Sunday 22 April 2012

Back to normal

At last, we're back to normal - or what passes for normal in this household!    The decorating is finished and everything is back in its place - well nearly.

There's been a  lot to do to prepare for the Camera Club's Annual Presentation tomorrow - trophies to be engraved, certificates to be printed etc. so that's kept me occupied for some time.  Liz and I didn't do particularly well this year, a 2nd and a three other awards for me and a 2nd and a couple of other awards for Liz.   We are spending more time on textiles and the web site than we are on photography - we must buck our ideas up!

However, at last, I've made some more progress with the baby quilt.   I've done some free machine embroidery on it and basted the batting onto it - next step is to put the back on and quilt it.   I've also been trying out a few new things - I've made a couple of  lightly padded kindle covers and an i-phone cover.  I've also completed a needle felted glasses case.   My latest experiment is an evening bag - it is dark blue silky fabric decorated with blue velvet and gold ribbon and metallic stitching and lined with another very pretty silky fabric.   It is really quite lovely.   I will be taking all these new items to Lark Lane on Saturday and, if they don't sell, I'll have some pictures of them soon, as well as a strip patchwork hanging which I'm rather proud of.   Today, as well as making a piece of felt for a book cover, I have prepared lots of book marks and I hope to get them sewn ready for sale too.

I had some good news on Wednesday from the gallery at Coffee Etc. in Parbold,  they had sold the faux chenille bag (I hadn't even taken a photo of it- Oops) and a picture made from felt and fabric with machine and hand embroidery.  

A busy weekend ahead.  We're really looking forward to going to Aitnree to the Craft Show there on Friday - I've got a list as long as my arm and that's only essentials.   We hope to get there at the start and will probably be there all day.  We've arranged to meet up with some of my old classmates from the City and Guilds course that we all did.

Saturday will see us at Lark Lane hoping for a good turnout.   It will be great to catch up with all the other 'crafters' who I haven't seen since before Christmas too.    On Sunday, I'll be going to a concert by Swingshift in Crosby with family so that will be a nice relaxing evening.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Back again

I've been away again, so haven't posted for nearly a month. In the meantime I seem to have been most unproductive - I don't know why I seem to be so busy, but that's the only excuse I have for not getting down to some serious work. I suppose having the hall stairs and landing decorated and a new carpet fitted did hold me up somewhat.
Found time for a walk in the Lake District on Mothers' Day - just the way to celebrate, especially as the weather was so good. Walked near Elterwater, had a picnic lunch and, when we'd completed the walk, drove up to Blea Tarn to take in the scenery there - wonderful. Liz and I carried our cameras and lenses around with us all day and didn't take a single photo - that must be a record!
I haven't been totally idle though, I've printed out lots of photos which I took on my New England trip last October and one or two of them are quite promising and will be going into camera club competitions in the near future.
Before we went away, Liz and I had a couple of photo excursions when HMS Liverpool paid her farewell visit to the port. We went down to Crosby to see her sail in and to sail away again - how sad!
We also went into Liverpool on the day the crew paraded with fixed bayonets from St. Nicholas Church to Exchange Flags where they were inspected by the Lord Lieutenant of the County and the Lord Mayor. The band of the Royal Marines led the parade and it was a very moving occasion. After everyone had gone into the Town Hall for their lunch, we went to the landing stage to see the ship close up. Then, as we were out and it was a lovely day, we went over to the ferry terminal at Secombe and took lots of photos from there too. I should have at least some decent images.
Finally, on Sunday, my husband and I and Liz and her husband, went to the Palm House in Sefton Park to see our daughter and grandson playing in a concert with Maghull Wind Orchestra. It was lovely to see people of all ages and abilities enjoying making music together. They are really very good. Of course we took lots of photos there as well.

As I mentioned in my last blog, we went to St. Peter's, Newton Le Willows, on 10th March but, again, there was not a lot of footfall and it was quite quiet. Since then, while I was away sunning myself in Fuerteventura, Liz went to the first Craft Fair of the Lark Lane Season. The weather was beautiful and, apparently, most of the neighbourhood went to stroll/sunbathe in the park so it was very quiet there as well. Our last venture was on Saturday in St. Helens. This was, again, a new venue and, again, there was very little footfall and apart from other stallholders, nobody was buying. To cap it all, we very nearly got a parking ticket when we were loading up to come home. Phew!
Liz and I are going to the Craft Show at Aintree on 27th April and I hope to pick up some new ideas there as well as the odd item of fabric/fibre etc. I'll have to restrain myself or I'll buy all sorts. Our next Craft Fair is at Lark Lane on 28th April so we're hoping that we'll have more customers than last time. I'm hoping to have been a little more productive by then, and to have some different items for sale - we'll have to see what inspires me!

Happy Easter everyone.