to the project here.....

But now it's not........

So I have been back to the drawing board.......

for Friday's deadline......

;O)

MAKING THE MOST OF IT.........

2011-04-10T18:10:00.007+01:00

The best bit: asparagus, one hour from garden to table.............

Long may this weather continue........

START SPREADING THE NEWS..........................

2011-04-04T13:29:00.000+01:00

(The stages of constructing my card for the Postman's Knock

Postcard swap).

I was initially inspired by one of the snowglobes in my possession........... and as you can see,

went on quite a round about journey................

but got there in the end..........

A SNEAK PEEK....................

2011-04-02T22:18:00.001+01:00

A "sneak peek" at something I received in the post today from

Gina..................

This is part of project involving twelve bloggers who have all agreed to make a "postcard" for the eleven others who each stipulate a given theme.............. Postcards will be posted at fortnightly intervals.

Do pop over to the new blog set up specifically for the project and keep popping back since some of the postcards will take longer to reach their recipients and therefore will be blogged about on different days.

Even better... why not become a follower and then you will be informed of updates on the blog.

Cathy

SPRING COLOURS..........

2011-03-23T09:32:00.002Z

Let's just say that

"Spring is in the air".......

;O)

WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T MEASURE HAPPINESS?

2011-03-15T10:02:00.001Z

One hundred grams worth of it........................

(Lidls - round about £2.99 I think......... I had them last year so I know they do what they say on the tub!)

Edit:

Muchos excitement: spotted first Brimstone butterfly today..........

:O)))))))))

OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE.........................

2011-03-01T11:10:00.004Z

(The results of an evening at Burlesque Life Drawing Class)

Didn't know what to expect but loved it.....

Edit:

The models were supplied by this company

The venue was Bristol Folk House

3 hours for only £10.00 (no tuition, just turn up and draw/sketch)

PUNCHING THE AIR............................

2011-02-15T20:34:00.003Z

The search was at an

end...........

She had FINALLY found a book

with EXACTLY what she

had been searching for down the years...........

EXACTLY the sort of patterns

she liked...............

(AND so many of them!)

She was spoilt for choice...........

Knitting commenced..............

It was not all plain sailing.............

(Argyle LOOKED the easier option.....

but wasn't!)

Next it was the Fairisle Sock Pattern..............

(complete with frantic scribbles)
and much "tutting"..........

and gradually it grew..........

She hadn't realised there would be so much
tidying in of loose ends...................

But eventually, after a long time

and

I mean

long time............

she had done it.................

(Ah yes, dear reader, you have spotted

that it wasn't a pair of socks.............
No fooling YOU is there?)

They (the beloved socks) are (hopefully) to follow,

because she has perused and stroked these.....

Bitten her lip about the cost

and then "bitten the bullet"................

Fairisle socks will finally be hers.........

ermmmmmm..... after a lot of knitting....

(Hottie cover was just testing to see if she could do it!)

TWITCHING...............................

2011-02-01T07:37:00.000Z

(My contribution to Emma's "Splash of Colour" project)

Thank you Emma for coming up with such a lovely way of banishing the winter "blues".....

Spring is just around the corner now.....

:O)

FIRST THINGS FIRST........................

2011-01-23T18:29:00.001Z

Firstly, THANK YOU for all

the birthday wishes..... much appreciated. It

was a lovely day............

Haven't been around due to attempting

to finish some projects

before starting a few

more.......

However, should you see someone out and about

wearing an old brooch that nobody else

wanted because it was a bit discoloured......

and an old charity shop scarf...........

fairisle mitteny/glovey things............

and an old grey coat.............

...............that'll be me then..................

Say "hello" and send me home to finish

those unfinished projects......

see you soon............

;O)

KATE AND CATHY'S BIRTHDAY CAKES................

2011-01-09T14:47:00.002Z

"So do you think Kate (Middleton) will have

spotty dotty candles?"

"Nah.................."

"Or bought a rose for the middle of her cake?"

"Doubt it........."

"SHE won't have been swearing at her camera's

inability to capture the colour red............. will she?"

"Highly unlikely..........."

"Or been scared of setting HER moustache

on fire..........."

"No, she'll have someone to blow her candles

out FOR her".............

"I made a wish.............. it involved Robbie Williams".......

"No change there then..............."

"I wonder what SHE wished for.........?"

Sigh.................

"Fancy another slice?...................."

;O)

A SPLASH OF COLOUR - JANUARY

2011-01-05T10:51:00.000Z

My contribution to Emma's "Splash Of Colour" project for the month of January.

(A Christmas present that made me smile!!!!)

Here's to another year with you all.

:O)

THE FINAL STRETCH.............................

2010-12-22T16:41:00.000Z

Finishing off, fiddling, faffing and filling my boots with mincepies (lest I fall over, of course ................. more ballast!)

Two more days at work and then that lovely feeling of shutting the door..........

Have wonderful Christmases and New Years all of you and thank you for sharing your worlds.................

:O)))))))))))

CHRISTMAS DRESS CODE..........................

2010-12-14T15:48:00.000Z

(There's always one, isn't there? Tsk......... tsk..............)

Instructions for the white angels are very generously supplied by Anjie.........

:O)

SPLASH OF COLOUR............ (PART TWO!)

2010-12-08T13:10:00.000Z

My (late!) photos in response to Emma's "Splash Of Colour" challenge/project....

(Going to be more "Dash Than Cash" in this house this year, but it has been so much more fun....)

Disappearing now to try and make sense of a house that looks like a bomb has hit it!!

:O)))))

SEASONAL STUFF...................

2010-12-05T12:15:00.000Z

These are NOT my idea: I was sent some sample ones by Lesley, (she in turn had had them given to her) .
I loved the simplicity of them so much that I have turned some out both for me and for the charity bash that I am crafting "stuff" for..................

Cute or what?

:O))))))))))))))))

(Excuse poor lighting........... it's winter and we have
small windows so lighting for photos becomes a pain in the proverbial!)

A PEEP................................

2010-12-02T00:46:00.000Z

At purchases from The Vintage And Handmade Fair on Sunday..................

From the top:

Beryl The Peril Mirror

(Made from old comics)

from: http://thisnthat-totnes.blogspot.com/

Fabric purchase and lavender bag

(giveaway prize) from Sal

Old straw bag from: Elaine

(fabric from Sal, as above)

Hairslides from: Acorn And Will

Lovely old book from: Jayne

and a few other bits and bobs which I can't show

because...........

well..........

they........

are.........

S.E.C.R.E.T.S!

Thanks to all for putting in such hard work to make these events happen. What a lovely bunch of people.... and all thanks to blogging!

:O)

NOVEMBER................

2010-11-22T13:20:00.001Z

Instructions for mice from Martha.............

Very simple, very effective, very cheap to do for fundraisers...........

:O)

(Candy canes from Sainsbury's. They are on the Christmas present counter at the Christmas Sweets/chocolate end..........)

LOVING.................

2010-11-14T13:49:00.002Z

Stitching and hooking Christmas presents..........

"Pound Shop" bead necklaces - soooooo Cheery!

The Saturday "Telegraph Magazine" (yesterday!) for bringing this fourteen year old girl.......

She dares to be "different" in her choice of clothes, from the trempe l'oeil tights and shoes to the gorgeous skirt that looks like papercut snowflakes ..............

Allowing herself to be............

well...........

"herself"............

Joyous!

LOVING IT!

:o)))))))

PS: re the embroidery motifs in the top photo, they came from here:http://amelieshouse.blogspot.com/ Natasha wrote a beautifully illustrated post about making elderflower cordial and used a piece of embroidery as the background. Loving the simplicity of the motifs, I wrote and asked if I could "use" them in the making of Christmas presents. She very kindly said yes. Natasha is a VERY talented lady in the cake/biscuit making and decorating department.........

A SPLASH OF COLOUR.................

2010-11-02T22:54:00.000Z

I shall be "blogging colour" on a monthly basis from now till Spring. It is

part of a project started by Emma who, like me, finds the winter months long, dreary and colourless ...................

The idea is that we take photographs of "things colourful" and post monthly, and as as she rightly points out: "After this initial posting, there will only be three more and it will soon be March knocking on the door, bulbs springing up like fireworks and we will be on the "home straight............"

Click on the button in my sidebar to take you to Emma and then on to a Flickr photostream which she has set up.

My photos are of exquisite little bookmarks bought in London's China Town. They are constructed from leave skeletons and tiny pieces of dyed straw, and were rediscovered at the weekend whilst attempting a tidy up. (Bleuch, bleuch, bleuch, I hate tidying). They sit, like other pieces of Chinoiserie in a carrier bag, and shouldn't really, should they?

LIFE IN GENERAL...........................

2010-10-28T00:26:00.001+01:00

(The best bit was the cold, wet, windy day and the goats! Followed VERY closely by the cake..........)

BRIEF ENCOUNTER..............

2010-10-17T11:49:00.000+01:00

(She decided she WOULD try and take her camera out and about with her most days....... and was left wondering how the gentleman had "captured the silver lining" on his camera and wished she had asked him.............. Or, had he mean't he had captured "the pot of gold"??? ....... She hadn't asked enough questions, dammit! Perhaps if she bumped into him at the lecture by the guest speaker she might summon the courage to ask him.........................)

for she was a tad inquisitive..................

SHE PUSHED HER PLATE AWAY, WIPED THE EDGE OF HER MOUTH AND THOUGHT:

2010-10-11T14:20:00.003+01:00

(Camembert Tarte Tatin from Sainsbury's recipe card). Butter and sugar melted and caramelised. Sliced, cored apple cooked for five minutes in the caramel. Cheese removed from box, wrapping removed and then cheese put back into box. Partially cooked apple slices fanned out on the top of the cheese, and caramel poured over them.... Twenty minutes in oven: 200 degrees .................................. I chickened out of putting cheese directly in box as I had visions of cheese seeping out of it, so I lined it with a circle of non stick parchment which was larger than the base of the box).

Serve with toasted bread/grilled ciabatta slices................

Nice....

VERY nice.........

:O)))))))

SCABBY APPLES AND OTHER STUFF..............

2010-10-03T11:02:00.024+01:00

And apparently there are loads of "windfalls" from overnight...... Bit wild out there last night!

Best get my wellies on then ........................... :O)

THE TRANSCENDENTAL GYPSY CARAVAN OF CREATION............

2010-09-21T16:35:00.007+01:00

(Article from last Saturday's "Telegraph Magazine"............... If my mother were alive she would look at me, "tut" and tell me to "stop wishing my life away".................. ).

Click on Caravan to read the article.....

X

CHINA IN MY HAND(S)

2010-09-15T12:11:00.011+01:00

The Photo of the pretty plate which was desaturated (turned into black and white)....

The centre part of photo enlarged and the black and white inverted.....

Which then sparked the idea of it looking like a rug...

that needed a chair...............

Only why stop at just a "bog standard" chair? Why not the long lusted after chaise longue????

................in beautiful white textured "upholstery fabric". (Okay, okay, it's really a sample of cheap wallpaper.............. but this is escapism, remember)........

A slight detour playing with textured papers..........

And back to playing more with china, only this time with fragments of "Willow Pattern" unearthed from the garden....

Which became a picture.................

And later, cushions..............

What was it all about?

"Beer money and champagne taste"....... :O)

A girl can (and does!) dream...........

*Chandelier images not my own: I used a Photoshop brush from here

SUNDAY IN STITCHES

2010-09-12T17:40:00.016+01:00

Out of the house, past all the cars parked by people looking at the remains of the 19th century colliery just steps away from our gate.................

I continued down the hill, looking at oaks in an area that had once been a part of the King's Forest.....

Walked under the viaduct carrying the trains that whistle by our house day and night..............

And on to my destination:

Through the Lych Gate:

towards here.......................

I was glad it was Heritage Day, because had it not been so, I might never have taken the walk down the hill and into the local church and seen these:

All stitched by the same man's hand..............

(Applique works used as illustrations at the beginning of this post were executed by local children in 1995)

Lovely, just LOVELY..............

THE SEAGULL HAS LANDED............................

2010-09-03T08:00:00.003+01:00

The seagull has landed..........................

And he sits atop words which flew through the "ether" during the Seaside Project........

They are words decorating the exterior of a box which houses the envelopes .......

and instructions/comments/words of laughter and friendship........ which arrived by "snail mail"....

"extras" that arrived with the tags which were posted at three weekly intervals........

The tags themselves.....................

And atop the tags is a piece of netting with seashells stitched on it...........

Which sits in the sand lined box.

The netting is there to protect the work inside and (hopefully) perpetuates the feeling of unwrapping something lovely with the same anticipation that was felt on receipt of envelopes from the other two participants in the project....................

And the seagull sits guard on top of it all.........................

For was it not him who inspired the colour of the box to house the project?.......

(Black and white was too harsh).................

Lesley and Chrissie have also completed their boxes, and as previously, it shows how we all approached the project in a totally different way......................... Do go over and see their work.

With regards to repeating something similar, we definitely intend to take part in another project. Anyone else out there want to join in?

Go on.....................

it's a lot of fun........

:O)

NICE PLACES TO GO ON A VIRTUAL VISIT................

2010-08-31T21:07:00.001+01:00

(Check out the lined cockle shell! Such a beautiful wedding and so much effort by the young couple involved. )

:O)

RECENTLY...........................

2010-08-24T18:44:00.021+01:00

Time has been spent looking at, harvesting and cooking these............

Watching some plants fade................

As others begin to glow................

Comparing the shiny, tiny perfect.................

To the BIG, cracked and some might say "ugly"
(Give me these big boys any day...... they are a wonderful flavour!)

Apples are nearly ready to pick (at present they are resting
places for butterflies to sit and sunbathe twixt showers).........

The great big oak that hangs into the garden is laden with acorns
and has been alive with noise day and night all summer........

with these.......................................
(Little Owls). This year (again) there were four. It's about this time in summer
that they become much quieter and we see much less of them because they are not protecting their young.

The cooler days have other advantages: we get to see more of
"His Lordship"!

.......

........

.........

On a totally different subject: I have introduced Comment Moderation (hopefully short-term) in order to try and cut down on the amount of unwanted comments of the "oriental persuasion". If this offends anyone who has left a genuine comment then I apologise, but a lot were leading back to porn/soft porn peddling. Thanks, but "no thanks".

Right, time to get back downstairs, put the kettle on and put my feet up. I am in for the night......

:O)

MY OWN CONTRIBUTIONS, MADE UP AND SENT TO THE GIRLS..........

2010-08-20T15:33:00.003+01:00

TIE DYED SKIES AND SEAGULLS.....

2010-08-15T18:11:00.004+01:00

So this is a post about things that have arrived through the post over the last couple of months......................

Myself, Chrissie and Lesley have collaborated on a little project entitled: "Oh, I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.........". It was a project broken into four topics: "On The Pier", "On The Beach", "Seaside Holiday Memories" and "Favourite Seaside Resort"....

We were to make 2 tags each (roughly 7" x 4") which illustrated the four titles and at agreed dates (3 weekly) we were to post them off to each other. The idea was that we use ANY medium in the construction of the said tags, try and learn new methods/techniques along the way and above all, not get stressed about timescales/completion etc, but to have F.U.N! As the project progressed we also all seemed to gravitate towards the idea of not buying anything for the work but using "stuff" we already had in our homes. Thus, at the end of the project we would each have eight pieces of work by someone else and then a final additional project would take place: we would each individually make a covering/container to house the body of work.

I cannot stress what a wonderful thing this was to take part in. There was the humour contained within the occasional e mails we exchanged regarding progress, the nail biting worry on opening other people's work, that yours wasn't good enough (and then the realisation that we were all in the same boat and felt the same). There was the sinking in the stomach feeling when someone didn't get their piece of your work within the timescale it should have taken to get there and the relief when it did................. :O)

There was the whole learning process........................... (in my case a lot of it was about different glues and what they did/didn't "do!!!!!). Punch and Judy appealed greatly to me, and I learnt a lot about them, but didn't use them in the end.......... but that knowledge is stored away in my (very) grey matter, perchance to be used in the future??? New crafts were tried (in my case, basic papercutting........... trust me, Rob Ryan can sleep easily in his bed..............).

But enough, here are photos of what I received from the other two: Hopefully, if you click on the photos you should get a better view:

"ON THE PIER" ........... by Chrissie: (Her sky was tie dyed, hence my post title)

"ON THE PIER" by Lesley (this was an amazing three dimensional tag!)

"ON THE BEACH" by Chrissie, a beautiful stitched textile piece:

"ON THE BEACH": Lesley's work had paint charts with blue representing the sky and yellow the sand. The humour in it was wonderful!

"SEASIDE HOLIDAY MEMORIES": Here I was lucky enough to be sent a beautifully hand felted piece by Chrissie..........

and the sweetest of retro caravans by Lesley:
The last set of tags was entitled: "FAVOURITE SEASIDE RESORT". Chrissie's tag was another wonderful textile based piece which had photographs stitched to it

and Lesley's response was a fictional seaside resort:

The last part of the project is to make the covering/container.... we still have this part to do at our own leisure. It is here that the "seagulls" part of my title to this post comes in: this was a little joke enclosed by Lesley with one of her tags:

I shall be using it on my "container"........................................ I do hope if you have enjoyed seeing these wonderful, creative pieces of work that you visit the other two blogs to see what Lesley and Chrissie received (both from myself and each other). We are also thinking of perhaps doing another project in the future (not necessarily tags) and wondered if there would be any others amongst you who would consider participating? ........... Just "floating" the idea....................