It all makes work.......

.......for the working man to do!  This just about sums up my life at the moment, the man came to mend the fridge and managed to knock down part of my garden wall.  I've been waiting a week for them to come and fix it.   Enough moaning.

Last week we went to the Summer Exhibition at the National Gallery, looked forward to it because it was co-ordinated by Grayson Perry   and it didn't disappoint.  One of my favourite things about the Summer Exhibition was the smaller rooms crammed with all kind of art, chocolate box next to surreal and people, This year n the first gallery, which is usually reserved for reverential large canvases by Royal Academicians, was hung in the same way on bright yellow walls.  The effect was exciting.

There was a lot of "political" subjects, things to scratch your head over but also things to make you smile,
Want an idea to use up all your old jewellery?

Or perhaps you have an old rug you could re-cyle?

This was fun

The bits Constable left out by Chris Orr RA

as was this

Seaching for the Missing Button at Jackson's Chris Orr.

Our only criticism was that if anything there was too much of a good thing, we were in brain overload when we came out but that might have been due more to advancing years than anything else.  I would love to go again and start at the other end.

The fun started even before we went in as we paid our compulsory visit to look at Fortnum and Mason's window displays. The theme was picnics.
There were chimney pot raised pies,

loaves of bread with sunglasses

and tennis ball fizz.

I have been making journals but haven't got round to photographing them yet.  I would like to make another video but it all takes time which seems to be short at the moment.  Past the longest day.  Horror.

Annual pilgrimage........

..........to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally. There was a time when we used to spring lightly up the hill and steps, now we take the courtesy bus and I imagine one day we will crawl up the steps  on our knees.

I enjoyed the show this year, bumped into a couple of friends and was delighted to see Lynda Monk, she has a new book out which to her surprise is proving popular with the cos play generation,
Two of the exhibition we particularly liked were Haf Weighton

 and Ann Small                                            

 On the home front I have finished another journal which I am calling Aux Plaisirs des Dames as the inspiration was Au Bonheur Des Dames by Emile Zola which was  also the  inspiration for the TV series The Paradise .
It is quite chunky so I won't bore you with every page.

Now I have 4 projects in mind and a few hundred other things I would like to try. I love it when there are things to learn. Have a good week.

Ta Da.......

...finally the lawn has been laid.

Before

and after

Bring on summer.

Tuesday was a fun day with the girls we had a glorious time making signatures for Junk Journals.

Tea, cake and laughter what more could a girl want.

I am making a black white and red one, a couple of pages so far.

Such fun, what I like is the flow of ,"Oh, I could do that" or inspirations for different books which pop up.  Should write them down really for when the dreaded empty mind hits.

Yesterday we braved the crowds. Who organised an exhibition in the same place and the same say as the London Marathon Registration?  ICHF that's who and it was another disappointing show. The Craft side stuck in the world of peel and stick ons.  Now don't get me wrong I will use these things but when I go to a show I want to see new products and good quality supplies.  The sewing side was OK but again nothing to get the juices flowing.  Huge hall only half used with everything cramped together so the aisles were over crowded making it difficult to get near stalls.  The day was cut short because I panicked needlessly when I couldn't get DH on the phone.We were going to do an enamel workshop so I was very cross with myself.

Enough moaning. I did buy a portable ironing board a bit like this one 

 so perhaps now I will stop burning the carpet in my workroom.

Saving highlights of the exhibition were meeting again Helen McKenna who comes from my home town and marvelling at the Aberteifi 1110-2010 Cardigan.

Designed and co-ordinated by byLisa Hellier  assisted by Susan McComb it took 300 knitters to make it. This is the first time I have taken photographs with my phone so apologies for odd angles.(First one had my finger over it!!)

DH 85th birthday tomorrow, off spring coming this evening so off to prepare birthday feast.

A week off.........

well not exactly.....last week was our long awaited exhibition and I am happy to report that it was very well received.   We had some really nice comments in our visitors book which pleased us all. Where I failed was not taking as many photographs as I thought I had but this is a small flavour.
This is a general view of the room, with our "Tea Party" centre stage. There was also 4 other tables and a sales table.

It was very popular.

Some of last years teddies helped hold my tea bag bunting. I am a little(a lot) disappointed with the way the framing of my Homeland turned out.   Not sure what's wrong, the frame, the mount?  Perhaps one day I will work it out and change it.

 

My tree piece was finished on time.

 

I have cobbled together 4 photographs to give you a suggestion of a lovely panel made by my friend. Hopefully if you double click you will see it closer.

These are another of her exhibits.

and her quilt set off our group project rainbow,

.This was a mixed media piece by another friend. Fabric and pottery.

I don't know how I missed our group challenge of the gloves.  Fortunately I took a few photographs a while back.  For the challenge pairs of gloves were separated and hidden in paper bags. We each chose a bag and were forbidden to tell which glove we had.  Then we had to alter it. When the pairs were put back together it was very surprising.

My piece is the glove reaching for the clock. I called it the thief of time, thinking how time passes when we are absorbed in creativity of any kind.  

Exhibition over, mind turns to what next.  I have finally bought Janie Crow's Mystical Lantern pattern.  I have started, whether I will finish remains to be seen. I must find something to continue my 1 Year of Stitches.

Today I went to the Craft Show at Ally Pally, It wasn't spectacular but had improved since the last one I attended and I managed some satisfactory shopping. There was a strange balance, thousands of dies for die cutting but no machines or accessories. I did manage to replace my cutting plates but only after a long search.  I bought some Versafine pads which I hadn't used before. Looking forward to playing with new toys,

Spring..........

.........it's a bit chilly but glory be, the clocks have gone forward so " hurrah" says my body clock. Is there anywhere in the world I could live on British Summertime all year?   This is the optimistic photo I have on my desktop.

The stitching on my trees is finished and I just have to mount it. So another achievement for my 1 Year of Stitches.

We visited the embroidery exhibtion at Ramster, only held every two years this is a treat to see work of a high standard. My favourite piece was this cushion by Lucy Poland, unfortunately she doesn't seem to have a online presence so I can't post  link. Glorious colour combination.

The rest of the week has been spent finishing a junk journal, although every time I pick it up I see another spot where it could be embellished.

It was fun and a bit addictive.

One other little thing I did this week is aquire the pattern for Janie Crow's Mystical Lanterns crochet   blanket.  

 Now I need another blanker like ......but I have admired this pattern for some time now and over the summer hopefully I  can give it a go.  Now I just have to decide on colours.

Variety is the spice........

.... so they say, so this week has been quite spicy. Visit to the Library, followed by a visit to the electrician to repair my beloved Dyson handheld which I had wounded by putting in the cleaned filter before it was completely dry. I thought it was dry but it wasn't. Expensive mistake.

Realisation that our long awaited exhibition is now coming up SOON, sent me into a bit of a panic for I have framed my pieces but am still working on the piece which I am submitting as part of the 1 Year of Stitches challenge. I think there will be leaves on the trees before I am finished.

I need to frame this too so when they said it was going to be a very mild day yesterday I put myself on a train and went up to London for the first time this year.  Bliss.  I met my daughter for a quick coffee and then had a lovely wander. Bought my frame in Muji and just took my well trodden route around Seven Dials and Covent Garden, didn't have time to do more but I was very envious of the people who were wandering along the south Embankment of the river as I left.
But I took pictures, another first this year.
Covent Garden was very boisterous with Lincoln football supporters hoping for glory.Alas their hopes were dashed but I am sure they enjoyed the anticipation at least.  Be proud Lincoln first non league side to reach quarter finals since 1914.

There was a mixture of winter and summer treats on offer.

there was more colour with these flowers.

There were four decorated benches which were delighting tourists being photographed on them.

A more subdued arrangement was also being used as a back drop.

The market halls are undergoing some restoration and one end is clad in what looks like tin giving marvellous reflections, so I decided to have my own souvenir photo.

This fine fellow must have seen missing the tourists who usually surround him as he is rather hidden at the moment.

From the train on the way home, the London skyline is ever changing the building in the middle of these three was only the lift core the  last time I went up.

and I love this mix of old and new,

I said I was enjoying the Great Pottery Throwdown so I fell in love with these  teapots which were on Seth Apter's Sunday Papers last week.  The artist's name is Andrew Massey.   My son has a big birthday this year and I would love to get him a piece but I think shipping may be an issue.

hoping to see The Viceroy's House this week, I was introduced to Lord Mountbatten many years ago, he was totally charming.