Its My Birthday..........

Well, it was on Monday. I wasn't expecting much as after that VERY expensive lens I has for Christmas, Mark had told me I wasn't getting anything. But........... I had this lovely bunch of flowers from him and he always chooses lovely cards. And "The Aristocats" dvd from Benjamin (which I know Mark sorted out!)

I also had some lovely handmade cards from a few people.

Then, in the afternoon, I had more flowers!!!! These were delivered by a local florist and were from a friend!

Tuesday brought another surprise! The postman had tried to deliver a parcel on Monday, which said "Do Not Bend" and wouldn't fit through the door. Of course, our sorting office is only open until 11.30am which meant that I wasn't home in time to pick it up.

Mark had taken the day off to take me out as he couldn't get Monday off. We called to pick up the parcel on the way out.

It was loads of lovely stash from my UKS teamie, Liz! It took me ages getting all the selotape off in the car and Mark just couldn't understand what I was so excited about!

We went to the Iron Age Fort at Stonea for me to take photos for my A-Z Photo Journal. It was blowing a gale there but I got some nice ones. Then we went to the "Golden Lion" in Stones for more photos. This has something to do with one of my ancestors who was born in Chatteris!

Then we went to a small cycle shop in March. I had some money from Marks Mum so I wanted a rack and panniers for my bike, partly for picnics and partly for shopping. Mark ended up buying them for me so he gave me a birthday pressie after all!

He then told me to get some new boots with the money, as I have worn the others out with all the walking from the past two weeks!

Atelier East presents

Jennie Clare – Solo Exhibition March’s exhibition at the Angles Theatre, one of a continuing series curated by Atelier East, will be a showcase of the photography and painting of Elm based artist Jennie Clare.

The aptly entitled Solo Exhibition will be Jennies’s first one-person show and will include recent photographic works alongside mixed media paintings. Jennie graduated last year with a degree in Fine Art from Leicester Demonfort, having previously studied Foundation Art at Wisbech Isle College.

Jennie Clare’s work focuses on intertwining themes including time and nostalgia, aesthetics and beauty in the banal. An obvious interest in light and shadow can be seen most prominently in her photography where light casts eerie shadows and silhouettes glow outlined by brightness and colour.

The exhibition opens on Sunday 2nd March with a reception from 6-8pm and continues until Friday 4th April. The bar will be open for the reception and everyone is welcome to come along for a chat, a drink and a look!

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 Neville Palmer runs until Friday 29th February.

A Day Off!

Doing the Happy Dance!

Well, I would if I had the energy! My body is aching all over and I have really had enough of these leaflets!. Still We have done nearly 7,000 of the 10,300 so it will only be another 3 days at most.

The only thing is, we also have 3,000 for Littleport!!!! Joan has asked her partner if he would like to help out and they reckon that we could do the whole lot in one day on Sunday. I have my doubts but am going along with it.

The vest top is coming along nicely. I am trying it on as I go and am really pleased with the way it looks. My problem is that because I have such big boobs, anything I wear either has to stretch over them or hangs ungainly below them. I have shaped this over them so that it goes in underneath before going straight down. Mark likes it as well!

We have another really frosty morning here. I would love to go out taking pics of it but feel so guilty at making Benjamin work most of his half term off that I am just letting him sit and watch TV instead.

I haven't done any scrapping or anything else this week! I miss my life of leisure!

Oh dem bones!

Or more to the point, dem muscles!!!!

I mentioned I had a job for the week, well I think it is more like for at least two! I have taken on a one off job of delivering leaflets in March, a neighbouring town. What I didn't mention was that there are 10,000 of them. I asked a friend if she would like to do it with me as I needed somebody with a car to get back and fore. She was really enthusiastic and said it sounded good money for a weeks work. However, she REALLY underestimated the time it would take!

And the other thing is those aching muscles! I thought I have been doing a good job of getting fit. Because I don't drive I either walk, or mostly, cycle. However, walking and cycling regularly do not prepare you for walking almost solidly for 4 to 6 hours a day. The second day I could hardly get out of bed!

It has been getting easier. This morning there is just a little ache but, because I decided to use a bag instead of the trolley for part of it, my back hurts this morning. I should have known better and will not be making that mistake again!

Also, I have been coming home far to tired to concentrate on writing crochet patterns! I have been working on a vest t-shirt and, luckily, have got up to the part where it is just plain trebles until it is long enough. I can do that on auto pilot.

I did manage to get some pics of the French Knickers on Saturday before all this started. So here they are. The first one shows a semi side/front view so that you can see the way it ties up.

The second one is from the back. The front looks almost the same but I have made the back a little wider. The pattern is available on Rainbow Valley

Finally Finished Frogging!

For those who don't know, frogging is a crochet term used when you undo all your hard work. Its called "Frogging" because you "rip-it, rip-it, rip-it". I have been working on a Lacy Lingerie set for a few weeks. I made the nightie first, then the G-string, then some French knickers. How I have been cussing those knickers!!!!

The bodice part of the nightie wasn't too bad but did involve some frogging. The lacy skirt part was quite simple, just time consuming, as it was repetitive. Converting to different sizes wasn't so simple. It didn't involve crocheting, just hours spent in front of the puter with a calculator. I have sent copies of the different sizes out to other people who are that size to make. That way, they can try it on to check it fits properly as well as check the patterns works up correctly.

The G-String was small and relatively quick. It also only need to be one size as it just does up on the sides.

But those French Knickers! I have lost count of how many time I frogged them. Last night, I finally got them looking right and have spent most of today writing them up. However, they still need all the ends sewing in and pressing before I can take and edit the pics.

There is no chance of getting eveything together to be online for the weekend as I had hoped. And with next week being half term and I have a job for the week, I am not sure of my chances for the following weekend either!

I have been tagged........

... by Pam

It's a tag with a difference

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MY MIDDLE NAME?

Here are the rules:

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.

2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).

3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.

4. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details.)

Its at times like this you curse your parents for giving you such a long name!!!!

J - Job: Yes, stealing Pams idea cos I can't think of one! I don't have a "proper" job but I am looking for one. However, I design and write crochet patterns which I sell from my web site. Unfortunately, it doesn't make me much money!

A - Ancient: Going to be 45 this month!

N - Nana: I am old enough to be Benjamins Nana!!!!!

E - Emigrated: Well England is abroad when you are Welsh!

T - Textiles: I love working with textiles of all different sorts.

T - Tactile: If I see it, I have to know what it feels like.

E - Enthusiastic: I was trying to think of things for the A-Z journal and Mark asked me what a "Zealot" is. I explained that it was an old religious order but "zealous" also applied to people who were enthusiastic about what they were doing. So he said "Well you can take a picture of you for Z then!"

And now I need 7 people to tag!!!!! Lesley, Fi, Terrie, Ruth, Gemma, Angie, Kerrie.

B is for......

Black Gold.

This is what the soil is known as in the Fens as it is extremely rich. The Fens were completely covered in forest after the Ice Age. As the ice melted the sea rose, flooding the low lying land and killing all the vegetation, which rotted into the swamps to form peat. Over the centuries the North Sea ebbed and flowed across the Fens, creating "roddons" - wandering waterways whose courses you can still see today - and depositing layers of silt accross the land. This mixture of peat and silt has created some of the best growing land in the world. Information is taken from the "Cambridgeshire Fens Visitor & Accomodation Guide".

I also took a photo of the Town Sign while I was out. I plan to use this to make the front cover of the journal when it is finished. Chatteris is recorded in the Doomsday Book as Cetriz or Cietriz. Both versions are thought to be Norman spelling of the Anglo-Saxon name of Ceatric, whose last syllable "ric" is Old English for a stream. The "stream" would have been the old Bedford Ouse which flowed along the western boundary of Chatteris. The shield-shaped sign links the links the Bishops of Ely through the crowns. The lower section shows a plough as a symbol of the towns most important industry - farming - and the eels where included as at one time they were used for the payment of taxes.

As you can see from the plaques, the original sign was donated to the town by the WI in 1977, to mark the double celebration of the Queens Silver Jubilee and the Golden anniversary of the WI.

The sign was repainted and repaired in 2004 when the gardens were replaced and the clock was put up. Information is taken from the "Village Signs of North Cambridgeshire" and "Chatteris - Then and Now".

Look what is growing in my garden!

I love winter bulbs! They really brighten up the place. I planted them for last year but they didn't do so well. I think some of them were a bit deep and the snowdrops were really late. I was a bit disappointed. But Mark said that by this year they would be established and come up better. And they have! I have crocuses, irises and snowdrops in all my pots. I don't think Mark realised I had planted so many! But I did plant them all at different times as I got them, even during the summer. Some came up straight away and died quickly as they are not meant for warmer weather.

Hopefully, I am going to have bulbs all spring. And what's more, with my new macro lens I can take great pictures of them. Apart from cropping and resizing, these haven't been edited. The detail is fascinating, I can't wait to get out and use it more. Also, as a 60mm lens (efl=96mm) I can use it as a portrait lens. Need to practise a bit more on that.

The other thing that is growing in my garden is mushrooms! Mark smuggled home a large log last time he went shooting and made me this new one. It measures 22inches across and is big enough to sit on. So, with all these bulbs and mushrooms, guess what the calender is? You can download it as usual from the link on the left.

Drains and Pumping Stations

Mark said he would take me out to take some photos of the Wind Turbines yesterday as the forecast was dry. I wanted some long exposure ones to try to get the effect of the sails going round. Well, yes it was dry but it was also bright and sunny. Absolutely no good for long exposures!!! So I went out on my bike instead!

D is for Drains. Or Dykes. Or Ditches. They seem to be called all three around here equally. This is the Forty Foot Drain, taken from the bridge on Dodington Road. The second photo is taken along the Forty Foot road.

The Fenlands are below sea level. Until the mid 17th Century, Chatteris was an island. The Romans tried to drain part of it to farm it but it wasn't until 1630 that Dutch engineer Cornelius Vermuyden came along and built the Forty Foot that draining the Fens was successful.

Of course, for all these drains to work, you need Pumping Stations.

Since the Fens were drained the peat areas have shrunk and on avarage the land is 20 feet lower than it was when the Romans farmed it. Water has to be lifted as much as 7 metres uphill to keep the land dry. Fenland today is kept dry by numerous Drainage Boards in the North, South and Middle Levels. The pumping staion at Tydd Gote has 6 1200mm pumps, each of which can shift 200 tons of water a minute. Information is taken fromt the "Cambridgeshire Fens Visitor & Accomodation Guide".

Working Hard!

Honest! I have been!

I have been crocheting and beading like woman posessed! Mind you, most people would say I am like woman possessed anyway. They are far too polite to say what I am possessed with though!

I have almost finished the Lacy lingerie I have been working on.

The Nightie is written (although there is a little more crocheting to be done on that bit) and yesterday evening I finished crocheting the G-string to go with it. I just need to write that bit.

I have also converted the Nightie to the larger size (very brain addling) and found a willing victim to test it. And I have finally found a willing victim for the smaller size so am working on converting that one.

The next job is the French Knickers. And then to get some nice pics!

The pictures you can see are digi layouts of the finished silk paintings. I plan on using them for birthday cards to sell at the opening reception of my exhibition - which seems to be drawing ever closer at an alarmimg speed.

Still, things are going at a steady pace for it.

But it isn't all work! I have joined in with a project on the UKS site to build an A-Z Photographic Journal of where I live. As Chatteris isn't exactly a huge place, I am expanding it to the Fens as well, although I will be keeping as close to Chatteris as possible. For the moment, I am just keeping a notebook full of possibilities for photo shoots!

What this space for the results!

Atelier East presents

Neville Palmer - Digital Graphics
and other recent work.
An Exhibition at the Angles Theatre, Wisbech, Cambs.

February’s exhibition at the Angles Theatre, one of a continuing series curated by Atelier East, will feature digital graphics by Neville Palmer. For many years a sculptor and a painter, this new digital work is part of a relatively recent exploration for the artist and forms the major part of his first solo exhibition in Wisbech since 1981.

We are very excited to be able to show the work of Neville Palmer here in Wisbech. His attention to detail is phenomenal and his use of colour is beautiful. If you have an interest in visual arts of any kind then it would be really worth your while to view this exhibition. Neville Palmer’s work allows you to look at things differently; you can look at one of his pieces for ages and it is amazing how your visual perception of depth alters as you notice the difference in the way that the colour and form interweave. – Karen Harvey, Atelier East.

The exhibition opens on Sunday 3rd February with a reception from 6-8pm and continues until Friday 29 February.

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.

The January Sale exhibition is going well. It is on until FEB 1st. There are still lots of bargains to be had from some great artists, lovely individual pieces of art would make great gifts, especially with Valentines Day coming up, and its all for a good cause- our lovely local theatre!

Beads, Beads, Beads!

I have been beading and crocheting like mad! I have finished beading my 3 magnolia paintings. Now they need mounting and backing. Next I have to start on the 2 lilies. I have some others with the beading finished, also needing mounting and backing. I was thinking of doing some today but, after a shopping trip to Tesco, I have managed to pull a muscle in my back! My family eat too much!

I have got the jpegs and "blurb" off to Karen (but not heard if it is right yet). Next job is to create a flyer/invite for her. Its all go!

Here are the Poppies. I love the colours on these and have tried to use both the stitching and beading a bit more creatively. I have a huge stash of seed beads. I tend to buy old or cheap jewellery and then take them apart. Its amazing what you can find in charity shops!

These are the dolphins. This one is totally different from the others. I painted the rainbow stripes on the silk then cut dolphin shapes from dark fabric and put them between the silk and the backing. Then I quilted around the dolphin shapes. This is a sort of shadow applique.

What have I done?????

I do some daft things occasionally.  Ok, more than occasionally!!!!! 

This time, I am wondering if I have bitten off more than I can chew.  Last September I agreed to do a one man exhibition of my silk paintings in April 2008.  I thought that, although I had a whole load of stuff on up to Christmas, that I would have plenty of time after Christmas to get it sorted.  Last week it suddenly dawned on me that I have 2½ months to get enough stuff together.

Big time Panic!!!!!

Plus I have to get jpegs in of my work (which isn't made yet) and some "blurb" about me to go with it.

However, after digging to the bottom of the wardrobe, I found a few things. I also have 2 finished from ages ago.

This one is my Sunflowers.  It is the first one I ever did.  I joined a class in 2001 at the end of the course and was presented with a huge frame (as all the "more experienced" class members had taken the smaller ones) and told to paint it.  I actually enjoyed it once I started, not having painted anything for a long time it felt good to have a brush in my hand again.

When it was finished I had to back it and mount it.   Not knowing quite what to do with it, I quilted it, beaded it and made it into a wall hanging.

It measures 125cm from pole to pole and the small picture is a close up of the beading.

Then I had the "bug".  Being a single Mum of a 3 year old, I had to organise my own Christmas pressie.  So I went to a local craft shop and almost paid for a silk painting kit.  I then sent Benjamin in on his own with the £2 balance and he "bought" it for me.

Of course, I never got to use it.  Too many other things to do in too little time.  It wasn't until I met my dearest and he bought me a frame for my birthday that I was able to do some more.

This one is a pink flower and is mounted on a wooden frame.  The painting is wrapped around so that the picture carries on around the sides.

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It measures 41cm x 34 cm and, as you can see, I was a bit more adventurous with the beading.

I will be posting more pictures of my work as I do it - hopefully!

The exhibition is going to be at the Angles Theatre in Wisbech.  They hold a different one every month and I have now been put on the press mailing list so I can tell you all about them.  There is currently a "January Sale" one on.  The Theatre is open all day Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings for you to look.  It is also open in the evenings of there is a show on.

Hidden Journalling Notebook

I was shown how to make this little notebook a few years ago and, on finding it at the bottom of my craft drawer, decided to share it. The photos aren't great as I was playing with my new lens and I didn't take a whole lot of time over editing as I wanted to get it done!

Step 1
Cut two strips of paper, one patterned and one plain. They can be any size you would like but must be 8 times as long as they are wide and the plain one should be a little smaller than the patterned one.

Step 2
Fold the plain piece into 8 equal sections. Each one should be a square.
This is the pages for your book.

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Repeat for the patterned piece but fold all the creases both ways. Then make the additional folds, again folding both ways.

Step 3
Lay the patterned piece flat on the table with the right side up.

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Step 4

Fold at fold 1

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Step 5
Fold at fold 2

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Step 6
Turn the whole thing over.

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Step 7
Fold at fold 3

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Step 8
Fold at fold 5.

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Step 9
Fold at fold 4 and tuck the flap under.

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Step 10
Turn the whole thing around and repeat steps 4 to 9 for the other side.
This is the cover for your book.

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Step 11
Turn the cover over and place the plain piece as shown in the picture.

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Step 12
Slide the end squares of the pages into the cover and fold in half.

If you would like a pdf version of these instructions, you can download it here.

New Pattern Finished

Oooh! I am all excited! I have finally finished my latest pattern!!!!!

As you can see, its very festive. A range of 5 Christmas frames for scrapbooking. Somebody did comment that it is a bit late for Christmas but, if I know Scrappers, its just at the right time. I bet we all have loads of Christmas pics just waiting to be scrapped.

The pattern is for sale on Rainbow Valley but if you want either the pattern or some of the Christmas frames free, enter the competition! Just click on the flashing button over there <<<< to find out how to enter.