I had a day off...

...last Friday and got to sit in the sunshine.

No surprise...I headed for Barleylands.

It was beautiful sitting in the sun and it also influenced my colour choice...

...some lovely warm sunshine yellows.

Completely different from the cool aqua shade I used last time on this image but a perfect reminder of the lovely sunny day............................................................................

Coffee...

...and a cuddle.

Another digi Saturated Canary image from the Complete Cardmaking CD.

This was just a quick bit of colouring and I wanted to try out some 'scruffy fur' on the cute little kitty on the coffee container...

...although not as dark as my Sister's cat, I think this will make the perfect image for my Sister's birthday at the end of July.

My Sister is a bit of a coffee addict (just like me) and her cat always chooses to jump on her lap just as she sits down with a coffee or is trying to "help" with the making process out in the kitchen.

Most definitely the perfect topper for her card................................................................

New yummy colour...

...to play with.

Twisted Citron has arrived on my work desk.

Isn't this the most wonderful zingy colour...

 ...perfect for some Summer colouring.
I just had to grab a "Steampunk Betty" and see how the colour looked on CS...

 ...it is certainly fresh and vibrant.
Whilst on the subject of "Steampunk Betty", here she is with some purple hair...

...and a grey mauve outfit - another completed image to add to the collection.

The colouring playtime is progressing well and my collection of coloured images is certainly a lot more healthy than it was a couple of weeks ago...................................................................

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......................................................................