Poppies

12th July 2014

We have had a lovely few days in Blackpool, sunshine is a real tonic!

Just a short post.....

...poppies this year have given an amazing show so I made a hand felted card.....

.....and a cushion with my poppy felt from a couple of weeks ago....

....and have made a bright, stripy strip for the yarn bombing....

.....think I will do some narrower strips......

...I have also been reading and am up to book 30 in my 2014 52 Book Challenge.Being part of this challenge has encouraged me to read books I wouldn't normally have chosen and I have really enjoyed them....

.....I am recording in my journal and have starred my 'good reads'.

Prompt 8- Walking in the Rain in Peru!!

8th July 2014

The prompt from Myfanwy this morning was -think of the last time you walked in the rain......

....one thought led to another, as they do, and I started smiling as I remember walking in the rain in PERU!!  This was 5 years ago!

I have spent the last couple of hours looking through photos and remembering the most amazing adventure of my life!

It all began when my daughter announced she was giving up her job for a year to go travelling, and I replied, "I will come out and meet you somewhere", as I couldn't imagine not seeing her for a year.

We decided on the Machu Pichu Trek BUT the weather had been so bad, rain causing landslides, roads and rail track disappearing that we could not do that trail as it was closed!!

So we went on another Inca Trail to Choquequirao....

...our merry band....

...you have probably realised I was old enough to be their mother!

This was our guide and he always made sure I was okay, he called me mother!

Nothing prepared me for this trek and those walking poles were invaluable!!

The most amazing scenery and cloud formations..

...the brown strip in the middle of the lower photo was the raging river we had crossed the previous day!!!!

We were well fed...

....our sleeping quarters!

Nearly there....

...we arrived at the Inca site, dripping wet but so thrilled with our achievement....

...on top of the world!

I had hired the waterproof cape, so useful as it covered my back pack, the Australian guys in the group nick named me Gandalf!!

Think I looked more like a Hobbit!!

Thank you Myfanwy for that prompt and enabling me to relive the trip of a life time.

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This album was a Christmas gift that year, the cover reminds me of all the beautiful colours in Peruvian clothing ....

...and this made me cry......

Prompt 5 and Printing

5th July 2014

Greetings from sunny Blackpool!

I have had a very relaxing day, walking Jack, making stamps, printing with stamps and finishing my book sitting in the garden!

Prompt 5 :- books, film , tv

On January 1st I joined the 52 Book Challenge, to read 52 books in 2014. I enjoy a good thriller and this is the record, in my other journal, of the books I have read so far.....

....I have starred the books I have really enjoyed.

There is interaction in the group and because of this I have read books I wouldn't normally have chosen...

e.g. The Shock of the Fall, The Memory Keeper's Daughter, The Book Thief...

as they were recommended and I did enjoy them as my usual genre is thriller, forensic and crime.

My other books which I often read are about textiles and am building my collection....

...and Stitch and Workbox Magazines which were brilliant Christmas gifts!

I love books and even attended a Book Sculpture Course which was great fun.

I have a LOT of children's books which I loved reading to my youngest son and just can't part with them even though I am trying to clear the loft for my 'studio'!!!

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I bought these last week, only 99p, and made some stamps....

....I stuck them on the back of my wooden stamps...

......then played....

..the pattern shows up on the second print and would be good to stitch....

......just playing with my hand made rubber stamp and a bamboo stick....

...think I will hand stitch this but wish I had colour washed the background first!

The last two examples were printed on hand made rag paper which has lovely texture.

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Lastly I made my flower cards into a set of 6 note cards and will put in I D Designs...

A very enjoyable day...

Prompt 4, Bunting, Letter Card

4th July 2014

It has poured with rain all day and the ground is so grateful!!

Yesterday evening Mr D, Jack and I walked round to see a friend's allotment. After  admiring all the beautiful produce we had a little picnic, totally unexpected and so much fun!! We left with a bag of  kale and salad leaves which prompted me to make a big pot of minestrone soup today!

Next made some bunting for the park using ribbon from my stash and felted triangles.....

...quite pleased with the result....

....made a birthday card using some of my felt....

.....hope he likes it!

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The Creative prompt today was 'A perfect day'.....

....my journal page....

.....the standard of work and ideas for the journal pages is amazing, so lovely to see how others interpret  the prompt. I need to 'up my game'!!

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This is the postcard I sent and forgot to photograph.....

...sorry it is sideways but I can't change it!!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend....

My First Felted Wallhanging!!

2nd July 2014

Prompt 2 today was:- If all the world were chocolate......

...this was my response but that simple statement affected how I saw the world around me all day!

It was park morning and we needed to water as the ground is so very dry.  Enid, my fellow volunteer, managed to fix up the hose and we unravelled it and I volunteered to water the beds. It was slow as initially the water just 'rolled off' the soil! As I was doing this I really had a chance to see all the plants, take in their colours and shapes and admire their beauty!

This doesn't happen when I am on my knees weeding!

The poppies are lovely, buds, flowers and seed heads... 

....but red are still my favourite....

                                                                 ....I really love this smell sensory bed.....

rosemary, mint and lilac, they all looked brighter for the 'drink'...

...on arriving home I did some dead heading.....

....then had a little embellish!

This is the result of yesterdays embellishing....

.....the twig is driftwood and I needle felted then embellished....

......made the loop around the twig by plaiting fleece.....

...I think it may need something more but not sure what! 

It is hanging in my hall, my very first wallhanging and it makes me smile!!!

Soooo glad I bought my embellisher!

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From the prompt I really appreciated all the beautiful colours and have had a good day, thank you Myfanwy!

First Day of the Summer Journal

1st July 2014

Happy July!

The Summer Journal began today with the prompt:- take 5 min and listen

I sat on the swing seat in my back garden feeling the sun on my face. Closed my eyes and listened to distant traffic, rustling leaves and blackbirds who have nested in our ivy hedge. It was so peaceful, the sun was warm, the colours, shapes, movement of flowers and shrubs made this a 15 minute sit and I realised how lucky I am to be retired!

My husband made these raised beds....

...and planted tomatoes in the top basket...

....and beautiful fuscia in the lower.

I think I may have misread part of the prompt and painted my journal page with dark purple.....

....wrote my thoughts in a white Tippex pen...

...am going to brighten the page with some flowers I pressed today as this looks far too depressing!!

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At 7.30am, before the prompt, I was walking on the promenade.....

...not a cloud in the sky and I could feel the heat of the sun on my back, a great way to start the day!!

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Next made some little note cards using my own silk paper and pressed flowers.....

...think I may put them in packs in my shop as they would make a useful gift.

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I felt the urge to use my embellisher....

...I think Myfanwy calls this 'snippet soup' on her DVD, lots of waste threads, fleece and fabric...

....covered with net to tack in place then worked into the felt...

....back....

....such a fun way of using scrap bits, I will probably make some small bunting with this.

While I was at the table I felted a piece of cream pre-felt with blue fleece, then made some braids with some more fleece...

....you will have to wait and see the finished creation!!!!

I also managed to do some knitting and have nearly finished my book, so all in all a very enjoyable day!

Now going to have a glass of red and make the meal.....