Monday 27 February - Camera Class

Fab field trip with my camera class - we had to meet at the Big Fish (a huge printed ceramic mosaic sculpture) near Lagan Weir in Belfast.

We wandered around with our cameras and tripods looking for interesting views and light effects.

^{I was trying to capture the tall building and the tall straight trees.}

<sup>We moved on to the Angel of Harmony (or Nuala with the Hula as she is also known!)

Then some photos of the river and traffic - interesting light effects - really chuffed my camera can take photos like this - I didn't try very hard, my camera did all the work!</sup>

Finally we moved onto the area at the Waterfront Hall - I tried to take a photo of the beautiful shepherd and sheep sculpture outside the Hall but it is a bit dark.

We had to send 3 photos to the tutor and here are my three - I was pleased with them all.

A really fun and interesting night out.

Family gathering

This week a fun night at my Brother and Sister-in-law's house to celebrate littleist nephew's 4th birthday.

                                                        Yum ! Yum !

and then the entertainment started !

Just Dance on the Wii - I want one !

A lovely family time.

Folksy Friday - 24 February 2012

It's birthday week for my niece and one of my nephews, born on the same date but in two different families and 7 years apart.

I have a lovely memory of telling my niece she is my favourite niece - she gave me a funny look and said but 'I'm your only niece' and I replied 'but you are still my favourite' and she giggled!


Lovely gifts available on http://folksy.com/ for all ages, just click on any of the photos to go straight to the shop.

Kelsie is a pink girlie and the bag would suit her perfectly, handy for school lunches or shopping trips, she has 3 rabbits so would love the rabbit mug and I think the pencil case is very pretty.

Nephew Ellis would love any of these bright pressies and I love the idea of personalising with his name.

Preparing these Folksy Friday posts is a fab way of finding new shops.

Camera class - Monday 20 February

Homework for this week was to take 3 landscape photos - I took an opportunity to take my photos when I went to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum for the Bead Guild.

It was a dullish day, I went early and really enjoyed wandering around looking for potential photos - will definitely keep it in mind when I need more outside scenes.

Blog Competition

A fellow Folksier is having a giveaway competition on her blog -

http://crafty-mushroom.blogspot.com/2012/02/giveaways-galore.html

click on the link to read more and for a chance to enter - gorgeous handcrafted goodies in the prize.

My Folksy Shop

Two new listings today - a matching necklace and bracelet in gorgeous black and white beads - always a popular combination.

Pop over and let me know if you like them.

Just click on the link to my shop on the top right corner of the blog.

Flower Brooch

At craft class tonight we made flower brooches - another new skill for me and a really enjoyable evening.

These are some of the beautiful brooches made by a very talented crafter and teacher who came to our class tonight to teach us how to make one.

My 'good' coat is a lovely pink tweed mix so I choose this material as I didn't want anything too patterned or floral.

Next step is to cut out 5 circles, iron each one and fold in half and half again, ironing the material flat each time.

Then we sewed along the curve of each piece, I think it was a 'running' stitch, and joined one on after the other, ie didn't sew them separately and join after. 

Added buttons to the front and a brooch fastener to the back (stitched onto tiny circles of felt), then glued to the material flower using a hot glue gun.

I love it.

I quickly photographed a few more - all of them just fab and unique.

Great fun.

Photos were taken with my new smartphone - pleased with them too !

Digital photography class

Just to record my photos for this week's class - triangles, space and texture.

I can't take credit for making this bracelet, it is made of stitched triangles.

I took this one just as I was approaching my office,  and

these are two cushions on my armchair!

Folksy Friday - 3 February 2012

It's my lovely brother-in-law's birthday this week - Happy Birthday John.

My Folksy Friday picks are pressies I think he'd like.



Marvellous male themed items available on Folksy.com - when you need a present for the men in your life, why not check there first.

Click on any of the photos to go straight to the shop.

Craft Class - Patchwork

I have little sewing experience but it is definitely a craft I want to learn more about.

Tonight I made a start on a little piece of patchwork in my favourite purples of course !

I plan to sew it onto a plain tote bag to add a bit of colour.  Next time I'll make the same again but keep adding to it and maybe have a quilt by the time I retire !

Very, very enjoyable.

R and E from the class have been patchworking for some time! and have produced a few more than me !

I have a tiny stash of fabrics but could so easily collect more and more !