Cruising on by.......

Photographer on the rocks.

The Crystal Serenity leaving Liverpool.

I am standing at the edge of a thin ledge just before the rocks my heart was in my mouth. Even more so when Colin decided to climb down the rocks to get a good shot of the cruise ship.

Crosby beach and marina.

Anthony Gormley's Another place.

 

Fabric Post Cards.....

"Sunflower" First card August swap to Shari.

"Summer Cocktail" second August swap sent to Shari.

Many years ago I used to be a member of a group called Art2mail. We would exchange fabric postcards and it was so lovely receiving lots of beautiful works of art through the post from all over the world. This group was Internet based and when I moved house and changed Internet providers I lost touch with the group. I have tried several times to find them but it appears that the group no longer exists. However whilst in this group I made friends with three lovely ladies Janet, Kath and Leanne I am still in touch with all of these lovely creative like minded souls today. In May I joined a face book Fabric post card swap and I was very excited not only at receiving cards but getting back to creating my own. So far I have posted five cards and have only received two in return slightly disappointed. The fifth is a second card to the same lady as the first did not arrive. If any of my lovely readers would like to exchange a Fabric Postcard with me please in box me your snail mail address and we will exchange creative mail. :)

Quilt from the past....

Some of you may or may not remember this quilt top I made a couple of years back. It was a jelly roll consisting of two fabric designs and I fell in love with the lovely spring/summer colours. I got the pattern from my good friend Janet and set about making the quilt. I completed the top and it has sat in my UFO box for what seems like forever. A few days ago I realised that I had ran out of time to make my niece Paige a going to Uni quilt, this prompted me to look in the UFO box to see what quilt tops I could layer and quilt as a suitable gift. (If anyone is wondering I have seven quilt tops in the UFO box .How many do you all have? I'd be interested to know) I have quilted it on my machine just straight lines nothing fancy. I have used a very bold variegated thread and was not sure about the thread choice all the way through the quilting but its done now so no going back. I had to wash the quilt last night after I had sewn the binding on as I felt it needed freshening up, after being confined to a box for such a long time. I have popped the label on and I will be giving it to Paige on Monday. Hope she likes it.

The winner is.......

ELAINE congratulations you have won my surprise give away. Please in box me on face book or email me (susan.pierce162@btinternet.com) your address and I will pop you prise in the post. I just want to thank everyone who left a comment and even those who didn't but I know follow my blog I appreciate all your support. XX

Bring it on......

OMG a few days ago I stepped on a set of weighing scales and nearly fainted as to how much weight I have piled on. For those exclusive friends who know the awful number please keep it to yourselves as it is painfully embarrassing. It was time to get my head out of the biscuit tin and do something positive to loose weight and get fit and healthy. Ta Da this is what we bought today and yes we have both made a start.  Considering my bum is big and quiet well cushioned the seat on the exercise bike is a killer.  Next step is working out a sensible diet this is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done but nothing worth while comes easy so bring it on.

Southport flower Show

Beautiful garden sculptures.

Just one of the many gardens this was golf themed.

I adore any daisy style flowers and I fell in love with these dwarf Echinacea.

This rusty poppy seed heads where about five foot tall and would look amazing in the right settings.

Gorgeous spiral glass blown wind charms.

Amazing sunflowers, they where huge.

A glimpse of one of the show tents this was the vegetables.

Now that's a vegetable stall.

Simon Rimmer from Channel 4's Sunday Brunch being interviewed by Paul Crone from Granada Reports.

Creative Arts Labyrinth. I am a member of the creative arts programme but I did not take part in the Labyrinth project.

I ate my lunch with these little guys whilst their mother was not to far away keeping a watchful eye on me.

This lady demonstrated these three flower arrangements which where then given as a raffle prises. I bought a ticket but sadly I did not win, they where simply gorgeous.

As I departed the show due to the heavy rain and the fact my pumps where soaking I spotted the name of the street that the flower show is next to.  I can assure you this row is far from rotten and has the most amazing big beautiful house on it. If you look closely you can just make out a couple in the distance.

Anniversary give away......

I realised yesterday that I have been blogging for five years my first post was August 2008 but I am not sure of the actual date as I had to delete the first year of post to be able to continue putting images on my blog.  Anyway to celebrate my fifth blogging anniversary I am having a give away.  Not sure what the prize will be yet but I promise it will be sewing related. If you would like to be in with a chance to win the mystery prize just leave a comment and a week from today I will put all the names in a hat and draw the lucky winner.  Good luck Peeps  and thanks for dropping by xx

Indian Ladies mini quilt.

I bought this kit at the FOQ from Gillian Travis and spent yesterday afternoon making it. To be honest the photo does not do it justice but never mind. It was a lovely project to make and the sari silk fabrics are so beautiful and vibrant. Isn't the newspaper bag that the little kit came in just fab, it is what attracted both Janet and I and we both bought one.  However Janet bought the book "Dual Journey in Stitch" and I am now sorry I didn't buy one myself  so I will have to ask if I can have a sneak peek when next visiting her.  The newspaper bags where made by the Barefoot College which is a non government organisation that provide services and solutions to problems in rural communities with the object of making them self sufficient and sustainable. (quote from Gillian's kit). She is also involved in the stitch project which creates beautiful textile products as well as women's work in local areas. All this information and more is in the little instruction booklet that came with the kit and I found it all really interesting. This little quilt was a real pleasure to make.

Festival of Quilts 2013

I am back from the FOQ and I had the most amazing weekend. It was as ever very very busy and I arrived home last night completely shattered.  I met lots of new people and caught up with friends I have made on previous visits to the FOQ. Here are all the lovely yummy goodies I purchased during the three days I was there. I have to say a massive thank you to my friends Janet and Emma for a fab trip and for being such good company.

First Love.....

The first thing I was introduced to as a small child was a pencil, paper and a father who could draw. He would sit with me for hours doodling away and my life long love of drawing was borne.  I have recently been feeling extremely lost with my creativity, lacking any motivation to sew, draw or paint. After my recent trip to the Edward Burne-Jones exhibition I decided to get the pencils, paint and paper out and dabble in the art of drawing people. I have never been very good at drawing people and like most things in my life I am a very much self taught. This week I have been researching how to draw the human form. Its a very slow progress and its not going so well I have to say but I am enjoying lots and lots of utube tutorials on the subject. I have also being drawling over one of my favourite artist Leilani Joy. I love her stylised images and can only dream that one day I will find my own style of drawing. However, for now I am quite happy just dipping my toe and enjoying a whole new creative experience.