One of those perfect photo moments

Have you ever spent ages trying to capture the perfect photo of something only to never be quite satisfied with the results?

Then, months later and quite unexpectedly, you see what you were looking for and snap it quick not expecting great results because you haven't had time to adjust the settings on the camera properly.

However, the results are quite stunning and more than you had imagined.

I spent a lot of last summer chasing bees around the garden. I have posted some of the results on here. Although I was quite pleased with many of the photos, they were never quite what I wanted.

Mark and I want some pictures for the bathroom wall. He wants some of those funny poster type ones, I didn't.

Finally we agreed that we were going to use some of my photos. He had seen some that he liked online so, knowing the sort of thing he likes and armed with my new macro lens, I proceeded to try to take some.

Nothing has been quite right.

Then, yesterday, I was out with one of the residents having a look around the local market before we went for a cuppa. There, snuggled inside a daffodil, was a bee. As it happened, I had my camera with me and stopped to snap it. The wind was blowing a little so I set it quickly to a fast shutter speed as I didn't have time to play around with the setting properly. The wind started blowing harder and the bee started crawling about.

I was convinced they wouldn't be much good and was expecting camera shake. But when I got home and looked at them on the screen, this is what I saw!

I have no doubt that it is far from a perfect picture technically but I don't care. It brings a big grin to my face when I look at it because I am so pleased with it.

March Calendar

I know, I was really bad last month and didn't do one.

So I hope this months makes up for it - especially as I waited all day for the sun to come out long enough to make the crocuses open. But it didn't. And it was my birthday! I have decided to be 27. I figured that nobody believes 21 any more so I might as well pick a number I like and stick to it.

I had some snowdrops from Benjamin, which was why I was out in the "garden". I also had some cash so bought some bulbs while I was out shopping. I planted them all yesterday afternoon.

I had some flowers from Mark. He found a bunch with bright purple ones in. He knows its my favourite colour. When I opened them to put them on the vase, all the stems were purple as well, which led to a discussion about dyed flowers and the way it was done.

Of course, then we had to experiment and have put one of the white flowers in a glass of water with blue ink in it. The ink keeps disappearing though so I don't think it is the best thing for the job.

I might just have to splash out on some food colouring.

Out with the old.......

........In with the new.

I thought I would something a little different for the calendar this month.

Especially as I was in Cardiff for a couple of days visiting my parents.

So here we have a close up of the gorgeous brick work on the Pierhead Building at Cardiff Bay. This stunning brick and terracotta building facing the Cardiff Docks was opened in 1897 as the headquarters of the Cardiff Railway Company (formerly the Bute Docks Company).

I was very disappointed not to get a lot more photos than I did that day. We walked from Penarth to Cardiff across the barrage.

The problem was that it was funny light and the camera didn't like the auto setting.

The other problem was that it was so cold that my fingers were getting numb and I couldn't feel the buttons to set the camera myself.

I did get a few though. This one is the Pierhead Building with the Wales Millennium Centre in the background. It is one of the most unique and lively performing arts centre in Europe, attracting over 1.5 million visitors since it opened.

The building was designed by the Percy Thomas Partnership architects, construction starting in March 2002. Thirty-three months later - in November 2004 - the theatre and education complex was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The roof looks like copper but it is, in fact, rose coloured stainless steel.

There you go, another load of useless information! Aren't you glad you came for a visit?

Happy New Year

I know it isn't quite the New Year yet but I have made a New Year pressie for you all!

As I had a lot of positive response from the one I did last year, I have made another downloadable calendar. Making the calender was actually the easy part, printing it off was another matter!!!!! My A3 printer has decided to throw a temper tantrum and won't print properly. I ended up with lots of lines through the pictures - when there was any coloured ink coming out at all!

So, I am now in the middle of using my photo printer to reprint all the photos on A4 and am having to stick them on to the A3 sheets with the calendar bit printed on.

Another problem is going to be putting it together. Last year I borrowed a friends Bind-It-All. What a wonderful machine! This year I don't have access to it so am going to have to improvise yet again.

I think ring binder punch and lots of ribbon may be in order here.

I will let you know how I get on.

And, as I am now working, I may even treat myself to a BIA this year.

In the mean time, enjoy the calendar. I have uploaded it as a pdf so you can print it off as A3 or A4 as required.

If you download it or add a link to it on your blog or site, please leave me a comment to let me know.

I forgot to tell you.........

That I uploaded the December desktop calender last week.

Yes, I know it was a bit late but I hadn't got around to finding a suitable picture.

But then we had this really hard frost and I got this one!

Using the flash made the frost sparkle - just right for Christmas.

Hope you enjoy it!

Doesn't Time Fly.....

.....When you are working?

20 hours doesn't sound like much, especially when there are 168 in a week. In fact, when you think about it, it is actually less than one whole day. But 20 hours spread over 4 days, plus the time to get there and back, creates a HUGE hole in your time. And things just keep falling through it!!!!! Basically, I have lost the best part of four days and have to fit everything I normally do in seven days into the remaining three. I am not doing so well.

I know other people do this all the time. But they are used to doing it. Hopefully I will get organised at some point and get into a routine where I can fit everything in. However, the good part is that I finally have some money to spend! I have to be relatively good as I have things to pay out and sort out first but I have treated myself.

I bought a staple gun so that I can finish off my pictures myself without hassling Mark to sort out the big compressor one down the shed and some tape to cover the raw edges on the back. I also got some of those nine pocket pages to keep my ATCs in.

Marks Mum picked up twelve 8in frames for me last week so now I am all set to finish off the quilted photo frames, or I will be when the tape arrives. As you can see from the photos, I have already mounted theones I have finished and just need to finish the backs off.

I had to change the photos in the Baby Girl ones due to MAJOR complaints from my son. I had used photos of him as I didn't have any of baby girls. Then my Mam pointed out that I had some of me. So they have been duly scanned and printed to use.

I only have time to edit a few of the pics to use, so will show you the others another day. The other thing I really wanted to show you was this lovely lot of stash I got from Linda E. Thank you so much! I love it!!!!!

And finally, I took this from the back door this morning. The sun was coming up in the front and the moon was still really bright out the back.

November Calender

It's here at last!

The November calender. I cheated a bit. With this new job still throwing me for a loop, I haven't had much time to get out and get some pics. So I have used one I took last November. I rather like it and I hope you do as well.

And as you may have noticed, I have a new background. Thanks SC for the help. This is the same one I have on my site.

I haven't got the text colours right yet though so please bear with me.

D is for Dragons!

I did want "Damsels and Dragons" but I didn't see any Damselflies! As Chatteris is in the middle of the Fens, it is surrounded by waterways so there are always plenty of Dragonflies around. Last week I went to Welches Dam. It is a local RSPB bird reserve not far from Chatteris. The Ouse Washes cut across the Fens with a long, straight stretch of wetland between artificial channels. Tens of thousands of ducks are attracted to this remote location in winter, as well as the largest concentration of Bewick's and whooper swans anywhere in the UK.

I knew this would be my best chance of getting photos of them. Did you know that the species is over 300 million years old? That is twice as old as birds. There are approximately 3,600 known species of dragonfly in the world. In the British Isles there are 27 species of dragonfly and 16 species of damselfly.

Dragonflies can reach 30mph in full flight. They are a voracious hunter from the time it first hatches as aquatic larvae to its peak as a flying adult.

The adult dragonfly has the biggest eyes in the insect world and they are capable of detecting movement up to 15m away! Male dragonflies have their own territory; they guard their particular stretch of water seeking prey, females and chasing off rivals.

Of course, there are loads of other things to see there and its well worth a visit if you have the chance.

Puppets and Zion

I was going to be ever so good and try to blog at least every other day. Look how long that lasted!!!!!

Still, I have been busy with other things.

First of all, I listed my Halloween Baskets pattern on Etsy. This isn't a new pattern, I wrote it some years ago but I still love it. I was debating about putting it on eBay as well but with the new rules about ebooks (and the new listing prices) I decided not to. Etsy is so much cheaper to sell from when you are dealing with handicrafts.

Here are some of the puppets I have been working on. Meet Petula Parrot,

Sidney Snake,

and Arnold Aligator. These are the "Jungle Puppets". As always, made from 100% machine washable acrylic so you don't have to worry about them getting dirty. I have listed them all for sale on Etsy. The pattern will be on there just as soon as it is finished.

During the crash a whole pile of my photos got corrupted. Fortunately, some of them were from my A-Z photo journal of Chatteris which means they are relatively easy to replace. I decided to go out to the bank and Co-op yesterday and replace some of the photos. I went to the bank first then started taking some pics.

Wouldn't you know it - it started to rain! So I went to the Co-op to get what I needed only to find I hadn't put my purse in!!!! At least by the time I got back to the town centre it wasn't raining any more and I managed to replace some of the pics from Jubilee Gardens. I actually think they are a little better than before. The dark sky wasn't such a contrast against the black clock. But yesterday wasn't a complete disaster! In the evening I left the boys playing on the Wii and went out - complete with purse!

And I managed a new letter - Z This is the Zion Hall. I haven't been able to find out much info about it apart from this little bit I found online. Another such church (non-conformist) in Park Street was founded in 1819. In 1851 the congregation numbered 485.

However, the sign says 1839. I think a trip to the local museum is in order. And I still need to finish sorting out those Harvest ones.

Chasing Bumble Bees

Yes, that is what I spent most of yesterday afternoon doing! Just as you get set up for the perfect shot, they fly away!!!!! But, here are some of the results.

I have also been working on some Baby scrapping stuff. What do you think? And for all you "pinkaholics", the Girl set is in progress!

Just a quickie!

I have lots to do!

I had my free copy of SI this morning and rushed straight to page 71, just to see my name in print!!!!

So now I am working on the pattern for the Rainbow. I did have a double sided version up on my msn group, which I altered to make one I used for scrapping. Of course, being me, its all just notes and not a proper pattern.

It isn't going to take long to do, but I do need to make some more and block them to take pics. But, wouldn't you just know it, I have run out of the thread I need!

I was debating on whether to get some new thread - now I am going to have to! And, as it is pointless just getting one ball, I had better sort out what other colours I fancy!

In anticipation of some visitors from SI, I have been re-arranging my msn group so that all the scrapping patterns are on one page. The rainbows will be added as soon as they are sorted.

Also in the post this morning, came some lovely stash. Thank you Jay. I will take pics later and post them soon.

And finally, my "Trolleys" pic got short listed in the UKS photo comp!

Last time I looked, I was joint 1st with 3 others!

Now I need to get to the bank, then order some thread then get on with some work!!!!

Bloomin Lovely!

Well, after the "Pattern Fiasco" I decided I had had enough on the puter and went out into the garden.

My trough is looking beautiful! It is full of flowers and loads of buds. I was especially pleased to see some buds on the Icelandic Poppy. It is delicate like the Field poppies but comes up in a variety of colours. Monday, one of the buds opened and another looked as if it was about to.

But Monday tea time I looked out to find that all of the buds, except the original one, had disappeared. There was also hollows in the gravel on the top and stones all over the floor. Cats had been in my trough!!!!! There will be more buds later so it isn't a total disaster. Just really disappointing.

This is Sisyrinchium "Californian Skies". Most of the plants in the trough are Alpines because it is in full sun at the hottest part of the day. And now it has been moved, its in the sun for even longer.

This was only very small last year. Mam was after a cutting but I wouldn't let her. This year it is about 10 times the original size with loads of flowers. Unfortunately, she still cant have a cutting as she is having work done on the house. At least next year it will be loads bigger for one!

I also have this in yellow but it isn't as big yet and not as delicate as the blue.

It also flowers later so I have only had two flowers on it so far. But there are loads of buds just waiting to come out!

And I have a few things just coming into bud.

This is Lemon Thyme and it smells gorgeous!

Lavender

And Mimulus in both "Highland Yellow" and "Highland Orange". Also known as "Monkey Flower" because the flowers are supposed to look like monkey faces. You are supposed to plant them a certain distance apart but I put them close together in the hope that the two colours would mingle.

And finally, my Clematis. It is "The Vagabond". It is a lovely colour and already has has a few flowers. There are loads more buds and it is supposed to flower all through summer.

Atelier East presents

This is my press release from Atlier East about my exhibiton. Only a few days left now. I am not including the pics, they are all on here already!

Helen Free – Silk

An Exhibition at the Angles Theatre, Wisbech, Cambs.

Bright, bold and colourful- the best words to describe the work of textile artist Helen Free who’s exhibition entitled Silk opens on April 6th at the Angles Theatre, Wisbech.

Silk is a collection of beautifully sumptuous floral motifs- all hand painted onto silk, lightly quilted and embellished with beadwork and stitching.

Helen was brought up to appreciate crafts; she loves working with textiles- sewing, quilting, silk painting, knitting, tatting, crocheting and much more. Helen was taught to crochet by her father when she was very young and now she is a successful crochet pattern designer and writer, selling her patterns worldwide through her website.

“This is the first time that we have shown textile work at the Angles Theatre and I am sure people will really like it. Helen’s work is really fresh and vibrant- perfect for cheering us up after the winter months!” said Karen Harvey who has curated the exhibition for Atelier East.

Silk by Helen Free will be showing from 6 April – 2 May at the Angles Theatre.

On Sunday 6 April from 6-8pm there will be a free opening reception and, as always, everyone is welcome to come along.

The theatre is also open Monday to Friday all day and Saturday mornings, plus it is open for shows. Best the check with the theatre if you are going out of normal hours.

For more information on exhibitions at the Angles Theatre contact info@atelier-east.co.uk

The current exhibition by Jennie Claire runs until Friday 4th April.

J is for Jubilee Gardens.

I decided to take some time out from beading and edit some of those pics I took weeks ago. Jubilee Gardens are at the end (or the beginning depending on which way you come in) of Chatteris High Street.

I haven't been able to find out much about them. All I know is that the original gardens were built in 1977 to celebrate the Queens Silver Jubilee and housed the original Town Sign.

The Gardens were re-vamped in 2004 when the lovely clock was put up and the Town Sign repainted. If anybody knows anything else, I would love to hear it!

A is for Abbey

I have finally got around to editing the photos for my A-Z photo journal. I took these about 3 weeks ago.

The following text comes from the sign which is shown here

Chatteris Abbey was founded by Bishop Aednoth of Dorchester (previously Abbot of Ramsey) between 1007 and 1016. His sister, Aelfwen became the first Abbess. The Abbots of Ely and Ramsey gifted two Chatteris manors to the Abbey in 1086. At first the Abbey was relatively poor because it lacked a royal founder.

It is the poorest of the eight nunneries mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Even so, abbey lands became sufficiently widespread during the 12th and 13th centuries to need three manorial courts, Chatteris, Foxton and Barley. The courts employed estate managers, stewards, bailiffs and rent collectors.

Income also came from churches, tithes and legacies. Gifts, for example 'a weight of cheese', w6ne part ,of the conditions of entry for a novice. Transportation of goods such as grain from the Abbey's mills was often by boat. By 1535 the Abbey was valued at £97.3s.4d.

Henry I gave the Bishop of Ely rights over the Abbey in the early 12th century. Succeeding bishops exercised their spiritual authority over the nunnery by overseeing the election of professing nuns and abbesses.

The island settlement of Caeteric (Ceto - a wood and Ric - a river) already existed when the Abbey was founded near the centre. The additional economic activity encouraged the development of the village.

The Abbey building would have contained bedchambers for the residents and guests, a dormitory, cellarer's room, three butteries, a bake house, a brew house, kitchen, hall, frater, fish house, granary, barns, chapter house and infirmary.

There would also have been carts, farm implements and livestock. The Abbey Church had a choir, two aisles, a vestry and a steeple. It was probably called St Mary's and the townspeople used the south aisle. Sometime between 1306 and 1310 a fire destroyed the Church and manorial goods stored there. It was rebuilt and consecrated in 1352. There were eleven nuns, including the Abbess, when the Abbey was dissolved in 1538.

Some buildings were converted into Park House, which the Gascoyne family acquired and extended in the 17th century. In the mid 18th century the fish house and granary were still intact. However, by 1819 only a few walls remained and Park House was demolished in 1847. Walls marked on the Ordnance Survey map are not original, but were built of ragstone and quoins from the ruins. Original stones are incorporated into buildings in London Road and the sidewall of 24 Victoria Street.

Information from Chatteris museum says that Park House fell into disrepair early in the 19th century and was finally demolished in 1847. The house was last lived in by the Seymour family, the stone was used to build Seymour Place in London Road.

The "Chatteris Town Walk" leaflet also tells you that some of the stones are built into this gateway.