1st week of Autumn holidays

When I am on holiday it makes me wonder how I actually have the time to work!!!.Most people tend to meet up with friends and although I like to do that too I really enjoy the time to myself.

I had a few coffee and craft sessions as well as spending the day at the craft fair at the King’s Hall with friends. It was very different to Dublin which was good and which also meant there were things I just had to buy. We had a beautiful lunch at the King’s Head as always.

K and I at the duckpond

Clare Glen, Tandragee

Clare Glen

Clare Glen

A few of my craft items were sold on Saturday and as well as finishing items I have also started new ones. I have finished my crochet ripple blanket but I have started a knitted tunic for Lucy. I got half of it knit at mums as Smudge and I decided to spend the night. I hope to finish it in less than a week. It is knit in King Cole chunky. Then I will get back to more socks

Lucy’s tunic

 or maybe some more fingerless gloves as my kids ones sold at the fair. I also have some wool for a baby boys jumper just looking for the right pattern for it.

Smudge loved her time at Grannies

I hadn’t been to Clare Glen for many years but yesterday it was just perfect foran Autumn walk and Smudge loved it. The river level was high and the leaves were layered.

crochet ripple blanket

More coffee and craft sessions coming up this incoming week and we are still focusing on the Christmas theme mostly. I may make a few more tree decorations as we may have 2 trees to decorate this year.

Wendy’s cushion

Today we took a Woodland Walk in Mountstewart. It was cold but no rain and we were well wrapped up. The colours were beautiful and there were so few people around.

Back to my art class this week with Julie D with my first experience of oil paints. My first impression was that I wouldn’t need to be worried about the cost of the paints as no way was i going to be dabbling again. However my mind was changing by the next day. I nipped into the town hall and saw an exhibition by Ards Art Club and the two paintings I loved best were in oil and they were amazing so realistic. …so who knows maybe when I have absolutely nothing else to spend my money on I will get some oils!!!

I am looking forward to joining the class at the Ulster Museum this week and I intend to spend the whole day there, after all I will still be on holiday

Mountstewart

This is one of Smudge’s favourite places she got quite excited with the smells. I think she was picking up on a few squirrel tracks.

First week’s holiday ended on a very sad note-remembering Jacky Ingram

This week has been both busy and relaxing. I went to Portadown yesterday to spend the day with mum bringing Smudge with me. We decided last minute to stay the night. It was there I got the sad news of Jacky’s passing. I had no emotion as I was sure it could not be true but this morning when I got back home and discovered it was really true I was in shock, still am. We were inseparable in our teenage years. We weren’t alike but had similar interests. Jacky was full of life, brilliant at anything she put her hand to whether it was her education, singing, drama, whatever. she was a friend to all always bubbling over.  We were seen frequently in the same clothes-long purple quilted coats come to mind, in fact if kept probably would have been back in fashion!!!

We met up again at Millington primary School 40yr celebration and she was planning on a reunion meal with old friends but it wasn’t to be. We had quite a chat about our past and the time between when we had been inseparable. She was very close to her family and loved her son more than herself but then that was Jacqueline always thinking of others.We loved being out and about on our rollerboots and when we couldnt be outdoors we were scheming indoors. We produced a magazine for our community “The rectory Gazette” and were encouraged by her sister Karen. I think we had about 6 customers!!!LOL. We took turns typing on my old Imperial typewriter. She came on holiday with us and we went to the Girl’s Brigade together. Jacky became a christian in those days but her life started to take a different path to mine. I left home to start nursing and she continued with her education. She became involved in Reiki and holistic healing which unfortunately did not give her any benefit in the end. My hope is that her early faith was sincere and that some day we will laugh again together. Prayers go out to her mum,son and wonderful sisters Karen and Susan.

Cleaning,cooking and crafting

J gave the fish a miss he only likes it battered and not on the plate with it’s head and tail

Two weeks holidays ahead with nothing to do but relax at home and finish some projects. Back to crochetting my ripple blanket today and hope to finish it this week. Recently I have woken in the morning with lots of craft ideas, I think my brain goes into overdrive when I am asleep.

1st stage

This morning I awoke thinking abour crackle glazing. I haven’t played with paint techniques in a while and at that it was usually in 1/12th scale but today I went larger.

2nd stage

 Because of all the layers I find it much easier to work many items at the one time and I did manage to do some baking as I waited for layers to dry as well.

I have found my cricut very usefull for negative as well as positive templates. I have used both for these plaques. Since I started art classes last year I haven’t went near acrylic paints but felt they were the best for these projects.

I sprayed them with 101 acrylic glaze at the end for some protection.

Remembrance Day

Today is a day to remember those who have died through the war. As a child to me this was an event that seemed far removed from my life reflecting on World War 1 and 2. However in my life time the war has continued throughout the world including our own nation and many remember today those who have died in recent weeks, months and years. Today I also remember one who died for all of us and yet one who many refuse to remember, understand or believe in.

Romans ch 5v8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

The next two weeks for me will be filled as usual but work free. Last night I had a lovely evening with a group of friends, many of whom had not met one another before. We had a meal at Harlem which was lovely despite the disorganised service.Calendar girls at the opera house had us roaring with laughter. Looking forward to the next girls’ night out.

 

I finished my socks this week and then used some of the wool for some kids fingerless mittens which I adapted from a beautiful pattern. I think I will do a few more rows and the crochet ripple blanket will be finished too. A lady from my art class lent me a lovely book on interlocking crochet which I would be keen on trying next although I have little experience in crochet. The items she has made are gorgeous.

 




I also finished my seashell scene from my art class.






J made the shelf for the red room which only has a framed photo of my great grandmother on it so far but I have a few other ideas.


It has been a lovely Autumn and today it was lovely walking in the woods, so mild. Sometimes it takes a little push to get out there but when we take the plunge it is so worthwhile. It was amazing the amount of leaves.

geese flying across Ards

Creativity

I have been very busy at work but just love my job and I have been very busy at home but just love my crafts.

I especially love to see the pleasure craft brings to other people who think they are not creative. What is creativity? Wikipaedia states Creativity refers to the invention or origination of any new thing. In that case as each one of us are made uniquely anything we make is also unique so each one of us are creative. Just because something we may make is not of interest to anyone else is irrelevant. God created us in his image

Psalm 139:14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 

 “Creativity is knowing how to hide your sources”
― Albert Einstein
 “Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not. ”
― Pablo Picasso, Pablo Picasso: Metamorphoses of the Human Form : Graphic Works, 1895-1972 

What I have found, not in everyone but, in many of those who say they can’t, they have had many disappointments in life. What I have noticed is that when they discover they can many of those disappointments fade.

knitting bag

 “Creativity takes courage. ”
― Henri Matisse

tiny shopper

I feel I am still learning and I just love new experience, it’s just a pity I didn’t have more hours in the day to fit them all in.

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
― Scott Adams

Sarah’s christmas cushion

 There is always time out for a stroll no matter what the weather and one of our favourite places as you will see from previous blogs is Mountstewart.

J plans to make this into a shelf for the red room

I had a fantastic time at RDS and I didnt want to waste the hairpin crochet sample I had made so I made a few more to make into a cushion and then some regular crochet for the other side

 Back to my art class this morning to meet my Thursday girls. Hilary showed me some beautiful interlocked crochet and lent me a book. There was so much in it I ordered a copy for myself. I will have to hold myself back though until I at least finish my ripple blanket!!!

We had a large choice of stones and shells to choose from and this is my little selection. I will try to do more on it