Saturday 29 September 2012

Bosworth and bears



As weather goes up and down we simply do follow. As yesterday was a nice day we went to Bosworth battlefield. Not so much to see except the fantastic vies from the top of the hill but so much for the imagination to roam in the depths of the British history. You know... red and white roses, Richard III and that entire bit from your school books... It is weird to stand there and realise that it happened here, it really happened HERE...

Sometimes when you go to historic sites like this all is so crowded, so tourist orientated shit that I simply can’t get the feel at all – simply another Disneyland but yesterday there was perfect – just few people around, the low autumn sun and the crisp air – you just close your eyes and you can hear the swords being sharpened, horses stomping the ground, nervously whispered prayers... It was in the air yesterday, at least for me. 



And then the full moon and serene walk in the woods with dogs...


On the other hand, yesterday I finished the shell of the first bear and started the second. 

I try a bit different pattern, change this and that, until I will find my favourite size and shape - something that I really like. For the first one I made quite wide head gusset so Teddy has a very big, weird shaped head, a bit like ostrich head. 

The second one I will try a bit more classical, with narrow gusset, so it looks more bear head shape, not such an alien. Then it will be time to reduce ear shape as well. It is so much fun to play with patterns and try them out. I use the cheap faux fur and plastic eyes, so materials cost about 2 pounds per bear – not a big deal, I can experiment like that for a long time. 


Wednesday 26 September 2012

Rain, rain, go away


There had been not much fun for past few days. We had planned a trip to Chester but the rain was a bit too much for me to decide on the trip. Plus here were flood warning and I was putting stones in the yard to check out on raising water. Right now outside my window looks like this. And no, it's not a river, it's pastures. OK, were pastures just few days ago :D


As the weather hadn't been kind, I have done a lot - finished one quilt top and I'm half way the other. And on the side while fighting with flu, I started to make a Teddy Bear. Just for fun. You know, Christmas is just around the corner.
Yesterday I spent a day in forest, picking mushrooms and later I made a rich, creamy mushroom sauce with potatoes. Yummm!
Weather forecast is not encouraging - in next 24 hours we may get another 40 mm of rain which probably will bring the former little stream right into our dining room. Well, another semi-sleepless night ahead. Do not worry - I can swim :D !

Thursday 13 September 2012

Trip to the valley

We started our trip very early to try to catch the beauty of the valley and Llangollen so at 7 am we managed to be there. The most amazing thing was that the mist stayed actually for the next 4 hours or so so we managed to drive down and look at it from the bottom.





 If you look carefully, there can be seen the tops of the mountains in the mist in this one. I tried to capture the mist higher but I'm not so advanced. Then in the valley was amazing aqueduct, 200+ years old, to be honest, quite a scary one. The canal for boats run calmly until you look down 40 meters to the river... Not a fun for me!

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Enjoying life and some trips

I had been really busy cutting materials for the past week as well as looking around Europe. I had been visiting 7 countries and right now enjoyed the heritage weekend in UK.Two more days and I am planning to start piecing. Yay!