Blue Peter moment...

...sort of!

As a child I would watch Blue Peter and loved to see the things that could be made from washing-up liquid bottles and some 'sticky backed plastic' and that was the thought that sprang to mind when Andy mentioned 'sticky backed canvas' during his demo on Saturday.

However, once he started 'playing' with the canvas, all thoughts of children's TV were a distant memory.

This was one of two pieces that Andy had prepared with the intention of making a book style box...

 ...however, time had gotten away from him so there was no finished sample but these pieces looked fabulous (my photo really doesn't do it justice).
Taking a sheet of the sticky backed canvas and some Distress Ink pads, Andy blended the colours to create a mottled effect over the sheet...

 ...and then using some stamps and the same shades of Distress ink - he stamped a random design over the sheet. Once complete...

...he used some white acrylic paint to highlight areas and add to the mottled effect.

The over all effect was lovely and as I have some of this canvas, I will be having a play.......................................................................................

It was Farmer's Market Day this Saturday...

...but I was heading somewhere else.

Andy Pearson (Pinnacle Crafts) was holding a demo day to give folk some ideas about making cards for those awkward folk.

You know the ones...the Fellas!

Andy had the usual selection of samples dotted about but one of the main aspects of the day was sharing techniques that can easily be used for those more masculine creations.

 

Trying to catch a good photo of Andy is not the easiest of things to do...

 ...he has a habit of moving just as you click your camera (another shot of the back of a project LOL).
One of the samples on the table was this candy box...

 ...although the panels look like they are embossed, they are actually die-cuts that have been coloured with gilding wax after having been stuck to some same coloured CS using spray adhesive. The Candy box was made using the WeRMemory Keepers Punch board.
Now there is one thing that Andy loves to do and that is get messy. So it wasn't long before the alcohol inks put in an appearance...

 ...a few squirts of different inks...

 ...some blending solution and some sheets of acetate 'squidged' down over the top...

 ...an additional colour added...

 ...and this is what you end up with when held against white CS...

 ...quite abstract but perfect to add to your stash for use as backgrounds at a later date.
If you are wondering what this is...

 ...it is the scrap that Andy had been using to take off the excess ink before applying to the embossed piece of card that you can see underneath. The reason for the petal/leaf shapes is because Andy was using a Creative Expressions Smoothie (egg-shaped latex sponge) to apply the ink. The audience were obviously impressed with these sponges because a considerable stock on the wall down in the shop was completely gone before the day was out.
There are always sweets on Andy's demo desk. At the other end of the table were imperial mints...

 ...but right in front of me was a bowl of wine gums - I did try to be good.
Considering how hot it was on Saturday, the classroom area was pleasantly cool for most of the time...

...although I'm sure Andy was pretty warm with the sun right on his back all day.

It was a super day. Lots of ideas and reminders of techniques not used for a while. A bit of retail therapy and lunch and a catch-up chat with my friend Hilary.

Thanks Andy for all your hard work....................................................................

How lucky am I...

...to have a Craft Village just a short drive from where I live.

There is a café where you can sit and look through all your purchases whilst sipping a latte...

 ...or you can gaze out of the window at some of the craft units that share the same courtyard...

 ...when the weather is nice most will have their doors open wide so you can see what treats there are inside.
Just around the corner there is picnic seating...

 ...lots of well maintained planting and a mini railway. There is also a wishing well...

 ...which raises lots of money for local charities as folk find it very difficult to pass by without throwing a few coppers in.
Just past the unit where the man does wood turning, there is another courtyard...

 ...and quite a suntrap it is too. The other week, I sat on the nearest bench colouring and didn't realise just how hot it had got (the burnt area on the back of my neck later let me know just how hot it had been). This is the courtyard where you will find Pinnacle Crafts...

 ...which many will think is my second home because I spend so much time there LOL.
This huge piece of stone is actually a water feature...

 ...but the water wasn't turned on when I took this photo.
Everywhere around the Village there is plenty of greenery...

...which all helps to add to the pleasant atmosphere.

Like everywhere at the moment, there seems to be a growing number of empty retail units - no different from most High Streets these days - but the Village seem to have a fairly constant flow of visitors so I hope this doesn't impact on things too much.

If you happen to be visiting this neck of the woods, do try and visit. The Barleylands Craft Village and Farm have something to interest most ages and if the weather is good, it is fabulous just sitting outside watching the world go by....................................................................

Things have changed...

...so much in three years.

Three years ago as Stratford was preparing for the Olympics...

 ...there were flowers everywhere. I snapped this photo from the steps that lead to the Westfield shopping centre as the workmen were hanging flower baskets from the lights. Behind them you can see the roof of the Bus station and to the top right you can see the blue framed windows on my office.
Fast forward three years and the lights are still there...

 ...so is the Bus station roof - but there is no sign of my office...it is hidden behind a new tower block.
If you look closely, you will see that they have hung flower baskets from some of the lights but nowhere near as many as before...

...and to the left of the photo you can see a crane - that will be another tower block.
Three years ago on the plaza outside my office there were loads of these planters...

 ...each one was a different colour and made a wonderful backdrop for photos (I lost count of the number of times I was stopped and asked to take photos of Olympic visitors on this square).
This year there are three planters...

 ...all filled with a mix of red/white/blue...

 ,,,very pretty...

 ...but not nearly as impressive as three years ago...

...however, at least an effort is being made. Where I live in Essex, our Council decided that from this year they are no longer going to plant and maintain the public flower beds around the Borough.

Stanford-le-Hope is just a small part of the Borough and the local traders thought it was terrible to let things like the flower beds, hanging baskets and planters disappear so they have taken over responsibility. Some of the planters are really coming into bloom beautifully so I'll try and get some photos to share with you all......................................................................

You knew it had to happen...

...yes, we have another "Fairy Betty".

Despite loving the colour combo red/white/blue, 'red' as a main colour scheme is not one that I often use. However, I made the decision to do a red Betty and I'm actually rather pleased with the result.

I went for reds and a touch of grey...

 ...and I think with the addition of a bit of bling...

 ...this Betty could find herself on a Christmas card. The bright reds and...

...the darker reds have worked well together and the grey is the perfect contrast.

I think a red & white scheme for the card with this image added will be just the thing and I have some lovely red crystal ribbon in mind for a finishing touch....................................................

More coloured images...

...with food & drink.

Just a different colourway of a Saturated Canary image that I have shown you before...

 ...the grey-greens play the main role here but I just had to give her a bit of zing, so added the orange...

 ...she is such a cutie and a delight to colour.

This is "JJ" she is a digi image from Bugaboo Stamps...

...I have a number of different "JJ" images and I love them all. They are fun and there are images to suit just about any occasion. I think this one would be great on an invite to a dinner party.

I am so enjoying my colouring at the moment but I have had to replace a few pens as there are certain colours that I do reach for more than others. Perhaps I need to try and make use of a wider colour range..............................................................................

Love you...

...a latte.

Yes, you can groan.

This was one of the Saturated Canary digi images that came on the "Complete Cardmaking" issue 56 CD and I have already coloured her using Distress Markers but I wanted to do the image again using my Copics...

...I also went for a completely different colour scheme. This time using blues and corals...

 ...and I made her a blond instead of a redhead. I don't normally use a lot of pink shades but was very pleased with how the coral went with the blue-grey of the jacket...

...and the denim look of the jeans. This is the second Krista Smith image that I own showing a coffee cup and I love them both.

Actually, looking at this image whilst typing this post makes me feel that it is now time I went and put the kettle on  - coffee anyone?............................................................................

If you won a large amount on the Lottery...

...what would you treat yourself to?

I'm sure we've all done it - we've seen an advert announcing that there is a 'rollover' on the lottery and we go off into a daydream as to how we would spend such a huge amount if we were ever lucky enough to be the ones to win.

There are always the sensible things such as 'pay off the mortgage' and 'see the family right' closely followed by the more frivolous - luxury holidays and hugely expensive 'posh' car.

Daydreaming on Saturday whilst colouring this little Miss from Saturated Canary...

...isn't she cute, I got to thinking how wonderful it would be to have the money to order the complete set of Copic Sketch pens and all the matching ink refills. I have lots of pens but my Copics (which are all Ciao pens) are my favourites - I think I would be in heaven if I could own the whole lot of 'Sketch'. Unfortunately, the luck experienced by our lottery syndicate at work means this is likely to stay a daydream.
With regard to this particular image, it is a digi that I previously had but lost when I had trouble with my previous PC... 

...I was so pleased to be able to get hold of her again. I went for a red/white/blue scheme for her clothing...

...and was really pleased with the way her jeans & shoes turned out. These were done using the 3 shades of blue that I tend to reach for more than any others - B93, 95, 97. Now my next comment is going to sound daft...

...do you realise how difficult it is to pick colours at random to colour the ends of the pens in the sack? It was really hard to get a good mix - not too many pinks, blues etc. etc. The body of the pens was coloured using the cool greys and the sack used the warm greys.

Well this little Miss is obviously very lucky to own all these 'Sketch' pens - for me...all I can do is continue to dream........................................................................

What order...

...do you colour in?

Most of the time, when I am colouring an image of a person - I start with the skin.

I gave the skin area a covering of E000 but then got side-tracked with the hair...

 ...and although I didn't pay attention to the shades I used, I was rather pleased with the final result.

So as this miss has a lovely head of auburn hair, I went with shades of green...

...a glass of white wine...

...and all was done.

This Saturated Canary image is becoming one of my favourites so I can see a few more being coloured to add to the collection.......................................................................

Saturday was the...

...Eastwood crop - at the Toby carvery.

As hoped, I managed to get some more coloured images done...

...and I'll show you these in more detail over the next few days.

One thing I wanted to try was another "Oops I forgot Betty" but without quite so much hair and here she is...

 ...I actually coloured the image and then cut away the part of the hair that I didn't want...

 ...I think I much prefer her with the shorter "do".
Here is the original stamp that I coloured (left) and the altered one (right)...

...what do you think?...........................................................

Three years ago...

...East London played host to the 2012 Olympics.

Three years - how time flies.

Next year the 'Games' will be rolling around over in Rio.

In 2012, Stratford was bustling. The area was 'alive' and excitement filled the air. The Olympic park was full of people milling about making their way from one venue to another - then the Games came to an end and everything seemed to shut down

The Park and the Stratford City regeneration area was supposed to reopen in phases but although a lot of building work is still on going and most of the Park is now open to the public...some of the facilities appear to have been mothballed for the time-being.

I never had tickets for any of the events and despite working right next door to the Park, I had never been there...until Friday.

I took an extended lunch with a colleague and we went for a brief wander.

This is The Orbit that was created as a permanent piece of sculpture to remain after the Games had ended...

 ...I had only seen this through the gap in a couple of tower blocks near to my office. Up close, I have to say it hasn't weathered well over the 3 years and looks in need of a good clean and a coat of paint.
The aquatic centre on the other hand looks very impressive...

 ...it was given a new roof and sits proudly overlooking the canal. It has been open to the public for some time and some of my colleagues go there regularly for a swimming session.
The stadium can be seen right from the entrance to the Park...

...however, it is boarded off and I can only presume that this is in preparation for West Ham United football club taking up residence in late 2016 when the 2016/17 season starts.
There is a traditional carousel in the children's activity area...

 ...and a good view of the canal...

...where on occasion, you can go for a boat ride.

There seemed to be quite a few school parties just wandering about and quite a few folk doing the 'tourist' thing.

Although the weather wasn't brilliant, it was very pleasant over there but all too soon it was time to return to work.

Access to the Park is not too far from the office, so I think I could be wandering over there occasionally if we get some decent weather................................................................