Saturday 30 April 2011

JUST PIRATES

 

No crafting this weekend just photos.

 

A selection of photos taken in around Brixham Devon during this weekends PIRATE festival.

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NOISY PIRATES

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WET PIRATES

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CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW PIRATES

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AUTHENTIC LOOKING PIRATES

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LADY PIRATES BRINGING FOOD

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PLUNDERING PIRATES

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BUXOM PIRATES

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LITTLE PIRATES

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HUNGRY PIRATES

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I must have walked past this dozens of times over the years but only really noticed it today.

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Perhaps it was the UNION FLAG that caught my eye.

Thursday 28 April 2011

SWIMMING FISH AND TREE FELLING

 

Yesterday  before I mixed them up ready to swap I took these photos of all the ATCs received in the SOMETHING FISHY swap.

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All but two have been sent on their way today and I would like to thank everyone for taking part.

Also yesterday The Tree Surgeon arrived to fell our magnificent Eucalyptus trees. I planted these about 15 years ago as tiny slips about the size of a pencil and they although I had said before they were 45 ft. we think they were nearer 60ft. This decision was not taken lightly but they really had grown too high,we had thought originally we would have them reduced to about 10 ft. . But when we thought about it we realised that at the rate they grow we would soon be back at square one. So yesterday the first  12 were felled and I have to say I went to bed with a lump in my throat (this was not helped by the fact I felt unwell all day ). And today the final  4  I am trying to look at the bigger picture  and the bonuses.

1. We will be able to keep an eye on new growth.

2 The young growth will be far more attractive.

3. The garden is much lighter and this has meant that today we produced over 25 KWH of power .This is the highest so far.

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BEFORE

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BEFORE

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BEFORE

And this is now

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While I was walking in the adjoining field I noticed the Old Oak is in full leaf. And not only that It has more Oak Galls than I have ever seen, inside each one will be a wasp/grub .

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These are have been used for centuries in medicine and  as they contain Tannic acid they are used for Tanning and  Dyeing.

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Could this be a sign of a good summer to come or the fact that we had a bad winter?

The weather although colder was wonderful today I do hope it stays fine for the thousands who will be lining the streets in London to watch the Royal Wedding.

TUESDAY TAGGERS

 

      http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I have been following this group for some time but have never taken part but this was right up my street so I am reposting this video.

 

http://thecraftbarn.co.uk/              This competition is sponsored by

THE CRAFT BARN   

 

New banner 2010-150s

 

This is  the finished tin IMG_2553

Tuesday 26 April 2011

LITTLE BOXES AND LITTLE FISH

 

 

The last of the ATCS arrived today for my SOMETHING FISHY swap.They were from Lauren in Florida and they are very clever.

 

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Lauren has created cards with a revolving window in which some very whimsical fish swim by.They have been finished with pen work,brads,and charms.

The other packet I received today was from Palma in Italy who had hosted a decorated matchbox swap. This swap gave me a few grey hairs as my boxes took 3 weeks to reach  Palma. But it was all worth the wait as the boxes I received were wonderful creations.

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I am not sure who made the small one on the left but it has a nice image of a Victorian. Edwardian woman on the top and contained beads and butterfly embellishments.     IMG_3192

The next one was easily recognizable as the work of my good friend Trine in Denmark    http://timeout-trine.blogspot.com/  We often swap fishy items and may soon fall foul of European fish quotas. Trines box has the image of the fish that inspired me to do my SOMETHING FISHY swap and inside a little fish caught on a hook :)       

 

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Then we come to Palma   http://athena-myfirstbloggy.blogspot.com/         who hosted the swap also very distinctive Palma always uses delicious colours and images and her box was no exception and it  contained a selection of embellishments.

 

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Lorraine           http://loveofcollage.blogspot.com/                 also has a very distinctive style and I love all of her work .The box is decorated  with various items including a rose ,beads and a small charm .Inside was one of Lorraine’s delightful pendants.

 

 

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Thank you all.

 

I used the now famous fish stamp to decorate a piece of painted driftwood.

 

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