Thursday 30 September 2010

Stay at Home Round Robin

At last I've managed to catch up with Kate North's "Stay at Home Round Robin" challenge  This is one you keep for yourself and make up the blocks as you want them to be.  Kate specifies the size of the block and its position, the first one was a 6" x 6" square, the send a 6" x 4" rectangle and it had to be attached to the 6" block.  September's block was 10" x 3" attached to the top of the other two.   You wouldn't believe how long it took me to decided what I wanted to do.

It would appear that Blogger has changed the way you upload photos again.  Not sure what I've done but it looks like its lost all the photos except the one above that I downloaded.  Ah well, next time maybe I'll get it right.  Just a short blog tonight as I've got company coming.

Monday 20 September 2010

Catch up

The last month seems to have been one round of parties and I've come to a full stop hence the quiet time.  But.... I'mback in action and have made a couple of postcards for various swaps.


Block of the month for August was an open round my postcard is a sort of strange Drunkards Path,   My S for September BOM postcard was Seminole work which I sent off without photographing.  Visualise it, it was vivid purple, lime green and orange - hows that for needing sunglasses.

My 'Bridges' postcards gave me more problems than I thought they would.  First I needed to choose a bridge.  I had them in abundance but which one would it be and how would I depict it, hmm.

The lefthand side one was a modern bridge over the Manchester Ship canal and yes there are people absailing down it.  The right had one an old bridge, one to be found in Leeds Castle, Kent.  I thought I'd play with photoshop so:
Both were made using adjustment layers and gradient layers.  I've been spending a lot of time playing recently just to remind myself what they all do.  A few years back I was reasonably proficient with layers, masks etc but I haven't kept it up and I found I'd forgotten a lot.  There are loads of free tutorials out there on the web if anyone is interested.
I liked the old bridge treatment but thought it would require more time to do six cards than I had on hand so I stuck to the new bridge.   By reversing the colours it made the bridge look as though it was lit up at night.  I wanted to emphasize the bridge structure.   I stitched out the the design outline then using a thick glitzy thread in the bobbin couched it down sewing on the wrong side of the cards.   Naturally I ran out of thick thread halfway through the last card but as that was going to be mine it didn't really matter.


















So far I've received these three bridges from the BQLPC monthly postcard challenge.  The single one is from Pauline and the two together are from Janet and Avril.  Avril's is a 'wobbly' bridge over a Welsh stream and Janet's of the Ironbridge.  All very different.
This Autumn Quiltie, which I've posted upside down!! is from Maryke Op den Camp of the Netherlands, sorry Maryke I hadn't noticed until I'd uploaded it.  I promise the blood won't run to the squirrel's head.

My dear old 1630 needs a light change, its getting dimmer and dimmer so its off to Edinburgh tomorrow for an MOT since it must be about 5 or 6 years since it had one.   At least I think the light is getting dimmer not sure whether its not because the light on the 830 is so good.  Anyway it has given us an excuse for a couple of days away and a visit to the Edinburgh Playhouse to see Chess the Musical.  So will post again in a few days.   In the meantime I need to add something to my Autumn quiltie, it was finished but you know how it is, you look at it and think .... it needs something ... so until I decide what it stays here.

Monday 6 September 2010

Photos of 'The' Wedding

Marc and Alix had planned this for months right down to the minutest detail and the planning showed.  the day was excellent with lots of love, laughter and fun.  The setting was idylic in an Arts and Craft style house overlooking Windermere.
View of the lake from our bedroom window and of the house from the garden.
Not sure who was the most nervous as they waited for Alix to arrive.
She didn't keep them waiting long and grinned her way down the aisle.  Her father looked as proud as punch.  Sorry the photos is a bit blurry it was a difficult shot as everyone wanted a photo of her.
Signing the register;
The happy couple relax a little now that the formal part is over.
The bridesmais Joanne and Michelle looked beautiful too.
Didn't they scrub up well, the four men in my life - from left to right, Marc, Keith, Syand Matthew.

Me, Keith and the dratted fascinator.  I am just the right height to poke the feathers into peoples ears and eyes.  I took it off as soon as the formal photos were finished much to the relief of anyone standing next to me.



Simon and Julie, Sy looked much happier now that he'd given his speech he could relax.
Cutting the chocolate wedding cake.  Two friends of Alix made the cake, one tier is the traditional fruit cake the other two are sponge cake, one chocolate and one vanilla.  The photo doesn't do it justice but it tasted delicious and most of it was eaten only a small amount was left to take home.  We've just had a piece with a cuppa.

Marc relaxing  on the terrace with Alix and below with Matty, think the alcohol might have helped a bit.
The day ended as beautifully as it started.