Photographic Scavenger Hunt - January 2011

A monthly photographic scavenger hunt - Twelve photographs to fit twelve subjects

After seeing this fun activity organised here I thought I would join in the fun...

Of course leaving it all until the last day in January!

JANUARY'S SCAVENGER LIST:

· a goldfish

· a library

· a reflective surface (not a mirror)

· a tombstone over 100 years old

· an abandoned building

· bubbles

· nature

· playground equipment

· something out of place

· stained glass

· yarn

· your front door

I had to improvise somewhat with the Goldfish!

I thought I would put all the photos in full as well.

Nothing like a bit of art work to show off one's talents!

Something out of place...spot the mistake!

The Weekend.

Charles looks pleased with his new jacket.

I forgot to go on the coach trip to Ardlingly Quilt Show yesterday.

I remembered 15 minutes after the coach was due to leave. There was a message on my phone but my MIL had turned it off Friday night when she was showing and comparing her phone to ours. The batteries were low in mine, that is why she turned it off. Unfortunately the lady who rang to remind me didn't leave her number so I couldn't phone her back. Did email her a huge apology, but haven't heard back yet.

I was so looking forward to it. How could I be so stupid?

I enjoyed watching these two birds in the garden this afternoon playing chase with each other...

Really must clean the windows though.

Hoping for a productive week.

Cheerio for now.

Knitting patterns and an Answer?

On my way to a physiotherapy session today I stopped in my favourite CS and came out with this grand pile of knitting patterns and a silver thimble all for £1! Yup, pleased as punch.

The other purple teddies never made it to the picnic yesterday but I managed to get them to sit together for a pose today.

The little one in the middle used to be DS2's, but he abandoned him years ago now and I rescued him from being 'thrown out'!

Teddy on the right now has a name, Charles. He did get a jacket made for him, but I didn't like it so will have to have another attempt. Oh maybe I will knit him a jacket from one of the lovely patterns I got today.

I think I have some answers to all my back/neck/arm pain - results from the MRI show cervical disc prolapse (at least one, if not three!) I'm being referred to another specialist.

Oh and guess what the symptoms are: "Patients with a slipped disc in the neck will experience severe pain, which can be present in the neck, shoulder and down the arm". Now how long have I been trying to tell the consultant about just these very same symptoms??

Hopefully now I will get some appropriate treatment.

Well the weekend is almost upon us. Hope you all have a lovely one and that it is not too cold for you!

Teddy Bear Thursday

Joining in with Melody and friends it is another Teddy Bears Picnic Day. Yesterday I made a teddy bear from her wonderful Sam pattern she so kindly gave us. Now not having any fur fabric, or felt I was wondering what I could make my teddy out of when I thought of the old purple wool coat we had sitting in a bag of old clothes. I promptly pulled it out, washed it, ready for yesterdays crafting session.

Ready to meet the new bear of the family?

He won the approval from Hubby and DS2. Now for a name...I'm not sure he is a Sam.

As it is so wet and cold today I think I will make him a little jacket, again with thanks to Melody.

Now I was going to show some of my other purple teds who were going to have a gathering today for their picnic, but alas they have taken themselves off into hibernation claiming the weather is too cold and wet. If I can coax them out later, I may try and capture their pictures so I can post them here.

Do visit Melody and others who have shared some of their lovely bears.

Dressmaking for Dolls - Sunshine

Thanks to Bonnie Blue I think my mojo may have been found! It was such a dull day today that Bonnie asked me for something sun shiny yellow to brighten the day. I thought I'd make her a sleeveless dress with darts in to bring it in the centre. Similar to one I have made for my tressy doll a few years ago.

Of course I forgot that although they are the same height, they do not have the same body size. I would imagine Bonnie Blue's (Blythe) body is closer to Barbie's sister Skipper size.

I suppose it could be a long dress... not sure it goes with ice skates though!

hmm, maybe would suit Tressy better after all.

Back to the drawing board.

Several hexie flowers have also been cut out today, ready for sewing up tonight and I have made a bear! Stayed tuned to meet him tomorrow. ;-)

Today's doings.

I'd love to have been game enough to have blue (or purple) hair...instead this little bonnie blue lady will have to be my muse instead!

Almost there.... Hubby is out at a chess tournament tonight, so I am hoping to get this finished ready to post tomorrow morning.

Little dog is feeling much better, especially now he is allowed out of his cage! Big Hairy Dog is also on the mend.

A loaf of bread is in the breadmaker...

and the crock pot is on with a casserole.

The guinea pigs have all been cleaned out and 25 have been re-homed today, so there have been a few quiet tears shed...but it is for the best as I have been finding it so hard to look after them all with my bad shoulder/back/neck. I just have some retired sows and my favourite groups of older boars left now.

I found yoga very hard work yesterday and felt quite ill afterwards, but I knew that if I went straight home I would go straight to bed and wanted to avoid doing that so I took myself off for a browse (and a spend) in the charity shops before I went home.

A pretty blue gingham apron

A brand new Laura Ashley single quilt.

A pretty Laura Ashley summer dress. I will be taking this to NZ with me to wear whilst over there.

Colourful cottons to add to my collection of wooden cotton reels.

Slogans on shirts

Do you think he identifies himself as a New Zealander?

Saturday

I never get tired of watching the lovely robin in the garden.

Progress has been made on part four of Round the Block. Those pesky hexies have been sewn on and now I've just the embroidery to finish.

Dressmaking for Dolls

Time for some dressmaking today I thought. Now who shall I make something for?

These two look likely candidates...

I thinking of calling the boy Peter...

Not sure of the name for Sasha yet though. Such a sweet face.

Yes! These were my incredibly bad and terribly naughty Evilbay buys that I mentioned the other day, but they bring a smile to my face and I think they are delightful.

Now what to make... I've only made dolls clothes for the 12 inch fashion dolls using patterns before so this a new thing for me to try.

Planning out the style of dress and fabrics to use.

I then drew a pattern onto paper and cut out.

Hmmm...I think the sleeves are going to be too long, still I can shorten them...

I still need to sew buttons on the cuff and on the back of the dress, but doesn't fit too badly for a first attempt. I think the fabrics work well together as well.

So for someone who was extremely reluctant to get moving this morning, I made myself get up, use the light box and then went down to my studio, did some tidying up and some thinking and am pleased with my day.

I still don't feel well (headachy, nauseas, slightly foggy with a very bad neck) and am a bit worried about how I feel, but at least I got on and achieved something today and that along with the lovely sunny day we have has cheered me up.

Teddy Bear Thursday

Today my bears and I are joining Melody for a Teddy Bear's Picnic, although I have to say not much picnicking has been going on as it is a miserable day today, overcast and drizzly. Still we can make plans can't we for when it is a fine day?

Looks like Big Ted and Arthur are having an in-depth conversation about the pros and cons of a picnic in winter.

Do you remember this little ted who arrived the other week? He has now got a name... after watching Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, it was just obvious his name is Bernard.

Here he is with Brian (a friend made this for DS1 (now 19) when he was a baby) Sometime before we started home-educating (age 8) he drew a sad face with tears on Brian. Makes my heart break. I think Bernard is trying to cheer him up somewhat, they have been deep in conversation for days now.

Our newest arrival is Oscar sitting with Tiny Timmy. He has a certain air about him don't you agree?

Melody has a wonderful pattern on her blog to make a teddy bear. I have selected the fabric...currently in the washing machine, it is an old wool coat. I think it will give birth to a fine bear. Hoping to get started tomorrow.

The scan went okay yesterday - jolly noisy! So now just waiting for the results. Taking Big Hairy Dog to the vets this afternoon as he felt he was missing out on the special attention that Little Dog was getting and he too now has diarrhoea and needs medication! Charming.

On being bad, blue sky and books

Yeah there was a blue sky today. Despite my reluctance to get up today, I had no choice as I was expecting the arrival of a boarder this morning, which was probably just as well, or I would have missed the lovely sky.

Floundering somewhat at the moment, but did use my brite light box yesterday morning. Missed this morning due to my reluctance to get up at 6 am....got up at 8am instead and saw the blues sky so went outside instead!

I'll have to make sure I get up early to use it tomorrow as I have to go into London for an MRI in the afternoon.

I did take myself out today though - went and visited some charity shops in a nearby town that I haven't visited for a long time and also took DS2 to the library.

A couple of dolls clothes patterns to add to my collection.

Should really make a start on making something...

Our afternoon library visit saw me coming home with quite different books to my normal selection... they look like fun.

Some yummy goodies...apple pie sure is tempting.

I had quite a good shopping expedition today. Well not sure my purse agreed, I've gone a bit mad the last few days - mainly on evilbay. Oops, must be bad. I can't quite believe I actually pressed BIN on not one, but several items! Yikes! Will show and tell when they arrive IF I pluck up the courage!

Anyway I came home from the CS today with some lovely items of clothing which I will photograph tomorrow and some more reading matter.

99p from The Works. Not bad - looks like it has some nice patterns in it.

Of course I am not in creative mode at the moment so hoping for some inspiration and energy...

That's about all I can manage for now, thank you for all your thoughts and lovely comments.

I'm actually a bit worried about tomorrow. My neck has been really bad for the last week or so and I am also getting lots of headaches, so it will be interesting to see if the scan shows anything.

Trouble is I'm not sure if I want it to!