Couldn't resist

I love the glorious colour of my roses and just couldn't resist showing them off to you again. Funny how one forgets how beautiful they looked last summer as well.

Strawberries and cream

I am back from CIFI in Albuquerque and rested. I had a lovely time with some very lovely creative ladies. Our teachers were exceptional and so giving. I saw some beautiful and wonderful dolls being created and was amazed at the talent that is out there. This year's challenge theme was 'Dessert' It was a real challenge for me to think up a doll in those lines. I know I am having a creative block so although there were some fabulous desserts with fabulous names I couldn't think of a doll in those lines and also I had to be mindful of the fact that I could not make a doll in big and extravagent style since I had to cart it to and fro with me. Finally I made my little Strawberries and Cream's table of desserts. The idea came to me as I thought of summer in England when, whether it be at Wimbledon or Ascot or at home we all love to have strawberries and cream YUM!  Everything on her is made with hand. Her hat was wet felted so were her bracelets and shoes which I wet felted. The strawberries were hand sewn and I found them  bit tedious to do as I am not strictly a sewer but I did it.

The little desserts on her table were made with clay. I would have liked to have sewn them but I didn't have the time and I know that since I am not a sewer I would have taken ages to do them.

However here is a doll that was made by Agnes the tall one with red hair, who won the Peoples award prize. She made the Fruit sorbet and I tell you that doll is amazing. Agnes sewed each and every fruit on that doll with hand and it was lovely. She kind of grew on me everyday although I did lovely her little Chines lady next to her. I wish I had taken a better picture of her.

These  were the dolls made in Sherry and Jean's class. The cloths and embellishments were all done with paper. Mine is the one in green looking rather stunted with a tatoo on her face. I was not satisfied with her but she was a learning curve for me.

Look at these amazing dolls all clothed with  paper.

These beautiful parade of dolls were from Arley Berryhill's class.

The youngesters who came were not to be out done. They turned out these beautiful gingerbread men. They showed us how even a very simple doll can be turned into beautiful dolls.

There were some beautiful dolls made by our teachers.

 Right now I have to go and catch my breath as I relived those wonderful moments writing this post! lol.

Packed and ready to go

Almost packed and ready to go. My angel thinks that if she sleeps on top of the suitcase then I will definitely take her with me. But I have to see first whether I have enough space to do that.

But this fella is a clever guy. He got himself a little box and jumped into it and made himself comfortable. I just can't leave him behind!

Sorry all I have not been around much lately. Just been preparing for CIFI and then life also has been getting in the way mainly. I shall have to catch up with you all when I get back from US. I know I shall be travelling again almost as soon as I touch down back home but I promise I shall try and catch up. Now just pray that I will be able to take off lol!  Take care all.

More....

She has stood more often on her head rather than on her feet lol! I bet by now she has a head ache anyway she is done now and ready to stand on her feet and stamp them at me lol!.

No he is not dead although he does look a bit deathly. It is just the way the photo has come out but in real he is not too bad looking. He has his eyes shut because  he is going to be hanged ( forgive the pun) . Although why on earth he wants to shut his eyes when he will only be hanging upright don't know perhaps he thinks he really is going to the gallows lol! He is a gift for a friend and I hope he will be liked as I sculpted him. I should have used paperclay but was too impatient to wait for it to come so I used Das clay which I hated using as I have no experience with it how to sculpt. I found it so hard to smooth it out and in the end gave up. Then the sand papering was hard too hence you can see a lot of blemishes. But then again he is not supposed to be perfect so I guess for this project it is ok as it is meant to be just a fun project..

More bits

Gave my doll a haircut today. I have hair everywhere except my craft room ha..ha.. She is almost done. Sorry to keep teasing you all.

I am back

I am at last back but have been rather busy with things. This is one of the things that I have been sewing this afternoon, circles and half circles in red until I think I am going to see them even in my dreams lol! I can't tell you what they are but yes they are for a challenge doll. Can't show you the doll yet but stay tuned I shall be able to do so in 3 weeks time after I come back from America.

Forgive me I have not been able to visit all your blogs but I shall do so as and when I get the time.

Just to let you know

Just so that you all don't think that I have fallen out off the edge of the earth. Our computer had a major virus attack which caused it to crash. It is now in the process of being rebuilt again so I am not able to post much. But the good news is our laptop is up and running now so at least I can now post something. But no pictures for present I am afraid. Shall get back when all is up and running.

Home at last!!!

Hello all after travelling 15hrs by an overnight train from Lisbon that had no sleeping arrangements in it to Hendaye which is the French border and then driving for another 8 hrs non stop immediately to catch a Ferry at Le Havre and ferrying across for 3 hrs and then driving again for another 2 hrs we were finally back home past midnight on Wednesday. It was supposed to have been a short 4 nights stay in Lisbon but we got grounded in Lisbon due to the air chaos. Then we decided to make our own way back since we could not see an immediate end to the problem and here I am. However it was a very enjoyable stay in Lisbon and we had a great time. I am still trying to get over the horrendous journey so I shall leave you with some images of Lisbon. Don't forget to click on the pictures to get a better view.

Our tram making its way through narrow streets of the old city. At some places there was no room for people to walk .

An elevator in the town which connects the lower level to the higher level of the city.

The Portugese are good craftsmen and they particularly seem to be good at pottery making and clay sculptres.

Hey are you not finished yet there is a que building up!

In one of the old Castle we went looking for the loos and I just could not resist taking this lol!

A peocock goodbye at the castle

Beautiful exterior of train station Rossi

Entrance to a Moorish palace in Sintra

Rossi square all lit in the night

Route 28 of the tram which takes you through the beautiful old town of Lisbon.

Another view of the Moorish castle

I loved these clay sculptres outside many restraunts and bars.

These are some of the many tiles that decorate the city walls

Money and pastry? Thank you I'll have both lol!

Early morning

Early yesterday morning I saw a great big shadow land on our neighbours roof top. Luckily the window is just opposite to the bed and I had my mobile phone in hand so I quickly took this picture of our visitor.  He was gorgeous but such a shy creature that even that small movement from inside the house scared him away. I would have loved to have taken a better picture but as always I never seem to have my camera handy at the right time lol!

Certainly SPRING!!

I must apologise for being absent for a bit from my blog. I haven't had much to say or show as I have been trying to fight sinus problems. But things are looking up now and now that spring is here, it is certainly here isn't it?

Just walking through the garden I spotted these lovely Camelias. I do believe I have not seen them in bloom before. It just was a green foliage for a long time but this year it has given a surprise and bloomed in this lovely delicate creamy colour.

We do have several single petal ones and again this one has given us a surprise with its double petals.

This little primrose will not let the others take the lime light. It struggles valiently through the dried undergrowth to show that it is well and kicking.

Daffodiles are always a joy to see in any garden.

I nearly missed this rhododendron from seeing it in bloom. It is hidden away behind a huge bush.

Ah I see that our visitors are coming back to sun themselves in the garden.