tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67088074913639921422024-03-06T20:03:06.194+00:00ShoshiplatypusShoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.comBlogger1176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-36274569974391535712019-04-18T23:58:00.001+01:002019-04-18T23:58:43.079+01:00New Blog<p>Because of all the problems I have had recently with photos disappearing from this blog, I have now started a new blog on Wordpress. You can find it <a href="https://shoshiplatypus.com/">here</a>.</p><p>I shall continue to work on replacing the missing photos on this blog, and hope that they will be visible. </p><p>The new Wordpress blog is a work in progress. Please bear with me during this difficult interim period.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-90913946676859585792019-04-10T01:59:00.001+01:002019-04-10T18:46:17.721+01:00WOYWW 514 Embellishments for Slippers<p><em>I am sorry that people are still unable to see my photos. I am in the process of moving my blog over to Wordpress, and I have reposted this post on there, and you can see it <a href="https://shoshiplatypus.com/uncategorized/woyww-514-embellishments-for-slippers/">here</a>, and comment there if you like.</em></p><p>This week, on and off, I’ve been working on the embroidered embellishments for my new felt slippers.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iCqlYY2gxtDXEhjCDmA8CkRb4_Gww7p1xNOoDgfPVT9PNVWmcDTF0WJuvZKII7u3e0rQBDNRsur8SigHnKFWks2kRbJqUsN2jaGuK9zWckuTse6eaTGlDSRyziS6KhefXZsN28PzOK0U/w1169-h877-no/"></p><p>When I bought them, my first thought was that they were crying out for embellishment a la Shosh!</p><p>I began by cutting out some flowers and leaves by hand, from my large stash of felt pieces. You can see the little paper patterns I made, bottom left by the scissors.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/g7-Rk4GCQezgEVqVfRnyS3C8pdDzkALPizR27wNLGXMe3W-Shs9mEwzXdgTEk_7yrJoA_-ER-Omd7H2-nFJI5DWDklNFfToGd9WnG-SqQG4ffB0ivaZUQYL7VI3MRY7jGIBjPLQ_do8mRArANe1ZB1DRVnieGciU86QFwxQiqadg_FNCX7glnD3EPJp05b2NWSR6K4PDY9jE5kEOgLnnfpRIf9px70ZtD9QF0CnXCgS7Amh3IOyNtPGov4UYN7ejBJnhZtqYoukBQRGEr1p8BA1_3V6ZM9YCAM48-1Md2kzQ4NstlW2izF2-AJZQKtqxe4W8lXxXwiSNTPc8NWELDEZBI3zs4JIboOpWkCyo3KOQLi2JshgyRyGs8_g_NS0mgm_IMY9sRctbYLSJ1DD71JJd9jEBqo3CXnApls_shzPtz8QhBtfIgO7VqCmFheU4i4xKA-boks5npvaxlv8qNzYTn9sSsXVZpf-aTJCbzxBal-EmuWJ1blVN4gS02APYjizjls-Wjo7_J2IKirOo5sdpTgwjtqxaOgOnV5ewUpdTNv82TR-Z3Zlw22kpmv_Q3XlcnqpKZFA5C1Wb8ed_Ar57n8knQSyfi75KlvwM5vEAZiguBUGpB_zKLW7x9P26Lp0SLw7id_n1W6PGdknRp6sg-bc6a5qA=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>I wanted to cut a lot of small circles, and searched online for the best method for this. Most people recommended using dies but I haven’t got any small circles and wondered if I could use my circle punches instead. Nobody recommended this and said it wouldn’t work! I know from past experience, trying to cut a piece of Tyvek with a punch once, that it jammed the punch. Thinking about it, though, I thought that if I sandwiched each piece of felt between two layers of freezer paper and ironed it, this might make it firm enough to punch out, and it worked! Some of the pieces were a bit fluffy but it was a simple job to trim that off with small scissors.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cp6dmiv91E_Htu-TytT9Y4WPrjoPfUI5dzWOkbOkbG8a91SBGfLaWXiOi0quTPK61hflS2kGO_kDycgt34A5IKWJcCoqloBoPnX6Vw-0gIMOahpQfpIhCFgd8fEl_anAGYXOH1enaSTmprmVNsBCKawc7TKJYov4XiaUcBXWec2VsvZnQpKaIgrp3mRfkZ6Ulh4L9zbsIYHO_RZqz2JxGR0OTHOVBqkiZrTMju8CiGZI33bSqKqXZ1QET1A4zDxyP6KpOLkU_hvDLuzRFgGV_g2mEfKY12Qz74qcDWCKwNa-GMIK-rFewtFfUVz19DiVwdOeHJk-1kw5J9Osrmo6Avsslan-gRBGwqKgiTfrWkOT66tbsuWU4yL0I8k_6uMvkCBTiBvGtYkVMoC3oA_jjdnQdQbE_XU6aUL6kuChWYrJxjAQn555Sawu_8xuxOTs03ekWdfUpkSkyMbHBUeyUBIxrZhwI3Z8Z6V4TXOuq39JwBR5fF_eSpQ6bchJwiInwVys6AxHvQYpoupzG-SvYze1tG79U8UWuMBF4oEVuUldSncufSTc7R1Vbm1ZwV7zlY7EVr1Hs2JaGFSItg9OpPUAXIZ_5T2CYTyJOBbwHEZOmo9ItxWml2Cmpt8Xn2i7zgpBzHjvaSDUJzrRJa2SVIcariPMUOkO=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>You can see that I’ve also got some baking parchment out, to protect the iron or ironing board, and also some kitchen foil. I used the latter to sharpen the punches after use.</p><p>A great success, wouldn’t you agree?</p><p><img width="700" height="399" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WQjyFjJ-F0-kUw2URQJLzMOhOqWlYVPncHHy1UxIvmlMc4aNCUEJeELz_oJEptTKVeu8aFXEwWDexTk0OVW2RBKOQK-WyuPAV950RQ_AD4NmfkOxBRKTPC9t-883NgWp_xD3sYRjJhVPEsKV6L9_o3B9wsCWrI1E8Dm2yLNpDeeDdguPDIkYJ7j5MNlTY_X7xr-IIVT3l5SWy2IakYeHKsWda4qzpx_fHXVI7pSyYAIvdu9NBp-QJgW3VqIUapf2ojaQINLpZoza4H-lbtZ84Op51ec13mGzKueVqIcyempTrw4iEPt8XgB3wD7nDbck-P_3JKDU6fVpAZZy0xzUk70cvB0Sc0Xq02zfVScw0P-No4eewPEmH1I4fDPt0Fiu2QdkpBdjRSPEdLzOCqcWYEB23Ltt_bhq0azjhcQkXWu40SYaZDMOlB1Ws0vN4b3BfP6BeITjKDoSXbcH2Tm1GAXW9I-i7idWj5MjBhLVtp6t9oLewgcEszlIpGkPkN2ILyToT7MaqNjpggFaboFDZh2SVVbyZrtW-JpquUKLmrhHSiZmV5daZGiPWtlSgjjox9-hAuU527hjmljwDJzDQGbF9aX2IaPOrCMVK4aixpvbf-7gtUQWiA57lFSDx8G-InuQLJCriIXPi-1PfgMbRusZzRD1rBG_=w1470-h839-no"></p><p>Finally, beginning the embroidery.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kFZNG2JhngXO3IdlxVFHCm04unNGZ8BQ1Gt5t_759SSl7fDrxD-kVpDrWcmDnv7fEfxE-VC2cF9vWwZaiwe-CzLKxOEV66LKmpUcUgO0uDTCt7PJKBYJVMB_zVcECQftAjGKsV2OOc6ucxYg6M6TThQ_S8SC1z72v9adH5NMNeSfGeTckxKsJ7DWKegENhtS8JRBmsacISDr4Otu687CeGlPAkq3fwQLybD8iG632kBPKZCGNg_AA4w1kTQl7GSmcFfA237gvepdggf5cb5HjWbFqWb7wVHSEWm8pmBdJUIrVgeyvVZsd_OZMwYq4LBB33q3GgPGJuN0-mzFN-BR9wcF5rg3spSrYkkfVfUIfw3vLyzDqN3A2id5h90eoOcDFzJlgKch8qjNDjh0hIz34xDdIKw0NNKA0o9FR3n5krlNPG-RYjb78Z5Oh5oH1-u6DHzbO8H4cto_GqDG7iTRQUEPCVGwrLEmU_E2YdkoEKhADZt-tLwhuhXDJofUaJrsVAstccw9feQg1uW8cwAUc9_9tQAbWwZgDjzL2e7LMianX1xQfJkQdyOr2_t4eLpBKwQfTBqpW8YcuZFz3XpG-SAPIivReBH6VCL89aaLei-5zLar4O98cwtBwYqaErD6Ch2rAsp1ZsvZSr0eYiUCHvNDiTcwonzM=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>I made a few from a single layer of felt, and to embroider these, pinned them to a piece of medium weight interfacing which I trimmed off afterwards. For the multi-layered ones I didn’t bother with this.</p><p>I am having such fun doing these!</p><p><strong>Health Update</strong></p><p>This afternoon I have got my appointment with Mr. Daniels, the colorectal surgeon in Exeter, to whom I have been referred by Mr. Pullan, my surgeon at Torbay. I’ll let you know how I got on afterwards. He will decide whether I need further surgery to repair my parastomal hernia, and if so, what is the best way forward.</p><p>We are going over early so we can have lunch out together first. My hubby did a reccy of the hospital today while he was in Exeter, and knows where to drop me off for the closest access to the outpatient clinic, which is going to save a lot of time tomorrow.</p><p><strong>Blog</strong></p><p>As you know from my previous posts, I’ve been having a lot of problems recently with photos on my blog, and it’s just added to my general disillusion with Google. I’ve been on the forum where there has been a discussion going on over the problems Open Live Writer (the software I use for composing my blogs) has been having with Google. Google has changed something and OLW is no longer compatible unless you use a workaround to get photos to publish on your blog, which is a pain. The experts on this open source application have been working hard but realise that what Google has done has made it impossible to make OLW work as it used to. Several people on the forum were saying they were suspicious that eventually Google would pull he plug on Blogger altogether; some decided to move over to Wordpress, so I started to give this some thought myself.</p><p>In the past, I’ve always been put off because I didn’t like the look of Wordpress, and thought it was all too much work anyway, but having investigated it in more depth, I find that it is more customisable than I’d realised, and a far more professional platform with a lot more versatility. I have decided to go for the paid version (and managed to get a hefty discount from someone whose Youtube tutorials I have been following) and it’s not really too expensive. I also got a book on Amazon and am working my way through that. It’s taking a long time and I’m covering a lot of new ground and feeling my way with computing stuff I’ve never done before, but I’m getting there gradually.</p><p>I have heard that transferring all the content from a Blogger blog over to Wordpress doesn’t always work that well, so I’ve decided just to start the new blog, but to keep the old one up with links between the two. It’s a good opportunity to do some housekeeping anyway. I shall continue to work on replacing the missing photos on this current blog so that it is complete.</p><p>The new blog isn’t ready for use yet, but hopefully by next week I shall be on my new blog! I’m now quite excited about it, and once I’ve finished putting all this work into it, it should be a much smoother experience. Once I am using it, it will obviously continue to be a work in progress as I discover more refinements.</p><p>The more time I spend on this, the more I realise how clunky Blogger is, and I think I shall be glad in the end that I took courage in both hands and went for this!</p><p>I would be very interested to hear the experiences of anyone else reading this, who uses Wordpress – which version they use (.com or .org), and their experiences setting it up.</p><p>No kitty photos this week – they’ve been doing the usual stuff, sleeping, eating, and playing in the garden under my hubby’s watchful eye.</p><p>Here’s a kitty funny for you.</p><p><img width="400" height="480" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZUuENM02qhgCchPsvRIYcZa76c9G-gaQdWxwN-qM4KAf6shniGikSkOpqiv7WcqZAJy3hlRmLss3OZ8tEnpD-fGNumiTyFXjvMLw_HXUveKtLSgnJOeMX_tiG6oxLvN0hJ16LpmYRIP-PJ9FtFWSYEZBvuCZ3g49ov49WDe97_2_3hjQvYN28qsn480fgqUzVEu310pT0EsjkJaaJMKf04OZrJzm4J8DosgCFyzfDFqqsu9OiGZIG3q-haUWHYME6hF8BPFWrW-azcGn7T1kCvBmp_yFwEEQI9dg2WS-7GST7PdTpCWSJmQUxNgm0ve4jzpCI2xL2sqhRH2Wb713xlr7_iNMuFXc7myN428-6m57oo4ZXSm6nP5vl6qGoJLga_N52cT6y0HKLN0a3i8TFkum2M4Ju2J_Fcs6GQd7FplOSeQJ6Bdr6yVht6TfNj62JfoP2Dyd2N_VM7FhOfGPfhgLHaFgllysgLpYZFfKrpFtoFLRojozG5DABgLHoxdJMGETPgBAxWIQsTeVNGwwrlWS5CbVzIl2c2sLgTgBuY1Qs2rH9urNu9M_Hc-oNNPODQ2NaoRNwOhqF1WV-jhRxsqVKeZrX0nFev1GTOginFrFuGgY0V1HN0rmI_RwVdOsUlMjobjugSAWmaG1i8Fbti0qcs7NjFIR=w450-h540-no"></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-29555064004063521302019-04-03T01:16:00.001+01:002019-04-03T17:28:07.333+01:00WOYWW 513 Share, Foot and Mouth<p><em><strong>Edit:</strong> I am afraid I am still having problems with photos. No need to comment if you can’t see them. I am working on the problem and hopefully you will be able to see at least some of them. I can get them to appear, but they disappear again…</em></p><p><strong>Share</strong></p><p>I think I may have sorted the problem of my non-appearing photos – I had tried viewing my blog after logging out of my Google account and lo and behold, the photos were no longer visible to me along with everyone else, and since they were visible when I was logged in, I thought long and hard about that and wondered if it was a “share” issue on Google Photos. After making them “shared,” I logged out again and yes, they were visible to me. So please let me know if they are visible this week, and if they are, please scroll back to last week’s posts and you should be able to see the photos there as well.</p><p>As for all my disappearing photos since the demise of Google+, I am trying to work on two posts per day on average, and so far, working backwards, I have got back to June of last year, so it’s not going too badly.</p><p><strong>Foot</strong></p><p>Well, at least, foot<em>wear</em>.</p><p>When we went shopping in Totnes last week I bought some gorgeous new felt slippers with really fun tops with felt balls on them.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X0X1wBLBD2ME9mI0r0n_EtaR0yvbOqsWHgREzRL_hrvNvNmzG4LX0rCItsqMcOLCluXzR2Ig3BiutjfaNRW4jnk5OkLEmsozRLxXM-6BmRnGaf5xdfpv78DyMdNNMbUG1yhjKalufZCqSfZtmgJVtqtOWvca-ZODx-8aKCWizBDW9crSbMHtFGK194gW6Fh4G4Jx9O-zjjf2VYudP-ewY__x1SNB2dQ0lBWZXTBj0Tgb7RmSOsHznqLRaM0e42sAPPxsfKo8WRhcytYlLbJZ0-trLjk5jzJYZthkXUagb_DsBkvO3BNl49JrUK9-RRS747fhbATbCIY6p8IQX6J_V8Uxkms-q7C8j9HIRFK4mRd3TuiaRMCRxIMFtxCbneSBXrICxILzQpTYeo8hUMfLJ14b1-9JS_viD-ha6NeUG0ONmn5sF01zWlv07iUtagwnsgbKL0O3LKF0P4hj1xRR-Ai7f7Up-0f01G-Rq53NONp68MJbmkcZe-17LNIbjheTYZiwkRNFi2-Rpgy6l1ywNSLqemTi8g2gQ5eBA-nwoYYY31sahsp3zGVmN5rGjzW83TPojImbV5m8ffRl--wzEjsuyXxRQUwalED9UpFCXClqUV9UbfbhdV1JZiwzNwAJFr1_5kGW62QnRvLZjmb27c62NekN7aDyDCwWCeb6A9Aa19SE_DDQhdTaaikmoBYglJsy2QepnElhjfEZ1ro7_jsO2A=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>They are quirky and fun and everybody says they are very “me”! My first thought was what fun it would be to embellish them! Having done my striped scarf with embroidered felt balls and other embellishments:</p><p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/djhUe4z25zzEgA7XW_0v-_96PnZLhukbcFynud6FHVV8MO_kllGRQU8o6dnp_vL6BaMPi_gLRMTlDTBeHaFRa_-PoWUmi1vh7vCPKfLCslXDeefcgfQ5tCiTF7-gDDMAsERUzH1mRbTfamxnV_icSngeMxPK65j8iJGapIgSdMXIATZZP7VPuIx8O_bNB9nTT4jFolOd9ko_9a8b1qZ_ux7V8MCiYA8kJoZMdYDGM0gqLSXTPA8Oeh6R0reF8clSTpe3WuN2yFdxWzmPvKWyjdqJz0P_sgCQX2ZNtQRHIqRjNNj2FEmXZbFqrJz6leE9eqTft3H5Q1A84iAidbpcLmMhpiu9aFqcI9U4ZdyKra8CTZbTei-UbvDtu3afM_LygOuuxOeuLprc52mOPUycip1R8P6k4Xwa8hlLiMG9Ty62MWSXUHTPpXJ-kujD_6MYm_YgDTJC7hAVJJfjuCCeKa9Zzuro0FGhQqvLHDS2UMQ2AFCVe-tmbXE3gdNov725Eqhknk8Obg_KR3qZtJlDA31KKWN-allSkpvzaw9j5TOg2uE8ErSotmoPm2xXLYrEa8duP9DkeniUBeFsslOODNAh8deQK6Fn52Fm43JptXznSyqqsyfM02fjVabKYU6detxtRCjLmHsbX56AU_QPGvpVz5IA2XTRFTyosKh7-o5_Nd36wSYq1KBklnFso8JJM96L-oSMvkHWez2bc8AXOJnccw=w658-h877-no"></p><p>I thought I could do something similar with the slippers.</p><p>I have started cutting out some simple flower and leaf shapes from my large stash of felt.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iUNFAWA28AxvFual1IeGfURuTG6TXcwJHRxAI_W9A6mKNoSeAN4SmuBh1hvAEKNs8dKot4RcVhlxpg8KwB6cWHCheoQh3c3ovhzqOGkIAxNOe_Fs7nOnAvURlQbLC7PSBCxOckKdvXzWAirDHHDNZRHhXwT3hYA_T46WQ4-F8ko22EPHNNmLbWIBRyntvHmz19ikx-t7p3K9KExq05NxkCPo6LcTS76djGkC9RDfNuMhh1sv0rpcdXMB40CnHIyCIvco-9Y398LZSr7ROpJk8lTLmCBt9gzPiMMDW6ksWyr6tTKdreomwy7TgdcKoGcQO2PlFsv40B-owqkI9G3qv5WJ3d2czB4ltUyc2zDylDTjamNiQlGapxX0Cf0P6eUsIB8Yl50XW_sBN17KwOiE5ugi258yqUVhINDSjBxz7oPTWtpbiaYn4kXulbQGKqkO9wfIcw_sYA_r_l-yQnXet0P-J6EyB29SR6WSA_WQdILMyatgSndHn5E5QCSoA1Jv5Wyn0mNB4FbxFnbMxxErLm7h9eaH8AD_ZZK5BhaqaQnLXCtcMI2gOAemi0W9p_o2YLmtB04LCvWaC-agN7ZLmz-tSu3zjQ_gabwdBJDdJYKFOjBk5GQmRtULoEYMY8e2gwVyDZE5uzhb1nV3abRHd-LoFizW-bKQjC5oUgwsk-ICge-PtVMF2Dv9rdOOfNiQZPAswgc5o6IHxA7MHt7qz90nsQ=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>Unlike with the scarf, I want the flowers and leaves to be flush with the surface of the slippers, rather than being 3-D. I am planning to do some wool embroidery on them and then stitch them to the slippers, and maybe add some embroidered stems, depending on how they look. The felt balls dangling from the tops of the slippers will have embroidery added to them.</p><p>Next time we go to Totnes I shall have to take the slippers back to the shop where I got them and show them what I’ve done!!</p><p><strong>Mouth</strong></p><p>Not so pleasant. I’d had the permanent filling put in my cracked wisdom tooth last Thursday and all was well, although it was a bit painful on and off when I bit down on it. My hubby said this was normal and he often got this for a few days after having had a filling (he has far more than I do so his is the voice of experience). It was pretty bad on Sunday and I was worried about it. Then at tea time on Sunday I thought part of another filling had broken off so my hubby rang on Monday and made an appointment for me for yesterday lunch time.</p><p>When I got there the dentist agreed with my hubby about teeth often being a bit sore for a few days afterwards, and then he looked at the other tooth and said the whole filling had come out! He fixed it then and there but it was a lot worse than the wisdom tooth one and the whole thing was pretty stressful. I had loads of local anaesthetic and my mouth didn’t come back to normal until tea time, and it’s been hurting since then, even though it didn’t hurt after the old filling came out. Hopefully it will settle down in a few days. I do hate going to the dentist and consider I’ve had more than my “fill” (sorreee) of it recently!</p><p>Our dentist is so lovely – he’s really friendly and knows what a wimp I am and always tries to put me at my ease (impossible) but we usually manage to have quite a laugh once the horrid part is done! He was very amused once when I told him I’d rather have 6 months of chemo than come and see him! Today he said everybody hated him and he had no friends because he was a dentist (which I don’t believe as he’s really nice and friendly!) and he said it was on a par with traffic wardens and tax inspectors. He then asked me, “What do you call 80 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?” I hadn’t a clue. Answer: “A good start.” Lol!!! (I have to agree – they charged us an arm and a leg, and possibly a mouthful of teeth, to wind up Mum’s estate… and it took them over a year.)</p><p>Anyway, I hope I don’t have any more tooth problems from now on.</p><p><strong>Hospital appointment next Wednesday</strong></p><p>I am going to see Mr. Daniels, another colorectal surgeon, at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E) next week, having been referred by Mr. Pullan, my surgeon at Torbay. He wanted a second opinion on what he calls my “intractable” parastomal hernia, and depending on what Mr. Daniels has to say on the matter, I may need further surgery. I shall be very interested to hear his opinion about it.</p><p><strong>Kitties</strong></p><p>Lily and Ruby haven’t been doing anything spectacular recently apart from the usual sleeping, eating, the odd tiff, a fair bit of chasing each other around the house – thundering paws above our heads – whoever said cats were silent on their feet? We’ve always had elephants! They’ve been out most days and seem safe without constant supervision now my hubby has fixed the defences, but we don’t let them out unless he’s around, just in case. They have been moulting their winter coats and getting a few fur balls (fluffy Lily especially) and very, very demanding at feeding times!</p><p>No new photos recently so here’s one of their baby ones, just to remind you how dinky they were. 5 weeks old, the first time we saw them, the day we claimed them for our own. We got them at 9 weeks, and my goodness, it was hard having to wait those few weeks for them.</p><p><img width="700" height="574" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Xpo3XiRsqxF9QNTZb9GNVj3K4_tjtT8dLta0_n0m-ggw0szcDtwcnhWC3z-9VDOMvOvjRR6fNsogiPVa5HLko213OCCX9p9VvuCgPExqdhndO5RlgFtSXAAy7vXUWp_ylXSncoTa16iN1Fzg6-QUyr_oiJv08AI3fCpb2MxRHLV6rX2uXPtI9C_ghjg1oAGsFuxiGiOahSRTYDl1e8cELouP4V6hGyUSctvgS0ltnoHprNIB9u_pywP59MyAKu2UFZME9yiFvcytRNBzSLcFqUP8DLcd3B-0LZonrF1t8-kYG2IAdrorCef3O0qRtUCHoRVxLtzZjWW7P-xBPCMrFDqJ9X6zyk7UHInzBZfeBnSJRTKLHebR9MaNZpwgrB30F6vC90wKRW3sgvs6YFknAKShuBzeWOtUya0eqDlhZEOIcoe6xHj9aKfYQt0kuWeg5obe6XsVq4MiZxaKbhTXXyrv9uhpcPyOnWh4E7EO23IcgBBLSf3sJU5UI59w-RsokQFB4AEsuLYhHoWsC1j9J-i7L6i5y8qlgfqCM0LdQ3ep542PD9yOgS_ZGX0UoZk2tPv_OSQQ8ZGRQtG3knPl7nnigKMTyNSIsuAAMtXGNZwhBkHt-t2hqY0tz3DH6H5N0LNAIZMGISqKlkaejIsUszOy_hDwrCclw5C5W02z096ETpQrHQToFgqOqE5lendeJsxr1AObEkXH5FYXVfCSIhc0gw=w725-h594-no"></p><p>Ruby on the left of the picture, Lily on the right. (My hubby in the middle!) I can’t believe how tiny they were – they are really substantial now – great hulking girlies!</p><p>Finally, a cat funny for you.</p><p><img width="344" height="480" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1q15fFLqgUbwNLprZXDrRnp_eFZGIScwEH5loSZt1iP-34DZdiRKhBE8UHkz-J_l7SghnZ7DWbqm_LDb3chBDa-ZPeqvf5WWPy33pve_o4iCl-LV1kRUowslfcYSIeYETFsOJiU4RFuOoxq8uyneW-gb4piPkEe24DnbmnbiNxId-0vQKXXEWg--jBQjnGOCNn_1pJMGyzNFd7u1KWmgFowN8MMGxKUENVYhf_3MmcIT49EFBF2Dgvml_viszH2loNEnAdaiYwblrwcixiQSIahGREh_4RoiOA645rc-W2llV9Lj_ERjKSLSTHtxUh1R9scIAHe1gJmqLxwOQelQGIf1NHLEgToD5eMWwA5dL3fIVDLuXXg_kKTHa-7HDCJ3s6KUSxMII610I1uj7PrF73Zcf-e0cimfn8tZBTmUZ9zrOOjZMyfQnJrQqMezy0AQm6PYg_c92-PrM0NVraPR1pYfQIgrn5NkVkxy6VWkk6E9BWnjiJYvAs5whA2dRDA-gvCKqZRZpRL63Ru02bQgOSj8RVo7KnupDJ_j0aY9JOTUti---jLZey-PKSKmOo0pWmaXh7Sya2TO0brwxwiLLNsIbMbW3i4zlHzq9Hy6oigkvqqNOet2a8OkcO5m6XvY_v0zD42yAzZsrwMCY6JCUB-7FFtawD7Qvyu5uNo_mBAqD0CdKftrD3ofkTCanPf3bBYfFig4AEyvmxx8-tEKhfPig=w365-h510-no"></p><p>Have a great week, everybody.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-61013226479857232112019-03-27T21:26:00.000+00:002019-04-03T21:31:21.531+01:00WOYWW 512 Backwards Knitting, Wrong Hymn Tunes and Wise Cracks<p>Yes, I know I haven’t been around for a few weeks – same old story, I’m afraid, too busy with other things, and also I haven’t been too well. The only creative stuff I’ve been doing is my knitting, but it’s been far from uninteresting!</p><p>One of my favourite ways of knitting is in the round with a circular needle, because you never turn the work. You just keep knitting and not purling because the reverse side is always away from you. I prefer to use a circular needle for knitting back and forth, too, rather than normal needles, because the weight of the knitting sits in your lap and it’s a lot more comfortable and less effort to do, but of course you do have to purl on alternate rows, turning the work between each row, </p><p>This week I have discovered something extraordinary – Backwards Knitting! I have been knitting all my life and have never come across this before – I love Youtube and Pinterest which have taught me so many new techniques, and there’s always something new to learn, whatever you are interested in. People do come up with the most extraordinary ideas, and this one really works!</p><p>The idea behind Backwards Knitting is that rather than knitting alternate knit and purl rows, you do not turn the work, but on what would normally be a purl row, you knit backwards! I know, it sounds really weird… Here’s the link to the Youtube video I found, that shows you how to do it.</p><p><a title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIo-m6vfd-U&list=PL-OKjxuL-AQjZSbuz-CZHAXDUrqi_yELt&index=12&t=0s" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIo-m6vfd-U&list=PL-OKjxuL-AQjZSbuz-CZHAXDUrqi_yELt&index=12&t=0s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIo-m6vfd-U&list=PL-OKjxuL-AQjZSbuz-CZHAXDUrqi_yELt&index=12&t=0s</a></p><p>Here are my written instructions how to do it.</p><p><br></p><blockquote><p><font face="Trebuchet MS" size="4">Normal knitting starts the row with LH needle full, and the RH needle empty. With the knit side facing, knit to the end of the row as normal.</font><p><font face="Trebuchet MS" size="4">To knit the next row backwards, do not turn the work. You are now beginning a row with the RH needle full, and the LH needle empty.</font><p><strong><font face="Trebuchet MS" size="5">How to do backwards knitting</font></strong><p><font face="Trebuchet MS" size="4">1. Insert LH needle into back of stitch on RH needle (LH needle goes behind RH needle).</font><p><font face="Trebuchet MS" size="4">2. Wrap yarn around LH needle, anti-clockwise.</font><p><font face="Trebuchet MS" size="4">3. Pull RH needle towards you, up and over the tip of LH needle, passing the existing stitch over the yarn you wrapped around the LH needle.</font><p><font size="4">4. Release the loop. Stitch complete, on LH needle. Continue to the end of the row.</font></p></blockquote><p><br><p>You never need to purl again!<p>I find this is very good when you are working with two colours. Without the weaving of the yarn facing you (on the purl side), you can see the pattern much more clearly, on every row, rather than just on the knit rows, so you are less likely to go wrong.</p><p>When I first started doing this, it was a real struggle, and I wondered if it was worth the effort because it took me so long to work one row, but already, on the next backwards row, I was getting better at it, and although it’s still slower than a normal knit row, I am improving with practice. It’s rather fun to do, and I have a feeling that my tension is improving, too.</p><p>I am making very good progress up the front of the purple circles jumper. I have yet to design the neck on graph paper.</p><p><img width="700" height="847" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lyNH7U2844871OCebLOKE0ZPaud6vj8qFtt8DTEecLxSt7w5EiqW3dG-vzq-oNyd9f6mIuRfVnbWPhZeU-01BuGyYXfzFLr2XOR2CD9VS6h7dYxns4asoI3cQRenaL4TD5Tw1Ljmwgzz9yE_rDtcEydAs5-RhcTvbCfaN3as2DdiZcgW78dRxBF4hBpcMYrCTZbKr3vSYBPmTKezQ8jDfzTzh1LJtx7bM1Ux_5dAhr8Y5xsfLSTpPL_gcpsqT1kwDTKzFumzrb2QOgdO4EYXr7Zc-g2WsjXllnOEIBA8K5MGSIp1zGyJs5_KGzqptc-eC9jclB7-_dxz8zKygL6TNDxB-zO0QpDq7xTuSfoYdO527-ZrlHljUHtcaZBgJvIGK3FHm7gW-qHRUCvBXDy5ubZx3nXrld4CcXiCXYv7jIafnhKbTBt8zNjV8l6AC_KoA0yNV4MpUtVcbX4g9UBUP2MMTh7IKwug57pJzF8VEDIcb1I2gM8RTrWjyZPub5D6m1oWKezS4hqkfAhhEddogIYcLg5cNs_mmvOppA6Y56BttkFk4d18LxXiWlfZVVbBUh7xHS8VY6fP49Oh-ExPnZiqxstIcLNDPmIHClDcB0QOcGZ6XUpswThl1xL7N6wxjks8quvpRTGYTRy7TVFYiq8QaWCgdCmI=w725-h877-no"></p><p><strong>Blog Photos</strong></p><p>A while back, when Google changed things again, I discovered that all the photos on my 8-yr-old blog had vanished, and so began the huge task of replacing them all. Working backwards, I have now got to July of last year so progress is being made, if slowly. I am trying to do at least one post a day. The trouble is, something has again gone wrong with the link between Open Live Writer (the programme I use for composing my blog posts) and Blogger – something to do with Google changing (deleting?) Picassa or something, so I now have to do a work-around to get posts with photos to publish, which takes twice as long as normal, but hopefully this glitch will get sorted eventually. What a pain it all is. It’s going to take at least a year to get it all complete by my reckoning.</p><p><strong>Shoshi <em>in Silentio</em></strong></p><p>A couple of weeks ago I got laryngitis and was completely voiceless for a week. (Everybody was congratulating my hubby and saying how fortunate he was…) To call him downstairs for meals I had to thump on the floor with a crutch, which reverberated round the house very satisfactorily. I have felt really tired and had to rest a lot after unavoidable periods of busyness during the whole period. I am now speaking again, but in church on Sunday, wasn’t able to sing a note, until the final hymn when I simply had to force myself – it was a well-known hymn but the organist had chosen the alternative tune, because the normal tune had, unusually, been used for an earlier hymn in the service. My hubby was sitting behind me and for the whole of the first verse of the hymn, he bellowed out at the top of his voice the wrong tune!! There was a certain amount of confusion all around us and I turned round and sang the correct tune as loud as I could manage it for the next couple of verses until he got the message!! Never let it be said that my hubby is without conviction, and loudly, to boot! I’m not sure when I shall ever be able to sing again!</p><p><strong>Wise Crack</strong></p><p>While I was without speech I had an emergency dental appointment with toothache. He found a crack in one of my wisdom teeth which he filled with a temporary filling, and I have to return tomorrow to have the permanent one done. I am a total coward when it comes to the dentist and shall be very glad when it’s over.</p><p><strong>Butterfly Mint</strong></p><p>This week my hubby bought two cat mint plants for the garden, to encourage Ruby not to think about trying to get out. The trouble is, we don’t think it’s the right sort of cat mint. On the label it said, “Cat Mint. Encourages butterflies and bees.” Lol! It’s <em>butterfly</em> mint, not cat mint at all! We pulled a few leaves off to see how the kitties would respond. Ruby wasn’t interested, and Lily was frightened of it!! Doing a bit of online research my hubby found that there are different varieties of cat mint and the ones he bought were apparently the wrong ones. It may be, of course, that our two kitties are in the 30 percent minority who can’t smell the stuff. That would be soooo typical.</p><p>Yesterday we went shopping in Totnes and on the way home, called in on someone who said they’d got a spare cat mint plant we could have, and when we brought it home and showed it to the kitties, they both expressed an interest in it, but soon got more interested in being fed! The person had said they would get really interested in it when it’s growing in the garden and has the sun on it, but it’s definitely better than the butterfly mint, that’s for sure.</p><p><strong>A fun shopping day</strong></p><p>Lovely fun shopping in Totnes and I got some new clothes in my favourite ethnic style. Click <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2019/03/shopping-in-totnes.html">here</a> for details. One or two things that I got:</p><p><img width="700" height="933" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gyCXcicjPfbL-YuaxC9Xba1HVFKMgQ6YsbwAnBjdUoswM-ts1yLdlugbmEzLM3H3JAvGYKXft2molo_WJkUJE3KqqoNFTNa66nEGxIuKhnwYsQAj65AH3htIEH3nyuzPNIULy2fRr47Jmd9EdP0eGhngLyNnFiMS70ioFh2m2CkaE-Naa5DXrqHnelRH3K77AJHIcr-zWneTTLyxFEDW5HAeRCNyu1UmfOrdoJmsOkcLasBdM3CXNi9W5sFNlCs6IsOr796O2hYcuvNvSeYX-NDfFKvjx4dCouvUPpasdHn089gTG0B6EIqoUJiHqeaCanRku5zDFGlSm7zEy5cTIy7w4Fub4qRMKzllaA2pOLB3vp10BgIGDG38C91A90w_YPVTxij7CpRqsdKSdfyBfr5rotqZENWA7Q7D21ASvaSqdiBsstSTeW0QCn8nZzgZOfG1-picaj_hJKeOg6aIoxPsxeHVr49wjFQf2ZfoFEZBmi25YNy2GHnFT5ht0H4BEO05zhJlOzSKapp3_TjhRLRpO5o0zW8J5Zpuqzi--fiL0FJFN4KP3GJSuWpSqsonvunXQF4aeTdtFXtfh-Vg7alBjzlB4quvZbUXchLwYKm5nf4qcmVAXr9Z95gPuW9Zu2ZMa9PFn9sQcUsfXSYDKa4JP4ak6S7I=w658-h877-no"></p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FlpIr9UIafbmFFOuWP5GnXGudSn119g17bPpnE9xZ3o7Wxc4On2Dq8_JQjly_tY0lEyk8dnJJ9xmv2WX7WCF-a8y5ryiI55gTEHp2Iy6fRWLcnus4YAsBTwTk8mOHobaODR6dWBWW8XCRZ7yB5XPZIbh4aTlepFNSMYHvylo1PMef7LqCy3gxBNYN3M_WxNDG-Q0-OvPeh0VLxphmv1EMFdgJx9qlJ9oV_o6n9gv5oqg6jRqEeG9Gc8IY4JH-GrU-yy0b41l5qjBB3vtQYbAmS1Uq2jN1XpQt9iUiMAZq05xdlj0HmeN89FCBnpRziSwTdfoVSiO0UKmyd-hfxRjMmBck4_Ey9uRheSoA-US9DJjXPm5o6XMKjpB2SpPZ2lZUg_LJNQDE-1Ily7meGwJvEwUZ7CmMQwmFBUWgQZGd5WdOPFudBFhAvh37iuaKaQabVWUEM4WZlkdjyPMyR9zchAT1Ui8_Jt8e91TojuUIxWUh34yAo-NIm06tv8vRMVlx98zS9x3dTXG7VVqWVUFn0G-effvDVQSojBAG4iUZem_0zbUAnM7-suaPf3UBJSmO_2VQ-xav6ptSNr--VG-d5ZCBYxWI8_yPc1PZRhtYHb-DapfDGu4iGOLY1J1PeQ8P3lUZO8mDWwMoaB9ALtquyaEn3UL_72R=w1169-h877-no"></p><p><img width="700" height="849" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FBcHeUHWmVtHGHhu3EyMdA0TpNydPTSSep84U8zNhMWYult1cdk-c7_HyMcueJoiPEvxX-s1pI7fV1XgS-zW4GnMuY67xboO-hbIM4gz5660V2cTPmUTxXox8kce0dj9XuKBLKSAlwtaY3Iv4LcugMJVW8aVNjUmyr6g_C_Sfs8PO5iRVJZdXDqKqUUrXMpjOuwNSBoI9EyhMSgsALVhl4kwEVlYKxD-ar5s2aI8jjpDPrMXrXlvfbHrVc_X44uqUtJ00Tzk3EtKB8M-X6GKkPKpqd1-n1equQMlutp-XIF01eNybOHo9irUKX24Xz9sckbX70Eoc0-8E7syeIYsYLVX8W_xO6ttaU1wJDIsRjJlVaCWs3X6lUhfJ8qZaNZxZTb_eS3l2I1Aid9cZsaDTLJ5fal8cplVkrm2mj9X_Npprxo_cDUNH8cZVAhgaA2h_h1NqVYTLLPfxS9-05I7AqJ3c93UIcw3-vmxmzHQO-NmF3rPwjZHnyDY802Y3QUrvlkiiZol0qWULD-GnbHYHDSppQ22FxvAxswsrr4uvaMyb4MdS2zickRY4JSCMy81OAi9gNNp3RKh7sMYBOwK56QOP2vPGDMyIesHZO3HMO_CDNhJLjtH8zmr8EZetlB8j_g9mFSada2MP1qzV6Y1gAXIAKYH9618=w724-h878-no"></p><p>Not a lot else has happened recently.</p><p>Here’s a kitty funny.</p><p><img width="405" height="480" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/W3KMIkkjm99zu7GphL3LT9bPhjA3la_rIJOT8vsXuXy26G8v8edDrQlTGU06snxWi_llmxiduhd823BAZ22EfzM6Qd2zEWbVzgZeStfrW5t6Wh8Y_L-t715jNme627n-Ka07gpO0ZZQ_jAD7Z8NzJIzzYPg8I_UkHv4kvDvk5fKcE1aPFtNMCHZSjtoliTWkq8l0Ue7Ogi6puXfpmLnS1jyDwxAMSqIKJPtUefkRlYpvSruOc7LC2Wn7P6UrV8jTDgTc50GK9T0UZbIduT2N9s7ridoIEAaRd8ZaG4syEUbxfyj5gKkhY1QEVbjfgTBTdUZiBhZSeRz5F7tSefgqyn4DPLN-rCOzJNMnTbpuhf6ZegnF5NjpQa6f3rspcbBPBvwRmv38iZfhZSgxShoYvVemIbrwfLX6KME401rELVOQQmV7LXNBmnoKF88ZhAWO6zycsBacw_cylDKt_eNvgPij9LJasx0wyKvE0rrnCBanFneGa5UuMu3NZPNxca57-W0HuPuxa-_nvcaaXD4QPG56h7MuerE5JAAECsfRbSr_iT9x1VzJ0zZEVfYH0LhEOSbiIpkJsxZyp5XDBsAA7aB2Pj7wiElohf0mSJUqZcA27H_DlQUNniaQQWwCRcVp2uXVEjWHv_iizVysQdMU-nrIZZPEQ6zf=w564-h669-no"></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-30971260462738417022019-03-26T21:23:00.000+00:002019-04-03T21:24:01.904+01:00Shopping in Totnes<p>This morning, it being a really warm sunny spring day, my hubby suggested an outing. Apart from church, and the odd lunch out here and there, I have hardly been out for months, so we decided to go to Totnes to do some shopping and have lunch. It is one of my favourite places to shop, with all the ethnic and alternative (hippie!) shops at the top of town, so we started there and worked our way down.</p><p>I wasn’t going to buy any clothes… honest, I wasn’t, yer honour… but it’s a very hard temptation to resist in such a place! And my hubby didn’t help – there he was, encouraging me to buy stuff – and I ended up buying quite a few things, including a pair of dungarees which I was convinced made me look fat, but both my hubby and the lovely lady in the shop reassured me that that wasn’t the case!</p><p>Not getting out shopping except once in a blue moon, it’s fun to stock up when I get the opportunity, and not everything is easily obtained online because you can’t see it “in the flesh.” I stocked up on some make-up supplies at Superdrug at the bottom of town just before we departed to go home.</p><p>Here are my purchases.</p><p><img width="700" height="933" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gyCXcicjPfbL-YuaxC9Xba1HVFKMgQ6YsbwAnBjdUoswM-ts1yLdlugbmEzLM3H3JAvGYKXft2molo_WJkUJE3KqqoNFTNa66nEGxIuKhnwYsQAj65AH3htIEH3nyuzPNIULy2fRr47Jmd9EdP0eGhngLyNnFiMS70ioFh2m2CkaE-Naa5DXrqHnelRH3K77AJHIcr-zWneTTLyxFEDW5HAeRCNyu1UmfOrdoJmsOkcLasBdM3CXNi9W5sFNlCs6IsOr796O2hYcuvNvSeYX-NDfFKvjx4dCouvUPpasdHn089gTG0B6EIqoUJiHqeaCanRku5zDFGlSm7zEy5cTIy7w4Fub4qRMKzllaA2pOLB3vp10BgIGDG38C91A90w_YPVTxij7CpRqsdKSdfyBfr5rotqZENWA7Q7D21ASvaSqdiBsstSTeW0QCn8nZzgZOfG1-picaj_hJKeOg6aIoxPsxeHVr49wjFQf2ZfoFEZBmi25YNy2GHnFT5ht0H4BEO05zhJlOzSKapp3_TjhRLRpO5o0zW8J5Zpuqzi--fiL0FJFN4KP3GJSuWpSqsonvunXQF4aeTdtFXtfh-Vg7alBjzlB4quvZbUXchLwYKm5nf4qcmVAXr9Z95gPuW9Zu2ZMa9PFn9sQcUsfXSYDKa4JP4ak6S7I=w658-h877-no"></p><p>Last summer I had to throw out two pairs of sandals because the soles had started to disintegrate and they were not repairable. I was really cross because I liked them both a lot, and the tops were absolutely fine. I am pleased to have got a new pair today, along with the other stuff.</p><p>The dungarees. I love the applique on the legs. Since my hubby was the one who persuaded me to buy these, he said he’d give them to me for my birthday!</p><p><img width="700" height="526" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bZ9x1dlxoh9wg2C4P2j2gw5D6QEUtpu9lE24jybtXxhsueZZIg2Zi1CBxVlRxdJJbPpJEqijmeizeNaEjSQ2g1dssToh0EAcXziA__HktR-5Ya1Jt_ZbH9TBtT9CWDBDwsbUQTvwCh2O42MJ2YjKkCe70ICJD0tZ5IYYO_SHCMv_QuKHb_O348bey4aZOX-QFoA-CUw7WVeO1NqYDXT8fj7l8IspBu_OTnH2OqyH93gGyOwDReEQ4e--W_E0HExTot63LqtcroGRiaengAhX6eVbDlRur2e9VeqCIKPvpwTZ91h2X0nTpg9JGsrKF98dEbHGqslViVkw3NeHrqW7pKqnccjwGdQDkQg1j6sUTDsL2TXYwewDnqIjVmHiE4A_es4Dms8T1cvemjl5z3M5iUvpZVqRjg0aqdAA50GNQs39ryPQsvhVXdu0yq9sySQd1WNim1OJgf2nlU8y5dkdDXg_WvuEbJaqX1AmMFPm5ELKyP-i6goGnKcRI5IPqk4VTPMU_xryd-Fhp9vDcOOXnW43Q7cKAHXJwdoOQlOLx2oesIL0KYypgUv_W5gv50vKerbcsNmoi60N1FRV13UDErIxeuRWMzqBh3Pr3EnmI48Y25tXzcw1VA5tDJM1AMGXxTFxa-GCzJ-08rTo49fCUDu-KACYRyUV=w293-h220-no"></p><p>A really pretty soft lacy top with ribbon embroidery decoration. It is double (lined), and looks really lovely on.</p><p><img width="700" height="835" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OsRcNNpsYYLQ_iwU7lKyc9CkLaQ14NJoKjogjAzVZOP-n7Tj2JoQGOoV9HKJ40ufryESxiAc-DMxjpccsuYDcf9AnnVBx20dq6dcw32LPf5_PxbM_NlNUJXEsnR8GwNm-Yc72xH72yaaSiyShTBpAIMYgi-ALaDc26fkliWWWZFtobCVhRv8_dDZyBZ3n05jhKBZjFnKItEyFtDgjnIS_YJmJYW0rifuNRq0Nq_1OBzq-xSnx74tJhTpYQc7pG392WIHl_UsFGnPPW7rWhvN_wk9xUNtW9NABo8RNI594gwg7PezYxTzqol1aA2jMiIZ2mEr6YkZetchnbFURPanSntKt-qg1pwABPdRY99syGrzJNl8OKzJPW3Yg52rZUlHJXhqH9aEgfsRdKpW0WIgqmo4wLC6JVZP56RH33WcEPTXwpY97YV6DhgsotmG3GnpBsIiw9W1H07hjmVXMG4VUqZXH3zTBVhfuu-tOdWxIACrwlIIIJzh1J7KI-fHthZvmIq5eoNF3Lbp_zpVSQZP5HnbSgw_-pz9JA_lzgBmmbNkAV0t0Br5sDFhsJI9820pZ2wa_wtgKvitz7oXgO_wQLZlXZL2ukAUr-F7FXwap5Gr4T-95JEE0aUsaKCKsMZrZqzdHlrYLDJzG-NHie7DG7CINiLNiTU7=w735-h877-no"></p><p>A pair of soft wide ethnic patchwork trousers. I find I can never have enough pairs of these.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JSvWmAxzi8ePrtyh91RSaxo-GyN5nl9MyR0koWbZw51QG208fMtV_fwGO--67ETPqY14fVVAqu8RCDRr6D75uOOp2tbo8HeNskZLYyPf5wNntvtCRDlz91QAy8ZMdW8gqp32_V3FOJi1HKp47pRkPrChM1fcPiyqXxS4bpKr-fL7VzbovGO1KwNWvxfC3OEDmDMhmJpCjy0AlyCJRGanlt1D_s4VE7co39KVkxNKtplbOERY4ufavxcno1g77Cl6BFVgKMv0O5lFKpLZXvjaDyj_nN-q747kry7nKmuyvYkO-EvqjkNH6EmTbj1FIc9B-XwoOy4czSpIXt7T2E-YBTNs4VJpacI5ubM75HADn63SbPEvkVXhFWiE-cxQu4Q7T4E_cPwGAloE8GdKWvtdiH-WAbkQsrm5syn_bK_Caj-MB9b3cN0ky2DHb64RMzuzcq8a47PmhMriijiaM-ydOQmIo8v_uYJw8-Ql0qajENlwnOV91Fu0iDAqHX5ix1ZhTogEnH1mlex9YiEncMZK-hSDzTu9PcrNgsCoce_m43XlKguCy2kteErwBUMWUd7vIIyjWKipo4Zvdd777eBE9b6t6JGbecwLOijzp8mF-TfIUOHl8_UtMnB2Zhv3whSD1nM5Y3-bWcvlBiejKXp4WrEkykBNwWYT=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>Finally managed to find myself a plain black pair, which will be useful.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4ba6dSzwuG_Wz_jv9iAa-fnQTi2CaLMRiicM6_Dga6WvtRRayGorIaVV0t2kpFktJoj5C5kRrSbgUZ5yQpVPn3CVbA6f93rUTg6x2mpBy772bv16FHlAK6R93oNGj96-td-WyaObbiubP_NEgFwgHdWtyBvgQ6AH843AK1GpkEtgGnDOd1k_RFwgtt0iioG4sbQsOEq7dddG2NwgWCLditcbhRNaAm3nLai_DeHBOEiNzdgsfAWx_wz95rVIvho7HpM4tH8iEeufhXv_hKiydeucJTSkcjyDXywDx16wT4WsnOtJCjf4u0AFZfzNL--bCwB9kmytTY6kAnxJjvO9nJWltB5-VUw0qV9IGSFohDvtDnMrthO7tLYl1ZqvJLIQ3YZq4WXkGnMsfneHkVuwrz7Mr3o05DonoBuaxUv3skxCe9sTc9VuJu26-cEu8JF2WR8RpfI3kmI4nF7P0Ec1o6nEBDFaZCnr3P4FpFOH_kWSUfMPjNjmjQutrIDkcdK903Ak6VKEUz0Ckgn7sAibNEpU0DIsQ4FMxfsZXpLDR9m5mjf_QYdn7_kM9RUcDCnaUZvhyZDsSqBOsjyAhmfbZHyIq0inR-IJqQ88zuv8mWb3GPntrvtEwotWcmodnfnossuVgu64cMnii-fIsORP1AlX0EUzWbOe=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>In that same shop, I treated myself to a beautiful Indian necklace with matching earrings.</p><p><img width="700" height="849" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FBcHeUHWmVtHGHhu3EyMdA0TpNydPTSSep84U8zNhMWYult1cdk-c7_HyMcueJoiPEvxX-s1pI7fV1XgS-zW4GnMuY67xboO-hbIM4gz5660V2cTPmUTxXox8kce0dj9XuKBLKSAlwtaY3Iv4LcugMJVW8aVNjUmyr6g_C_Sfs8PO5iRVJZdXDqKqUUrXMpjOuwNSBoI9EyhMSgsALVhl4kwEVlYKxD-ar5s2aI8jjpDPrMXrXlvfbHrVc_X44uqUtJ00Tzk3EtKB8M-X6GKkPKpqd1-n1equQMlutp-XIF01eNybOHo9irUKX24Xz9sckbX70Eoc0-8E7syeIYsYLVX8W_xO6ttaU1wJDIsRjJlVaCWs3X6lUhfJ8qZaNZxZTb_eS3l2I1Aid9cZsaDTLJ5fal8cplVkrm2mj9X_Npprxo_cDUNH8cZVAhgaA2h_h1NqVYTLLPfxS9-05I7AqJ3c93UIcw3-vmxmzHQO-NmF3rPwjZHnyDY802Y3QUrvlkiiZol0qWULD-GnbHYHDSppQ22FxvAxswsrr4uvaMyb4MdS2zickRY4JSCMy81OAi9gNNp3RKh7sMYBOwK56QOP2vPGDMyIesHZO3HMO_CDNhJLjtH8zmr8EZetlB8j_g9mFSada2MP1qzV6Y1gAXIAKYH9618=w724-h878-no"></p><p>New make-up.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7iIxlUEROTRbD3mA7QOtiAKwKtmwIuUbwEJ6PvrE8taGysXQc-LzwjOU0sPCky0k0oxl8Lid54dmDakkFGNj2x5ZLY0a1M2BINii4xV3zdGN9G48y0R0WXVmL998MeSVipS4h-NzJ-zopgja5RMqstyVGKpwaM3PRlIBvgH9zKOA85VC94NoteHO3QeFpG39kLcRASADcXPhi0vdomyH4WN2TZrIXKh4y0CEsKi1hmaGp5IM4viXYgR5jRdXZwo3hzdIfce4ttx8sf6jOF45GW0ocFazB-VeDrd0SbAnlkwNUX4h64IRV0K-kEZLwpO3t7vReB4NReDrHOZocbvn_Nt56RiIUsP9-SwF0f9K6JzyDqsJpLW2ZyIlsrxfeLpTlbWdVPtFW7TdAnJyWkK9qQvqOJZmI5mj-ishftcF0QMpqg9IUjNQqn8HXpgNDZLo4sWSS1FXn1Y7bIA7-Fvm5KC3olTNLtQ0CLecvivQ8RQsoRsh3XV8poXIETM9uiHjPiYK2YGExLDHxxm40Esyks9-JcQGazG7THLElMbZj6VxfYkP_Pvq7PYXe80nymxKwlK9K6YPF72zyrHoraF0feyo7qgaLmukgyfAhLMkv--gl8jfPyWLeonBNiRd7Qn6kmgjOYXWMNsio_gvewnvn7uIoM5R-EcQ=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>Finally, an irresistible pair of purple felt slippers with gorgeous felt balls on them – I feel like adding some embroidery to those!</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FlpIr9UIafbmFFOuWP5GnXGudSn119g17bPpnE9xZ3o7Wxc4On2Dq8_JQjly_tY0lEyk8dnJJ9xmv2WX7WCF-a8y5ryiI55gTEHp2Iy6fRWLcnus4YAsBTwTk8mOHobaODR6dWBWW8XCRZ7yB5XPZIbh4aTlepFNSMYHvylo1PMef7LqCy3gxBNYN3M_WxNDG-Q0-OvPeh0VLxphmv1EMFdgJx9qlJ9oV_o6n9gv5oqg6jRqEeG9Gc8IY4JH-GrU-yy0b41l5qjBB3vtQYbAmS1Uq2jN1XpQt9iUiMAZq05xdlj0HmeN89FCBnpRziSwTdfoVSiO0UKmyd-hfxRjMmBck4_Ey9uRheSoA-US9DJjXPm5o6XMKjpB2SpPZ2lZUg_LJNQDE-1Ily7meGwJvEwUZ7CmMQwmFBUWgQZGd5WdOPFudBFhAvh37iuaKaQabVWUEM4WZlkdjyPMyR9zchAT1Ui8_Jt8e91TojuUIxWUh34yAo-NIm06tv8vRMVlx98zS9x3dTXG7VVqWVUFn0G-effvDVQSojBAG4iUZem_0zbUAnM7-suaPf3UBJSmO_2VQ-xav6ptSNr--VG-d5ZCBYxWI8_yPc1PZRhtYHb-DapfDGu4iGOLY1J1PeQ8P3lUZO8mDWwMoaB9ALtquyaEn3UL_72R=w1169-h877-no"></p><p>We also visited the wholefood shop and picked up a few bits and pieces, but the main reason for the visit was to give them my excess kefir grains which they were very grateful for last time. If I had thought ahead, I would have taken in my spare kombucha scobys too – I asked if they’d had any enquiries for those and she said yes, so next time my hubby is going, he said he’d drop them in for me. I don’t want them to go to waste, and like the kefir grains, being alive, they do grow and multiply!</p><p>Where we had lunch, they had a basket with several pieces of knitting in it, and a note saying they were knitting squares for blankets for charity, and if you wanted to do a bit while waiting for your meal, you were welcome to do so. I knitted three rows of one square! I thought this was a brilliant idea, and how great it would be if they introduced it into doctors’ waiting rooms etc. They said a lot of people would pick it up and do a bit, and it soon mounted up.</p><p>All in all, a very satisfactory day and a lot of fun. Nothing like a bit of retail therapy, especially after I’ve been poorly and stuck in the house. I so rarely go shopping so it’s a real treat – I think the last time I did any clothes shopping was last summer.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-42003843139335995282019-03-05T21:10:00.001+00:002019-03-05T21:10:53.052+00:00WOYWW 509 Who Gives a Crap?<p>Shoshi’s back! – and no, that’s not my sentiment! It’s the name of the new loo paper I’ve just bought!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0z6BYAxLXUEXxHdjGMWXLCR7qIG1VggCGMrq6smScRepb5orRA_OmK3gD-TqVQ7gIWGEt8W2MGAPIdk61OBkduCCjfZrRtBJtt7QyekHe3IXEvfzRTXtxZvJ14mOkGpLJ0lIrxleE512t/s1600-h/Who+Gives+a+Crap+Loo+Paper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="595" title="Who Gives a Crap Loo Paper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Who Gives a Crap Loo Paper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QOtOawGnQXsnbV4a3qrLGhKwQC7vOqEakntbI9tQqpdB9ECv8cjqqWGkFbe5uoq-gthvI8t6a3662jAgSuDWDCa0ll2GZ-U0nAdh0CkP-tNHt1E-x13TiE6vDkUgTAkN0t22LZnaMNiJ/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>My lovely friend put me on to this. It’s an eco firm that produces loo paper without any plastic, unlike the supermarket stuff that always comes wrapped in plastic. It’s recycled, and they also make a different one out of bamboo. It is 3-ply and very, very soft, and has a smaller core and the whole roll is slightly larger than the standard supermarket ones, so you get more, and it’s also cheaper! So it’s win-win all round. I just love the pretty papers each roll comes wrapped in, and you can see that I have saved some – my friend originally told me about this because she thought I could use her wrappers, and I decided to follow it up. I thought the papers could be ironed and used in projects, or for wrapping small gifts, etc. I really recommend this loo paper.</p><p>Dealing with the firm was sheer pleasure. I had such a fun email from them when the informed me the parcel was on its way, complete with a tracking number. They said they knew how hard it was to remember boring long numbers, and included a link to a Youtube video by a man who has a memory technique to enable him to remember pi to 100 decimal places!! Lol!</p><p>Anyway… my first visit on WOYWW for quite a while, and I thought that even if I haven’t got a thing on the creative front to show you, I’d better come back on because I miss you all.</p><p>I’ve been working hard on lots of new material for the Bible study group, which involves a lot of online research which takes massive amounts of time, not to mention collating it all and preparing slides, and also I have just started the mammoth task of replacing every single photo on my 8-year-old blog after Google messed up and they all vanished. I am at last able to publish blog posts with photos again – at least until Google decides once more, in its high and mighty way, to change things and leave us in the lurch again… So far with the photo replacement exercise, working backwards, I’ve done all of December of last year, and have just started on November. My hubby worked out that if I did one week’s worth every day, I’d complete the job in about 1 year 2 months!!! Still, that’s better than my first estimate, which was another 8 years. Either way, I don’t trust Google not to mess up and lose them all again… Talk about painting the Forth Bridge.</p><p>I’m not sure when I’m going to get time to get back in the studio again. As usual, in between my busyness, I’ve been extremely tired and have had to rest. I’m progressing quite well with the purple spotty knitting but not enough progress to warrant another photo just yet!</p><p><strong>Kitties</strong></p><p>A couple of the latest photos for you.</p><p>Sunning themselves on the cat tree.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCDV82DCmDaNh_kLhmZ_GFQdDEjEgO6w-uoKYVX4BsDfC2wfhY-03zgBM5pSQcgvZzYekN1GQTET-8G-to3vvR0Rs6ISAFOPkEl-LBLNKdMtJDzQ-c4YSbpMTUBiY51JacpHRnrlkZ9eT/s1600-h/02+On+the+Cat+Tree+14-2-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="884" title="02 On the Cat Tree 14-2-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 On the Cat Tree 14-2-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP46C5KAA9JldRnHSnNbD6WmePAwaDh8HWe2lZLIgcv9ShjbmUK8G6Q8ty4EWuXYZvoxU0uTRUxkGhX38_TV6ryf0AFtf7fJkoY2n3WjKuFrOgssdgrsiBdE-PMVou8Ai8PUDjYSHpYdeG/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>More hugs. They are a lazy lot. I wish I could sleep as much!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcXzBy0W5S2BCyqaDCihJAwzbxP6J8TAxEP0qkV0xT456GsVKpHp0Abdj2dRbVSH5fDiGOW6HhlLQQBIrSD4zzvijkGrMgu5EFvfVOvIz96GzxvRKRaiPQvz9lyOdhNlc4WzNdfOUxlJ_/s1600-h/03+Lily+with+Arm+Round+Ruby+16-2-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Lily with Arm Round Ruby 16-2-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Lily with Arm Round Ruby 16-2-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3U-voEoWWbtM96gHu7T036LYR_8icl4euVLcnl1dYeaT9I8kvwE8kcLT8i07NS24Hi1U1J5sLwbgnKC8ViGGGypNUgfzvpX0_A62-oB7Kt17QaoPufqup9qqsM6NLYBqRtFElHL_P_fbD/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Ruby on my knitting bag.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGJr40NPN0o9asWigJxDcvfqA6Vg3sSrcVStx9wt-kYbIo0Fj22lronI41oP7HkI4S_LtdfVt5ieG6ZSKhcbLlye4u28WO3vmEAM361YwIl6WB-bNPNPU2k1Fs7UJ4YQAG72RHS-QcR5h/s1600-h/05+Ruby+on+my+Knitting+Bag+22-2-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="898" title="05 Ruby on my Knitting Bag 22-2-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Ruby on my Knitting Bag 22-2-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq28tHRDzjXnOq2Z-rlPSJxRiX-DY73fiQTLbbEuJ7myxmTslKKwoFS9v10xlFDcGkCvk0z1UnWDJIasQaBw-vdEWGlx1o9VfhxE_Zp8zKweYI0YVk5oLUu3l5T8fkCKf6kxYWSYhWW9_I/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>We think my hubby has fixed the garden defences now. They have been out in the garden quite a lot, and seem to be requiring less supervision than before, although Ruby has her moments, looking for any possible avenue of escape, however small! Sometimes she forgets about it and is happy running around and playing with her sister. When the spring comes we are going to get several catmint plants and put them around the garden, which will give her an added incentive not to wander. What my mum used to do was make a cage around the plant with chicken wire, staked well into the ground, so that it could grow through the holes. If you don’t protect it, the cats will simply roll in it and rip it up and kill it off really quickly! It’s like a drug to them and they can’t get enough of it. Before she made the cage, Mum’s plant was reduced to one little stem with a single leaf.</p><p><strong>Health Update</strong></p><p>Since I was last on WOYWW, I have had a letter from the hospital in Exeter with an appointment for me to see another colorectal surgeon there in April – my surgeon here at Torbay Hospital said in December when I saw him that he would value the opinion of a colleague, and this has now been set up. I googled the man and he’s got a brilliant track record (I knew mine wouldn’t choose anyone less competent and excellent than himself!!) and he also looks very friendly and nice. I feel a lot better about everything now, and much less reluctant to go for further surgery if that’s what he advises. I am very pleased with the care and attention that I have received from the beginning, despite all the problems I’ve experienced.</p><p>Finally, a cat funny for you.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtUzeRqyu8XodcMlxTH08hd94fv8zNyc52coUJ4XPxuxFgfL__5O2jGeCOYU7zQIH4Gp3xUi8wTAbTT3o1SA6OUk3B6z0rrkNtppSYorTiNOLrRi2serEDV5uXYZTUTXUYc04o8ifmtWg/s1600-h/Mr+Youtube%255B4%255D"><img width="400" height="480" title="Mr Youtube" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Mr Youtube" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNto2GGGXBP5srP8t8JCBlCpPmMKgXpXnSaNNgT_yqQG7iqC7iSNJRFJlWLKITt6OAFgrWKXTCdLn9vrbwgNymjhz6YaqkVg8sSMWMA8uyc1wN0uWmxRbVkMWtp1hY63vrsaRTkotoZkn/?imgmax=800"></a></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-17694128233112383232019-02-07T12:17:00.001+00:002019-02-07T12:17:08.144+00:00WOYWW 505 Crochet and Kitties, Frostbite and Loos<p><em>Uploaded a day late because I’ve been having problems – again… – with Google not playing ball with Open Live Writer. I’ve been unable to publish any blog posts containing photos, until I found a workaround online.</em></p><p>Sorry to be AWOL for a few weeks folks. I’ve been very busy with other things and resting in between. I’ve not been feeling too well lately with my M.E., and my sleep patterns are very disrupted again which is a pain, so I’m trying to rest as much as possible. I’m going through a phase of getting a lot of headaches again, too, and it’s an absolute pain, because the only pills that really touch it have been unavailable everywhere for months, and I’ve run out now.</p><p>I’ve been working very hard on new material for the Bible study group which I am finding very fulfilling and interesting, and I’m learning a lot, which is all very exciting. My creativity has been devoted to designing lots of PowerPoint slides for upcoming sessions, which I really enjoy doing. Still nothing on the actual desk, but when I’ve had a moment, I’ve been making a bit of progress on the embellishments for the other scarf I made last year – the peacock one.</p><p>Here are the feathers so far. They are extremely labour-intensive unfortunately, so I don’t see this project getting finished any time soon!!</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="border-image: none; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BdBXbuUX6Sur55j97qQ_b6t-KR2ygNV9jOljGYLG_IlqZptsWjjYVxVAkYwcYY9ROtW0owGdyY3G8jIMW7WCbNbX8yKCHQ34CvlfaGNtY4HstmU5MO1fQJa5CC64oxrk4XUBfrhuYZlRm1DtZg39ooRgIwfehc8Jic2eRBXJ6_XWwvKr04Rfs6heiJL1dqgGprTPK9RvqBrgWLQVo9EBA8Jdsk6FzIWuu_gIXdaYKVupv5QwUnrvwdvImw6mTIk60_-La3BkZPdcivD_lB0ppcucrpfV4tbVKUBpS_ZkjulBiTnD-D7BNp21iK-D1uivuqggFwL0ZkJbzN5qZ5E-TL6jkuGJGa4N83Pmb7cUd1WgxYEU97SZI7p05q-qybZpu_8qJ2qXg4AHUuKsb7uDUq3XAKRsGemL5Qhr_4FwNiMemjdtZPx8iBh3ochf05-E1_KtLMYxWutAXvFCn932TGM95ZEYtzBtRSb9DUJJCx3-iostyP1A5ksCWp_-9nwrQci2O2rBxjDfkjvVFRPZToYViMYtDwlz95xa6qEl7A6w0KP0f87LFeLc39x6PAyTJo0lBLH2ML8g2iY4hIZBNOvqMMJj9i-MTyzJhRTlOwApgzGTceb0M9Q1hO6bGsC-h4uMWRrrbLMQLU6maveKDB74prpLi5WM=w1144-h858-no"></p><p>This is the scarf, just to remind you.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Y86IKZ1vvR7-sh_rGc76KppWwq4BLEUpjuYMF2j5z2wlHr8pFDXpdkLhItr6tc5r3iFqFo0TUMfb9NmyM7JymA0rRlVqlQXnA4KD0gGdAGYTfSMwbb5uVyPBh_Nl0w9mrNGsSKzPSA0tNkNw6qNyzm6jug4oOz0C_hsDYvA1MhbA-TEye0F7MZTjHP1j3DOWRuTDRnQXEKEJOONcI7m0Z0o0w9MH6Rf8IfjxMrsOvnWjr0QmP8kVV37hyYxzZCcIlW4MIZrIAWhF-y2mlkaRgm0upF-fmWxW7HxEn5DrCviyGzj4eG_FC_yFlwj52-MxOZ_0qsHAFlTpGrT4RcG22H32TWKOwSg8zT39pZjjxpMRX_PRaJgIz0C3r_-0uuYMY4h2ZGM_yIpb_2wGWJ1xzGoWos585dt1BSxWoo4FDoNRLxJ2kOW2wHEhJ3zcVKqy_uixosI-H9sgjz_5KbtJ9cn_WJ-ghSMsSTou-DX32MLmFYCJSwFn-liUVrTCTEzcediu90_KJiWEMDdWhoHMd_HaoGBn4RHq1t-dP5YvRq_IcnHKQ-hiv_3CW9f-TUrbxSO2-EMjrFUKa2gfQZcqR0v-EowD52y7Nu94gKd1JURBBsZNmwGJlksQ2hNHR6_kAiL8TwOvj_QEgqqeFO_oh2KyQGjsAO-_=w1144-h858-no"></p><p>I am really enjoying wearing my striped scarf and have had some nice comments about it, my favourite being, “Oooh, it’s so YOU!!” Lol lol!</p><p><img width="700" height="936" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9w-agOITKjWAYyG06DZV4NthmOLy6-ZK_l_tMLoLXUu_cCWvTj5GgrtCQ-T4EdRAEDYdGmVJd_Dpg3fJNoqfKZCy222DwTLOUUZL2z1ZBX9rjV37k3Wcn0YzMWp6i29lwDstHLc3mxCMW4hOc_tkF1H1KtDxsquD3RGuQZ84llff676Ilpiei6mbzDyoHThqpfFbFaeaZ4DV33U4nM5S-sAaXzYX0P08sJcN-xJkTrFG6pM6lhJPT7SZRovyd8iFr6iZTn-Ava5jBRQHyZpK-6h5hKIjhPWx9BHX2I4i47mCm07eaG-Rt6VFXkEgG8wrcHa3U7hMkOiEqNfz-rhZAM55_pwRwd9Vbi4jjie4YFLXrkTlVRd4k84aImjXph4Jl3044Giwk8onbnBcUzY1FcWbg24NJyCc4_FO9i4rYaMcxvUk_XVH9LkqJhQj1fCBUZRAJz2REso8n7bg35lT-qxTs4duLHRBEFZZCHSKAX9aBtjxLCPRrzWQ-sIKcspBsm6nJdHXwH-AQHky2503iviT1T4slBv0cJf9Ps8JCniTOeC8uJw-sM0Feul_SL3b4RYOqvyXvkp0qVq_y777AHVUU3EV2ksc5zhRzCsXRL69ryaya2eD9QCaOftTJBFb0nELyGgLsV0BXP7UbCQwvsAK11pKGWAJ=w643-h858-no"></p><p><strong>Plumbing</strong><p>The plumber was eventually booked to come on Monday, which was great, because on Friday evening, the boiler broke down!!!!! The house was freeeezing so we wrapped for an arctic expedition and heated rooms as we needed them, but working in the kitchen, my hands kept getting almost frost-bitten! Out with the fingerless mittens and the hot water bottles, and really enjoying having kitties lying on me for mutual warmth during the day!</p><p>The plumber’s wife has been very poorly so he’s had to take some time off to look after her but now she’s on the mend, he’s back at work, and he said I should have phoned him over the weekend, and he’d have come, but I said I didn’t want to bother him when he had so much on his plate. We survived, at any rate!</p><p>The boiler was soon fixed. He had a look in the loo and agreed that the cistern was the problem. It is a very old high-level one. I like these because you get the benefit of gravity for a really good flush – the one in my bathroom is like Niagara Falls which is great for dealing with Kermit! Anyway, he said it needed replacing, but the trouble is, being so old, it’s incompatible with newer fittings. We’ve decided to go for a complete new loo, with a little sink on top of the low-level cistern for hand-washing – I’ve seen pictures of these and thought what a good idea it was. The room is tiny and there’s no room for a hand-basin, so we have to use the sink in the utility room. The room itself is pretty grim and in need of redecorating and smartening up – the pipework looks a mess. The plumber said we’d need to bring the loo forward and box it in at the back because the window comes down so low, so that there would be some support for the cistern, and this box would cover the bottom of the window, which doesn’t really matter. We’ll end up with a higher windowsill for putting stuff on.</p><p>Having seen some really whacky decorating in a tiny loo on a house renovation programme on TV recently, I’ve decided it would be fun to do something similar in our loo. We have quite a few visitors (including my Bible study group each week) and I’m rather embarrassed about the state of our downstairs loo at the moment as it’s pretty basic, and would like it to be nice for people to use! I’m hoping to do a jungle theme with dark green walls below the dado, and if I can find it, some nice bold rainforest wallpaper above! Possibly some stars on the ceiling? Waddya think? Would that sufficiently Shoshify it?</p><p>I’m not sure whether this idea will become a reality – my hubby pulled a bit of a face when I suggested it, but he’s always allowed me free rein where interior design is concerned, and anyway he’s colour-blind, and apart from that, he never notices anything haha!!</p><p>As this loo plan goes ahead, I’ll share some photos!</p><p>He also looked at our boiling water tap which has been out of order for several weeks after it caused a flood on the kitchen floor. He phoned the company and we’ve ordered a new tank, which should arrive in a couple of days, and the plumber will come back and fit it, and he’s going to bring me some brochures about the new loo as well. He’s a really nice bloke and we are very fortunate to have him – he was recommended by a friend from church, and they also recommended a very good electrician who we always use, too. We like supporting small local businesses and you get to know them. When we moved here and all the building work was complete, we had a housewarming party and invited all the builders and other trades, with their families! Some of them who’d only seen the early stages were really interested to see it all complete.</p><p>One of the garage doors has also broken down (electric up-and-over) and my hubby has booked an engineer to come and fix that over the next few days, too.</p><p>Then the car battery went flat. Fortunately it was just due to the cold and it’s been fixed now. The car needs new tyres, though.</p><p>Funny how everything seems to break down all at once, isn’t it. I hope this is the last of it!</p><strong>Kitties</strong><p>They’ve been out a few times, but one of the fence panels had got damaged by the storm and of course Ruby made an absolute beeline for the gap and my hubby had to grab her double quick! The panel is now replaced, but a combination of bad weather (cold, snow, rain and wind) and my hubby being out a lot, has put paid to any more excursions outside with them for a while. They are quite happy indoors. They’ve spent a great deal of time cuddled up in the hammock together, especially while the heating was off over the weekend.</p><p>Lily showing her pretty tummy.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e9ZKpb8A5kE8I4cESqKPE3zO0mnDLWJ9CnnO6x9UU6fHmkhJgTfofIK0X79HoPO59_0h_eI-1ZHjEiGvns2PLpjIYRdPJqct9WBs1sYYKytaVlYfSL8l94eWDeIMB7qC6CBoSWPEERTc-S0gJdFtf6ky_36xAr8KBIVHuDhE2ctM9RLXm58Dr7TkoWJ_6pvBGTHKt5TlRWpscDoRyumfeAwPSB93xCqVP5Ky50lzizKvp_MxnqNMAe8ufIrIDbCsEn-8zepxz58D4_0BRfJ8geGARShVb_wRI1NoN9WndmpJn3WulGNAr8z95BfR1QHTMgGXHEakhG8mTvppLmrjntQebitoBgafjSXsxlfw53ls_ZF7QYsdPOVOc1O8TCnF8s4vtgtX3zY9M5r_zrV9yWl9vErZIPY0VLTUUeX91jG_24lpreIt1FoR5wbEN1VimVAKiIhhg9H9AsXesxyvMAmsdsXayaCLHAOySqSmONL08yoUErcDbsv42Wc2ofDDFiY0SsU-V-1ShgmCmlRyv6a5ZKusY5rAI3sAWonG7XmD3Go0wB1uKhFKuEBCPaswk5-wKiLG2bNO8dWFqjtGl8-8GDR9Y2nkU4Vzqo4r3z8GhZ8sM8CKoaK5jePFvmQlbNGmH500ol8kkooNzN9VHt36twFSDn3O=w1144-h858-no"></p><p>Spending lots of time together keeping warm.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fUKeCllUHOjxWW-gWzjzqmPrj9VxYJIGK6_zXTF__M2O_XG9Wq9nE6R62mV82Q7l9CJmJl-fUjig3gYYVhR5maNe7RuLLlggJ-i4M_Pu5IktfJG2YQC6khAzz3jE4u5eGggn2dhWj26jvpOLc7F1BdyuMzMVooIYZP3_c0i-rX-pcge0WHMHi2S8pa6YKmFYkiQYLkJzQe9WAjborxuVYTDmmrZ3HPchbxThnyGj-lHMGswJtQtzoU2TlZF5VxClniwYf2g3v7gM61WSA3YjqgTSM2yvz42Qd0-FOPb_xz7aktL7kV2ZreKZFlKmeCFIbmQclFauVNz2JfKKl3P10xP5f0zzLKh1Tz-iVeK-FMQPWmy6mnq0tbSHoU5XBs326X8TvHXmTBmz20OfjIS4WianYaRJnXpNTQG_9Cm7nTYgNm3jPHJD6ujatUeqQKnf1lTr0W9RLyixbR8noSpsZbPSoJe4BCpl2T6cT3k8kGGW5JN0SmoQgUYfvXc5pxMWiDrbO5WpdFB_eh0mEi1L5Uk9Qj1i_hBO9vcqmMZzScObNngtyGoj3jVlZFYaVSPWbZYHT2KrE8HbQ5mua7e0cPTNaoZyP6SdSiXeYaeFCIaZSlEo63RJPZ-nDszhdfBYx0Xjy2JP-GBf0TIcGuBvrcJxYrNchqBJ=w1144-h858-no"></p><p>I <em>do</em> love my sister so!</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ntQLzYzdRO_hbzWlCLt_OlWY1dzfAc2hZLfSXeYzbwpX90XkkD_kNCapMi1d_uOdq8eCVCi30sdhd_fAvMuL2aIWGrq-7QysG1QFPIkkMeuKn_ykj7Gklr9CnnBxU6U81uHW3ECSxvL5oeLfU_ESFtJGyyp4ueFAypeTmPP6YXpSGaZaxeSAAXIKkaxYOaPb2MuqPa2m1ABrpBitSff3Vnpy2v3JXLw3jJFSLYXpFmYCs0hfn2E_fhcNlFahWyhQiq-2X8K7WxMzR5I3gyHSIcvrsuPzlEmMpWHqagZREGm7pPZMofTkUjjroJK9UV4IuPJy3FL_fCpoJhhC4wFotz_i0sls5hUHbmelFvubsOyOeMdj2yBgIzmRz7PmYvrN52zp13fcJiae2OChFpE4UbEcpvbBJbE4rrOU6jrsn07sWAGrQ8QK31vynpPs65iD-nu1vWASnLcmxILK9XLi4HK2LYAgeVfxr9dSjQAQ38VS7cYgnpJuAPoY-k5lpQ9copX6Tz4lBLDRRMyTJtM-y4wRj0-650W3IByYYOCG1TfH5DAH7LfiJkNbhiczsgxeDoSnorwyopCbvMi5zeFuhtGPmFdeCmUst5SMOdsCG6v7xMDcW_5aHXylBfvPDJMdhzk8HYLMubtW3IwbpKJ_MtD6YRH2mHST=w1144-h858-no"></p><p>A pair of spoons.</p><p><img width="700" height="525" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uc86kfltk0g7seS-dvQzJke9oAwkZDowRw3xWGa8ikKW4r7z64iQ4N6xpFosjEuBLA4MljN8Q91NIrNnXYAYitG_OGjgfOrEJhOtMJdZH9f_htvI92KfhsORaTmmmz_Ia4uZOjGHqi3dpHwWlIcfU88zgaiB7t7TwtTb6i5sLzAU9qIWqV-_MIHeRwLV4fC8MkUso-djnuxmsqTupCQTCDFWra0b6upfpS3nEIlFMoFv3dBnAr6eB32D3e7AvdUaXh_37-XZAfC11JOCmHowaqYEPRIgHhPmk-gzRw-Xw2q_QYQ1MiiFrUUyJpjQ5N-IlVH5R9539A5gv5lYtZ6J4es5ID9vu31zWl9jyWLriRtEj-z-mIUAUxL_b5hK9TgoVYZ1-uc-ih3Mniw8DU_hoyBFcZWHoAPXXXrqVapRCPW_tjs8jyrbJ5_hDTMBd__DbGuiGbbuu2nckIQJawISAniZSWlXPiJs9tKWXeSUMu3MZiOGwjN4WsmLIgw8Ps7vQaGz1PNCnXVlxC-w21GPJdLuOS1zBM6vuCWhADlMTaRcLkRVeY8hK2jrVz42xfWifLnRrxfO42xnXQ3aRoJpwo6QoGPpJv9J-GLN4DgOZyYX3XYx23Iux6yK5XYpk_kBZVuK-Xdf-y_yv7zVVjg4syO7fAQ3HeDO=w1144-h858-no"></p><p>Finally, a kitty funny.</p><p><img width="480" height="480" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8bsiW9DbZ53RRWeOYCfrs1_Ik_DCC0slu9j6dQxsPB_NM-Q7s0B8mF2CGRBeDiDJPdkX3hP23BFaBtVhtwS44tiRtB83m2WidjYjiL0_zQa6JB-1T-0Ys2w1SMjc-vS2U5W1yP-nCLR6oy2dBkykpdvi9m_OiPMxIeQH_zBqGUdw0bjZckF4PsOSOP-9x6K18M6rtVps4qA56ACAl3P0XZiBEmtH2B0_HX0DYEfYvB8bsI07f0nZq52AwWGBee6XAAj4WdcG0YyHi93eC26Cs4g-Di_tj9NTUUn8iU19WeJmH-9soSFRx1Viv4KywJNtQeDbSyRaLx3IhtPz-1O744bKcUoHmq7fWOcf8hL2PGRL61LSFyiiXaOUX9hL6Ct4TL8Hhuq0V3wb5fQTvDjqBKnZil49FeSxXXCpoAcYz5yp_M5JSwI1pj4q36VofEFYQ63GEUO3Iu87z4F_yKZsirk8hvAxNg_MPjLuUk8osaCzqeA5E3180DRInqO5s9mS3IpA59YrRoX1WhUH9w6RyOx1RERdkVzm5dp4p4_x4TJ6GhfXUDbvS1QFV2vNAAdKFkvvWQuNm2fX6k5FR_pJYOY2Xx-3VNI4hOTvMwRDmqneQCFzuG7r9KDSxXud9E_tDjbF-5sXkCnV9CM25GppUz902yahkpz3=s460-no"></p><p>Hope you all have a great week with lots of creativity.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-65408257132920552692019-01-15T22:55:00.001+00:002019-03-03T17:34:32.634+00:00WOYWW 502–Scarf Embellishing<p>I know we always say this, but I can’t believe yet another week has passed… Half way through January already!</p><p>Remember last year I was working on some embellishments for the striped scarf I had knitted? I decided it was high time I finished that project so over the past few days I’ve been working on making the fringe and adding the felt and crochet embellishments. So far I have completed one end, and this is the result.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfKLXavbMhrZ0moI1D41kAoJws3i-f0fcbgEKf7D8gzr2LMdDIhUVg0asTmw5d-5Bap-fcGdCsclC_gt-q0NHzirsEdXMUF_UZAc4befHgHqBqV7jqTyyRcrww6UkyVCnGGbksUo8_KEt/s1600-h/01+End+1+Complete+-+Side+1+15-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="1077" title="01 End 1 Complete - Side 1 15-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 End 1 Complete - Side 1 15-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglA9elYqU7PvyDgQgvuFLSTbLJfjUPkK5QwRd2aVtTm0EaVZETO-OAdHRDv0SbK4lMuUJYKZVqwYvg_gJ2b2x4ZIHiRkNFssg-AjASIvpV6J4e2Nv0zqN4OVRC9aE58QPuM5Hdeaj5R9aS/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The other side.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgk_jKV0neqL0Rx4MZ7G0NiWEculgoFINAhQX-qjCSiypGfs4uy1wlIZWjhzcK4-xtV3OCRM5e1z7jvCGHPkUNRTplRQExJwa93vqtrMQFDkTcsSQQFO6071JzWcTPiaGwzNg-kmEuhiF/s1600-h/02+End+1+Complete+-+Side+1+Showing+Fringe+15-1-19%255B6%255D"><img width="700" height="933" title="02 End 1 Complete - Side 1 Showing Fringe 15-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 End 1 Complete - Side 1 Showing Fringe 15-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFq_5W5k11k5xNmpKg6cZvuINAnwyyS8EsLRwadhIGXXTe12E2Pscgr-GbDF6yl59TOeo8i63SLcz9NE3hLniOSJWaHBcTuwXxqYKIBb5lZfUFMgcFnbCTWNYfqxnt6Tfy517bfNhzSoF/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Detail of fringe. You can see that I have incorporated the felt balls I made with crochet chains. I had made some white balls which I didn’t think I would use but in the end I decided to use them, and I added a bit of embroidery on them with wool scraps.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCNzdrRYHw8wrjVRdyRF0LjqOUmiTfUWfKBUlVQ2hDf-tS8YBB958NbbizHBshLLMFcctYMNN2yKF0S3QdYaxdyvGklEqDw56m9LWxerjBTE1kBg2g42OuH20r02r9oAiOL3pHBgRtPv9/s1600-h/04+End+1+Side+1+Fringe+Detail+15-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 End 1 Side 1 Fringe Detail 15-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 End 1 Side 1 Fringe Detail 15-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyppHyz2qUm3gQYnW_G4P_tf43dy47GKyVoI5BM4CT7qrPNP3Wb1skylS91fKt4gUm6pP3mQ5VWe_Nsrm0ZfqSwStBqknRHSc5f-2T82iMgRp3h9t3ykigIobyk_7WgF3qchQN6ew0_RoC/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Detail of some of the embellishments.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIstwi1jUqEd7aAu6ZAHijC2z4x_ESKnuFawlp1ExaDc1pLxiff_OOVnKnKAVqJ8axs9BsJ58l-1cBJH_8jMEh5-WpQOpYsbnsiWfeXi3bMKMKgF0cYQQ5BNbMAsJ5tAxr5BSjYjVzKfN/s1600-h/05+End+1+Side+1+Embellishments+Detail+15-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="548" title="05 End 1 Side 1 Embellishments Detail 15-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 End 1 Side 1 Embellishments Detail 15-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWZH5yMDqZYJN1ma3Ys7vGr6bvy3EowwQNVc2QTnN5gQNKOkloNDxh6rIu2gmXaKfwDkvMCVV58M7OaWpHQECG8byKbYah0uZduOql_TXEblNXwkoGx2cx3d9Ax2UTMOt7BLMH3aWeZGW/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Embellishments and fringe.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXhV6diNE6xg5VejfXIWQHUsBCO-uYZEdg6f8nFN1PwD2qbY7FW9gmi-a_NE7JvH3XvmV4BwKGN_n3KbKbOD9cCEGQZVvzlNj9bInxr8L-cfG08Q-ZEZVjBETCdi0mY12yuA8I2uJuGOV/s1600-h/06+End+1+Side+1+Fringe+and+Embellishments+Detail%255B9%255D"><img width="700" height="913" title="06 End 1 Side 1 Fringe and Embellishments Detail" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 End 1 Side 1 Fringe and Embellishments Detail" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaFSBtxrT9Y-YskyuyM3Cv_KHwm7S54C2Sk1W5RVdT_6N0pI7ndn4LuFmFxzllJhRcR3lDNfAEnxV_B8LirEqK4qdBSPeh8p8Yk0IjyxR0BP5fOgbusEljKCS868QNPZelIyyGrBFBmed/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Closer detail shots of the fringe.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKLF5NCM0MEMm33GubrwMtWSZJxaTk-JoLdUmRA05ywAIDKeoPPJSNLq1yPegJOTSixRopdUrc7dPxol_j092VuSh1g5kucbzwaOyJ9nkwnHq6LCQLH6ltcYCmJQNwm98QZ5ErBxNvzk-/s1600-h/08+End+1+Fridge+Close+Detail+2+15-1-19%255B9%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="08 End 1 Fridge Close Detail 2 15-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 End 1 Fridge Close Detail 2 15-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwoiF-WAxasyXM46D-t8WaMEXQfSPd6xx8bFiYJZw9dKiN-e71XTu2mdCzjLGjOFtkIghxrzFuEoBGX5_BKVmRfFJveNwHEsi9_oyMLUxinGBQY_3IzNHbw-fTD_kJzZh-ZjaWmnA08Gq/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ_X7bNZfOV47Mf651dHFgobFqhPJCvqAVGEAZdOe-4NcQPcAuGvctLbr4PCc1H45ZCFkTqjsSNKo2U-lVkSRgt4-Cra1hBXVvWUHhnHMFmlFMHcgB6jUZL0syV9PVqJX4iAIX3ABMNyN/s1600-h/07+End+1+Fringe+Close+Detail+1+15-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 End 1 Fringe Close Detail 1 15-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 End 1 Fringe Close Detail 1 15-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK_E3EXRzVOT3_x4s173MFpkjq3DCcZJkGBhbpdg9LTEMKDMADae5c6m2QlPsEPI72nIlOOeT_j11o0PYhww5Xuk7ypxoDcGU_-BzJhEwliF9sd0Ra1tjYOSQcyPLZ2p4rlsqTihqr_E6/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I also attached a few crochet chains further up the scarf, with felt flowers and leaves attached, and the whole effect has been to soften the bottom edge of the scarf.</p><p>The little blob on the end of each felt ball on the fringe is a crochet chain loop, through which I am planning to attach a tassel. If I don’t like the tassels I can always take them off again – the little loops look quite nice on their own!</p><p>Now all I’ve got to do is repeat the process on the other end.</p><p><strong>Kitties</strong></p><p>They’ve both been using the cat tree again lately, which is good. I was beginning to think I’d bought a large expensive piece of junk.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw7go0JXyppALCkdXCsKmcIkC7LFgnKr5ZTDk0JMNXgiDaZ4HIvcJZi7wLVndM3S31Cl936Ec7QGmI9aKN3kBqrK830KU_3QDpByztI69fC7_pA2dB-8BEPgilByZZFHKHL0gNYyYT-C3/s1600-h/05+Ruby+on+Top+of+Cat+Tree+9-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Ruby on Top of Cat Tree 9-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Ruby on Top of Cat Tree 9-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgVO0SJ9l2btYcsMzZLVc5P_lPnOH9J7z6DvCz7DBYcAFH1sbVbmwvRtXuQ0ymUouNod9RyteAGqobVse0IAf8NoowkCDGjQA0WGliVUf1ma-9j7aelWa_Bcm6VR89SDo4b529z9O5Si1/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJvGDJ1MrDhloGIhYnKFIWwnj41uOR8epRKiujKyWofu7kd-PcdmXDxdHjOq0aNnu1q62aG969abw58kdIWvY9bVY7nxTQc3AtLBR7E1IxU85GXoWtso42p_uM3qfqwv-1y1UQYo03r2S/s1600-h/07+Both+Kitties+on+Cat+Tree+14-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="750" title="07 Both Kitties on Cat Tree 14-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 Both Kitties on Cat Tree 14-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyeizEv_x_ebDZwQdkbZxctbEldNtQqWuVSX8ccGCssWKZ3DkTtfnkUt0jCtIjzce7p29Yw8yuPSAvU1rHMZacaBTNX0zz-RuoLB3S-N6Ld2j7ptsu3nf2tjj70osD7qJGY_vYkLi-86c/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Lily exposing her tummy.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvruTHH-VMQyNp0O1rpMxtwZu0Yhrd3DYVhJIYmUU3Jxo6mz8phn1EQ8TN8J5DnhTKYvTYXuow9XPLJKL_LB4ZCwRwTZm_Gj0Usr2cyRECnq7mvBsogWyZjuF5SnTEOgKVGmv7PSynNcq/s1600-h/06+Lily+Showing+her+Tummy+9-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="630" title="06 Lily Showing her Tummy 9-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Lily Showing her Tummy 9-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNmFreiMrRM81Chll4LBEZKVZkp9zeaQCiLMranhrqcwM3RpqNDT0swaGDPsftN871Op5u8L3S9OvRFI_FRnUjJkiS7ZDWqMwIRaqhPJ2iJ68m1QxmDV59Ynwx0vB7FYRGlSFZU_d58CK/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>We had another session with them in the garden the other day and Lily was quite happy playing and just sniffing at things and running around, but Ruby spent the whole time going round the edge looking for ways to escape. We had to keep her under close supervision the whole time. We took them out in the late afternoon when they were hungry, in the hope that this would get Ruby in, but we had a terrible job with her, and she wouldn’t even be enticed with Dreamies. In the end I fetched the birdie toy (you can just see it in the above photo) and this proved irresistible, and after a while my hubby managed to get her in.</p><p>We got Lily in first, and I shut her in the house, out of the kitchen. I went through to check on her because she was crying, and she was sitting up on the flat kitchen windowsill looking out, desperate to know where her sister was.</p><p>As soon as we got Ruby in, I chased her into the house and she went into the flat. Lily didn’t see her at first but still went on gazing out of the window, and I called her and said “Ruby’s here!” and she immediately leapt down and went straight to her and kissed her – she was all over her and her relief and love were palpable! It was sweet to watch, and I wished I’d had the camera handy. She really worries about Ruby, but we wish she would just tell her to behave and be done with it – but we all know that Ruby never listens to anybody!!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BganhNbCrqvpjZ1SyJ5ZF27Pbz-Q5kTdanedg7TYDJsViS0Pxw9wZkzLd6rY71jgkTmusSrigG2u5ZZjKNaAoSxjwhIsc3W0wHct8NegKEZQvyq9b1krMtbBIgnGZ6ssrCws6senOymJ/s1600-h/Cat+Selling+Dog+on+Ebay%255B4%255D"><img width="406" height="480" title="Cat Selling Dog on Ebay" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Cat Selling Dog on Ebay" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtmpQ3laleuLpc1bF8HhUErGCAZId-2APta19eboffPBpTjnDTVeMSvmZ4B7Vu5XCwBycMDI3JpYNE9K9BJo9kiL2nIuTxZ86sJddDEjf8w2uYT4yteF6Jq6S_I-NxtNnPgPEuGAyWedg/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>This is what I’m always threatening Ruby with, when she’s naughty!!</p><p><strong>Other news</strong></p><p>No sourdough this week, but I made ordinary seed bread in the bread maker. I also did a roast chicken on Saturday which was delicious, with lots of nice cold meat to follow (easy meals!) but I was so wiped out on Sunday after all that effort that I spent most of Sunday morning in bed while my hubby went off to church on his own!</p><p>I’ve not been too well this past week, with a lot of fatigue and headaches so I’ve been trying to rest as much as possible, and have also been working hard on sessions for my Bible study group which resumes again tomorrow night. I’ve been learning a lot recently and designing new sessions and am excited to share what I have learnt with the group. The sitting room is a mess and will definitely need to be tidied up before the evening!</p><p>We’ve got the plumber and the roofer coming at the end of the week – the former to service the boiler and check out a possible leak in the downstairs loo which always seems to be damp, and also to fix my boiling water tap that has been leaking for ages, and recently caused a major flood in the kitchen. The roofer is coming to fix a leak in the flashing on the lean-to at the back which is causing some dampness on the wall. Oh the joys of living in damp old Devon… It’s much damper by the coast than where we used to live, further inland. Always something to fix on older houses, isn’t there. Hopefully none of these jobs will prove major.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-11095357067537314542019-01-09T02:03:00.001+00:002019-03-03T17:41:28.554+00:00WOYWW 501<p>Nothing on the desk today, but last week I had an enquiry about how I dealt with the inactive yarn on the back of my current knitting project, and I promised a photo. Here is a close-up of the front so far.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoTAS90KO5x7TjYx8gocT2MmrAr4_0oRaomFVHxyHyJygUgsbasmr0q9SEIzvdi97NTQAHcZF3qQ3_n3_2qCSLHQKDQbp5AAfd0vqDOyh0m1Cqf04Y0R3fWfEukdlDgLvSvIGQeFTZdFR/s1600-h/02+Purple+Circles+Jumper+-+Front+Close-Up+9-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Purple Circles Jumper - Front Close-Up 9-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Purple Circles Jumper - Front Close-Up 9-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7X0mYfOOjdWqITrCBviqQB_ZfPhkvXcDcaAWbt96o7dp4X-erSHZFtzd1-nupFDC9H_cVNwcJ8HXsLkTkxxLiaiLN1pN92yCJovva9gPZq2NXQrKR_dnN1Ftgfycq1OyfgETEgcq-p8hW/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>This is what it looks like on the back – I weave the inactive colour by crossing the yarns back and forth with every stitch so there are no long strands on the back – I don’t like these because they tend to catch. I’ve always done my 2-colour knitting in this way and I think it gives a neat finish.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-lt2Sq3xWvPvqQCXVn-Piaz20KIBp2QirFAFnBJzta36_Rp1VMmUF1dw92SFGc9VMk58cHlo7ZUNxBXzk7eTNzs0wQVeygtGP0NIyKUxT6KXH5dxa-wit9eZBqNSkWGWHzVmnD-nufNn/s1600-h/03+Purple+Circles+Jumper+-+Front+Reverse+Side+Close-Up+9-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Purple Circles Jumper - Front Reverse Side Close-Up 9-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Purple Circles Jumper - Front Reverse Side Close-Up 9-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eMM-OT0NYr0cjbSZqzJEm2UgnB1SFAoZcQlXWg1Kf5zLN5XprvFsI7An2qL5xxaPTpUcf7fABunBqLPpiEFvG1-NoYAzekNROXAn8pdtR8u6RZ6TDGewZHQdC9qBGUTNLuVG4KhtBuxj/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The method I am using for the pattern is based on Kaffe Fassett’s “Persian Poppy” method. You make up two contrasting balls of yarn from lengths of varying colour, simply tying the ends together. When you get to a knot, you just work the ends in as you go. Purists always throw up their hands in horror at the very idea of knots in your knitting but I find with this method, they just disappear into the work and don’t present a problem. As you work, the background and motif colours gradually change from light to darker and back again, and you get a lovely unpredictable and random effect. It’s dead easy to knit, too, as the repeating pattern is a simple one, and the colours take care of themselves. The result looks very complicated and people are always very impressed and wonder how you did it, but it’s a cheat really – it does itself!</p><p>I actually rather like the back. Perhaps when this jumper is finished, I’ll wear it inside out!!</p><p><strong>Sourdough</strong></p><p>I made sourdough again last weekend, and this time I decided to experiment by putting the dough in the fridge to slow down and extend the bulk fermentation time. I hadn’t tried this before but it is supposed to improve the texture and flavour. I left it in overnight and it had about 18 hours in the end, as I was out at church in the morning, so when I got back I folded it and got it into the bannetons for its final proving, and baked it late Sunday afternoon. It had cooled enough to cut and eat with home-made soup for supper. The result was excellent, and I’m very pleased with my sourdough these days.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCUkytElYydnghuFrNKpxDAkyOoTzlZZY70u4nY5d8tI-rA-DkBPVc3vLQ-vV-7l2Oy-pLmwgnkm0Q55pMj1ZnP5jsNHDbcB6ad_H51GVsq1Bm4AFpbw2-79_itEuxOdR5BoQtZOF4E2z/s1600-h/64+Slow+Bulk+Fermentation+Sourdough+6-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="64 Slow Bulk Fermentation Sourdough 6-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="64 Slow Bulk Fermentation Sourdough 6-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyG1Cg8x_wd7V_b52xSJuPEZ1FK9vZOEd_IjhcVeyjgB_0fR02K29R0pn94y-wYSdNISu03Jpno4raqSfzircTLmPF4UYTGXq_geICVhp4Dycq0JNl7ddq5k-OBLkK69jndin4qAYPOq46/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here it is cut. A nice open crumb and soft springy texture and a good crust, and an excellent flavour! I shall definitely do this again.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbMh_vhM1fJDe2gTz9Nqqc8I_TPHq1v4Mlv1fHGi2cpgC94dsVghI4YPbiqGRXc1UZVqjLj19KldZzwZt018mRperIvAKR7ydSYDSGVmmwSpWa5c-fwPwRcrAu9PVuG-w8m0ndHkaPEVD/s1600-h/65+Slow+Bulk+Fermentation+Sourdough+Cut+6-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="65 Slow Bulk Fermentation Sourdough Cut 6-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="65 Slow Bulk Fermentation Sourdough Cut 6-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmNDU5OooyYcz_LDWIwvswOAYi9mlwZqWZpmP0KvLDPNdp7S7lwwqoc-1eQyNf437inR2qeVD_3_TEOha9wiSyKhe5b5jpPGSKnyzHWxUofQZLhg25QZvdnDI_T-q5Sirnv7lIz6JCr3L/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>A few weeks ago I found a brilliant Youtube video (Bake with Jack) where he showed how to shape the dough for its final fermentation in the banneton by folding it not once, but twice, with a half-hour rest in between, to develop a greater amount of tension in the top surface of the boule to stop it spreading when you turn it out. This is a great technique which I am now doing every time, and I am no longer producing awful flat turtles like this effort from back in July last year!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOPrVPr08-qhjWuHv5KDxh7RAHgA8jbFka3a01A8J92FUUlaz8C3Bp3mK3h3nnGokJPC_JvVPcDgXN1Z_xs74pcZdVY5ia1y7-XRCSmupPVjwmb5bRPM64Igb2baSdDiUdH-wycODk25d/s1600-h/21+Sourdough+21-7-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="21 Sourdough 21-7-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="21 Sourdough 21-7-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_cbr-rKCKTeiZwQDNPiwd0QbY4B6jkroGlsSLqIlX_KC7ZFEKqQSuyaEnB4eRuehuKXbk30x9R9myj_9G4cfQ59WZYsEW8D_oFDUEI9P_FcD-MCsQnTv6D4BI-mYcaC_siolz4EHEC3h/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>It’s been a tough learning curve but well worth persevering because I think I’ve really nailed it now. I’m glad I’ve kept a full photographic record complete with disasters. I think part of the problem in the early days was that I was using a high proportion of rye flour in the dough which makes it extremely sticky and wet – I discovered subsequently that people usually only add a small amount for the flavour, but I don’t use it at all now, and the results are much better, and my improved dough handling has really paid dividends, too. What would we do without Youtube?!</p><p><strong>Kitties</strong></p><p>My hubby has been out a lot during the day recently, so the kitties haven’t had many outings in the garden. Since Ruby decided she’d far rather be over the fence and out, rather than staying in the garden, he has improved the defences a good deal, and when we let them out, it is under close supervision! The weather has been pretty cold lately so they haven’t minded staying in, and they love cuddling up in the radiator hammock together.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEP2Sz8SOMwVTLHFqVNAk5GiKf4BJUAEXXNQkEyw9gZACc-aKJEZqcnP6PfUkto2YiEH-34JelXcB4pICNaUFlMjK5DodGMyXnwyaKtVMAM6Iukt4Vaj3SLZWnCU5-nadsP3PwEEBinyN/s1600-h/02+Asleep+Together+in+Hammock+5-1-19%255B6%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Asleep Together in Hammock 5-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Asleep Together in Hammock 5-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeh_MoTFW9fi3zB-hpi7K4mIaEDYN2VkVT3g52n8BHmS6esYy-ewhZ4z8IACS4XiTP_lRtAe31ZeP0Wk-WLRQzESGHh9cfbH4scujS2Yp8BifKMRk_4_kFiaSyU5_TebuIuMJ4I_bOt-3/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here is Ruby with her arm around her sister again – she does this a lot. It usually starts with her holding Lily down so that she can wash her, and then she just hugs her and they go to sleep!</p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UGao87Is_Ps/XDVWVb2-54I/AAAAAAAAeqM/5_ZXqEX7BGoZViTtn-HyJFDRq5g4J7PoACHMYCw/s1600-h/02%2BAsleep%2BTogether%2Bin%2BHammock%2B5-1-19%255B8%255D"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY_kp7lh8-Fk7q1Uj2c-2YOMePzID1cjBmXdGd6blkgxqucxBhjSoicT3Wp-QzgHYRrE4FBg2KA4F4DkpWy_sK2kw7XVrAq10ktg65dEm0p_-Slel94-lkWns-TMKAZ-Llbc9Czjhujdt/s1600-h/03+Ruby+with+her+Arm+Round+Lily+8-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Ruby with her Arm Round Lily 8-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Ruby with her Arm Round Lily 8-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9V8FAbTsPINyZyTt8watrTLZD8dE9MzQG_AJ9H7km_RyI5n4gBU6HL5Iz4_ih3En1awxlF0OWC5c9JXHa3SqvA-86Lj7gYjCMwZ1i_dhFiDUL5gg3-N7QGgakczFk8qMPJhgHHWu2AjB/?imgmax=800"></a><br>I love to see them like this.<p>Not sure when I’m going to get time in the studio because I’ve been very busy preparing new sessions for my Bible study group which will be resuming again soon.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-hgMVN3lqWfUfwru5FJKpHkq7rvPZcqGTSP6sBcUi_OfMcszxib6FQHYtjFvnWCd7teXaM_S_cAZu2SJmTV9EPJIpqRXkXQxjTTbpr8aOSZob_0HugjtRUlvfOrBJ308zga8X2q58g0r/s1600-h/The+Only+Deity%255B4%255D"><img width="481" height="480" title="The Only Deity" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="The Only Deity" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-BDrGsXU96qMTUzJLB41-Tgo_iXjMWg2GlFF6Z7IPs5cMZoGU4hyqkwYJ-NQtXjfr3Fyrgl-JK9lmeFwSmKJG5EMKiQm6L2J9vmCbYxVPzE-eALVbVMMQzC9FLiYL0cpoZHJB2473-G3/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Have a great creative week, everybody.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-22032117000503974532019-01-02T02:11:00.001+00:002019-03-03T17:53:36.045+00:00WOYWW 500! Happy New Year!<p>What a way to celebrate the New Year, with the 500th edition of WOYWW! I wasn’t here for the launch of this astonishing blog hop (which has to be the best on the web) but I joined for <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2011/07/woyww-111.html">No. 111</a> on 21st July 2011 – 7 1/2 years ago! My goodness, I hadn’t realised it was that long! Anyway, the fact that this has been going on for 500 editions proves how good it is, and that the irresistible urge to nose around in other people’s studios never dies!! I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Julia for starting this, and for faithfully hosting it for all these years. Through this blog hop I have made some very good friends and I’ve also gained so much creative inspiration and learnt lots of new skills. Thank you all so much for everything!</p><p>Now to my special 500th edition desk. Very disappointing, I’m afraid… If it hadn’t been a special edition of WOYWW I doubt if I’d have joined in this week because my desk is empty! The rest of the room, as you will see, is in a state of chaos. Over the far side of the room I’ve got all my knitting yarn boxes down (in an effort to search for a ball of purple yarn that I ended up finding in the sitting room…) and I haven’t got round to tidying up yet. So here’s an overview of the room.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD0KMsevU8Dv95jdue8Z1lA7zXQJgqerRHYfEGatWKygOiRTaEaGLskk7I4BvU__hVaIj_8T9hMNRJk4Av7YYlyzRbuJYR2wIByOHZSmDEGVNKBsoy4UcqLJQAoctRt8NueKSlQEgPIl7/s1600-h/WOYWW+500+-+2-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="WOYWW 500 - 2-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="WOYWW 500 - 2-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFdl-Ri_uQ6qMGyIQ7a0hGWPXeicW6ZbUbWd2AE1UcLz-W42kq0cXUogxehMTDyG4_TM64Yh9gJAGZZrbuyKfW7KzKXktJaxSBCsePNDgEbZr5jSTCYxei26Hj-vNNX456JPTNxQVkDQd/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Over Christmas I received these two very pretty carrier bags with presents in them, and I thought I’d keep them and possibly upcycle them as I liked the designs so much.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbbHR9vhb405436zXTBas7WygW4fdHzsIsf2FYN7CRWkDVjKwMziJctrJ1LfQULoa795KTbOZNRTC4qyYcYqIzgG9umMYJKYtzUopsZaBZentgfTsLobia8jkkz7IZDBcYTr8EMeOhjKH/s1600-h/01+Two+Pretty+Carrier+Bags+for+Upcycling%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Two Pretty Carrier Bags for Upcycling" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Two Pretty Carrier Bags for Upcycling" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3imxcy5YxdJLmRqJSjVYU5AyuF33_mHTeTJwrcRtAISJjfIcK_pVtVn8E8sJF6uMUMTaVyoaWhKQdxXoBWissCogO8pA_duGpbCwvOur3QLFKWqCqMUhxNgwfx_IPLoTefPnm-ezEeziY/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The smaller one on top is slightly sparkly.</p><p>I’ve been so tired since our busy week the week before Christmas but I did manage to cook a Christmas dinner, and we are still enjoying the remnants of the turkey! I wasn’t feeling at all well yesterday (good start to the year) with a bad headache and extreme fatigue, so I relaxed in front of the telly and watched the New Year Concert from Vienna – a fixture for me as I love the light-hearted Strauss waltzes and the dancing, and the beautiful architecture. It’s a treat every year.</p><p>While resting with my feet up when I could over the past week, I’ve made good progress on my purple circles knitting project, and have completed the back, and made a good start on the front. This is how much I’ve done so far.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdENaGYFW0TQRy6G26uRyDXo8NSRfcsk4NwOx2zdY-AoXCQuCKxVZV0QYGjVH6BSadytkiQPUASRh1OSltBd91ss99SakkAHV7UWttmgY7cK69Of_CYqZZ3IsNtPiUhkE-F9YXNQgzroj/s1600-h/01+Purple+Circles+Jumper+-+Completed+Back+and+Beginning+of+Front+1-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Purple Circles Jumper - Completed Back and Beginning of Front 1-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Purple Circles Jumper - Completed Back and Beginning of Front 1-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78_D8zq6D6sLf14mFNeqRkYwvE2lZ9ugVu1QGQeDg_YGX0PU1B5cX0DbXLEyfuC5dwkJzP6wBkFXuzGTw6O91muzzd0zlFNEuz1tta6UnO59ZBiZtrDWcQLH2U404Nj8P73k4YwhDo1tl/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I’ve done my regular end-of-year review post which you can read <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/12/2018a-review-of-year.html">here</a> if you are interested, or scroll down to the previous post.</p><p><strong>Kitties</strong></p><p>On New Year’s Eve they were both in the hammock together and this is how they looked after a vigorous mutual grooming session. Ruby has her arm round her sister, giving her a hug.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJsWlIGWiz_Rv_dmV6UH9hFCB0XtAqQK0-i4PBLibgVEDg_XKUmIBDRK0QAD0hWTTrKF-vQxChazinOawc0oIbbw0J-2Xew_J90y0b9oNLtNkTxwTVeHJEHHeeh22k_xs1c8jsX-ykY3V/s1600-h/01+Ruby+with+her+Arm+Round+Lily+31-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Ruby with her Arm Round Lily 31-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Ruby with her Arm Round Lily 31-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_YbmgbrgiMI2YCYo2c9fE8-BoZHWEMK0ScgcHGj2BQMZxBegQGqkdsy9yAArzABocgZdmYB2W4QSY9ISx6u3Qd6wDDd3L0JlYj_lkNRSSUbI-lE6DAqyQ4eyYgsscTSobLC6EHHC4PR-/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Now she’s got her leg over her too!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh2aNvcfnxIvgB499W_L-WeFt257ftGZYlHq-Grc_V_lYUohOAV5rz9KBS32Z1tH-WhdM8y7EQZn1gvtW1PWDRqnI3PhzhOaZ2i-SirLZeSNyQHlWTX6H-8iK71UnIgXZ0WkTu_YBr6jy/s1600-h/02+Ruby+with+her+Arm+and+Leg+over+Lily+31-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Ruby with her Arm and Leg over Lily 31-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Ruby with her Arm and Leg over Lily 31-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEzT41z5pqyEbO8eh0dRarm6ukSgFOzmEkNQrTbw0VoX0-YGXLjmld-59t7xFbe6W8llrByhk2AmkrYH0x_Oi_p4ffSNPmWlSwmlwu2L7rdVpqFS2MWwQgrQgJrLD6brZu0O3MrmFBKKY/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I love this picture of the two of them together. They are so affectionate with each other, and with us (although I think a lot of that is more to do with warmth!). They do love to be with us.</p><p>My hubby was trying to sort out his computer back-ups tonight and brought down his box of old external hard drives. Of course, someone had to get in the box, didn’t they!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9OTtDM0_-oMuuYZhbV4-7yPYLfvjgfOW7eNya0yVv4wAp5sftCO0TxkBfAMrnjnZ_pwhEXRmP0zEm2Qfao9pCsDJrfiXWwUtH2vLKP_YAoOspDPolsPLPTgHiO8BBmG5gLje_8EEFXCm/s1600-h/01+Helping+Daddy+with+his+Back-Ups+1-1-19%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Helping Daddy with his Back-Ups 1-1-19" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Helping Daddy with his Back-Ups 1-1-19" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt5SGmXtYnDM80wtrtISAM0ULhjT1ipOcFVKpspQP9IVl4mzdAEEQj6Mw0sk0lmFrJISo08QsQLBEHLCMbQYHECT6LIEJGMdsGBR32XxqSj75YzwjtYhcxx0hwURmEP-WbePUh5-u-nv9/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>What is it with kitties and boxes?</p><p>Ruby on the cat tree. For some reason, after giving it a wide berth for months, she’s got really keen on it again and spends quite a lot of time asleep right on the top.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKEIoOpR8LmiNhOrDPv-N2e5m6O65-Y_-DTCRJ7_jK5jnUBGngBFUnZfqSi4xszE7UB0QYPssRGDQXWqXGYvdk8-kLHL0vWTvNpuyoXkUASZRcdLGqTccR_C0IWtYfkVnjNI4BR2yD83V/s1600-h/Ruby+on+Cat+Tree+21-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="1159" title="Ruby on Cat Tree 21-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Ruby on Cat Tree 21-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7-w3DjMvmWtFGa75hz1YGEfDzSepFVet4GGzGGCiuIN9QHWBc9xBWryBFF5XpbHEIDJTAQAM3CsWkXbK2vX7fOXv0-cZSx6txOBXXb06g-E2_3ES_W88zdnRLAOPHT3I-ExZEDBNCut4/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>They are both still grounded, but my hubby has made some improvements on the garden defences and they’ve been out a few times under strict supervision, and so far, despite her obvious interest in the perimeter, Ruby hasn’t attempted to get out. I don’t think she’s very pleased with my hubby’s latest efforts, which are making our garden look ever more like a prison camp. Next step, watch towers, search lights and electrified fences, and my hubby and I will have to practice our goose-stepping technique.</p><p>On the subject of cats…</p><p>Here’s a cat funny for the pantomime season.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapd2ypZAcPkE6hPxlxpTzyk2RM74TeXJiHaF20SiWV8dJ4MfoJ991Wzv_toxPKMQcyLcw3uLh4kPfs3bwC3so6E-yV0lx6l-VZaNs1fR6EYWdyzDLeBs8adqv5FeDP3qNwEx2x1BseTV-/s1600-h/Cat+with+Aladdin%2527s+Lamp%255B4%255D"><img width="438" height="480" title="Cat with Aladdin's Lamp" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Cat with Aladdin's Lamp" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnABwK8udB1g-mUdFoaH4vg-OS8Qq3ItGTsCSyhh3fi9Y3zlnvCdYC6hqgnQUs9SBnLh67sEnbae-rM3Ppq568RB6XXQ2jpvQBhQ_Vd1ZL4tNvc5rf5iplL8n8TzK2GK5k3zBWU-wmg9A8/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Happy New Year, everyone! And a very happy 500th WOYWW!</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-42105118478777153682018-12-31T23:03:00.001+00:002019-03-03T22:55:51.641+00:002018–A Review of the Year<p>A year of distinct ups and downs, mostly dominated by health problems and not a lot of creative output this year, apart from one major project.</p> <p>It is now just over a year since my mum died, and it has taken all this time for the solicitors to wind up the estate. Yes, there were some complications because the law had changed between the deaths of my respective parents but we as a family think they could have got their skates on a bit more than they did! My hubby worked wonders with all the paperwork at the beginning of the year, while he was still laid up with his broken leg, which eventually healed, but it took a long time.</p> <p>At the beginning of the year, we had a memorial service for Mum which was very well attended, and which was a good celebration of her long life of 96 years. We planned this together and I designed the service booklets as I had done for Dad. We played a selection of her favourite music and I sang “I know that my Redeemer liveth” from Handel’s Messiah, accompanied by the organist from our church. I was able to speak about Mum as well. </p> <p><strong>Art Projects</strong></p> <p>I decided to make two copies of a mini-album about Mum, one for her best friend and one for us to keep, and I was not able to blog about this while I was making it in case our friend saw it, and things have rather taken over and prevented me from completing the uploading of the almost daily posts I did and saved as drafts at the time. Something to remedy in the New Year, perhaps?</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiG_sMN-Z9MlJz8CTRiTYD7eopLVanGCiKaOThVEzVdv9eL01tfNdyaJ40lSidsu9U3MrospZ2zrIQVwXZHZfdQxR9N384C-su5URUXl1oTYIhIWDQ73T3elKGO-jfmNUq-DmMxXJ_UmA7/s1600-h/01+Front+Cover%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="743" title="01 Front Cover" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Front Cover" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sovv7LrpN17GXzqNRPRPk_1XjqeYKro23TZ8F-vYR7PJtqTz3w1BvZ9dmCyOpp0m9-spD4wLFuBrh6nkfYTA7Jeu6tVZ5cVHpSYrsacSjNHax4_rJIw1aFIaWFXCMYNjGcAdYVVG58g6/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Anyway, I did blog about the <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-big-revealmystery-project-complete.html">finished project</a>, and made a video flip-through of it.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nvipDJDZpSM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></p> <p>Later in the year, I made <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/10/woyww-488two-completed-boxes.html">boxes</a> to keep the two albums in.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezqcobd46E9tylFAbQSKzSdoV8YxjvYfGDTmGR06qfj9vB-TYqQY4EBUxyzk9Y09sPbGWgN3nUnyHV2cOBxl1Zb_aKu8zbkRCCAq7IZf3I3jSep4oREa2BAiBfX8g6wJr1laU8DSBIrNG/s1600-h/66+Box+Side+and+Front%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="481" title="66 Box Side and Front" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="66 Box Side and Front" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARYM-z-l4BU1_TxhP3A24RiJMyhZYlyPkS7HQSqQhl4Lu4gcGYNQEE8DgGRlhDxRXmEb0Kei4brEVhK1J1WiYYNzzALUBsK0xddxENW2GLPnywJh8_HlurOVVcJH2Mwey4AyXJ3sc-6Yw/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The other main project I made this year was <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/12/woyww-498mystery-project-revealed.html">three small heart-shaped frames</a> that I altered, as gifts for friends.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta2XIOLc8czjqzuB-myxM4FlT1x5O9AQrR7SpxwNQWrbOLNib7CwaHz8h0cDG_ghhpfGoPxTxLk0MMxb28GS6ojNKWcD4xSAFyY0cA_2ZjXxL4EePIBSAmwU0qRmt5FIHFd-mAdT7HB3c/s1600-h/06+Two+Completed+Hearts%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 Two Completed Hearts" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Two Completed Hearts" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy8NGzB1PcYT5LxQFu_vy-QP_sBmLJ-YWCSo8kleHD2K_porfJpnNjmE1B-z6meVx944APsRl9blrg-NNxPfx1sqpY3qUrNZnbWH5Qi29ukHFO0zQRRX8CGbYhFofg50vycgAPMbKmd4g/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnwZle38hg7ciwRA3CHu-bbr73WzxL5UnL5ErgL7cKB5JKqfas2qLJHbH-ywWF3QvHuVPxSPyVWcz5P3iHB30UiV_-zTBKkWO2SbI2gnk-CS9m527voKO3K5CjvDsOehPmjHS9_LjTnf8/s1600-h/11+Completed+Heart+1%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="11 Completed Heart 1" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Completed Heart 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKAGVmgq-qwJmAfX11eoQcWPUKCeQtWuvM1k3Cbfd9yW1UaT9509lYdRzq2CaRDXSaWomhp1ldvdx7dQ5S-jDqtmr-PBykYvRiPhJB-iQ7zFu9sfZZyvGvc7vQ4nShRRO5HJnGvBzGL_Y/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>To accompany the purple one, I also made a <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/12/completion-of-mystery-projectpart.html">birthday card</a>.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2Klunb5GqUURJE2UhsMWAK0cfTFwiUIkR-dxOm7jD4EbkFMCfscqoYW3DjFfdI6JpSIVx0ozh0F2qtSQvcoVAbDxrzvv6EvIeAtVTKcW8P6c8cqt1ArHdmoW4XCYmfJQTcedR_YMe_Do/s1600-h/07+The+Finished+Card%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 The Finished Card" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 The Finished Card" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15296Pd6wkKsu_N1OIc7pbkOMc8QpN59DoP8MdIgLum6fHRPLHyySzpCQeZT3qw1bbtp2BqS80FiFZi7VWwPKvd_z7i5TNMgAL-v9bxAnpc5HlVlnJ8BI9XpKeym9m2K1ayQytPXoBpE3/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><strong>Other cards</strong> </p><p>These included a <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/12/beebag-teabag-art.html">birthday card for a beekeeping friend</a>.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeL1Np_YAFKJtYVmamRtw1jlrUByaYv0hoTllhqmQhw33IbNfLqP3hXmpsQS2a3FK5A86W1IEO-Dg-yZKZ5tgYOwhDhw4DXhLFMj1WTNwLXsC3vIQvkgb0ickAppLftSsTEusGRlBKr-h/s1600-h/11+Completed+Card%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="880" title="11 Completed Card" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Completed Card" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ-OYGmBaXryqpZ2iHzZL1d6b5aR2qMQPbA8yD6EIeOAH3gyBIEenCMAuqlEaZPMw-EAkReCH19rtuiPmMD7qFOuQPgf8wOlu9UJ8znCMLdb_7jCcyewJyxeaaxXvEhRwz2MbwdG7Yyx_/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>For our wedding anniversary, I made this <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/05/wood-effect-anniversary-card.html">card</a> for my hubby, with a swinging heart with our initials on either side, with a faux woodgrain effect.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKsmvgLtDAdlSACvc8RUKmJm7OZCt5lBmxZ7nCJmgfhUU-5drg7JcBuc8agYaHy6QEsP9aPp4WSDnJDqR_0uirOLSecEB3-x32tT1tAFadQsuJ4Q9MnD58BYYzcOHMhTp_tYBGmFSrnYs/s1600-h/14+Finished+Card+Standing%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="971" title="14 Finished Card Standing" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="14 Finished Card Standing" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0LPsQZCo9VsYOKs1mAI-WUZO3PZVhdOKkQyvsxA44DyHQCtoQGn31F-pNW0CAG7ylEYeXVi0MgaOXOGGhdXqquNBj1KQjO27BCDaYOypUy1q191KprZRw5y1CQgofGVxNbwtHd2yxqmY/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>For <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/02/pop-up-valentine-card-for-my-hubby.html">Valentine’s Day</a> I made him this one:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuv7xumz0UHtcHHwrY9bidpX9B0TXJIyOKl-YgfXzEdXG5LErswUj7fCIw8Tutfm9R-qXDQeZfKP9ecMcpuWsseluqO8ufl00VRPDVLhpAPsPTIyQulXBB1kkZtJqJIHl8tltBFnSuGJ9/s1600-h/11+Finished+Card+Front%255B6%255D"><img width="700" height="685" title="11 Finished Card Front" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Finished Card Front" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZQtjeMPRhMxP-LAUvZA7iB4yZ-cg6aRXsviKh3MVGadlBmpHENbJ7rYa4B4cz9D_3aQBdfU4GnuqdSfIY5KTIRT88JfKNlLBqnyN943N_1mwVjrziW65CBuadP2R0fR7QJhOYQ4nRZyp/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>with a pop-up inside.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePXHKeqz3TY6a5a_fmX-G70FHs_PdyCA3s_VuZ3gnzKHaDIPT_FPjgItR6WPOJW-soILHOjZaQ6dMDq6UULmtZ6ffUAYj0s-FncwksoDhzQB5FQ8-kZAi_zB94Cqey3y9YUpTVBFNpQ82/s1600-h/12+Finished+Pop-Up%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="461" title="12 Finished Pop-Up" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="12 Finished Pop-Up" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGsOCUDcsJZIGZ75_TqEKDiH48MAOo3L3g_Zbc0Qzh7iuMLBQY57YddECk7DJuExfsKy5-cdU3OxRVBI6BcCEMhI7MkxgRJ9FRroIpIAHvXt0iJY9PmVG4NefXHAafz4ArszE6UE4L6Dm/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>For a friend’s <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/06/card-and-present-for-centenarian.html">100th birthday</a> I made this card, using some dies I got at a craft show early in the year.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nAKENkfJwI5uCYhVaAQJIAlNbRVaFx4sKdI4HIo0x3yvnGbtNXkY2WrPie-yXBICgfc5-5QFv_qmMuqTQ2ZeJgsP7qK5v5X_8RwGfBftwM0e5b2UBmYsVFf6mByEc-Rha2yUQH4FeY8I/s1600-h/10+Finished+Card%252C+Drying%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="528" title="10 Finished Card, Drying" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Finished Card, Drying" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMIIOfgQU1BRQ2J4Qq9qhge4toJw6B_4LkJwuxtlrguP32YTy3yr6Wlf2RBgDf4xp_pXHmBxSGIrdG6ps2yLSseHxKh7zlPkWIQCAvFZbtGgwoi_KFjQxoWMZpk_s9WRwMtjNJ-0Km9b3/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><strong>Embroidery</strong></p> <p>Also for this friend’s birthday, I made this small <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/06/card-and-present-for-centenarian.html">cross-stitch plaque</a> from a chart I designed many years ago.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp_OXSrlA9EAKkyRat4SUiAaVJbSeZC4ffrVHOhlGhpybfr6peCnWnAG8DuvVxrtvunvrEsCdL_aHRryy9KQ08ehTRwDaxlSktUxN7BeYB6G9Y2GInyVZMhm1LWmF-qo929rTlyfz72KO/s1600-h/02+Finished+Embroidery%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="513" title="02 Finished Embroidery" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Finished Embroidery" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1GjMFgYO8xF8VRsiXdizwwvbyLA2ueS02YoyAHSH7B325A0q-QAtvelVOeh0HTY8j-QbhFUTIaYFaXBIlwWxQfpCCYe2rJIKX7YZrDswSUP8lG8LNYOs-U1FIqmayTzD3hYbdV-RyGv1/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I made no further headway on my other embroidery projects, I’m afraid!</p> <p><strong>Knitting and Crochet</strong></p> <p>I’ve really got back into this again this year. This year was supposed to be the Year of the UFOs, when I was determined to tackle my huge stash of UnFinished Objects but as usual this rather bit the dust! I did manage to unravel a tunic top I’d made many years ago, and started to knit this up again to a new design which will hopefully fit me a lot better than its previous incarnation!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXudPvPuuEJL9a0t2P247qeggQSjVpdiPvJ974a5Nzryn2GOau_cc_KsctE3K_QELdKOd9K75AJrKkG9EwQVO6B_JdFzK_k9fmhrvM9BBIB-D-yZ5rnbsYYFf-2E3HeeesG7hNqtrxM1VT/s1600-h/04+Back+-+Knitting+in+Progress%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="499" title="04 Back - Knitting in Progress" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Back - Knitting in Progress" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GqAt3XbrMplPRz2frVweMG6A2TxG7PPYA1T5qYmJ5H0sN_XZfaIJ_oXUZ_guEBnMSrnfg59dgZczRJsECF2Iu332ygmwUkWxw9BvptgoCE0vQDUFqiLQwCWni1lqb1CGxNZTeNqjzAL7/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I have now completed the back and begun on the front, but haven’t photographed it recently.</p> <p>I also finished knitting a striped scarf I began while I was having my chemo in 2015.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp58S2SrE8TEpXmk_ytBD-Ha-Iy-vKLnzcH1VxTpl3pogzdaGqev2QJUfcpRR1ddkR9yud0VAu000tAwNABzscSnC6BMbEuNxtZsRh-xhciuLq2q2Ir819zHxaZmXO4kjFdjLVzzVuoP6X/s1600-h/02+Knitting+Completed%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Knitting Completed" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Knitting Completed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVn_xSPT0agoO4Oh9oHq1IB3YSB8Bp1AINggfoMdehdybFOSYriHRTlOgkfJzK57yqLBZEIiXrWSlLkfGPOuFOeYl8ygLywKP_nCrauMY8cENa4pXnX1yE-15MkY-9lKL_PmZwtTQml76/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>For this, I made a lot of felt and crochet embellishments, which I have yet to attach to the scarf. (Another UFO…)</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mKvPTnR-3IGZ-M_agLJ6BfbvTOUIlxElOoCXgN_dX8f7uGg7JAc6fmlvfGgnYBYdWvsdN7KdI8MB_EbSCbBuQtrnbQRgbuT7zHpHr5hGfAfpR10hsYV3CtIRm9Jrj3TkBH93TtMMN4LU/s1600-h/10+Crochet+Embellishments+Pressed%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="548" title="10 Crochet Embellishments Pressed" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Crochet Embellishments Pressed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zPMI_CI8hs_HZkk97uwV_M22IlWRjIToTeLnlTHpNDiJN1Ee6bnWnKfZUn4tF-ccDJFRDTrc9H3ulxgHL98sqyMZ2FG85DVWoQN5Sl2nl3mvwK2anaUUfURAtN03o05ylEUPQA93S5H2/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSdeoUsy4TeYbGSP_aJ0dpWTlm08LuekKGUZROq_d4N2Jd8qEf78Fmdl6mtogBVD9v5iKWB66zFK8jf5op9qQdsp4ldK0BaRY_MZmekZup-YTetoNgplvP4_tWPbHMw921IfBO4j7Negi/s1600-h/06+Felt+Balls+and+Flowers+-+Wet+Felted+22-10-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 Felt Balls and Flowers - Wet Felted 22-10-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Felt Balls and Flowers - Wet Felted 22-10-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AINQcVgPSaKBLAExoxoLmKgW0Ty_CKZCOYhXeMe0LoX5XMPA7HrFKFgMiwyralZ-Hn7dhIKJ3Wq_en2kmvHUYdSCpcv9P913YK9phcnd05mds0XS8DO_Ey4sBs7GbSxHHnbxOdaAprdx/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p> I knitted another scarf from a single ball of gorgeous yarn I bought in a charity shop.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLQJtVsENeCd53eZSeg8B24wSQ9EvNjcQ8sijNX5flikizIgFaGIfcPUy9FPiz94mncA0y9znK_navlP_3xBxidCeWUmOo_dE5K_BXUfibyoKpZAnmOM1uRHIX2vWobh6348toY6hc2ZQ/s1600-h/03+Knitting+Completed%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Knitting Completed" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Knitting Completed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlS0yJOX3IrbMfjruRNLsgmqOmKbIUi05daT0HGH45YLSzWnbhjIF6VhEXnjMS7TjSmAlC1jSleTkW4OL7ALqdw6sCh72opTbBEs3Y9u5AqqrcWyHZp5eUj4QA9DH3BudgfYvocplTArK/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p> Again, I haven’t managed to complete this – I am still making the peacock feather embellishments for this.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxqLSL8jfuc1vUQh-Xk5XcijWOqFFqHx9qqYj8oENPTIYrNl4O-7J6OVRD2RMMKaJIFfDowDbSPL1X3d2DgKypeww0duw5Jjo7mzc2m44nnVRjjoyugbc2MnErSeVyAmivC5dG2dgREsf/s1600-h/03+Feathering+the+Barbs%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="642" title="03 Feathering the Barbs" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Feathering the Barbs" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-9RJbAdVCKlu-PQQvOvFsAjZ2MAiBKYwNJQ_PnmybXxRiYkZSsf66yIJe7Wf43Cv810C9KP_ZQ1uAmx-x6Y8erGDi0WjtgZFll1KqyO41aDz3pzrrjNvNW5d6YB4tdnxSJepjp7J-qlx/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I shall need to buy some more yarn to complete these.</p> <p>Not a terribly productive year art and craft-wise. Hope to do better next year!</p> <p><strong>Health Problems</strong></p> <p>One of the reasons for my lack of productivity was a major health crisis at the beginning of the year.</p> <p>I saw my surgeon at the end of last year when he agreed that my recurrent parastomal hernia really did need repairing as it was causing me major problems. I went into hospital to have this done in March, and within a fortnight I was back in again with sepsis. I had two large infected haematomas in my abdomen and had to have two drains to deal with these, and I also had intravenous fluids, two units of blood, and three different cocktails of powerful IV antibiotics before they finally found the right combination to deal with the infection. I was in for nearly three weeks, in quite severe pain for most of the time, and feeling dreadful. It took them over 24 hours to get my temperature down to a safe level, and the whole experience was not something I ever want to repeat.</p> <p>I saw my surgeon again in August and told him I was sure the hernia had returned, which was confirmed by a CT scan in the autumn. I saw him again recently and we discussed options. He is consulting a colleague in Exeter in order to come to the right decision for me. I blogged in detail about this <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-fruitful-appointment-with-my-surgeon.html">here</a>.</p> <p>Hopefully another appointment will be forthcoming in the New Year, and I will know the way forward. Having discussed everything at some length with him, I feel a lot easier in my mind now about the possibility of further surgery if they deem it necessary.</p> <p>It took me quite a while to get over all this, but I am convinced my recovery was helped no end by a friend introducing me to fermented foods.</p> <p>Some good news, though – at my regular oncology appointment in November I was told I am still cancer free.</p> <p><strong>Fermented Foods</strong></p> <p>I got very interested in <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/07/adventures-in-fermented-foods.html">fermented foods</a> in the summer, and started drinking kefir and kombucha, to try and counteract the ill-effects of so many powerful antibiotics on my system. A friend who had had many gut problems over several years had benefited greatly from this, and she kindly got me started on this route, and I’ve become a complete convert! My hubby and I are both consuming kefir and kombucha on a daily basis and we believe this is also having a beneficial effect on his diverticular disease. Everyone is telling me how well I look these days!</p> <p>I have become very interested in the whole new area of research into the gut microbiome, and have been reading a lot about it.</p> <p>Making kefir.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppobqAxIuyedWqh88RcZpAt3am10dOjIix03zyO1jswBr2d4wJdb7rizXAdfdwepd6gcCz9X0T0WwwsWFKVTaznLhXLsh6MBLKtG3Ki_2YceGMuz7fssWvka0ukKMJ4Q1d1iPaRz_HgJG/s1600-h/02+Straining+the+Kefir+9-7-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="510" title="02 Straining the Kefir 9-7-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Straining the Kefir 9-7-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLNttfYVbSeiFCy7JSquaC5puqjHek2jG9HP3rsX7G87mQvmoVMwexXnDyz__XMSIxLbz5-29qKoNQDOJkBF5c9jPj8DGj57ljpcm2kqvpx5Dxel8DCNdFuupkswRRfM5ksL_Ou4NkDTT/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/09/more-fermented-foods-and-new-cheese.html">Making kombucha</a>.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2g8JQbH6tcWcFUglDUOltPMpcnM-rzzdwOm9x2G8MDorOJl0quwpEgCRD0tOA0-D7jjkv6DmC_OOlfZDuz4fWiwkAwuqGY0Wj7ADv56W-gmb-Nk5xxlIJFQ5IMtzyBVn1pXL7Q2Pgk2Zh/s1600-h/10+Making+Kombucha+7-9-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="10 Making Kombucha 7-9-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Making Kombucha 7-9-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlJXiCgfSkRArV0DSBgWVeNFbiYdMzaFvuX8XAqxMaSKJsO0F4QSETe3vAlc_gk9EsK4wIorItRHSnnU-Tyb5s-ghmImMpNISzRxa_QATkhZFuldqg1mpZf0Uw9e8ORNRd7GLD26qiZyE/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>During this time I also invested in a kefir cheese maker which is a lot easier to use and more efficient than using muslin in a sieve. I am getting very good results with the kefir cheese which is delicious, and the resulting whey is extremely beneficial too.</p> <p><strong>Sourdough</strong></p> <p>In the summer, I also started making sourdough bread which is extremely nutritious and good for general health.</p> <p>I made my own starter, called Esmeralda.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bC7YibM-W63H0Dczo1bDzapAyxsZCGTnbFnRhlZt1Tg0NhW-1pyVftmL6n0aZGF1TOrRqG9uEgVYIO7BFBHrBe81UMwl_ghwpH0Y6FjQk_jfRlvkJg81u1tm_YldR_IlsViVLPYJUlJU/s1600-h/63+Esmeralda+18-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="685" title="63 Esmeralda 18-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="63 Esmeralda 18-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJYEOiV0elvTc2ou4t9gvfu1UCwh1o6QINtn0cxDvSwqibo0481SgBlWeCbUjYRa0KZiXWelbTakuPj75BCxAF4s9mgKV2IyNQZJ35F05Rdc4i3wcTJT1_gwK7T2c7JrKEz-ISe_-n9rj/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>After many months on a pretty steep learning curve, I think I’ve finally cracked sourdough making and am getting consistently good results now. I have blogged about my efforts and photographed the loaves I make most weeks, so that I can see how I have improved with practice.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSgLKds53J34ygDl_5ZsJxHqdHJ-dbOnx7rCxxT_DRDLHu1zgJB8PzcIjENJUNUjweuR7-NyuQZ0cyIZB-2oUI1vIQjr1KCMUfuhtUxrd3S5kmr4urfazUEU6NW2NrTAFmrxrFrzHQqI0/s1600-h/60+Excellent+Sourdough+Cut+25-11-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="60 Excellent Sourdough Cut 25-11-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="60 Excellent Sourdough Cut 25-11-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9ecmnqRBuPvAeixBRUAs5_h8HTcKNtGlGa-jaYOnuIn8bwoSgv80ToKpClRySSmAv-8h5jptc2Ve25_7hEr6fVKAe15TjqV3qPCaZA-w7R120lx-M6H_e19W2qbmLAnLTdwRE7-qTqHG/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>We both enjoy eating this on a regular basis.</p> <p><strong>Other bread</strong></p> <p>I am also continuing to make my regular seedy bread in the bread maker.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx8zZhC82MKw5RW6kFQZI4DVzAROgvlxxpjBMT-6nwqdQMKJSkWmug0XWCf3AqeI4AaEXOK1MDex1iH9yTK0x4E23OJ40H2one4Z-SeFM3N3FTwbUERxzYhK_qq9GYhBKchAtGwbwbbDS/s1600-h/Seedy+Bread+from+Bread+Maker+18-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="604" title="Seedy Bread from Bread Maker 18-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Seedy Bread from Bread Maker 18-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNESHxkrEuAuR5uBSv_nXHKpDQb_IYsf0o2ROU7a50-eYypIGu9C1rFIZ-sbwOx7OAS75LVCx8a5UQqTFQwnc89LIRm-zUS3fIjxbIGaAOXC-gyMMfjsCiHEiu5cNvbff4fzIXECo7v0I/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Another sort of bread I make every now and then is challah. Delicious! Really sweet and rich. When we can, we attend a regular Shabbat meal held locally by a friend, and I always like to supply the challah if we are going.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFp90_6_IxpUpywCKk_R0s-neunSz06zkAPBgMfXPXlQLiE6GpLSQtRG2bb0miEAZ_1XZpdlbS6wbpkTRhyphenhyphen9KEwC6UX00Lb2vdFEOPaG6XqWzjqAZbfOY7NBX7GqWVPT1FZtmIZCE7XVw/s1600-h/Challah+for+Conference+30-8-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="531" title="Challah for Conference 30-8-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Challah for Conference 30-8-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o4vwzaBhWPKxv3f9HwIHrsdTcRQQxRiZnDidt6ln-v2to2wfjYHnEJrFGLzGJ8y-sSRVJtPF5Vc7jmFJkfdethfXWy8Ity3x0_Ewdv9eKRv1lhPYIzJ0FEdeEtY7XtptWKBoW6snPXCJ/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>This year, I have also started making brown seedy baps which are much nicer than the shop ones!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4osF3SwEgvsbsXQgXFoamXgu-gdquKabiv8QR7J71vZU5okwhaLk75hdi6agC5csI_M2eGl58WOC5bytoOtPTF84QEOr6rCDnbMn5cF_TKN6IZWjKHyLnCbjMmAqJW_dbO9xyT20BJol/s1600-h/Brown+Seed+Baps+20-10-18%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="Brown Seed Baps 20-10-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Brown Seed Baps 20-10-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmGQxpYRydsz40TCU4HaD3TXQyYaM_y80w30NWhS0S-3WakOsipOzzjJEnl4Z6T1cdrVAqNvSzbvgxs5wYGVz6vk0haSebTxfZiTLb4oc8rsZtSmrPey2LoKglsQNB3twI8T6Jzxc6cN-/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p> <strong>Other cooking</strong></p><p>With excess sourdough starter, I have been making crackers and pancakes, from recipes I found online.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hqzekpHRt3nIWxiHzFNuq1JMvhDO-45fiipbNvk6bzlB_-WL5UWVpg_9MmOy-Dmmg1-0Ppm7EHcmvBh0-JRBAH02p4KksTTCd7o7p3E3fCXljP7jUeaC394erKW26EOJ03TMoCUUuyns/s1600-h/42+Sourdough+Crackers+18-9-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="42 Sourdough Crackers 18-9-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="42 Sourdough Crackers 18-9-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNw9wsm8dm9xhvKsHhWO0xz1aLiAkIZByCvBy2ldW4UKXMLobwXgcUMggvjFucM1XkpxEXKBwRRtF6UYJS4iiBmN8rrXSB3_zPy7mrxWEfX5iI1AUEmi652hSwkqutQ64LL5ufHCL_pK9/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDwvD45cNIQuT5cmZN3KDOqA0_Sr9GaZTUsWh1VUmBgESSU-sBdknJiUEXjP8D9p6ScBRBIGTx2QVjPEE34Jd5fovGK-lnbmVQuEndMbMtFjqkzEO3LXf0nNBWI3FQUQ4IC-o3iv8OzMa/s1600-h/02+Supper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="572" title="02 Supper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Supper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtWvTujrR7q0s_C5tiPhHhcEK3HoSuoT629YEwgAXFlbDEWjz-_pdFoePLJmfmMZxSLPlwAkeVXmT9Qvr4XKIosYwKmqbbd0xqooI1766sy5hyphenhyphenjPkAmD6XvhGGgnp4TmcGxnoIXsVfgQr/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I have also been experimenting with Middle Eastern cooking, having been given a brilliant recipe book. We both very much enjoy this delicious, delicately spiced and nutritious food, and it’s so easy these days to get the more exotic ingredients online. My hubby has been enjoying the results of my efforts in this new area!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFod9ZvXkTxDtcN3wZ6Z4cNZ5q4d57OagiC52Ff8l1l4xzXRjybZwtoLMXuJsmiia3KoOihdz7gE2xSvAYYWLDF2jlzWfNf5A7gVtO1ajgBziQvOE_zcLZRye4M9i2lljBnO_jYzYpe_ML/s1600-h/01+Book+Cover%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="650" title="01 Book Cover" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Book Cover" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU8KP0zamnoBrgNJMdduX1fRP__r1K__NEj_1tC6_2R-g79NNp39Fabwnb_QM37ACc4gpFtkBNYF99ixx-EFoymeY24cWXI4wyBJ6_Vo4vhzvjdI7nlmUXA9YHRtD4141N8xo2NhC61uS/?imgmax=800"></a> <p>With the apples from our wonderful tree in the garden, I made chutney for the first time this year, and it was a huge success. Here is the jar I made for a friend, complete with the label I designed for it.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdHHJS3CmnLJm8E7eJKDhD60x0-6spGrt29dc1LLqJ-JeprY197e8B1uqk71lo4dYo-aqguDJmMR-Sz6oKHrvTWESDdWcW9TxfaeIow5lQO7e652ceLLCZ0pj6-jp9QqldUEDmvoFYMPY/s1600-h/02+Apple+Chutney+with+Labels%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Apple Chutney with Labels" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Apple Chutney with Labels" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AuQ7b863CVkKvJsZLj4sw6R3MH0JfyZkXTwpVZMqTjPBrdX7eK6Ws4IExWNrIkl3k4UBJHHNg01eNGN8MA3971kq6si-yM6HBebuGXwpZEOBZ-n3QW79Oz3PTy2d8_DP5PpOgr67Oj6I/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I also made some sourdough crackers for the same friend on another occasion.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY-B4Smgz2HktYt5Ti3-e8N36q9yZCgtj3OvS0oplUkkXkmNl9Pwhjs1YKeDwXw2aXYouY6MuJFIhxuVzZRHb5GCrie8AjHSXTPXtyNtlFzAzL4M92iE9LSjXsTs4qdQ2O53cH7AkMzmo/s1600-h/06+Peachies%2527+Original+Sourdough+Crackers+2%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="566" title="06 Peachies' Original Sourdough Crackers 2" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Peachies' Original Sourdough Crackers 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVv2BX0lQ2YPvJLqLdn7WnIpVvyY8tL90SxWCAfT_SrlnOmeJk7gaIE3NPslneeo3IM1uFj9yLLq0RbnVJlakhdR24JpXlHPmqxxMI4BFHZ-Kc6TEzJJSlSppBhFtCgl37bZymbB85r2UZ/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Since being ill, I have gradually worked through our supplies of refined carbohydrates and we have been eating more whole grain foods and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.</p> <p>I seem to have spent more time baking and cooking this year than making art!</p> <p><strong>Diet</strong></p> <p>My 5:2 diet has been ongoing throughout the year but this year I haven’t really lost any more weight. I have put on a few pounds since reaching my original target weight, and have found it very hard to maintain at that level, so I think realistically my current weight is probably my ideal weight. I have still lost around 4 stone since I started and I am well satisfied with that. My hubby has now agreed to join me on this two days a week fast, and doing it together I can support him in his aim to lose some weight.</p> <p><strong>Bible Study</strong></p> <p>Our little group went into abeyance for a few months because I was so ill, and it took me quite a while to pick up the pieces of my life again and catch up with everything that had got neglected during that time. When we resumed in the autumn, we gained two new members which has been a great joy – both contribute a lot and we have some interesting and lively discussions during and after the teaching. I continue to design plenty of visual aids on my desktop publisher, photo editor, and Inkscape (vector images) to produce on PowerPoint which we show on the TV screen. This year we have embarked on a major course on prophecy, and during the coming year, interspersed between these sessions, we will again be covering the Feasts of the Lord at the relevant times throughout the year. I have been studying the Bible in depth for over 30 years and it is always such a privilege to be able to share the fruits of my studies with others, particularly when they are as hungry for it as the lovely people in our small group. It would be lovely to see our numbers grow, but there is a great deal of apathy in the church today and most people are not prepared for the commitment, or to put in the time and effort required for study – such a shame, as it has proved to be the most exciting adventure of my life.</p> <p><strong>Kitties</strong></p> <p>Our two new kitties celebrated their first birthday in May, and with the nice summer weather we let them out in the garden for the first time, and they were soon enjoying it to the full, spending all day out there, chasing butterflies and relaxing in the sun, and keeping us company when we were sitting out under the apple tree having our meals. It was such a lovely summer in which to let them out.</p> <p>Recently, though, we have been having terrible trouble with Ruby escaping through my hubby’s kitty defences and he has been working on improving them. Until we are sure they are safe, both kitties are grounded for now, and have reverted to being indoor kitties. They don’t seem to mind too much, and it’s probably a good thing the weather has been so wet lately!</p> <p>Not only has Ruby developed into a regular Houdini, but she has also developed into the more naughty of the two in other ways too – she is a terrible food thief and will pinch stuff off your plate if you just look away for a few seconds! She can smell butter at 500 paces and absolutely nothing is safe from the little monkey. Lily, on the other hand, doesn’t seem bothered about our food at all and is generally very well behaved! There’s always one, isn’t there…</p> <p>They continue to be an absolute delight. They are now fully grown and adult but they will always be our babies! They are very close and get on so well with each other, with only the occasional spat, usually at meal times. They are affectionate and love to be with us, and communicate with us all the time. Their little personalities are so different from each other and they seem to have settled down with Lily being the senior of the two. We are absolutely delighted with them both.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSysPWYHRfOodApfMkItuEIKl-OeaORFRsOKaFXC-i2RT2VzMzUqUIxxr2xeYgOxOIq32lC2YjMYCESm421YucxYjgYqfhov-RaCfHKCFFILX9Xjw5ckVxbICwWlETQizcE8-4Y3zTv52c/s1600-h/11+Under+the+Apple+Tree+2+Lily+Rolling+25-6-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="11 Under the Apple Tree 2 Lily Rolling 25-6-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Under the Apple Tree 2 Lily Rolling 25-6-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDatrbKUplso0M-9ajs40m3EDo-_cE6xWgJS6aO5p7OVeUy3J__TU6Fby3aLPb6gulf5knxq3gKJZnx6CpnZGPjCJ81xCu0m0WUpgjgxuy-6rikRE2ykHZe1c5m-qXV7u1fNGXd0QMwmsP/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcAhNUS3yQJkxWL57ZqpgDGSokNCLsEveYp59ZY1fhUcIuO1YmAR3_s5MKguU0owouF9qhQF4i7nhNF5l1ltTBm05hGD_-Bxw2nt-0p7UnXKmuMfRw22g2k-2P4tgZkFKe0PEDuaAvKoZ/s1600-h/05+Sleeping+Together+3+7-10-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Sleeping Together 3 7-10-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Sleeping Together 3 7-10-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KzQO0u_ygNgiYPTcyWoepQQrEmPR2FvpPyeFiqg17y-wLhsVkwK1IBHjE6SQg32SWucCJD_vBiIUAGGVkil9r4Snazu4AWBnobckfzws59kXJoTJKtWlpL3kFfoQZGyQmHujtQ2WhGpA/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><strong>Outings</strong></p> <p>We have had some lovely outings this year. In May we attended the <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/05/devon-county-show-2018.html">Devon County Show</a>, a fixture I should hate to miss! I wasn’t long out of hospital and was determined to be well enough to go.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB-yAobSUO_rva2HJrUP1gVoh3uHdEd4uK4rOcsyttnDRgQRW14b6Z__Nfs4JMfwNVD3w1NH2M0bTDJVTJubYDRUAkskxG05HSA67XBLzoJC4Whn5PUR3-KrcbK466SwbddsEIuv17SCL/s1600-h/44+Peter+Rabbit+Display%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="820" title="44 Peter Rabbit Display" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="44 Peter Rabbit Display" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOsbADPUcbqSifBcEZteBwPbEyOyXwwYUYkgRxVxyxvBLBibj7U9gMpJZraDZNgLeX2n1_p14Y7sQ5DF-6K5b1VcuenIwQNyK93IOpQIX81q2e-n4A0_FcXBXgoPzxVe5ipGXKIxLfZ-X/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p> Teignmouth.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uYo5mPpAkzErsXTguEdHB1tCWVFxi1vbZ5uAU9MBEioJDAFMYd9sXgMcx6QSn97gVnInFexDVMVGZxVnEtAhH7OvkMhX_l5rcqCYeizbXadRdrSo6QDCLAI-FEXtDiIhSoe2M2Zre5nd/s1600-h/04+In+Come+the+Waves%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="700" title="04 In Come the Waves" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 In Come the Waves" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SU4P9U-n1VrhjXYQPu6cR4FNQBDHFFWfNbAloPx2YodXIhZtSHOPJfNQK_U4UkhaAFfOWOh-0LUxHhPc9o8urU9xjjnRVIrjBPLs79wz8tv1VTqhpmqu1Edtb8dSq-uJOurJOFefcH_j/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbeoN0EilWKHVmt7508C5U7cmP3yAaT8mSTsOux7G9Q7j1myxMeocSE_Eh0NwyEqkTEPJFBJdnccZO1U3Rvm9Z7PrS-_YTQi5PBODhitsaDMbqCHF6y6BJCzV3YpSC9DpeU0PQ0E_xUgm/s1600-h/08+Narrow+Winding+Shopping+Street%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="933" title="08 Narrow Winding Shopping Street" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 Narrow Winding Shopping Street" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivyiznWAQhVtwTqABLuReZI8DCNu3NdSlcCD4T5Ao9OME5oRuodrZ3DIpUFqLQyqWDq-2M8iAqa-wQIQfgbstXfkORVe8phU3xINSBHsqxbqLtSN38sMP6i0ZAYjqb1YfIjPnb1z-SoAR/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/07/outing-to-hope-cove.html">Hope Cove</a>.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHy1w_MoZRXrFALkZuk-aIIjTZen5b2iCq7AzMrfE5cOmxVYIixEkvNm-KxVmQjM2wSNyOfH77t4m01xgHczrsXagJsMBg4Lb8SrJwqCj56mTg188GreJsVqgzVs6pcUh_AT300CE0wdAQ/s1600-h/34+Thatched+Cottages+2%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="34 Thatched Cottages 2" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="34 Thatched Cottages 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_jfH2EscUHI2txtXR0S4nnCCxFPno1TwFStfKNj2aodrqySlDhGIEKf-gorCqiv9-lF8luH7HNjSeInjA44ykIg-G8keiEmvIrIEGTMspWAUmbJ_y2IG09vB-J8_5kmxts2u8WC7TDoX/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/07/visit-to-tyntesfield.html">Tyntesfield</a>, near Bristol.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94JDe0kLXQEOB5LjjMz34x511HbWQUKb1jVvqwBCj7U8Gv4KDtPuAt4fwZsn939eUUSYdE5r3JL8aWqDmFgCyn8GKMRUrXIR5hafUMv-_eADECc1MhGgyrWpU-lMXxpWlkjC7Uqe6FuyS/s1600-h/06+The+End+of+the+House+with+the+Chapel%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 The End of the House with the Chapel" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 The End of the House with the Chapel" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBBNxsu0dPmLhZSahiWqTbhkCy-ojkV0mO3e8a4RQicQ5x-MBlbXAmzvEdW8-ruUqAz9yk_5G8M3zud2Ezifxo39c1hTJXOkEvPolfuRdSE9Z5ZtSJw_89qIhV55nKJ354oj_6Gc6PufI/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/06/visit-to-knightshayes-court.html">Knightshayes Court</a>.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kAEfQcDhibxMqN6zaegT1dw603QfT00ZYhd5mjk1pemOK5ulv5uXdlc2zZajZnAsS69_dqksYmZQiMORzIjRAvNxu-X1jK0yE7o9oL_NEzGxcPNIz32KyIw97tZ3pQD2Men80CehJbyP/s1600-h/43+Along+Wall+inside+Entrance+to+Kitchen+Garden%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="933" title="43 Along Wall inside Entrance to Kitchen Garden" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="43 Along Wall inside Entrance to Kitchen Garden" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivil4-It5h4v0T80A7vN3UdVAUgWG-WSDrMYqAWlsnLX-xc2-hpT4EXnfaZPEh3x_X7Bw0bqBpCuyJb5ZxxLdkkxWMuVvkP6jkTIPxEquzH_DbElmb65cYEI-OmuqCfeninfWhNbkHZtEv/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><strong>Meals Out</strong></p> <p>We also had some fabulous meals out, including a really posh nosh evening at a <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/10/best-meal-ever.html">Michelin starred restaurant</a> for which we were given tickets.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfM3wYg0ylOhwACGhycgudWoFTntfTbKGh_eEqhcT1RjoK_CO3lFPbXRh8E18X92CYXrxZCnXqQ-LVNlABZr2KzUUbjNxlk6ODpVxhu6tKfu_IZGRPpU7oScXOzAaohl8TLBrxatS_vMC/s1600-h/12+Venison+Main%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="580" title="12 Venison Main" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="12 Venison Main" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ9FK_d-JsleXWHHZPQOKcbFm1YQsnA7duFpTOcNtiduOZRK6mfzf61mKD-8TMJw65VrmP85wJ9qn02EV9anpaCziTT8d2zQJft002DlHjvvA2Epzoyl4MIP_fHV4yxvC6uVzfdnYqQrB/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>A meal out with a friend. Very <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/10/chutney-labels-and-great-meal-out.html">chefy food</a> at a pub near us.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoCkJXsj4-_APtUi5WcRy6qGkotRw_6TpnBTsEmLz7PCXD8X5LkwPxE5GYuDTNQ7WQI0g06ltZP3SyXLVBRScAGecUnfFYudCLauBzLwRtRCQGxjueYkV2-P3zEPkg4CN4Hau-LXiV9eh/s1600-h/05+Margaret%2527s+Fish%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="604" title="05 Margaret's Fish" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Margaret's Fish" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jvQuVZasfz_rV6h9ktuJ5ZMl5Y-Bu81gb3rOOuxDk5ej1iv9vVWrGuvOeKwQbyF5GJEbLxAEeV5-NkoapFeXHvWoaxEPJdef8N_9e-vS6Ft5qrgBWjix3o5_RF8Su2eoFR2OIhVErXYo/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>For various reasons it is difficult for us to get away on holiday, but living where we do, there are so many lovely places to visit, and friends to eat out with, and so on, that we hardly miss it. I love being at home anyway, with our lovely surroundings and beautiful little garden, our kitties, my studio and all the things I enjoy doing.</p><p><strong>Computers</strong></p><p>At the end of the year I had a bit of a crisis with my remaining laptop which involved having to format the hard drive and reinstall everything. My hubby’s laptop completely died around this time too, and with Mum’s money about to make an appearance, I decided to buy us both a new laptop and we went off one evening after doing some online research, and got a couple of Acers. I’ve always had HPs in the past but my last one really wasn’t as good as previous HPs so I decided not to get another. That laptop will now go up in the office as a replacement for my previous HP which died (I have been struggling up and down the stairs with it and really need one permanently up there for the accounts etc.) and the new Acer will now become my main computer. I still haven’t got everything back on and working as I would like it but I’ve got the essentials, and the rest will happen in due course. </p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p>Looking back over that little lot, despite my various difficulties this year, I’ve actually done quite a bit! The year has generally been a very good one and we have a lot to be thankful for. I hope to achieve a bit more on the creative front in the coming year, and for once I’m not going to list all the things I intend doing because I always fail to do them!! I shall do what I shall do, and hopefully I shall enjoy the process!</p><p>Wishing all my followers and visitors a very Happy New Year.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-67391866864656356022018-12-24T00:46:00.000+00:002019-03-04T00:55:38.333+00:00Teabag-Beebag Art<p>Today I made a birthday card for a beekeeping friend, with a grungy brown colour scheme.</p><p>I began by stamping a bee image onto a teabag which I had dried, emptied and ironed.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHANnpSJ_jjhafh9dt0p60UR0IcTFTvLo0C7T-pXQZv48GRaLoN4WPF7_kThXHAPViOD36o4ODY9k9K_9-BxVynLhaoKYI146L1dl920yxDPqXiT0Pp2mBHKj-75ygVbYE_ztJoXdDYit/s1600-h/01+Stamping+the+Bee+on+the+Teabag%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Stamping the Bee on the Teabag" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Stamping the Bee on the Teabag" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAlOsGhAu6KBd3azGtBUMrmykTk7dMgg9c_LRR5qPcqrwOqjQbI9vd0COSAdybmh-u4YrrenpHm_0YTHKEfzOBfXcti5iohkMskSnYCyGxPRO_Kc3x8jjVWpZZF_owdZo8GE-Pqy2IYnt/?imgmax=800"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJXu1apVUwzGUkszKqNvyMGBzTB4ftc7HZJtD9Qn4IQu6IsChRzuSAwO4RIy55QDzBKyMPMC6VRPSfpubfOKzBKOQvUG6nMj3SsxEbERUagCk7cr-jaQkZV0rQdTrrnK7tBA35W_tyPq2/s1600-h/02+Bee+Stamped+on+Teabag%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Bee Stamped on Teabag" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Bee Stamped on Teabag" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF33v7ZYAoY7qW4OuQP6kP-U7ZXFbP2xIXyrOnzsLRzCOzll_53Oi3ZBppdeBgHzXmizXl9Z432Bs6o92hEXuFo1doJ4Mz93_DnVF74dRsHSokM2Bll829q9dzwC9aIXQAm2rWY_0V-X3x/?imgmax=800"></a></p></a></p><p>Later, I redid this, using black archival ink, because the sepia didn’t stand out enough.</p><p>I inked a piece of scrim mesh with Pumice Stone Distress Stain.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrkDdijIPh_O0pKdbvjXSl8qWN9AkhuM0CGlENDGu-5CEDew4WAJEzXI_itxL7BSuGsvV_PDmEe7mI48oilDhIjccWc6X7KnQgroGafL2DfO3yJPdMw-NSKSREhVpfesxdJ8EOWg0cpvF/s1600-h/03+Inking+the+Mesh%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Inking the Mesh" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Inking the Mesh" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzBE4Qa44UnR1cyUoMlCXRBzjQQiYB2XylTWL2z5vxI-fWAj_CsXy_RzsDx6OwwXg69Ix5A41D8uMo42RQqiXKGe1RIVZE5l8wViRzQs97rxJn-ZS_PV6_yf6baknP-8xeMDmJbj8sHus/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I took a piece of A4 cardstock for the card base and folded it in half, and inked it lightly with Pumice Stone and Frayed Burlap Distress inks, after which I spattered it with water and blotted it off.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK-R1qlCYFcovv1D98WHYxiRHmnHVV48-nzYR7YTvN6EggkAm76RAhcONVsMRgVLY8y1ADwofuwQoHoqd_M995K3RtdYE-us2m7tYmGA5lVn9b1vHzLZ-MaV-2qVEpL1D3ApRHw912ASo/s1600-h/04+Inking+the+Card+Base%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 Inking the Card Base" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Inking the Card Base" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49WQzBljr7m6Df4wxZA9XHGx0DQq-NlHw_DWxrUpkzHjJOVe_3tTm7QMZt9g8LYrIXGUslyRYE3H5tpCPMub2hyyIsW2GsgFFSjgvtD35xwPXuf32eTclBqhF-wuVf8bDQNe3rlfwQsnr/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The edges were distressed with Tea Dye Distress Ink.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWX4eI6q6mNqvWjVvHLnjC9aIdAZ7BFDbq1mj6z7q1bmYWE5sXQlYjTMDOlSOjN1e6xUqwnh1V3Uh1EEpcGRATNiQJYCfOzEXb70oihMx4ohcb88owz4l53LktCIgt0RQaoEsc4hKEeo7/s1600-h/05+Distressing+the+Card+Base%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Distressing the Card Base" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Distressing the Card Base" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSfeIJwaaqNVNJsF8R8w3XcMxh6NOO1i7LQAFYKcc5bzuOywg859GP1guBBLl7hCC0k49jbZGkoB591DGblLeqF3TLRlD5WXNDW8dqDZuJ3wvHyjL3A-NNVJ0XHo3_UfHgmUuWtXY8hn2/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I tore a piece of hand-made paper along a ruler to make it the size I wanted, and distressed the edges with Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvQCcmtPoiDWmhSuAhAkZzyBElWfz9lksBQA46LPnKOaSKGzVbmb2dW5a5GG1APjy9ThOrsggBfeCfCGvOfjewLGazUvfi_kT8FT0gbzQBgSBrpX6r9lbVCTTXyGaXeFINAL3dtcAp4Qs/s1600-h/06+Distressing+the+Hand-Made+Paper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 Distressing the Hand-Made Paper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Distressing the Hand-Made Paper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HmPQM8h58znBLZidrEcvE2pRV8_QTNoC8UgZESpDs_IkwvRVhqTyS7MJXV08oLAXXtoK8_A_f3i4Mzyi3tSuDeyP4mflI8ZbR2xpeSuMZEhGIYhXnysNwylGUengF_CH7301tFKTevkX/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Again using Pumice Stone and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks, I distressed a piece of printed card, which I have place on top of the original to show the difference.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXjQ0TJUJoKbZlyAQ-HfMNPbrpEC7sZLnZwqsh0AY_2i2hfr_YgXmAkYF3K0jD8NlGxOBP1pmvSler59dnwpBxQVBvJcr8Ap9GhJMfk-Tm1moO1hc1cKaSALjz_kvxY_248NyGTwiNT35/s1600-h/07+Inking+and+Distressing+the+Patterned+Paper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 Inking and Distressing the Patterned Paper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 Inking and Distressing the Patterned Paper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJTXU2RUDjf5NVHjNefqG9oyAsPQZAooPBsB39T8x-dJ__WdfjB3GAjV58UGMNdpgDnLZ4flvO_UkVmNhuY0lPGa-MSEVGzwYA-Hhs6dHjSQYHa6xQsDSKqxjTGZ_Bno1BF2wymIoBwOD/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Assembling the card topper. I stuck the printed paper down onto the hand-made paper with double-sided tape, and the mesh was adhered with spray adhesive.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOQsHM7idlP7YBeOdrwB6txbYVGohP1nhOd8f7K-6h_83TX8BxvpGJa5tpDptDFmgvDrnj9TmFxviROIdSLjRYReLnQn2ZLlWYsXrh_kQ_k-rvJFzYrgyVrCo3s76Qi8nnUUnlC_dH6nO/s1600-h/08+Assembling+the+Card+Topper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="08 Assembling the Card Topper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 Assembling the Card Topper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDn-3mS1hazm9rabpcvg5jg4LwEvuUBwN4TNqteoUp_koe8meGWmtG9HqfOMEJIGzvxm5EA3L462k8tL6ZI9xh7iHwe9FZKNQP3XsLRVWznX401Zc52eEB2S3TPYLW7IBd3RQoFUhdNhnY/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I used the same spray adhesive to attach a small piece of gold punchinella.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMNK3abxkcI2PTYDPG6JCPN7SfMQYvc03YBRdu-a0iVoPPGLXX-skIj0cCsmi_ZkqCSKyllCzpYyi424xezb669j7h0rjoFf-uUu1PnFIPFoI6gBPVR6XX5AoLKrr2KeVgc0ArcV_kCmT/s1600-h/09+Attaching+the+Punchinella%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="09 Attaching the Punchinella" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="09 Attaching the Punchinella" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDzMNZBuPIHJUJBC_EhXkeVeDA05EsefjokERXm2iwvnIxsxQrkgWlnMVdiq3vwVoRuLe0owPSzfV88_TDs1KU4EAQ_VEpFM7bjqfoY1ZrrIZBb5200V8_T4Rt_-mSMLOTN-SiLFi94em/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Completing the card topper. I spattered the back papers with white acrylic paint, and attached the replacement teabag, which I had also spattered with white acrylic. The text was written with permanent black pens.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixy9Su3AN7abftm-q3KD3kYyXWcLwEE-YX2xAWJjZrCJ-oommsrIa4ylm2Dm_v0a5YqsNABK3Kh4NKoP_fE-iaD53QojRc9WL2eALQshCfcUw60w7WRaiDzE5UJs0ohyXjvVPI1cVXcM3E/s1600-h/10+The+Topper+Completed%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="10 The Topper Completed" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 The Topper Completed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauqb11IBsH_r_wyIr277EbXaI7EZM0nV6Md2-NAYS3eqwH5V6p4EPy-eqJ8FV9O82gcCqVnw_Rf128WYeSNT1GvBQr96FmpcPLzcr5QJmqm6ktZl412n5bzvYyMeUWSueNYW3UgPIi7st/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The completed card, with a couple of gold peel-offs.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVMhr0V7utcsA9uToiHBnmzpGdFrnuGgMimdMEr1wNRdyi99pZG49IhEuPR7GX86ajDofd5QPND4qofFGaqJEeBOldr8lPE6xFCeM_x8VYhiLD4hAW1TCDuO73JB_mpTO08qUK06KNGJx/s1600-h/11+Completed+Card%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="880" title="11 Completed Card" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Completed Card" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ke3vgRMk7zVxk0B-hJ5n8_rO-qHQeeHha6HFIa3_jltVUBoMwGINHcwyMZkbiKp0F5iv0DdDjIR01_Ge18z4nK4sZQ629m7bnamBRkQRzXspO_569amAc78DW_FZ8THstQczdU-mfKLM/?imgmax=800"></a></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-48615383963747152372018-12-18T11:25:00.000+00:002019-03-04T12:06:17.888+00:00Completion of the Mystery Project–Part 4–Purple Heart and Card<p>The final one of the three hanging hearts was the purple one, for my friend’s birthday, and I gave it to her a couple of days ago, together with a matching birthday card.</p><p>Some time ago she had asked me to make her something like this, and at the same time she gave me some pieces of wallpaper she’d got when she was deciding how to decorate her room. I decided to use bits from these for this project.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYg63Y1xjNZ0Xb8I4k9hc2nSFuF_M38P_wAnH-6mJC7KXdxfxhX1GIk2T9JgRVBDE0HSY14M50j3cwxdu0QbwNeDNfH3ok3qE-aYBITj04dO0eTFkOmkYmy7TLm9c1H0HTSX3eNStyM0He/s1600-h/03+Selection+of+Wallpapers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Selection of Wallpapers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Selection of Wallpapers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2StBMFdbqN0sw3ord0TtNDiuYiUfAM89zk129wC09zIbaHlaHhx4A_nos9Nlyjq4x75kMDzFzhmRXd2nGpwZiUOkAgdLCsCjBlcfpzFfibh5ybZWQINUVnIx3bKm2Vf0oYNLKYJXqnNU/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>For the background for this heart, I cut a piece of music to fit in the recess of the frame – my friend is a musician, and she had got me a whole lot of old music from someone she knows, and I’ve had this a while now, ready for incorporating into art projects.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6dXNY6QNL4wkAFuBIl28mdq2rsxSiOKKPtefDERUHf1ppGCY12z_fm-a-z9NqjOyGnyvCHWtuD3eOA1mg9aJNN8KLJZsxuZAKJkvFj7Rsxpn7pIsEEDI8NYlOc2pDzMNF-s129ZpG5JB/s1600-h/01+Old+Music+from+Alan+Wills%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Old Music from Alan Wills" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Old Music from Alan Wills" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWPb-ChPAn1sbbyq1OYTmYMvCpTRmpfGmh11fZRZ0AKT1Rs8zSSQNK7FK7wtSH5-Efu2CvG8qXM-wRKRibN1myXBYDNpwsaAVaZ511tq-Q5fJT1FfEUMZYbOm9d0q-yaWGq1RSGNaVeON/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The particular piece I used was from the back of one of the books of music, showing samples of other books – the music was reduced in size and just perfect for this little frame.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiJBSEd0hMkGjijOKYgT4W9WzU2-xZZs4ZL0dHC-O-VVr2wKdK8RFeuwEmeNwyRcptBzRnEcSk4TQHs0zbdhNO0V0_692ua5yZ7RXo6SncaTCS1rhf64pbzQW5-nrhCduqEvBfZlcHBUy/s1600-h/01+Cutting+the+Music+and+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="540" title="01 Cutting the Music and Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Cutting the Music and Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuUHBM-Py2WriWED3JqSHEuMuqAV-mqbotsH4MGM502MEeeGJGI4sExr40DowHhQx0GNtH1Ntavaz3uo_XijyDVNpz8l28FJd-VLvrjXR1uoAcQaF-JQ_NXwnnYzPkii6N6EuKQ0BKxBc/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I selected a few of the stems from one of the wallpaper pieces and fussy-cut them out to overlay on top of the music piece.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKJLsWBTXJwzH6fW-JlB4q2FVUIcdffyJjo-zpDB-gmrmENksqxV6v01Q0KOD0eqSGDzgGcYp9nN4RB4zIF9BmPRScs-ZyasdncDqQ2HtnB4I8nb57cDtyj4pFw9v85PLMVjxiiz8rZYl/s1600-h/02+Music+and+Wallpaper+Cut%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Music and Wallpaper Cut" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Music and Wallpaper Cut" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7RXHMMKMWMwXt5cpoCQ7_1hyphenhyphenHzOUaBhGBzY-6ISoc5owUPgcm6HCx9uKu1MZfW_ARMgRa0qNTAPadd6i9QNQE71MK4u0uZYKLUoQGKOKOjPEM0bsDFhW6unFsj0KGcl7PYgScxMHu8ia/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The stems stuck down and the ends trimmed.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjMfZOO-1203hZQf6ac4oT0TKCqHm9RwgJzYZvtOBgP6j-VY0kKbbWttPbb51uCCtzmdk-9VY7rWetPqUYxiYyXu55bWbLkthDRbVIKfV0ZTWrhwoN9GqGWdLdwAVBsm4ZRW5nQOieJCt/s1600-h/03+Wallpaper+Pieces+Stuck+to+Music%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Wallpaper Pieces Stuck to Music" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Wallpaper Pieces Stuck to Music" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlI7YICGyhqxk9pGkhAqfn1dLKj1GcpCdppDy87RR1XNuXD03ULEvZ51EXB2VfGSOy67CqomakPCQDVTVN1mGHnHIft8CRBLCanwnuDio5Tcb1kyRJIE58_4bHz8Qoy3XZ4bp8D1VUSOK/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The music paper had a slightly greenish tinge to it, so I enhanced this by distressing the edges with some Pine Needles Distress Ink to start with.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mm_NR1ybJnDIT290oyG6jP9B60TNU2m3scDfv55PmPBbvd3xRasWC2O96SDdyjhn679xSXSsKbFEIicSyNxOU_ZfhWVzRxUcP4PV8ptvUoaDpfuQh4tgf4EQ1YfSqWIeaCRlc85sPcfG/s1600-h/04+Inking+the+Music+-+Pine+Needles+DI%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 Inking the Music - Pine Needles DI" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Inking the Music - Pine Needles DI" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwJ4m7z6hH3p8ob2-zHEp3jd2v7OAGl41Lu_xxJg_KHsyKfYSaRpU_zMkfIe-JRoN7V_tR5o5HavvtqxWluU-cHIxuzo7b-JPYhUIvUFdJOhnoPC1K6eQaAXBdNVHow8HXhbwNcHfzpYS/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>To this I added some Pumice Stone and Hickory Smoke Distress Inks to dull it down a little.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2AlF6XVDaUFYxIjNtntRpklZXeNn4PwtA47JGOBetDmPRgU11woFQ9SxXsOSQmIMtkpVpxQueOllw6wSb5j3EMMw9buQSs0z65K1oj6HmVTO3E6nPk3HnGT0svCImN7GQ9HFCVwH9vAq/s1600-h/05+The+Music+Inked%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 The Music Inked" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 The Music Inked" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0gcwt-XrW89emu52c3shg0YXTLTHlWuQtF4dk0_0jXKlxTvomsXv7l7YDr0AX0wSNWCuOOa2fOJUXLhBAARNMwvSLf-nYh_EIHmdhSNEwiZ5olRrxRCn8fvS8vXUYWJpZLc7poG5C3hU/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The music piece with its stems in place in the heart frame.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZw6F6qEmUt4O0KEzazBaqSC1aOm2PaiWe8aRc0-S8FLJ58aRijHVWvZdmiRsSdQHt2Vqc1tq5YvmgZfHkTDqqRwip7RDtze8MjW8pP_Z65dXGVLkmvxhn35dAl7OzWVkKm-GPWEnwOQC/s1600-h/06+The+Music+in+the+Heart%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="580" title="06 The Music in the Heart" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 The Music in the Heart" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V-p6B00D8eVttwMnQ2rQMtus8wUWBLmUWfj_fyNh9_taw4iQsoaCOxzVdoJ-l9QcrwQKQV50g8RlmGuBKC-8JOISxUqQReXVmh7xW2r9h1iAnR7bhxZS0JM66opvIRIH0HZc6zEbH3G3/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I worked on the back as before, packing out the recess in the frame with corrugated cardboard stuck down with masking tape, and making a back piece traced around the outside of the heart onto a piece of cardboard. I distressed the edges with Pine Needles and Pumice Stone Distress Inks.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XTDY69GWd_WdgxJHxLz2NcyVXK0oqyrR9gt4r5KZAeKMtPeSryqlHWf11eUEpThKYpiEbNzz2gD6PvUOoR3XiLtoNdpwyU4zecwQ-7aXeyKJH2OSEZM0Fak_jaoqjUy5w61lR3IB0Gg5/s1600-h/07+Working+on+the+Back%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 Working on the Back" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 Working on the Back" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDgDgNoJV87XJvwsDqvw-0IbNNCHo0aDjpJrfiUjo0oEMFZwCSx4wmy80hCtY-s0BvmXY1aOvwH1f4RsKzvttt_5ML_Y5Ux-LczzIDnNArKBJj6YXO30Kt51eQzR6IDfsNgFnqkeKigW8/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Pumice Stone is a very useful colour. It’s not particularly inspiring on its own on a white background, but for dulling down other colours, it’s perfect.</p><p>These are the purple roses that I made for this frame, laid on a couple of the wallpaper pieces as a background.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LzYeSI78ao60dtmWIUK-U6bD2yIpSjENDNb57GtyyV6JIpwIApvPvs4vNTsi5AxJUTaAhyphenhyphenv-XTwJujOwlBSKfb5fiuEoMFAfFnzhKwTP0hGksnT9zjvcHNe6Cy9nGyi_CfbGlFxZKPim/s1600-h/25+All+the+Purple+Roses+on+Silver+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="25 All the Purple Roses on Silver Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="25 All the Purple Roses on Silver Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFFSGn_L7VD-UnKGnUjRY8cQrSvi-JD2H6i2LM2gB6JnEa_3f49eGjrC9mGxrLUcvCwXT4m7HhT7YS5NSM7-nDc6AmVEujT3zkxlcu9TjWQrMpDo7DEhAp7HhT7w-o_palo9wzGupLmCG/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUwBqe3dNbkg4Lww5yWmldnUmDkIFryMG2bEHj9ulpOR8QGdF7Rkt2dvwGnEiApcBIQXPzzUx-eOGk3TFxWCuWb7_mEaJU7_3GXgXtCLTR8QAJfS4P8YHzTd1HHU6UuLgq78RjZj1Hhi0/s1600-h/26+All+the+Purple+Roses+on+Light+Rose+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="26 All the Purple Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="26 All the Purple Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiiWNc8RMVbwqxlaN_4P6kJAuS6cRzwdDtJNnuhzPj3qXgqchzGIN_Du5aWRBgk_PX1IXogQXi42T51-53NwVT-STUFB03mZqfRNnT8vzvFdc8amV9TQnPQyuNBt7gV_UP7Ytq2ve6fn_/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Finally, here they are on the dark rose wallpaper. I really liked the spray of flowers on this paper and decided to use it for her birthday card (see below).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREOUmu8uCmmZ7uCubYvbtm8kLEsIhzq83L9WQ-PBWhdWiXBfeZhxNFxX9Ks2j7qb54EbwksY32jXyMje4JUsefUukZEo8L-5T6COgkdz-GvhRFcFk0Ci8Zw_B6_W1S6DgJ30Y588F2BZj/s1600-h/24+All+the+Purple+Roses+on+Dark+Rose+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="24 All the Purple Roses on Dark Rose Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="24 All the Purple Roses on Dark Rose Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLJ7PNVZ2DmIqEoeatj-lJWrBpSiZxW_5qIk7Kp2LysHw1gRYC18Gqn4-tOGlVzZJs-Rn7053L3kHMYRw8nwNCK-8V4hM6jF0Y96IhP3tXBvgerSWew05h5vFcn7IG4AhM3zk91uGuJ-m/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here are the roses stuck onto the heart frame with hot glue. I have laid a few small flower pieces in place as I felt it needed something extra.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhXs1BLXgUoQdXkr6bTPe3iYAeqo1mpvhY3rP2vU0CPZGn0PPCs2rGV9OmBw74lO7KM9pzq7VtaoPykuHawybIyLXe_4m_2FzH40xsLr4zqyPXz8WlIdHi9ZQtg_kxsU1uWk4qp0GTZKK/s1600-h/08+The+Roses+on+the+Heart%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="630" title="08 The Roses on the Heart" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 The Roses on the Heart" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgheeyaXXD_fIrHm5Bfj73GfLTMG3RiauPkxLacC9oM_SryfzQwKb16q0A6vO3hkyrNYOvb-xjl5ABFoKgoTvuXag59Nyt5aHfoFd-NnRl5DAnY1LJ-935MIjLupKN3JtlkqQBeJDJ_Gk/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Inking the small flower pieces, using Seedless Preserves Distress Stain. On some of them, I also added a little Brushed Pewter Distress Stain for a bit of variety.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Q88gDOSrmmAwcH1jHb6wUVA-oXKM6nGaQFhit806B9DU0Xkt8mr19AfVjTpD9L2ypuK-746YSyvJRix-VVAIQ_8pt63_lA26SpeY2tv8srNusrAUrb90n-ouNevDNLE-jmnziOU9bYJ/s1600-h/09+Inking+the+Tiny+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="09 Inking the Tiny Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="09 Inking the Tiny Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwsY7DNEDx0pHENSD_pucIxPBf6cu6gxteARf_r32wgRVyC_hrdyeBuOQGkSp4y5ATXaWQM4skvNNyP4ClGXcyMj4qXPJN45sJf4Sy-o_w_wdkGnFFtKnqz8XomVVkFdgR7b7_A5bSJxU/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I made some die-cut leaves and coloured them with Pine Needles and Forest Moss Distress Stains. I hand-embossed these when they were dry.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyy-9NUyUxAjPfNozAC27gfN3rJ6LO2xAYMxJQ6EfCuqUVbkWjLUZIRlcHoq0OPa4DYBLB8O5Y7xJAMQlZa6RPqPlSHiweLq2G3WRFlbRfjC63DsjqWWshSRVn7e2bRCakGO_SXl3hfxV/s1600-h/10+Inking+the+Leaves%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="10 Inking the Leaves" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Inking the Leaves" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMzXO1y0D0P6WX6jbhsP5E4MULh5yM1GrKdmIORRHotzFuxh5XktMX-RAfBWpfu1EZxbWt9o2grrYHc0vOoF3qO5LQ1dCP9yYOTOqsBoCivtW1OUsHHY00oWKdqoWOSMAx6xSJkcxSHPI/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here are the finished leaves with the tiny purple flowers. The colour has come out a bit too bright on this black leather background! The true colour can be seen in the next photo.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOS1xnNOO20Bod79YhAtDdtHGwnaoqZNbGq5YO_ujZeIFdTN8DfD1dEN58_FdFTvJSm3SxXjgMJ0ClHEL8X2uQyP6REsSBy5zgWPXmY64XUyy9awWUst_K_VF_6wTtRFGZiClNGOlOuMp/s1600-h/49+Green+Leaves+and+Tiny+Purple+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="548" title="49 Green Leaves and Tiny Purple Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="49 Green Leaves and Tiny Purple Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoT-1YlySqRl3mkU2-4T7_WPGiNDqpVBq-nZ0GL1-YmQihO6qzgjW8Rc42QvR0G6lYMr8-TN8E-gFJJ6-PCatik9izNjdWzYexNAK5KGLmSjrZfYboKotthlvoC9eflHqXyOo8fcOYbXDo/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here is the finished heart frame with some of the leaves added, also stuck down with hot glue, first of all against the stems wallpaper as a background:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KeOo1sjFMoXj2zJFErHeSok1rhzXoDY6E80-SPL9RZyfNmTFt2WV8NS8SSKR9gu8iojdeSzSgfWFEz9Yx5QTCyAIurY4-8ntjA8SKV7kFVnt0WjlS7pn5PRtf8BDx49tTWQpNMyZzPMI/s1600-h/11+Completed+Heart+1%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="11 Completed Heart 1" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Completed Heart 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-SVjwszhN6CgtlF7mWy10_38B8ThgUUJx1dcbStzm8quVEfmOghnyCRHbW8kIL4jwfuuHsIc_qSSY0_F-kd97Xw9x8ooL8p2gohzCxblEaTBwjdpHqc5Qc65etKyCc5NQ6Rovl4ko-KH/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>and on another of the wallpaper pieces for a slightly different effect.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9GIjo9kXXMYptM2ILASjS7-I5WawNTyBIEggLGAD5VNmyRfYNNpTufFKl4coUMhOX3HxinRgaLhEqz0UubrkOuVp8uzPq4frI6jElytKESXx3dk24QkZxoDbBB-n0Xs7-Ya878PDZzwe/s1600-h/12+Completed+Heart+2%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="557" title="12 Completed Heart 2" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="12 Completed Heart 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kH8CgGmUXrZCO6z4ERFaYEibpRXKQiQRLiFLbWBad18f8Qr-_febwnc_8e44KY4gIIsV0mi-qgYtSCX8tm7Czm_bStb10_kLHnbagEddaCaqiJ0_TY0WgmFUj4VXxk6AFlwsPE8JbQph/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><strong>The Birthday Card</strong></p><p>I wanted this to co-ordinate with the heart frame, and I particularly loved the dark rose wallpaper and decided to use this for the card.</p><p>I selected the area with a complete flower spray, and also cut out some of the rose leaves from elsewhere on the piece. These didn’t need embossing because they were slightly curled, and there was shading in the printing of the leaves. I cut the piece with the floral spray to the correct size to mat and layer onto a black cardstock base.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeOTJ3ssYQXHmaFCfdWVlArnHgkT3xjlncPuQBPzGD1NxLSbBQlNdtU_7Tn30dXz5EXiCd83rhknHs9ZosmjtmoYSGI-PRHMCUwiW2QxVkXdoVTGVQXPMmJXnVuUtH1174mDxEqi8iAQ1/s1600-h/01+Cutting+the+Wallpaper+Pieces%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Cutting the Wallpaper Pieces" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Cutting the Wallpaper Pieces" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinQobuKhpiiy7Qs1-aoFGTgnaA1oC4k3Uibq685XlttuZW0XgssPrJjUf4BlcSbRu0xuakFjroQRZIMvGsYndRFRM5ih73qUEa_YEdibH6-t0crsMLpt7JgAxGwY9Z1rn3qFZJgFERZYE/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The bottom left hand corner of the piece had part of a very large rose on it, which I didn’t want, so I cut a piece of background from the wallpaper to cover it, and then found a small paper doiley in my stash, which I inked with Worn Lipstick, Pumice Stone and Hickory Smoke Distress Inks, gradually building up the colour with Inkylicious Ink Dusters until I’d got the colour right to co-ordinate with the background piece. I trimmed off the excess so that it would fit over the corner of the piece.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFMSqq5j35oX0-yQoccFVpM0E-B7JhXnJWc_J46E4gA-GRm5DI939YWkSr-P78QC3k-0EugSzE0TxaJSMj_zi5aFw0U4mT7x04hbbK4Pm6cU7_-JtipHfIpBHH9Z3nAamCl6ufQtXgrol/s1600-h/02+Inking+the+Doiley%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Inking the Doiley" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Inking the Doiley" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WIk22Kev6m2RtouGV6zIYoQD8nERiPWNe9tgulO5xlEaZm2O7vxBLaseZ2XyoxHpI-R145GPyqUwEShBr8eNLICD3zlu4EmeOsExmbvVAhhoy7jSkPjMvNXKygK9lsn3QlyuRvZ5kPCT/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The doiley glued in place over the piece of wallpaper background. Much better without that large rose.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblz-HzD4YzJfyN-Gb7nztHe1H5hBG4nWGh1gtMbivAbvNHMk2oCoNa1SQRYsNJlGKsc8qTY6MJB3pxrmXygoDYn5RPcTleu7dg4WKADravl0wkJ3e6mVzcvtdSEWAnK62ebLCGhHTG6kR/s1600-h/03+The+Doiley+Glued+in+Place%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 The Doiley Glued in Place" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 The Doiley Glued in Place" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1dHxFltjQqmJd5W12I3dFitPArcjtkdUhA0tpAcFGW3D9iXTYgMllc5JYCalr23lAeDAreoqDYVv9IZ5V_05dCm3Rf4P93_Rw4dHBA-3uDBonosixIVJUBZt2ckN0lx-D95YpPPRTIwy/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Matting the piece onto the black card base. You can see that there are some leaves printed on the top edge – I was originally going to cut these off but decided against it. I love the “crazy paving” texture of the background of the wallpaper, which is slightly shiny.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfquwzEvOHMMeXiW-7Pl0hnenv1wji-rw96Lbg-KXNHzyUdbYuvjEe8qhCffYAzY-lZp32v6_rvDLSWwoX_Rvqnp1-c0aICqoX8BboMGF0Iqbf2M81vQFi-g6MiISO3jkmUb_hhZooSspb/s1600-h/04+Matting+the+Card%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 Matting the Card" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Matting the Card" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkmq6lqUC0d2aoLEPaiGnYf6OtiYTm8C3BYelOdNxbmxlIt2Hyg0jBrUonxGEHNbMYlIug3dw8DSzZ8HHdklV0O0kujj9zNFKf9Cz10g2DTEhIR6dFTXVjP-_mHcAWmf8yk2bd29sfDWx/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The next step was to glue on the leaves. I did a mock-up to decide where to place the die-cut and embossed leaves and stuck those down first. I took the rose leaves cut from the wallpaper and filled the backs with quite a bit of hot glue so that they would retain their slight curve, and let them cool till set. I wanted the leaves to have some dimension on the card and not just be glued down flat, but the paper was fairly flimsy, so the hot glue had the effect of strengthening them considerably.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gtVGZYPzt94Tlc_MMmWnHpISHVbAAjo0buabQRTkqWwEeN7WTMspbcJEnGjtN7kpChlBZptN95PCNrMz8pwEtDblBItq_DO-5iOlj8nhff3zUlK3GS1hb7whYm3UN8kRMGm3tnQOZ6i/s1600-h/05+Glueing+on+the+Leaves%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Glueing on the Leaves" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Glueing on the Leaves" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wlVvE91csw_4iClcTVXA93gPL4oLckvTsb6slkyqmnjiLTDFxxk2UaCNXy-twFfKp-i5O6yOs5n4BZXyemNR_55y0m4i6EnairqbRg0p4mkiEq0CCsuShPbm7FCcdWxupbqV-IeQTSZU/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I placed them onto the card and heated them with my heat gun in order to soften the hot glue again and hold them in place.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7XirmjQl9kl2T8yzb1LOLcNlkuP2U9020iuSl5agn7poNpeDAF2L2wzpIOYuCy7yhoyMFizwa6I810SZTqIjKG5KjG5eHWNp16YeddOHdz3mFyWMlbZPjbOUwGSmAFWm1oX7ql7vOgw0/s1600-h/06+The+Leaves+Glued+in+Place%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 The Leaves Glued in Place" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 The Leaves Glued in Place" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvgUleAy2kLdIssQrYVie1zF6xTVF4I_9klLy96qD7Qcnp_ZikIg3Dwu_IPaql8Aw66Z0WI7HEnBWfReDi1MTXRZR1FAh3YX_R0TDcnpzJrt0lJPpGdvPRWxJdxDvvvFY3SXrIJn-0XUM/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Unfortunately this had the effect of warping the whole card, so it had to endure Shoshi’s Heavy Books Treatment overnight! It was much better in the morning.</p><p>I made a liner for the inside from some pink cardstock which I distressed with Dusty Concord Distress Ink, and stamped the sentiment with the same Distress Ink. I highlighted this with a pearlescent gel pen but this doesn’t show on the photo.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYX8FNI-sYBrMJbQePVE0AXUzBG9BToPxBjAsq7wY5kk4bZQh3QzT5-2Gtau2YsklVZc9YUEr8YG8KTWn_wCDCZugKuN1Tjv3LUfY_MfszcpIqawhEBt2wsWMyt4WNODf1naomA4H4t2l2/s1600-h/08+The+Card+Inside%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="08 The Card Inside" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 The Card Inside" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcE_vLY5gOj1tueJE7yCmnTlaPUcJCH-AzfrKOfBQwGNB1ZN9Ag0kpn3OvhTRQ1EhyphenhyphenEfAhNdK3Itje1wYNSpfB8wmcnHeji85YRHBqpKuGSeBi3FHeesTsiT6oRZWlUAH5sqDO51XH7JDJ/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The completed card, on one of the wallpaper pieces as a background. I added a gold peel-off sentiment.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMSmAnZwRwl0Bc9mOEvRuSnVdCFJ7NwsZfuIoR2qK-l2u3hjm0Hg6BYQgyuUe0Tl2dec1s1zsfCRif9B5iTCQv8VDTRTPjeXsSoIvJUC_J5yfLMqAOUkSg8jPa5kXCzLDjERaIsp3XEPa/s1600-h/07+The+Finished+Card%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 The Finished Card" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 The Finished Card" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CsOzhSWu37EPOOw3UIJ96DDNT6i-_h3vs4MNURgsSx_4LOSbuwzFgMwe_zGSxU1a4e7-LuvnFwBa30tzaGY-SIltV9y2k9FJ90Zq7FjrrNJ7uuidwtofjQNdPl4SvqUL9THHEfGFtF9J/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here it is, with the purple hanging heart ornament which was her birthday present.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb4fGaj2JNl4aMiwy4qG650f9Yipq4dJSN_G9wvehnQ6mxTHe9sMxWoXIRCe7znqOeZwFXUpG7G3r6lnpRjAv-taA1qf-cgyFQ52MVY5RgtNbzZLZr-QMvy8XhVi86MnYRxBZn-9IP2UR/s1600-h/09+The+Card+and+Present%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="09 The Card and Present" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="09 The Card and Present" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMGAAiZVC6S7dTD0tZlcG3gjk1uOHCckSgqlx4ujVmEfx1qTljwKzjP53v7-K80Oj2wSfpqeKdx5wA88H6zgP3fy0MwEeFlRdB7_3xrUVAfYki8Dh8mYCp3xsQUUiboAee1BZ4OZ-gQ7Y/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>This completes the mystery project of three hanging heart ornaments and a birthday card. I really like the colour schemes and the wallpaper pieces, and have enough left of these, and some of the flowers (I used all the purple flowers) to alter the little frames my hubby gave me recently.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6dZ0w19Crf6jym2OMeV529S93JO3H2un8eLKITa2SqSQ2XUoSjHAOdqSC-64ND1BD_yjW9f43JLhhID6f9tpIwJYqN71bw5x1L0NnYh2jJuwczy2fhxKiaDYBPr0mNbM9u1TV4CzOpM5/s1600-h/01+Four+Small+Frames+for+Altering%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Four Small Frames for Altering" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Four Small Frames for Altering" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9bwHVvmMfMWwY9uxW9V81gu-LvUuTMi450WgrEzA93IMphDZ9Gthf_CkCbGhHKwdWSQ2Cyj3aRUnEyJAszzJ_9GvNnFT4L8i6AptFVaOQuLsWi4z9Pn-6P0QZlPheWsmsk_T1sVKKcmH/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>They are a bit bigger than the small heart frames, so I’ll have a bit more space to play with. Watch this space.</p><p>I have enjoyed working with the wallpaper pieces. I have a couple of old wallpaper sample books and really should start using these. They can make a good starting point for many projects, and they have lovely designs, colours and textures which can be enhanced by the addition of embellishments. Must do more of this!</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-9457633940071904042018-12-18T01:37:00.000+00:002019-03-04T01:43:32.046+00:00WOYWW 498–Mystery Project Revealed<p><em>Writing this on Tuesday afternoon.</em></p><p>Three little hanging heart ornaments for friends, from this:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfPyIpWuWId3gPBa17d_p5gCkrKLmeFMd3Ocx7bWE2V8UQd8Q0r2D5ILnOzeeaFkX34s3KvpQ1BNTmKmQUb3xtZv8WqxfNqfwiRzCxfcXJlxV_vcIS7Kq1h0E1vbAU4dEuUxYJP6sWHeD/s1600-h/01+Three+Small+Heart+Frames+from+Ebay%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Three Small Heart Frames from Ebay" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Three Small Heart Frames from Ebay" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkq81OekyyzbHp3Ma8f6LcMfvjqySSO76azbDRrVdl4c2YeqVcy2ZIvH1kpmdn3H9DO0UZci8-ags3CESXU-x9EVd1L0nhkiUA4H-rOYIVTiySjUo1rQdRxuceOviccxvFj0IdqbFgfXO/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>to this:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3ytLgMr69RO9aBm73a4Q8tB_RyC32cY5sVi50emxFXtpNZbaQPsXVyoHA5XIsSXmjxSG73zYMqLfcBdEtaqIO0jEkK-x7RaRin5XBn74r1rB91PhzNSOUsLiDI65jid20TWjAE2QYeSE/s1600-h/06+Two+Completed+Hearts%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 Two Completed Hearts" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Two Completed Hearts" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2pMVVJns7f9zHSFhdXC5s6lIxxqWyCyHoLPZw55x4HQZkiRtEAdZQJy0CUzhR-xr43emCGwxJ7keJdYJXFwmkKD1dy_oRCZPjDxYqlHnqFv0CYGlZhlprJCzaEZGBdNjUmHQw20Soiat/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wHI7KEz2JgQ/XBkmlQ4hZ5I/AAAAAAAAedo/DH-eZwBtitU4cJIz1-AlRlYxFEEEsD2HwCHMYCw/s1600-h/06%2BTwo%2BCompleted%2BHearts%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="11 Completed Heart 1" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Completed Heart 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6ToJh2D23Aj3zuBJ3neiBBwqrO8xea5UdeIGsFsEwv6MRcpz3z2FxakNBg4mxx6MERvRa0RQLyZDjJOc3qsxXqhhTDwsrRmVUElE2Pwk5DtZaQO3ZJSygVu5lhum094eJENV1CgmqMGi/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here are some closer details.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZXBwAR0JBAXfwfxcTGYE4EGGr7kNloFdvsZvNMophi2TihA9Kx_jJHq-qvli4lPaaCoiqzElwINJCmQGdGDgRiihQq0v8e1TZJBnm5NhyphenhyphenEO257sbB0cnFyHhcZk3sEhTZ297bYIzy9m0/s1600-h/11+Brown+Heart+Complete%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="718" title="11 Brown Heart Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Brown Heart Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-TjvLY-K3k9IH-oXjzQ1SmYgvEk2bkf18gmFsEKxiQpetyY_y7qLFMl3W0rh49n2xLIIA1uUiYmlThKPdVBVEHpmKWwMnYj-G_7vQgN-dGTnbS19xTfMZ0sK9VLO_1gU7MuvELmvky7i/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F0nQDEDd6gE/XBkmozLwbmI/AAAAAAAAed4/fHu-PEO_PP87Lpmjp07KoKVK9wgXuURHwCHMYCw/s1600-h/11%2BBrown%2BHeart%2BComplete%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Painting the Corrugated Cardboard" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Painting the Corrugated Cardboard" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAKqC-qmu0BDay49tk-C8a_sgLIGCPPJDqURqzcWp-N6W82ZU2Th2qEI9pk01VMCM6nL2-K-m8cW23ARp4EHfP25CQu5DGLZ1V5oEdJ6G9X2fffcO8RF-Qmsxaq7FKlVamaEQFngEWQVE/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hNsYu4cioQk/XBkmqiO3WNI/AAAAAAAAeeA/MrQ3v-vMlOAaCDhp8svXBmgs8nxdb_AvACHMYCw/s1600-h/05%2BPainting%2Bthe%2BCorrugated%2BCardboard%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="08 Mesh and Jute String" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 Mesh and Jute String" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqIUwiW6leGVayamMBLC0KW7bejkMCaE_SNbmeYKHcEAxq8RuD1g5lqtnVoxXuuiqD-WFnwcywt81AhGntqMLbehikV9whn3DA5vyFSfVpaeG22uCqX8ccjZD5RdMw6LH5MdZHXKdUrDJ/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MThBTs-OVgY/XBkmsYOw0PI/AAAAAAAAeeI/5pwxyo8zBQEYLRfgOjN0hMotCEv39695ACHMYCw/s1600-h/08%2BMesh%2Band%2BJute%2BString%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="718" title="06 Completed Turquoise Heart" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Completed Turquoise Heart" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdxjlrpTXoEth45T3d4AV87Mk3RAGp4EJjQSCvf05s4I9I4C_W0m1JTSSQt_NT0Tjcir886QPeNmOiOz_FeDkYO7DJOTRwBUfJgE24qA0GCAsy2eHHNTXnmBk6lPCr5BNCbUfbLOt_eVg/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AfKkzsFIPVM/XBkmuCzERtI/AAAAAAAAeeQ/tIiCJRjxTVc9ItBhcZADEnP94ffnrq7OwCHMYCw/s1600-h/06%2BCompleted%2BTurquoise%2BHeart%255B3%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 Painting the Terracotta Pots" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Painting the Terracotta Pots" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg3mDW6p54XEWkrY_udChlgFYqzy-T8u91IvCLvZ5bKuEP9psgIEn3UlXF3Il0NOQTerAcfQBE3oB_PG6SCHGj3d52gHpr-mkt5YXYxs7uuww56CoacHDndzrfeE7o-wfU0H3kw6b02N1/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Can you guess what I made the little terracotta pots from? Bet you can’t… Details in an earlier post.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiiUquoWeRwRLAiHpVFcsgrw552SK27Kc4yRTgLmHDG93se1dOLRV8YE5hAN9yRABxeg_SB4xTLpD2CRMXcRpzNTwqGBeoTFxcMw2RAYmZT0DrAZzZnAH7v7QcB9232z7Yavn8We-4eep/s1600-h/05+Background%252C+Lace+and+Pumice+Gel+Medium%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Background, Lace and Pumice Gel Medium" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Background, Lace and Pumice Gel Medium" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwR_2KzuNuxagNvcA7ELpd8vQEUr9iKZXD-bqAkcMEfqINXHeNZPcIS-uWDeUF0VjfZqS5-WhtPE_g_i4DZybaK2KFaV0ZP34n3QZfmxjakyNYUOhlq0FkL9FAQuccBCK1Y6OoweniWWu/?imgmax=800"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXPTA5e8nZD4YEy6SojOY3oTPJLgHOr5P4jEpUPLkyZLrMWjTsGCQI4eELqBYwdzCLRLFL4UFEF227c20EXwTHpHOz4WElOcTMwRx91wH9Ww3BQFBETfXhg-YIdmlMBXNrg-_lswCXRHv/s1600-h/11+Completed+Heart+1%255B11%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="11 Completed Heart 1" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Completed Heart 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtBzAzRYHSJ8tn7QS_rrf4a66r712T1OpJ0yeBcQ2YUT2TKi-jSEvEAXgNjaCkYHSuUoDCPuExGFQduRsbiVK52-7Aq__csh_hQ4rrr0dJWrPUkZELoVSGrabuqczaZbOPO7X19Tb20zs/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGqxUQmwaWIj0UZlCLS9zg8NONpsWjlKYqImxIWONMwKo5CYwKrDliK8qLb3KdZrq6lLAk5u_irq1OcBJnEXmDwlE_vI1cTnGVu49sGRsSTLW4VvlSiGT9niF-V5Z5tZrUZSExKjy9Y8X/s1600-h/03+Wallpaper+Pieces+Stuck+to+Music%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Wallpaper Pieces Stuck to Music" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Wallpaper Pieces Stuck to Music" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdRzSMJ5iaWNu9Lt4OBlmqNkSk5cLhAUcZo97lMapuE5XnSrRB80cQ4sr84BRKakY8Ft1BBqlAgnhQjJU741m4kvbRq3tT3CG5ZUCTUK14oZ3fUDeELirKMcZKU0IBj1FUNTnND8UY1Q-/?imgmax=800"></a></p></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D5XoYgND6fQ/XBkm04ImxHI/AAAAAAAAeew/8cQp4yDg_bo334WA-ZQdhDUQpDhmzupiQCHMYCw/s1600-h/03%2BWallpaper%2BPieces%2BStuck%2Bto%2BMusic%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="10 Inking the Leaves" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Inking the Leaves" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh786_GABBdKpuxEwkF4f_k0GxotZvFV4YWA7CHGxfCd-_MMn_4OHxJMXcDAmZVSHpMWW9BNf_GWHUe_jaC0ckZH8p_RX53Br8-f3hUzOSeu7-ctjldQFr7zLuk8dxeN48Qo1aJcv5SqUQY/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The purple heart was for one friend’s birthday, so I also made her a card.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk7U3SyU9C_gMjwCX5tpzMQL1LHW7cv48pWIhO0rEfRzQoEzEKRSCMUxC2cmpJctVasDR1kKnGGpjyxs_7EHuXcvlNtIr_s9F4Uh6XnfbEFEpX5l3uWoaDR3pI2PrbYAsY2iv7Jl8Wy8V/s1600-h/07+The+Finished+Card%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 The Finished Card" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 The Finished Card" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZECdV9_LlrnFqBAK6Sjpu2HvY41KPPlY2tlExDBkv3rLcaGErlROYGFRsOik1IAb1xv4ZlVnom9FY9s79OePjqGwgsbfqQAeQBGpOH3s21RjnTWMPA-zg4pxW5buRPE8HhnMzgbNYFkc/?imgmax=800"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQzRUPKbBVTvgpOq7gumUFYO0eD-_Kz5GrHWjQEJHq3JLSigYy0CEzzMYW7N1LKESFmPUtfMX0mxRXawZDNoZRZ7XqgMv08dJVZRIL797f0ZbtmoYwMV9THbyRZCOvfGnt7-z8ZC2DuC_/s1600-h/09+The+Card+and+Present%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="09 The Card and Present" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="09 The Card and Present" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs1-aG2szFkMa_n_U2t6TiWGpDjOXcfMrK3IDjnQczCi1C9Tfin3LQdTmPlHp3tlfgQW7r2M7Gz1J4Dq8vsH-IBb4q4leAoCuHY2Hcofd25hAvfdBslKIxwXqpSEW4B58qAtXbfbg9oki/?imgmax=800"></a></p></a></p><p>I have uploaded all the posts about the making of these hearts and the card and you can scroll down to see them if you are interested.</p><p><strong>Some Fun with Photo Manipulation</strong></p><p>The other day I was preparing some fruit for my normal “diet day” platter and cut a peeled clementine in half. I thought it made such a beautiful shape.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LMil-mlpsbqk29UMASZSoUmNN3UVA9AdeNyniIio8DJBN4uto98sFgyURZmpqYupEhU9CtwmGKFf7K2MmIMoTRZV4TWftzEnT73Vhj6MclHPsa41lU43Vj2xzL395XDjS1-vcYrfbFI3/s1600-h/01+Cut+Clementine%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="656" title="01 Cut Clementine" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Cut Clementine" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi3_Y_KqHawwn9TdLzIbkPg9EYJEoiCP3o0bL1YJDsqPf32BmC0ElKYb6vyLcpZPfCs8Nk61xCEc0tjGrLN3kkBa3DkQwKkxY-CzRkz3JhKDCz-VZ5jAzVDsgZm85IkB_olIxbx8YBgns/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I thought I would have some fun manipulating this photo, as I did once before with a rather artistic piece of orange peel.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVpMDA5rSs_Bl_K0VyTdsE_x4cX0sAF_q2xNVh9PJCkMgxf0VDr2cYMtJVPqhXjI16YYOTEWPCtcTdUNUoo16fFZ4uROoNCgnzGsYNEaUoEZLXa3hBQg0bo_wUvR16TGTF_uzUjHpbiuW/s1600-h/06+Four-in-One%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="659" title="06 Four-in-One" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Four-in-One" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhBD1WpUte6x-9Ssg9JI8xpITL80lnaZIVmABUPPZRTRKf4kU5cEV6QVitBUIAEgbH4jSvgnPnUFlnm7KgLGWdLi8y808xjUTN878vo_S05sJEAIlNMyf1QT0ZD-oanBT5o-Ly4KeIP5B/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Clockwise from top left, adding effects cumulatively: black background, brightened colour; posterise; paper cut-out; polar co-ordinates. Quite fun, eh? I could have done loads more with it, and spent (wasted?) all day at it. (I know, I should get out more…) Oh, by the way, it tasted good!</p><p><strong><strong>Sourdough</strong></strong></p><p>I didn’t make sourdough again this week but made some more sourdough crackers and fed Esmeralda and put her back in the fridge to cogitate for another week.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GmUkP2dMo6qLg5_zIcvzOVsvDKThpMvOdivYVQhifuFpLe6nK0W3-EoMbwLKYi1CICf9Grpbweb05JnyW0iP7n_g3MXmyPQSFWKzam7aBeVop_uLMHQnRpBBil069N8ndWbiHI2gIbFf/s1600-h/63+Esmeralda+18-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="685" title="63 Esmeralda 18-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="63 Esmeralda 18-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaDc5iqV2kjrkZ6FQrbHj6IFsJkQ63C1ltnhSDfeaWM8bSAGbo8awep2Ae0fm38LAJsPm8J_AsiqlbmoRS35neVTWJGToBGeyLeka_UFwqvbIygnOwefapiLkHRhVRAlfw6UuSNAIheTu/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>She’s quite happy as long as she gets a weekly feed and a clean bed for the week!</p><p><strong>Other Cooking</strong></p><p>Overnight I made some more bread in the bread maker, with lots of seeds – sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and brown flax. Gorgeous and crunchy with a good nutty flavour!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpdJNl6QWM0g1sczKcEpYCg2eZlhZnKYkoTcQAckbOU992s3PWFZSAz1CsInhv_h3fMCMOqOrx4zvJ3NXTB-nOK64AqAA62nX9qzeTFcdCTlK9diISTQw4WRIMw_DO0L0Bc1Zj47VS_1x/s1600-h/Seedy+Bread+from+Bread+Maker+18-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="604" title="Seedy Bread from Bread Maker 18-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Seedy Bread from Bread Maker 18-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSdyLJnaRdLlJwy1ZRD-laY5pTgdlDBnrEy5nP-A0tTQDNbjJ-WyI-cPONXQLgzXBHkZVe9oynFqd8_aHzDW5ZiuIMijC6v-2roXWucpH36U3uBecMk1xSMRm0wFgWdci-PBADUaivEpH/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I also made a salmon and broccoli bake for our supper. Here it is, ready to go in the oven.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdYKk9zKGQUgCpokLQSAx4TekuAZNGaj7YG0wsupAeGcXbmHSA1CFH8zbp8C85I-f7W5tu4ghVHg-LkP2vmbLrA-czIZBKIPZu87x72eaze8XDy5gHJy_U7a_hEtVpj5iznKvy0PJcelG/s1600-h/Salmon+and+Broccoli+Bake+18-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="478" title="Salmon and Broccoli Bake 18-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Salmon and Broccoli Bake 18-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLkSbDv6gB3_ndj8iHcZ6l7z4ZqWliUxRHRguiKmNW8GFAmvGEosb4WItAMIoXBe-KqC5qX99GX5Nr8IW3bnlb-EBe5cAhdl8QcNB9nAI7PftT51MfrvtsjhhKGeEzQCJz4uuRWe3hspG/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><strong>Computer Update</strong></p><p>Most things are now working OK, but the computer shop have told me that both hard drives that I took in have failed. The caddies are OK though. One of them I was pretty sure was dud (very old) but the other one is pretty new and still in guarantee so I’m hoping to get my money back on that one. Some things on the computer still aren’t working properly and I need to spend time resolving these issues but I’m too busy with other stuff at the moment.</p><p><strong>Kitties</strong></p><p>Ruby is still grounded because my hubby has been out a lot and the weather has been too awful so he hasn’t been able to spend any time in the garden. Neither of them has been hankering to go out that much (which isn’t surprising given that it’s raining all the time) but they are obviously needing to blow off steam more than usual!</p><p><strong>Health Update</strong></p><p>I had a very fruitful appointment with my surgeon last Thursday, and I’ve blogged full details <a href="http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-fruitful-appointment-with-my-surgeon.html">here</a> so I won’t go into it all now, but suffice it to say we discussed risks and advantages of further surgery or leaving it alone, and he is going to consult a colleague in Exeter to discuss the best way forward. I came away much better informed about why things had gone wrong in the spring, and the reason for my post-operative infection, and as a result, I am no longer quite so resistant to further surgery if that is what they conclude will be the right thing to do.</p><p><strong>This situation is <em>pants</em>…</strong></p><p>The pants saga continues, not having heard anything since my last conversation with them on 19th November, when I emailed the GP and requested a further prescription, and they promised they’d deal with it straight away. I phoned the rep last Wednesday and she didn’t return my call. I managed to speak to her today and she said she’d been waiting for news before calling me, and I said I would have appreciated a call to let me know at least what was happening, even if it was nothing!! This afternoon they called me back and said they were requesting another prescription as a matter of urgency, and I said I was so fed up with this and wanted the pants by Christmas. Ha ha. Tomorrow is the last dispatch day till the New Year. I was practically screaming by this point. I said that would mean they wouldn’t even be able to start making them till then, and she agreed that they usually took about 4 weeks, which would take us into February!! I said I could just about manage with two pairs (one on, one in the wash) but if I had an accident I’d be sunk. She said they’d mark the order as top priority. Again, she kept saying, as they all do, “I completely understand, I really do…” but it’s just words, words, words…</p><p>As I say, the whole thing is <em>pants</em>. Grrrr grrrrr grrrrr x 3,000,000. I could add a few choice words too, but I don’t want to break my laptop after all the trouble I’ve had with it recently.</p><p>Have a great time over Christmas everybody. I probably won’t be posting next WOYWW because it’s Boxing Day and we are out.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt_J2eniBVw-_-sJ_-ytVl2CIV1ZnzK3GxGA2hUnjSdzFsXuNq5-Jiu1SRqS1JU2pdeUZCaGGQQG1_oBG3fsfV_GUFupkVTh7jUCc_Cvu8jFerEMAYR7Lx7AdmYSTHyJ4R8qTc1B0lGoh/s1600-h/My+Wife+Insisted%255B4%255D"><img width="380" height="480" title="My Wife Insisted" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="My Wife Insisted" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK98R3qupK0jpZWEzfRfrLqT6hawbElumeGmp-Il_bZWSnUqT4Zd-TqbONsPRAat4olbx6Jc5WAvykZF1QIlOgGgZbUkK9Bd0hy9aPidL1fAfK2SXj9jNwBIT0CAWYQbu3IgbhRArPOys/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s9lvcaCObmw/XBonuxk1v7I/AAAAAAAAegg/Lx3PfH_qfn4VGaCZYxElu5PfCgtesjwbwCHMYCw/s1600-h/My%2BWife%2BInsisted%255B4%255D"><br></a></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-962189222117820372018-12-17T20:42:00.000+00:002019-03-04T20:52:10.664+00:00Mystery Project–Part 3–Turquoise Heart<p>For the second of the three hanging heart ornaments, I chose a turquoise and terracotta colour scheme. As I started making this, I decided to give it a suggestion of a Spanish theme, because the friend for whom I was making this one loves visiting Spain. I also wanted to make a more colourful, and perhaps more illustrative and pictorial, frame than for my other friend, the artist, for whom I made the brown frame.</p><p>This colour combination as a new one for me, and I was inspired by Zsuzsa of <a href="https://inkydinkydoodle.blogspot.com">InkyDinkyDoodle</a> blog – she uses a lot of these colours and I’ve always thought how lovely they were! Thanks, Zsuzsa. I’ve been meaning to try these colours for a while now.</p><p>I began by getting out various bits and pieces in order to choose what to use for the various embellishments on this frame. I didn’t use the poultry grit (broken up bits of shell) in the end.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXi1OCH0hoHkNCtR3LWBPbRXnWk0c95-SxTGEJFnZ2S53v-2FeGJOZqZ1Aex22DJh46NkJ5RgeDPjrgnz7dC7PCWOXueOpGicvmlOW0fbysNUvMOD24MmKSLSlBEKnr4Y7UsiKSPdjQ3N/s1600-h/01+Possible+Embellishments+for+Turquoise+Heart%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Possible Embellishments for Turquoise Heart" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Possible Embellishments for Turquoise Heart" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QqIOe0GzSu8mMhdWKl-1JQyEPLrFDSEHrZyH78aJbr-DucSKyf3veRONxtOizdh8QNLkI_PNki6CBPL6bmOzm-WHxPVQ2fHmqEcQl6Ay62cIzR0tXHYCVZdSu_Hy7J9e-yjTM_Hx0DEQ/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I decided I wanted to add a couple of small terracotta pots as embellishments, and knew I didn’t have any such ready-made embellishments in my stash, and slept on it for several nights, wondering how to achieve the look I wanted. When I started rummaging in my mixed media oddments box, I came across a bag of empty silk cocoons that I’d bought several years ago at a craft show, and thought, “Perfect!” Not only were they exactly the right size, but they also had just the right texture, too! I trimmed them down to shape so that I could stick them to the frame.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPZ2ho6w8sGPUTJ418CFIiT1p4_5bTwE99VmAwNGCdWPRDzE-8kcB69pFqsX7FU9nk0i75zIPFi6XzzhtiptpN4ty6_uTmy18wwKSt_NAZCpEKE9mF0aexDVMX0kmkhQ28D5gWDRKRRo5/s1600-h/02+Making+the+Terracotta+Pots%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Making the Terracotta Pots" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Making the Terracotta Pots" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19vVqmW1pesqF5bO0c0uRzefkGEpMHiiiKD5_YiFv7cQWRTxpyqG0q53pPq_azmLA5hW1ws4bCu4xPyAfAW7uOYJqU6R4hB88dOirfjfzEFY5g9iE_Q82-mZj-aI5nJ8s7TsiFPZBVh1O/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>To create the top edge of the “pots,” I stuck down two different thicknesses of string. This proved to be a very fiddly job and I couldn’t get the string to stick at first, and then I tried doing it with Glossy Accents, which eventually worked. You can see that I have cut one of the little pots to look as if it was broken. They look a bit dirty around the top because the cocktail stick I used to help me stick on the string was a bit grubby! No matter – they were going to be painted anyway.</p><p>The first step was to paint them with gesso.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2e7llc5Hw0mTpZT1IQOy3zA-xcS13pAA6EbkyQa1lsbmjkoIqmpGUM3GP2f5sgYV8j0i5Flo2od-Hbo9jiGxlW_Kl1b91hFjcz9xImbJE67xEMWEMpFvf5_P2wV2h6X6j5pbdrFjKq7M/s1600-h/03+Gesso+on+Terracotta+Pots%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="321" title="03 Gesso on Terracotta Pots" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Gesso on Terracotta Pots" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHENKsi5U8Ed7xmquXhF57ioXzDPo-bkXAXY0_zBeuZLXMsezdf1ANtR54BaEXsoofZy6QR84BdyW_bFZst5v37oqN-F8uldmEtqdnS3KWcgSXdm9s89YAN6Uu1sTWpvs5UxomIL20sA67/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Now they were ready for painting with acrylics. I used Burnt Sienna and created shadows with Burnt Umber.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OM-IsrYEqhEtq5WC1xtSLja29w3gV7CMjy6l9Pf_2QUJqxV-hXN-A_MQMRfvPB4J40hzwuRtMbCWXO4tEANDafiSlMv4p8f6UhwTUIIreLMepgPS3PI0_PnPHoS54_duwujh4HIlJFGQ/s1600-h/04+Painting+the+Terracotta+Pots%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 Painting the Terracotta Pots" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Painting the Terracotta Pots" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5-gpc0GtbSWCUxey739_tEnjvvo63gqztCTmv0kxNZT1TTF92cWMAYIujsK85cW6r1g10u7XX2next5C4BkCY6cu08QuMqGX0Glovb8WqIaoO5g4p-QWOdxlbv7FGIYImTn1uFM_ljUv/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>On a scrap piece of watercolour paper which I’d cut to fit the recess in the frame, I painted a simple seascape and fixed it in place.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qjm0mlOBBcH_EcSvOcBfzPNxWMPMLzaLkN0EYBrO7RSfn5A8kRYkPM2eajCdWHRZRfX85-waunoSnptJggzsq7AKY77UqpQRg92uj8k2QeGWbrxuzSi0yI-nd_r53-IgSyD9mQynjEmK/s1600-h/05+Background%252C+Lace+and+Pumice+Gel+Medium%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Background, Lace and Pumice Gel Medium" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Background, Lace and Pumice Gel Medium" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMGF_otV1pX8cQ2y2WraaHlADAuVVaqcCCyicE0JvbAoSyRUwe_pGyebJkVCjSCbmd2RX6LFDdHhl2dYfGabTlDHrh3GIMwlJUGTO4dMCh19SJThS-oFv_2kRvW4BAby-RYrKbTaloIph/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I cut a short length of black lace and stiffened it with some watered-down PVA glue and stuck this in place – reminiscent either of a Spanish mantilla or of the black wrought iron balconies so commonly seen in Southern Spain.</p><p>To create an impression of sand, I added some pumice gel medium and painted it with acrylics.</p><p>The frame was then ready for the rest of the embellishments.</p><p>Here are the flowers and leaves I used.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb5P_IIgJ6g3PTQRIoOriE-7A5XJ7rCzJuuqqiMkNJcihLsIUJAbTkaSOfzn0HR4AQgAqt3xemmxDNInC8Np58QKEl0DCFTEpoV5Gaq6s7K8Uw3aQiw68nR-NtJN6K9tqWyGi-JKZ1_lG/s1600-h/44+All+the+Turquoise+Flowers%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="44 All the Turquoise Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="44 All the Turquoise Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqcwriZ2f-4dnRbKQ-bxK6v8wpvc_mG3tMDN8lFSsC_pFYe0-NK-bczEZQoUkyIiFI9MEvoPOOkS9PDIfwDwsalWIrjYXIM48LrplnG_lEwwtA7yK6udrU2ebdHXBDAXQsAJ-a8hq8zqb/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxM9XkkJ9-wwbwE2qwdB7Q5IECzQ1g5V3Qnpjj2whRILqg3bpgkqAY8ZAYTDiaVHSCDNVn-GpmkG2-GGBtzx5P2V1HIMF2-auBsVyThPfKBAKNGOaUr9aZ0G6bGZ6lyPgdMcz1oFNvhG8/s1600-h/48+Terracotta+Leaves+with+Some+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="633" title="48 Terracotta Leaves with Some Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="48 Terracotta Leaves with Some Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9N2Auwps2LmdlOmctFIo5fcGy17jwJUU8mHPcuc1dD9rFGDIQ13udZaHnawiEKzfzIDSoLL16G3-54h1wzHs7uRyF7vFGmFq9l-h1jXWnPDUfFueNNohDrzLXLUPuCVW-JRSBfyf31Hn/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>To stick the little pots in place, I filled the backs with hot glue and then stuck them in place with more hot glue.</p><p>Here is the finished piece, with all the embellishments stuck down with hot glue.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmblEUEvES7-kFIQQBA_NeSpahOL0uGwh6HwJ5TgfacfLVMjW2oULeOFdJtw-Z4DNynNOlGfPu0P1osjrrFSETEBHKCuffjI86-zUAyvadSLL9GIv60YZu9OhBdcUS1hyphenhyphen-Vq2LVyQ-sFjs/s1600-h/06+Completed+Turquoise+Heart%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="718" title="06 Completed Turquoise Heart" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Completed Turquoise Heart" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd3p5tbGHeSlNL8VFg55reQZQh4I00nRFsCQJ8ule40vX3zBJnvA3tbrPGmXi0aSpUnFIW-ywWi1Reof8iCFCnUGgnyGaYrF1JWQ4sYb6WmzrwxCT6j7bzifSPU1iajnm31-uzdXbwm_6/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I shall be giving my friend this little heart in the New Year when we are planning our lunch get-together which had to be postponed from before Christmas. She doesn’t visit my blog so I thought it would be safe to post about it before she receives it!</p><p>Here are the first two hanging hearts together. At this stage I hadn’t done more than the basic preparation on the third one.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMe71LnzXHT1gLgxvBjidBahMVFFC01gJRiWBkwhR3SbSNvy74UUmPOBm0w-wYgAWHjSEExGVYRcEnWpN83ZRDFjSbyv4qtmwKobzarVdlCvIuW9CDxHI_pLj5Id1ROqN3wuTHnAtlUBHh/s1600-h/06+Two+Completed+Hearts%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 Two Completed Hearts" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Two Completed Hearts" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4alvtIOHQloRpbfgqibuh5cBCfiwU0aSPaysIwWdM9Q8Rdgoa40nZD1iw91rl8DAeS7_UuuF41A6phAmLpHCR0w6EYQpoiDBaKkwyt66Y3EmsNfQuUXRm_fIoY4_PmBlRwiUJw8Yhyi3q/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5wYBdhuXwaQ/XBbz7pgEaTI/AAAAAAAAeYY/HpuVoZFxrowMkLzhVJ5ZydwnLZpHWXmZgCHMYCw/s1600-h/06-Completed-Turquoise-Heart3"><br></a></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-89702924757695170412018-12-16T20:54:00.000+00:002019-03-04T21:03:27.797+00:00Mystery Project–Part 2–Brown Heart<p>The first of the three hearts that I worked on was the brown one. This was for my friend who is an artist, and I thought she would appreciate a more grungey, earthy tone. This turned out to be an excellent choice for her as she told me she is working a lot with these colours at present!</p><p>I began by using the original back piece of the frame to trace the shape onto some corrugated cardboard to make the background of the altered heart.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFx46WaG844oOJdehqwlRcSX-Xni1UUuXYVziaEfzYY0Gdw03_sxHE67TFapfNeAB-Lwc6A2J99wOzXyOKqXvyRr0dIHIl6LeRs5p6IGbpNNKbupgBdRVJWzimN7qTBrtA19xXKhVIC0a/s1600-h/01+Cutting+the+Corrugated+Cardboard%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Cutting the Corrugated Cardboard" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Cutting the Corrugated Cardboard" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBst02D79ThYWlziw3uJxomk0izAZI7OpEwYntxs89ItXLFGuQnEmsxBiC4B3OkFv4AOGaPlGMDR8atimZVXPGS7Ew50rJDcvPaaj29-AF22NOBpNRLxtQd3j7UXCLp1IewpncXKqK3zB/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I tore off some of the top layer of paper to expose the corrugations.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQm8oNJwuFY3UENABhKx0oY4rDazpYGWD8GnJnwKD1gmrWcF0xqdYRF6QPogN7wbO_hoSlno2mkdOsvjCM3QoasYyMNW14YQwpvzv7lhWHingJ32kenc_I17CVn0IUxt2zY2uHSXZ4qHp/s1600-h/02+Tearing+the+Corrugated+Cardboard%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="522" title="02 Tearing the Corrugated Cardboard" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Tearing the Corrugated Cardboard" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjCbYmtZ5-4uLEf4iZdlu0EPU-MA8jc8UrRoqj-KLKCyXlVPhYswgeGAemqfBQU0HNR-KvteIcE-UBxLYk0jBhFsIWZSDIeWARB55dGxVquxR4mr4ynYqLRrL0zdSpx5QmBGnPTAAkX81/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I rummaged through a lot of my mixed media supplies to find the right sort of mesh to overlay the bottom part, and eventually decided upon an old roll of scrim which I think was originally supposed to be used for plastering walls – I’ve had it for many years and can’t remember where it came from.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2G-_opZxhdUCyfw-erGhMrzRcQ-qDuEjYv2Out7z8LuUqTqiqmkDls9jhrWQbv79k81j0wkLvWpVsYt6KoK8oX90eJdHKkGxkn-m0Pxq_qtCOiJaMwy1j0elb2mULXC4dD_6SeV4mFSo/s1600-h/03+Choosing+the+Mesh%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Choosing the Mesh" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Choosing the Mesh" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFEe_CdGXzc01FxPejf1kI4xBNA4Bw3jRJxDr91nyB9nG3kks_MAvacI9ctoBKcFeFIeF_vdipZTTAbNPqHFCAbDfKu9qEYrLix_PQZjeaIZMHtF7SSbNJt8xJeXQIVgzeqX68IaB6MI-/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I cut off a length and stuck it down across the bottom of the frame, pulling it as tight as I could.</p><p>I then did a bit of experimenting with inks and paints to get the effect I wanted on the corrugated cardboard.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulLotknDTlVQykila05atjSM5MKTx4XiUGBfHYECVi4mnOArBKnvgoamEyL5r0XDPmtlHo28WtlydnU2tm_BTvXz_ciLytbECoT9ayXVg-Bdix7YUww-JV8Kg0TNbCO23LHBE4DtxeS1g/s1600-h/04+Testing+the+Corrugated+Cardboard+Painting%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 Testing the Corrugated Cardboard Painting" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Testing the Corrugated Cardboard Painting" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ39rONcMcnxn_JqztNFn-l-Oaoo9U2q7VufZ60Su7PFUWL2NLAXUrcKMBBAkT8EUuFV9GhvQQIQObZD6udFOW0-99LDS3WKccD5q5IRVXJ7enHO91NIy_CB9lbogI1-4PTjEOve8Eydfq/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I used three shades of Distress Stains – Pumice Stone, Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain, creating a mottled effect. When this was dry, I added a little Treasure Gold gilding wax and a touch of Antique White Rub’n Buff to highlight the corrugations. The gold doesn’t really show up very well on the photo.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALuUsqkErDRZZ_T-K_1c3x88Nz6dJFUmAcV9KELE4metNO2VZIew8URv9qHGBNZILeCaMqGh6G2SBsx6DefiJhDH7a4JRJLEJMX4CpMYwAOr8dXMSIWfrgbkELTV0L0LdJA_tCkqfSeFe/s1600-h/05+Painting+the+Corrugated+Cardboard%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Painting the Corrugated Cardboard" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Painting the Corrugated Cardboard" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcMVEZz5kra3WPMSD2hystzdyk7Q4ZRUXv3KkyRxRk_EP9uFBk9AnbDUVqdPz3mW81Z4Wx7nUo1X-DzWDXWNLXpKBqKHPXCs2yB8V_FgVm0N77soVfJ_avlUZYCohmmLCJbtuwTksvEzv/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here is the corrugated cardboard in place in the frame.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-p6vzyEfp3BEFZUTZV-0T1AnK_WJfcXlVCeSbAqLX0m9zUcHHsrqKEQ-p9wWPImVLysmtW5fUnpocGogdib19Cte2QQ-D4jz6WzU07tbzUkD5_d1Y53JIngzCl8cGzNaTlRc0NokEDoQr/s1600-h/06+Corrugated+Cardboard+in+Place%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="510" title="06 Corrugated Cardboard in Place" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Corrugated Cardboard in Place" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr0Xl8qn_ekQ5uTWRazlOaCbZ-udc_AiNFoxMR4bqxLyTmKPNQOKI3R4xlN3P9N-1Y3quVdTUbgtdI5_fR1qhH3Jzh9rMUL82-Y5f_3iq0bDaiJyXd5LocCZPaXUzWtpgiwgVcaSW0_tq/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Turning it over to work on the back, I packed out the recess with more corrugated cardboard and secured it in place with masking tape.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAK-B3qQXpF9jqNz_3xbl4OWLadCf83PAM6Obz_UI_lZkdwaH_nTts01U-dwc3MG-DCoV24uJfzoBOGxkZYHliX7_zrTrGdFSuCFofXOqMn2sPS-eXvqzVouWoflzZf_8MiJEhXfpjj6L/s1600-h/07+Attaching+the+Packing+in+the+Back%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 Attaching the Packing in the Back" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 Attaching the Packing in the Back" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdocynV_o4BZErsNyfciBMUckODBeXrQzDM2TDok1GvXkYNMcXZiu3VutA5074KNdpaeeeIC3VM0Up2A3SpCBudlt4zJdptdD72vFxe0vbJc3SmM9S0GHqmFwUrtI8MvrNjHMeDrWmSxNs/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I used the outside of the heart frame to trace the piece of cardboard for the back, and distressed the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB0tHeFnTCZOziZ-oVE8SHNxuQ8bOq26_V_7kLNBXM1tByTBpPa5_P170LFC67_JbSoR_C1wqpgnSve667urYGRiWc3s47hI4mw0jE32awpbB4JYNw8Bdh6DqhJAjb_z0ynf8Cj4MQhUL/s1600-h/09+Inking+the+Back+Piece%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="785" title="09 Inking the Back Piece" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="09 Inking the Back Piece" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-DPxwTR8oRAYwL4iWtqQTtWCPTW-WxxQa6MTGEndPeXBbgg2qPE_QXTQfJIQ4rpL2VlHRhjjPy90fFGL4vgSi8erGMcgMSPLxaNAmcv4RJzQLMU7LrGFS8oXkoPvEYrqDZETUpBuNxfl/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I stuck this onto the back of the piece and signed and dated it.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y4EUp5IDiPqkUsXlUs6Eu3s_VXzdQjHFZToZlYJi60EeUlkN2_oidFeLKKeJfRZLFWLbeLmoh-HDqYuL2EIs9qcGca0K0Jsi6YFobQ52hf11cPlV5b06pCtTEqviWHOA4d_RYieC1fWm/s1600-h/10+Back+Piece+in+Place%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="10 Back Piece in Place" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Back Piece in Place" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyVV-kI_hVeaiUtMiTqUW2DidxAdupS3_-17vOZsPi12i0pz9KY1ygNQDeJ0QViK6e_lgzB2wDl_b8c5sku4RBGAfT5jKeFRTg5dIHt2cqifqZ71zqJqmg2wtrcVXN0xJ5B6pRJaMgp98/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Here are all the brown roses and single-piece flowers that I made for the brown heart. They have also been highlighted with some Treasure Gold gilding wax.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFnYTGe3bXulyk32Ubrez_EnxxYF6jqj-hlu4f6qtMkISfzj_xgeX7ebJK5EKnXpjlBk9RgU_9weGN92tFz6wt4IcozNCDwU6oFFFaQ5xQP8YwXcS3Qq8Kr9cY-dJM1ZEyHLxwRw9l-yH/s1600-h/40+All+the+Brown+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="40 All the Brown Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="40 All the Brown Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyGkAyK_YqNhb4Q-WMoY1va1WdMamZdBzHL5DOrwWPEHZitWcw-2wUXhaNCPAnsLzhrRJpcYQkamGkvmKRABTuRrVzzfMN1ANHiSvdPNpF4ZEiOUdYW6h3bujkJ5Y6QzmpzeSGzKVLcIn/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The brown leaves, together with a few of the flowers, ready to be stuck to the front of the frame.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkVd5_zeve-P0JYN7VFF1TyWiXFU_nqIlX0JWMM25XMNb7tFwWGr_pEqhGP3pCzlZ_6XA0tPwyon24H_fVrLAJn69Cj66AW0Cvc1d8CXlqCRDR9ghqkgEBj3Iwr6X3tNdB_UqBdJXAktQ/s1600-h/47+Brown+Leaves+with+Some+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="47 Brown Leaves with Some Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="47 Brown Leaves with Some Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjQC17WwdM-IBqlLojlBxVTahkRsaKEKfFsJPZBME9xaaa-eRL7MWaWWXKrrAL3f9mUcMfx4dc3MS0saOUP6IBrNWJDsbBGHCCQfwzMws-hGZBODI3SdoD2rPSKqHPmXsx5dICMqkgehd/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>After sticking down the mesh, I added a couple of lengths of different thickness of jute string and tied them in a bow. The overhang of the mesh and the excess string was trimmed off flush with the edge of the frame.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8ZYJek6mrwVV-cyw4p5X2c2tb6dOA-4HXCS6GFp7lwVDqI5CTfF5GWCbwKPDmR9vY8AuJlP-k5uO_6Y_VQEuYA2YwgMt6WbK3F35KSYOxMG5rzb-NbR0FBdg7yZfd-xqi-NT-WIxsmen/s1600-h/08+Mesh+and+Jute+String%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="08 Mesh and Jute String" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 Mesh and Jute String" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHZyCCpLdjxgNeIWT_SWmQHa3uhXer10eKCWjaPV7swuRhb4W51NkP7Uwgo73WfE2F_DjmCFHWa9mkebCcalRcv94X4DvnJooKGDJDY5ABh9ZRlNXoBdPBsaPYge-8MTe-KrzLvqVT2IB/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>Time to add the flowers and leaves. Here is the finished result.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-4uKVThJkQq5fw6QeDa6VEKy4jdCK9XTKdlCgpzHh5SkF_E7CySW3G2JHXbeuF1QqLPvaCQD_mNK_3zvyI-7aGG3V1Q8-DJTwKTA4eDtIvYCsNZuyYtqIfctTthGWa2WybtpAjHEj7UE/s1600-h/11+Brown+Heart+Complete%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="718" title="11 Brown Heart Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Brown Heart Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVYhUdbMaAXurRSgy9vAQXAbCQEDK3-_iIHbLoLt6TcQfhX-h8nr2wywnXZ3xGQ9boVKx-BIgnMOjx9ENvvZFkSGvSVpz064iX-LcUgrTxs1yEit96T0ztz2fbhaYqTw2B8eCvPDqCLup/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>When she came over and I gave her the heart, she was intrigued by the various processes I’d used, and we had a short session up in my studio where I demonstrated first how the roses were constructed, and then showed her the gilding wax – she has achieved similar effects with dry brushing. It was very interesting comparing notes about how we have achieved similar results in other areas, by using different methods. She has only recently branched into mixed media art from more of a fine-art background and is exploring different materials. Quite an adventure and I am very excited about it, and can’t wait to see what else she is going to come up with! I was so pleased that I’d hit the right spot with her little heart, with the colour she would have chosen, and the different materials and textures.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-38397334888119382202018-12-15T21:05:00.000+00:002019-03-04T21:10:25.613+00:00Mystery Project Revealed–Part 1–Preparation<p>I can now take the wraps off my mystery project. I made three little hanging heart ornaments for friends, one of whom has not yet received hers, but since she doesn’t visit my blog, I thought it was safe to reveal all!</p><p>One friend asked me some time ago if I would make her a hanging heart ornament for her bedroom wall, and I couldn’t find the sort of papier mache or MDF heart that I wanted, with a hollow centre. Eventually I managed to find a set of three little heart-shaped photo frames on Ebay and decided to get these, and alter them, and it worked really well, particularly as I had two spare ones to make up for two other friends. I began with these two, as they were more urgent – we were planning to meet up for lunch but it has had to be postponed until after Christmas.</p><p>The three little heart frames as they arrived.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcU6lqP0dit1zMt24DVSoEdGEzvzqw0WZdVBScWlgno4PhjPYMWyiHz4Y1bnvvWVWH4Ra2j6xpx6IuWwC2HXu2cWzA2rQvOPk6a8EkU7mI3NszlbzyKHFctqUS8pphgpHcrkLLuITX6VE/s1600-h/01+Three+Small+Heart+Frames+from+Ebay%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Three Small Heart Frames from Ebay" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Three Small Heart Frames from Ebay" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFa3qhx3_y2QTBI_la3GiTWNilNuFUQ2bz4KCsnbQxP756SdAq6hYa2fjjwp9kI2dCvy5iO8ehmwfF3f3TfEl16j2LBtpfXNGWPzZNsCf8LUV_Lb6Glt-bF-97vVhw9fNGuLZ_S8sgcNB/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I took them apart and saved the glass and the back pieces for potential use in projects in the future, as I only wanted the hearts themselves.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOR13mA_EEMV01ic15qcx6gSMOXoZ61qaBX0q-jJBeMLHkHgH9WW6gZ6fOtj7AIvOHboepbxEaUM3wu-nupPIYs7hMaRqUyWwxUhvqLVGC_Xs3xzouFODBBw39DXkv7m6HtOxtXNPSbjz/s1600-h/02+Heart+Frames+Disassembled%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Heart Frames Disassembled" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Heart Frames Disassembled" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFyWca1KgykL-wqPlcTHEApRgzq7UHUlXgkdO8FwJbacWFEgsQLTKpjuRvvrJZwE8tCtlLaamwfH5LIFAdnBfcsXzt3k5rVejrT_SkiEL1Z1YeNaBQn0Q1bcYFc-zL2Sq63aCqgyFWBJ-/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The next step was to paint the frames with gesso.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnWUV5LNFH8IosU_JqwsYhK-5BbDcs2kAWQLd04Q5oSOUBTkWjxQxwXZgkm6btc7IIR-mfkaPF0wGFB4-BtLD-wp3Gus7S0jOE9uWPuoY4rkTtgZS6cehF0rOqDiEy1n9WH6sROImJ7-z/s1600-h/03+Heart+Frames+Painted+with+Gesso%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Heart Frames Painted with Gesso" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Heart Frames Painted with Gesso" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixasKhJC87inCMCi7iS3hHnv_YdWuONDsa5wUoM_YQC62qY64v1pQAWslolAZxHOOCVR0VUBIjYXhhf5YbuTiHKE4-n1tgdXhFhFssxpu2MqXgoNxsc3vdCsFPSFnvEjkmAorFyh94JDso/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>After this I painted them with a base coat in acrylic, and added some crackle glaze.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdsA9y6you7pGGjHRGOljoIJ6S0AcmN7Omtobv4lpzmp-_swSKuiJX-bDLS0u3q5uVg22izFM2bhsT1aM_ISr-rTaQT2-TWb7SVpkJgbRRS2Gf2P6tT2kJHS-ooS0js7y02XdaAozTafQ/s1600-h/04+Heart+Frames+with+Base+Coat+and+Crackle+Glaze%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="400" title="04 Heart Frames with Base Coat and Crackle Glaze" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Heart Frames with Base Coat and Crackle Glaze" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rjHf5gWKNx8Moy8FOzY8c_sc1tPLwVxpUBZPKx3IFs58FoLDwPYJQYHjhhe_3ZXZWI2wZgWmy84-WvKmqlgR4pgg55VuASwRIf24nEv8XIefl-aBnMs1yOxwlVvnITS3qr7ELzgSF5gG/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The frames with the top coat applied.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQdQdCgexDt5lEnXjAsZ1fvZtXILn8Zn6VQAo_f1SNam_4Xficnbs7FOGs0eK_vQnVwvw7VeQ-AG07hobWoJk1cZPVo0ZTXFb04mmR3zusvoCojgaSm_AFxpCKXDWK6Mn6rkaP9TIICkc/s1600-h/05+Heart+Frames+with+Top+Coat%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Heart Frames with Top Coat" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Heart Frames with Top Coat" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DJ7fhB0A4Pu053nlPW2Ez_OXrGPMp6YSWtx13zO9GGvRw8CJlZ2vD2bxR8Ak1aZJwFapJnrpu0-_Q-q4sYRVrHkyf4jvRBcC_KE7vYgUDskrduzzSbWEf1NH8xnzhGZtKtjqBKBRUdR2/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>The brown and turquoise ones crackled fairly well, but the silver one did not – I didn’t really mind, though, because on that one the majority of the surface would be covered with roses anyway, and I quite liked the streaked effect of the purple paint showing through the silver.</p><p>As seen on previous posts (please scroll further down for details) I made a selection of paper flowers to embellish the three frames.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxep9xEeuzDT7J8Nbxq3qTWItWiGjtOKQBw4VBukCkWPqI3cF0Jr80r-bYSwWIKIA3SVakeWljrNgesqvmxyW1U9_AZoB3z6jiqEPjJsGCFDqxak7hLfL11PiDrTwGDtML11EBMTw80u1n/s1600-h/42+Three+Tubs+of+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="426" title="42 Three Tubs of Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="42 Three Tubs of Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7eCtH7eOM1c2Gh923Ne-4a6idUOUj_DMJ6IzMHpOg0WwVlh3Gdgi7bNRiXLy0Qni3svo7p2A_fGPeVfUBW0O6BTUVuY-JDSu48c3PQj04gyzjJzMvT2gOBtuwlvJAi6aSE1rh7Qmx1HA/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I also made a selection of leaves.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32Pr0aIVVLw858ALcifJPy_L45xiIkCdCd6cAs-9kiDLn5m6OXHB9pw73ptL08xaMC9O-fAMgGW5UfEn7QYBYC1OkIFu7HhVwhXYdobtlA04kUljr-KqkUsDXQtyXxH_ecNx53jE2ynuT/s1600-h/46+All+the+Leaves+Complete%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="46 All the Leaves Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="46 All the Leaves Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC-yDjMoXElNLNAUEzOBIbFAdscr_t4TL6VR_mdiLzdRu22sDHpPmTRhbLKrwwnOsM7CcM9E_ifpuNXqPNslmPag94iUVXSLP4EPpYYdT0SAz99L6JtD3btse-aJQ9xCjkKE9jh-PqHzh/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2lLVghYJwjmTeMbqgMVz0oBMSR9q6CYlxkQwTYG9MCkG8Oa6GvImzjSXWv0wUXiW0OVO_-2SIa6OxCPktT05BH5YOr6zNMInrHBPkwZtyOiM17xIuxZzbRGDAuhwn2rhShCBF9HLh0Ws/s1600-h/49+Green+Leaves+and+Tiny+Purple+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="548" title="49 Green Leaves and Tiny Purple Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="49 Green Leaves and Tiny Purple Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8428sTRh3rQM19DgB7fOHs5atklW_KEb0OJk84h9u3wdY8J3erg1G5Rp3jvE7Cc63_qy6ZrIYWaJ0LrcLh8AzXLJzQFlq8yzNu22fJSE9SAHIzk4J-jPgYxTPQtd66Pm3c1-eoGQEXk6s/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I didn’t use all of the flowers and leaves, and reserved the rest for other projects.</p><p>I was now ready to begin with the first of the three hearts.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-51358914558989776912018-12-13T21:15:00.000+00:002019-03-04T21:16:22.690+00:00A Fruitful Appointment with my Surgeon<p><em>Warning – medical details – do not read if you are squeamish about such things!</em></p><p>I saw Mr. Pullan, my colorectal surgeon, today, as a follow-up after my recent CT scan which confirmed my suspicion that my parastomal hernia had returned. This is one of the images from the CT scan, which I annotated – it clearly shows the hernia.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisM9glXKuVKgUOhJsFrSd7Szk49k2jsecKZwT282jVeRClinpRkgWdnQj5H0QYpfoSkMpt5BZBJDA8CH21UrSspBxdo5pZsD5beFs6wFosqB0-pxk6QgOf75AKDYhwHHSlswbdELbwFpX8/s1600-h/CT+Scan+Image+Annotated+18-10-18%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="516" title="CT Scan Image Annotated 18-10-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="CT Scan Image Annotated 18-10-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPp5_UViqENVglImBXMiCqwsMiCffkvTU9kdXm0lFhxnHZDCQPeu47q-N2FYhWL9Pm5MFiYsbKk5zFGnUasn0BrZQw9JC17Qf7hf_NYQ03glx_Iw0IXWY5yzAJWs_KjHGt-If4hRO8_l2/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>This hernia has now been repaired twice, and last time I saw Mr. Pullan, in August, he said that if I was correct and the hernia had returned, it would be more difficult to repair this time because a) it had already been repaired twice and b) there was now a Permacol biological mesh in place.</p><p>Today, having seen the scan images, he was able to enter into a more constructive discussion of options. He didn’t have the images in front of him so I showed him this one on my iPad and he was fascinated by the annotations! He found it useful as he was able to point out various things, including the considerable size of the defect through which the hernia is emerging.</p><p>He said first of all that (as I already knew), the next step in such cases was to re-site the stoma on the other side of the abdomen, because repeated repairs weaken the surrounding muscle and any further repair along the same lines would be less likely to be effective. I reminded him also of the fact that during the hernia repair operation he had made extra incisions either side of the stoma to give him more room to manoeuvre which would have further weakened the area, and he agreed with this. We also agreed that we were starting from a disadvantage from the outset, because my muscles are already very weak due to my ME.</p><p>I told him I really didn’t want to go down the moving-the-stoma route, which he understood and appreciated – I said that Kermit, my stoma, is working fine, and I am used to him being where he is, and surely moving him would just introduce another site for potential herniation, which he agreed would be the case. He said that also, there was a lot more “plumbing” involved with moving an ileostomy to the left-hand side of the abdomen – ileostomies are always on the right because this is where the junction between the small and large intestines is, so it is logical to place the stoma here when the colon is removed. Colostomies, on the other hand, are always sited on the left, and lower down, for the same reasons of anatomy. Moving the stoma would mean starting from scratch again with a brand new stoma and all its associated problems – although of course I now have quite a bit of experience under my belt (literally!) and I wouldn’t be dealing with these as a newbie, and would know how to cope with it all. I told him that since the last repair operation in March of this year when he inserted the mesh, I have had no trouble with Kermit because as I requested, Mr. Pullan made him longer so the output tends to go into the bag rather than underneath it. Previously he had been retracting flush with the skin and causing a lot of leaks and skin irritation. During this operation, Mr. Pullan inserted the mesh through the hole in the abdominal wall through which Kermit emerges, remaking him in the process, thus avoiding open surgery again, which I have already had done twice. Kermit is now a much better shape than previously, causing everything to work a lot better, and I am reluctant to disturb this state of affairs.</p><p>I asked him what were the pros and cons of simply leaving things as they were. He had told me after my first repair operation in January 2017 that smaller hernias were more likely to cause obstructions than larger ones. That operation was an emergency, following an obstruction caused by the first hernia which was quite small, and could easily become restricted. I asked him how large the hernia is now, in terms of risk of obstruction. He said it was medium-sized, so I suppose it carries medium risk of obstruction. He said that having experienced one before, I knew the signs, and would know what to do. I told him I knew that obstructions were a call for an emergency visit to A&E and that they were life-threatening, and that if there was nothing in the bag and I was throwing up, I would go straight away. He said that that was good, but it could be in a dangerous state even if I had not started vomiting, and if I noticed any change from normal, such as pain in that area, I should be on high alert and seek immediate advice.</p><p>My hubby said that if we just left it alone, it might cause another obstruction, necessitating emergency surgery again, for which I was not prepared, and in an already weakened and compromised condition, leading to a less favourable outcome as far as recovery was concerned. I said I agreed with this, but having elective surgery also carries risks – after all, my repair operation in March of this year led to a serious, life-threatening infection.</p><p>Turning to the possibility of further surgical intervention, he said this was quite a problem. It’s not just the fact that it’s been done before and there is now mesh in place, but the position of the hernia is an issue, being in the right iliac fossa, where there are quite a few structures in a relatively small space – the most difficult site for a parastomal hernia. Each time it has recurred in the same place. He examined me again, and remarked that I am quite short in the body and there isn’t a lot of space between the bottom of my rib-cage and the top of my pelvis, which makes this situation worse. I suggested six months of spinal traction to stretch me but he laughed and didn’t think that would really help!! (Might be nice to be a few inches taller, though…)</p><p>He said there were various alternative surgical approaches to repair intractable parastomal hernias, including a procedure known as the Sugarbaker technique. I told him I knew about this, having done some research prior to my last repair. It involves attaching a piece of mesh to the inside of the abdominal wall, and rather than cutting a hole in the mesh through which the end of the intestine passes in order to form the stoma, the mesh is applied over a length of bowel, forming a tunnel over it, trapping it against the inside of the abdominal wall and preventing it from moving around and emerging through any defect in the muscle. There is some risk involved in anchoring a section of bowel in this way as the loops of intestine are designed to slide over one another with the passage of food, and it can cause a blockage. He said that he had not performed this operation but the literature was positive about its outcome. When I got home I did some further research on this, and found that compared with other forms of repair (simple suturing – 100% recurrence – this is what I had for the first repair, performed as an emergency following an obstruction, performed by a general surgeon not qualified to perform a better repair at that time, and “keyhole” repair, where a hole is cut in the mesh, through which the stoma passes – a slightly better prognosis but still resulting in fairly high percentages of recurrence – this is the type of repair I had in March of this year), Sugarbaker has a much lower rate of recurrence and is more likely to remain stable. Statistics vary, of course, depending on a variety of factors, such as the length of time spent monitoring for failure post-operatively in the various trials, and differences in individual patients, such as age, weight, lifestyle etc.</p><p>Here is a diagram of mesh attached using the Sugarbaker technique.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlQFCZSRqA5JuRTp0mE6zrOQaT2ENh8rQST1jkTRHExAZZmwYW3G6J4pbN3iehDGBJ49q4VTJslgQDHDYIloUzfwsyyEqQrSypJ2ym5XPBOhN02aVnRnoEEMf3YNyLN7KU3WyPs3cT9S_/s1600-h/Laparoscopic+Sugarbaker+Technique%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="542" title="Laparoscopic Sugarbaker Technique" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Laparoscopic Sugarbaker Technique" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQGh-UQ7bW82qtbZQKBcj5qIK-8mEphY_OSq86FfrY-c_ZAH18c9KolXpSLuziDWFT3Niz6pHOuQHPBV-JESInvrblCca5IpJPerboAzSLjNSGHSREV5IQPmiMTdymSvGhobO4e4J8pNd/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p>I said I was fairly reluctant to face further surgery if it could be avoided, especially in view of how ill I was after the last operation, and he understood this. We agreed that it was a matter of weighing the risks of further surgery and doing nothing, which could result in another obstruction and the necessity for emergency surgery with all the disadvantages of that – for example, no proper physical and emotional preparation, which can adversely affect the outcome with slower recovery times etc. Also, as happened to me before, by the time they eventually did operate, I had been vomiting and not eating for several days (waiting from the Sunday morning till Tuesday evening for a CT scan!!) and was in a seriously weakened state which is not ideal for someone about to undergo major surgery.</p><p>We spoke a bit about my post-operative experience this year, being readmitted a fortnight after discharge with a severe infection. He recalled the further operation required to insert the larger and deeper of the two drains, I told him how much pain the larger drain had caused, especially when it was first moved, and then removed – about the worst pain I had ever experienced – and we talked about my brief stay in Mum’s nursing home on discharge, not just to help me convalesce, but also for my hubby’s benefit. I said that I had felt so poorly with the infection, and he agreed that I had been very seriously ill.</p><p>I said I did not relish the risk of a repetition of that, and I asked what was the cause of the abdominal haematomas that gave rise to the infection. He said that I had probably been put back on the rivaroxaban (anticoagulant) a bit too soon after surgery, and if there had been something weakened that had bled a little, under normal circumstances this would have healed up on its own, but in my case, the reduced clotting of the blood had caused more extensive internal bleeding. In such cases, the body launches a defence in the form of an invasion of macrophages to mop up the bleed, and the whole thing can get very sludgy and infected. It was a relief to know that there was a logical reason for the internal bleed and that it was not likely to happen again.</p><p>He also said that the internal bleeding itself could ultimately have led to the failure of the hernia repair. It could cause the mesh not to adhere correctly, leading to an early return of the hernia. The biological mesh would eventually be absorbed by the body without having done its job. I found this explanation for the failure of the repair quite fascinating, and it did explain a lot. Initially I was amazed and disappointed that the mesh repair had failed so rapidly, and couldn’t understand why this should have happened.</p><p>Mr. Pullan said he would like to consult a colleague at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E) and run some of his thoughts past him to see if he could come up with any other ideas of how to deal with this intractable problem, and to weigh up the risks and benefits of various approaches. He would send him my scan images and full details of everything that had been done to me so far, and he may or may not want to see me himself. He is probably one of the colorectal surgeons from that hospital who came to speak to our local Ileostomy Association about parastomal hernias soon after my original operation – it seemed to be an area of particular interest to him. It would be strange if it was the same surgeon – unfortunately I can’t remember his name.</p><p>I really appreciate all the trouble Mr. Pullan is taking, and the thought he is putting into my case – I have been very impressed with this aspect of my relationship with him throughout. He is a very thoughtful and thorough man, and he is always very open with his ideas and suggestions, keeping me fully informed, and all the while listening carefully to my own views and opinions, and answering all my questions in a considerate and informative way. I always come away having learnt something interesting. I have always taken a great interest in all aspects of my various medical conditions and their treatment, and have taken a lively interest in everything done to me and for me, and I have found that everyone associated with my care has responded very well to this, and have been more than willing to explain and discuss in depth any issues of interest to me. Probably the majority of patients just go in, have stuff done to them and leave, happy to remain in blissful ignorance, but that’s not enough for me! I find the whole thing fascinating, and this attitude seems to be appreciated as most of them love their work, and enjoy talking about it. I love to hear of the latest advances etc. and how the professionals are working at the cutting edge (sometimes literally!) for our benefit. We are so blessed to have such consummate professionals to care for us in our wonderful NHS, especially when they are as charming and personable as Mr. Pullan and those others who have been involved in my treatment and care. Hats off to them all!</p><p>I came away from the appointment with answers to questions I had not even thought to ask. It was a very constructive and informative consultation and an educational experience. We now await further developments.</p><p>I was also able to have a word with the stoma nurse about the ongoing saga of the support pants. Having heard nothing further from the company for a while, I phoned the rep yesterday and left a message on her voicemail, asking for a progress report on the final pants that I am still waiting for. I have two pairs, and can just about manage with those, but I will be stuck if I have an accident – I need one on, one in the wash, and a spare in case of emergencies. She said she would email them today and ask them what was going on, and to contact me asap. She said it was very poor that I had had to wait over three months to get even the first pair. I said the trouble was, they had no competition as they are the only company that does both home visits and a bespoke service, and she said lack of competition should make no difference, and the way things had been dealt with was not good enough. She did add, though, that when they got it right, the garments were excellent, and I had to agree with her. The two pairs I have got are really good – a very good fit, beautifully made, and they do what they are supposed to do, too.</p><p>So we await further developments on that front, too.</p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fyN8mpYFSaU/XBLye1wtFnI/AAAAAAAAeTU/pCSiLSH2FZI1deEIfxwmDX4miZMwjNRcACHMYCw/s1600-h/Laparoscopic%2BSugarbaker%2BTechnique%255B2%255D"><br></a></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-45084814758249066952018-12-12T21:26:00.000+00:002019-03-04T21:27:55.674+00:00WOYWW 497<p>Sorry not to join in WOYWW last week. It’s been an extremely busy time with a lot going on and I’ve got very exhausted and have had to rest as much as possible between our various activities.</p><p>No desk pic again this week because my mystery project is still under wraps but hopefully all will be revealed next week. In the meantime, here’s a fun little gift I made for the friend we had lunch out with today (writing this on Tues. evening).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3pjy6xA5UKSn1RRi1MvAHhL1lt66usH84W6mShoHM_p5c8mSCs5SHmajMC7ZVJUzKvJpRSgM0OV7BuUg1wSCN0yVMSyWP-RIzBP3msEgkgJSZ6z1eEix1sqphUtQ6Ehz0vTa2Ry9Ira-/s1600-h/06+Peachies%2527+Original+Sourdough+Crackers+2%255B4%255D"><img width="704" height="570" title="06 Peachies' Original Sourdough Crackers 2" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="06 Peachies' Original Sourdough Crackers 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eQdfVdqrxnIgeYvhhv8V2o7aBmEylJrPRhcBJKawphSb81yQYsFr7CEochiHplIQpYiVvALiqPKZHx1w-bRHbhMjZAbYZBIQrRqlgF26mfgRgvPJ9WlcmYrz2oWRh3Ikud7XABC_u_lH/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>“Peachies” is a joke we have with our friend over a mistake made with our name when we were together once, and it stuck. Hope you like my vintage-style label.</p><p><strong>Lunch Out</strong></p><p>One of several meals out this week – today’s lunch at a lovely place where they have peacocks wandering around outside, and they had decorated their Christmas tree with a peacock theme. I just had to photograph these gorgeous decorations, which included clear baubles with a peacock feather inside, baubles made with overlapping sequins in peacock colours, and peacock feathers sprayed with something to stiffen them, and painted with glitter – just gorgeous!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSSoy9FdKUtsJOeDGOv4KnxMKk4g6CqZ-da2zgp6tPPYwNOL5Lh58n_e5hpe-0RR84kjhTmULGdNNSTTPNFwudoM3iDq-jLTMxl0xJgBhQZYuRdTv62Ki3tri8wieDOI8KihpuDAkHGdb/s1600-h/Peacock+Feather+Xmas+Decs+at+Turton+Mill+11-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="Peacock Feather Xmas Decs at Turton Mill 11-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Peacock Feather Xmas Decs at Turton Mill 11-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUI1cCu0C89JFymDt6yjmwHTSg8xJr7Ix93SQfCoUPEhpLzUHJRj9Z7jlbLmjxtkYypF0_3m5vUqhJ8YtKDhIFyh7q7IW1o_hbyJYjkAeMF9QhOdXdpSI2tAfwSJy84jRnQEoKQZO00Y4/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><strong>Sourdough</strong></p><p>After a break for a week, I made sourdough again this week. A great success. I think I’ve really cracked it now.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx8u_jpV5bsnl7KN0pVA4vAL88KEw0Zv6XIEY44P1dBmTZQ2kBXqe2fZp0VptIbT0YMFcaxucMVbWVzxTwisTGGGjZ9McGJ-_IjMqYCBUmqJsPKnim2X-QfPIMj5t6ZdWLHxT7D5RSx7h/s1600-h/61+Sourdough+9-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="560" title="61 Sourdough 9-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="61 Sourdough 9-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyzb-UYdD4aGbqDySC72btOUbbeFEyVBmdnUmBcQHKrQ7jJinPm3en6Ff0nmk2jmCC_W19OjGKEAHiOQvxEMuTylHgIx_66mxWz8XiLJWSKi5w0lrpX_QwwWdfupPG9Ub8T4LL7IZFOlE/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90hBJBrosFy9ZhFoCuMFFC5GjL3V8Tq3CLoGUQGiI9UeoH_nkhAh_MLqtKwD5YpunclvAuExTvcanhB5bD0VR2XYsnYyLGdylor6E4dLMBVFhqcgoaNToXLU0_QTokYYZyOYfkramxjma/s1600-h/62+Sourdough+Cut+9-12-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="554" title="62 Sourdough Cut 9-12-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="62 Sourdough Cut 9-12-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C4Hrz33V8k3JHI53ihyphenhyphenNS_HEgA0pO_VJpOMZMXx0VIOJ8WefedD1SJrw33AnDb2tNEEAJcxdhdbfoG-TZkJRSGIB7d4zjgot6s03DPj64Ta7NcuQoHDLApiQRizRdBEN2SKDdiqKCkIg/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><strong>Car Woes</strong></p><p>The steering on the car has been a bit ropey for a while so we took it in to our friendly car mechanic today and he put it on his lift, with me in it, and I spent the next hour or so up in the rafters of his garage, doing my knitting – a most uplifting experience! He can repair it, but had to keep the car in overnight so he sent us home in his courtesy car. My hubby should be able to pick it up tomorrow, all being well.</p><p><strong>Computer Woes</strong></p><p>A nightmare week, having to format my hard drive and reinstall everything. I had a minor problem which online research assured me could be safely cured with the removal of a couple of small files from the registry, after safely backing up the registry in case of problems. Problems? I’ll say. The computer wouldn’t boot up at all! What use is a registry backup if you can’t access it? Grrrr. Major stress, huge amount of work, some things still not operating as they should and needing tweaking. Two external hard drives not being recognised by the computer but eventually I narrowed this down to a problem with their enclosures (they hadn’t been tried before) and they are now being examined in our local computer shop, and I should get them back in a day or two. I wasn’t worried about my data etc. because I back everything up religiously. It’s going to take me a while to get things back to normal, though.</p><p><strong>Kitty Woes</strong></p><p>Ruby is grounded. Again. Despite extra defences, she was straight over the fence again. Stronger defences were installed by my hubby, and after a short period of frustrated yowling because she couldn’t get out, she made another attempt and succeeded. My hubby says he <em>will</em> get this sorted, and in the meantime she is strictly an indoor kitty. Lily gets so anxious when Ruby gets out, and comes running to tell us, in great distress. She’s such a good girl, and Ruby is an absolute terror! They are so different.</p><p>They are different in their tastes in TV, too. Lily likes educational programmes like wildlife. Here is Ruby watching Star Trek.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-iVVPqT9A22Mbm0HlEXvun-5GmFFWewxaABoQJyljFOPOwRyBVOjv-7dQsfRuabT6K816j-B0LDSNhw2mJmdVrmdpNJU3j0p5sPk-FHTULnrs_UFgIyKVuWN21bXInmy87S4khDCS6rZ/s1600-h/05+Ruby+Watching+Star+Trek+28-11-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="534" title="05 Ruby Watching Star Trek 28-11-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Ruby Watching Star Trek 28-11-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdmDHoXOYVty7rDWZ7uk5LsHdk3SPOVDleDX46GKtKn-Z-7aI7x3SD0Y0F4mLOnN-blalWa3Nsn9JOAFUuiZdttAjwhPxlTzCr-_OzV1X2ca7hOmMK01m027dSSErUNT69H2WJEfeqMLb/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><strong>Health Update</strong></p><p>I am seeing my surgeon on Thursday, following my recent CT scan which showed the return of my parastomal hernia. I am hoping he will agree to leave it alone and just keep an eye on it for now, as I really don’t want further surgery after being so ill earlier this year. It’s not giving me much trouble.</p><p>It’s been quite a week and I’m not surprised I’m exhausted.</p><p>I shall be glad when this season is over. It’s my least favourite time of the year!!! Can’t wait for January and a good rest and at least another 11 months till next C. (I’m not a bah-humbug type – really – but at this time of year I always feel like emigrating.)</p><p>Here’s a seasonal funny.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUQiaDs6BsgezFxcOiuJ58tP42KyybkYInWEHrUSFLpQyFBY6cPKOXU9-R0VRJYMtmmnXtIbrrm4y_kdXIiYXMv5KzYtWKp6y8Woj9BmPALzpIImVUGA6Uzs2HijVd0urBo7DaP9HFV0m/s1600-h/Christmas+Cat+Tree%255B5%255D"><img width="390" height="480" title="Christmas Cat Tree" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="Christmas Cat Tree" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bS3oCA1jyUfpca1NHknngwz0bhWNgOUChquG-ek0Yad37w-m-ZeWEk7FxCIQ9CL0uv0PiS5yklZNdWvHKg7AjdfvxbMiX-10DInId75vHKfX_Fz6zf5hHGbfWhIUEVHdofuj93Ytjc4u/?imgmax=800"></a></p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-69946046408802254992018-12-01T21:33:00.000+00:002019-03-04T21:39:55.786+00:00Beautiful Birds of Prey<p>Today was a meeting of our local <a href="http://www.iasupport.org/">Ileostomy Association</a> group near Ottery St. Mary in Devon, and our guest speaker was a man from the North Somerset Bird of Prey Centre, based near Bristol. Because this was an indoor meeting, he just brought four birds and they were not allowed to fly around, but he was able to explain a lot about them, and at the end to give any volunteers the opportunity to handle them themselves.</p> <p>It was a fascinating talk, and he was very amusing with it. The first bird he showed was a beautiful tiny owl – a <strong>southern white-faced owl</strong> named <strong>Luna</strong>, who was four years old, and bred in Lincolnshire.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tFECN7BFjJF88qavG6U3x3_nOkgJjjGmbgzeG0ob_3F7He2LlQ97_meEeJMGRzWoKybp10H0qfXo_fpHGUETW7Jgp89CJ3JulQYlaCbILtCA9XJM8pXh0jpXTK7R7ENZPAQHwzek_Vbj/s1600-h/01+Southern+White-Faced+Owl%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Southern White-Faced Owl" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Southern White-Faced Owl" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBG-fYKmOEIpV5_26KxoxfH40Aqeu-pIIUrShVtYVCaaKsp21X-ku-RWDpe5Up-SXTW_MI2KKMdHAoGCEEilJIJkUPWJbqVr_gRtMz8ntKK-SBEJjcdo5oaZyqnJah1R5_qBE7owu1Ts4/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>This owl has been called “The Japanese Transformer Owl” after a Youtube video: <a title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSGHNfxxDjw" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSGHNfxxDjw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSGHNfxxDjw</a></p> <p>This shows that the owl has the amazing ability to fluff itself up to several times its normal size, and also to shrink right down, according to different sized threats.</p> <p>He told us that this owl’s prey is just as remarkable – poisonous snakes, scorpions and huge spiders. It is a “movement hunter” – it will ignore anything that isn’t moving, but from quite a distance it can detect the movement of a single spider leg and pounce.</p> <p>The “ears” are nothing to do with hearing, but are tufts of feathers which serve as camouflage, breaking up the owl’s outline.</p> <p>He was very amusing about this somewhat diminutive owl, describing how he decided to have some fun after discovering one of the Centre’s captive ones attacking a large bone left over from somebody’s Sunday joint. He downloaded a Wikipedia page and doctored it to back up his claim that this owl had downed an elephant and eaten it. He presented this story to a group of students at his local university and some of them actually believed it, and were asking questions, such as, “How did the owl manage to bring the elephant down?” He said that the owl hid himself in the undergrowth, and as the elephant walked past, he stuck out his foot and the elephant tripped over it. When asked how the tiny bird had managed to penetrate the thick hide of the elephant, he said it had crawled up inside its trunk and eaten it from the inside out. He ended this story by telling us that he was extremely worried about the future. “In a few years’ time, these students will probably be running the country. I hope I’m out of here by then!” </p> <p>He taught us that contrary to popular belief, 65 percent of the world’s owls are daytime hunters – we always think of them as “night owls” and don’t expect to see or hear them during the day. He said that you can tell what sort of hunter they are by their eye colour:</p> <ul> <li>Orange eyes: crepuscular (dawn or dusk) hunters</li> <li>Yellow eyes: diurnal (daytime) hunters</li> <li>Dark brown eyes: nocturnal (night-time) hunters</li></ul> <p>He told us that the “wise old owl” is a total myth. Living in close proximity with owls over many years, he could testify that they are as thick as two short planks!! Analysing their brains, scientists have determined that the greatest percentage of brain matter is given over to vision, closely followed by hearing, and the rest, a tiny proportion, to intellectual capacity. The archetypal bird brain.</p> <p>Next, he introduced us to <strong>Cerberus</strong>, a British <strong>tawny owl</strong> – our most familiar native owl.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7S2XCGW-dklqwE9uSttoseTofaMgCnHyUFJ4eXRuDfvFaLy5dT0KRFWGA65sNZfB-8Dp7Ebdtf7XwaVzWI8QLSP7P3ZDP4W-E5VOXv_ZYUJJhnX9Pi62pQnyYmpUij-GS6FnqrVMQqWg/s1600-h/02+Tawny+Owl%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Tawny Owl" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Tawny Owl" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNFB9vBIZHJbh6OUGqnecr0BNoU6ULcbll-wTQCjMl2Ywg73MSyP1ZxtZw61SpVQvSRAeSQ0NKIW1cptI-1tUXTOroxLcW3qPmf1qKFLvqmcgIITUcaVIS9EWVjkQgEANsuqMc7sLjUG1/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Cerberus, in Greek Mythology, was the multi-headed hound who guarded the gates of Hades, and he said that his namesake had the appetite of several hounds so his name was appropriate! He told us that tawnies are quite vocal and often talk to each other when hunting, and raised a laugh by suggesting that the “t’wit” of the female and the “t’woo” of the male were actually the male “wooing” the female and the female insulting him by calling back “twit, twit”!!</p> <p>They can be very aggressive and will attack you if you go near their nest. People have lifted the lid of a nesting box, thinking it was empty of adults, only to have an eye pecked out. He tends to wear a motorcycle crash helmet with a visor when doing this, and once, the owl attacked him and its talons left huge gouges on the surface of the helmet and someone thought he had come off his bike and his head had skidded along the road.</p> <p>They are also territorial, and object to other owl species invading their hunting grounds, and will kill a barn owl for territory. They live about 13-14 years in the wild, and the official record age in captivity was 19 years, but at the Centre, just after this was published, they had one which was 24 years and 5 months old!</p> <p>The prey of the tawny can range from worms, three-quarter sized rabbits, squirrels and fish. They have dark brown eyes, showing that they are nocturnal. Cerberus weighs in at about 1 1/4 pounds.</p> <p>He then opened the largest cage and brought out an absolute monster of an owl – <strong>Hercules</strong>, a five-year-old <strong>European Eagle Owl</strong> weighing 5 lb 2 oz.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdhGwGggxI0DTNPP2FTV29BbEKpSU_94tQMEG88hYGASHTYpmzQbdAyIB03FbTTkiXFlLPIJA58VaXvw_YU8EB-zIHWVcc-c8rm1Bx7HLz8eybojk7Hm1XxYgFvh4pm-dsEW0dr7du0mH/s1600-h/03+European+Eagle+Owl+1%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 European Eagle Owl 1" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 European Eagle Owl 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipczpjmHWXwRxxaCsQ9_W4LZXYZ_Eiflok12MVaxm1LqEDy2UhT2IziVeIyq-_BFGFEZQa0X3tzD9NIhyve4IikNqKHE67_HrqftRDT3FIAtZopmPODdff0cTl81qiJsBE30i_BxVLsoYE/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>His mother, Harriet, used to kill dog foxes for a pastime. Their usual prey is anything from worms, up to rabbits and foxes.</p> <p>They pair for life. Our national bird preservation society stated that this was not a native bird to the UK and had been introduced, and because they could kill cats and dogs, said they should be shot on sight. However, our speaker said he used to work for them and said that he knew that this statement was incorrect, and knew for a fact that they really are a native of our islands, and should be protected. A breeding pair was found in a quarry in Yorkshire and the society was all for destroying them but then the Ministry of Defence stepped in and set up a training camp there, which of course was out of bounds to anyone not in the army, so the owls got military protection! The society did kill one female eagle owl on one occasion, and its mate mourned and cried inconsolably for months afterwards. There are apparently 50-60 wild eagle owls in this country and about as many in captivity. A truly magnificent bird.</p> <p>He told us that the “ears” are similar to those of the southern white-faced owl, and are used to show the bird’s expression: if they are up, the owl is alert; if lying down flat against the head, he “doesn’t give a hoot,” and if they are sticking out sideways, he is in hunting mode.</p> <p>Here is Hercules with his wings spread as in flight.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym08LFd467PsSJ4jN1QbuaES8p5Q7sWVnkUbVrx0URShBOoNzhVxnApukGWf-aksdg_4-eLHMC_FQOQN5cOk9T762yZFutz1qxVDBY4Kjn60ZQYk_mXiRN94vTEmrglCX0kzPRcXNCEfS/s1600-h/04+European+Eagle+Owl+2+-+Flight%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 European Eagle Owl 2 - Flight" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 European Eagle Owl 2 - Flight" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakIa4DttN6YPoxYX2Rmz-vDi6r0hJPCgusKMWkP7vw-7XAktemM4e62SIw6Sz1_KKVweXmMET10bxtXVMAfSwK9jR2Y7QhQFOJkPpnazGVqfXnrcBUY03y-k3uK9w_RdnXzD4L2Eix44p/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Hercules was bred in captivity and is very tame, and trusts his handler to the extent that he can hold the bird without a glove, which is normally considered extremely risky; the large glove used to hold this bird is triple-thickness leather! Once, our speaker had his hand seriously injured by the talons of an eagle owl which has 350 kg pressure in each foot. It pierced right through the soft tissue of his hand and wouldn’t let go, and the bird had to be gradually coaxed to relax sufficiently for the talons to be extracted from his hand. He went to hospital and had it X-rayed and fortunately there were no broken bones; it was just soft tissue damage but of course there was a huge risk of infection. He was fortunate not to lose his hand. The owl will apply pressure if it feels insecure and likely to lose its balance (hence the requirement to be an experienced handler!) or if it is grasping its prey. (Our speaker said the doctor had told him he needed a psychiatrist rather than a physician!)</p> <p>Hercules is a very affectionate bird and has a strong relationship with our speaker, and loves a cuddle!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PZt4O98Wz8WNXVrQQhyphenhyphenWTtLDdl7zm7uZ8c7lsTPWDa4V4VH0NG2ZfUbNddPMuXIMfU8Hd8caklGmyoxLC2oxY-WvlmkhsMYuhOaSDQLbXYMP_V8yqJ_X5-GUJw0FQ5kDRw07UPjzQ_YY/s1600-h/05+European+Eagle+Owl+3+-+Cuddle%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 European Eagle Owl 3 - Cuddle" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 European Eagle Owl 3 - Cuddle" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U04BCA_d_19a8rLSWoB3iqq2H5rVen__CRFBiW3TVm9AhKD8IXacBehkAdZFuBCCIImugjy5lvEwJPQYaoI-0726fN91rKD3w95lGT-yHYT3S_1UXUNSckDikPTmXi1Y15hQEG4KjkhR/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The final bird he introduced us to was <strong>Flash</strong>, a male <strong>Harris hawk</strong>, named after Flash Harry! The Harris hawk is a native of the Americas, and is the most popular falconry bird in the UK.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIECUV5ZtIEAduRAOX74xjLE35Hnbf1muxQnLUYEBhHyqCLJJ2ezOtvAdrwSoSH2B_wnXNykoYnRs13Pd5QQrmpjlW6ccCKEWFnowwT-a-hS_tyLR_Yh-ZdhE63VZ2CO4oRlffocYC-5p/s1600-h/06+Harris+Hawk%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 Harris Hawk" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Harris Hawk" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RMYN_aoJ5cMGaYis1C-Zl7uWGs2ag5Os8KiBr1VHed0FDw-zo0OhrkzsF1hPF_07vljTEGZ66qbv69zl_g08sVTxuNacJE9J95rsdjSq06C8uYGytJ4pn7S7hUJOkHB529zqVqidFphj/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>In contrast with his owl cousins, the Harris hawk’s brain is 400 times the size! This is a very intelligent bird.</p> <p>These birds are highly social and hunt in packs. Each pack is controlled by an alpha female and everybody has to do what she says, or she will eat them. Alpha females have been known to eat both their beta husbands and their offspring! Normally, though, their pray is rabbits, rats, mice, pheasants and the like.</p> <p>They live in semi-desert regions with only sparse cactus plants growing. Because this means there aren’t that many perching places from which to survey their surroundings, they often <a href="http://www.andrewdenman.com/Available_from_Fine_Galleries/Andrew_Denman_Totem_2_Stacked_Harris_Hawks.html">stand on each other’s backs</a> on top of a tall cactus, sometimes several birds high, known as the totem pole effect.</p> <p>Harris hawks can live about 13 years in the wild, and up to 25 years in captivity.</p> <p>On the subject of their breeding habits, beta females have a choice. They can either forego the privilege of breeding in order to stay in the pack and enjoy the benefits of shared hunting and feeding, and security, or if they can’t resist the urge to breed, to leave. If they don’t agree, the alpha female will eat them. It’s a no-brainer really. As for the males, when they reach sexual maturity they still aren’t old enough or good enough at hunting to be useful in the pack, so are reduced to scratching around on the ground trying to scare out prey from any undergrowth, and only the beta males are allowed to breed with the alpha female. They tend to leave the pack and set up bachelor packs. Any exiled females will approach a bachelor pack and select the best prospect for a husband and start to flirt with him. If he is agreeable, they will form a pair, and then a new pack, with the female assuming the lead as before.</p> <p>Two young ladies sitting at the staff table beside me were nodding in agreement throughout this description and saying “what a good idea” which amused me greatly! Feminists… Lol!</p> <p>At the end of his talk, he invited volunteers to come forward for the opportunity to handle the birds themselves. Here is Mark being instructed on how to hold Flash on the glove.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrOf20wJ65CfRpNM_exwhspZ8qDXb9fYmjTTEvgpWBylpkUAQirnWzO3HJEIeoRdBdluYhyphenhyphenwYDv_YgFF-Bw9pjJNCuLaHkvYKYdAR1rkpJFvNfYULoowrWEnTv4rtUCUlyqoWXfNt2ZHu/s1600-h/07+Mark+Taking+the+Harris+Hawk%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="07 Mark Taking the Harris Hawk" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="07 Mark Taking the Harris Hawk" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH_bGLYHHLKbGVEV0SiOfoa0vCUaCZJb-kJB7yhBq_2RlvMk6ow0dd40wrSK7CXaoGMdFdKkIQbXzfy8cB4swMia3srsbHsWlpD7PcQDiLmSXb0GyeFlxW-uOwKm7ESnBLSNk-jVHyKRC/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVxxtEDBu0WDsdfex-CLShSLLJO2jZs_iyacHHiiQbqgmbv98DdSC9qpLL_ieIubpbAQYM7ckKbK-YhQs6qZeHRAjSj3dzj56p1_LIES5aG1YJhT-_XHx0pGsojBsLmDqw_CB9jMHI_8k/s1600-h/08+Mark+with+the+Harris+Hawk%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="08 Mark with the Harris Hawk" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 Mark with the Harris Hawk" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3V6qQ4bmjTu-CuOm5gpNyBk9SvfsZwCOqQVgmmMhvNFwHtbLd-tF2RkogkLL5bEoHbK3CWzabbkWR_cOd_nfAu6C2Dt0IxodMxWZ3VsbcWFkthi0HplNK6swaShYCIGWPTKO3MfVlUUUq/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>This very serious little boy was given a small sized glove so that he could hold Luna, the smallest and lightest of the four birds.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESkBXduWrDFJ0WEKhak6at1M7ueDW7Lo16-vVi8Qcyth29J9xqsKVuccGMUgUzKayj-dDvUE2Y0qhOSshlOvFL35nZD77civolX6gvMnfvxZ3I9hATlyTrE5pOeKtZ2eaSZmS8oQMss3u/s1600-h/09+Little+Boy+with+the+Southern+White-Faced+Owl%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="09 Little Boy with the Southern White-Faced Owl" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="09 Little Boy with the Southern White-Faced Owl" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhrXAIGJe_LiNJg8y6ed3GvNOuvrtXIIwnCkKnANCVzY9-bTy9skBVXhey62e_zT9D43aoRzRlt07VQ-9MSGqBJwOEngj9e0HuiZ9uxL6zux2YHqHA1CIt0VCUWoeCVZMumrjrb5cNIB5/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Finally, Chris with Hercules. He certainly wasn’t going to risk handling him without a glove!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53fiZJKaQNcud6o1E5OB2Q5neMBUz80IaKPiI_AWBHckNm0saQnWQpVzf3CGwmrtxYCrmLw2_cBkgekiCAlYOlX83FqKblIhLA3ccu3176wY1Dmo4wJjneb98xsM0ek7Mq1SRsSEmW2ra/s1600-h/10+Chris+with+the+European+Eagle+Owl%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="10 Chris with the European Eagle Owl" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Chris with the European Eagle Owl" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0Qn_MHeVf2rLt4ij00WqjtYr9TxbLQTaIsh4XalcWy641zTmKO42NSyUiK9DkdPsblPpVJxgoHZ_ddt8toisU6e5kDrW-EGyH9Vq_uZT4vCEdPJa2W3Rt0kP8oJ3WWW3vZguCIH0mIDd/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>It was such an interesting and fun talk and we all learnt such a lot and were thoroughly entertained.</p> <p>The rest of the day was taken up with the usual activities at our meetings, beginning with a lovely buffet lunch spread at which I ate far too much – you take a little of this and a little of that, and before you know it, your plate is overflowing! After lunch was the talk, and then the committee business, and then we went through the answers to the quiz. Each time, copies of a printed sheet are left on the tables and you can fill in the answers. This time the theme was Christmas – anagrams of carols, names of pantomime characters minus vowels and spaces, general knowledge questions about historical Christmases etc. etc. I was among a few who got 22 out of the 25 questions correct, and only one lady got 23, so she won the chocolate bar and a round of applause!</p> <p>There was the usual raffle, and a small sale table (I bought a couple of second hand books) and the table of bring-and-share spare stoma products – unwanted samples, surplus supplies etc. There’s usually something worth picking up there. This time I didn’t have anything to put on the table. This year there was only one manufacturing company rep, which was unusual, but I had quite an interesting chat with her.</p> <p>There was a Christmas cake baking competition but unfortunately there were only two entries, and the traditional white-iced fruit cake won the prize. Both cakes were cut and shared over tea at the end, and the traditional one was absolutely delicious and worthy of the prize. Over tea I chatted with the stoma nurse who had come from Exeter – mostly about our shared love of cats! – and an exchange of photos of our beloved kitties!</p> <p>Altogether a really lovely day out, and the opportunity to meet old friends and meet new people too. We have 3 or 4 meetings a year and it’s well worth the minimal annual subscription which also covers a quarterly magazine and local newsletter.</p> <p>A day for Kermit, my stoma, to meet up with his little friends!</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-5104606527767623352018-11-29T17:07:00.000+00:002019-03-05T17:11:33.777+00:00Completing the Flowers and Leaves for my Altering Project<p><em>WOYWW visitors – please scroll down to previous post.</em></p> <p>I have now finished making the flowers for my mystery project, and I have also made some leaves.</p> <p>I made a selection of single-piece flowers and layered some of them for a bit more interest.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum05Bm7NBh_AJRce0P9NB1_X2X2aencu8QVJo35Yh_y4DuSFsxq5tSgHDpyPOuQO-swL22CGlQXulBBIpNmgjqdmzdgQhUhw1YU06iCMd2RMIVLJ0PBPJcYNkADP8eRwo4qDJiDMCop8m/s1600-h/43+Single-Piece+Turquoise+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="43 Single-Piece Turquoise Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="43 Single-Piece Turquoise Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAd3JEnexAD1ZVSdgzM3o5AI7Q4h5Qao58qERxZzkf-8ip8VATfSmaCq1lRoSQeK-Y0ExOpCD3C6flyOrN0J8Ta0pUZ_2N0lbjxwvLnSyfejxqoJi5tJjGThSIVa0lFvO1CvdFkM2ozDt/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I used Orange Peel and Turquoise Stickles for the centres of some of them, and for the rest, I added a nice big blob of hot glue and sprinkled this with orange Flowersoft equivalent – this stuff is called Soft Magic from Carole’s Crafts, in light orange – I’ve had the set of these for ages and can’t remember where I got them. I don’t use it very often and it does make rather nice flower centres. It’s one of those supplies that lives in a drawer and gets forgotten about!</p> <p>Here are all the turquoise flowers I have made.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFoyE36KrcTiMW5sNn3jpdCQpavWnVZYyKuyiQhF8sRyvAhGWOVTzHZjWrnF5NOPm4KDKUldhak5iwtduCrj50KfyJ8l34RV112_682hrD4MO9toc9_R1tUl-0y3a6I2eh0FQLYRvJHZd/s1600-h/44+All+the+Turquoise+Flowers%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="44 All the Turquoise Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="44 All the Turquoise Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p1WBc15AMTsbYAv53wxuzWvdxBs1pgBoClQbvcryzhXy0BpbS1V8jWxfEzhjsZcOVihdFwoXlWgZZ8thDnbJCA4JXV_CNvetfbROBIsn8f8yEijo58XxFOmsFjJqQ931kstRGv62Yhbd/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Moving on to the leaves, I cut them all with the left-hand die from this Die’sire Classiques set, “Assorted Leaves.” I don’t much like the second die and haven’t used it yet, but I bought these dies at a craft show early this year, for the first die which has proved very useful.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4zpH1Xkrq5apPQIWqJw8PDQ4Jh8yGYT-RhqkcONGmVxYoOHpfL4rAkNUPXPXAWvxXn65LTBvvceGM3uwSk7fmhqCCQ3lWpPqvXataXoqN2b0TA1YMdZOMrMBiDHRshoNIB4s-U-clTHW/s1600-h/45+Die-Cutting+the+Leaves%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="721" title="45 Die-Cutting the Leaves" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="45 Die-Cutting the Leaves" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0_ECFL1BAppCcQr1PnQltKkfDFjY5pfT6g3uMT-s_SyP19XQpTEzOr8ietFAoV9_4ZcxHkY0OAMDkis_yRDfMRYhmh-ZNBUZVAp3OzCl4C6JXQpqNODOEcl7Zlk7BD0bsgiYi-UTKb2D/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I cut all these leaves from scraps of American Crafts white cardstock so I didn’t have to break into another whole sheet. I then hand-embossed them all with two sizes of embossing tools into a piece of fun foam.</p> <p>Colouring two sets of leaves, one to go with the turquoise/terracotta flowers and the other with the brown flowers.</p> <p>For the terracotta ones I coloured them with Rusty Hinge Distress Stain, painting on the ink in a random, blotchy way, and then repeated the process with Gathered Twigs Distress Stain, and finally distressed the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, using a home-made ink blender.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL3MUFoY-dqog_SSb4XJ20R3aSZAZYLAWbSBDoipkmOZ99KjlGphpvfE0ta_E_0m0DZHwdfLwHDqxMX329PVvOsCcgKImfPATTjfo7kXbumxP5a8V0nOtMOprnUaTh-yP10wzYSMJw5q6/s1600-h/46+All+the+Leaves+Complete%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="46 All the Leaves Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="46 All the Leaves Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm7-1Ej4ndeXSgQJ4Wos0tTn1z4_eanU8rO0kajxsz2vzXtjrySZUmXkAsgVAZGQC2MWXxEdywObnxIQbGlHE1QcP6WIB2dxWrXrGJA5wBffhLMSqY3LMkzIWBjnmnwtoG2LhGbPhH8Mq/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>For the brown ones, I used the same method, first with Pumice Stone Distress Stain, followed by Gathered Twigs, and finally with Antiqued Bronze Distress Stain for a subtle shimmer, and again, distressed the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.</p> <p>Here are the brown leaves, together with a selection of brown flowers.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2uCo6mFa_3XAGJKlxTc6SSwocGEF_q-lvvCol4vEX7W10ZkThdTfBOJYKlGPiMZBX1e8_rf_qZdKwor-tyshqVIMAfE1ht8CIUZ-vyM2EFIbBuTvtFV0RvgSniNb6BAlOv_buOTNFJ4z/s1600-h/47+Brown+Leaves+with+Some+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="47 Brown Leaves with Some Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="47 Brown Leaves with Some Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kFd_VlhOdtcZ2AdQuvBhQGi20Z3GCcomc8biSjObwlmZf0AFg9sjwwmGj20NZTyOqVSJ7cL3XkCXtgHnna9tl7HwCOJgyvp6-Kmj-8MyVGnCe_bfYxs7gUKFKlIniqjn8Bz20g1P-WWh/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>These are the terracotta leaves, together with a selection of turquoise flowers.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEI6r-U_e_FFucCO2ubv0WJI4upmRiI1C99sutJ3aqUZfwOQLl8J0CXgolLzkrj0NLElyLNME8VG2QUcPE-bXAFYzxVc1h3_tJ7H2sBM_gp6OPGlL_AYvHe2AcxUt82J6z85oligxT3kYZ/s1600-h/48+Terracotta+Leaves+with+Some+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="633" title="48 Terracotta Leaves with Some Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="48 Terracotta Leaves with Some Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_atjhZPvjaEQjxWtURqXrstmRGFa3vPTXAFYx526n3Ar5kP41POf0S5Qe0-ygLUY5qIiyhZoEQysdsH8fVEgrZgMea4Yy0wpSZejXxcR4SihicndFeW6BthJ98ntHNz2pyonjqH0JXz9/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I am now ready to continue with the rest of the project – I have already made good progress – and I will be able to show the finished results in a couple of weeks’ time.</p> <p>I have made far too many leaves and flowers for my immediate use, but will use up the excess for other projects – most probably when I alter the little frames that my hubby gave me recently.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-43397878779124486052018-11-27T17:16:00.000+00:002019-03-05T19:04:34.314+00:00WOYWW 495–Lots of Flowers<p>I am sorry I didn’t get to visit many desks last week but I’ve been so busy this week. We’ve had a lot on, and I’ve also been making lots of flowers for my current mystery project which has a fairly tight deadline, as well as working on other parts of it which can’t be revealed yet. My stuff arrived from Ebay so I can crack on now.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_MnsrcLncvOoRuknAWtw3GF8Ti7gQkttB3uMdIq4qixjkWgeWWUePUne0_bmbfWl1Q4KnjHJ9OWzEbHhaz0iBTd-EkpweTEDP_VxLVsLmsYGmhV0UIEj5pEzvLrIThSfGLxVQSmMQDGQ/s1600-h/WOYWW+495+27-11-18%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="WOYWW 495 27-11-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="WOYWW 495 27-11-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTucKDhI45uk_GHJGaTGIV6-_SR9SpHwCRdK5WArIKmA2Abq0GiQ1ROr3MhbC5S1jBCuRxhgq0LfqUUIJfjFg5TAPQDyAv7J6l6QdK4LZHkWSYLY2lcEmZrl3Mw8ZywjDjZq-BJTcGUZG/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I’ve made mostly roses, and a few single-piece flowers, in three colour schemes – dark purple, turquoise, and brown. Here is the complete set so far – I am hoping to make a few single-piece turquoise ones as well.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmRLc9omIdOU_eLmU_Hbur2l3AboO4n1JU6Rh1t2VoZo2DIJ8hci6eKXp6yJ1WtNQGNV0Ng8OpbgUaWpFNR6qe8hr5964jl59kyyOA-EoArl0iTxbkptVumE5RxHNzvullpzPJkVYBi4f/s1600-h/50+Three+Tubs+of+Flowers%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="426" title="50 Three Tubs of Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="50 Three Tubs of Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuxsGj-gFtBIyMsOSBz4c2wm_sA1ITrDrbnUVEvXz7r91CU07CxPtThL-CbzG5kDBta7ahUNj8zi5oGvzp3hjdblRHjZ-xYeSg4iPKilSheroRSlX1PTWXYqy_O6iThBcMciTL_04CsqO/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Individual sets.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNuFXu7cXWd-8YhluIrAokK5xQSyad5kZ7BdbeDwtNgYmQPBYN8TgcbOYjZ8ayXEgBcZl9JUG8mgtPBAqccCw-u6EDhzllhUpcLD3KJHpIW0W_6zrpr0cPKI41-G44E7TVWEF0xbRRvDP/s1600-h/26+All+the+Purple+Roses+on+Light+Rose+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="26 All the Purple Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="26 All the Purple Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWEMZLjbJzHKkMCU0bWxzaZIK7BMVEo8oMfE-Qs19shYFvJMRVkSAow2a9QBhvcYlinK8VVGq1LFTRrmKbKOT_xBkZJpy2PQopegVhh7eHm9edbsX5CLVcMilAr7saenTWtx9EIdF6Jrp/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fufMw1mXYKG6QK1FZ29QZVkMjTRe8E6tcZaanQd16bMHytGw4GDzdWI_rke0LO425otV403MT91TJxoJN57A-6Dek6yfA7qrVoYLKEJaDCNfGPRSUG-ti8A_zjvL46vLDdNDBVau7tue/s1600-h/32+All+the+Turquoise+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="335" title="32 All the Turquoise Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="32 All the Turquoise Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3YUGGtuEZArXZwYgUvRvKrq6ZfAqF2rYp4Pb6vTOCDS-63HWGB75WqgzBJTV1vAyO73oW8DmvK2OVkSaSFPRKhxjn-HHBg-Ksn4u0HrMUkRiOmeWt_fVSj3j5H3v3D_gqz-RZTRBxh36/?imgmax=800"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEiBdI6qtHK0OVaaCju3N5KBLXqOCNmzrwfTp6Ns4Z2l4KRCubvwke1DscDZXejUc_jtOBGG3U1khSTSw2S5rC2McFm_MtDfONUKD6EL3iyFh1IdSauawiNInPbSuWTMDrFzF2z-sgq_l/s1600-h/40+All+the+Brown+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="40 All the Brown Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="40 All the Brown Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx1bgyaXxFVkZZVlBRtYnEXodbYANsSAXpRPdm5O6BjQJ2bAjoIBmhvmdQ210g6EzyMVwuMnTb7bde0CEmMFAzu0E2ROhS2AGZeEhc4UJhKvSczr0f6B8GNOGBItAZUWdyX7j6tcL22lv/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Please scroll down for posts with further details of these flowers, and more pictures.</p> <p>These little embroidery frames also arrived from Ebay on Monday – I had used my last one a while back.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfx3F0KVT3sqBr-Lk4qCYCKzqIuZKqO9YPd4hu6TjCj_ZG5ZqQ4E20cjroeqk_uZ0E1k6uFc9mWJHLxA7gAvjsRX3fbOW9IJAA4Q_OezplrgICWTtNLblTCkSaCWJW4vfU7NEULrEjB-sq/s1600-h/01+New+Woodgrain+Effect+Clip+Frames+from+Ebay_thumb%255B2%255D%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="542" title="01 New Woodgrain Effect Clip Frames from Ebay_thumb[2]" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 New Woodgrain Effect Clip Frames from Ebay_thumb[2]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4HXTlwIGDnNZH8KW4LdNUkotHQYm2kFWZXLKMpjcO_ZJEZcZyE2pX_tR3_E0O2_f4rvLmrpM4cCiQpl08ppuMGPx2DNE6FEmINvWZeeBsSga0qCoU98aTUqnuelmPQCv060-es4x1JY-/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>They are an ideal size for small cross-stitch projects for gifts.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmjAeED-02bHVFWBbvXYWq8VhM6WgJBNtduI0c8oryev6ibdgwZNDtFXLE6EOefzXMjvxN5yxvlIx_c8iYZyWxRYGclE6oomXR-WtOddYQ02uBnMY76KQZf9TraGm5yPHK1CmCxxNiT_E/s1600-h/02+New+Clip+Frame+Disassembled_thumb%255B2%255D%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="475" title="02 New Clip Frame Disassembled_thumb[2]" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 New Clip Frame Disassembled_thumb[2]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa8uXG_PkVkflm2gDyNpURgAtJ_t2Tq-L-PrM0jiP84ojdvE4hAmsX9QOqvojzZwRrtraIntvrwqAtTInuDSxg2jjDhFOvRav0GoT4QIi319x_p9w5fAnLPAdOtepoKAt9nSMwynKhNdS/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The outer ring is rubber and clips into the inner ring, and you can work in the frame, then back it, and hang it. You can get them in lots of colours – you can see my other ones – but I like the woodgrain effect best. Smashing little frames! I like to keep a few in stock. A few months ago I got a new cross-stitch programme for the computer as my old one does not work with Windows 10.</p> <p><strong>Sourdough</strong></p> <p>Some of my best sourdough this week! Following some online advice about shaping the loaves twice at the end, instead of once, they ended up with a lot more tension and didn’t collapse. Apart from this final shaping, I have found that the less I handle the dough during the day, the better the result. Developing too much gluten makes the dough wet and sticky and causes it to collapse.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15R66uhAF1YobFjXs1HBu-wk7nA6V4OBKsIwWMI8PwEiDw5fMLbhZAkO_SqMF_cZ-1YLf9rwvZ22Yy3Gc3H3WtBY1NJa-itemcW3XBYlIZsEpUgmpL2ymGgiiG3z2hNDTjMTP05Np3dmA/s1600-h/59+Excellent+Sourdough+25-11-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="59 Excellent Sourdough 25-11-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="59 Excellent Sourdough 25-11-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CfGeP0WyrxdmNfKcMrFroHJlLE5vs-uyMe52axUnyr6LJERpPSv20j47pHa3_B4nU-ppR1c2lZRf62lbnI8GQT7qpV0m60-wqAMWFPphyCuGoQdy1g0jFw9xQm45W8oELzwBBZ6s0IyG/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNYt3KF5OzcwYLQM2v8jlksPIL3fzSLBizrZFAU7E37FvnWbe85HLnBndknQQNn_HFYAfDDitHhk5t-6G9tFXLzfyA88nOvUiMCgunhxid_UjQ91di3VFaS_OIbogmbBep76-uuVwhlri/s1600-h/60+Excellent+Sourdough+Cut+25-11-18%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="60 Excellent Sourdough Cut 25-11-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="60 Excellent Sourdough Cut 25-11-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDXwkRIrzM1k31rSMYDgJELJoB5Mltcr5cmLCeopJ_CROQRboMAxoFJAb4cnSNTU_kdh1p1bOwmNmiGF2TlVnkNEslZqh84WON9OnqyLRqrZqTf9WWvmX3EpXVkfNLOuAauIPwA6CGFt_/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>On the top photo, you can clearly see the ridges made by the bannetons. This shows up more on a white sourdough loaf.</p> <p><strong>Health Update</strong></p> <p>Partial good news on the pants front! My tirade on the phone evidently bore some fruit, because despite them telling me the second pair would not be sent out till Friday, they arrived on Thursday! What’s more, they fit. So at least I was able to put a clean pair on and I can just about manage with two pairs until they get on with the remaining ones. After the GP’s prompt response to my email, promising an instant further prescription, I am hoping to receive the third pair (and even a fourth if the GP has indeed written me a prescription for two more) sooner rather than later.</p> <p><strong>Kitties</strong></p> <p>We’ve had more problems with Ruby getting out. My hubby was out on Monday morning – fortunately only locally, and I looked out of the kitchen window to see Ruby on top of the inward-sloping mesh on top of the garden fence, which is supposed to keep them in. She was clearly distressed and couldn’t get down. I went out and called her but she wouldn’t jump, and I was terrified of her catching her paw again, as she did a couple of weeks ago. I immediately called my hubby on his mobile and he came home straight away, went into next door’s garden armed with Dreamies and enticed her down, and carried her home. She was very subdued for the rest of the day.</p> <p>He had a good look along that fence to see if he could discover where she was getting out, and found that one of the fence panels is quite rotten, and she’d forced her way between the top of it and the bottom of the mesh where he hadn’t put in enough staples. I suggested he looked for forensic evidence in the form of “hair and fibre” (I watch too many detective series!) but he couldn’t find any of her fur on the fence. It was an extremely small gap and I was surprised she could get through, but my hubby said kitties are like octopuses and can squeeze through the smallest holes. They are as curious as octopuses too. Both kitties are now temporarily banned from going outside at all until he can get this fixed. He ordered a new fence panel straight away, which has been delivered, but he will have to work on it to make it fit the space.</p> <p>Amazingly, each time Ruby has got out, Lily has come to tell us! She was extremely distressed that time Ruby got her paw stuck. Earlier on Monday morning, she was sitting on the windowsill outside the kitchen window, crying plaintively, and I thought she was just asking me to let her in through the window, which I refused to do. I think that Ruby was already out, and Lily had come to tell me, and I was too stupid to realise what she was saying! She gets very distressed if her sister is doing something wrong or is in trouble. She is like the responsible older sister who cares very much about her naughty little sister, and Ruby isn’t nearly as bright as Lily, and she never learns! You’d think that after she got her paw stuck, she would have learnt that she is likely to get hurt and frightened if she goes over the fence. So far the kitty defences have been very adequate, and hopefully the new fence panel will do the trick – she’s only been out that side of the garden.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPu_8eBHlUhToUzeJQrU0JZE6gbvLLeJZHpsHgcdyP6oseDzu4C41s1In7-DwZOYf4VqkD7sqBVsYTumb6qJVCAU_7s6mYmhjn36Gx9GG7sSvnlYKJMGScPIo-mbLXWvcHtaPNXCywfRS/s1600-h/04+Identical+Positions+in+Flat+Sitting+Room+21-11-18%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="844" title="04 Identical Positions in Flat Sitting Room 21-11-18" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Identical Positions in Flat Sitting Room 21-11-18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN12vtrcqaRZe5mR0KnTScKgG8gcpt2vwnEmjNd6gdFd4xE5kKOcIC0K3CWTs5c9955eHujRkc1YefKyu90f7c0arr3wvBmx-LDFnYtOJtTiw3rkVCL7UhY8xYmtcEdOxNksxJYhoFPe_6/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Some friends of my hubby’s in the village where we used to live, who recently lost the second of their two elderly black kitties, have just got two new kittens – tabby and white this time. Next time we are over in their direction we shall call in – I can’t wait to see them! I remember when they got the other two, and I completely fell in love with the little one who has just died, and was tempted to put her in my handbag and take her home! She was always the smaller of the two and utterly adorable. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone and those two darling little black babies are now no more, having lived a good long life. It’s so devastating when they go, isn’t it. They grow up so quickly and you don’t want to miss a moment of their adorable kittenhood.</p> <p>Have a great creative week, everybody.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-43196965780337104562018-11-26T23:34:00.000+00:002019-03-06T23:42:46.430+00:00Brown Flowers for the Altering Project<p>Third and final colour scheme – naturals and browns.</p> <p>For the lighter coloured roses, I began by painting the flower pieces with Antique Linen Distress Stain. I discovered the quickest way of doing this was to prise off the dauber top from the bottle with a knife and just dip the brush in. Too much faffing around daubing it onto the craft sheet or onto the flower pieces which tend to rip if you rub them when they are wet. I really hate the dauber tops on the Distress Stains!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC12q8O_mcJ05NIPnQVGYPPiRtnE5HO2UP5GPXPw093PCFNTPhRSA-XMIvuLwcLaHVKYWv5bTtTRAfS6YkJ623-uz6pIXMY1ikjPYwDmsttiRcJbJ6gBhGutfYVa_ijT4UMnnQeL14IA_L/s1600-h/33+Small+Roses+with+Antique+Linen%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="510" title="33 Small Roses with Antique Linen" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="33 Small Roses with Antique Linen" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2srvQUyTbaMihls_1YhD8YjFyY1tLDpCd2XVuzOiEqhdBZRLUln5JTDLt88TC-kZ2UHbIgp3jmtoU-wZ762h2n1AFjqcjpOoUk4voVXGSSywPU0oGSBwJbG72dxe7y3nL3XJehMhZ3-Z/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Half way through this, I managed to tip the bottle over… I managed to scoop most of it up with a palette knife and then used the flower pieces to smoosh up the rest. I decided that I was too clumsy to be trusted with open bottles of Distress Stains on the desk, so from now on, I am standing the open bottle in a plastic bowl in case of accidents! A simple matter to pour it back into the bottle if I knock it over.</p> <p>The other day online I saw some flowers with petals that were half-and-half in two colours and the effect was lovely, so I thought I would try this. The second colour was Pumice Stone. I painted this on fairly roughly as before.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu04TT3ABo-rsa82dogSF45nDCi50RnQpOHNf2z3BC6z3gBoLUHnGCT10uSv1Wq7ZKE_0q-D6fneNUkX8zHM854W7eGOWFAHw6bIZ30dyhuF2lUK_GT7uJIIuD3jUN7MFtuQGsNrnoIchm/s1600-h/34+Small+Roses+with+Pumice+Stone%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="34 Small Roses with Pumice Stone" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="34 Small Roses with Pumice Stone" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwyw7NFt5l5LYq0Kag66pyjVTa3EHEErNprX3U0WyXo4-qK0gMRRftI1nO-N-zNgNZ6cyMoyGLLDlMPGt7RxpCLIIDVAEYhlNMOp0E5V35IEURvctogJJJCb2_nYmwpb16I1XWWKmTfRp/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Here is the set of light brown roses with the half-and-half petals. I am really pleased with this effect.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfupZKmmxWIzHFb0jl2JLo7iplePuN-Xh1NGLicFomP9YSghi5Oe_bpjM6mawRpfklfxKQ7I36E51S0C_6j9ZFSZBfg-Cep6ai-GEK-Y75KTShKwN8Iv_03K3O3PQ0sYjcpi0vnDf73VT/s1600-h/35+Light+Brown+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="35 Light Brown Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="35 Light Brown Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvU6Xk1rWPvvs_iR90o0QmFRLnzGsP6kLCRtdYlhlouiFdbFwLrcwIi5TnKXIxb9M-PBFrfBPvLzcnnpGxaNDMtBADiizk-KmX-gV7qkWuMCfTTginG8MKTOQ1XCNqJe9A-4fpY7Di7_4/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBsb57IuUQ4khD9mmzzfOa59l19UTX8qLwf-VahGNivxPudXWMbB7wcvtDqjYTp2oyktvJbd-k-q2lUpzFmehgBbO4BQ7fiAJiHjrkT8n56XvSwbDr-gcT1G57QnC4ZtN-lASCGbudk6w/s1600-h/36+Light+Brown+Roses+Close+Up%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="36 Light Brown Roses Close Up" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="36 Light Brown Roses Close Up" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGsBg2PmYDEHbwL6OwBqGMuwjJciXJ8afDz2nwrPY9ly4tI-baHPprfmvNBoVg9VPwSIkJIL807iKYUZ6rptrSiChU_eUDPNoDfAyXe6XZTkXWmPbXMFZ2uMes0HeeJpGZSE_0bjj9qXg/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The other thing I discovered, doing these, was that it was quicker to distress the edges of the petals once the flowers were assembled. I discovered this because I made up the small roses and then realised I hadn’t done it. The result is just as effective, and done in less than half the time – a quick swipe back and forth over the flower with the blending tool and it’s done. For this I used Tea Dye Distress Ink.</p> <p>Moving on to the darker brown flowers, here are the cut out pieces for two sizes of roses and some single-piece flowers. I used Gathered Twigs and Tea Dye Distress Stains for these.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-wDkoUCQwyCQoexwllAhrWSBITu6quevkY_qIb6fKleZMaYRtT0TRVnH3c5sD_HAtLGmhDxEW9OBTUh-k1iGgzX5deFwKzyXmzLIE-pC21g77O_OvIgGMyJS5zLIAB6R8AX76mtKtcxF/s1600-h/37+Dark+Brown+Flower+Pieces%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="37 Dark Brown Flower Pieces" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="37 Dark Brown Flower Pieces" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJrems3T5CAJ67RoviZt4w0JHAC-GIGrvsRuse7CCzI4ANlSBaj1anPEJUMYTiunUCOWb9sAJpKssPtj4QQilz2G7l7R97Ips8RqZt-F6qvNYT_C1UpDMRJmvnrt9OV6SU5-ZIps3lSC-/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The roses complete. They needed a little something extra so I lightly rubbed a little gold gilding wax over the petal tips and they positively shimmer! As usual, the photos don’t do them justice.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaGCyvTdV4EsSN1w-zjX5tTQ9AW112sOQi5Rke53UR13AXNbMztEIeXAesbI4D25VE4iKMIzALYNQnlCPi9jcjeHpQaCLU3iT4VwYTYAmzpVCMuDQzns5Z5RTCFWJrnbBf3psf1Q-6FlE/s1600-h/38+Dark+Brown+Roses+Complete%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="38 Dark Brown Roses Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="38 Dark Brown Roses Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKEVtHdUEMPkrpBg6xlXstpcyQUiw_Rq5EcU5kPyOUuX-5zZ4g3OdEwsIdY6B3wIE8O324Xibv2XTcqBvve80SVaXlKUsCPi5CXzAV2SuzPeVBLWrD5ZMLsMy5bDqEQQBT9j4Z5e3q5nQ/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLe9SowusnZVMGHMlrBqPCjlH1DvRGSBo1VTYn50byuHsyuI27Y7qUcuNaUjmZyE-RXqiB3vwg-KJbUPfbJ0YY8gedF_pVg12fvya6tosQtT4Qai_rDgYl8xrC2xGpVNFfZbXe7Pgxvw_/s1600-h/39+Dark+Brown+Roses+Close+Up%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="484" title="39 Dark Brown Roses Close Up" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="39 Dark Brown Roses Close Up" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJAejZgJkK3SHMfhmfzI-xh3kw0GDyT1op0uYTJHqZlSIDaO2PB5be-eBr-bravjsFk3vbldivP2Cazzhmqh2yQEvo1PPE0Z5tu1uQ5h-RediLda9xK93uUKnQ_ILYY2NIreHmLRiIVKk/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>All the brown flowers. I’ve added a little gold gilding wax to all of them, and I layered some of the single-piece flowers.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6UJkddutSnQhs6drbruaPVsrHa-7mZsf_txr8FX714P3qypLL54CedqKL6DppsYBclADj7hzqYU3PxIZmeRhUApeyeV0aKUxiR9iPg0AWhF7El1TtYgICqPmNCbRNjU0PktawtP56tv4/s1600-h/40+All+the+Brown+Flowers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="40 All the Brown Flowers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="40 All the Brown Flowers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr3_SfFfAtp1pjyyaBrX01o3kSKuyOOYaRMiEFrN9N_BIYZGR4GJPHKI2YwyrCWBmiq1Qbmd4pqdd8LGBlRxmX5sUOpyD9_UPa8p_pxivKSX1GwVmcCrbV-j6V5k6HBu7lXovymmEgpGu/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The final touch was to add a tiny dot of gold Stickles to the centre of these flowers.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcQFml8PXrIDDDaWjZc-ZS6UOE05X0yN9yWtrg5T1xxJ27pJjvJpPwekHkM0V5VdhLTiDNlFP20krPMHg-6MSbRzocCKO5rAzLRu5tzJhIdP1vQXGZQdqQlZATMOjvpHFzYyjy47oO0gv/s1600-h/41+Single+Piece+Dark+Brown+Flowers+with+Stickles%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="41 Single Piece Dark Brown Flowers with Stickles" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="41 Single Piece Dark Brown Flowers with Stickles" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe0pPfZX_2a2GaanG3acIuHbIzdI-5PF7gmqtbruGXzH0Er60ZEp7m9dKgHSbkLQMRvX_BiBzsyJSjMrxdBH1gcFHqsQXI1eVrfznBbbo4UnT00DeajrTWP_D_HX7u8WXb3ByGi517In6/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I’m not sure there’s much more I can show you on this project for a little while, apart from making a few single-piece turquoise flowers, but keep watching this space – I shall be working away in the background to get things finished.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-89003927598214297132018-11-25T23:45:00.000+00:002019-03-06T23:56:45.055+00:00More Flowers for my Altering Project<p>I have made a few more roses to go with the first part of this project, details of which remain under wraps for now.</p> <p>I wanted to make some to co-ordinate with the dark purple roses, so I began by adding some Hickory Smoke Distress Ink to the flower pieces, using a home-made ink blending tool. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglitj2d_ZE7BAy7yuTisWgiMOsefFefg4ESrhe_VTKA48dFgaxd4zp1eVu3BuqVmk8hEHlbqBlLHT8dwtf04mxLRj1_zabJXeHNlTahcDUKep8IJVoVe7KeG-HhWWW4bRmoG6AncQUAw51/s1600-h/18+Small+Roses+with+Hickory+Smoke%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="18 Small Roses with Hickory Smoke" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="18 Small Roses with Hickory Smoke" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG6P8uK4ZaQsBWZoSxKSfThF-q0HiLUvKWsMtPUmIdd7VJWfPHrKJtJejOAyY8PRCvUhJE4LQ6CtsAN8Sx_7q24CcvvYrtw3cvHkfDECtiBtNtWUncIG0hXwhPS5gYUTkHr9Hm5ZW9R2W/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>After this, I stippled on some Silvery Shimmer from my collection of Delicata ink pads, using a stiff paintbrush. As usual with shimmery/reflective surfaces, this doesn’t show up very well on the photo, but they do have a subtle silvery sheen.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9AyEaLVcVDQbXZZIrQMKRJnKA3mYogy5v1_6UnMc7dEkNZaLrY-bMjCGjLMoQSKWIRFCxGCgCO2VtxJbHDhgc89iCBSqMN6oWnLpvqvET3WutMCnpEy2f_TpzNxONKxd8OtPe-fV3kML/s1600-h/19+Small+Roses+with+Silver+Shimmer%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="19 Small Roses with Silver Shimmer" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="19 Small Roses with Silver Shimmer" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWjI1LVs3g1qyDEkidauONG8l7FBCbrJw1Nla15iiuWKuPRaIRC6f35EAGGB4roH31WNwXzzFKWjnIJUT2JexBeRGNYB3XyOUEQPUcqwY9Em_qQp6D780qU2fiIirpYBd028OUDMjUJkf/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Some time ago I transferred my Dusty Concord Distress Stain into a spray bottle but this wasn’t very successful as this cheap little bottle doesn’t spray very finely, but with quite large spatters. In this case, this was the effect I wanted, so I proceeded to spray the inked pieces, and only realised too late that the spray had wandered a bit, and most of the spare white flower pieces lying on top got a generous sprinkling of spots! Never mind – once inked, they don’t show up too much, and if they do, hey, it’s extra texture!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU3txVhsdOc979iB7QBr2pf0Khma0Yc-C6kqw1cwoLfMbJAZ4Ew8uDUrthX5rwJSD4_j8KjmCB-kU796ue8inqxDBIE3knUxKVQghUkGV-ikpVUnh6-EhF_Aw_SAr0ZVImnow-eODnpd_/s1600-h/20+Small+Roses+with+Purple+Spatters%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="20 Small Roses with Purple Spatters" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="20 Small Roses with Purple Spatters" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5eR3uN6E9V8VrNwIUmXnyHEGeeWqlsIZZAMojxLkAfiH-9cDE70DvB-NXjJ55hWb9g-mh6oDf6qfKVtkoJbPlTWX8A_nH4TSj3fLUqNQx2T9N9_PE3qa8QXtVaaEoQG3lHGP5uFMAbYU/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>After this, I used my home-made spray booth. I thought the resulting sprayed kitchen paper was worth keeping! It might come in for another project.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4jLPYGakWOBKmLf9S9n9me_2iskSvraxxvgWvNjpK5gkWjP6QsfVzSjtA-xzNdje9toA3aac2WjDcQHp05hhHLlHsqahlNvAM6YcbqOrTnEceBlzKsC7PlMHxznAt0AgCjd1T_Ao67Za/s1600-h/27+Spray+Booth+After+Use%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="27 Spray Booth After Use" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="27 Spray Booth After Use" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHSAQBuHT65yofbVEnNpM2IxN6dH5LbJMF5wL_yxlC26DIo2JfMO9hmGl3f-TBRyHJgxIg2DK8kkU-f2e6BTW61OOPOAR82t6y6gP-em9KOWheNhzEjZ4_YXZdaFxpVClKPt6aJA4rfMm/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Distressing the edges of these flower pieces. I decided to do some with Dusty Concord Distress Ink, and to keep the others slightly less purple, by using Black Soot Distress Ink.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8FZuJx2H5bKGgm8elD0AJpnd2VFlgdB-Ahb-tVfoAcrgOlDRERrQUAaRTCd3S7nGpbsHF7H-AZE_x8XQ3w9xkZqNQ4J6oI9DqmrwHZaB0eWMlwm7qXctmAtVLndifAuJwedPqMbO-RGC/s1600-h/21+Small+Roses+with+Distressed+Edges%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="21 Small Roses with Distressed Edges" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="21 Small Roses with Distressed Edges" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6ZYhfTBljI0YopWBghFNwuVSAHX9QQdC88Iyufsi9ThyphenhyphenyxBkDqtenGa7n1O-ZpDbypuUs1cET6ePKwn8GV9XzZ53B3bQvCor62BeGQOYwcjyJ0itZsTcGWjPBm9dM2nBv-XwQtjTf49v/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The difference is subtle, but still noticeable, giving a bit of variety.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hhVYxIRmAwAtsvSzpcThULwJv1VPk2Vgub8zrDXKGgfwAWP-5flcF4BYCXszVjcJ6AUx1BH0RXlfOT-eWwzxnuIlNYghkdg6u5I8NMIGcMss-1iTlDPfc_Flx6zx4qjT4yArRd4cxue9/s1600-h/22+Small+Silver+and+Purple+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="22 Small Silver and Purple Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="22 Small Silver and Purple Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT7ia9srCxuxrHPjhE6sjjBzAUk_P1R_47AnWW9QLHjpE9ijoLL5Uh-h7I9Cc8Ny-ghZwEeuHtpnX5nquHkBpDp3h4uGMrtAzz-sD-JsdMWI3OymOfJ9fLOgZUnM802AeB0g7S4MY2wVW/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The distressed edges on the flower pieces does show up more once the flowers are made up.</p> <p>Here are all the purple themed roses together, large and small.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oXom3ThXt41Aqqt1NoQPnEpW-_AXGCaqy1g7ktWqIEDjgOGDThL7D-LH-aIhl-8savDJI8tIGMM7TKCNPJzGDk5UGC6BCYtfShufcLuDqj-JWpi7F8R5EaKAsAeejjsfg5n_pBhtBYx3/s1600-h/23+All+the+Purple+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="23 All the Purple Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="23 All the Purple Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKSKNHWaXYfORD5lfBCtX7F0b3SWs0oHlmU2lVAAG9sfl9OkbAUPRwLd6tETCtoFhw0CZrLzCPPkpA6Wz1dM6nmZ8OuLMS5SGpEiHj_d-57qtCZfPRBLDlVhBDrE5UtFE8VVava1cOOcO/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Here are some pictures of them on the different wallpaper samples.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccOyXDPlSXFcZeU8LuReTw1MO92clZ3VR_iX64eMaRfo6lNKKpv1UOS9yl9TrnxnA2F5rjUyIowN9wHViRqzbc1D9jA7mnWzUbm0qzUOtxRIOZH3YU0iLIewv75qQwVehIyVg2J3ANJmm/s1600-h/24+All+the+Purple+Roses+on+Dark+Rose+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="24 All the Purple Roses on Dark Rose Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="24 All the Purple Roses on Dark Rose Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKf9as_9gJ28vbOI18AFCxoPcHBaEPDbgstnpbXxBF25MteoHVi76dTcJNzZ7DNr2yOF-ZJTZraZ_LI2eJIO9i0HAj0bJs3MWrvy-aAXgitc2q8MwnHeDotO2Qr3jSykgZhVGCQYP1KBOA/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjG_WzkvjwkwBYfnC8z7AYz0B7f1zC1wD0sGACflwVJiHKOskT-DQHkRqInlF-dmENO17P8i3Vy-0V15c0YD7CWbl3ULytAeU5KWfRkcknuaaBKU3gFxijWOwpPmMC0G4nPtf_-tXUS_2C/s1600-h/25+All+the+Purple+Roses+on+Silver+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="25 All the Purple Roses on Silver Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="25 All the Purple Roses on Silver Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDGKXNl8ktJIK00advkp-mD2rT5efI12aLQ0E2P9ZHoK3am0A_5qIjGh_wNuS_LNjeGx15ZhcFVTnHF2AxnscmGUbVc3LuAJqe05t_ImPB92MiwIA8x3Ba41pLp2TbsCLjyiV9Y3ZdKf_/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivRyTvXyD9-q2wLwRxVLnkv6ekw1wGUYGk4pSr0RVFxZBKx9KNXMx1qYhbzxjVMdSxF-CfPzlJIgRxPfHiLTbUif1cek-xejhkzToCd8vsMjBVPRJ2vJPiZzaY6yTRjCCwAHPRpiQog0G/s1600-h/26+All+the+Purple+Roses+on+Light+Rose+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="26 All the Purple Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="26 All the Purple Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QFrryIxxlXLjxI5_E8rt7UjlclVzXW-laxB7m05mT8vckPdXKOJPHz3pw18t8lyLHeKzTIAV0Cpd0mVMemKxFxZfu2-exupgmyMiBzjLcAlKQObGZIQqtJoWDXIwMiKo3iIwH-UD4B_U/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>As yet, I am undecided which I shall use.</p> <p>Moving on to the next part of the project, I decided to make some turquoise/terracotta coloured roses.</p> <p>Here are the small rose pieces being painted first with Peacock Feathers, and then Mermaid Lagoon Distress Inks, smooshing the pads on my non-stick craft sheet and spritzing them with water, and picking up the ink with a soft brush. I deliberately kept the painting blotchy and random.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPs1GbvY2UzCTcD2dfZVtJoF80vpId5zUvDFfOpIGtpVm3uDf6QT-v0q2KNvYNbOBtTSm4UfVytsIo0Wcumm8f7BCjepE-tLwneXEbdAdOTGj6_BnW6Y1WVdr21B6B_KXufIjuagXA1iLF/s1600-h/28+Painting+the+Small+Turquoise+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="28 Painting the Small Turquoise Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="28 Painting the Small Turquoise Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnybfHbp6_0-lA2YqRfnlcz7OeVnG3YpEyC4P7zIK4s4D0nXFGaRhyphenhyphenT9FWVz1Ns5updQR9ecH-Gy-zFGETKmUVroT6ar-MTRbqxwWC-Xz9a1PYGFaXYvtyjvUloOpk7wW1sE2QtqI0_wt/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Once dried with my heat gun, I distressed the edges first with Rusty Hinge, and then with Tea Dye Distress Inks.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TmaLHbSesXjhoHsKOKPUjxDROJz9Wlop4ua_yIUcUOOuvivuArBVeJC4YSPyFpldc7eUJYUz1QNmp7HG0z6qEz1SYdZg_jddY9PvRLm4uww2MyTNaVN-YCiTePmar2PZxzA9DW3xwr8G/s1600-h/29+Distressing+the+Small+Turquoise+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="29 Distressing the Small Turquoise Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="29 Distressing the Small Turquoise Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HsaQDkatge9unbokWtLO1eBt604RrPyiN8lAPDDH7O_WibDYvgSifBXjFN7-0kb1WcUYp2SR4xp_-inf7HMNCz1usOCErXXQqJV81d82xREgLFFNAsjHDMlec94e1e9WuS9HeR9CzSKK/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The small turquoise roses made up, together with their Distress Inks.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTESgyTuslLwDNuJ5ElIDmIUa81ik6ZBoGtqB5gzFrliQSnNiail4x8RdT90Dj9DcF-Qzv4c7WotkcHzjqJ96paqpkA2TgPywlU7-GgyxV0bLbqn4OxakTSc9mucSegYhDm1BIho7uto_/s1600-h/30+Small+Turquoise+Roses+and+Distress+Inks%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="30 Small Turquoise Roses and Distress Inks" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="30 Small Turquoise Roses and Distress Inks" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoM4gkPQ_nvAgCMdQEV3hLFYYy3P2LO4zzQ0RYa7oH0E5IoxlDCT70fvqqnt3atTY1soAAsrc612xwh7zxPaJfPSfUHHg499VgaA2RzhCzjAY1L7vKqj7ZOHO-WLqou3m0L-nGpUdvJQ8/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>And again, in close-up. Quite a pleasing result, I think. I was a bit worried that the orange colour of the Rusty Hinge Distress Ink was going to blend with the turquoise and make the flowers go too green, but adding the Tea Dye seemed to help a bit.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeMXmIuxCFHuR_eBsaAnAEpoIz-3ky1Ky_n367lvlWhdD5EiIxE0O5-5b0ojP2AOoXBU7UJ8ywAKUs2XfAHbzZniBapqTS_pcSgWeLj8afVIpx2qsse8VPecg6PYcHvM7epKGPBVSGSzk/s1600-h/31+Small+Turquoise+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="516" title="31 Small Turquoise Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="31 Small Turquoise Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8GtgloK5St01q1MFNy_QklLPd82sLdWtmDPgmU8CgGDhXtBkrhyOM3UGbixxPNX-SVc1-f18ztojv6guSl8xdNmgK_8JBAwNUJfgF4dpLKrdWbnbm7DwTOw8cvA3wemN32vnzrGDGkkl/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I made a couple of the larger, shabby roses to go with this set.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfuqbsjU33hjAbS9KEO-TwbDKyMtzGRVfZQzNhiK6-jE9Wb_5yA4xeVm3xYhrt7vbMfKa2rkA-Zvro1h5MRc4DtR6me9TywN6qYn8XbYOZE4nBXxm9091kCYcNyLxsNIWNudXxd4PTpdb/s1600-h/32+All+the+Turquoise+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="335" title="32 All the Turquoise Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="32 All the Turquoise Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhSwlonwGIPNeDJqT0CZaR2d_NvErR28lce_7Hp57YA0OMO3TqwPWi2MtAeHWJonzWpJuL5dYOmXFeahMZjBaE8ied5lke6kXc1QyY-l7xHETY8NIDcWN0oB-fOOqffVpNcHh16wdVRkl/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I can’t show you any more for a while, except for the final colour scheme roses which I hope to make tomorrow. I am also planning to make up some of the other flowers, each made from a single layer, and I also need to make some leaves, which I shall probably die-cut rather than using the machine, as I’ve now got quite a nice collection of leaf dies.</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708807491363992142.post-17935502273672989332018-11-22T23:20:00.000+00:002019-03-07T23:34:05.791+00:00An Altering Project<p>There are a few things I need to make over the next few weeks, so it’s studio time again. I can’t reveal too much detail yet, but later I will be able to tell you more. In the meantime, I can safely share the early stages without giving away too much.</p> <p>Recently my hubby bought four small frames and then realised they didn’t have any glass, which he didn’t like, so he gave them to me, and I thought they would be lovely to alter.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMghxlm3-BMRrfccGEtubjVDgkBrztIV5SGYzwj_nmeQ6i5Xme2bcubGF8QFIhb1io1LOGI1UvU8Vh7tbPr81Pkft0viz9dRKZgUATWCynR6xaxLnhjAdm6i2kp5QDuLpBj4zTUhD4bgdo/s1600-h/01+Four+Small+Frames+for+Altering%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Four Small Frames for Altering" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Four Small Frames for Altering" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMWdSYLhncfzkkxds__9cLT_NfjNYJZUgfw1Yp0b58LVLoHC6wfUVd-8f01CKUM0jlPvDxruUwopXQ7piLTkeL6wsXVJyUOjZRPxd6O9VxdMc9QYnWAQ0lLvkFQMJYSXWIrIRtE3UeK6h/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I took them apart and pulled off all the embellishments for use elsewhere. Each frame had a tiny clothes peg with a message attached, and the whole thing tied onto the frame with some gorgeous jute string which is definitely going in my stash! The shiny card can also be used for something else. Not much gets thrown out chez Shosh.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1P6AHGgmdZiUQQ54EFsMPqQLwG-IMICJB3tW2u1B-sfPf43IRMpallM93-jt9mzUISyzgbKdEGLhgQE6HHn5HuAGNUrFkMSoN25mQlSz9Df8Z6vUepmvLWdvSuoPv2TS_YO7GPBqZA6L/s1600-h/02+Frames+Taken+Apart%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Frames Taken Apart" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Frames Taken Apart" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLinRZXy7HSMtNsapuYZnxy2FVhj6Mj_WvSCbeqZmF9RkdzRWkjMiWJ07sul2qD77OZMnlKKNUUL2dUYH6fLTKATR0yRIkwUOITgZgbBPO-HShfVDWt-tH_mLSqKO-vXjHEPKTeXTCvCP/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The next step, when I get time, will be to paint the frames with gesso in readiness for altering.</p> <p>I am awaiting the arrival of some supplies for this project from Ebay, and can’t make real progress till they arrive. I also have several wallpaper sample sheets, and I have decided to use one or more in the project.</p><p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BBT91OXiLNInoFPnL3xQLF-icMWc9rE5S8TkUMojPXBEiL3es1pjtgUMTNLrVzHMfS55YE91JVfpJJwX7LKC_ea92mvaiRXI1j51U9B7RlMOpz9-798eqkdc2T8YKANtzMVXG61ClCsv/s1600-h/03+Selection+of+Wallpapers%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Selection of Wallpapers" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Selection of Wallpapers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthw2xahrbqmjqreclkDfM1tparrB-WgbRzzwTFfkt8n4gPdXvTgzCFCJiOB0e9Kv64W2hOSnuPRHxpnlCcu4EhrmvPPJnq0rkx5IjUgOnr9Sb52T5KBtZh_i8rXFo386nE04QmqL5ktcq/?imgmax=800"></a></p> The patterns are quite large, but there are some lovely bits I can cut out, and some nice texture for backgrounds, and the colours are gorgeous. I decided to make lots of paper flowers, mostly roses, and to try and match up the colour to co-ordinate with the wallpapers.</p> <p>I spent a long time cutting several 12 x 12 sheets of flower pieces on Sheba, my Cougar cutting machine, using American Crafts Cardstock in white, which cuts beautifully with Sheba, and although less strong than watercolour paper, is strong enough not to disintegrate when wet, and thinner too, which is ideal for the flowers that I make. Here they are, all laid out ready for colouring. The pieces in the bowls are individual flowers, and the others on the desk, stacked up in piles, are the pieces necessary to make individual roses in two sizes and styles. All these flower patterns are svg files from Penny Duncan, and I use them regularly – easy to resize as necessary in Inkscape, and then cut out.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCom7j0posKKBwTbFxeIOIYVisFs0bGBLVI4_3yViCpsAicFABRphPIpLveFYtP2_xZsYXhsdzSjY8Gc52R03w9IdbIaa_Y8c_DRa3NzyQZaaOhqf2lN2hZ9kvGfNYcpHSy_VPEmtBDshf/s1600-h/01+Flower+Pieces+Cut%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="01 Flower Pieces Cut" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="01 Flower Pieces Cut" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFewvPTWp2ydhzaQMDO4iVc-iYJIHcYTiYkq2eAA8nyaxNakQ2fB95B0Ro_5-9UO-_ypdu0gej7UR11TMwkt-520I_g3XA3erDH7FzyRdSND0I6xAGZ-F6DiJXgcpYto5GfXd5RPucx31/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>For this flower factory, I began with the roses. I selected a variety of different colours from my collection of Distress Stains. The idea was to produce a nice subtle mix of colours to co-ordinate with the wallpapers, and I knew it would take several layers.</p> <p>I began with Worn Lipstick, smearing some on my non-stick craft sheet and spritzing it with a bit of water, and roughly painting both sides of the required number of flower pieces to make some roses.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMOJH_LD9rzZaV1sVPl-oSmHxjijj-HXKEh5tQbnCrSNYHMolhw_I2fdJNDdaw2q-8eLAslOAKlSmoh0DX7f_2P6GjOUCG4pqO8KwD3KdfETEW0iXMhisZdfy_OC_Y7dHkeK6K2LfI7Mu/s1600-h/02+Colouring+Small+Roses+1+-+Worn+Lipstick%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="02 Colouring Small Roses 1 - Worn Lipstick" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="02 Colouring Small Roses 1 - Worn Lipstick" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-TfKiT-5clvgLE7v8e3LokfFZ2DfQY1hEy7dLzzaozjgZe8acIUGi0OdCKMSWTqpbNxuenAcRpUL2sgyyuuFZ7ZJr6ciYdzbYW4i1YlxFrmX4pv7c8iQUsN_4fia481Jv3FLEY2GBVJL/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The next colour I chose was Victorian Velvet.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_qWSsdDB9d_jIGPZqJoK6-RXAXeCHxF7YR-v0rjpuT4WzJWdPdwmU2S_xB5qticpqUKthRg2OlGjHiQLmDROSs0egDJr8clXx5QlqWNZXX4M1JbT_2L2uqHm5fbsAPz_64xh_LiiQXFC/s1600-h/03+Colouring+Small+Roses+2+-+Victorian+Velvet%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="03 Colouring Small Roses 2 - Victorian Velvet" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="03 Colouring Small Roses 2 - Victorian Velvet" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_ryfQwFTiaLWWfwLNWF5aAYbh846NWNwWZ0xAcsaOqzwxVFhCzCIiyw7OU-KM3nixQddhrtgTmQ7-Jh36WBU83zh7vqVCWSs_tC2b-YlqqtU0kNazGBgyYzw_YpoVxch6B7vXcd5bhor/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>After this was Seedless Preserves.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2x6MeQEhwIxCuSVetjsn9ckncRIckxaVVX-MgNMjBuqC545kL5czneC1JK586jYx59hd-8ZgsPasSGFuMUuCnNKioSrs50L7vjmNaEL68iaqUU5uPQ6QTnSuZ1gRLZHJrN56d5uueJto/s1600-h/04+Colouring+Small+Roses+3+-+Seedless+Preserves%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="04 Colouring Small Roses 3 - Seedless Preserves" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="04 Colouring Small Roses 3 - Seedless Preserves" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzoLeduYLdZLSBrGiyAWs58zMHqByVrUMiWA9HbbDTRaInBfmv9zHKaqAnMD2-04nk1MKuSd1pSHjzTHjGltr_YpLC-3Ny5qeCVW6cLOKkZ1t_uQQZAvJI09ccNPmevInC50ofwMawXea/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>You can see how the colour is darkening, and with subtle variations. It was all looking a bit pink, so the next colour I chose was Weathered Wood, which is a lovely slate-blue colour verging on grey, which I thought would make them more purple and dull the colour down a bit.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hEfvG-HBQfDLSkTQZ-6eDrm8dEsL54xEADC8WRd-4cJoMmMa0-ZVVNeIGCn0cNIUk7NIlfhyphenhyphen42yC06PgI9TfrrZw56NUrpHqs_yn7zb-nOl9ArzI_BioHwI4wsS2SIt1qj2TrPCziTor/s1600-h/05+Colouring+Small+Roses+4+-+Weathered+Wood%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="05 Colouring Small Roses 4 - Weathered Wood" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="05 Colouring Small Roses 4 - Weathered Wood" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzHz5S4-6Hsw2bKZvOR7BNrJiHbJT5b2U27T4OAiPaG1yF_hL65PspEK2dOvMv2DuwBa8al1ihTu0SV4RH6OkVL3TYS9J_WixNpTMjmfhEEk5LBJAokeljWDA8PA3A3JWvvJvpCnSxuAp/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>It needed more of a brown look, so I chose Pumice Stone, which is a very useful colour in the Distress range – added to any colour, it has the effect of dulling it down.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR9wkf-DQWtKuFM53geolAD-X1h2eNw1rFWbZXdyRvAoEBhTgB4fklpXw0aK0x5NJ5Q6fJgbypzvU3Pdj_YGPSKe58u6UzX4nvpm74qMFH-HFOYwpHBo6g7XPHbc2GRI0XQv7rYKbkLCE/s1600-h/06+Colouring+Small+Roses+5+-+Pumice+Stone%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="06 Colouring Small Roses 5 - Pumice Stone" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="06 Colouring Small Roses 5 - Pumice Stone" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNGmolFtDmZapfpDHqSHERsdprUWpPVCrUfhBeYXmp34rE6akfTsXgkqWYzcYxGpUf2LP0z0x1T91gZVEB9Wo1Kn98WHQcTBE9ymMpsBuh9OrexpQuOpOsJ-_4120Fpa6bNMbvkg1PX6y/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>It still needed to be duller, and more grey, so the final colour I chose was Hickory Smoke. I do not have this colour in my Distress Stains collection, so I smeared the Distress Ink pad on my craft sheet, spritzed it with water, and used that instead.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDSFAZHMFO1yuYlHygBB9uY8H_NrsimlYYEgGME5nBOcxZ7zROlX6o23KMrCHkzrDcx4jUsekRmq78wH_OnTXiStxoI29aFTaGxzRFGhbAXnDvJjtWgMu2juehGlDImtq9fNOk2Hku4x5/s1600-h/08+Colouring+Small+Roses+7+-+Hickory+Smoke%255B9%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="08 Colouring Small Roses 7 - Hickory Smoke" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="08 Colouring Small Roses 7 - Hickory Smoke" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSCfYG7g2vj7V3IISuGwu4TSO7V6XqE15RK2sV8cNqd-MvN2GqTXBTlfxMnNDbOChn6XO7227vVTAAJ9rS2J-samOhuYm-474qWD1PfS5CKL2ZVPbAmHH3dnvpM_qEJk_f6n64azDcTHT/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>This was the effect I was looking for. At each stage, I dried the flower pieces with my heat gun, before proceeding to the next colour. When the pieces are wet, they are very fragile, especially the ones with the slit. The final step was to distress the edges with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink, using a home-made ink blender.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5wMQnhAD5szz7WEz7-7uP7i870pvwOJAtoNaLS3ahxHdp5YraL_Jf99Jquu-FlwO310mlHBjlE5arOtcf6OrmaVDyzQm3hQokqTyQFdDeMBIkI0FZQGA4G45I_2q5NTBvmO0c4teU3p-/s1600-h/09+Distressing+Edges+of+Small+Roses+-+Hickory+Smoke%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="554" title="09 Distressing Edges of Small Roses - Hickory Smoke" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="09 Distressing Edges of Small Roses - Hickory Smoke" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8S76cQ3dUHbeB7iqPacaxm0kv7RxcS13V5WSIBYI8jLoQwEoMgP7xwMjXJodfaeLEKEsz7rAZPlBllPw4a4ZojgqiwuACfZs81wnslF_lp0bCyzDaZX_NSi1_YHifyW65gP_7bk0AegD/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Once they were fully dry after the final colour, I hand-embossed each petal, some cups and some domes after deciding which side of the piece should be on top, according to their eventual position in the rose.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrALk8E4VAWK4NB5ZEhjP8kxApuaTMDl3zULdmR1XF41CYZ9gtTUlVu0bpd1lYQPbfpwGKDSfFEJD9eq2khHQvEmLmUKRgKPI3NNG3dL2yfZTYd7IzeodiNBL7rieRp71Nq8CbUuoler_/s1600-h/10+Hand-Embossing+Small+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="10 Hand-Embossing Small Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="10 Hand-Embossing Small Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcOtOBz221a7elmKdcNPlJ1bsT_okTIHlL-Qwt_3qL0su7rsKbEslGZmdEIBW_aZfKBOYrNgjUClVAjRajs8mZ8_OI83CupERdh6IxDXKv32_73sROmWfK05DHIpVbkqStrqqtR54yVRQ/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The first of the small dark roses completed. Each layer is stuck with hot glue.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivvabkyzoEG7arvdc_gedHznrDvyKtXGUnw1C284AHis1cF6kIF4DDewr7QB9H3sn442I1yNOyaWPi-mbqej7GybxwE-4jdkDNBBrbURbI_75SsoEZcmLiCPW-CEAlNRXJA_D7_6NIMZo/s1600-h/11+Dark+Small+Roses+Complete%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="11 Dark Small Roses Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="11 Dark Small Roses Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoBtmJdsWH5n-lkOXmtGoqOCCLUo-q0_6Y1f6WbBu04uLhypCmj9ChtRqSwiIQvmpIAotmnKVFVq66MoWIvEgUw-vDnbqsMl-OyuEtdr32kZs5A_FQcugyYg_jF0GBuhX01d-mnSo934u/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Time to move on to the larger, shabby roses – what Penny Duncan calls her “Grungey Rose” pattern. These have more interesting tips to their petals, and the roses are more open and natural looking. Each flower requires the same number of pieces, and the method of construction is the same. Here are the pieces in the middle of being coloured, using the same succession of colours that I used before.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLsS2BUtId975ZO4FHKBrO7j7vLhKQLyTnU6rKumVzd6vTg7RaFGu-XKnOiREq6UI9djCKPAM9FG6Xn9xG9WLwNe8tVVH6a5V8-fuhQHtYmYkdp-2rgNxHf1hRj-MqQvzGKHymTJU77QC/s1600-h/12+Colouring+Shabby+Roses%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="12 Colouring Shabby Roses" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="12 Colouring Shabby Roses" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXwfThnrSUNEIctH1OLxtmVTGt9pH1Y7U9xSw2v9pbwO1tjwT8QeZ1n4BhZWKuCoxsjpaG6d6QmCUVJSi3pDcPamMi5D29E7SYWbTM24bPAFLvkU6tKKhtfTdfGo1p8csOe7yN2demXDI/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>The pieces after embossing.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo07RuYbeRt8RZiQ63goVGSk62cOQ7f8FeYFj2lqKKtmnjv-qBZS45t_g6ZHFfyxCUWN1PuC9OQ3MnW54QJe6MYnolj6zLM5A77luWcB3VFdtBBsZmphQimlCGm-YS6wSpEJaCLHkG5V7/s1600-h/13+Shabby+Rose+Pieces+Embossed%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="13 Shabby Rose Pieces Embossed" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="13 Shabby Rose Pieces Embossed" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_-SO-oHkDqCs2dgaJXOBwR92rHA1mUM-i76muZROEdowdP6T1npug-J4lUUoY3K6Bgu-b4MpeiuQTdIWFIDD0qDbd0pV6jfNy4z2ulvYzz9alMYr-bZesfY-b0kzagsQA9QI-7L3DWeC/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Here are the three dark-coloured shabby roses that I made.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwODyCvWlfRgTIAu0zvN-PYsoTdp5l6ZWidK__v2hncJw5KboowwbKRTgrK1XAte4pZZ1Rt8BuYbze2y97xJhgUrd8eJuHI9LYNlTRD5qzSOcGJOftMlBGZSlh8wP3hcPyyQOIEbVsJnQ6/s1600-h/14+Dark+Shabby+Roses+Complete%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="368" title="14 Dark Shabby Roses Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="14 Dark Shabby Roses Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwxZsm6s89w4Cpv73nfS6bRtRuyxXl6CenmlmcOQQ2spTGHOCodjKTITcFKDcFsrmtDeF3x2hV66jBtcbhOtkpYMpuLCFo0i9rbPX8dDU2qApFJ7V2G161GX3vnoXovjUCr8VN7vNAQZL/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>Having documented the colours I used and how I coloured the pieces, I can refer back to this post and repeat the process, should I need some more.</p> <p>Both sizes of rose together.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLArQFEdc5Q96dBHt-CZafu8dIjvLi-u8l11ySxbVKik_V-go8SH8d46EfcLyiS5v0tc-c88siDMvp2GJdxjl0jUialkpZTLTYSxrlGQDkvGo6meGqTb8a8oTMM9nXRycGuMDCPqYG4bAU/s1600-h/15+Shabby+and+Small+Dark+Roses+Complete%255B4%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="15 Shabby and Small Dark Roses Complete" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="15 Shabby and Small Dark Roses Complete" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbfDSunYa3T9AMpIXbb1-IIrY3eHmOyraQXgdtTZIc-KjmTNf5Im3qGwr3JCXSQpm5X1emuE_ng8iepDRfVjtVyrdAom6V92FbTg6cXBE2aJjCw0DUUxXbRGKw06G24YqxMSFUXCpJtM8/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I really like this subtle, dark and dusky purple – actually not purple but a mixture of colours to give interest and depth. Laid on top of a couple of the the wallpaper samples, they are a pretty good match, I think.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5Z6fnb2pjXjeuGwLikibmhJimBpAWcD-vluHYRR8cX1PZhxHh0iYRTaVvoVzf5CEHHhve8qPt854Qs_SnafSMggiP07RU-T9h0LBnbnAipFkwYMMbu375l5tn5lGwL6Sg4l6CMPIX3BZ/s1600-h/16+Dark+Roses+on+Light+Rose+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="16 Dark Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="16 Dark Roses on Light Rose Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnscArQBwCVscOBykONQ9TzUgriRiFlVt0CIOZJLAHmKjS4ndKCMQPM69wShar-h9Pifhe6_XNcKmmrLZlUFSEh26s7d6Zb4Bhq-PJ_W0RGgNo6Plf9hISjUqN5ICqCYZuR8rSA7zYaIA5/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ6aPyU1vGzkR1iw-feA1waLTsckyG-hq4e-IikEpDAMyhXI59l4eaG7Nksi6DgUjQFhp8_6zl-5B1CA8s8Rbr13iAmn2KSP0a3upqzVllc5jXRu3hnu114UytnCZI5mMtGfcrRMF-NBT/s1600-h/17+Dark+Roses+on+Dark+Rose+Wallpaper%255B5%255D"><img width="700" height="525" title="17 Dark Roses on Dark Rose Wallpaper" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" alt="17 Dark Roses on Dark Rose Wallpaper" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdQke03GRz0nnZ5lfEPcql-t_IXII0dW34seTS5hyGUQ773gy0OrnHwm68SH669juyQpLqdMEsSu0euEeRJs7EqP4J1w0xWyzONz7sqhs8nrqsSy3rwXMbEnU8-QvD12oR-8iy4u8wwuu/?imgmax=800"></a></p> <p>I shan’t know how many of these roses I shall need until my supplies arrive from Ebay, but that shouldn’t take more than a few days. At least I’ve been able to get ahead a bit. Watch this space!</p>Shoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00028185699225457125noreply@blogger.com2