Silent Sunday in the Karoo

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Flake

Hi there! and Welcome to our Photographic Monthly Meet-Up, held on the first Tuesday of each month. The prompt for this month is FLAKE.

A favourite terracotta vessel I painted a few years ago  is flaking nicely

The next 4 photos were taken of flaking paint on beach huts at Church Ope Cove on Portland

I would love to be able to do a colour analysis of this photos – to me they would all make wonderful colour palettes for a crochet blanket, or a knitted Fairisle jumper.

If you know of a free website or app that would pick out the colours for me I’d love to have the link.

The next two photos were taken on the island of La Gomera in January 2008

Nearly good enough as a piece of art to hang on the wall:

Last week I went for a visit to Tyneham and Worbarrow with my daughter and her children – one of our favourite destinations for a summer’s day.

The children are fascinated by the ruined buildings and the old school room

The door to the School and its window fit the theme

Then on to the barn where there is an old theatre, with flaking scenery paint on the barn wall

 

Click on any picture to see it in more detail.

I have gone for flaking paint but I’m looking forward to seeing where the prompt has taken you.

All entries are welcome, both archive and current, just leave a link in the comments below any time up until next month’s prompt kicks in.

 

Next month’s prompt is

CASE.

Lime Green Vintage

At the moment I am immersing myself in the colour called Lime Green mixed with oranges and other autumnal colours whilst I crochet the Karoo Vintage Mystery Along.

Going with the Vintage theme for my Vase this week, there are a few elements in the picture all bought in the 1970s:

A Timothy Whites vacuum flask, still going strong. Who remembers Timothy Whites? A High Street chemist shop taken over by Boots in 1968,  the trading name stopped being used in 1985. The cup that went on the top has been lost but the flask still keeps water hot for a good long time. It sits by my kettle to house excess boiled water to be used for washing up etc.

The green floral table cloth (more lime green in reality) is a huge 2.5m diameter circle of Laura Ashley fabric bought as a Second from the Laura Ashley shop in Bath on a lovely pre-children shopping trip with friends. It has been brought out to cover trestle tables at many a family event over the last 40 years or more.

The bright green cloth with turquoise stitching trim was bought from Habitat in about 1978.

The bright orange metal jug with white flowers was made in (former) Yugoslavia and given to me by my Mum who found it on a market stall.

In the jug is a plant which I like the look of because of its bright pink bits – but I guess it is a weed. Do you know its name? Can it be used for anything?

From my garden:

A pot of lemon balm sits waiting to be made into a lovely refreshing tea.

The figs have been plentiful and glorious this year.

I’m delighted to have found a salad crop that does not get eaten by the sparrows – pea shoots! Thank you to Postcard From Gibraltar for inspiring me to try these – they are yummy!

I am growing them in a waist high Veg Trug outside my front door (Zone 1 in Permaculture)

My daughter thinks the new shoots look as if they are waving and dancing

here they are having a party!

Apples are plentiful but all blighted by the wretched codling moth.

Pears are looking good this year.

Joining in with Cathy and In a Vase on Monday.

Happy Gardening!

Silent Sunday

Karoo Vintage Mystery Along

Jen Tyler of Hooks ‘n’ Tails is another fabulously creative crochet designer.

Her style takes a bit of getting used to

but so worth it if you can cast pre-conceived ideas to the wind and go with her!

This pattern is a Mystery even to Jen herself, she is making it up as she goes along and each week gives us another few rows to work on. The pattern starts with a flower and then We’re OFF! on a voyage of discovery.

Texture, overlay and all sorts of avant garde instructions follow.

If it were not for the videos, I don’t think I would ever be able to follow the patterns. They are clear and well written but the stitches and methods of achieving them are unconventional, often taking a bit of working out and it makes my head spin.

Even the videos are not easy to follow.

They are not tutorial videos, but more Jen racing along with her crochet hook and me scampering behind trying hard to keep up! Sometimes I re-play the video 4 or five times to work things out.

I have just arrived at the end of Part 3 and it measures 67cm (26″)  square.

This project is like going on a Crochet Safari – you have to keep your wits about you and you never know what exciting new experience is round the next corner.

It is fun! And I have to concentrate so hard that all other worries melt away for hours on end – so therefore it also gets to be relaxing.

If you want a crochet adventure, this is definitely the right pattern for you!

There are plenty of other brave explorers who have picked up the challenge and you can see all their amazing work on Instagram, Facebook and Ravelry.

Details:

Karoo Vintage Mystery along by Jen Tyler

4.5mm hook and Stylecraft Special DK in woodland colours.

I loved working with Woodland colours for my Woodland Ripple so much, I was just waiting for another project in which I could use them again.

Joining in with Ginny’s monthly Yarn Along.

I rarely read books nowadays but I do listen to stories and dramas on the Radio whilst I crochet and The Little Ottleys has been a delight to listen to whilst going on safari in the Karoo.

 

Silly Saturday with Birdy

Birdy had such a handsome face

In flight he was elegance and grace

As he rested on the beach

He heard a loud screech

Sid Seagull flicked sand in his face.

 

Sid was loud and uncouth

And strutted with the arrogance of youth

Swinging his hips

And gorging on chips

He teased Birdy for being long in the tooth!

 

Birdy challenged Sid to a race

The seagull laughed in his face

With my youth and my size

I’ll easily take first prize

But his boasting was sadly misplaced!

 

As Birdy flew high in the sky

Sid regretted pecking that meat pie

With all the chips and the bread

He felt as heavy as lead

He couldn’t leave the ground if he tried!

 

Birdy was not one to boast

He won doing what he loved most

Flying along with the breeze

Above the crystal blue seas

He loved his life on the coast.

 

Poem by Judy E. Martin

 

Birdy McBirdface hopped in for a brief bit of silliness ……..

Judy’s poem resonates with me as we have a real problem with gulls swooping down to scoff any food you might have about your person and pestering you if you sit on the harbour wall with a juicy handful of fish and chips.

Happy Saturday!

 

Happy 6th Birthday

I finished the Dreamcatcher in time for Little Miss M’s birthday!

Hurray!

She loves it, especially as her big sister has one, she seemed especially pleased about that. I love it so much I am going to have to make one for myself as well.

It fits perfectly on a 40cm coated metal hoop which I got from Glitterwitch.

The 2ply crochet thread used is Rico Essentials with the turquoise (Tropic) from Scheepjes Sweet Treat. I used a 2mm hook.

The pattern is Tuuli by Zoya Matyushenko, a free pattern if you join her Facebook Group

Zoya’s patterns are a delight to work, at almost every row you could stop and have a finished design

I’m tempted to try one in DK to see what size it would be, but just at the moment it is so hot here I don’t even feel like crocheting – now that is seriously hot!!!

Little Miss M’s birthday party was yesterday – on the hottest day so far this summer in the UK (according to the News) – the theme was ‘The Greatest Showman’, there was a bouncy castle, dressing-up, a Mum brought a rainbow coloured parachute for parachute games, circus skills eqipment to play with… it was fun! It was HOT! I got out my little indoor watering cans and sprinkled the children on their heads, wrists and the backs of necks to keep them cool.

Rain is forecast for Sunday – yes please!!!