Any ideas welcome

We are apparently in a red danger zone now - very scary - and a little while ago we noticed the Cumbre del Sol is on fire.  This is where all the communication towers are as well as the urbanisation.  Even more scary!

The fire planes and helicopters are out using their buckets, fingers crossed they get under control very quickly.

On a different note, lovely ladies, I wanted to ask for your help please........

I found hidden in my stash this panel, I have put a border on and intend to make the binding by making the backing larger and turning it over on the front.

The question is how to quilt it!

As I have done very little machine quilting, I thought I could follow the straight lines and perhaps hand quilt the outlines, then straight stitch in the border ditch, but what else??.

So what do you think, any other ideas?

I would love to hear from you

thank you

take care xcx 

Busy busy

We have a busy couple of weeks ahead of us, including a beach wedding where we are the official videographers. We met with the clients at the venue and can see it will be stunning with the blue sea, sandy beach and the ceremony under the palm trees and lots of opportunity of 'arty' shots.

Another wedding reception, this time of our friends son, they had already done the official paper trail in the UK and a blessing with reception for family over here, so this second one is a more relaxed affair for family and friends.

Then its our village fiesta, so three nights of music till gone 3am, Lots of hussle and bustle and traditions, plus we have a gig for a private bbq pool party which will be fun.

In between all that will be hospital visits for various scans and tests which stem from a regular Well woman check, so its all go, its also very hot, so having to keep cool!

We have now finished the hard landscaping for the old cactus garden, but its all on hold now as everything is starting to wind down for August and its just too hot to do anything unless its really early in the morning.

We can now plan the planting and decide on the colour of the rock infill, we are thinking volcanic for some of them which is a red/brown colour just to add some contrast from white!  During all this work our garden fork went missing, we looked but just couldnt find it, then tad dah...........

It had been completely enveloped by the wild bind weed whilst it was languishing against the back wall, the bind weed is a pain as it seems to be oblivious to the drought conditions and just keeps on tangling everything up, mind you it does have such vibrant dark purple/blue flowers which do look very pretty.

Enjoy your day what ever you are doing,   

 take care xcx

Wall art

I have been collecting the card tubes from the toilet and kitchen rolls, as you do! with a view to making some wall art. So I set too, first I flattened the card tube and pressed the edges down using a bone, (or ruler) then marked 1/2" lines along the tube

then cut them up

I had saved a printed page that at the time had come out too dark but it was ideal for this project.  I glued each strip onto the paper and let it dry.

Carefully cutting around the shapes using a craft knife.  I then played around creating a pleasing pattern, before gluing each piece into place.

I found an old frame, sanded it down and painted it, mounting the design onto thick card and this was the final result

Ok it won't make the Tate but I was pleased.

I thought it could be a fun thing to do with children or grandies, you could use any paper for the bases or even paint/spray the card without the inserts. I had a play with different shapes, curling pieces around a piece of dowel, rather like quilling.

Possibilities are endless, 

Enjoy your weekend

take care

Room with a view

We have been waiting for our new window blind to arrive and be fitted for the inner courtyard for a few weeks now, it has been one hic up after another, mainly because the staff of the local branch have been so unpleasant and tried to deliver the wrong colour, getting even more nasty when I refused the blind. The man was so nasty I have to admit it reduced me to tears, but, I stood my ground.

The blind arrived yesterday, but luckily I was not here, again he was very nasty, let his assistants fit the blind, demanded his money and left.  Unfortunately he omitted to fully install the mechanism and new handle, but I have to say I am pleased with the blind.  It enables us to enjoy the courtyard without the wind whistling around us and totally creates another room and one with a view.

 I made the decision to contact the head office and explain the situation as I had no wish what so ever to communication with this obnoxious man.  I am so pleased that I did as the manager rang me quite horrified at our treatment, confirmed he would personally bring and fit the remaining mechanism and by all accounts it appears there is discrepancy in my payment paperwork and paperwork sent to head office!! I believe he will be investigating just what has been going on

Anyway in the mean time we can enjoy our new room and have fun dressing it with new plants and garden ornaments. It is a nice place to sit early in the morning with a cuppa, or to take a break whilst doing chores and of course without the wind, to be able to take craft things out there without everything being blown away.  Even Chris took advantage of the space today by taking some of the dolls house items out there and repairing some of damaged lights.

take care

  

Little things

The storm didn't materialize but we have had a little rain, unfortunately it was red rain again so instead of washing everything clean its left red marks. This year seems to be the year for Bougainvillea with spectacular shows of the vibrant flowers everywhere. Our neighbour has a bush against his house and this is the view we see from our inner courtyard balcony, looking down into the plaza.

You can just spy the med in the middle distance

This is actually our ground floor level, as the land rises as it goes behind the church, visitors to the plaza seem to think it is our roof balcony. Spanish properties tend to be like the tardis, not at all what you expect from the outside.

Work in progress in the cacti garden

Spent a little time chilling and doing some knitting, a sweet pair of bootees 

I used a cotton and bamboo mix for this bib, hopefully making it absorbant and easy wash 

 Rebecca's best friend is also expecting in August and she requested a little rabbit for the baby, so as Jo knows it will be a boy, he is wearing dungarees.

I found a nice little shop whilst in Exeter selling beads and various haberdashery items, including this little elephant, which I have stitched onto a little suit

Did the same with this sweet teddy, easy way to jazz up a plain item

  

More baby knitting on the go, the weeks are disappearing........

take care xcx

Seven years

And no itch....It's hard to believe, but seven years ago we were rolling off the ferry at Santander to begin our new life in Spain. What an adventure so far.............!!!!!

This cacti is the latest to 'sprout' its flower, which means afterwards it will die.  Such a shame as this is such a nice one.  It is in the garden where all the other agarves did the same thing and we are now in the 'slow' process of revamping the whole area

We have noticed that due to the extremely dry weather, a lot of the cacti are flowering, ones that we have not seen before, teeny flowers to large extravagant ones, amazing how plants can surprise you

As you know I have continued to have my grocery shopping delivered as it has taken away another energy draining process and allows me extra for nicer things.  This also allows bitza days when I use up veggies etc instead of just adding to them, this week I had saved a fresh chicken and was going to use it for that night's dinner, still several days in date so fine.  Or not!! oh dear, you just know don't you, when you open the packaging and reel, not good.  Instead I made a pumpkin, broccoli and chick pea thai style curry.  However I was a bit miffed as the chicken cost nearly 5e, so I rang head office, discussed the problem with a very nice lady who said that they would replace the product, but, and this is the best bit!! she asked if I wanted it to be delivered that evening or the next morning!!!! considering it was already gone 6pm I couldn't believe it, now that's service.  As it was I declined and added it to my next delivery.  I was well impressed though.

They are threatening a storm here, again, but our mountain always seems to save us, now I am looking out at darkening skies, with a hint of gloom, we do need it but will we get it, shall we get the buckets out to save the water..... we shall see......................

take care xcx

As they say 'I'm back'

Well actually I have been back home for about 3 weeks now, but so much seems to have happened that I just needed a break without forming thoughts into written words.

I had a lovely time with Rebecca on our trip, instead of her leaving after one week, she stayed on and we enjoyed each others company and friendship.  Unfortunately there was rather a high level of stress during our time there, which I won't go into, but that was another reason for staying together. Like the two musketters 

One afternoon Rebecca surprised me with a trip to a spa, where we enjoyed the facilities for just the two of us, along with a huge platter of fresh fruit and juices, then I was given the treatment of hot stone massage for the complete back of the body.  Well let's just say I whoffted out of there without a care in the world, delightful, if ever you have the chance do have a try.

I did have to pay extra baggage, (there's a surprise) but what with some good deals in Monsoon, along with toiletries and the must haves (like Marmite and coconut milk powder etc) it soon added up.  As I left, Rebecca continued on her journey to Hythe (Kent), enjoying a night in a very nice family B&B, to join her best friend and family, in the end staying nearly a  month.

I arrived home in time to tweak patterns etc for the craft afternoon at the Cancer Care shop, but unfortunately no one turned up which was such a shame.  However I had no control over advertising etc and I really think that was part of the problem.  Still you don't know until you try.

This last week seems to have sped by too, first Rebecca asked for my help in making a special 60th birthday cake for Antoni's Mother.

Then quite out of the blue we received a booking for a 65th birthday party in Gata de Gorgos, so it was all systems go packing up the equipment ready for the gig.  This was the first one since hubby's accident, every one was up dancing and it sounded brilliant and his hand held out really well.  So more bookings from now on!  then my usual morning in the shop followed by a very nice lunch at Rebecca's whilst helping her with the domestic chores. Making decorations for presents, then wrapping birthday presents for Rebecca, I do like to personalise them with flowers or butterflies, hiding sprinkles etc 

Wednesday saw me making another birthday cake, this time for Rebecca, finishing just in time for hubby to take the cake to the restaurant before Rebecca arrived.  We had a lovely lunch, sharing the fun and cake with the locals, super day all round.

Thursday afternoon we followed Rebecca back down the mountain, heading for the beach in Javea, where we enjoyed a cool drink by the gently lapping sea.  Then Rebecca and I went for a paddle in the sea, it is really shallow for a long way out and so it was so warm, we collected shells, had a giggle and stored memories. 

Today! well it had to be a chill out day, a little bit of crochet sitting in the Naya, it was 31C in the shade, the pool is getting up to temp so I wonder what the weekend will bring.

Enjoy your weekend, where ever you are and what ever you are doing.

take care

  

ps. sorry no piccies, I did take some but just haven't done anything with them yet