Just plain weird!

When I was in Donegal I picked some gorse petals to try some egg dyeing. I wanted a coloured egg to go with one of the birds I'm making.
I hard- boiled the eggs along with the gorse but didn't have much success. I probably needed a whole lot more gorse.


So I boiled an egg with red food colouring. I liked the result and painted on spots with a Lumiere metallic paint. I then gave it a coat of varnish.

I like this egg but it's too big for my bird so now I'm going to try a smaller egg.



Mother bird is patiently waiting for her egg.

I'm going to tuck the egg under her feathers.

It was Mother's day today and my son gave me the ' little birds' book from the Design Collective that my friend Sharon had shown me.

Sharon is making the owls in this book and they are gorgeous.

The girl who compiled this book says she likes projects that are 'beautiful and sweet' and that she's seen her share of the odd, irregular (and just plain weird).

Well she ain't seen nothin' yet!!

Father bird, almost finished but I don't like his collar. It's coming off. And I think he needs a knapsack.

Then there's a nest to make and a suitcase and I'm thinking I might make a mouse, or a rat..........

Weird or what?

Weekend in Donegal.

Went to visit our middle son at the weekend and this is the view from his conservatory looking towards Derry.


Just up the road from his house.

We took a drive to Doagh Island and Carrickabraghy castle.

The sea was rough and shot up through the rocks like a fountain.

Lovely views of the sea.

I always go on the same walk here and my son's house is just down this road on the right.

We walked over the Peace Bridge in Derry.

This Cockerel lives next door, but it's my two grandsons that wake us up early in the morning!

Love going to Donegal!

Castle Espie Flyer.

Just need the passengers now!

Out Swanning About.

I like this grey, wintry looking photo. The pussy willows are out and nature is showing signs of life.


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We went for a walk along the canal today. It got me thinking about which season I like best. I like the winter colours and landscape but it's also nice to see signs of spring.





The swans are used to posing for photographs, it seems.







We are down at Broadwater, near Moira, and I was sure I saw an image like the Turin Shroud!










This lovely old signal box could do with refurbishment.

I like the colours and the lines in both of these landscapes.





This bullrush obligingly posed for a photograph.




So, was it an image of Christ I saw?

The truth is out there!

Decadent Dolls and Works in Progress.

You might think that I am a slow worker. Take these dolls, for instance. I went to a workshop in March 2011 and I'm only finishing them off now. Over the two days we made our dollies the other girls mostly had theirs finished, but as usual I wasn't in any hurry. In true City & Guilds style I came home and started a bit of research into the papier mache dolls. At the time I was working on other things and the dolls were cast aside.

So, although I'm slow, I would describe myself as a methodical and thorough worker. I'm always planning in my head what I'm doing and what I will be working on next.
I'm envious of the people I know who are prolific with their textile work and I wish I could be more like them.







Here's something else I started last year and have just finished. I made these gingerbread men for an Afternoon Tea display but I always had it in my head to turn them into a Christmas decoration.





I also started on this hat just before Christmas and I've just finished knitting it - so now all my WIP's are all completed.



So what's next?

Another WIP to finish ( that's the postcard of Hampton Court Palace). I've sent for some Pelmet Vilene to make a surround for the little knot garden embroidery.

Then it's the turn of Daddy, Mummy and Baby bird!

Postcard from Hampton Court Palace.

February already and it's time to start thinking about the Harmony Hill Craft Group exhibition, because before you know it, it will be May and I'll be running about wondering what to put into the show.

This years theme is 'A Pocketful of Dreams.'
If only it was as easy as this...more like 3 steps forward and 10 back when you're stitching.



As a group activity we are all making a postcard so I've been working on that. This is where my postcard is from.

Thinking about the 'dream theme' I sometimes think I would have liked to have been an apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court. It must have been amazing to have had a part in making this dress.
So I thought, for my postcard, I would make a little knot garden and it's already taken quite a while. Laura, from my group, lent me a stitching tool to speed things up!

This is a Russian Punch and I've been using it to make the hedging around the edge of the garden.

It is most definitely 3 steps forward and 10 back. It's very frustrating but I like the effect.

Laura also gave me an old book, 'The Embroiderer's Garden' by Thomasina Beck, and in it I found the plans of the gardens at Hampton Court.

Look at all the knots!

Now how to make it into a postcard? Why do I give myself all this work?!

Cornered!

Take a look at my old Craft Corner where I could hardly get moving. I stopped using the sewing machine in the end because I had so much stuff piled up in front of it.

Something had to be done about it!

Well now I've moved into another corner, with a better view looking out to the garden.

The downside of this room is that it faces north so it's always in the shade.

That was fine when it was used by my son as a bedroom - but I would like just a little bit of sunshine...

Oh well, a girl can't have it all. Look at this - I've got a cupboard and I've got storage boxes.

I've also been given a bookcase for all my magazines and craft books.

Look inside at all the drawers and baskets where all my craft things are stored.

And on this side are the fabrics, stored in plastic boxes and on shelves.

There's quite a collection of books there too.

Nice patterned rug to go under my feet.

And this is the sewing box I inherited from my Aunty Dorothy. It was her 21st birthday present from my Grandma and Grandad, I think that would have been in the 1930's. My husband treated it for woodworm and re-furbished it for me.

Take a look inside. It came complete with some Sylko cottons on wooden reels.

I like old stuff.

And I inherited my pin cushion too, it belonged to my Mother- in - Law.

So now it's lovely to have a new corner to sew in and a bit more space and storage.

Think I'll hang on to that bed though, just in case.

Friends School Lisburn goes viral.

My ears pricked up when I saw Friends School featured on our local news a few days ago because I just happen to be a past pupil, and a pretty bad one at that!

Well it looks like things might have changed a bit since the '60's and early '70's when I was a pupil there. I moved to N. Ireland from England at the age of 13 and I was unhappy leaving my school and all of my friends.

I was placed at 'Friends' towards the end of 3rd form and put into the bottom class to see how I would progress. Ha! It went from bad to worse.

Moving up into 4th form, it was GCSE's then, and the groups of subjects I had to study were not really of my choosing. I wanted to do Domestic Science and Art and along with that came History (boring), Music (couldn't read a note), Geography (o.k.), English Lit. (Shakespeare- no thanks!). Then the usual core subjects, English, French and Maths (to this day I can't do the most basic maths).

Thank you to the maths teacher who stood and flipped his ruler through my hair when I couldn't do the sums. I remember you.

And in those days you had to kneel on the floor and a measurement was taken from floor to hem to ensure your gym slip was the required length. Too short and you were in trouble.

I spent a lot of time getting into trouble.

Aren't they lucky, those pupils of today?

Just take a look at this........

Harmony Hill Craft Group Christmas lunch and competition 2011.

A belated post because we got a new computer just before Christmas and I'm only just getting around to working out how to get my photos up on the blog and they, and my mind, are a bit muddled.

This was my competition entry for a 'Stampie'. Cut out from lace and painted.




I was hoping we would have a higher entry for this competition as they are going to be displayed at our annual exhibition. Well, I know Christmas is a busy time, but this was only stamp size, and out of 30 members we fell short on effort.




Enjoying the food and chat.



Sharon made this Christmas tree from milk bottle tops!



This years competition was a 'Stampie.' I loved this felted robin.



Judy was the winner with her machine embroidered trees.



I like this blurry shot of her receiving the cup.



We started off with mulled wine and after that I forgot to take a photo of the lovely food everyone had contributed.




Anna entertained us with her expert flower arranging, I liked the spheres made from leaves wrapped around an oasis ball.



We had a great lunch. Lovely entertainment from Anna, Vivienne and Dorothy - and I'm still

trying to win that cup!