Diabolos!

I remember having one of these as a kid - (I'm sure mine was wooden!) - apparently they are the latest 'school' craze here -
I love the colours.
some more ............

This is the 'super-dooper' version and costs just under £40! (approx $65!)

first4yarns

"first4yarns"

This knitting shop in Powys, Wales, has a terrific variety of yarns, as well as everything else the knitter might need - you can buy online (or phone in your order) - and they're in the UK!

Michael Kors

I'm sure Michael Kors doesn't need my bit of advertising, but I thought both these products are beautifully designed. I have no idea what the perfume actually smells like - but I think the packaging is beautiful .............. I'll have to go and do a bit of retail therapy!

Netted Cuff and Little Necklaces .....

I suddenly had a 'pash' on using these colours, and have just been having a play - there's nothing groundbreaking here, but they are all things that I'll be wearing - they'll go nicely with a couple of new things I've bought! (Click on pic to see much larger view!)

London Park in Autumn

click on photo to see fab larger view.

3-dimensional beadwork & Socks!

I'm working on some small 3-dimensional beadwork 'pillows' - I've a few more ideas to come .........


and am also making socks with some lovely yarn from
The Natural Dye Studio ........
I'm having withdrawal symptoms as I haven't been to the Knitting & Stitching Show this year - I've come down with a 'orrible bug! Keeping my fingers crossed that it will go by tomorrow as it's the K&S last day.

Portugal

We just came back from a lovely week in Portugal. The weather and temp. was perfect. The local beach was so peaceful - and food was lovely too!
One of the dishes we had was a starter of octopus - just delicious - will put the recipe up in my Foodee blog.

Paris

On our recent trip to Paris - some personal views ..............

French-style lunch in the park - (nr. The Marais district)

Park view - Place des Voges

Architectural views

Musee de Quai Branly - wonderful museum (7th arr.)

Vertical green wall at the Musee de Quai Branly

(no need for description!)

Having a leisurely cafe creme - view from cafe.

French sense of humour!

Advertising in street - very French....

Wonderful specialist shops

Someone has a sense of humour!

I took these yesterday in the West End (London) !

Omega Workshops

- some of the artists from the Omega Workshops (late 1800s onwards) and the Bloomsbury Group - These designs are so modern - they could easily be used today.

Rug Design - Rogery Fry

Vanessa Bell

Duncan Grant

Winifred Gill
(linocut)

Cressida Bell - Vanessa Bell's granddaughter runs a design company - textiles/design/interiors and has obviously been influenced by the Omega Workshops.

Rug design

Rodolphe Theophile Bosshard (contemporary to the period - artist 1889-1960) - probably not related, although from the same period - - but love this painting).

current Courtauld Exhibition of the
Omega Workshops/Bloomsbury Group
at Somerset House, London.

editing photos

This first pic was my original photo

Having a play - I cant say I'm exactly sure what I did ! but the effects are interesting. I use Photoshop and Illustrator. (I should keep notes shouldn't I?!)

Ornamentation

I was taking some photos yesterday at the Royal Courts of Justice in London - looking at the ornamentation - and have edited three of the pics - just a little ...... it's interesting how just adding 'black' and removing some colour, completely changes the image.

3-Dimensional Beadwork

I've just been to a super 'beady' summer school for the week and have been experimenting with 3-D beaded shapes. The original source was Jean Power's patterns (which you can buy online) and once I worked out the 'recipe' I did a little experimenting. They were great fun to do and have got lots of ideas for future beading projects.

Unfortunately I had to scan the pieces on my flatbed scanner - so it's difficult to see them 3-dimensionally, but they are all worked from the 'outside - in' so they have a different pattern on the backs and fronts, and they can be made as deep or shallow as you want to bead them. My favourite ones are the little 'pillows'.

(Click on the pics for a large image.)

Short Break ..........

Am going off on short hols - see you all soon.

Peacock Butterfly

I took these pics in the garden today - it's a Peacock butterfly which comes from Europe and Asia - probably here in the UK on its summer hols!

Roger Nachman - Glass Artist

Roger Nachman

Tacca Chentrieri

This is actually a real plant! It's a Tacca Chentrieri
I saw it at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
and thought it was just completely surreal.
I've taken lots more pics (Flikr) from the Show -
click here for the link

Hottuynia

Gorgeous colours on leaves.

Libertys of London - textiles

Liberty's of London - wonderful store and beautiful fabrics.
(Useful link for textiles inc. William Morris)

Evening Primrose and Sweet Peas

Evening Primrose - Have just cropped this photo and not done anything too fancy!
I sort of liked it the way it is.

I did play around a little with these

Original Photo