Wednesday 25 September 2013

What's Happening....

I am an addict.......

Addicted to hooky...



Addicted to quilting...


Addicted to blogging..... no need for a picture I think you get it!!

And most definitely addicted to starting new craft projects.... but not so addictive that I finish them!!

The next few weeks are going to be mega busy..... I start evening classes, on Tuesday next week, and have committed to attending a quilting 'class' on a Thursday - just once a month for this one.  I will continue to meet with my quilting/hooky friend on a Wednesday.  I'm off to Yandale, in Skipton this weekend  - and then Spain the following weekend - I really should learn to spread my happiness out!!

But to be fair the last few weeks have been busy - my office at work was redecorated - so I worked on Sunday afternoon - and a little bit of Saturday.  It seems like ages since I've said what been happening in my life, so.....

I've been digging at the BH.....


I've been trimming at WR....



I've been pickling.....


I've been souping..... (and cooking up meals that will fill my freezer as I'm out and about for the next few weeks)....


I've finished my Project Linus blanket......


I've started two more charity blankets.....




I spent Saturday with the QQ girls working a bit more on my 'Ferret' Quilt.......and ran out of cotton!


I spent Saturday evening trying to draw my next quilting pattern for the above quilt....


And starting to feel the season change over the last week or so, I have tried to enjoy the last of the colours in the garden....




And I have also very much enjoyed the colour on these flowers, given to me last week as a 'Thank You'.  Just loving these colours...




So head down,  here comes the fun!!








Thursday 19 September 2013

Preparation for Yarndale: Part Two

The kind ladies at Yarndale have produced some wonderful tote bags - and courtesy of H we all received one.  Many of the organizers have customized their bags - so we set ourselves a challenge to customize our own bags in time for our weekend away....now what to do....

Something woolly - without a doubt.....

Back in July an idea for some pom pom's - using left over wool from the bunting ........ a dandelion was thought of...



Having pinned and then left for near on six weeks, I finally got round to sewing on - using green pipe cleaners as the stalks.

Ta Dah....



Now will this one bag be enough to carry all my new goodies?  Yes you're right.....doubtful!

Thursday 12 September 2013

A Grand Day Out.......

Well a weekend in fact........Gromit Hunting.... Gromit Hunting, I hear you say..... Yes, Gromit Hunting.....as in.....


80 Gromit's placed in and around Bristol for 10 weeks during this Summer (2013) - and we have managed to catch the very last few days of the hunt.  Gromit Unleashed - all in aid of the Bristol Children's Hospital. At the time of writing this I understand that some 200,000 people (BBC News) collected Gromit maps - and I am proud to say I was one of them!

The plan was, leave work Wednesday night - catch the 7.30pm train from Paddington and head to Bristol! We missed, not only the 7.30pm train but also the 8pm train!  The 8.45pm was our next hope ...... however every cloud and all that - giving us time to hunt out the very first Gromit at Paddington station.

Classic Gromit!


Just LoVVE his face....


Finally arriving at Bristol - we found our second one right outside the station.....  Isambark Kingdog Brunel



I was of course very excited at this stage.....so very tired but very excited!  My bed was shouting me very loudly.


A magnificent view and wonderful sunshine greeted us in the morning...... I felt it was going to be a good day!



A bonus gromit as soon as we left the hotel...... on the local ferry - and having spent 10 minutes trying to log my find on the app with no success I went and asked his name - only to be told he is not actually part of the 80 gromits collection! Shame - mini gromit would have been great one to find.  I have a quick 'gromit' chat with the lovely ferry lady and we decided to hop on board on the next trip - with a quick half hour before then we decided to see how many were close by.


Salty Sea Dog....




A Close Shave...



Fish Tales.....



Steam Dog...



Astro....



And onto the water we went....now D loves boats so this was really pure indulgence of a boat trip in Bristol - but I knew we would find one Gromit at the very end of the boat ride.


And there he was....Gromberry



But after a quick look at the map we decided that we could probably easily reach another by foot before heading back on the boat....

Creature Comforts....


Look at his nose ....... a sunflower .... worth a walk!!!


And back to the city centre.....





And after a few false starts we headed off on the Heritage trail.....Hero


Groscar


Bark at Ee.....this gromit had sadly become so damaged with children climbing on it, it had been removed from the trail - as had a couple more.  



Bunty



Blazing Saddles



Recognise this one from last night!



May Contain Nuts (and Bolts).  We both loved this one - and D has a draw full of bolts at work - if only we had a gromit!




A Grand Day Out




We diverted off the path and headed towards Castle Street to find....

Gnashional Gromit





Grosmos





Lancelot




Gromit Lightyear




Doodles







Malago




Gromitasaurus




Canis Major




Gizmo




Bumble Boogie......and you could actually boogie to this one.




Why Dog Why?



Back onto the Heritage Trail

Collarful




Carosello




The King




We were by this stage a little tired, knowing that What a Wind Up! was on the wrong side of the river we decided to miss this and do the two above - however - I could see his backside from where we stood - was that close enough to mark I'd done him - no, D told me to run round and he would sit and wait - D is all heart sometime but here we go...

What a Wind Up!



D Sitting and waiting - look very closely for the white T shirt!



Butterfly




And here endeth day one .... 32 not bad!

Bikes had been hired for Friday to enable us to go a little further afield ... so starting on the Harbour side Walk (on bikes) off we set - we had completed some of these yesterday so the plan was to finish and head up to Bristol Zoo on the bikes.

Zodiac




Hound Dog




Watch Out Gromit



National Treasure




NewFoundLand



Being Gromit Malkovich



Stat's the way to to it, Lad



Now at this point we had a problem with the bikes - The bolt on D's seat had become loose - the seat had slipped down making peddling very difficult - too far from the hotel to get tools we decided to head towards the garden centre we had discovered Creature Comforts yesterday - and yes a spanner was found - seat adjusted - bolt tighten never to be moved again - so joy another look at that nose!!!!



Luckily we needed to be in this direction to find Paisley... one we really should have done yesterday but completely missed.





Refreshment break.....


Off on the cycle route we found heading towards the bridge and Bristol Zoo.


Cycle path was wonderful... flat. car free and sadly gromit free.  Leading us to the most massive hill ..... um .... push or cycle? 








Ok .... push it was (hahha).  Glowing like a lighthouse, and slightly out of breath we reach our gromit and a 'gromit bonus'.  I really did feel at this point that I should be able to pick a gromit of my choice and take home - if only the bike had a basket!

A Mandrills Best Friend..... 


Don't forget his bum!


Sugar Plum....



Sheepdog.....



Fiesta....



Great view from this gromit....


Ship Shape and Britol Fashion.....



Oh sooooooo worth the hill climb......


Golden Gromit



Bushed



Vincent van Gromit



TutanGromit



Newshound


Detail was just great..... so funny.





Now when you go up a hill you need to go down...... down Park Street - so fast we missed out turning hahha

Poetry in Motion



Ok.... so we missed our turning, so do we head back or miss that one.  Of course we head back - its still early - sun is shining, but we have just come down a hill which means we head back up a hill..... access a park - which only has steps - carry the bikes up - down a hill - back up a steep one ..... chain comes off my bike...... have to ask where the bloody gromit is! But you know what we are still smiling.

Sir Gromit of Bristol...... oh so worth it!





And of course full circle so back down the hill......

Where's Wallace?



The Grommalo.



Jack



Gromit-o-Matic.




And, that was it.....dropping D and the bikes off at the hotel I headed off to try and find the missed one from last night.

Nezahualcoyotl.



And so to bed.....57 out of 80 not bad and we have had a cracking time lad!



And on a final note: Put kettle on lad!