Rain beautiful rain

It wasn't all sunshine in Austria. We had plenty of sunshine but we also had our fair share of thunderstorms and rain.

This was the view from our balcony after a rainstorm.

I always like to see a rainbow, they are so beautiful!

You should be able to see that the rain was falling here at Walchsee which would otherwise be a lively seaside-style resort (even though it's nowhere near the sea! The Austrians love to enjoy their lakes in the summer)

Another storm pursuing us back to the hotel!

Talk about a downpour!

I've never been to the tropics but this rain put me in mind of it.

I thought these covers for the windowboxes were very nifty (useful).

The hills are alive........!

Did I say we were going on holiday? Again?! For blogging break read holiday! After our wonderful holiday in Austria last autumn I really wanted to go back to see the flower meadows in the summer. Fortunately our friendly local coach company A & P Travel had decided to run a trip this summer so, as DH deserved a special treat for his 60th, we were the first to book on.

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If you look back here you can see some of the photos I took last year. We went to several of the places we went to last year so I won't repeat the photos here. We were based in the same hotel as before and it was lovely to see the family again.

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On the Sunday, with some encouragement from my DH and some friends, I took my courage in both hands and went in a cable car, yes, a cable car!!!!!, to the top of the Steinplatte mountain. This from a person who hates lifts and has sworn off the London Eye! Actually, apart from one or two colly wobbles when I looked down at the wrong moment (help, I want my mummy!), I really enjoyed it!!! The views were amazing so inevitably I was busy with the camera so I didn't have a lot of time to think about the drop below.

This is the village of Waidring spread out below.

Still on the way up, a view up a neighbouring valley towards Kitzbuhel of Ski Sunday fame.

You might recognise DH sorting out his lenses at the top.

This is the amazing view across not-quite-the -top of the Steinplatte. The actual top is a strenuous walk uphill which we left to younger, fitter people - on bikes!

There were a lot of these with lovely clunking bells ringing out when they moved, very atmospheric!

We walked up here

and came to these amazing rocks which are popular with fossil hunters.

This beautiful specimen was in a large boulder at the side of the path - deliberately placed there? Not sure.

Gulp! What a tiny box! Don't think about it!!!

I got my wish to see beautiful flowers growing wild.

It's really difficult to photograph flowery banks below you!

These beautiful flowers were growing beside an artificial lake.

I'm not sure what this flower is called but I'm sure I've seen it growing in gardens.

My DH photographed this lovely little harebell which I missed. (I think it's a harebell. Please correct me if I'm wrong).

On the way down you have this view of the great cliff face of the Steinplatte summit.

and look where I went!! and that's not the top! It goes up again!

I think I prefer this view of the cable car. Can you believe, these things hold 15 people!

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More soon!

Award

I'm usually terrible at acknowledging blog awards so I thought I'd be really good this time and post it up straight away. Thank you so much to Susan for nominating me for this award. You are very supportive of my blogging and I am really grateful for your friendship. The rules are to link back to the nominator and to nominate 7 blogs to receive the award. As I am drowning under the weight of post holiday chaos, photo cataloguing, outstanding projects, UFOs and a hubby who is a bit below par I hope you will forgive me if I don't pass the award on to individuals. I enjoy reading all the blogs in my links list and others besides so If your name appears there or if I leave comments on your blog please take the award and pass it on.

Hello again and a lovely surprise!

Well, we're back from our little jaunt away but I'm not caught up enough to blog properly yet. I'm still in the middle of loading 400+ photos onto my laptop! Not to mention 200+ bloglines to read! OMG, I really must cut back on some of this blogging lark. Anyway, enough of that, I had to pop in and show you the beautiful, amazing post I received today. A few weeks ago Emma, aka Silverpebble, set up her website and had a draw to celebrate - I was one of the lucky runners-up. Now I've received my beautiful prize I feel like a complete winner!

When I opened the Bubble envelope this lovely wrapping paper greeted me - Emma, you must have known I love seashells. I am going to try some image transfer with this soon.

I opened the paper and found a very pretty little box containing this delightful necklace made by Emma. The colours are very delicate and I love the silver drop and the detail at the clasp.

Emma had included a card and a lavender wand which looks lovely and smells delicately of lavender. I'm going to have a go at making some of these myself. Meanwhile, this lovely wand is in my drawer.

At the bottom of the box was a slip of paper as you can see above. I did indeed peep........

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Underneath the paper were these beautiful dried flowers and above it were a selection of vintage buttons and a lovely shell which I can't wait to use in a special project.

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Thank you so much Emma for such a wonderful gift and for the pleasure of reading your delightful blog.

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I'll be back in a day or three with a proper update when I've loaded up all the holiday pics. See you soon!

Take it Further

I have just discovered that I haven't even mentioned the Take it Further Challenge this month although I have had it floating round in my mind all month. Sharon said at the beginning of the month "This reminded me once again of just how lucky we are to have a ’stash’. Most fiber folks have them. We draw on our stashes to make items or add to projects. They are either purchased or scavenged materials that have accumulated over time and as such they often have a story to tell. Or it is possibly more correct to say that stashes are full of stories. The interesting thing for textile practitoners is that these materials can take on another story. They can be made into something new and take on other meanings in someones life.

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Stashes also act as signifiers of wealth. Not only is the obvious wealth of what the stash actually costs to have and house but there is the psychological wealth of a stash because a stash is full of possibilities. While material is uncut it is rich with possible uses. Once you have committed to using it the material moves from being something that is full of potential to a project. So this month the idea to think about is stories that are and stories that are possible."

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I have at least two stashes. One is my painting stash which mostly resides in my shed/studio and gets a bit lonely at the moment. The other is my rapidly growing fabric/fibre stash which has somehow managed to install itself in our bedroom!

I have pulled a few fabrics artfully out of the drawers to hint at the treasures within. This collection of excitements has gradually grown over the last few years. Some of it bought excitedly at Shows, some bought from new found friends across the other side of the world through the magic of the internet, some gifted by other new friends met in the great cyber world that we seem to have been drawn into and which has enriched my life over the last year, some shared with my good friend Anne who I share my local art adventures with and some bought from charity (thrift) shops or the local Scrapstore which recycles all manner of donated goods.

You may remember some time ago that I bought these fabrics from the Scrapstore at Newark. Recently I had another visit and was tempted by some more of these fabric sample books.

When my Mum came to stay last week she had treated herself to a new camera which unfortunately does not fit her old camera case. Soooooo, I've made her a camera case from a fabric sample and lined it with some lovely satiny material from a dress I picked up for £2 in a sale. The cord came from my stash from a birthday gift bag and I think the button is new. I'm hoping my Mum will enjoy using the pouch and remember me when she takes her camera out.

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Everything I have made and shown here on my blog has come from my stash and has its own story to tell, sometimes of joy over a technique learned and sometimes of the struggle of trying to solve a problem. I love that I have started on this wonderful journey and I know that my stash has many more stories to lead me on and reveal to me.

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You will notice after tonight that I am conspicuous by my absence. I am going on what is known as a blogging break so I'll miss you all and see you at the end of next week. Take care of yourselves. Xxx

Birthday boy and lovely girl

You must excuse me if I start snoring but we have had a very hectic few days. As you will see from the photo below DH was well into the party spirit on Saturday! This photo was taken at the start of the evening before our guests arrived. The pint was replaced by a few more throughout the evening!

We had a lovely evening on Friday and several friends travelled to be there. My mum was busy with her camera so I have her to thank for the photo of my DH above and the pic of me below, which I actually don't object to - she's managed to catch me not looking 90!

After going to a friend's wedding on Saturday afternoon (and making an early exit as we were fading fast) we geared ourselves up for a special event on Sunday evening. It involved making a picnic, queueing in a field where we were entertained by some lovely friends,

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(These sweet calves were very interested in our car and for some reason decided it was a good idea to lick it!)

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a walk across a ploughed field carrying chairs and dragging the new trolley, and another pint of beer! (Oh! And another comical hat!)

You may be able to spot the same hat in the background of this crowd scene. It was a very windy evening and we were glad of all the coats, hats and rugs we had taken. Why were we sitting in the middle of a field in the shade of Belvoir Castle in a (virtually) howling gale? It had something to do with this lady

and these gorgeous gentlemen!

I'm sure you can recognise Katherine Jenkins and the lovely guys are Blake! I booked the concert for my Mum as it's her birthday next weekend. We kept it a surprise till the last minute and Mum was delighted.

Because we went early we were able to get a good spot in front of the stage.

Katherine had 4 changes of costume and if she didn't have some thermals on she should have as it was decidedly chilly!

The triangular fabrics at the back of the stage were a constantly changing lightshow and very effective.

You can see how the wind was blowing the feathers of this fabulous gown.

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The concert was superb and even my DH enjoyed the music (he hadn't been sure he would before we went). After the main part of the concert we were treated to a quick burst of the Last Night of the Proms lead by Katherine. She was just as you see her on the telly, wonderfully natural and very friendly, waving to people in the crowd. Her giggle was much in evidence and she enjoyed telling a few little jokes, especially about English/Welsh rugby rivalry! lol

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The whole evening was rounded off with the inevitable firework display.

Regrettably the wind blew the fireworks away quickly but they were still impressive. We finally wended our way home on a total high after a fantastic evening. My Mum said she would be reliving the evening for a long time to come. She'll certainly be telling her friends all about it!

PS Thanks to my DH for the photos of the concert itself.

Parties, Atcs and trollies

It's a bit quiet chez nous this morning! Last night was DH's party and we're feeling our age this morning. We had a great night and had a respectable number of guests to make the party swing. We even got to meet some friends from DH's blogland, so thank you to Gail'sman, Gail and Zakscloset for coming across from Nottingham to join us (and for the gorgeous chocolate cake!). My DH had a whale of a time and was slightly(?) giggly/tipsy by the end of the evening. He's very funny when he's had a few, very good natured, repetitive and giggly.

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Today we're off to a wedding near Newark just north of here and my Mum has taken herself off toLincoln to enjoy the shops in the rain.

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I've really just popped in to show you the ATCs I've received in the herringbone swap I mentioned on Thursday. They are all lovely and make my effort look very feeble.
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My photo doesn't do this card justice. The background fabric has been painted in beautiful turquoisy metallic paint and it shines beautifully. Thank you Liz!
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Pat has used metallic threads for this gorgeous purple celebration and included painted washers.

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This lovely card using a variety of weights of thread has been made by Susan.

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Thank you, girls!

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And finally:

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Oh my god! I've joined the ranks of the trolley dollies! lol! With rising prices and a thickening waistline (more of that in a minute) I decided I had to invest in a shopper and walk to town a bit more often. You'll be able to see me coming, won't you? I know I shall feel self-conscious the first few times I use it, and I'll probably wrap it round a few ankles and lampposts, but I will have to get used to it.

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And definitely finally, I have been putting on weight! Now, that may not sound much to most of you but I am a skinny thing and have struggled my way up over the years from 6st 12lbs in my teens to 7st 12lbs in my 40's. When I got my summer clothes out recently I found the trousers and shorts and skirts no longer fitted! Shock, horror! It was only when I got on some scales that I found I have gone up to 8 and a half stone!!!!!! Flippin Eck! How did that happen? (Ssh, don't tell her, it's that 'm' word that gives you pause) It's unheard of for me and I hadn't even been trying to put on weight. I feel as though I've finally arrived in the world of real women and I've got some meat on me! Yay! (Also it's a good excuse for some new clothes!)