Thursday 30 May 2013

Standen - National Trust- Tuesday.

Despite what this picture might show, we managed to pick a day (Tuesday) when the heavens opened to visit this lovely house.  It is built in the Arts and Crafts style and is a feast for the eyes!  I wanted to visit partly to take some pictures for my personal investigation for the second year of the A level Textiles course I am going to sign up for in September.  
I did mange to take a few but I will have to go back again later in the year.
Some of the tulips are still out and with my little digital camera I did mange to take this picture showing the drops of water as well.
Flora and Fauna is the topic that I am thinking of at the moment and I wanted to try and get some close up pictures to show the textures and colours. I am not really sure if these pictures will actually be used or not.
I did take some of these at the Eden Project earlier in the year.
This is slightly out of focus but I do have another picture taken at home but an idea is developing with this plant in mind.
I ventured back outside in the pouring rain quickly so that the camera did not get too wet to take the above picture.  Lovely delicate flowers.
The light on the day was very odd and the camera was not sure what to focus on but I like this picture with the rain showing up quite well.
I had some fun with my camera but in the end the idea of walking round the gardens in ever worsening rain did not appeal so we got back in the car and drove back to Lewes by which time the rain had stopped so a little walk around some of the junk/antique shops filled the rest of the day.
Our trip tomorrow (Wednesday) is going to be really magical - a hint in the words there as to where we went!
Take care all
xx

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Felt Owl Kit - OPAM May 2013

I bought this kit last week along with another so that Sophie and I had something to make whilst on holiday.  Especially on any rainy days.
So yesterday I started said kit and followed to step by step instructions......then I found out that I had both buttons missing as well as the beak!  So the Owl will have to wait until iget home before I can finish him.  Hopefully Sophie will have better luck.  You would not find yourself in that situation with anything that I sell and I have had kits in my Etsy shop in the past.
Ohhh the disappointment!
xx

Thursday 23 May 2013

Folded Beaded Needle Case

It has been quite a week, hence little in the way of posts.  However, to follow on from the needle case that I showed a few posted back I thought that you might like to see an earlier one that I made.
Cream cotton was used which I then top stitched with silver thread.
I added clear and pearlised sequins.  Plus gimping cord which I over twisted to form the texture that you can see in the above picture.  I couched it down here and there to attach it.
I sandwiched a loop of narrow ribbon between the front and some lining and together with a round bead I created a simple fastening.
Some crisp white felt cut with pinking shears and stitched between the front and back cover to hold plenty of pins, needles and safety pins.
The overall colour scheme is white and ice blue enhanced with clear seed beads attached with clear nylon thread so that they look like they are sitting on the surface.
I really enjoyed making this, in fact I made two and gave one away as part of an Embroiderers Guild Project.
May be it is time to make another one but with a different colour scheme.
Take care all.
xx

Sunday 19 May 2013

This is more like it!!!!

Some flowers are now starting to bloom in the garden such as this Aquiligia.
I pruned my lovely clematis a few weeks ago, thinking that I had left it a bit late but look what I found yesterday!  Lots and lots of lovely flowers.
I am hoping that I will be able to take those green covers of the gaden furniture at some point. Lovely blue skies and plenty of warm sun meant that I got my first outdoor dried wash of the year!!  Love the smell of washing hung outside.
This is one of my favourite plants in the garden and it bloomed a few weeks ago.  The hard rain last week nearly finished it off but quite a few flowers are still intacted.
Sophie's play house....opps I meant newly named Design Studio... is looking good after a cold winter.  Everything is now growing quickly and flower bubs are fit to burst open.
These two fellas are looking after everything for us and spin round every now and then if the wind picks up.

This Azalea did not do very well last year but has already made an effort to bloom.
I was hoping that today was the first of several days but tomorrow is uncertain.  Anyway, a sign of things to come.
What sort of day did you have?

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Le Challenge May - Wings

I like to have a challenge to work towards so when I saw Le Challenge I thought I would have a go.  I sadly missed the April deadline due to AS level Textiles work but this month I decided to do all I could to finish in time.
The theme is Wings.  Spent days pondering this one before I finally settled on the above.
I found the idea for the bird shape in Japanese craft book that I bought on Ebay a few years ago.
Due to time I decided to add the patterning with fabric pens to give it an almost decorated china look about it.  This is my first offering to Le Challenge and I am looking forward to see what the next theme will be.
Pop over using the link in my margin and see how it all works.
Take care all.


Thursday 9 May 2013

Cute Felt Kitty - OPAM May 2013

Gosh, I am on a roll this month!!
Another quick OPAM make with felt, which is one of my favourite fabrics to work in.  I have made one of these before ages and ages ago.
This little kitty is just the right size for a brooch or may be a keyring.
Cute kitty is too padded to put on the front of a card.  I am too old to make Cute Kitty into a hair slide (young at heart of course).
So, any ideas as to how I could develop Cute kitty here?
Fun to make and I was really pleased with the expression I managed to achieve with the hand stitching.
Take care all
xx

Monday 6 May 2013

Knitted Mouse - OPAM May 2013

When I started knitting this I honestly thought it was going to be much bigger!!
I am not sure of this really qualifies for an OPAM finish or not but I was hopeing to make them at school with the younger students.  The size of the ear should have had alarm bells ringing.
So I followed the instructions thinking it would take me a bit to make him........However, even my  limited knitting skills soon had him knitted, stitched and stuffed (only a bit mind you!) to create this.....
He was made in 3 sections, body ,ear and tail.  Anyway, this must win the teeney finish prize if nothing else.   Bigger needles and chunkier wool may make a bigger version.
 Off to find something else to make that lasts longer than boiling the the kettle!
Have Fun!
xx

Sunday 5 May 2013

Needle Case - OPAM May 2013

My OPAM finishes have been a bit thin on the ground these past few months due to the amount of work needed for my AS Level Art Textiles course.  That has now officially finished for the time being so I am now officially OPAM back!
A fabric folded cotton needle case with roses and leaves printed on it.  used this fabric many times before for various projects and gifts.
A crochet flower using fine crochet cotton is in the centre. Need my stronger glasses for that bit!
To fasten needle cases I usually use poppers but for a change I attached some white ribbon and hid the attachment with a cute little flower button.
Felt pages for pins, needles and a few safety pins.  I added a small pocket on the inside front cover for small scissors or any other little item that I might find useful when using this needle case.
I do have another half made one of these that I will now complete as well.  It is amazing how many little unfinished projects you can find when you look.  We may only think about the big projects but I like completing the little ones in the evening.  This needle case may in fact be a present for my sister in law who has recently been given a sewing machine and a little sewing kit would be a useful addition.
xx

Saturday 4 May 2013

Days Out in....Plymouth Aquarium

We planned a couple of weeks ago that if it was raining on the Saturday Bank Holiday that we would go to the Plymouth Aquarium.  So it was duly raining when we (slowly) got up and drove the 45 mins to Plymouth.  As we got closer and closer the weather dramatically changed and by the time we got there it looked like this..............
Something resembling Summer!  (I think we may have side stepped Spring this year!)  A glorious day which was very warm with sunshine and blue skies.
The last time we came to the Aquarium Sophie was still in her pushchair and just about staggering around.  I remember that she still loved to look and point at what she could see.
This time we brought a growing young lady who is nearly as tall as me but still enjoyed pointing out certain things she could see.

I have taken some pictures without the flash and through glass and plastic screens but if you have never visited before it may give you an idea of something to go and see if you come to the West Country.
Our first stop saw some pretty large stingrays and various flat fish.  I am sorry but naming every picture may be a bit tricky but I shall see what I can remember.
This chap was quite brightly coloured and zoomed around the tank.
O love star fish even though if you are a fellow sea creature you might fell differently!  Quite pleased
They varied in size and each had its own spot.  Sophie did notice that one had lost most of its legs.
This tank had a coloured light but is one of my favourite anemones and was moving very gracefully as the water moved.  Took several pictures through a convexed glass screen, came out ok.
I would love to do a project on the sea for my second year A level project, but getting first hand pictures could be a real problem.  Got a bit closer with this picture.  Such graceful anemones with lovely colours.
Last one, I promise!!!
We then moved on to the next section of the Aquarium.
A massive room high tank with many different types of fish.  The conga eel was there but being nocturnal was in fact having a snooze but to Sophie's disappointment as she can not remember seeing the one at Sea life in Birmingham several years ago.
I tried to take more pictures here but the fish seemed rather camera shy and were swimming much too fast.  
We moved on again and I have found my second favourite - Moon Jellys.  They are so graceful and they would make a lovely source for embroidery with sheer fabrics and hand stitching.  The Aquarium had put some coloured lights in the tanks again and they moved very carefully.  Fascinating.

This was clear light but seems to have turned out rather blue(?)  Once I have published this post I am going to google them and see what I can find out about them.  Everything that we saw today comes from around the coastlines of the Southwest and shows that there is so much more below the surface than we realise.
We moved on through a glass tunnel and this chap who was at least 80 cm wide swam over head and then stopped.  He was massive.  The little children could not believe their eyes.
Any Nemo fans out there?  He was swimming right in front of me but would turn just as I clicked the button but just took a picture.  Lovely little fish,  great colour.
Lots of examples of corals and sea weed.
I found the coral lovely in this tank and would work well with stump work or applique.
Lots of texture and lines on them.
This chap did not seem too impressed having us all starring at him!  He was very very still for a very long time!
Meanwhile this fish loved gliding around the tank having everyone look in awe at him.  So many fins and glided around the tank,it was fantastic. This is a Lion fish  and a lot bigger than I would have expected.
Just as we were about to leave a large sea turtle called Snorkels came out from her sleep and swam around. She is blind in one eye and only has 20% vision in the other.  As she was swimming there were a few close calls with the sides of the tank but other than that she swam really quite fast and the crowd behind me watching was packed.
A great first day of the bank holiday and great weather to boot.
As we came out the sun was still shining so a toasted Pannini with cranberry and Bree was ordered and a sit in the sun.
If you want to visit the Aquarium in Plymouth it is cheaper and easier to book and pay for tickets on line and it will give you directions on how to get there.

What did you get up to today?

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