This and That!

It's definitely been Autumnal here this week, the weather 

has been testament to that!

On Sunday we set off, in the early morning to

photograph Pen-y-Ghent and the mist in the valleys, for a 

new series of paintings Mr C. is planning.

Although the views looked promising from the top of Greenhow 

When we got to Grassington, the fog became impenetrable,

so reluctantly, we turned for home.

We ended up having our picnic on the kitchen table and

making the best of it, I spent an enjoyable day in my work room.

I was persuaded, by a neighbour to go to the GP about 

my finger, as she thought it might be broken.

The upshot is that, thankfully it isn't but I have torn all the

tendons and ligaments. Might take weeks to heal.

Oh, whoopy doo !

Making the best of it and have managed to do a bit of knitting.

Finished the main body of my baby sleeping bag.

As the baby, is going to be a little girl, I have chosen this

Laura Ashley fabric, from my stash, for the lining.

Think they go well together!

Finally a couple of pictures of my acquisitions of the week.

I was seduced by this box of springs. 

Only I could get excitied about such mundane objects !

Thought I could use them in my textiles. 

I love incorporating unusual objects in my work.

A bag of feathers .... a gift from a friend.

The colours are fabulous!

I am sure I can make good use of these.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Dislocated!

This weeks blog post is a bit short and rambling. Mainly due 

to being limited by an injury, I sustained last Sunday.

I had such a fabulous time the week before, I suppose it's not 

to be wondered at, that I have come back to earth with a bump,

literally!

I took a tumble down that river bank, whilst out walking Daisy.
I am so accident prone, it's not true!!
The end result was that I dislocated
 (self diagnosis ... well I am a nurse after all),
the little finger of my left hand.
It's very painful, swollen, black and blue and no
use for doing very much.
Bother !!
 Meanwhile, Mr C, has installed, a multifuel burner,
in our front room.

We are taking advantage of the monies raised from
selling Mum's flat, to make a few improvements
to our daily living. He's done a great job and as you
can see ...... it's merrily burning away.
Toasty!  
Just in time for the turn in the weather.
Managed to get in a little retail therapy,at my
favourite Charity shop.

 A rather garrish frame (but I love it), for the
bargain price of 99p
 and these ......

I think they were  a 'freebie' from a knitting magazine!

This is what they are for .... rather handy!
The little pink flower like studs are press studs, not buttons
as I initially thought. Knew I should have taken my glasses!
Not sure if I will use them but I am a sucker for
any knitting ephemera.
They will be absorbed into my vast collection.
Well that's it for me!
Not been able to do anything, in my work room, to share
with you this week. I'm down but definitely not out!

I think Ethel despairs, of me .......

Hope you have better luck this weekend!

There and Back again!

I set off to blog yesterday but thought I'd just

update our website first, as Mr C has just sold some paintings.

This, being one of them.

(Bluebells and Wild Garlic)

A 5 minute job, or so I thought !!

Somehow, I completely messed up.

None of the links were working properly and I

completely lost the shop pages ........

After a few minutes of utter panic, I took a deep breath and set
about putting it right. Took all afternoon but I managed it,

thank goodness !!  Hit the OFF button after that, as I was exhausted.
So here I am this morning ....... trying again!

I have been absent from the 'blogosphere', for a couple of weeks,

as I have been away on a trip to see, my sons in Brighton.
I left Mr C looking after Daisy dog and let the train take the strain.

The visit has been much anticipated, as I haven't seen them in a while.

It's a long and complicated story of how they both ended up

in the same place and me in Yorkshire, as they grew up in Oxfordshire.

It was lovely to see them at the same time and that we could all be together.

I had a very special time and was spoiled and cossetted by both of them

and my youngest son's partner Izzy.

Here are a few memories to share with you!

 Fountain,  in one of the parks. As you can see 

the weather was glorious.

The famous Brighton Pier.

That small speck is my son, Henry, off for a swim, whilst I sat 

relaxing on the shore. 

These beautiful metal flowers were in a Homlessness Comunity

Centre, just outside Brighton. It had a secondhand shop, where we spent lots

of time mooching about and a lovely cafe.
Perfect for lunch!

This is the oldest dovecote in Sussex and is

at the bottom of Tom's (my eldest's), garden.

Couldn't resist taking a snap of my cappucino.

Loved the design! shame to drink it but it was delicious.

Buttons seemed to be the focus of my buying, both new and old.

Last but not least my crochet bunting, for the baby went down well.

Can you see it, hanging in the corner of Henry's front room?
There were a few tears at our parting but we had shared
 much fun, laughter and childhood memories.
These will be stored in my 'memory palace', to be taken out
and looked at many times in the future.
Thank you boys x x
Have a happy week, everyone !

Influences!

This week, I thought I would write about the things

that influence my work.

My inspiration is based around the natural world.

Rust on a gatepost.

The grain on a wooden fence post.

Lichen 1.

Lichen 2.

Just a little glimpse into my 'raison d'être'!

and, before I go .......

The last rose of summer!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

                                               

A Grand Day Out!

This week, on Wednesday, in fact, Mr C suggested

that we have a day out. We haven't had a lot of spare cash

 lately to splurge on petrol but after selling my 

Mum's flat and all the trauma involved, we decided, 

we deserved a treat!

It wouldn't be as grand, as a trip to the moon but we had

been promising ourselves that we would drive around part of

the 'Grand Depart', cycle route.

It was a beautiful day. We packed the car, with maps, picnic

 and Daisy of course.

Here is a pictoral record of our trip!

We took a slight detour here. This is between Leyburn and Reeth.
Over the Army firing range but worth it ..... the heather was spectacular!

Below, is probably the most photographed view, of N. Yorkshire.

Gunnerside, with all it's drystone walls and little barns.

Autumn Hips and Haws.

Close up of, one of those little barns, which are so indicative of Yorkshire

Glimpse of a sunflower mosaic, which believe it or not, was the 

roof of a barn. The building being hidden in the dip.

 The last two pics, are of where we picnic'd.

On the side of Buttertubs Pass.

and that's it ......
A grand day out, you will agree!!
We were scenic'd out by the end of it.
Hope you have a fun trip planned, this weekend!

" Like a Bird on a Wire".

"Oh like a bird on the wire, 
like a drunk in a midnight choir 
I have tried in my way to be free".

These lyrics by Leonard Cohen, my absolute
favourite, poet and songster, are very apt, this week!
It has felt quite Autumnal, here .....

The swallows are gathering on the telegraph wires, readying

themselves for their great annual migration, to Africa 

and ......

much to my surprise, I found a giant puffball (why do you never

have a camera when you need one), whilst out walking, Daisy.

Found this picture on the internet, so you can get some idea of, what

it looks like. It was huge, the size of a football.

It is delicious to eat, so I was dismayed to find that it

had gone brown and inedible. Maybe next year!!

My other allusion to the verse, is that I have been freed from a great

burden. My mother, who sadly passed away, over 5 years ago, left

me and my brother ( who also sadly died, very soon after), a flat, her home.

I have been trying to sell it, for all this time. It has been a terrible

worry, as it was leasehold and there were fees to pay on it, every 6 months.

As you can imagine, this extra financial burden was very difficult to fund.

Also, it meant the grief, from both losses, stayed at the forefront of my mind.

I won't dwell on it here any more but suffice it to say, that I can put that

 behind me and move on!

Thanks Mum! (that's her 2nd from right). 

She was the best and I miss her every day.

Craft wise, I made this, for a friend's birthday.

Hope she liked it!

Experimented, with a new flower brooch.

Its a Chrysanthemum.

 Made a Dorset button, for the middle, which is a new departure,

as I usually use vintage buttons.

I think it works though!

Found a couple of little gems, in a Charity Shop,

on an away day, with a friend.

This lovely little wooden bear. I bought it under the auspices,

 of purchasing it, for my new grandchild but now 

I've got it home, I'm not so sure......

Have fallen in love with him!!

My other little, naughtiness. 

Another tin, to add to my vast collection.

Can you see a colour theme, going on!

Both bought for pence but giving me lots of pleasure.

Well that's it for this week.

Hope the sun shines for you, this weekend!