My U3A Study Day.

Hi everyone hope you all survived the terrible storms we've had  these last few days. I must say it was very frightening, especially when the wind blew so hard, i thought the house was coming down. 
We were lucky not to lose our electric like other people who still are without it, but found it difficult driving due to trees blocking the roads
.
However after a 10 mile detour today i managed to get to Maldon where i joined 300 members of the U3A Essex Association  for a study day. 

The study groups were led by U3A members who offered their skills and knowledge voluntary. There was a wide variety of topics to choose from which didn't involve any previous knowledge.

 Each person could only choose two sessions, one two hour session in the morning then after lunch another two hour session.

 I  only participated in one session as my second one was to teach 5 people crochet for beginners. This was my first time in teaching and i really enjoyed it.

My choice of topic was canal barge painting, which i had never done before. I really enjoyed the experience and was proud of what i achieved. 

And would you believe it, the lady sitting next to me was my very first employer. I was 14 at the time and doing a five year hairdressing apprenticeship. That was nearly fifty years ago. What a small world!!!!
As you can guess most of our conversation was catching up on all those lost years.

Here is a photo of my canal painting 

Some of the books i used for my beginners crochet class.

I would like to say a big thank you for all the lovely comments i received on my last post and for all the bloggers out there who take the time to read my posts. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Another year of photography

Well i have done it again!!!!! I've committed myself to another year of photography. I think i must be mad !!!
The Assignment is... Principals of photo image capture level two City and Guilds.
Actually its not a year, but 18 weeks to be precise, but packed full both written and practical work. 
For the next 18 weeks i will be eating drinking and sleeping photography.

Wish me luck i think i will need it...........

Here are a few self portrait's i have taken...Also some Autumn shots.....

A vintage mangle.

Today i decided to tidy up my cart lodge. I have been meaning to tidy it up for ages, but its one of those places that always gets left. 

 Hidden in a dusty corner of the lodge was an old mangle left by the former owners some years ago.

This forgotten unloved piece of vintage invention was covered in cobwebs, dust and full of woodworm. 
So armed with a scrubbing brush and some soapy water i brought the mangle back to life.
Sadly the pine rollers and drip trays had developed some woodworm. 
To help stop this i rubbed some beeswax into the wood hoping this would prevent any more spreading.

I was pleased with the results of the finished project. It still has to live in the corner, but at least it has a new lease of life for a few more years yet.

I used some vintage kitchen props when taking these photos.     

 Other pieces of junk hanging around the cart lodge

 Also lots of cobwebs

 Some old heavy weights.

 I found this years ago in the garden and rescued it from the skip. 

 More old weights. Cobwebs and all.

My never ending Patchwork quilt.

Oh dear i don't think i will ever finish this quilt.
  
I started making it two years ago and was full of enthusiasm to create a beautiful piece of needlework, but as time has gone on that enthusiasm seems to have dwindled. Rather than get on with it i seem to become side tracked with other projects.

 Just the quilting to do now, which i calculate will take at my slow pace possibly another year or two !!!!!!!! 

I must admit it looking  pretty good for a beginner and its all hand sewn!! ......... Ooh lots of sore fingers!!

I dread to think how many man hours i have spent on it so far. 

The quilt is made up of twenty different designed twelve inch squares and is called a friendship quilt.

I chose 100% cotton fabric to make the quilt which when it is eventually finished will be an heirloom for future generations.

I'm not sure if i will ever attempt another though.!!!!

Big Oak Trees Grow From Small Acorns

Now that Autumn is upon us and the weather is becoming more seasonal i have an urge to do some sewing, I haven't done much over the holidays as i have been busy out in the garden, mostly watering due to the lack of rain. 

I thought i would start with something small to get me back into sewing again so i chose to make miniature baby dolls from a book of Japanese small crafts.

The book is called Omiyage - the Japanese word for GIFT - Its full of enchanting small crafts with an unmistakable Japanese style.
 Its also a way of using up those small pieces of fabric that other wise would be thrown away.

  

I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to look at my blog and how grateful i am to all my lovely followers who comment on my posts.......xx