Play Day

I had great fun today at the wonderful studio's Hope & Elvis. We were taught how to make delightful free stitching pieces by the ever so talented (and patient) Janet Clare.

As well as a delightful play day, I got to have a meet up with some of my bloggy buddies. A day spent with the oh so chuchy Lyn from Everyday Life is always so perfect. She pinched my cheeks Michela!!
And conversations with Two Bones Deb are always a bit on the wrong side of bizarre, we are so on the same wave length!!! (gorgeous fringe by the way!). It looks like Louise is chasing you Deb!
I was so proud of my almost finished piece. I had never tried this kind of sewing before and am thrilled to find I can do this on my machine at home too. When I have finished it, I'm going to frame it.
I loved Lyn's piece - she is so creative and whipped this up in no time.
I also took another friend Lynn B along (for her birthday present) and she produced this great cushion cover. It features her son, his girlfriend and their huge dog. I think that they will love it.
Everyday Lyn also started this smaller piece - so pretty.
I took photographs of some of the other pieces produced by the other ladies who attended - I don't think any of us had done this before.
I loved this by Two Bones Deb who made this for her mum - featuring the house where they used to live.
And this piece was stunning. The fabric, texture and sewing all so beautiful.
I love Louise's studio. I love sitting and creating and being inspired by wonderful tutors and fellow creators alike. I love rummaging through the vintage fabrics to find the right pieces and coming home with something that well may become a family heirloom.
Many thanks Ladies for such a perfect day.

More Cuckoo Way

Hubby and I took ourselves off to walk more of the Cuckoo Way along the Chesterfield Canal today. We parked by the canal in an area of North Nottinghamshire called Rhodesia and walked into Worksop.

It was a very misty start to the day.....
which made for some atmospheric shots.


On our way back, the sun came out and it got very hot very quickly! I'm hoping that some local Worksop resident can tell me what this fabulous building was in its hey day. Any body know?
I loved the old industrial buildings alongside the canal.
The old flour mill is still in production - can you see all the flour blown on the side of the building? It has a very modern and large extension alongside it. Its great to see somewhere in our area still manufacturing.
We saw a couple of narrowboats as we walked along.

On our way back, we took a stroll through Worksop itself. It has a lovely little market.
We had wanted to walk to Retford, but it seemed a long way, so we went to Retford in the car. We decided that next time, we would walk into Retford and then catch a bus back.

Retford was just winding down after market day.
The market square is lovely and has a very grand town hall (newly restored by the looks of it!)
We found the canal again, and found you a very interesting fact!
All in all a perfect (and fairly flat) stroll on a lovely day.

A Mothers Day walk

For Mothers Day, my sis and I took Mum for a walk around Cusworth Hall and gardens in Doncaster.

It was a gorgeous day, but fairly cold. A 2 minute freak hailstone shower had us dashing inside the hall for cover.
The hall is now a museum of Doncaster life. I loved this photograph of ladies working in the railway offices. I complain that I sit on my backside all day at work, but I reckon I would complain more if I was made to stand all day instead!
Mum liked all the old appliances on display. If I had a £1 for every time she said "We had one of theses" I would have been considerably richer when I came out of the hall!

I loved this photo too. I wonder what these two were gossiping about over the fence?




Once the hail cleared, we had a lovely wander around the grounds and lake.

You can't tell how massive the buds are on this tree, but they were HUGE!
Its lovely to see signs of spring.

Time on my hands

esterday I found myself with time on my hands as my playmate was working. I had a choice. I could stay at home and tackle the mountain of ironing and clean up (as I have ladies from the WI round this week for a craft evening and the house is a tip!) or, I could nip into Sheffield to pick my tickets up that I had ordered from the City Hall. You guessed it, I nipped into Sheffield.

I picked up my tickets for our date with Phil and the girls which is later on in the year. We love to support our home grown talent - especially when they will make us feel like we are 20 years old again!

One thing I notice when I have days on my own, is how much I talk to strangers! And I love it. I had some great conversations with some lovely ladies. One of them was off to join this excitable crowd for the afternoon tea dance at the City Hall.
A few of you asked where the Chinese cake and coffee shop was on one of my previous posts - It sits at the top of Division street.....
...next to one of my favourite shops "Within Reason"
I had to laugh at the menu outside of Yummy's Noodle Bar
As you already know, we have a lot of interesting art in Sheffield
I love this in The Bowery window - showing the true colours of the city (Blue and White!).
I didn't mean to show this, but either blogger is playing up, or my brain is - both highly likely! Anyway, its one of the stone carvings inside the Town Hall foyer and not a good photo!
The lime green of these really stood out in the city centre. The ones in my garden don't look this good.
There was a lot of green about for St Patricks day. The city's Irish population had a little parade and then met up on Devonshire Green for a bit of a party.
I photographed some more of the really old buildings in the city centre.


This was the entrance to the old Royal Hospital that used to sit on West Street. I found this interesting clip about the hospital - have a look, its wonderful. Just look at the roast beef they are serving for hospital food! I remember the hospital still being used - that makes me feel really old!
The old buildings sit side by side with newer ones.

More art - this time it was me and not blogger who forgot to include these. In our house, we particularly love the work of the Grafitti artist Phlegm (not the nicest name admittedly!) and are excited when we find a piece . Phlegm Blog here.
I loved the directions to the Beer Garden at the Great Gatsby
If ever you find yourself in Sheffield at lunchtime, be warned that we have a 1 O'Clock time signal - that when it goes off, sounds as if we are at war! Its so loud!
It always amuses me to hear people wondering "what the hell is that!!!" . I think it left over from when the cutlery workers used to return from lunch.
I got home too late to do any housework!x