tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87643360452280246642024-03-14T07:53:52.638+00:00bird ahoyLesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.comBlogger398125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-85874570074857703842012-11-01T14:32:00.001+00:002012-11-01T17:26:10.531+00:00Presenting the new Finch Five Website and blog!<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xN-r1hUouH0/UJKH4ZMlOnI/AAAAAAAACCs/tsUpJslIOtQ/s1600-h/finch-five-website%25255B4%25255D.png"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="finch-five-website" border="0" height="264" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KI3t1gzQtOY/UJKH512hQdI/AAAAAAAACC0/cFqAKEnHWhc/finch-five-website_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="finch-five-website" width="570" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">I have finally made the <a href="http://www.finchfive.co.uk/" target="_blank">Finch Five website</a> live!!! This is a major achievement for me as it was such a steep learning curve. I had never used Wordpress or the Headway theme before, not to mention messing about with bits of code! It was a lot of fun to do from designing my new logo to creating all the graphics to making my portfolio and finally putting the site together. The site will continue to grow as I add to my portfolio too.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JmjNiIZVRFw/UJKH9Q6sHjI/AAAAAAAACC8/h-JQ80zbRCQ/s1600-h/finch-five-blog%25255B4%25255D.png"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="finch-five-blog" border="0" height="256" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7HvO8S06Nwg/UJKH-4K1Q3I/AAAAAAAACDE/mnFoFen919U/finch-five-blog_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="finch-five-blog" width="570" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">I have <a href="http://www.finchfive.co.uk/blog" target="_blank">a new blog</a> on the website where I intend to write regularly about the things I have previously written about here with patterns and illustrations thrown in to the mix. I hope to do features with my favourite designers and illustrators too and show where my inspiration comes from. </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">Please do <a href="http://www.finchfive.co.uk/" target="_blank">come over</a> and have a look around and don’t forget to bookmark <a href="http://www.finchfive.co.uk/blog" target="_blank">my new Finch Five blog!</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">I won’t be posting here at bird ahoy anymore. Thank you to everyone who has ever taken the time to read my posts here and an extra special thanks to those who have left comments. Please join me on my onward journey!</span>Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-69569317174775150872012-10-26T18:30:00.000+01:002012-10-26T18:30:02.543+01:00Launching soon!<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">If I've been quiet recently it's because I have been feverishly working away on a brand new website! I am creating a brand for my patterns and other illustration. After much deliberation and checking to see whether domain names were taken I have settled on the name 'Finch Five'. Here is a sneak peek of my new logo...</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RmntgUs5_Vx0xfEk9bGJGvHIrgavRY5dq-eOhp4IlAvCa2ttHsI16CdfR_qq5MWwnnyu4yckyAIDaFrz3iE8NZKFtNUb-ZL0wSJ4ZODOJQ3QG8d1kzXTWo0BL5opMnKYDgJkWIXl9d-V/s1600/finch-five-logo-reveal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RmntgUs5_Vx0xfEk9bGJGvHIrgavRY5dq-eOhp4IlAvCa2ttHsI16CdfR_qq5MWwnnyu4yckyAIDaFrz3iE8NZKFtNUb-ZL0wSJ4ZODOJQ3QG8d1kzXTWo0BL5opMnKYDgJkWIXl9d-V/s1600/finch-five-logo-reveal.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">It has been a massive learning curve learning how to use Wordpress and the Headway theme but I am almost there! I am looking forward to getting stuck into blogging again and can't wait to launch my new site.</span></span>Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-7232086426708913822012-09-16T08:00:00.000+01:002012-09-16T08:00:10.159+01:00passion 4 pattern bloghop<p><font color="#666666" size="2" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DUvACO-2Ul4/UFNSNZmjxeI/AAAAAAAAB_E/YfivixCKdMg/s1600-h/pattern_bloghoptrans%25255B6%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="pattern_bloghoptrans" border="0" alt="pattern_bloghoptrans" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2T0T8kJEkEY/UFNSOmilOWI/AAAAAAAAB_M/js57bvHmliI/pattern_bloghoptrans_thumb%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="240" height="97"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="2" face="Verdana">I’m so pleased to be part of the talented <strong><a href="http://clairesmillie.wordpress.com/">Claire Smillie’s</a></strong> bloghop today, celebrating all things pattern! There are 51 international designers taking part and if you follow the chain you will see lots of fabulous surface pattern work. Claire’s blog is at the start of the bloghop if you’d like to go to the beginning.</font></p> <p><font color="#666666"><font size="2"><font face="Verdana">If you’re already hopping then a special welcome to you, you will have arrived here via the lovely<strong> </strong></font></font></font><a href="http://www.mirandamol.blogspot.nl/"><font size="2" face="Verdana"><strong>Miranda Mol</strong></font></a><font color="#666666"><font size="2" face="Verdana"> who has recently designed a collection for Indigo Paris. </font></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="2" face="Verdana">So, on with the show! I’d like to share with you two of my recent pattern collections, Birdville and Starburst.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vhdqHfJreNY/UFNSP5JfSrI/AAAAAAAAB_U/V9A1fz5FyLU/s1600-h/birdville-pattern-swatch-1-web%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="birdville-pattern-swatch-1-web" border="0" alt="birdville-pattern-swatch-1-web" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6F5JvqmVFao/UFNSQwEO5WI/AAAAAAAAB_c/4kIpgsbHAaw/birdville-pattern-swatch-1-web_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="450" height="450"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N8yrBN4Txs8/UFNSSNI1VoI/AAAAAAAAB_k/xVAe9p0kXqA/s1600-h/geo-pattern-swatch-4-web%25255B10%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="geo-pattern-swatch-4-web" border="0" alt="geo-pattern-swatch-4-web" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MrRA9mH5R3Q/UFNSTyTJKXI/AAAAAAAAB_s/_Tpbu03Ug78/geo-pattern-swatch-4-web_thumb%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="450" height="450"></a></p> <p><font size="2" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aBSO7aggVuY/UFNSU6EUDfI/AAAAAAAAB_w/5oqHYC0woms/s1600-h/birdville-pattern-swatch-2-web%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="birdville-pattern-swatch-2-web" border="0" alt="birdville-pattern-swatch-2-web" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3HcvNS-IXo0/UFNSV1r0IhI/AAAAAAAAB_8/I702E3QWvbA/birdville-pattern-swatch-2-web_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="450" height="450"></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LMyb8laAjS4/UFNSXR3YUWI/AAAAAAAACAE/_BzN2CDYnkk/s1600-h/geo-pattern-swatch-3-web%25255B7%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="geo-pattern-swatch-3-web" border="0" alt="geo-pattern-swatch-3-web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5_DveZYZnsk/UFNSYjScK_I/AAAAAAAACAM/9OrQJEh0i48/geo-pattern-swatch-3-web_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="450" height="450"></a></p> <p><font size="2" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZHzM3tNPbrU/UFNSZ8-FOTI/AAAAAAAACAU/CzZ3DzToHQk/s1600-h/geo-pattern-swatch-5-web%25255B5%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="geo-pattern-swatch-5-web" border="0" alt="geo-pattern-swatch-5-web" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iH8zZ2XF7nE/UFNSbFQY3II/AAAAAAAACAc/Gj5lChdEMww/geo-pattern-swatch-5-web_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="450" height="450"></a></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7n0ZS_9ErQk/UFNScS5jXuI/AAAAAAAACAk/Fpe68jErJ2s/s1600-h/geo-pattern-swatch-2-web%25255B7%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="geo-pattern-swatch-2-web" border="0" alt="geo-pattern-swatch-2-web" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EAKA3ueP5rs/UFNSdcIOYSI/AAAAAAAACAs/mjTlykP_93M/geo-pattern-swatch-2-web_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="450" height="450"></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QIGHklRkGW0/UFNSejrR7jI/AAAAAAAACA0/zAF1pLCzA-k/s1600-h/geo-pattern-swatch-1-web%25255B12%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="geo-pattern-swatch-1-web" border="0" alt="geo-pattern-swatch-1-web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8tV9aOHyAZc/UFNSgHEiEBI/AAAAAAAACA8/Wy7FZR2D4-Y/geo-pattern-swatch-1-web_thumb%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="450" height="450"></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="2" face="Verdana">Please visit the next blog on the hop which belongs to a fellow northern gal and pattern addict,<strong> <a href="http://www.patternaddict.blogspot.fr/">Gill Eggleston.</a></strong><strong></strong> Go and see her wonderful patterns!</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-85664023911938817892012-09-14T17:24:00.001+01:002012-09-14T17:24:54.816+01:00this coming sunday…<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QaiIdv-o5IY/UFNaTRpjeZI/AAAAAAAACBY/d5FKyFiPFTw/s1600-h/p4p8%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="p4p8" border="0" alt="p4p8" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w5WN7mzscWA/UFNaVCHJ5_I/AAAAAAAACBg/qZEeeJhg0YU/p4p8_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I will be taking part in the ‘Passion 4 Pattern’ bloghop this Sunday, 16th September. </font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">What is a bloghop? Well all the ‘Passion 4 Pattern’ bloggers are creating posts that will inspire and immerse you in a world of fabulous patterns. Each designer will link to the next blog in the chain which will take you on a wonderful journey through 51 blogs! I am so looking forward to this and have my post lined up ready to go live at 8am on Sunday!</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I hope you will join us for our pattern extravaganza!</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-27309281992169218902012-08-24T11:24:00.000+01:002012-08-24T11:24:11.987+01:00cream or jam first?<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d9V95JGHLWs/UDdWKWjWUyI/AAAAAAAAB-I/tvLboebOQ_g/s1600-h/cream-tea5.jpg"><font color="#666666" size="2" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d9V95JGHLWs/UDdWKWjWUyI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/7POQkpoXzNM/s1600-h/cream-tea6.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="cream tea" border="0" alt="cream tea" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xehk8XNTqwE/UDa9IRerYwI/AAAAAAAAB74/s28E5-8Cbcg/cream%252520tea_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="2" face="Verdana">I had a cream tea yesterday in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagford" target="_blank">Chagford</a> to celebrate one of my patterns being featured in the new <a href="http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/moyo/" target="_blank">MOYO</a>, a magazine about surface pattern design. We had our usual discussion about whether the cream or jam should go on first. Whichever it tastes just as good!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-THpHBmFsrAg/UDa9JOO2MbI/AAAAAAAAB-U/y0bEpvWbqaw/s1600-h/Lesley_Todd_24.jpg"><font color="#666666" size="2" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-THpHBmFsrAg/UDa9JOO2MbI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/k5YanupTVGY/s1600-h/Lesley_Todd_25.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Lesley_Todd_2" border="0" alt="Lesley_Todd_2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wWwi3aYLJ9M/UDa9LOAF75I/AAAAAAAAB8M/OWgHpAGD2lI/Lesley_Todd_2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="480"></a></font></a></p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="1" face="Verdana">Sprigmug © Lesley Todd 2012</font></p> <p><font color="#666666"><font face="Verdana">Lots of fab work from my fellow students is also on show in the magazine so if you’re interested in joining the new round of the </font><a href="http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/pattern/" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana">Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design (ABSPD)</font></a></font><font face="Verdana"> <font color="#666666">courses that</font><font color="#666666"> are about to begin why not <a href="http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/moyo/" target="_blank">take a look…</a> Congrats to everyone who got featured!</font></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v-xFr8IAXFs/UDdWRIW1OzI/AAAAAAAAB-c/WgoFmhh_8gc/s1600-h/moyo%252520magazine%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="moyo magazine" border="0" alt="moyo magazine" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dtdz6alPvJ4/UDdWSikKpQI/AAAAAAAAB-k/S3P7NEfnZxY/moyo%252520magazine_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="388"></a></p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="1" face="Verdana">A screenshot of the magazine… my pattern is 2nd row, 2nd down.</font></p> <p><font color="#c0504d">“MOYO, the world’s first online magazine dedicated to surface pattern design! Packed with interviews, design briefs, colour challenges, art reviews, student showcases, design tips, inspiration, trends and more.”</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I had a lovely few hours exploring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagford" target="_blank">Chagford</a> which is on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon. It’s a fabulous place, full of quirky shops, galleries, teashops and pubs. People are very friendly here and there is a great arty vibe. It is unusual for a small place to have so many independently owned shops selling everything you could think of or need. It would be an amazing place to live surrounded by lush countryside, maybe one day…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RBuKL66RzHE/UDa9MZK-09I/AAAAAAAAB8U/KPaQW6yCBNU/s1600-h/chagford%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="chagford" border="0" alt="chagford" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8tbP83t87K4/UDa9N46m_zI/AAAAAAAAB8c/5vdbetbdtPs/chagford_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="510" height="768"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">We found this Swedish mid century tray by Konga Princesse in one of the shops and decided to take it home.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d_ySndSvlUM/UDa9PFQOLhI/AAAAAAAAB8k/U_MnzTkKlR8/s1600-h/konga-princesse-tray-sweden-2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="konga-princesse-tray-sweden-2" border="0" alt="konga-princesse-tray-sweden-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8u2naukBq54/UDa9QXTn_vI/AAAAAAAAB8s/TzgQ10e0CcI/konga-princesse-tray-sweden-2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p><font color="#666666"><font face="Verdana">We also visited </font><a href="http://stonelanegardens.com/" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana">Stone Lane Gardens</font></a><font face="Verdana"> where there are sculptures to be found hiding in the trees. I fell in love with the work of </font><a href="http://www.tatidennehy.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana">Tati Dennehy</font></a><font face="Verdana">, nature had added it’s own flourish to her work and it couldn’t be more perfect in this woodland garden.</font></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r8wgHH6nzfM/UDa9RE_ccrI/AAAAAAAAB80/X4xuei89QWI/s1600-h/tati-dennehy-4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="tati-dennehy-4" border="0" alt="tati-dennehy-4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ArsgIzRzYEI/UDa9RmV46SI/AAAAAAAAB88/Wjb6XRI0YHU/tati-dennehy-4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180"></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W-9t2D3-5Fk/UDa9TiT3JqI/AAAAAAAAB9E/RgfxZt4lASs/s1600-h/tati%252520dennehy%2525202%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><font face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="tati dennehy 2" border="0" alt="tati dennehy 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HOPrL5vHDds/UDa9U3F7m5I/AAAAAAAAB9M/sd-_vupbVgo/tati%252520dennehy%2525202_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="1"><font face="Verdana">Sculpture by </font><a href="http://www.tatidennehy.com/index.aspx" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana">Tati Dennehy</font></a></font></p> <p><font color="#c0504d" size="1" face="Verdana"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xEf2fTR-pO0/UDa9Wf5vyPI/AAAAAAAAB9U/IYrm6p3OjLI/s1600-h/owl-sculpture%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="owl-sculpture" border="0" alt="owl-sculpture" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qdk540TrDvU/UDa9XoWwI_I/AAAAAAAAB9c/uh3DKBdU-_s/owl-sculpture_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></a></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I also fell for this beautiful owl sculpture, I’m afraid I don’t know the artist’s name. Please leave a comment if you know.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U2YkxMpW1a8/UDa9Z9vcybI/AAAAAAAAB9k/-BasF6pYhOg/s1600-h/birch%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="birch" border="0" alt="birch" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1RHlSiC27I0/UDa9bGZiDPI/AAAAAAAAB9s/D6HGnNNjZTM/birch_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Gorgeous patterns to be found in nature… will definitely be using this as inspiration!</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Bye for now and if you’re in the UK have a wonderful bank holiday weekend!</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-15513411978038170772012-08-16T16:39:00.001+01:002012-08-16T16:39:44.538+01:00birdville<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ozBPpb0RdWE/UC0UMpcKNOI/AAAAAAAAB7M/SlgALZJiNkc/s1600-h/rachael%252520taylor%252520blog%252520screenshot%252520birdville%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="rachael taylor blog screenshot birdville" border="0" alt="rachael taylor blog screenshot birdville" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-l6p4IQdopvI/UC0UP0TLgCI/AAAAAAAAB7U/GabFvNKroK4/rachael%252520taylor%252520blog%252520screenshot%252520birdville_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="392" height="480"></a></p> <p>Excited to say that my Birdville pattern is featured today on <a href="http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/module-2-final-showcase-part-4.html" target="_blank">Rachael Taylor’s blog</a> in a showcase of student work from module 2 of the course I am doing. So pleased to be included! <a href="http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/module-2-final-showcase-part-4.html" target="_blank">Take a look</a> at some of the lovely work done by my fellow students. I really enjoyed the course and have signed up for another module.</p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-13619078158342740752012-07-31T14:34:00.001+01:002012-07-31T14:34:31.599+01:00competition entry<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xpxq1aN8UPk/UBfeY5LVVnI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/R2P_KPB2uqk/s1600-h/scarf%252520mock%252520up%252520we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="scarf mock up we are all made of stars" border="0" alt="scarf mock up we are all made of stars" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gKKldWNWxJs/UBfeZ5mI2RI/AAAAAAAAB3g/5cfiiRCEZPM/scarf%252520mock%252520up%252520we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I’ve entered my first competition with some of my pattern designs! The competition theme is ‘Heaven’s Door’ with an emphasise on skulls and the winners get their designs printed onto silk scarves which will be sold at Topshop. It’s possibly not a subject I would have ever chosen to explore if it wasn’t for the competition but I had a lot of fun with it. I’ve noticed there are a lot of skull patterns appearing in the new Autumn collections on the high street. Above is a photoshop mock up of one of my 3 designs.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-itC84HYg7Ow/UBfebysfbuI/AAAAAAAAB3o/m0bEwhknHn8/s1600-h/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="we are all made of stars web-1" border="0" alt="we are all made of stars web-1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E3ghsZM9ygk/UBfedkdUD4I/AAAAAAAAB3w/ZNh8UufQi9k/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">This is the full square above and details below. I called the design ‘We are all made of stars”, you can </font><a href="https://www.betafashion.com/competitionratedesign.aspx?SubmissionID=5845" target="_blank"><font color="#9bbb59" face="Verdana">see it here</font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"> and vote if you like although the winners are decided tomorrow I think.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nX6SmCVVK1E/UBfee3rS_VI/AAAAAAAAB34/nMeHm3L0-WA/s1600-h/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-2" border="0" alt="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rYTxlDA8Gwk/UBfegd8B6JI/AAAAAAAAB4A/5_X8VJ3HGg0/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="240"></font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"> </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mw0Kw4FIXdU/UBfehshH2vI/AAAAAAAAB4I/JmHE5qUSwoc/s1600-h/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-8%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-8" border="0" alt="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-8" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AI2PvmAeSyA/UBfei0XDxeI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/STd_Q8xrf-Q/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-8_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="240"></font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"> </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ouaRz_3k8c4/UBfekdopxlI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/HDc1Rredt8Y/s1600-h/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-7%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-7" border="0" alt="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rDBy97Z88Is/UBfelHt7CTI/AAAAAAAAB4g/K0CMqaeurXU/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-7_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="240"></font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7L6bBUIknqY/UBfem55Xj6I/AAAAAAAAB4o/r6lIOaTYmsY/s1600-h/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-4" border="0" alt="we are all made of stars web-700x700-detail-4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-We5cbVDuWlo/UBfen5K9fCI/AAAAAAAAB4w/cxav9L-wPLM/we%252520are%252520all%252520made%252520of%252520stars%252520web-700x700-detail-4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="240"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I went a bit crazy and entered 3 designs because once I started I just had so many ideas.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d0aFgcLQ1sY/UBferOSnxlI/AAAAAAAAB44/sVYgu--3-gI/s1600-h/memento-mori-900x900-middle-sectionl%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="memento-mori-900x900-middle-sectionl" border="0" alt="memento-mori-900x900-middle-sectionl" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9Cuosts1jj4/UBfes9ZJgwI/AAAAAAAAB5A/zN9QvO7pNMg/memento-mori-900x900-middle-sectionl_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">‘Memento Mori’ – this one might be a bit macabre for the mainstream, <a href="https://www.betafashion.com/competitionratedesign.aspx?SubmissionID=5827" target="_blank">here’s the full design.</a> I was inspired by tattoo culture and also the saying ‘memento mori’ meaning don’t forget your mortality, make the most of life, see the beauty in everyday things and don’t waste time on things that don’t matter.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A7af2XdqHlE/UBfeuw9ie_I/AAAAAAAAB5I/vfWZg4elHVE/s1600-h/sweet-skulls-web-900x900%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="sweet-skulls-web-900x900" border="0" alt="sweet-skulls-web-900x900" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DK8sKGZgOXE/UBfewatzdXI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/CU1g_1Hnfks/sweet-skulls-web-900x900_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">This is my last design called ‘Sweet skulls’ based on Mexican sugar skulls. I wanted to do something a bit more uplifting. </font><a href="https://www.betafashion.com/competitionratedesign.aspx?SubmissionID=5846" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana">See more of this one here.</font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3DUhwM2xw2I/UBfex1lX8lI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/8rejXMAOhCA/s1600-h/scarf%252520mock%252520up%252520sweet%252520skulls2%25255B%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="scarf mock up sweet skulls2[" border="0" alt="scarf mock up sweet skulls2[" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vfx9MpTkCYE/UBfezGiea6I/AAAAAAAAB5g/CNaIQvyQSRg/scarf%252520mock%252520up%252520sweet%252520skulls2%25255B_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Bc5WShF71Xw/UBfe0izYGqI/AAAAAAAAB5o/Czmvp1VXlRA/s1600-h/scarf%252520mock%252520up%252520sweet%252520skulls%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="scarf mock up sweet skulls" border="0" alt="scarf mock up sweet skulls" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uizUXXErs0c/UBfe13JxgeI/AAAAAAAAB5w/FNMvN6sHzGE/scarf%252520mock%252520up%252520sweet%252520skulls_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_bZndbc_1GM/UBfe3xjB3qI/AAAAAAAAB54/dmOVkCG2lMQ/s1600-h/sweet-skulls-web-700x700-detail-2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="sweet-skulls-web-700x700-detail-2" border="0" alt="sweet-skulls-web-700x700-detail-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8Lzj3TRyUBU/UBfe5S7GDfI/AAAAAAAAB6A/UwcS6I_QaPs/sweet-skulls-web-700x700-detail-2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I did get a bit carried away! I would really love to win this but the other entries really are amazing and there are quite a few that I would love to buy if they get printed so we shall see tomorrow who wins! Can’t wait! </font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Which one do you like the best?</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-20561215501168015192012-07-30T19:30:00.000+01:002012-07-30T19:30:02.219+01:00colour love from the rhs tatton flower show<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PQkiwlvA9bE/UBbREfC3e9I/AAAAAAAAB24/HvAskj7xUeM/s1600-h/nature-squared-tatton-2012-web%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><font face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="nature-squared-tatton-2012-web" border="0" alt="nature-squared-tatton-2012-web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pAY4xLMDe70/UBbRGNpvhfI/AAAAAAAAB3A/ufAx3jyC-O8/nature-squared-tatton-2012-web_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font face="Verdana"><font size="1"><font color="#9bbb59">Garden designed by <strong>Foundation Degree Garden & Landscape Design Year 2 students </strong>and built by <strong>Reaseheath College.</strong></font></font></font></p> <p><font color="#666666"><font face="Verdana">I had lots of fun recently gathering inspiration at the flower show which takes place just down the road from us at Tatton park. I love seeing the amazing spaces the garden designers come up with and their innovative ideas. There really is so much inspiration for patterns and colour schemes to be had – I took loads of photos! </font><font face="Verdana">But this was my favourite garden. The colours just popped.</font><font face="Verdana"> The photo bottom left shows a really interesting structure built for insects and wildlife to inhabit. And I love the painted bench!! Gorgeous colours that were echoed around the garden.</font></font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-16312208877944238262012-06-27T17:39:00.000+01:002012-06-27T17:39:00.321+01:00hawkstone follies<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V2VCdLGyPkA/T-nl5gR6bDI/AAAAAAAABzg/TT3s_xaDL4E/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-25.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone follies 2" border="0" alt="hawkstone follies 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g66rCHoGOVI/T-nl6uonEgI/AAAAAAAABzo/qhCZxVj-BYg/hawkstone-follies-2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I want to show you some photos I took over the weekend of an amazing place we explored in Shropshire called Hawkstone Follies. I thought it was really enchanting. It was full of intricate pathways, towering cliffs and awesome caves and tunnels through beautiful woodland.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u_mzzVIZiwY/T-nl9tjny5I/AAAAAAAABzw/RWnnCzCW8NA/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-9-web5.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-9-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-9-web" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PBOxA3BBXD0/T-nl-8KfgoI/AAAAAAAABz4/k5Xvb75Dpp8/hawkstone-follies-9-web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="551" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">There are lots of winding paths through sandstone and twisting trees, bridges to cross and ravines to walk through.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wJavlYc0_Ug/T-nl_hmUnDI/AAAAAAAAB0A/nlikamLQrrA/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-10-web5.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-10-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-10-web" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QSNtNctoheA/T-nmAf2yZII/AAAAAAAAB0I/MAOafj-h8Io/hawkstone-follies-10-web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I was really surprised by the amazing tunnels and caves carved into the sandstone… so much fun to explore. It is said that King Arthur addressed his troops here before his final battle.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sDfSvc4sTps/T-nmBqi1VGI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/vkoPbGYTf2I/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-12-web5.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-12-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-12-web" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_eoIuZ6wU8s/T-nmCsyVU-I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/LTmmPOUfqgE/hawkstone-follies-12-web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">You can’t help but think of Middle Earth.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Y7M4kxWJnmo/T-nmD3KzdBI/AAAAAAAAB0g/6c-G-Q8BFpw/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-14-web5.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-14-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-14-web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R_zs1IY8pQQ/T-nmEjoOJ8I/AAAAAAAAB0o/qPwcVTVhxnY/hawkstone-follies-14-web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">It is a bit of a slog but you are rewarded with beautiful views. Especially if you climb the spiral staircase up to the top of the monument tower.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-khLPMiFhZjE/T-nmFj-tOQI/AAAAAAAAB0w/XoWbauapIuA/s1600-h/hawkstone-tower11.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone tower" border="0" alt="hawkstone tower" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-er8g5Ec1NnY/T-nmGLQaaVI/AAAAAAAAB04/wh19-ELK1I8/hawkstone-tower_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" height="240"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">It gave me jelly legs and I clung to the tower for a few seconds at the top with a touch of vertigo but the view was fabulous. Please click on the panorama below for a better look.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aON45c7hWAU/T-nmG8xdHgI/AAAAAAAAB1A/SeorzrwOkwk/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-panorama5.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone follies panorama" border="0" alt="hawkstone follies panorama" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0h89UK-6VTs/T-nmHbSVjzI/AAAAAAAAB1I/JbmqYUT2cdI/hawkstone-follies-panorama_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="88"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AWDsQb_jA38/T-nmIsXgQfI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/CXcrcXXVmEY/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-5-web4.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-5-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-5-web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OO8R_K_RoF0/T-nmJa8ryhI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/XabeKBwCsTs/hawkstone-follies-5-web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Floss enjoyed herself, great to be able to take dogs there.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iEQhHQ02OJA/T-nmLdY5JLI/AAAAAAAAB1g/TDmPm9x4oiI/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-roots-web4.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-roots-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-roots-web" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MHFypi-QIts/T-nmM87B67I/AAAAAAAAB1o/VP9Krd1E7sM/hawkstone-follies-roots-web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="393"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I loved the twisted and gnarled trees and roots, and little paths where you have to duck through leafy tunnels.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2buY6ffw7F4/T-nmOYQL-oI/AAAAAAAAB1w/8INY1OlSHS8/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-11-web4.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-11-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-11-web" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VLHEA6k-RAY/T-nmPqltO0I/AAAAAAAAB14/mX0xuDMiZl0/hawkstone-follies-11-web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CQ1KCF7s1VI/T-nmS-R8RbI/AAAAAAAAB2A/Md5Mx2uAWlI/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-35.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone follies 3" border="0" alt="hawkstone follies 3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2svGAetsLYc/T-nmT01Sr2I/AAAAAAAAB2I/Z8-EcoVy3fs/hawkstone-follies-3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I am constantly noticing patterns and motifs everywhere I go since I have been doing the surface pattern course. It has changed the way I look at things.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9_yOtqb14zQ/T-nmVBKO6GI/AAAAAAAAB2U/AKpblRxmkUs/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-15-web4.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-15-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-15-web" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vdd_f6F4hO0/T-nmV4oE4jI/AAAAAAAAB2c/hhWepz7bjBw/hawkstone-follies-15-web_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">One of the many tunnels. You do need a torch in places, I used the flashlight app on my phone.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0npE1g2mqPo/T-nmWxYvH7I/AAAAAAAAB2k/wiEm0PSveZE/s1600-h/hawkstone-follies-7-web5.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hawkstone-follies-7-web" border="0" alt="hawkstone-follies-7-web" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-STBkunm-j0s/T-nmYToSYtI/AAAAAAAAB2s/_CAMv5QK7x0/hawkstone-follies-7-web_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="768"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">There’s a cafe at the end for an ice cream and a drink. If you ever decide to go I have to warn you that 3 days later I am hobbling up and down the stairs because there was a lot of steps and steep climbs but you might be a lot fitter than me! It was definitely worth it.</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-7675705218784316092012-06-26T17:36:00.000+01:002012-06-26T17:37:02.620+01:00astrantia<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--QKdGUtI14M/T-nlGSppcaI/AAAAAAAABzA/0sbyBIzwoRw/s1600-h/delicious%252520diary%252520astrantia%252520web%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="delicious diary astrantia web" border="0" alt="delicious diary astrantia web" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NEjZuisGTiE/T-nlHWsYaaI/AAAAAAAABzI/VhKrAEJY6Bk/delicious%252520diary%252520astrantia%252520web_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="484"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">One of the exercises from the <a href="http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/pattern/" target="_blank">surface pattern course</a> I’m doing was to design a set of stationery. I tried to design something feminine and luxurious, and used metallic gold, coral and smoke as my colour palette. One of the fun things has been naming colours to make them sound even more appealing… I do find naming patterns very difficult though. This one was easy to name though as my starting point was some astrantia flowers I picked from the garden. I sketched them first, scanned them into Photoshop, then used Illustrator to make them into a vector based pattern.</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Here is the whole collection:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-n7UEZ20dWUY/T-nlKS2z7vI/AAAAAAAABzQ/WEERcfoiEd4/s1600-h/delicious%252520stationery%252520collection%252520astrantia%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="delicious stationery collection astrantia" border="0" alt="delicious stationery collection astrantia" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sz7rCdBCbLg/T-nlLaM2vBI/AAAAAAAABzY/KHQhx3cTmdU/delicious%252520stationery%252520collection%252520astrantia_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="403"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I am throwing myself into this course. It is the best thing I’ve done for myself in years.</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-89710547963124401332012-06-19T23:22:00.000+01:002012-06-19T23:25:21.536+01:00first exercise… sketchbook to pattern<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mKJbkN15tRU/T-D8PPGU7VI/AAAAAAAAByc/GsgnhTuWoes/s1600-h/sketchbook-mugs-to-digital-pattern-web%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="sketchbook-mugs-to-digital-pattern-web" border="0" alt="sketchbook-mugs-to-digital-pattern-web" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OG4BnhB6cMI/T-D8QnQIxDI/AAAAAAAAByk/x6CRLApGMvo/sketchbook-mugs-to-digital-pattern-web_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="388"></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="3" face="Verdana">So this is my first creative exercise from the Surface Pattern course I’ve signed up for. I’ve already learnt so much from reviewing module 1 yesterday (I’ve dived straight into module 2 because I was too impatient for module 1 to start in August!) Can’t believe how intense this course is already… I’m finding myself completely absorbed by it. Already noticing patterns <strong>everywhere!!</strong> </font></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="3" face="Verdana">Anyway… for the first exercise I chose to draw the mug on my desk and ended up simplifying it to create a motif (although I was supposed to embellish it). Then after scanning it into the computer I worked it up into a complete pattern. I never thought about creating motifs in this way… it’s a bit of a revelation to me!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cN2kSsb-5Vs/T-D8SLqgQJI/AAAAAAAABys/SIZ2nnAZcPA/s1600-h/abstract-mug-pattern-blog%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="abstract-mug-pattern-blog" border="0" alt="abstract-mug-pattern-blog" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yw_iT56XxJ0/T-D8TpHfkYI/AAAAAAAABy0/Zv6vRJTnKHE/abstract-mug-pattern-blog_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="480"></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" size="3" face="Verdana">Thank you for all the kind comments on my last post. It’s great to be back blogging again!</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-25334996537963661202012-06-17T20:23:00.000+01:002012-06-17T20:23:07.164+01:00perfect timing<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, it has been a while but I have just signed up to an exciting e-course!!! </span><a href="http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/pattern/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design!!!</span></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So I think it is the perfect time to settle back into blogging which I've wanted to do for a while. Hopefully interesting times ahead!</span><br />
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</a>Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-90372352333602648662011-08-31T11:59:00.001+01:002011-08-31T11:59:31.113+01:00creating a mood<p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80077985/natural-necklace-with-wood-pendant" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="forest-floor-etsy-1b" border="0" alt="forest-floor-etsy-1b" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wgFcR04H94Q/Tl4UCj6tsBI/AAAAAAAAByE/gVbpIgpgXa8/forest-floor-etsy-1b%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="456"></font></a></p> <p><font face="Verdana"><font color="#666666">I’ve been having fun with my camera, taking photos of my new pyrography necklaces for</font> </font><a href="http://www.birdahoy.etsy.com" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana">my etsy shop.</font></a><font face="Verdana"> <font color="#666666">The forest has been great for finding different textures and backgrounds. I completely lost track of time and it became like when I am drawing, completely focused on just one thing, all the stress of life melted away.</font></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80077985/natural-necklace-with-wood-pendant"><font face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="forest-floor-etsy-6" border="0" alt="forest-floor-etsy-6" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8zl9P1s4yRw/Tl4UDm4ZCwI/AAAAAAAAByI/cLbnKgjbt-I/forest-floor-etsy-6%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="456"></font></a></p> <p><font face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Trying to think up ways of putting across my feelings for these necklaces through the photos is hard but I think I’m getting there! I’m hoping to come up with a sort of formula to make the following necklaces quicker to put into the <a href="www.birdahoy.etsy.com">shop.</a></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80077985/natural-necklace-with-wood-pendant"><font face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="forest-floor-etsy-4" border="0" alt="forest-floor-etsy-4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XsTwmS-c8nc/Tl4UErq23YI/AAAAAAAAByM/rPCQeVpuAmM/forest-floor-etsy-4%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="456"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I’m not sure I can count the photography part as work because I enjoy it so much, and there’s the added bonus that Floss gets a walk at the same time.</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I have noticed the leaves changing colour already and Autumn is definitely in the air. The smell of Autumn in the forest is so evocative for me. When I was four, my first night away from home was with school to a place called Fox Howl in the forest. I can still remember the ranger taking us on a walk to show us all the different types of fungi. It was all such a big adventure.</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-76749869872923119112011-08-27T12:30:00.001+01:002011-08-27T12:30:57.716+01:00finished!<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pAvA8AWEjF0/TljVY0sZ4vI/AAAAAAAABxs/vvLIv1mi_iw/s1600-h/finished-pendant-1-blog%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="finished-pendant-1-blog" border="0" alt="finished-pendant-1-blog" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FusN7o6CJkk/TljVZu4x--I/AAAAAAAABxw/C_2JNHuTvKQ/finished-pendant-1-blog_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pwXYjamXRj4/TljVaQYgGKI/AAAAAAAABx0/oWIrPp4OIR4/s1600-h/finished-pendant-3-blog%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="finished-pendant-3-blog" border="0" alt="finished-pendant-3-blog" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5BEuNmUzju8/TljVbJWG0DI/AAAAAAAABx4/BGE-LiowFVA/finished-pendant-3-blog_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a><br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zmiWbZkOZkg/TljVbs2OFeI/AAAAAAAABx8/JK1vhNSrIWE/s1600-h/finished-pendant-2-blog%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="finished-pendant-2-blog" border="0" alt="finished-pendant-2-blog" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jTjN3w3obJc/TljVcHImlHI/AAAAAAAAByA/F6iQGWbSRWg/finished-pendant-2-blog_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I took a deep breath and polished the oxidisation off. I hope they’re pleased with it.</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-68599837927622987552011-08-26T17:53:00.001+01:002011-11-06T14:54:47.164+00:00silver patina<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Cm9fENHaQdM/Tle8_7AemXI/AAAAAAAABw8/9iwumzOicdU/s1600-h/maisie-pendant-patina-blog%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="maisie-pendant-patina-blog" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qs-Z-9ehAKg/Tle9Ajm_VyI/AAAAAAAABxA/_XTSM071nUI/maisie-pendant-patina-blog_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="maisie-pendant-patina-blog" width="570" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana;">I’ve been making a keepsake for my god-daughter-to-be with silver metal clay. I took some photos after I oxidised the pendant with liver of sulphur because the colours that appeared were really beautiful. I can hardly bare to polish this back but the original idea was just to give it an antique finish and make the letter stand out more. I know it’s possible to keep patinas like this with some special wax but I think they eventually darken. Mmmm… what to do???!</span>Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-79046694755116526562011-08-10T15:51:00.001+01:002011-08-10T15:53:00.652+01:00sketchbook honey bee to thank you card<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y2Cu4Vq0dk4/TkKa2VUvCqI/AAAAAAAABwM/iKAJwe469gE/s1600-h/honey-bee-before-blog%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="honey-bee-before-blog" border="0" alt="honey-bee-before-blog" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZkAmju4NvnY/TkKa3PkTthI/AAAAAAAABwQ/1C1uERJ5WbQ/honey-bee-before-blog_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="475"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">I recently bought myself some new Triplus pens and they have completely changed the way I use my sketchbook. I just love them! I use them for drawing, sketching out ideas, trying designs for pyrography, list making and lots more.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">I drew this bee in my sketchbook, the amazing thing about drawing is that you notice and learn so much more about the subject you’re studying. For instance, I never knew that bees had little claw-like feet and such hairy legs!</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">I scanned my drawing into Photoshop and after a bit of tweaking came up with this which I liked better for what I had in mind.</font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ANsOiBVYjG0/TkKa39ym_9I/AAAAAAAABwU/9lkPIFCB7qc/s1600-h/honey-bee-copy-plain-after-%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="honey-bee-copy-plain-after-" border="0" alt="honey-bee-copy-plain-after-" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4kyQm5hwahU/TkKa4gdkq3I/AAAAAAAABwY/XF-aSfgufJQ/honey-bee-copy-plain-after-_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="473"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">It was one day last week, we were walking Floss and got talking to a man outside his house who owns a chocolate factory (can you imagine how lovely that would be?!). He told us he keeps bees so he can use the honey in his confectionery. I’ve always been interested in beekeeping so asked him lots of questions and then as I was getting round to asking him if he sold the wax (thinking that it would be great to use on my pyrography being so local) he fetched us a jar of honey and wouldn’t take anything in return.</font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WZ-LxMCtgq8/TkKa5ccE9PI/AAAAAAAABwc/n_ic8ePgZyI/s1600-h/honey-bee-thank-you-blog%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="honey-bee-thank-you-blog" border="0" alt="honey-bee-thank-you-blog" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GIqpci8Bu10/TkKa5xjJD6I/AAAAAAAABwg/9rdrdvvOfJk/honey-bee-thank-you-blog_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="477" height="480"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">A thank you card! I hope he likes it.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BZK42SkvPrI/TkKa6kMCYkI/AAAAAAAABwk/dJltesCUjMA/s1600-h/honey-and-card-blog%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="honey-and-card-blog" border="0" alt="honey-and-card-blog" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b7cXFY34Am8/TkKa7NOp4xI/AAAAAAAABwo/GDY9zGwrIWM/honey-and-card-blog_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">And to think, that honey might have been made using the flowers from our garden! How ace is that? I’ve never tried local honey before. It doesn’t taste like any honey I’ve tasted before and it’s delicious.</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-61792935596081956272011-08-04T15:57:00.000+01:002011-08-06T10:35:47.896+01:00Recently…<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fpPeMkuViMA/TjqzYqVxO4I/AAAAAAAABvg/R7Fl39jcKpc/s1600-h/cotswolds-mosaic-for-blog%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="cotswolds-mosaic-for-blog" border="0" alt="cotswolds-mosaic-for-blog" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_7bcIgqmCpc/TjqzZ8hEyLI/AAAAAAAABvk/xIxONuv1BXw/cotswolds-mosaic-for-blog_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">A lovely sunny weekend exploring the honey coloured villages and towns of the Cotswolds. I wish I had some photos to show you of the magical cottage gardens we saw. There seems to be a big hollyhock fan club. They were everywhere. There also seems to be lots of old fashioned sweet shops with jars upon jars of goodies. I hope my dentist is not reading this.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">Usually before I go away I do loads of research to make sure we’re not missing anything but this time we went without a clue of what we would find and left it all to chance. Very relaxing just wandering on a whim. It turned out that <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-hidcote/w-hidcotemanorgarden-garden.htm" target="_blank">Hidcote</a></font><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"></font><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"> was just down the road.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yCTn0FSyCc8/TjqzbKf6t_I/AAAAAAAABvo/2uvBb6Kbxgk/s1600-h/hidcote-mosaic-for-blog%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hidcote-mosaic-for-blog" border="0" alt="hidcote-mosaic-for-blog" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GTVCwiTtEmQ/Tjqzcn256cI/AAAAAAAABvs/DBiP1rtd-bc/hidcote-mosaic-for-blog_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" face="Verdana">This huge garden is divided in lots of ‘rooms’ all with different characters. The mural below was a big surprise.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a8OApZ0cUR0/Tjqzd7sdPlI/AAAAAAAABvw/l-Zqt6I8kxQ/s1600-h/hidcote-mural-mosaic-for-bl%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hidcote-mural-mosaic-for-bl" border="0" alt="hidcote-mural-mosaic-for-bl" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_XeMB5u7QBs/Tjqze0SYSzI/AAAAAAAABv0/Kr9-Gv6tE4k/hidcote-mural-mosaic-for-bl_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p>It’s hard to tell which is painting and which is part of the structure.</p> <p>All in all a great weekend and there’s still so much of our fab country that I’ve never been too. Where is your favourite place for a weekend away?</p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-53776293701215002062011-07-26T16:31:00.001+01:002011-07-26T17:19:33.215+01:00A peek at what I’ve been crafting…<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oblcwsaBiGg/Ti7d3YCYfnI/AAAAAAAABvQ/_k7ZH3xd8hM/s1600-h/woodburn%252520create%252520necklace%2525202%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="woodburn create necklace 2" border="0" alt="woodburn create necklace 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OHJbvn9a5H4/Ti7d4joD7CI/AAAAAAAABvU/M9UFFmDk05k/woodburn%252520create%252520necklace%2525202_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p>I’ve been woodburning designs and patterns onto beads and making necklaces with my pyrography kit. For ages now I’ve been fascinated by tattoos, especially old school type tatts. I’d love to get one done (my mum is horrified by this even though I’m in my mid 30’s! Haha!) but I hate needles so it will take a lot of courage. I’m a big fan of <a href="http://sunnybuick.typepad.com/mon-blog/">The Cannibal Bonbon blog</a>, her work is amazing! So maybe one day I will travel to Paris for a tattoo. Maybe! In the mean time I will play with some tatts on wood and I’ll wear one round my neck instead.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M--vzOjafDg/Ti7d5m-miHI/AAAAAAAABvY/FyCeclyNDiQ/s1600-h/woodburn%252520create%252520necklace%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="woodburn create necklace" border="0" alt="woodburn create necklace" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-q-BV8Rqi2w4/Ti7d6Vv6naI/AAAAAAAABvc/Pc5MJhS61A0/woodburn%252520create%252520necklace_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></a></p> <p>I’ve got lots more designs to show you, many of them are geometric patterns (another fascination of mine at the moment) and I’m working on building up a collection and putting them in my etsy shop. I’d really like to open a new shop with a brand new name for my pyrography but I’m finding it hard to choose one and I’m not sure it’s a good idea after building up some good feedback with <a href="http://www.birdahoy.etsy.com">Bird Ahoy</a>. But now would be the best time to do it. What to do… what to do…?</p> <p>Any suggestions would be very welcome! Especially for a name.</p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-7899249242260511532011-05-24T15:20:00.000+01:002011-05-24T15:21:34.559+01:00old red fox pyrography<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-zzMvKYI/AAAAAAAABuw/fLo8DTgclNk/s1600-h/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%203%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="old red fox pyrography 3" border="0" alt="old red fox pyrography 3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-0hxMcyI/AAAAAAAABu0/_Fz7tNCCqKU/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%203_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">My latest woodburning.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-2D7RrVI/AAAAAAAABu4/qRtYhcR_Y3E/s1600-h/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%201%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="old red fox pyrography 1" border="0" alt="old red fox pyrography 1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-27aWycI/AAAAAAAABu8/Gt_IBKCIY1s/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Old Red’s a wily fox who likes nothing more than finding a quiet spot to sunbath. He knows that he’s less likely to be spotted if he follows the edge of the field and in any case, everyone knows that the edge is always the most interesting place to be with all the wild flowers, animals and birds nesting!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-4fYVopI/AAAAAAAABvA/h479JP5tRWo/s1600-h/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%202%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="old red fox pyrography 2" border="0" alt="old red fox pyrography 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-5KpFeII/AAAAAAAABvE/R6jB_6npqrQ/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I have taken to hanging these little circles of English sycamore wood on the wall like mini artworks.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-6si04uI/AAAAAAAABvI/rVH3ft10D7w/s1600-h/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%204%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="old red fox pyrography 4" border="0" alt="old red fox pyrography 4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdu-7UCBM7I/AAAAAAAABvM/BaMJJetRluE/old%20red%20fox%20pyrography%204_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">There is also a small slice of yew that I’m working on from the timber yard down the road. I’ve decided on a sleeping fox this time. Rumours of a mini festival being organised at the yard centred around wood craft with a barbeque and some live music have caught my interest. Sounds like fun! My friend asked if I’d like to show some of my work so of course I said yes! Better get cracking then!</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Bye for now.</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-60109983083199000852011-05-23T19:43:00.000+01:002011-08-06T10:36:01.938+01:00Where I would love to live…<p><font size="1"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdqq-msA3LI/AAAAAAAABtk/Um3B2Ps52JQ/s1600-h/blog%20marloes%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/Tdqq_Ug3f4I/AAAAAAAABto/Bxn7dkHeBl8/blog%20marloes_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="321"></a><br><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Marloes beach in Pembrokeshire. </font></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">We have not long come back from a lovely break which included in no particular order:</font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Lots of gorgeous beaches, some sandy, some pebbly, some rocky, some deserted, some with other dogs to play with.</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrAq1D2OI/AAAAAAAABts/lexoHzg7g8c/s1600-h/freshwater%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrB-SE_eI/AAAAAAAABtw/aRPrsDhP9Pg/freshwater_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><br><font size="1">Freshwater West</font></font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">A boat trip round Ramsey Island which Floss seemed to really enjoy (her second boat trip ever!) We saw seals, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, blackbacks, gannets and a buzzard.</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrDpgGPUI/AAAAAAAABt0/WvvQewdZ9a4/s1600-h/blog%20ramsey%20island%20boat%20trip%20mosaic%20copy%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrEh7NftI/AAAAAAAABt4/MY4_JWoqNJU/blog%20ramsey%20island%20boat%20trip%20mosaic%20copy_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a><font color="#666666" size="1" face="Verdana"><br>Boat trip from St. Justinians around Ramsey Island</font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">A game of rounders on Barafundle beach with Flossy’s tennis ball and a driftwood bat. Great fun, especially with our lightning-fast furry black fielder!</font></li> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Over-sized food… in the form of a giant ice cream that Mr P accidently ordered to the amusement of the queue behind him. I laughed so much I cried and Floss somehow ended up with it all over her head as it dripped through the picnic bench. There was also a giant hot chocolate drank in a breezy beer garden at the Druidstone Hotel (a mad, arty, laid back place if ever there was one!)</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrF-GkXpI/AAAAAAAABt8/LyJ6ieCZwG0/s1600-h/blog%20oversized%20food%201%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrGruIyxI/AAAAAAAABuA/FfdEXEO0Sxo/blog%20oversized%20food%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></font></a><font color="#666666" size="1" face="Verdana"><br>Humongous hot chocolate at The Druidstone Hotel</font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Stumbling across an exhibition at a fab gallery in St Davids of one of our fav artists, </font><a href="http://www.chrisneale.info"><font color="#9bbb59" face="Verdana">Chris Neale.</font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"> It must have been fate and a painting was somehow found room for in the car for the journey home.</font></li> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">A fab holiday house in Little Haven called </font><a href="http://www.littlehavenregattacottage.co.uk/"><font color="#9bbb59" face="Verdana">Regatta Cottage.</font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"> We fell asleep to the sound of waves breaking on the beach and there was a great spot on the terrace to watch the sun setting over the sea. It also had an ace shower in the ensuite.</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrIrM1IJI/AAAAAAAABuE/41SsdI0F4IU/s1600-h/little%20haven%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrJd03SYI/AAAAAAAABuI/bImk2HYNx0c/little%20haven_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><br><font size="1">Little Haven</font></font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Beautiful wild flowers everywhere, the bluebells and red campion looked so beautiful against the bright green of the cow parsley flower buds on the tall banks down the winding lanes.</font></li> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Seaweed! On one beach in particular I found so many different types of different shapes, sizes and colours that I went a bit mad with the camera and ran the battery down!</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrOUZDPHI/AAAAAAAABuM/RF19CJ41kgM/s1600-h/seaweed%20mosaic%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrP9cX4wI/AAAAAAAABuU/KwffXAPlt0Q/seaweed%20mosaic_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">A couple of good drenchings. Well it wouldn’t be a proper British holiday without it and as long as you’ve got the right clothing and a pub to dry off in afterwards there’s no reason not to get out there.</font></li></ul> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrRiZovpI/AAAAAAAABuY/ztq7xuHnh2I/s1600-h/05%2008%2011_0414%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="05 08 11_0414" border="0" alt="05 08 11_0414" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrSYoKLxI/AAAAAAAABuc/Ga6cv10qOmU/05%2008%2011_0414_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a><font color="#666666" size="1" face="Verdana"><br>Looking out towards Skomer Island.</font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Strolling round the little harbour of Porthgain and eating fish and chips at The Shed.</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrUWuvk-I/AAAAAAAABug/Gq5iwOIkHNM/s1600-h/blog%20porthgain%202%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrVMajF9I/AAAAAAAABuk/R_qi3cI06-0/blog%20porthgain%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><br><font size="1">Porthgain</font></font></p> <ul> <li><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">Buying some sea thrift from the perennial nursery as a souvenir so I will be reminded when I’m in the garden.</font></li></ul> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrXUPJv1I/AAAAAAAABuo/us9nPs4Mw8Q/s1600-h/deserted%20beach%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#666666" face="Verdana"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TdqrY00oP1I/AAAAAAAABus/Ed2mIXAbdqk/deserted%20beach_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a><font color="#666666" size="1" face="Verdana"><br>Traeth Llyfn</font></p> <p><font color="#666666" face="Verdana">I think my one ambition in life is to live here one day. Can’t wait to go back again soon!</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-81342885659289112482011-04-18T16:01:00.002+01:002011-04-18T16:03:09.075+01:00exciting parcel<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TaxSPGa3AoI/AAAAAAAABtM/0WQSKPYjzJc/s1600-h/vintagesquirrel%20flower%20brooch%202%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TaxSPl3cfhI/AAAAAAAABtQ/Ig0E7JFQIvI/vintagesquirrel%20flower%20brooch%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="" width="570" /></a><br />
It wasn’t my birthday, but it felt like it when this came through the post! Gorgeous wrapped goods from <a href="http://www.vintagesquirrel.co.uk/page2.htm">vintage squirrel!</a> Look at that lovely ceramic button!!<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TaxSQVgqa0I/AAAAAAAABtU/EMS4JpFGI2s/s1600-h/vintagesquirrel%20flower%20brooch%203%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TaxSQtZcFgI/AAAAAAAABtY/Q8ipWa_MHYc/vintagesquirrel%20flower%20brooch%203_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="" width="360" /></a><br />
And inside was the lovely woolly flower brooch I have had my eye on since I saw it in <a href="http://vintagesquirrelkatie.blogspot.com/2011/03/nipping-in-to-sing-about-spring-fling.html">this blog post.</a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TaxSRXey4_I/AAAAAAAABtc/Hhyefx_z6bk/s1600-h/vintagesquirrel%20flower%20brooch%201%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="vintagesquirrel flower brooch 1" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TaxSR5QIeJI/AAAAAAAABtg/8ljdXR9lgoM/vintagesquirrel%20flower%20brooch%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="vintagesquirrel flower brooch 1" width="570" /></a><br />
The only photo out of about 30 that I managed to focus on the flower! <br />
I’ve been wearing it constantly since I received it. Thanks Katie! I really think you should charge more for them. I am very tempted to buy another in different colours.Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-89487163526152548342011-03-21T15:41:00.001+00:002011-08-06T10:36:23.351+01:00lovely aberdovey<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TYdxp0vidbI/AAAAAAAABtE/Yl72vZ7joYg/s1600-h/aberdovey%20mosaic%20blog%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="aberdovey mosaic blog" border="0" alt="aberdovey mosaic blog" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TYdxqqIezvI/AAAAAAAABtI/wJf35Bl1xHI/aberdovey%20mosaic%20blog_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p><font color="#333333">Wanderlust led us to Aberdovey on the Snowdonia coast this weekend.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333">We travelled through the dead of night and found ourselves winding our way up the side of a mountain, bumping over pot holes, around hairpin bends to a little wooden cabin. The moon was so big and bright it lit up the whole of the estuary below and the hills beyond.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333">The next morning the sun shone as though it was summer and we ate our breakfast outside a cafe wearing our sunglasses and later relaxed in a beer garden overlooking the estuary. The golden sandy beach stretches on for miles, backed by sand dunes and with glorious views we walked and played with Floss, kicking her ball for her to fetch. It was so good to spend some time together.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333">There is nothing like exploring a new place to refresh your creative spirit.</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-77279952109677149632011-03-03T16:19:00.000+00:002011-08-06T10:36:35.584+01:00a thoroughly English afternoon tea<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWqvMpiFDrI/AAAAAAAABsw/MsNS2kpwHX0/s1600-h/afternoon%20tea%202%20blog%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="afternoon tea 2 blog" border="0" alt="afternoon tea 2 blog" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWqvNaNGZSI/AAAAAAAABs0/5mFYNtu6JCc/afternoon%20tea%202%20blog_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333"></font></p> <p><font color="#333333">On Sunday Mr P treated me to afternoon tea at a posh hotel. When we arrived a table had been all laid out for us in a quiet lounge next to a large window overlooking over the gardens. We settled down on a comfy sofa and soon the table was filled with tea, cakes and finger sandwiches. After being on a diet (admittedly on and off but mostly on) since October and finally hitting my target weight, I almost squealed with delight to see mini chocolate éclairs and scones with clotted cream. The scones were so light they would have blown away had the window been opened! Everything was delish and we almost managed to polish it all off.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWqvOPAyeAI/AAAAAAAABs4/mvsKsIu3kRE/s1600-h/afternoon%20tea%201%20blog%5B5%5D.jpg"><font color="#333333"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="afternoon tea 1 blog" border="0" alt="afternoon tea 1 blog" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWqvOsM3s-I/AAAAAAAABs8/myHk_RYZ9Rs/afternoon%20tea%201%20blog_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></font></a></p> <p><font color="#333333">A woman who saw me taking photos offered to take one of the two of us and this was the result. Isn’t it posh?! We both had a giggle at it as it’s really not us at all. But a lovely reminder of an exquisite couple of hours away from the norm.</font></p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-41141370388495894092011-02-27T18:59:00.001+00:002011-02-27T18:59:00.468+00:00painted pebbles<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQWaPYMqI/AAAAAAAABsQ/H_vmCvd00Qw/s1600-h/sleepy%20fox%20pebble%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="sleepy fox pebble" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQW4F8hjI/AAAAAAAABsU/QAejDhkSFz4/sleepy%20fox%20pebble_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="sleepy fox pebble" width="570" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">I got a bit fed up with the dust from engraving pebbles recently and decided to try painting them for a change. So much easier to clean up afterwards! The beautiful piece of wood underneath is a piece of yew branch that my friend cut and sanded for me. It’s so lovely that I’m struggling to take my pyrography pen anywhere near it, although my friend is insisting that’s why he gave it to me. I am ecstatic to have some local wood that has come from a tree surgeon who is very passionate about trees. He always tries to find the best use for every part of the trees he works with (if he can’t save them) and does his best to make sure the wood won’t end up in a landfill in 30 years time by becoming cheap veneered furniture.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQXz8n7MI/AAAAAAAABsY/YcKez9hfey4/s1600-h/painted%20pebbles%20collection%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="painted pebbles collection" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQY3KtodI/AAAAAAAABsc/pAfU78Zzw9w/painted%20pebbles%20collection_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="painted pebbles collection" width="552" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">Anyway, back to the pebbles… birds and foxes, I think my favourite is the owl. I’ve come to realise that if I draw them straight out onto the pebble without using my sketchbook they have more spontaneity and better lines. All these pebbles are quite tiny and I had to use a very fine brush.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQZnNWdvI/AAAAAAAABsg/mNpLnBHzqxc/s1600-h/painted%20pebbles%20collection%202%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="painted pebbles collection 2" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQaRA2IHI/AAAAAAAABsk/mVARPJvxZDA/painted%20pebbles%20collection%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="painted pebbles collection 2" width="570" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">Did you hear the good news about the forests?!!! I was so relieved to hear the announcement that after the immense public response our government have decided to drop their plans to sell our public woodland!!!!! How brilliant is that?!!! Thank you so much to everyone who signed the petition or wrote an email. People power really does work!!</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQbTJW62I/AAAAAAAABso/rEub_TUXwB8/s1600-h/old%20beech%20tree%20trunk%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><img alt="old beech tree trunk" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TWhQcOsqrII/AAAAAAAABss/eAEVVdOH_yQ/old%20beech%20tree%20trunk_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="old beech tree trunk" width="570" /></span></a>Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764336045228024664.post-42638900834674326062011-02-16T15:47:00.001+00:002011-02-16T15:49:26.339+00:00toadstools<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TVvxk14MIAI/AAAAAAAABr0/RardtiMAx_s/s1600-h/poisonous%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="poisonous" border="0" alt="poisonous" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TVvxlk77WiI/AAAAAAAABr4/kxwO7EiUkvQ/poisonous_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p>Yes, I’ve been at it again and I’m still lost in the woods but with the mushrooms this time. I enjoyed trying out some more pen and ink type hatching on this woodburning. Although I wish that I’d made the toadstool a bit more jaunty looking. Maybe I’ll do another one. I’ve been using Danish oil on the previous woodburnings to finish them off although I’d like a more environmentally friendly oil finish if there is one. Any ideas?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TVvxmtjAkoI/AAAAAAAABr8/Vm-CvAJpkec/s1600-h/poisonous%20toadstool%203%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="poisonous toadstool 3" border="0" alt="poisonous toadstool 3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TVvxnGByC8I/AAAAAAAABsA/PvrslUNuAjM/poisonous%20toadstool%203_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TVvxoDF_K9I/AAAAAAAABsE/r6iGRIPPdm8/s1600-h/poisonous%20toadstool%202%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="poisonous toadstool 2" border="0" alt="poisonous toadstool 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_crrRNrp7FB4/TVvxo83BeWI/AAAAAAAABsI/KPvg-tjyT3o/poisonous%20toadstool%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="428"></a></p> <p>If I’m not burning bits of wood with my pyrography machine or out walking Floss I’m to be found curled up somewhere with my new kindle, a present from Mr P. I downloaded Jane Eyre as my first book to read, never read it before and really loving it. Although it seems paradoxical to be reading a book written in the 19th century on an electronic device and I am feeling a bit sentimentally lost without the feel of paper and the smell of a real book, I also love the fact that I never lose my page, my arm never aches and it’s just so easy to turn the page or look up a word that I don’t understand, I can read in bed without waking Mr P up too. I’ve always been a bit of a night owl. Also, I love the random pictures of authors which appear when you turn the device off. Has anyone else got one?</p> <p>Right, must go and walk Floss in the forest before it goes dark. Bye for now.</p> Lesley Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316123067980666389noreply@blogger.com9