We've been watching out for him for over a month but I spotted him 6 or 7 times last night - zipping aound the tree in the front garden looking for insects.
Welcome home!
3 Jun 2010
Wildlife news
Bertie Bat is back!!!!
We've been watching out for him for over a month but I spotted him 6 or 7 times last night - zipping aound the tree in the front garden looking for insects.
We've been watching out for him for over a month but I spotted him 6 or 7 times last night - zipping aound the tree in the front garden looking for insects.
30 May 2010
Menorca 2010
We've just returned from the *most* relaxing week in Menorca. It really is becoming our favourite place for the really chilled type of holiday where you manage to forget about work, life, and anything other than sunny weather, chilled wine and fabulous food!
We were there a couple of years ago (blogged here) and this year decided to go back with our friends Sue and Pete (who we went to the 1980's concert with at Tatton Park).
Now it's always interesting when you go on holiday with someone for the 1st time. I think people have widely differing 'holiday personalities' which may be very different from their normal selves at home, but I think I can unequivocally state - It was a match made in heaven!
Themes
Reading - Pete brought his book reader - the rest of us, just the paper things. By the end of the trip I had started my 6th book, Pete on his 5th, and Sue and Dan weren't all that far behind with 3 and 4 respectively. You KNOW you've had plenty of relaxation time if you can read 5 whole books in 7 days.
Eating - Well it wouldn't be a holiday without our obligatory schlepp around the local supermarket and delving into the world of "oooh what's this, lets try it" . Particular highlights were the braised calf's tongue ordered by Dan, a vegetable dish whose name I can't remember ordered by Sue @ the Tapas bar near the harbour and of course, the famous Camping Potatoes (seen here being cooked on our BBQ at home - yes that's correct, on the BBQ in a PAN, and also a pic of them being cooked whilst camping @ the delightful Barn Farm)
Drinking - well I know you mostly know us - and to think we'd be away on holiday without a mention of any wine would be wrong! So, yes, a small amount of alcohol was consumed!!!! The main tipple for the girls was PINK FIZZ and beer for the boys. An honorable mention goes to the Pomada and Special Sangria at the bar about 1/2 way down the main strip - it helped us, shall we say, "forget" our woes, work, lives, and by the end of the night, names, on our 1st evening in Menorca!
So, do you want to see what the place was like then?
We had a spectacular villa from the fabulous JamesVillas - Villa Tramontana and the location was here - in Cala Blanca (spot the triangular garden!)
I think it has to be said that the brochure people used a fish-eye lens whilst doing the promotional shots, but apart from thinking it was a bit smaller than it looks on the photos, the place very much lived up to our expectations.
All in all it was a superb holiday - I can barely remember work - so, as we said to Pete and Sue as we said goodbye at Manchester Airport - same time next year????
All the rest of the pictures should appear in the Picasa Web Album feed over to the right there - but if not here's the link > Menorca 2010
We were there a couple of years ago (blogged here) and this year decided to go back with our friends Sue and Pete (who we went to the 1980's concert with at Tatton Park).
Now it's always interesting when you go on holiday with someone for the 1st time. I think people have widely differing 'holiday personalities' which may be very different from their normal selves at home, but I think I can unequivocally state - It was a match made in heaven!
Themes
Eating - Well it wouldn't be a holiday without our obligatory schlepp around the local supermarket and delving into the world of "oooh what's this, lets try it" . Particular highlights were the braised calf's tongue ordered by Dan, a vegetable dish whose name I can't remember ordered by Sue @ the Tapas bar near the harbour and of course, the famous Camping Potatoes (seen here being cooked on our BBQ at home - yes that's correct, on the BBQ in a PAN, and also a pic of them being cooked whilst camping @ the delightful Barn Farm) 
So, do you want to see what the place was like then?
We had a spectacular villa from the fabulous JamesVillas - Villa Tramontana and the location was here - in Cala Blanca (spot the triangular garden!)
I think it has to be said that the brochure people used a fish-eye lens whilst doing the promotional shots, but apart from thinking it was a bit smaller than it looks on the photos, the place very much lived up to our expectations.All in all it was a superb holiday - I can barely remember work - so, as we said to Pete and Sue as we said goodbye at Manchester Airport - same time next year????
All the rest of the pictures should appear in the Picasa Web Album feed over to the right there - but if not here's the link > Menorca 2010
18 May 2010
Always a long silence....
...followed by a blast of info....or that's what I seem to have been doing lately!
The problem is, that while I'm 'cutting my teeth' on the various bag creation steps, I'm creating each one for a friend or family member. You lucky ladies!
This is, obviously, a lovely and generous gesture on my part, but not so fab for having things to blog about - as most of you/them read the blog and I don't want to spoil the surprise...!
Anyway, the latest creations are now at their proper destinations - my Mum, and Dan's Mum. So, now I can blog away and show you the pics!
So, I wanted to create a big tote bag which would stand up on its own, and that Dan's mum could put her knitting in, and that my mum could use as a beach bag for going on holidays with.
First things first, I made a pattern...(took me back to my school days with the lined graph paper. Lovely!)
Then I started cutting....(using my new rolly cutter and mat, how cool!) Many random pieces everywhere.
It took one day to complete the 1st bag - Michelle's - which is in a rather fetching cream with birds and trees on, and has as its lining, the lime green (you can't see but there are yellow birds on it).
I am not so good at the arty farty side of choosing the fabrics which go together, so I rely on the experts and tend to choose fabrics which they have put together in a pack. Pretty aren't they?
What you can't see too clearly from the above pic, is that there's a nice big internal pocket (well 3 actually) big enough for keeping patterns & pins and things in, in a lovely matching fabric. Let me see if this is a better angle...
Buoyed by the success of the 1st one, I launched into then 2nd, and made my Mum her bag with a holiday theme...
Hers too has an inner pocket. The lining material is a wavy, sandy beach design and the pocket material is a fabulous underwater reflections fabric, (I was trying to go for the sea lapping up against the shore) all of these are from my fave fabric shop, TabbyCat Fabrics. Fab service, and, I think, I might be getting some of my recent creations featured on their customer gallery! More about that if/when it happens!!! Anyway sticking to the theory that the experts know best, I chose these materials from a collection called 'Seaside' which are by Makower and which I found on the TabbyCat website.
As I still had a few scraps of fabric left from each of the inner pocket fabrics, I decided to make a little drawstring pouch to go inside each one. I made a long thin one for Michelle, for her knitting needles to go in, and one lined with a bit of waterproof fabric, for mum, for wet swimming costumes or shampoo bottles and things to go in!
I'm really chuffed with them!!!!
(I think Mum and Michelle liked them too!)
The problem is, that while I'm 'cutting my teeth' on the various bag creation steps, I'm creating each one for a friend or family member. You lucky ladies!
This is, obviously, a lovely and generous gesture on my part, but not so fab for having things to blog about - as most of you/them read the blog and I don't want to spoil the surprise...!
Anyway, the latest creations are now at their proper destinations - my Mum, and Dan's Mum. So, now I can blog away and show you the pics!
So, I wanted to create a big tote bag which would stand up on its own, and that Dan's mum could put her knitting in, and that my mum could use as a beach bag for going on holidays with.
First things first, I made a pattern...(took me back to my school days with the lined graph paper. Lovely!)
Then I started cutting....(using my new rolly cutter and mat, how cool!) Many random pieces everywhere.
It took one day to complete the 1st bag - Michelle's - which is in a rather fetching cream with birds and trees on, and has as its lining, the lime green (you can't see but there are yellow birds on it).
I am not so good at the arty farty side of choosing the fabrics which go together, so I rely on the experts and tend to choose fabrics which they have put together in a pack. Pretty aren't they?
What you can't see too clearly from the above pic, is that there's a nice big internal pocket (well 3 actually) big enough for keeping patterns & pins and things in, in a lovely matching fabric. Let me see if this is a better angle...
Buoyed by the success of the 1st one, I launched into then 2nd, and made my Mum her bag with a holiday theme...
Hers too has an inner pocket. The lining material is a wavy, sandy beach design and the pocket material is a fabulous underwater reflections fabric, (I was trying to go for the sea lapping up against the shore) all of these are from my fave fabric shop, TabbyCat Fabrics. Fab service, and, I think, I might be getting some of my recent creations featured on their customer gallery! More about that if/when it happens!!! Anyway sticking to the theory that the experts know best, I chose these materials from a collection called 'Seaside' which are by Makower and which I found on the TabbyCat website.
As I still had a few scraps of fabric left from each of the inner pocket fabrics, I decided to make a little drawstring pouch to go inside each one. I made a long thin one for Michelle, for her knitting needles to go in, and one lined with a bit of waterproof fabric, for mum, for wet swimming costumes or shampoo bottles and things to go in!
I'm really chuffed with them!!!!
(I think Mum and Michelle liked them too!)
29 Apr 2010
Crafting Consolidation
I've had a bit of a craft explosion recently. (You might have noticed!!!!) and I've ended up creating things using crochet, knitting, sewing and beading techniques. I now know how to set in bag handles, iron on interfacing, fit a lining, make a pattern, cover a button (Thanks Terri!) so I have acquired quite a lot of new skills.
This last few weeks, I have been consolidating these new found skills. I've been doing the same things as before, but making the tweaks that I thought about when I was making the things the 1st time... "if I were to do this again, I'd make *this* bit before *that* bit", "next time, I'll set the handle over *there*".
I've been experimenting, a little, as well, just to see what I can create.
So, remember this bag...? It's the 'buttercup bag' from "Made By Rae"
I had another go at it....
This time, I interfaced the lining, so as you can see, the bag has more structure than the top one. I did the pleats a bit differently, and I also applied an internal pocket technique "Easy Peasy Bag Pockets" which I found on a crafty blog website. Oh, and I did the lining bright red. It's lovely isn't it????
Triple internal pocket will hold phone, cards, and your lip gloss safe inside!
Did you spot the deliberate **ahem** mistake though? I got so excited with wanting to turn it inside out and see what the pocket was going to look like, that I forgot to pin in the strap. Ooops! I may go back and put one in, but it looks like a cute clutch bag without one, so once I've put the snap fastening in, maybe it will stay like that!
Next....I made a few scarves....2 in cream which are gifts for Mum and Eithne one in pinky purple for Auntie Bo, and one in brown....which is in progress! I perfected the tassley ends so that the casting off doesn't pucker the last row! This, as well as any more I make are available for purchase for £20 +P&P
Here is the link to the wool website for the colours and I can definitely get Bunny Tail 2 (cream), Hot Pink 3 (pink), Black Velvet 9, Tutti Fruity 11 (pinky purple), Leopard 12 (brown/cream...as seen in this pic...) which are all for sale at my local hobbycraft!
Let me know if you want one.
My next experiment is a crochet/fabric techniques hybrid.
I learned that when you want to make a bag with a flat bottom, you have to cut pieces which have a notch cut out of the bottom corners. (See the 1st picture in this tutorial which shows the pattern pieces for a square bottomed bag. NB I used this tutorial to make Janey's lovely blue bag!!!)
So, I decided to try and crochet a bag using the same pattern, with notches "cut" out of the bottom corners, or rather just shaped using the power of the hook!
Here it is with one corner already sewn, and the other, you can still see the notches. Pretty cool huh? I think it's a bit short though, as I didn't really take into account the fact that the bottom of the bag curving under would take some away from the height. Dur! But, it *is* an experimentation after all.
I do like the way the bag has depth now...
And I love the way the bottom corner looks...
I still haven't decided what to line it with - well that's a fib, I did decide on a gold velvety chenille fabric, but (1) it didn't like my sewing machine, and (2) when I tried to hand stitch it, the cotton thread just pulled through to the other side. I think we may be back to the cotton for the lining (which I'll have to interface) and I'll crochet a nice big flap over the top. I also have some lovely green beads which will look fab on the front.
When I first started my adventures in crochet, I was inspired by this lovely fabric...
...and I wanted to do a nice stripy crochet bag (in the style of my earlier ones) and then embroider/stitch some flowers on. It's not going so well. I've made the front of the bag...
I do like the way the various widths of colour look. And up until yesterday I had some rather shabbily embroidered white flowers along that bottom line of blue. It looked rubbish, so I've pulled it out and I'm going to stare at it until I decide what to do. Maybe the stripes will be decoration enough!
I also made this...
I think it might be the front of a bag, although the dimensions are more square than the usual shapes I make. So, no idea what it will be.
Pretty though, innit?
So, not so much of a week when I'm churning out 'product' but more of a skills consolidation and a little bit of fishing around for inspiration and working stuff out. It's a tough old game!
This last few weeks, I have been consolidating these new found skills. I've been doing the same things as before, but making the tweaks that I thought about when I was making the things the 1st time... "if I were to do this again, I'd make *this* bit before *that* bit", "next time, I'll set the handle over *there*".
I've been experimenting, a little, as well, just to see what I can create.
So, remember this bag...? It's the 'buttercup bag' from "Made By Rae"
I had another go at it....
This time, I interfaced the lining, so as you can see, the bag has more structure than the top one. I did the pleats a bit differently, and I also applied an internal pocket technique "Easy Peasy Bag Pockets" which I found on a crafty blog website. Oh, and I did the lining bright red. It's lovely isn't it????
Triple internal pocket will hold phone, cards, and your lip gloss safe inside!
Did you spot the deliberate **ahem** mistake though? I got so excited with wanting to turn it inside out and see what the pocket was going to look like, that I forgot to pin in the strap. Ooops! I may go back and put one in, but it looks like a cute clutch bag without one, so once I've put the snap fastening in, maybe it will stay like that!
Next....I made a few scarves....2 in cream which are gifts for Mum and Eithne one in pinky purple for Auntie Bo, and one in brown....which is in progress! I perfected the tassley ends so that the casting off doesn't pucker the last row! This, as well as any more I make are available for purchase for £20 +P&P
Here is the link to the wool website for the colours and I can definitely get Bunny Tail 2 (cream), Hot Pink 3 (pink), Black Velvet 9, Tutti Fruity 11 (pinky purple), Leopard 12 (brown/cream...as seen in this pic...) which are all for sale at my local hobbycraft!
Let me know if you want one.
My next experiment is a crochet/fabric techniques hybrid.
I learned that when you want to make a bag with a flat bottom, you have to cut pieces which have a notch cut out of the bottom corners. (See the 1st picture in this tutorial which shows the pattern pieces for a square bottomed bag. NB I used this tutorial to make Janey's lovely blue bag!!!)
So, I decided to try and crochet a bag using the same pattern, with notches "cut" out of the bottom corners, or rather just shaped using the power of the hook!
Here it is with one corner already sewn, and the other, you can still see the notches. Pretty cool huh? I think it's a bit short though, as I didn't really take into account the fact that the bottom of the bag curving under would take some away from the height. Dur! But, it *is* an experimentation after all.
I do like the way the bag has depth now...
And I love the way the bottom corner looks...
I still haven't decided what to line it with - well that's a fib, I did decide on a gold velvety chenille fabric, but (1) it didn't like my sewing machine, and (2) when I tried to hand stitch it, the cotton thread just pulled through to the other side. I think we may be back to the cotton for the lining (which I'll have to interface) and I'll crochet a nice big flap over the top. I also have some lovely green beads which will look fab on the front.
When I first started my adventures in crochet, I was inspired by this lovely fabric...
...and I wanted to do a nice stripy crochet bag (in the style of my earlier ones) and then embroider/stitch some flowers on. It's not going so well. I've made the front of the bag...
I do like the way the various widths of colour look. And up until yesterday I had some rather shabbily embroidered white flowers along that bottom line of blue. It looked rubbish, so I've pulled it out and I'm going to stare at it until I decide what to do. Maybe the stripes will be decoration enough!
I also made this...
I think it might be the front of a bag, although the dimensions are more square than the usual shapes I make. So, no idea what it will be.
Pretty though, innit?
So, not so much of a week when I'm churning out 'product' but more of a skills consolidation and a little bit of fishing around for inspiration and working stuff out. It's a tough old game!
19 Apr 2010
I've been busy
Creating some more bags and finishing the ones I started. Fabric ones are the new fun!
Made my 1st one (for Janey) this week...
It is all lined and has a magnetic snap and a card base (covered!)
I even made a detachable charm for the handle...
Here it is in more detail
Feeling mucho clever!
Since then, I made this one - which is soooooooo cute....
Again, it's lined and THIS one has a mobile phone pocket!!! (Wooooo!)
Finally, this afternoon, I've made this black and white one
...it's reversible....
So here is the current collection......Do you think I have enough to open my shop yet????
Made my 1st one (for Janey) this week...
It is all lined and has a magnetic snap and a card base (covered!)
I even made a detachable charm for the handle...
Here it is in more detail
Feeling mucho clever!
Since then, I made this one - which is soooooooo cute....
Again, it's lined and THIS one has a mobile phone pocket!!! (Wooooo!)
Finally, this afternoon, I've made this black and white one
...it's reversible....
So here is the current collection......Do you think I have enough to open my shop yet????
8 Apr 2010
Flower Power
I've had my toes done again - this time all spring flowery!!!!
Can't wait until I can break out my open toed heels for work. Still a bit chilly for that at the moment tho!
Can't wait until I can break out my open toed heels for work. Still a bit chilly for that at the moment tho!
7 Apr 2010
Better than a poke in the eye with a Rich Tea
So yesterday, in a little lull in the workaday proceedings, we were Googling "Thick Rich Tea" biscuits coz someone remembers having them, years ago, and we were, in fact, eating normal Rich Tea.
OK, well, it seemed important at the time! (And it was the Customer who mentioned the think Rich Tea!)
The Google search results brought me to this Telegraph article regarding the dangers of biscuit eating.
I never knew how much danger I was putting myself under for the sake of a bourbon creme.
Read it! It's not a joke. It's not the 1st April.
I read out a couple of snippets...we all sniggered and thought it was quite funny.
I then went back to the google search results & found a related article....Attack of the killer Custard Creams.
It's from the Guradian's excellent 'comment is free' website (something I've mentioned before in previous blogs).
It's dated the day after the Telegraph report on the dangers of biscuit eating. Clearly the author was as shocked and traumatised as I was on hearing the news that a custard cream was virtually a lethal weapon.
You must read it. Here is the link again ---> ..Attack of the killer Custard Creams.
A superior piece of journalism. I particularly like the reference to the brandy snap. You'll see why.
It should have its own health warning though, as I was reading out bits of this to my interested colleagues, I could hardly breathe and nearly choked on my Rich Tea. Another example of life imitating art, I suppose. The irony was not lost on me.
OK, well, it seemed important at the time! (And it was the Customer who mentioned the think Rich Tea!)
The Google search results brought me to this Telegraph article regarding the dangers of biscuit eating.
I never knew how much danger I was putting myself under for the sake of a bourbon creme.
Read it! It's not a joke. It's not the 1st April.
I read out a couple of snippets...we all sniggered and thought it was quite funny.
I then went back to the google search results & found a related article....Attack of the killer Custard Creams.
It's from the Guradian's excellent 'comment is free' website (something I've mentioned before in previous blogs).
It's dated the day after the Telegraph report on the dangers of biscuit eating. Clearly the author was as shocked and traumatised as I was on hearing the news that a custard cream was virtually a lethal weapon.
You must read it. Here is the link again ---> ..Attack of the killer Custard Creams.
A superior piece of journalism. I particularly like the reference to the brandy snap. You'll see why.
It should have its own health warning though, as I was reading out bits of this to my interested colleagues, I could hardly breathe and nearly choked on my Rich Tea. Another example of life imitating art, I suppose. The irony was not lost on me.
5 Apr 2010
I've been getting ahead of myself!
All this new-found creativity is getting bit much - I've started more bags than I've finished! The crafy overload is such good fun though, it's hard to resist each new thing as it comes along - crochet, beads, knitting, felting - whatever it is...it's all great, and I seem to be able to do it!
Anyway, after having made a couple of new bag fronts (just speculatively, you understand) and a couple of the bobbly scarves for Mum & Auntie Bo, I've come back to the original bags and have finished one off...
It's very pretty - and my new name labels have arrived and so I've stitched one in...
This is it close up...
How cool is that....!?!?!?!?!
It's all beautifully lined and would be perfect for a night out - room for a mobile phone, lippy and a credit card!
Anyway, after having made a couple of new bag fronts (just speculatively, you understand) and a couple of the bobbly scarves for Mum & Auntie Bo, I've come back to the original bags and have finished one off...
It's very pretty - and my new name labels have arrived and so I've stitched one in...
This is it close up...
How cool is that....!?!?!?!?!
It's all beautifully lined and would be perfect for a night out - room for a mobile phone, lippy and a credit card!
2 Apr 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)