tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172263502024-03-13T03:21:37.375+00:00... quite contrary... sampling life with a creative mindUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-18309833266256599372023-02-01T11:26:00.000+00:002023-02-01T11:26:09.061+00:00So here we are in 2023 ...<p> I spend time in my studio at the <a href="https://www.longeatonartroom.co.uk/">Art Room</a> several days a week, and am still running our regular Woolly Wednesday session from 18.30 - 20.30 ... </p><p>Tonight, I'll be knitting on mittens I'm making for myself ... it's decision time, for the cuff now ... here's the first one in embryo ... I'm pairing alpaca with a somewhat hairy sock yarn for these ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo9VMVa1v0gDzMcpZ_uoqa-IfRRINvDM_O3avBXVZVxUW5eQIEFnZxUbZZ7--N_7d7N8b0a98NRGn54N1RSOpi7o-XW_6WZ3oTH606TtCyCCMt_EzvygHn1QaiBgMzVeqNcvrXlZe2WDA3YvjC3fmm9Vf-EN7mHylrP1r6ZLr8J-JN5mDUQ/s4000/20230120_184040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo9VMVa1v0gDzMcpZ_uoqa-IfRRINvDM_O3avBXVZVxUW5eQIEFnZxUbZZ7--N_7d7N8b0a98NRGn54N1RSOpi7o-XW_6WZ3oTH606TtCyCCMt_EzvygHn1QaiBgMzVeqNcvrXlZe2WDA3YvjC3fmm9Vf-EN7mHylrP1r6ZLr8J-JN5mDUQ/s320/20230120_184040.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>At this time of year there's still plenty to do in the garden, but less incentive when it's dreary out there.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5Tkk7tb2Oi_v9YXC4rh_CKVTlMJgQq8d0Hmyt2MbbBnx0sm4yM1k-5IJ8lPUK16-zHfpuvd6FfzoxxRu9r3dtnTsZdJB1_gN0V95PW049zkL8u8jajlktIWepw46P-7bbJXU5gbKyD1epyaBKEsCTsrOMEHpppNf5HgBKVVDGYOksYR2Sg/s4000/20230115_115224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5Tkk7tb2Oi_v9YXC4rh_CKVTlMJgQq8d0Hmyt2MbbBnx0sm4yM1k-5IJ8lPUK16-zHfpuvd6FfzoxxRu9r3dtnTsZdJB1_gN0V95PW049zkL8u8jajlktIWepw46P-7bbJXU5gbKyD1epyaBKEsCTsrOMEHpppNf5HgBKVVDGYOksYR2Sg/s320/20230115_115224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The first irises are flowering, brightening up a couple of areas ... the crocuses are just beginning to show hints of their colour ... </p><p>Meanwhile we've trimmed the hazels at the bottom of the garden, and I'm using the trimmings to add to the low fence I wove last year to hold the lavender out of the way ... this replaced a makeshift edging I'd made with bamboo earlier ... here seen alongside the decking to the left ... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlRT9dA8TREy1MtvesZMZ5_nbsQngfSPpMjUAGw3qDIDev2BXT1Ljh96klrzu7zARErrZVnweiGz1WT2xzuEc1Kqre3Beb00hcDMQGs4drOHugZb3tXReSWmjg4MsYAUDp3c8l6zuncQZhZcO0T9cbcH_g5A1rmd-N-Ju5qN7t_NqdYsNmg/s4000/20220312_165140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlRT9dA8TREy1MtvesZMZ5_nbsQngfSPpMjUAGw3qDIDev2BXT1Ljh96klrzu7zARErrZVnweiGz1WT2xzuEc1Kqre3Beb00hcDMQGs4drOHugZb3tXReSWmjg4MsYAUDp3c8l6zuncQZhZcO0T9cbcH_g5A1rmd-N-Ju5qN7t_NqdYsNmg/s320/20220312_165140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-62018484212233600862021-08-03T19:01:00.002+01:002021-08-03T19:02:45.622+01:00Looking back at former trips ...<p>Today, I was inspired to look back at our trip to India in 2010. </p><p>In some ways it seems a long time ago, in other ways fairly recent. </p><p>I was looking for photographs taken in New Delhi when we came across a wonderful textile market being held in the grounds of the Indira Ghandi National Centre for the Arts. There were stalls from many regions of India, and a few nearby places showing and selling local textiles.</p><p>One in particular was a stand from Bhutan, which had beautifully woven fabrics, but what interested me was the spindle and bast fibres for spinning. I was allowed to try out this spindle, and ever since have a great memory of just how beautifully it spun. How I wish that it had been for sale.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7A7gIg0nyQ/YQl-Zg7JtNI/AAAAAAAAZkw/oGG38t9IA5EMILgnlVfNnTBqfuvqNVFsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7A7gIg0nyQ/YQl-Zg7JtNI/AAAAAAAAZkw/oGG38t9IA5EMILgnlVfNnTBqfuvqNVFsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/027.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>Other attractions abounded, there were concerts and dance performances throughout the day and evening, and wonderful food to sample. On our first visit we came across these dancers preparing to perform ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUXQqlN9BXc/YQmBat3n4XI/AAAAAAAAZk4/8X37Mu5cwKsy6TBevTnU4sRDltDu_bfgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUXQqlN9BXc/YQmBat3n4XI/AAAAAAAAZk4/8X37Mu5cwKsy6TBevTnU4sRDltDu_bfgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/041.JPG" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QwQlmtQpIMY/YQmDAGnJjrI/AAAAAAAAZlc/_WJPhRJTTdAkoVohPcPmMZaOjZGJCtMgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QwQlmtQpIMY/YQmDAGnJjrI/AAAAAAAAZlc/_WJPhRJTTdAkoVohPcPmMZaOjZGJCtMgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/043.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">There were so many other memorable performers, including this bagpiper.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbgPQH9zvsQ/YQmDAAxQadI/AAAAAAAAZlY/aBD8g2CIL8co9D53In00Fhcc3u2YB_BggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbgPQH9zvsQ/YQmDAAxQadI/AAAAAAAAZlY/aBD8g2CIL8co9D53In00Fhcc3u2YB_BggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/042.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><p>The atmosphere was very relaxed, which helped with the sensory overload from all the colourful textiles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Z2-vQQe0Ag/YQmCJu-rfGI/AAAAAAAAZlI/dC7c_izBZFYzpBYuLw4u7r55pJtvp_HDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Z2-vQQe0Ag/YQmCJu-rfGI/AAAAAAAAZlI/dC7c_izBZFYzpBYuLw4u7r55pJtvp_HDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_-HFt_pdD0/YQmCJQC5HXI/AAAAAAAAZlA/k9ST760qXQM4kJnb_FAZM0JYOy_y18g3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_-HFt_pdD0/YQmCJQC5HXI/AAAAAAAAZlA/k9ST760qXQM4kJnb_FAZM0JYOy_y18g3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This seems to be the only food stand that I photographed ... while perusing the menu.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DR8I7o2TLPs/YQmCJfegIdI/AAAAAAAAZlE/bXZbWaoAVYccMgZF4FqOCy5phV5CDwEBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DR8I7o2TLPs/YQmCJfegIdI/AAAAAAAAZlE/bXZbWaoAVYccMgZF4FqOCy5phV5CDwEBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/057.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-24750309691955750312021-04-09T16:09:00.000+01:002021-04-09T16:09:21.136+01:00And to my surprise, a year has gone by ...<p>Plenty more gardening has been done, and some areas that were set up over 20 years ago have now been refreshed:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBOstcxB6Jo/YHBpUoLCjUI/AAAAAAAAXHs/gija8RsWN6MS4N1ndQKYmp4njp6EbRcTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210304_141631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBOstcxB6Jo/YHBpUoLCjUI/AAAAAAAAXHs/gija8RsWN6MS4N1ndQKYmp4njp6EbRcTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210304_141631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>New Corten steel edging has been installed around the pond ... here shown just after completion early in March ...</p><p>And here it is again, just over 3 weeks later, beginning to show its rusty nature:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLbqblfHLmI/YHBrX8BPnBI/AAAAAAAAXH0/0kvqwqyuTWozuEVPXb63DQKCFr-hkdtaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210327_181717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLbqblfHLmI/YHBrX8BPnBI/AAAAAAAAXH0/0kvqwqyuTWozuEVPXb63DQKCFr-hkdtaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210327_181717.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Spring is with us, and following up from a single unusual daffodil we had last year, we now have more "Rip van Winkle", here shown gracing the windowsill by our back door. <p></p><p>With it, a ball of the Marie Curie yarn for this year, dyed by <a href="https://www.rosiesmoments.co.uk/daffodil-reflection-flower-power-sock-yarn">Rosie's Moments</a>:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--slkBc19mMo/YHBsDBasszI/AAAAAAAAXIA/6Hv8CatJUaQNoVIUDvWTj_4_7VddItyxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210329_152615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--slkBc19mMo/YHBsDBasszI/AAAAAAAAXIA/6Hv8CatJUaQNoVIUDvWTj_4_7VddItyxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210329_152615.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Adjacent on the windowsill, are a colourful trio of Primula denticulata:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EuifYUGRuQ0/YHBtWjg3HgI/AAAAAAAAXIM/C6JLWeVdMHsgvlgZfhPaO4tilTS87XoHACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210326_154853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EuifYUGRuQ0/YHBtWjg3HgI/AAAAAAAAXIM/C6JLWeVdMHsgvlgZfhPaO4tilTS87XoHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210326_154853.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And that's it for now, I'm hoping to post more frequently, but don't hold your breath waiting for an update!</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-29015207103168280112020-04-05T16:09:00.000+01:002020-04-05T16:10:35.699+01:00Plenty of time for gardening ...... means that for once I'm getting things done.<br />
After a wet few months, not really a winter (as we only had one hard frost that I'm aware of) suddenly it is spring.<br />
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On 10th February, a tiny dusting of snow fell.<br />
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This was gone in the blink of an eye ...<br />
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By the end of the month, we had the usual spring flowers, crocuses, daffodils, hellebores and lungwort.<br />
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Then mid March, the first tulip made its appearance, along with the first flowers on the magnolia stellata:<br />
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By the end of March, the magnolia looked magnificent:</div>
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And then I got into sorting out the compost heaps, which took a few days.<br />
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As we are at home, we got on with putting some trellising along our fence where the neighbour's leylandii has died off:<br />
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Now it is time to go back into the garden, and get on with weeding and seed sowing ...</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-87300006880251086652018-09-04T15:05:00.000+01:002018-09-04T15:07:35.217+01:00So, where was I ......Once again, while tossing compost, I've been thinking about blogging.<br />
Nothing particularly special has happened, but it's time for an update.<br />
<br />
This time I'm taking action and providing a summary of the past 14 months.<br />
So, herewith an experiment in providing a snapshot of the time that has passed.<br />
<br />
Firstly, here are a few places that I visited in the remainder of 2017.<br />
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At the end of July 2017, we took a trip to the Isle of Man to ride on the trams.<br />
I hadn't been since 1961, but the weather was similarly brisk at times.<br />
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August 2017 saw the AIA annual conference, held in Northampton.<br />
These barrels in Phipps brewery were very colourful.<br />
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We spent 12 days in Texas in September, for Ian to attend his professional convention. </div>
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The partners programme took me to the George W Bush Library in Dallas where this display showed those all important chads which caused so much trouble in Florida in the 2000 presidential election.</div>
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October gave a last chance to get over to Stoke on Trent for the British Ceramics Biennale.</div>
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These pots stood tall and close together in the Original Spode factory.</div>
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Early December unusually brought us some snow, though not more than a dusting.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-15390815514931006562017-06-27T22:23:00.001+01:002017-06-27T22:25:01.985+01:0045 years ago today ...... I set out for a three month holiday in Canada.<br />
<br />
Here's the ticket!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vGiTx6fO14g/WVLHbiMs9fI/AAAAAAAACCc/NiCbE7hnB941RRDCIIwCI3vox43YabfCQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vGiTx6fO14g/WVLHbiMs9fI/AAAAAAAACCc/NiCbE7hnB941RRDCIIwCI3vox43YabfCQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_6724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had been working as a waitress in Switzerland at a couple of hotels during the previous year and had the time and money to spare.</div>
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I had no job, nor any idea what work I might do once I was back home from Switzerland.</div>
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So on 27th June, I flew to Montreal, with the intention to catch the train out west later that day to see my aunt, uncle and cousins in Alberta.</div>
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But, it all fell apart when I realised that although I was there, my luggage was not.</div>
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I had checked in in plenty of time at the BOAC terminal in Victoria, and caught an airport bus out to Heathrow.</div>
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Arriving in Montreal to find it 90 F (35 C) and extremely humid, and with airport staff refusing to speak to me in English was horrible.</div>
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I had only just about adjusted back to speaking English, rather than German, and could not remember any useful 'O' level French. </div>
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Many thanks are due to a London based Canadian who had given me a Montreal based relative's phone number the day before I left.</div>
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This lady, once contacted and she'd sorted out her children, swooped down and took me to her home.</div>
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She fed me and took all my clothing and laundered it for me, lending me some of her clothes.</div>
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The following day, having sorted out Air Canada's luggage people, I was put on the train with clothes and food to sustain me for the three day (2 night) journey.</div>
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I ended up staying very nearly five years in Canada, but that's another story.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-39138362406163886972017-03-15T12:03:00.002+00:002017-03-15T12:09:39.163+00:00... and a year went by ....I can't quite believe that all those posts I composed in my mind didn't make it onto here.<br />
So, here's a quick summary of a busy 12 months:<br />
<br />
This time last year I was heading off to Skipnorth. this year's <a href="http://skipnorth.weebly.com/">Skipnorth</a> is now 10 days behind us.<br />
It was another memorable visit to points north with great company.<br />
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This time I did remember to take a rather grainy photograph of the patterning in the centre of the ballroom floor at the hostel in Haworth. This may have uses in designing knitwear.<br />
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But, back to last year and some of the things that happened and places that were visited.<br />
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In March 2016, we put our family home in north London on the market, thus ending a lifetime connection to Finchley.<br />
It sold in early August, once my brother had moved to France.<br />
This completed the realisation of my mother's estate.<br />
My father had designed the house in the early '60s, and we built it from Easter '64, moving in at Christmas '66.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLqVIQm2bSM/WMkX3nfxgrI/AAAAAAAACA8/CG8AvJr1tS8N3ZHfLcoC49eWAlT5bWhawCLcB/s1600/IMG_4021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLqVIQm2bSM/WMkX3nfxgrI/AAAAAAAACA8/CG8AvJr1tS8N3ZHfLcoC49eWAlT5bWhawCLcB/s320/IMG_4021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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April 2016 saw Ian and I visiting Japan for the first time. Japan deserves several blogposts, so here's a glimpse of the cherry blossom in Sendai. We were travelling in Japan for four weeks, and nearly a year on I haven't fully taken it all in.<br />
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In late August we had another lengthy trip, this time to Canada.<br />
Firstly we flew to Toronto and spent a fortnight driving around busily visiting many friends in Ontario.<br />
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Here's where I was living when I left St Catharines in May '77. It was a compact apartment built over my landlady's garage, cold and draughty in winter, too hot in summer. It is not much changed visually since I lived there.<br />
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After that we had a couple days in Montreal before embarking on the <a href="https://www.cruiseandmaritime.com/our-ships/marco-polo">Marco Polo</a> to cruise back to Britain. We spent two weeks gradually making our way up the St Lawrence Seaway and visiting places in the province of Quebec and the Maritime provinces.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyDQkTP_1ko/WMkpI5-qTFI/AAAAAAAACBk/wfxcVy3fQKoK5wefeXEeat19Kt_p7KM3ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PyDQkTP_1ko/WMkpI5-qTFI/AAAAAAAACBk/wfxcVy3fQKoK5wefeXEeat19Kt_p7KM3ACLcB/s320/IMG_6171.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuFNUo7Ae9I/WMkqdzKZHKI/AAAAAAAACBw/m5wOamUMskgbYuA9O3uTKlPXISX6GiDawCLcB/s1600/IMG_6173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuFNUo7Ae9I/WMkqdzKZHKI/AAAAAAAACBw/m5wOamUMskgbYuA9O3uTKlPXISX6GiDawCLcB/s320/IMG_6173.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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In October we had a day trip by plane from Lydd to Le Touquet in order to visit the war grave of one of Ian's great uncles at the <a href="http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/56500/ETAPLES%20MILITARY%20CEMETERY">Etaples cemetery</a>. This was together with Ian's brother and his family.<br />
We combined flowers and foliage from our gardens to form a small bouquet.<br />
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December saw us visiting Devon for a few days, staying at a Landmark Trust property in Lympstone.<br />
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Then we closed the year by flying out to Limoges to see Tony and his rural property.<br />
This was just a short visit of four days, conveniently in and out of East Midlands airport.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-75092588693932115222016-03-10T12:57:00.003+00:002016-03-10T12:59:01.770+00:00Madly doing thingsThe months roll by, and all of a sudden <a href="http://skipnorth.weebly.com/">Skipnorth </a>is this weekend.<br />
My second time, and it starts tomorrow afternoon.<br />
<br />
I'm busy looking round the house for unwanted yarn to take with me for the stash swap in aid of p/hop (monies go to <a href="http://www.p-hop.co.uk/">MSF</a>).<br />
Of course this mostly means that I get distracted by the items I find hiding, and I really should be planting out some things that I brought from our family home in Finchley.<br />
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So almost time for lunch then a concentrated trawl through the "insulation" (known to others as knitting yarn!).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-4233694862353310582015-08-09T16:30:00.000+01:002015-08-09T16:32:26.570+01:0020 years ago I did something foolish ...... and as a result my watch stopped working.<br />
Now this wasn't just any old watch bought cheaply from the local jeweller or department store.<br />
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It is a Tissot with a stainless steel housing that I bought in Switzerland in 1972.<br />
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I can't now remember how much it cost me, but it was pricey for the time.<br />
I had saved my meagre tips when working in the dining room of a hotel in Arosa and used them for this luxury.<br />
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It replaced the basic Timex I had been given aged eleven when I started at secondary school.<br />
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Fast forward to the summer of 1995, and we were on holiday in British Columbia.<br />
Touring around Vancouver Island, it was late afternoon and we were in the <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/index.aspx">Pacific Rim National Park Reserve</a> between Tofino and Ucluelet.<br />
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We walked out to the coast, and gazing at the Pacific I indulged in one of my favourite activities, beach-combing.<br />
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I saw a pretty stone or shell, I can't now remember which, purple in colour.<br />
I reached out to pick it up out of the sea, forgetting that I was wearing my watch.<br />
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Disaster, although I hastily removed my hand from the water and tried to dry it off, it stopped working.<br />
When we got home I took it to a jewellers to see if it could be revived, and was told it wouldn't be worth it.<br />
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So, I bought a basic black Casio digital watch, no fancy leather strap this time.<br />
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Fast forward once more to 2015, and now I own another Swiss watch, a <a href="https://www.mondaine.com/watches/official-swiss-railways-watch/classic.html">Mondaine</a> once again purchased in Switzerland.<br />
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The Mondaine was just out of it's 2 year warranty when it seized up as we were travelling home from a five week visit to Australia at the end of June.<br />
Taking it to a shop in Derby resulted in gaining a new movement, which was cheaper than I had expected.<br />
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When retrieving it, I asked whether they could take a look at the Tissot.<br />
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So on Friday when I had other errands to run in Derby I picked up the Tissot and put it in my bag.<br />
I had finished everything else and went in to the jewellers, and told them the story.<br />
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The young man I was speaking to said, "There is nothing wrong with it!".<br />
He handed it back to me, and apart from the date being the 27th rather than the 7th it was fine.<br />
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I've wound it each morning since, and it is keeping time.<br />
Why it slept for 20 years is beyond me.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-9929270887630279872015-02-14T19:41:00.002+00:002015-02-14T19:41:36.233+00:00Oh, it's 2015 and I'm typically slow in updatingSo, as usual things I wish to post about occur to me when busy in the garden, or when I'm walking or cycling around the place.<br />
<br />
Now, I was thinking of sharing some images from the cold spat we had just before New Year, but the connection between camera and computer seems suddenly to be lost.<br />
So, imagine if you will, a couple of centimetres of snow that fell on Boxing Day early in the evening.<br />
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The next few nights brought heavy frosts, and ice crystals materialised on the snow, most notably on the edge of the bird bath.<br />
By New Year's Eve it had all melted away, but not before we had enjoyed many walks on the crunchy (rarely seen) white stuff.<br />
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The first weekend of the year saw me joining some knitting friends at the youth hostel in Sheringham on the North Norfolk coast.<br />
I love to be beside the sea, so took every advantage to nip down to the shingle beach to hunt out some interesting pebbles.<br />
The wind and the tides were high so the seas were dramatic.<br />
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The following weekend saw me near the sea once more staying with friends in the Wirral.<br />
The coast was a bit disappointing in the drizzle, no shingle, just dull sand.<br />
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Changes are happening at the Art Room as we gradually continue with the development of our premises. Last summer we had toilets installed in the lace factory. We now have connecting doors from the education room into the larger part of the lace factory.<br />
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But this week the view from my studio window has changed as the local council had all the trees outside trimmed back.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-68652544631144007832014-07-04T23:14:00.001+01:002014-07-04T23:24:16.446+01:00Another birthday exchangeI hadn't taken part in any exchanges for a while, so was pleased to remember to sign up in time for a birthday exchange via <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>.<br />
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My exchange partner was Alice, born on the same day, but in the USA and as far as we can ascertain a few hours earlier than me. <span style="text-align: center;">I have photographed the contents of the parcel she sent a couple of times to show the colours with only partial success. Purples are so hard to depict.</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx1calpv5G4/U7ckbhyYNPI/AAAAAAAABCA/0vH_hQlnVXo/s1600/IMG_2812%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx1calpv5G4/U7ckbhyYNPI/AAAAAAAABCA/0vH_hQlnVXo/s1600/IMG_2812%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
For whatever reason I have been unable to rotate the image, but seen from sideways on the treats look so good.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMbUO7AHzaM/U7clAf2cCTI/AAAAAAAABCI/swQafAlDGkA/s1600/IMG_2811%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMbUO7AHzaM/U7clAf2cCTI/AAAAAAAABCI/swQafAlDGkA/s1600/IMG_2811%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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The shawl is knitted in the most perfect purple, and the weight of the beads at the bottom makes it hang beautifully. It has been much admired already, and will be worn so much, as it goes with so many of my clothes.<br />
There are marvellous additions to my stash, purple and brilliant green yarn, and a lovely purple project bag.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-6102416761057441772014-05-23T23:32:00.002+01:002014-05-23T23:34:16.931+01:00Derbyshire Open Arts this bank holiday weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fywlE9oRaao/U3_GOsi6EPI/AAAAAAAABBk/-CAlwVP_09w/s1600/Mary_Graham_Brochure.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fywlE9oRaao/U3_GOsi6EPI/AAAAAAAABBk/-CAlwVP_09w/s1600/Mary_Graham_Brochure.jpg.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Once again it is suddenly the end of May, and tomorrow several of us at <a href="http://www.leartroom.co.uk/">Long Eaton Art Room</a> will open our studios to the public. We are open from 10.00 - 17.00 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday 24th - 26th May.<br />
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The image above is the one I submitted to go in the brochure back in January.<br />
It was just hastily snapped with my fairly basic digital camera, and then cropped.<br />
The small porcelain pieces wee posed on a sheet of slightly faded black paper, which provided the perfect foil for them.<br />
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I was pleasantly surprised towards the end off March to be told that my image was one of six chosen to go in a listing in <a href="http://www.craftanddesign.net/open-studios/organisers/60126/derbyshire-open-arts">Craft & Design Mag</a>.<br />
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This afternoon when I left my studio I had these pieces set up, but the rest of my display may get changed in the morning.<br />
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Sadly, the weather forecast is for more showers so we cannot predict how many people will turn out.<br />
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Long Eaton has a strong presence this year, with the Art Room hosting artists 163 - 169.<br />
Just up the road <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HelenHallowsStudio">Helen Hallows</a> and David Hallows are also participating, hosting some exciting artists.<br />
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More details can be found in the <a href="http://www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk/event-details.html">Derbyshire Open Arts brochure</a>.<br />
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I am looking forward to seeing some of you over the weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-26506849783809129522013-09-06T19:32:00.001+01:002013-09-06T19:32:54.253+01:00... changes ...... are taking place.<br />
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This week saw my hair tamed, just in time for the weather to cool down.<br />
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Haircut on Wednesday; so the weather changed to cool and damp on Friday via some warm weather on Thursday that saw too much sweat trickling down my back for comfort.<br />
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But much more importantly, thanks to the NHS I had a change of hearing aids yesterday.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZsmoWv0JKU/UioPtAQxGnI/AAAAAAAABBI/UleZ4wtwPdA/s1600/he13+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZsmoWv0JKU/UioPtAQxGnI/AAAAAAAABBI/UleZ4wtwPdA/s320/he13+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd had my Spirit 3 aids since June 2006, although over the years separately both had failed and been replaced.</div>
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The new aids, Spirit Zest are purple once more, and even smaller than before.</div>
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This time you can't see the innards, so not quite as exciting to look at.</div>
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So far, after just over a day the sound seems to be better.</div>
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It was not only drizzling as I cycled in to town, but a bit windy, so now I have some idea what the wind blowing on the microphones will be like.</div>
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Otherwise, there is a definite cooling in the air today, and I needed to wear a jacket to cycle to the shops this afternoon.</div>
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Looking at the forecast we may be in for temperatures in the teens from now on.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-67737911888825552912013-06-24T15:30:00.001+01:002013-06-24T15:31:02.761+01:00An hour's drawing distilled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfDh2afSjHM/UchQNVPQbyI/AAAAAAAABAY/s-EWBxa9BFU/s1600/IMG_1217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfDh2afSjHM/UchQNVPQbyI/AAAAAAAABAY/s-EWBxa9BFU/s320/IMG_1217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A last minute decision on the morning of May 30th had me cycling over to <a href="http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/countryside_sites/country_parks/elvaston/default.asp?VD=elvaston">Elvaston Castle</a> to join in a drawing workshop.</div>
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I hadn't cycled that way for years, and was glad of the map facility on my phone. </div>
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It was a cool somewhat damp day, which made the journey easier. </div>
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3/4 hour after leaving home I arrived and was very glad that I was wearing multiple layers as I could strip down to cool off.</div>
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I settled down with my favourite fine drawing pen and a sheet of A4 paper, and looked around at the various natural items laid out for inspiration.</div>
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The gall on the windowsill above was one of the first to catch my eye.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VifKspYyX-c/UchQNsh90nI/AAAAAAAABAc/fUBxzgIOYFc/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VifKspYyX-c/UchQNsh90nI/AAAAAAAABAc/fUBxzgIOYFc/s320/IMG_1226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Later on as I cooled off I roamed the room seeking inspiration, and found this great seedcase, possibly from a verbascum or eremurus.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mp8ncPRmkfE/UchQNyEQzvI/AAAAAAAABAg/6tpm3IfobpI/s1600/elv1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mp8ncPRmkfE/UchQNyEQzvI/AAAAAAAABAg/6tpm3IfobpI/s320/elv1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Towards the end of the hour this was my sheet.</div>
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Next I needed to apply the scissors and censor my work.</div>
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A handy square of black paper helped in this matter. </div>
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I selected items that could be cut out without losing their integrity, and came up with this arrangement.</div>
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The images were a hotchpotch of different scales and both from birds and plant material.</div>
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(I have no idea how, if at all, my drawings might get used in the inspiration for archways in a garden there.)</div>
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I enjoyed myself on the way home taking more time on my journey, stopping off in Draycott to visit the <a href="http://www.thebeetroottree.com/">Beetroot Tree</a> gallery. </div>
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My only regret of the day was that two days later I was told of an app that I could have used to track my journey on my phone.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-4050475765359487162013-06-08T16:31:00.001+01:002013-06-08T16:33:13.138+01:00This week's garden favourites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7rTE5Sk-IQ/UbNGGn1_rtI/AAAAAAAAA-M/zTDWO3sfQi4/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O7rTE5Sk-IQ/UbNGGn1_rtI/AAAAAAAAA-M/zTDWO3sfQi4/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A few minutes ago I was inspired to go round the garden with a camera. I am waiting for some laundry to finish, and this was a fun way to pass the time.</div>
Firstly, right at the back door, and now fortunately elsewhere, a hardy geranium. I think that this is Geranium oxonianum thurstonianum.<br />
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Then one that I haven't been able to identify yet. We call it "small white", although it is slightly off white. It grows like mad and seeds itself everywhere, but is easy to identify at a young stage.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RXkHFISkJG0/UbNGHH0UPCI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/qJJYQxAKndE/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RXkHFISkJG0/UbNGHH0UPCI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/qJJYQxAKndE/s320/IMG_1250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This allium is nearly through with flowering, but has been looking splendid for the past couple of weeks.</div>
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Phacelia gets sown as a green manure in our raised vegetable beds, and I always try to keep it growing until it flowers. The form of the flowers and the scent make it one of my favourites.</div>
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I think that this is a Tiarella. It is an unassuming plant that has spread to a few locations over the year. The tiny flowers start off cream and turn red with time/pollination? </div>
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We have finally established flag irises in the margins of our pond.</div>
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The small maple tree we moved in 1995 has more flowers on it than ever.</div>
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The first few of these poppies are out, and as you can see a snail has climbed into the centre. That doesn't worry me as then it isn't eating my salad leaves.</div>
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Our viburnam is just getting going.</div>
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We have aquilegias all over the place, and frequently pull them up.</div>
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Blue flowers don't photograph well for me, but the form shows even if the colour is distorted.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-78142699792304683582013-06-06T11:39:00.002+01:002013-06-06T11:40:31.005+01:00What a weekend!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHiPAhYuY6A/UbBZRKdLx6I/AAAAAAAAA8s/qOmz0k38JNw/s1600/rsz_1doa_2013_cat+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHiPAhYuY6A/UbBZRKdLx6I/AAAAAAAAA8s/qOmz0k38JNw/s320/rsz_1doa_2013_cat+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Way back at the beginning of the year I put in my entry as an individual artist in Derbyshire Open Arts. </div>
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Knowing that I would be showing both knitted wire and porcelain, I combined the two in an image. </div>
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This was fun, as it is hard to tell the scale of the work from the image.</div>
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Towards the end of March the brochures were delivered to the studio, and I could start handing them out.</div>
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The entries for Long Eaton Art Room looked good together.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YVqp3Q-l0M/UbBgGw5676I/AAAAAAAAA9o/f6NrNvPRFDU/s1600/doa2013+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YVqp3Q-l0M/UbBgGw5676I/AAAAAAAAA9o/f6NrNvPRFDU/s320/doa2013+9.JPG" width="250" /></a></div>
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In the meantime, at the Art Room much organising was going on to showcase the various activities we provide.</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fV26vAhWtY/UbBgFnT6oAI/AAAAAAAAA9g/m4iwZSerlZI/s1600/doa2013+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fV26vAhWtY/UbBgFnT6oAI/AAAAAAAAA9g/m4iwZSerlZI/s320/doa2013+10.JPG" width="252" /></a><br />
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Then came an unexpected bonus. </div>
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I was mentioned in the <a href="http://artsbeatblog.com/">Artsbeat</a> May issue article about Derbyshire Open Arts. </div>
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During the weekend I know that at least two people not from our area were prompted to visit as a result of seeing this mention.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3CJI8mcMDE/UbBZlP8uwbI/AAAAAAAAA80/cvKt7i9WoFU/s1600/IMG_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3CJI8mcMDE/UbBZlP8uwbI/AAAAAAAAA80/cvKt7i9WoFU/s320/IMG_1203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I tweaked my studio to show off my latest work, and added a vase full of flowers from our garden. </div>
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Knitted wire was shown at the window so that it glistened in the sunshine from around three in the afternoon.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E76Zud4e7zE/UbBZyvV5otI/AAAAAAAAA9E/z_hmT_3ovcU/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E76Zud4e7zE/UbBZyvV5otI/AAAAAAAAA9E/z_hmT_3ovcU/s320/IMG_1207.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Porcelain was laid out rather in the manner of archaeological finds elsewhere in the studio.<br />
Several people mentioned this. Maybe the couple of summers I spent in Cyprus on a dig are showing their influence.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2FIjhhNqAc/UbBZruwIppI/AAAAAAAAA88/lHwajXt6XHc/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2FIjhhNqAc/UbBZruwIppI/AAAAAAAAA88/lHwajXt6XHc/s320/IMG_1205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Over the course of the three days I didn't venture far from my studio, mainly popping in to see the other studio spaces upstairs.</div>
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On Sunday the Henna Fairy was plying her art, and I was quick to take advantage.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBMPVaBhmwc/UbBlaQvrfyI/AAAAAAAAA98/NkBeH65_mTg/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBMPVaBhmwc/UbBlaQvrfyI/AAAAAAAAA98/NkBeH65_mTg/s320/003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here is how it looked four days later, but today you'd have to use a lot of imagination to trace the remains of the design.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-3584950043175654222013-05-24T10:19:00.004+01:002013-05-24T10:21:54.757+01:00Open Studios preview ....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNwyKPFdJXw/UZ8uSHNiVoI/AAAAAAAAA8M/ERDjQ_aGOdY/s1600/doa13+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNwyKPFdJXw/UZ8uSHNiVoI/AAAAAAAAA8M/ERDjQ_aGOdY/s320/doa13+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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New fun pieces knitted with 0.20 mm coloured wire and 0.20 fishing line which I then overdyed.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZghB8wxheg/UZ8uSugaruI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/msFxuPBbyOE/s1600/doa13+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZghB8wxheg/UZ8uSugaruI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/msFxuPBbyOE/s320/doa13+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
These are hanging in the studio window showing off their sparkling colour in the early evening sunshine.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MAenrwqkg0/UZ8uTP8ERZI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/kFwnN8o24pc/s1600/doa13+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MAenrwqkg0/UZ8uTP8ERZI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/kFwnN8o24pc/s320/doa13+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It had rained off and on all afternoon, and I was beginning to think that I wouldn't have the chance to take these snaps.</div>
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This time tomorrow we will be open to all as part of <a href="http://www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk/">Derbyshire Open Arts 2013</a>.</div>
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If you are anywhere nearby, do drop in to see me and the other artists at Long Eaton Art Room, 29 - 31 Lime Grove, Long Eaton, NG10 4LD.</div>
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We will all be there from 10.00 to 17.00 Saturday, Sunday and Monday 25th - 27th May</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-90593687217720090192013-05-20T19:57:00.000+01:002013-05-20T19:57:05.457+01:00Entranced ....!A couple of weeks ago I watched <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01sbbl8">"Later with Jools Holland"</a> on TV.<br />
Not certain whether I would stay awake for the whole programme I recorded it.<br />
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There was a great lineup, but the track that stuck with me was "Step" by <a href="http://www.vampireweekend.com/">Vampire Weekend</a>.<br />
I watched the recording a few times the next day, then found their website which included the lyrics.<br />
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This has now haunted me in the most pleasant way ever since.<br />
I can be weeding in the garden, or dropping off to sleep all at the same measured pace.<br />
I can't remember when the last time was when that happened.<br />
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No doubt I am missing some aspects of the lyrics, but the melody and rhythm are just right for me now.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--yM_xDMqgKI/UZpxPBhYCkI/AAAAAAAAA78/U-G-gxWKrP8/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--yM_xDMqgKI/UZpxPBhYCkI/AAAAAAAAA78/U-G-gxWKrP8/s320/002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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A couple of days later just as it was getting dark the garden took on a magical quality.</div>
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All the white blossom jumped out at me, and I took my phone out to try to capture it.</div>
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This image is now part and parcel of the song for me.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-81042614762938475772013-03-29T12:02:00.000+00:002013-03-29T12:07:41.128+00:00Too busy to post?I have these great intentions about blogging, mentally writing posts when out walking or gardening.<br />
I know, I've said it before, and had good intentions of posting more often.<br />
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So, all urgent things dealt with, here I am at the computer, putting off going out to do some tidying up in the garden.<br />
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The only thing that should be done this weekend is going in to Derby to continue viewing the <a href="http://www.formatfestival.com/">Format festival</a> of photography.<br />
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Last week, when we had visitors we took in the displays at the museum and some outlying venues.<br />
This time we intend to concentrate on the chocolate factory.<br />
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And now back to some recent activities:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0zMsES1HVo/UVWA-fXPIKI/AAAAAAAAA7U/-QH85cvtgbw/s1600/IMG_0910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0zMsES1HVo/UVWA-fXPIKI/AAAAAAAAA7U/-QH85cvtgbw/s320/IMG_0910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Online Guild January 2013 workshop was on UFO's. </div>
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Rather than finishing off items already started I decided to tidy up the house and re-assign yarn that had been knitted or crocheted as samples and then been abandoned. </div>
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I do masses of sampling before making anything, and when I have sufficient yarn often rip it off the needles once I have tried out the stitch or colour variation. </div>
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Consequently I was able to find many bits and pieces to use in a couple of projects.</div>
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I undertook to gather up loads of samples I no longer needed to preserve,
and use them.</div>
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Going around the house I found small amounts of handspun which I then
knitted up into a small scarf.</div>
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I did not sort the snippets, unravelling and using them as I came across
them.</div>
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The central line is loosely cast on, and stitches are picked up on both
sides.</div>
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The curious shaping is made by increasing at each corner on each row.</div>
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The scarf itself is knit in a k2 , p2 moving rib which gently blends the
colours.</div>
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The samples I have found so far in commercial yarn were unravelled and
crocheted into a giant granny square.</div>
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It has currently reached 1.2 m (nearly 4 foot) square, and weighs 650 gm (1
lb. 7 oz.), and I am still finding suitable yarn.</div>
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The colour scheme in both was taken as it comes, the exception being the
cast-off yarn on the handspun scarf. </div>
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This was not a neglected sample, but part of the sampling process for a
spinning project.</div>
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I had to be sure I had enough to effectively finish it off.</div>
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All in all a fun on-going project showing how much yarn gets left
effectively useless when I am designing items!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CUhSuCWJf2o/UVWBLWR8mTI/AAAAAAAAA7g/_sNk0ixmE-A/s1600/jan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CUhSuCWJf2o/UVWBLWR8mTI/AAAAAAAAA7g/_sNk0ixmE-A/s320/jan1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-52360277791351268402012-11-17T10:19:00.000+00:002012-11-17T10:19:14.947+00:00I was there ... (2) random images<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YLDun7G6KNQ/UKdcz8xcNdI/AAAAAAAAA4w/JB4f-bMZpPI/s1600/DSCN5905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YLDun7G6KNQ/UKdcz8xcNdI/AAAAAAAAA4w/JB4f-bMZpPI/s320/DSCN5905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cruising through the calendar listing of my photos this year here are a few to give a flavour of 2012.</div>
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Firstly, the Erewash Canal was frozen over in February, and as it thawed curious patterns showed up.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsQBNqedBt4/UKdc51X7gII/AAAAAAAAA44/IX1apVDY_DQ/s1600/DSCN5934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsQBNqedBt4/UKdc51X7gII/AAAAAAAAA44/IX1apVDY_DQ/s320/DSCN5934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ian and I have had some great walks. This one started from Matlock, also in February. Spot the camouflaged sheep in the landscape. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVXjdIXBFMo/UKddBTWg2wI/AAAAAAAAA5A/E19d5Q6muos/s1600/DSCN5968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVXjdIXBFMo/UKddBTWg2wI/AAAAAAAAA5A/E19d5Q6muos/s320/DSCN5968.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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In March I started to rent studio space at <a href="http://www.leartroom.co.uk/">Long Eaton Art Room</a>. This is the view from the window, out across the cemetery Now the leaves have fallen, it is pretty much the same view. Only, the studio has much more in it than a branch off our greengage. We still have studios available, so get in touch via the <a href="http://www.leartroom.co.uk/page16.html">website</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N1Eq1JaM92E/UKddFiroANI/AAAAAAAAA5I/PXVT0emQQNs/s1600/DSCN5990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N1Eq1JaM92E/UKddFiroANI/AAAAAAAAA5I/PXVT0emQQNs/s320/DSCN5990.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't remember the context of this image, perhaps it is just as well. Fortunately, I spotted the laundry from a distance, and had my camera ready as I came into range!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3PI9VuLfmo/UKddc8fn1XI/AAAAAAAAA5k/iHmy-DGdnek/s1600/DSCN6205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3PI9VuLfmo/UKddc8fn1XI/AAAAAAAAA5k/iHmy-DGdnek/s320/DSCN6205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love pylons, insulators etc. I would have sketched this, but I was out walking with a camera to hand.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZmqJnUp0FU/UKddnWIXtbI/AAAAAAAAA5s/Ea6K8k5s9Lg/s1600/DSCN6525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZmqJnUp0FU/UKddnWIXtbI/AAAAAAAAA5s/Ea6K8k5s9Lg/s320/DSCN6525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Things I see that offer scope for texture work, whether in knitting, crochet, ceramics or metal need to be documented and stashed away for future reference. Maybe even just the idea of photographing the fuzzy stripes has imprinted it in my vocabulary of mental textures.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nH3PFc0hxCk/UKddtK5ryaI/AAAAAAAAA50/pCLm9ceyPfQ/s1600/DSCN6531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nH3PFc0hxCk/UKddtK5ryaI/AAAAAAAAA50/pCLm9ceyPfQ/s320/DSCN6531.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sometimes I just go for the plain pretty things too. This was in Edinburgh in the spring, part of a council planting.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JR7ka05-i9w/UKdd4qiiK7I/AAAAAAAAA58/7n8Ay4g_kPQ/s1600/DSCN6589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JR7ka05-i9w/UKdd4qiiK7I/AAAAAAAAA58/7n8Ay4g_kPQ/s320/DSCN6589.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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But more often it is the strong images that win out. Colour always excites me. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEZ0FbaO8Q4/UKdeMMNAoxI/AAAAAAAAA6E/EnJCFv0gc0k/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEZ0FbaO8Q4/UKdeMMNAoxI/AAAAAAAAA6E/EnJCFv0gc0k/s320/IMG_0180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">So do multiples.</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-55591426960769218292012-11-13T22:35:00.002+00:002012-11-17T09:40:25.450+00:00I was there ... (1) AIA and Nic and Andy's weddingI've been meaning to update this for ages, and I have the photos to go with it, but little inclination to stop and think what stories I meant to tell.<br />
So, although this will not be in chronological order, it makes sense to follow on from the previous post.<br />
<a href="http://nickerjac.wordpress.com/">Nic</a> and Andy's wedding took place on the hottest day of the year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-77iPpXGSIyw/UKK9yap-qGI/AAAAAAAAA3I/RTibvMW_mLE/s1600/DSCN8154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-77iPpXGSIyw/UKK9yap-qGI/AAAAAAAAA3I/RTibvMW_mLE/s320/DSCN8154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ian and I have had a very busy year, and getting to the wedding was complicated by being in Colchester for the preceding week at our annual industrial archaeology conference. </div>
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So, there we were taking in the brickyards, </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJG8q_4u7JU/UKK93DX7crI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/E-WLRpmY4Xg/s1600/DSCN8218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJG8q_4u7JU/UKK93DX7crI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/E-WLRpmY4Xg/s320/DSCN8218.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Thames barges, </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-otkA9xQ4gVE/UKK97c_a_yI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/Cc4f-Hsbans/s1600/DSCN8259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-otkA9xQ4gVE/UKK97c_a_yI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/Cc4f-Hsbans/s320/DSCN8259.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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and mills of various kinds with wedding items to hand.</div>
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As we were at leisure, we travelled to Newport with a small diversion on the <a href="http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/">Isle of Wight Steam Railway</a>, </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8HrmM716iM/UKK9-jmOTWI/AAAAAAAAA3g/6y9w7W-67g0/s1600/DSCN8281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8HrmM716iM/UKK9-jmOTWI/AAAAAAAAA3g/6y9w7W-67g0/s320/DSCN8281.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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and saw this beautifully preserved signalbox</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_L-uHy4rOg/UKK-GlDvY4I/AAAAAAAAA3o/xYE5fqLGs9U/s1600/DSCN8321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_L-uHy4rOg/UKK-GlDvY4I/AAAAAAAAA3o/xYE5fqLGs9U/s320/DSCN8321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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along with the vintage carriages.</div>
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Before getting into party mode for the wedding we visited Ventnor, not much good for beachcombing as all I could see was sand!</div>
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But it was very lovely sand, reminding me of my first visit back in the early '60s.</div>
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On the Saturday afternoon we caught the bus early enough for me to hang my butterflies in the trees. </div>
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If I remember rightly, I had 17 of them to distribute near the food area. This took a bit of doing, twisting turquoise wire round branches to hold them in place. It gave the feeling I had been aiming for though.</div>
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Nic looked stunning in turquoise, and Lixie's bunting made the day.</div>
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And then just as the ceremony ended my camera packed up with the lens stuck out, and it's not worth attempting to repair it.<br />
So, I'll just leave it that this was the best wedding ever, held on a wonderfully bright sunny day with a great crowd of friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-63567860440932222972012-08-03T23:14:00.002+01:002012-08-03T23:18:38.460+01:00Like a massive game of pick-up-sticks ...Being creative can be nerve-wracking at times.<br />
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Last night I loaded the kiln with some porcelain.<br />
Here it is getting towards the end of the process.<br />
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On that shelf at the back are loads of beads and other small pieces.<br />
Each had to be placed by hand, which proved to be a slow business.<br />
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Note to self: It would make sense to make more trays so that small items don't need as much handling!<br />
Tomorrow morning, I'll get to see how it all turned out.<br />
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Fingers crossed!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-78365012651533628072012-07-02T23:56:00.000+01:002012-07-03T00:01:59.190+01:00Uggh slugs! ... or the trials of a cool wet "summer"As has just been officially announced, we have had the wettest June ever.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Where we live in the East Midlands, we haven't had devastating downpours, just rather more wetness than we might prefer.</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nFT3EBqWJw/T_Ih9EL-r-I/AAAAAAAAA14/JeaVa_-UofI/s1600/DSCN7527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nFT3EBqWJw/T_Ih9EL-r-I/AAAAAAAAA14/JeaVa_-UofI/s320/DSCN7527.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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This has meant that our suburban garden has been inundated with unwelcome slimy visitors. </div>
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Here is a close-up of a gathering I took 10 days ago. </div>
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I didn't mind them creeping over the leaves of a lanky geranium on the path, but tonight I was so fed up.</div>
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Round about 19.00 I picked 15 slugs, some very large ones included, off the foliage of our broad beans.</div>
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Last night I found a couple munching their way through the best bean pod! </div>
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Again, taken 10 days ago, this was to have been the lettuce for our lunch.</div>
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I had held back on eating any, as I knew that Ian would be home the following day.</div>
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It hardly seems worth planting seeds when this is what happens.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">However</span>, it is not all gloom and doom here.</div>
Some plants are reviving as others are being cut down.<br />
Both this clematis and the pink jasmine are giving a better showing than ever.<br />
Perhaps they shouldn't be so far away from the path.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dNp1An26x8/T_IiYZY7eFI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/lpLsX8RDly0/s1600/DSCN7530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dNp1An26x8/T_IiYZY7eFI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/lpLsX8RDly0/s320/DSCN7530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Despite the rain, Albertine is flowering well, and although we have removed slugs from the flower spikes, we have one delphinium giving a pretty good show.</div>
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We now have this rather odd double rolled-petalled geranium established safely in an out of the way place.</div>
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We have many pink geraniums scattered around the garden. </div>
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Periodically we remove pink geraniums if they get in our way, but this flower type first showed up just at the back door step.</div>
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I have kept it there, and attempted to encourage it elsewhere.</div>
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This year's hardy and weed geranium flower count taken mid June gave 19 different flowers.</div>
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The double one is on its side, bottom right.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-46651923893701961452012-06-21T23:11:00.002+01:002012-06-21T23:11:43.238+01:00Summer exchangesIt's the season for exchanges again.<br />
As last year, I took part in two Ravelry exchanges.<br />
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As I was away from home for part of the time, both exchanges happened over the past week.<br />
<b>Spring into Summer:</b> This Monday I took the train down to London, and met up with LittleLixie.<br />
It was so good having an exchange partner I've known for years.<br />
It made it so easy to choose items for the parcel.<br />
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Lixie chose yarn for me that I had seen in Chicago, but not bought in that colourway. </div>
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(How clever of both of us.)</div>
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Green tea from Japan, champagne soap and a pattern for a beaded wrap.</div>
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Although the colour still isn't quite right in the photo, here is the fabric bowl she made in my favourite purples.</div>
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<b>June birthdays:</b><br />
Patience chose me some great sock yarn in purple shades, what else!<br />
I've almost finished the first sock in this yarn, combining it with a Crazy Zauberball, giving a distinctly offbeat look.<br />
Lots of fibre to play with, and some sari silk predominantly in shades of red.<br />
Local honey and purple accessories filled out the package.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17226350.post-49087327549235215112012-06-17T18:38:00.004+01:002012-06-17T18:39:20.406+01:00Patched up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've been away in the US, and on our return the garden had gone a bit mad, putting on about 30 cm (1 ft) growth on many plants.<br />
In between the showers over the past week, we have been busy taming the "jungle".<br />
One smallish task is removing the forget-me-nots that have finished flowering.<br />
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With the path cleared to get to the side fence, I found that one gooseberry bush had toppled.<br />
It looked very recent, and I'm sure I would have seen the gap along the fence even if I couldn't get to it easily.<br />
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The remedy, a small length of cotton fabric over the torn area, binding it up, and supporting twine both there and at the top.<br />
Fingers crossed this holds, as there are some nice looking fruits there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1