A glorious weekend of Fields...Fotos ... Flies...and fleecy-things!!

The sun was out...

...and it was warm enough to pootle around without the need of a jacket...

...so pootle we did.

Saturday took us to Kilpeck church in Herefordshire...

...for more photos for my ever-growing "Medieval" passion.

Look at the magnificent carvings!!

After having a picnic lunch in the car we wiggled up the Olchon Valley and ended up in Hay-on-Wye..

...where I managed to find a couple of books (in Greek and Arabic) to use for collage in my cruise samples. Yey!

Sunday was an National Garden Scheme day at the Glanusk Estate...

...amid the most beautiful surroundings ...

Among some of the displays were these amazingly gorgeous flies...

...tied by Stuart Jarvis.

I personally have no desire to stand on the banks of the river trying to catch fish...

...but I could stare at these little tins all day!

Before going home we spent a pleasant hour at Tretower Court and Castle...

...

...where I was able to welcome this little fella into the world with a "Hello you!!" :-)

Oh Happy Days!!

x C

One of "Fifty to Make"

A delightful "bookazine" dropped through my letterbox today!

"Fifty to Make" by Traplet Publications...

...it contains fifty favourite projects from Sewing World Magazine...

...and my Little Alsace House is included!! YEY!!!

Should be in the Newsagents soon...

...if not already...

...and your £7.99 gets you 50 lovely projects with full-size pattern sheets too!

Go on...

...treat yourself :-)

x

Printing and stitching.

I took some of my print blocks and paints down to my quilt group meeting last Saturday...

...and we all had a few hours of "kindergarten" fun!

I had a plan in mind...

...as I'm doing a printed and stitched book workshop with Lingen Stitchers in May...

...and need to get a nice sample done before I go.

So...

I printed a number of panels...

...including this here little heffelump.

The next stage was some machine stitching....

...then the whole piece was sprayed with metallic Brusho Sprays before painting in some areas with Inktense sticks.

I will begin the hand embellishment this evening as I enjoy the Treasures of Ancient Greece on BBC4 .

Have a good evening....

x C

Thinking about a Journey.....

I'm getting a wee bitty excited now!!

A fat little letter plopped onto the mat this morning...

...containing my cruise pack for August/September....

...including the "Shore Excursion Guide" :-)))

O.M.G. the choices that have to be made!!

CAGLIARI - SARDINIA

Do I visit Calgliari City, Botanical Garden & Conservation Area...

... Su Nuraxi and Barumini Archaeology....

..the Archaeological Site of Nora...

...or an easy amble around the city?


LA GOULETTE - TUNISIA

Do I visit... Carthage and Sidi Bou Said...

...the Bardo Museum and Medina...

...or Panoramic Tunis?


SOUSSE - TUNISIA

Do I visit...El Djem...

...Monastir & Sousse...

...or Roman Kairouan?

(I'm really looking forward to this leg of the journey as I have some photos of my father's that were taken during the North African Campaign. He was in the Eighth Army who faought there and then went up through Italy and Austria before finally coming home.)


VALLETTA - MALTA

Do I visit...the Blue Grotto, Tarxien and Marsaxlokk (how the hell do you pronounce that one?!)

...Valletta and Mdina....

...take a Valletta Harbour cruise...

...or take in the panoramic highlights of Malta?


SYRACUSE - ITALY

Do I go to Noto...

...take a Syracuse city tour ...

...or visit Mount Etna?


CHANIA - CRETE

So will it be Chania town and surroundings...

..rural Chania...

or take a bus trip to Knossos?


SANTORINI - GREECE

Will it be Pyrgos, Oia Village & Winery...

...Island Highlights and Fira Museum...

...Akrotiri...

...or a trip into the Volcanic heart of the caldera?


PIRAEUS - GREECE

The choices...

...An Introduction to Athens...

...Athens and the Acropolis & Museum...

...The Acropolis...

...or take a canal trip to Ancient Corinth?

Pffffffffff!!!!!!!!

As I said...CHOICES OR WHAT?!


I've been working on some sample pages for this trip...

...just a few ideas for folk to do during days at sea....

It will be SUCH FUN!!

I still have a lot of sample pages to do...

...so watch this space for updates. :-)

If you're interested...

...the cruise can be booked HERE

or go to http://www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk/ and have a look at what they have on offer.

Go on....treat yourself!! :-))

...and back home again!!!

Wow!

It's been a hectic few weeks...

...with hardly any time being spent here at home...

...but having wonderful jaunts elsewhere.

No work this time though...

...just a glorious break visiting Chartres...

...one of my favourite places in France...

...gathering even more pictures to use for my Medieval themed projects.

No matter how many times we visit...

...I don't think I'll ever tire of gazing at what I call "The Lady"!

The focus this time was on detail...

...and there is plenty of that!!

Drool along lovely people............

And there are over 400 more that I have to play with!! :-)))

How wonderful is life?!

x C