Mountains and Beaches

I’ve just had a great week’s holiday at Sis’s caravan in Snowdonia. We had multiple adventures starting with a trip on the Snowdonia Railway. We had to book to be sure of a seat but had to gamble on good weather. Many days of a year you can’t see the top of Snowdonia but we were lucky. Blue skies and sunshine. The journey is one hour up and one down with a thirty minute wait at the top. Just long enough to drink in the scenery and summit the peak!

We enjoyed a beach trip to Treaddur Bay and even got a little sun burned.

On a rainy day we visited Piggery Pottery where we spent the whole morning painting pots! They were blank plain pots of many designs and a rainbow of paints. We painted our chosen pots which were then varnished. Good creative fun. Great holiday. Happy family time.

I had to come home early as I’m off to Canada on a Cruise tomorrow! Such a hard life………

Headless Chuck!

I will be brief! Last night I had a phone call to ask could I help out and do a craft cruise to CANADA NEXT SATURDAY!! Could I help? Of course I could!

In the meantime I’ve got to:

Take 2 Grandchildren on a bucket and spade holiday to a caravan.

Write the craft programme.

Sort out all the craft supplies.

Dream up a couple of extra ideas for alternative classes.

Make some samples ( always practice, always be ahead of the student)

Pack a suitcase for next week.

Pack a suitcase for the cruise.

Get myself to Liverpool to pick up the cruise.

Sign and return contracts.

So I’m very sorry but no time to blog, no WIFI next week, probably no WIFI on the ship.

But, Hey! Canada here I come!

Today’s Quote

Soul Gatherings

I will follow the upward road today;
I will keep my face to the light.
I will think high thoughts as I go my way;
I will do what I know is right.
I will look for the flowers by the side of the road;
I will laugh and love and be strong.
I will try to lighten another’s load this day
as I fare along.

~ Mary S. Edgar ~
__________

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Fort William, Scotland

Our recent Scottish Lochs cruise took us to Fort William where we Tendered ashore. This involves going from big ship to small boat to land because the loch is not deep enough to allow the ship to berth at the landing place. A degree of agility may be required if the water is at all rough. Going back to the Beautiful Boudicca ship was a little exciting as the wind created a rougher return. The ships staff were delightful in “man handling” some of the passengers aboard.

Meanwhile back to Fort William…….

Sis and I were lucky to stumble across a great craft fair in this iconic Scottish town. There was much to ooh and ahh about but best of all there was a stall selling beautiful hand felted items. We both fell in love with book covers hand made by Corrine at theatticwindow1@gmail.com Sis is using hers as a tablet cover.

Isn’t this a delight? It contains a note book and as you know a girl cant have too many note books! Not only that but when fully open the book cover is gorgeous.well done Corrine and thank you.

I had to add this photo as I couldn’t resist. Kennedy was my maiden name so fame at last!

Crafts, Cruise and Colour

Another craft that we enjoyed on our recent Scottish cruise was Textile printing. We used a selection of stamps, some of which were lovely hand carved ones from India.

We had taken linen tea towels and tote bags. This is a lovely creative craft that anyone can enjoy.

The people who came to the class enjoyed creating their own designs. One lady designed a grey and black tea towel to match her new kitchen.

Another lady came who was severely sight impaired. It was a delight to help her choose the colours and print a towel. Sometimes life is so rewarding!

Creative Cruise

When we were on our recent cruise around Scotland, one of the projects that we made was a clock.  We used vintage textiles including tray cloths and doilies. The results were amazingly good and everyone who made one was delighted with the results.

As always there were lessons to be learnt.

1) The wooden embroidery hoops, used as a frame, take up a LOT of space in a suitcase!

2) Do not squash your finished clock into a suitcase as this stops the hands turning!

3) Use vintage doilies for the clock face not tray cloths. This way you don’t need to cut the fabric to fit and you get a better result.

Watch this space for more cruise craftiness.

Today’s Quote

I sure am trying!💃

Soul Gatherings

Find life experiences and swallow them whole.
Travel. Meet many people.
Go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys.
Try everything.
Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life.

~ Lawrence K. Fish ~
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Hello Boudicca

I recently enjoyed a “crafty cruise” on board Fred Olsen’s MS Boudicca. It wasn’t all crafts just that I was teaching crafts on board. I was also craft hunting at every port of call and every opportunity. I think that I might need therapy for this craft and stash obsession! Please note that two of the three suitcases were full of craft kit equipment!

Poor Benji dog couldn’t understand that he wasn’t going with me. He stayed at home and enjoyed quality time with Hubs.

Back to the ship. A small but perfectly formed ship that was able to nose her way into many of the Scottish Lochs. We were only away a week but packed a lot into the very interesting itinerary.

Itinerary 

Liverpool

Tarbert Loch Fyne

Tobermory Isle of Mull

Fort William

Ullapool

Kirkwall Orkney

Invergordon

Liverpool

It was great sailing out of Liverpool as this is not too far from home. It was a little like getting a bus! I will tell you more about the ports of call and our craftiness soon.