Sunny Port Sunlight Show!

We had a great Sunny Port Sunny Show yesterday and all day it was busy, busy, busy! I always enjoy demming there as the people are so lovely and I see so many familiar faces, regular visitors, and friends at this venue but there was hardly any time this show to chat as I was inky fingered demming all day. 

Lots of people bought the new stamps to make shabby chic patriotic bunting, just like I made for my table. 

Carol busy with her dem and Stampattack's new stands in the background look really good and make setting up much easier as they just wheel in and out. Well done Fred!

Just before opening our DH's had a sit and a natter while they waited for the rush!

One of our first visitors, wearing her WOYWW badge, just like us, was Redanne. So lovely to see her even if it was so brief. 

Missed getting a pic of Judith from Poppy Cottage, Tracey Evans, and Ann B, but it was great to say a quick hello to them.

Managed to snap this great pic of another WOYWW badge wearer....got a few hints and tips too from Jenny of the Stamp Connection working here on her  fabulous altered book.

The show is always close to the wedding anniversary of DD & her DH and this wisteria is always in flower on the old hall where the show is held. It happily reminds me of the lovely day of their wedding in Germany where wisteria draped the entrance of the wedding hall.

A Very Happy Anniversary to them for this year and here's hoping for the many more happy years they  truly deserve. 

Here's the card I sent to them and it was coloured with my first play of my new Distress pens.

I'm entering it into the Artful Times challenge as the subject is "Birds".

WOYWW 153 Three Cheers!

WOYWW 153

Three cheers for the red, white and blue!

The bank holiday Monday utterly mixed me up as I ended up thinking today was Tuesday.... almost missed posting. 

I'm in the middle of preparation for the Port Sunlight Show on Saturday so it's organised chaos here with a burst of crafting.

If you are going to visit the show,we'll be wearing our WOYWW badges and there will be quite a few others there wearing them.

 Please do call by stampattack and say hello and who, knows, there may be something worth stopping for if you are a WOYWWer!! I know Redanne will be there and I look forward to meeting her!! 

Remember-it's an all ticket event.

Following the trend for Queen and Country, with the forthcoming Olympics and Jubilee celebrations, I made some bunting to decorate the stand and to showcase stampattack's new patriotic plate of stamps.

Instead of making ATC giveaways I've made mini flags 

I've put the finished items off my messy desk and on to the dining table ready to pack up.

Still going strong on my desk, having fun but the mess gets deeper as I finish off more samples.

You'll spot some of the new Distress Pens that Carol has given me to play with? There are two "Mouse's Tales", at the front, made from the new Alice in Wonderland related stamp of the Mouse's Tail-Tale! 

Being late today means that you can share my breakfast pancakes!  

Enjoy.... I did!

Call in on the 'Keeper of the Desks" at stamping-ground where our own dear Julia leads this grand blog hop, an expose of the world's craft desks every Wednesday.

WOYWW 152

I cleared my desk so there would be enough workspace for two as Carol of Stampattack intended to visit today for a workshop to plan and make samples for the forthcoming Port Sunlight Show. Carol will be exhibiting and I'll be demming for her on Saturday, May 12th. If you intend to go to this great stamping show I do hope you have your ticket or you won't get in! 

Sadly Carol was yucky after catching a tummy bug from her GD so had to cancel today. Get well soon Carol!

 The desk did not stay clear for long as I decided to press on alone with a few experiments and ideas and not waste the time or space! It soon got messy!

Busy week for me as Wednesday I'll be joining some WOYWWers in Manchester for a meet up, lunch, a mooch around the galleries of the Northern Quarter, a visit to Fred Aldous Craft Store and maybe even to Affleck's Palace. There'll be a couple of surprise WOYWW visitors to make the day fun but you'll have to wait to find out who turns up. It's exciting!

WOYWW?? Yes it's Wednesday so it's

 What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday 

when our headmistress Julia of stamping ground gets us to show and tell about our workspaces and crafters from all over the world join in and many more just pop in for a nosey. Join in or just take a snoop.... it's amazing!

Chester & Special Occasion Cards

DD has safely received these celebration cards I made and sent to her in Germany and has kindly emailed me some pics  as I forgot to take any. Thanks Fluffy!

Today they will attend the 80th Birthday of one of my SIL's uncles so I made a concertina tag book for the guests to sign as well as a vintage style card with some gorgeous antique mother of pearl buttons on the front.

 Tomorrow they will attend the "Konfirmation" of the daughter of one of their neighbours. It's a very special occasion over there. There are two embossed gold angels on the left easel but they are a bit unclear due to the flash and behind the right hand easel there's a little pocket to hold a money gift and a card for a personal message.

 This fourfold card is for their friend's forthcoming wedding and has lots of flaps and hidden messages.

Despite a dull day we went out to Chester and although we enjoyed ourselves as we haven't been there for quite some time, it was mega busy, much busier than usual for some unknown reason,  as you can see from the throngs of shoppers from The Cross along Eastgate. 

The ancient Cross, (looking just like a pole), can be seen in the centre front and it's here that the Town Crier rings his bell and bellows out his messages throughout the day.... the forerunner of newspapers and even the internet!!!!

We love to wander away from the crowds on the less busy Rows which is an upper gallery of shops, cafes and pubs. Just further along on Bridge Street Rows, from where I took this pic below, is a fabulous fabric and trimmings shop for quilters.

DH studied in Chester at "The College" many many moons ago so it is an old haunt we know very well.

The Clock at Eastgate which was added to this Roman Bridge in honour of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. After Big Ben in London, it is said to be the most photographed clock in England. 

Chester has a cathedral well worth a visit and has a good refectory for a rest, food and a cuppa.....

and there is so much Roman History to see. We have often walked around the Roman walls which encircle the city and once did this with a group of friends

at 2am after a night out.

Here's one of the watch towers along the wall.

Aintree Racecourse Without Horses

Here are the only fillies out on the gallops at Aintree Racecourse today....

Carol carolcsstuff, Jo JoZarty (that's me!), and Neet hickydorums give an airing to the WOYWW badges at the Aintree Craft Show. No other WOYWW badges to be seen! A relaxing day, as it was not very busy today so we could look at leisure and even find seats in the food hall.

We met up with quite a few other friends, including Ann, with her fab new purple hair, and her DD Wendy.... those bags look stuffed!!!

Lots of exhibitions including the annual Madeira embroidery competition...

The well deserved Winner-Sally Wilson of West Yorkshire.

Highly Commended, Gill Kirk of Yorkshire

My top favourite by Christina Hudson of Lancashire

The Merseyside Embroiderers Guild had an excellent display and as I admired this exquisite goldwork geisha, I realised it was made by my lovely talented embroidery/textiles tutor from way back! Beautiful work June!

Some of the costumes from the Downton Abbey TV series on display

Liverpool Community College provided some examples of their fab fun extreme designs.... 

The front dress is made of Tesco carrier bags, the next from latex gloves

 The black outfit is made from bin bags!!

A few of the stands in the exquisite exhibition "The Art of Lace"

I spent lots of dosh for not a lot.... a standard daylight lamp for a bargain price, some new plates for my Vagabond, stocks of redline tape, and quite a bit of fabric but not one rubber stamp!

Still time for you to visit the show, if you are interested, as it's on tomorrow that's Friday, and also Saturday.

 An excellent mixed craft show with something for everyone, but most of all I really enjoyed the exhibitions.

WOYWW 151

Anyone going to Aintree Show on Thursday???.... there will be a few WOYWWers attending and wearing badges with pride!!! Look out for us and we'll be meeting up at the entrance at 12 noon.

WOYWW 151

A right mess to snoop on here this week and the worst it has been for months. 

It's time to scrutinise the desks of the world courtesy of our organiser and instigator Julia at Stamping Ground, where you can join in or just have a good old nosey and read some of Julia's happenings!!!

My desk is patiently waiting to be cleared after making a selection of special occasion cards for DD2. I sent them off to to Germany in a hurry so they'd arrive in time for her to take to the parties.... a double easel confirmation card, an 80th card and tag book for all the party guests to sign, and a  four fold wedding card but I forgot to photograph them so they  could be posted!!! It was the first paper crafting I've done in a while and I end up with all mess and no results to prove how I made it.

Dear Fluffy, please can you send me some pics when they arrive, if you have time???

Lately, I've been inspired by rabbits and hares, both on other blogs and bobbing around in the Norfolk fields when I was on holiday so I'm having a go at making one for each of my 3 little girlie grandees. 

To see some gorgeous perfect ones... pop over to millefeuilles or patchworkchickens, both really inspiring and interesting blogs. 

Here is my prototype which needs a bit of tweaking of the pattern I've plotted out,.... I'm just winging it as I go along! Don't know if this will be a girl or a boy character but, painfully, it sits with a needle through the nose waiting for the rest of its features and clothes. I can't decide how to do the eyes... might use buttons glued and stitched for safety, might just embroider them. I'll make a selection of dresses and knit some cardigans before I finalise their characters.

It would be great if I could just make a girl and a boy and leave the rest to nature!!!

No! I'm not showing my finished Afghan yet again.... this hare is cosying up on 55 squares of No2 blanket which I've stitched together as I go along so it isn't the mammoth task of No1 blanket, so here's desk No2.... a coffee table in front of the TV.

 My SIL gave me this knitted corsage and, as I have seen so many people wearing or making scarves from the same Jazz yarn, I thought I'd show it here.... it would be a good idea to make these with any spare yarn and they look so easy too.

Correction

Don't forget to tune in to the TV special all about the Titanic Girl which has been rescheduled to 8.30pm Mon next, 30th April. 

My previous post shows a little of the magic of this spectacular three day event which took place in my home city over last weekend.

Stand by your desks folks! I'm ready to whizz round the globe for my weekly snoop!

St George's Day & Walking With Giants

This weekend I've been walking with giants but first

Happy St George's Day

Proud to be English!

I'll wear my rose with pride today in honour of Saint George, the Patron Saint of England.

It might be a raggy old silk rose I've had for years but this period of cold weather means I cannot find a fresh one in the garden. 

I'm not Irish, Welsh or Scottish so I don't want to be classed as British.... I'm born and bred English!

Sea Odyssey

I'm also proud to be from Liverpool, especially after the amazing event which took place this weekend in honour of the centenary of the Titanic disaster. 

We walked with giants through the 3 day spectacle which brought hundreds of thousands into the city to experience Sea Odyssey created by the French street theatre company Royal de Luxe.

My photos aren't wonderful as, with the throngs of happy visitors, it was difficult to capture the best views so see lots more of the animation just google Sea Odyssey. I've added two press photos of the Uncle character but the rest are from my camera. 

Inspired by a letter from a little girl to her father on the Titanic (which is now in our museum) the story evolved of her search for him and how her uncle ( a deep sea diver) crossed the sea to help her.

The music was fantastic and it was stunning to see how the Lilliputian controllers in period frock coats absail the control wires, leaping and swinging around to give the giants expression, movement and character.

By the time I reached the front of the barriers the 35 foot giant little girl and 

Xolo her dog had stopped their antics and were taking a well earned rest near the River Mersey.

Xolo (pronounced Chollo) who became the star of the show, amused everyone with his antics including cocking his leg on many a lamp post!                      Here he'd had enough and took a well earned rest.

Below, the building to the right is known in Liverpool as the "Streaky Bacon Building"! It was the White Star Office Building, Headquarters of the shipping line who owned the Titanic and from their balconies the announcements were made of the survivors and victims of the famous ship's tragedy.

May, surrounded by her Lilliputian controllers, is very poignantly passing the building where her father must have signed onto the doomed vessel. 

Press photo taken as her Uncle passes through the crowds en route to the Pierhead in his search to find May.

A moving press photo of the 50 foot high Uncle reunited with May before sailing away down the river.

Said to be caused by the teutonic eruptions caused by the giants ... with a roar and rumble these spouts of water erupted, every few minutes to the delights of the crowds, high above the buildings.

Do take a look at some of the excellent coverage of Sea Odyssey on the net but make sure you

DONT MISS

The full story of the three days to be broadcast in a special programme, Titanic Girl, on BBC1 on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm 

NB!!! Rescheduled to 8.30pm Mon 30th April