Wednesday 30 May 2012

May Photo Scavenger Hunt



For once I've not been running round at the last minute trying to get the last photos!


Beverage




Good Things




Small Packages




Fragrance
it's a shame you can't smell these wallflowers




Station
King's Cross 




Front Page




Nose
I'd been hoping to find a large nose somewhere, and couldn't believe my luck when I came across this shop in Edinburgh
not only large but funny too!




I was doubly surprised when I saw this nose in London, so I had to put it in as well




Yellow
also in Edinburgh




Historic
Edinburgh castle of course!




Currency
English and Scottish £10 notes




Nine
pieces in Connect Four




Do You See What I See?


maybe if I get a little closer?






You can see more entries for the scavenger hunt on Postcards from the P.P.






Thursday 24 May 2012

Capital days



At the weekend my daughter and I went to Edinburgh, Scotland.  
One of the places we visited there, was Camera Obscura and World of Illusions which is next to the castle.  It was a lovely sunny day so the camera obscura part which dates from 1853, was really clear - 360 degree views of Edinburgh are projected onto a surface in a darkened room by means of mirrors, and a guide gives information on places of interest.  
On the roof are binoculars and telescopes so you can get great views of the city.  



This is looking down the Royal Mile

I didn't get a photo of the castle from up here because there was some dirty great scaffolding in front, where they're putting up seating for the Edinburgh Tattoo, which isn't until August but it takes so long to erect. 
There are information plaques on the roof, and one which I found fascinating was that in the 1700s there were over 52,000 people living in Edinburgh, crammed into tenements.  Some were ten floors high (it might have been 12 but don't quote me).  By contrast there are about 5,000 residents now.  Can you believe that?

We had a great time at Camera Obscura.  There were all sorts of optical illusions, but because I don't like putting my face on here I'm not going to show you!  Especially as one is of my head on a plate!  If you go to their website through the link you'll get the idea.


~~~

Yesterday I went to our very own capital, London.
I went with my husband to receive an award from the company he works for, and had to get back quite early, so didn't have much time for sightseeing.
I was keen to see St Pancras Railway Station while we were there though.
My husband took these two photos of the outside when he was there early in the morning last week





I wanted to see the statues inside; this is of John Betjeman




and this is 'The Meeting Place'

I loved the frieze underneath which has fantastic detailing












Isn't it fantastic?







Tuesday 22 May 2012

Fidget apron



I was wondering what I could make using some of my buttons and zips, and then remembered someone mentioning on a forum 'fidget aprons' for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.  I've made this one to donate to a local nursing home.
Basically it's an apron with various 'activities' to keep sufferers occupied and interested.  Just simple things like zips and buttons to open and close, and a shoe lace to tie.




  I've put a pocket on with another button and a couple of pieces of ribbon down the side to feel.






Monday 21 May 2012

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day


                    

As regular readers will know, I've got a surplus of zips and buttons at the moment, so I'm using some to take part in the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway day.
Do go over and check out their site, there's hundreds of things on offer.

I've got two separate prizes.  

80 mixed buttons




and 20, 8 inch zips in assorted colours




To enter, just leave a comment stating which you would prefer, and what you might use them for. 
Giveaway ends on 25th May when winners will be chosen by random.  Please make sure I can contact you if you should win.  If I don't receive replies back from the winners by 28th May, I will redraw.




My next post will feature something that I've made using buttons and zips. 
 If you've got time I would love you to stick around a while.



                                            Giveaway is now closed.   


I've used my family random number generator to pick the winners.  This consists of asking my son to choose two numbers between 1 and 170 and he said:

32   -   One Perfect Day for the zips

and

95   -   Happy Cottage Quilter for the buttons

Congratulations!
 







Friday 11 May 2012

New life



I'm afraid I've neglected my blog of late.  I've been busy gardening at my MIL's when the weather has allowed, and when it hasn't I've been sorting through all those buttons and zips again and eBaying some.


Here are some photos of baby animals I've seen whilst out walking.







This lamb looks quite small next to the rook


I loved the bright oilseed rape against this sky




Hopefully it won't be such a long gap to my next post.






Tuesday 1 May 2012

April Photo Scavenger Hunt



Thanks to Kathy from Postcards from the P.P. for organising the scavenger hunt.

Here are my entries for this month


Rock




In/out




Amazing
I'm always amazed at the wonderful structures that insects, birds and animals make.  This was an old wasps nest we found when cutting back a bush




Can't live without
Fresh air and open spaces.  This is the view from my bedroom window




On the move




Smile
I think this smile is very Mona Lisa like, and she keeps smiling no matter what the weather throws at her




Spring




Multi-coloured




Tangle
Ivy growing round a tree




Indulgence
Rice pudding may not seem very indulgent, but as no one else likes it, this is all for me, me, me!




Direction




Sticky

What's brown and sticky?
.
.
.
.
A stick!


Sorry I just couldn't resist






You can you other people's interpretations over on Kathy's blog.