tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24195444687592736782024-03-13T17:08:43.246+00:00Fan My FlameA textile blog about food and family life
...and my creative journey.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.comBlogger1537125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-27266152304679010502021-06-04T17:35:00.002+01:002021-06-04T17:41:23.478+01:00Well Hello!<p> I never intended to be away so long but I don't really think I have been missed over the past five months. I don't blame you, because to be quite honest I don't think I have really missed this blog very much either! I have missed the blogs I used to read and the people I have got to 'know' but without actually writing posts of my own I have drifted out of the habit of reading blogs too. And very gradually, other things seem to have filled my time and I no longer know how I ever found the time to keep this blog going for so long. It feels sad, but I think the time has come to draw a line under Fan my Flame... after all it has been slowly fading away over the past year or so.</p><p>I'm sure it has something to do with the crazy year and a half we have just been through, because it has certainly made me reassess what is important and what I really want to be doing. I'm still doing many of the things I have always blogged about... I knit, I read, I walk etc but I no longer feel I need to write about it, because after all I have done it all for so long that writing about it just makes it seem rather repetitive and boring, whereas just doing the things and enjoying them, without the need to report on them suddenly feels more important. Does that make sense? I'm not sure I'm being terribly eloquent but it's definitely time for me to move on and say goodbye.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPY2Gpqoik5snCfU9qo5DVNTe-vLeQ6dyC4_saX_QNCW1H_EiA7lAaWh_mS7CGOyO6dOAKNwh19HVDhmbXqF3filTk8ugiW7SoyXRMvzgZmhqkGo7ma6UFvDCYGSvBJ3vT04mgAXesI5g/s2048/IMG_9425.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPY2Gpqoik5snCfU9qo5DVNTe-vLeQ6dyC4_saX_QNCW1H_EiA7lAaWh_mS7CGOyO6dOAKNwh19HVDhmbXqF3filTk8ugiW7SoyXRMvzgZmhqkGo7ma6UFvDCYGSvBJ3vT04mgAXesI5g/w400-h400/IMG_9425.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm spending more time painting</div><p>I'm still teaching art and embroidery but almost exclusively online now. It suits me better and seems to suit more of my students too, allowing me to reach a wider audience. I'm spending far more time painting, which I love as well as seeing more of our grandchildren (as and when we are allowed)... there is a fifth one due to arrive in the next few weeks. I'm walking more (definitely a result of our various lockdowns) and as of last week I think I am going to be outside more than ever as I have just taken on an allotment. As you can see, there is a lot of work to be done, but I have made a start and hope to make some progress this coming weekend. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshNGZrqmUtoT8Z1SutXYRHSkS75uZph0m4wjKzM8SoGPVZXH26yPL4Ae_ZDfCNLP0Kt3GPcRZoPgpuCwQOhiXrZwb98t2nTs2gP-YzUodCwWBeroEUtpV13YFyDLmkrQQyItV2i_ryuU/s2048/96D9B6B4-3B0F-46AE-8462-8FEB6F4A75D5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshNGZrqmUtoT8Z1SutXYRHSkS75uZph0m4wjKzM8SoGPVZXH26yPL4Ae_ZDfCNLP0Kt3GPcRZoPgpuCwQOhiXrZwb98t2nTs2gP-YzUodCwWBeroEUtpV13YFyDLmkrQQyItV2i_ryuU/w400-h400/96D9B6B4-3B0F-46AE-8462-8FEB6F4A75D5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My allotment! A work in progress</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPmMJBGHpE1lPw3OSS6dc_azfg5UzDinmOqDZwxxNSGNtzALCxCawLa5WT0rFEOjNz6HsmDYOfYW-oNhwTzFXEmvLcpQHpKxPmiCNujtXcBgpSdxb1zdyIALc8v47onwIJ6-mENAje3w/s2048/IMG_0795.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPmMJBGHpE1lPw3OSS6dc_azfg5UzDinmOqDZwxxNSGNtzALCxCawLa5WT0rFEOjNz6HsmDYOfYW-oNhwTzFXEmvLcpQHpKxPmiCNujtXcBgpSdxb1zdyIALc8v47onwIJ6-mENAje3w/w300-h400/IMG_0795.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time with youngest granddaughter</div><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/izzy-gina-in-stitches/id1541044016">The podcast </a>I started with<a href="https://www.isobelmoore.co.uk/"> Izzy Moore </a>last November is still going strong and we seem to have gathered quite a following. We are still enjoying our fortnightly chats too which is the important thing. Two years ago I would never imagined doing such a thing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy8mGQOdDiFL_vfmV-l7S3GAJEbwlcr61RS7KGFVy01ribMQTVAf4NtE4Vf5ZgmVqG1mAL9EcXLGPGMIXOmdJGr8uAyqizomNo3n3g-q3VGemAjrThrzNF13QdZatExG1ub9CTNcpW5s/s600/IMG_0514.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy8mGQOdDiFL_vfmV-l7S3GAJEbwlcr61RS7KGFVy01ribMQTVAf4NtE4Vf5ZgmVqG1mAL9EcXLGPGMIXOmdJGr8uAyqizomNo3n3g-q3VGemAjrThrzNF13QdZatExG1ub9CTNcpW5s/w400-h400/IMG_0514.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>So as I said, much is the same... but different too! I'm sure I will miss this occasionally but I can still be found regularly on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gina_ferrari_art">Instagram</a> or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GinaFerrariTextileArt/">Facebook</a>. And I am still writing <a href="https://www.ginaferrari-art.co.uk/blog">a blog </a>but with a more art/professional basis... you can find that on my<a href="https://www.ginaferrari-art.co.uk/"> website </a>should you be interested. And you can always sign up for my newsletter (just click the link on the sidebar)I hope to see you some of these other places but for now... I'm going, going... gone! </p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-84159726799487686322021-01-26T19:53:00.015+00:002021-01-26T20:17:24.258+00:00Just Another Lockdown Day<p style="text-align: center;">Gosh, it's been a while (again!)</p><p style="text-align: center;">I almost didn't come back, I wasn't really sure I had anything to write about... I'm still not sure I have anything much to write about to be honest. I think that maybe this has something to do with our current situation and the fact that the days seem to blend into each other with very little variety, so I feel there's nothing new to say.</p><p style="text-align: center;">We are back in lockdown in the UK and are only supposed to leave the house for essential shopping or exercise within our own neighbourhood. I'm not bored, in fact, if anything the opposite is true in that I have so much to keep me occupied I sometimes wonder how I get it all done. But maybe it's the same repetitive nature of the days and the lack of spontaneity that I'm struggling with at the moment? I have no desire to jet off to somewhere exotic, or indulge in any particularly exciting adventure, but it would be so good just to meet a friend for a coffee occasionally, or get on a train and go and see an exhibition. Maybe go for a long walk and finish up with a pub lunch, or visit family members and have cuddles with the grandchildren. Just those small things that bring variety to our lives. Of course I know that I'm not alone in feeling this way and in fact I have much to be appreciative and grateful for so I'm not complaining, merely pondering why I feel so restless and why there seems to be nothing new. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnjtPum4gl9auaPlaes2UmW3AB48PUrop0maVJRHxz__YwKq-xyu7dXSBBV3TMLwUP3jIy8zOJQW7PgCmTM-AaXW8D7-f6vBwtbLb2dbeOXiefAofdUVZcSRcng-V-ZBq6AIHWDUJiiE/s2048/F7155599-3251-4839-85DC-B95BBA797B31.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnjtPum4gl9auaPlaes2UmW3AB48PUrop0maVJRHxz__YwKq-xyu7dXSBBV3TMLwUP3jIy8zOJQW7PgCmTM-AaXW8D7-f6vBwtbLb2dbeOXiefAofdUVZcSRcng-V-ZBq6AIHWDUJiiE/w300-h400/F7155599-3251-4839-85DC-B95BBA797B31.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">As a lifetime early riser, it has come as a bit of a shock that suddenly an extra half hour in bed seems preferable to getting up but there doesn't seem to be much rush to get going in the morning lately. When I do haul myself out of bed it's a case of throwing on whatever old clothes I can lay my hands on and getting out with the dog. If I'm lucky it won't be wet, although the mud is pretty horrendous at the moment. With my track record I'm convinced I'm going to end up flat on my back one of these mornings. It's probably my favourite part of the day though, time on my own to contemplate the day ahead... or if I'm completely honest contemplating the prospect of breakfast and a cuppa on my return home. Meals seem to be a welcome punctuation to the day and something I really look forward to at the moment! Although in truth they are pretty repetitive too. In my attempt to make shopping as quick and painless as possible we are stitcking to old favourites week in, week out.</p><p style="text-align: center;">There has been the launch of another online course, one that I am running over the next six months so it requires much filming, editing, note writing and sample making, which frankly has turned into a full time job. Fortunately it is a full time job that I am really enjoying, especially as it's all about taking inspiration from the work of some of my favourite artists. The filming I try to get done in the morning out in my studio... but it's bloody freezing out there even with a heater. So afternoons are spent inside, wrapped up in lots of layers until I start to feel warm again, but at least I can get the editing done whilst wrapped in blankets on the sofa.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubpsTgiXBaowdtwSsbPIa3kDGDIqSSWmecDCLmIZRqz25ehuONAz7l_38-U60oWyEOb4g7WXXlTsuWs7bv_2WHlCB6R4XuQ2I_Pw7HC-gZmz5doMxz8Dhh1HjsT35-PcoLrCVPO3R7Vk/s2048/IMG_5726+2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubpsTgiXBaowdtwSsbPIa3kDGDIqSSWmecDCLmIZRqz25ehuONAz7l_38-U60oWyEOb4g7WXXlTsuWs7bv_2WHlCB6R4XuQ2I_Pw7HC-gZmz5doMxz8Dhh1HjsT35-PcoLrCVPO3R7Vk/w400-h300/IMG_5726+2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Work inspired by Matisse</div><p style="text-align: center;">Once every couple of weeks Izzy and I record <a href="https://anchor.fm/izzyandginainstitches">the podcast</a> and already we are up to episode 5 which will be released this Thursday. (I talk about the blogging among other things) I look forward to our hour chatting and catching up. We both rather like the way it makes us accountable to each other. In the weeks in between I write a newsletter to go out to my subscribers. I should be doing that now rather than writing a blogpost! </p><p style="text-align: center;">Some days there are extra walks when I might meet a friend or occasionally join Stewart for the afternoon dog walk. There's not a huge variety as to where we can walk at the moment (the mud being a limiting factor) but it's still good to get out. And then in the evenings I might read. I seem to be getting through a lot of books and I'm already on my fifth novel this year, which I'm sure must be something of a record. I'm currently reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54911029-the-snow-and-the-works-on-the-northern-line">The Snow and the Works on the Northern Line</a> by Ruth Thomas ,which is fabulous. It has been <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000r3nd">serialised on the radio </a>but after listening to just the first episode I knew I wanted to read it. I have also enjoyed <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35137915-i-am-i-am-i-am">I am, I am, I am</a> by Maggie O'Farrell, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46000520-the-thursday-murder-club">The Thursday Murder Club</a> by Richard Osman, a couple of <a href="https://www.ianrankin.net/landing-page/ian-rankin/ian-rankin-extras/ian-rankin-the-rebus-books-in-order/">Ian Rankin Rebus</a> novels and an <a href="https://ellygriffiths.co.uk/my-books/the-ruth-galloway-novels/">Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway</a> story. Next on my reading pile is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44439342-the-confession">The Confession </a>by Jessie Burton </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNomyWKEXxDNNtP5etSOC1O-ggML6_a4PTSYMNLuA35hgwv_axzsmRfd_bqTb_hZku5Ew8NeTBHSl-elqDunvHb8UtxthOw0gQRovOTfWaTFZBx6kgqpZOMnZ2np6udO9lje9s6zsyJk/s386/4A28B6AB-8CB6-4972-8634-356D8C4DC42B_4_5005_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="279" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNomyWKEXxDNNtP5etSOC1O-ggML6_a4PTSYMNLuA35hgwv_axzsmRfd_bqTb_hZku5Ew8NeTBHSl-elqDunvHb8UtxthOw0gQRovOTfWaTFZBx6kgqpZOMnZ2np6udO9lje9s6zsyJk/w289-h400/4A28B6AB-8CB6-4972-8634-356D8C4DC42B_4_5005_c.jpeg" width="289" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">On the rare occasion there is something worth watching on TV (I'm loving the behind the scenes look at the V & A in <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f1xt">The Secrets of the Museum </a>and have only just discovered the programmes about the Sky Portrait artist and Landscape artist of the year , but I digress) then I'm getting some knitting done too. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I have four projects on the go at the moment and all for me! I have one sock finished but need to cast on the second, I'm half way up the first mitten of a pair, I have almost finished a shawl but I'm desperately trying to finish this cardigan below which is <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bees-knees-6">The Bees Knees</a> by Thea Coleman in a gorgeous hand dyed Cheviot marsh Aran from <a href="https://whistlebare.com/">Whistlebare</a>. I obviously need some more good TV recommendations to get these projects finished.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5Mxzw053H2xlCsnJrTpjiMHqFiigxvU1r7DBhyphenhyphenrSIupjlzzmEvx3XR2Db-ZuMPyZ9Vpw168C2P0w5rcZbtMC8Vn_Knx7C-PM0NRngMxuaU1mDcddCGX_Y3wQqScFkgtyl_k00z0VMes/s2048/A863BC83-7F4A-4CFB-B100-DF57F23D7188.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5Mxzw053H2xlCsnJrTpjiMHqFiigxvU1r7DBhyphenhyphenrSIupjlzzmEvx3XR2Db-ZuMPyZ9Vpw168C2P0w5rcZbtMC8Vn_Knx7C-PM0NRngMxuaU1mDcddCGX_Y3wQqScFkgtyl_k00z0VMes/w400-h400/A863BC83-7F4A-4CFB-B100-DF57F23D7188.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">So as you can see, I don't have any reason to complain or feel restless as life is as full and as busy as ever... but sometimes it would be rather lovely to be spontaneous and do something a little bit different, just once in a while. And at least then I could write a blogpost about it! How are you coping with these Lockdown days? Do leave me a comment and tell me so I know I'm not alone.</p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-71214815801759445132020-12-28T13:51:00.000+00:002020-12-28T15:03:18.667+00:00A Winter's Tale<p style="text-align: center;"> Here we are almost at the end of another year and like many, I find it a time for reflection. I don't think any of us need another reminder of what a different or difficult year it has been. We have all faced challenges, some more heartbreaking or devastating than others, so in many ways I am fortunate. Plans for the year didn't materialise, we didn't see friends, our family or our three new grandchildren as much as we would have liked but overall things are okay. And on the plus side, I have learned new skills by taking my teaching online and have started a new venture with the podcast with <a href="https://www.isobelmoore.co.uk/">Izzy. </a>Both things that probably would never have happened without the pandemic. In fact planning, or lack of, is the subject of the third episode of our <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/izzy-gina-in-stitches/id1541044016">podcast</a>, Izzy & Gina... in stitches, which you can hear from Thursday 31st December as we attempt to wrap up this year. We also talk about our dogs and I mention a little foray into writing...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU-zv-tfE-gA3evUeY0Nq7BlUuoICutY4xpNqCQdNvU2uL068vKMZWKlhXz3yWX4z9JUhVHLAnQlQO9RMkQWE6M794Uy0F8EfELkT44N5ydewEbcGNLjVUF8Fs9KyIjEMG2zNXh4axrk/s2048/1D7FEBCE-9A84-4FF5-BF72-BD12F395537B.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDU-zv-tfE-gA3evUeY0Nq7BlUuoICutY4xpNqCQdNvU2uL068vKMZWKlhXz3yWX4z9JUhVHLAnQlQO9RMkQWE6M794Uy0F8EfELkT44N5ydewEbcGNLjVUF8Fs9KyIjEMG2zNXh4axrk/w400-h400/1D7FEBCE-9A84-4FF5-BF72-BD12F395537B.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Which brings me neatly to the real subject of this post... writing. Along with my other creative pursuits I enjoy putting pen to paper now and then. I've often kept diaries, I've written here for more years than I remember and I've even written a pantomime but I've never really attempted a story, at least not since I was at school. So during a short writing course from <a href="https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/">Beth Kempton</a> just before Christmas, where we were encouraged to write a short winter story based on a memory, I came up with the following. I have debated whether to share this as it feels incredibly exposing, but there seems little point in writing a story if no-one gets to read it. In the words of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practice-Seth-Godin/dp/0241470048/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=108481227485&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoab_BRCxARIsANMx4S6sxfvBmzMGE8KCXYqG2CBzdaSEqwNv0xMb5rb-_c_Esw4P9JGBn0oaAsSEEALw_wcB&hvadid=469033283027&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9050375&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3113638412183419679&hvtargid=kwd-976161736742&hydadcr=24430_1816093&keywords=seth+godin+the+practice&qid=1609159350&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-21">Seth Godin</a> "It doesn't count if you don't share it". </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKieQYGBqBHa4iOIZ0teaV7Zzg3IE71U2tocbMx2FSTD4Rwu3JeyNXXw9mZtigLvxvPU7SV1k8XO57M0IlrWN8sCMsa2RDvYyvaCYPmwixVSsW-SofHUHlDHdfzsV9k8ycymmUp6-P0_c/s2048/IMG_5296.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKieQYGBqBHa4iOIZ0teaV7Zzg3IE71U2tocbMx2FSTD4Rwu3JeyNXXw9mZtigLvxvPU7SV1k8XO57M0IlrWN8sCMsa2RDvYyvaCYPmwixVSsW-SofHUHlDHdfzsV9k8ycymmUp6-P0_c/w400-h400/IMG_5296.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">So here goes. It is entirely true and I hope it will bring a smile to your face at the end of this strangest of years. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. And let me sign off for the year by wishing you peace, hope, good health and love for 2021. Thank you for being here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTMa8_y-NeKR4S_BAG5PQgkPqLvJ4Gg7sMwWGV0GV0rVq9fQq67jI7NQ-cQVziGN6FtA6ZSNJvXQm50R6eX-DNpCdIcsbrmSeg9nLB52bjQIrEYpnYUyOMzaCN2PivjxmFQB7I8zMd54/s2048/EF842530-46F4-4321-A0D3-6BA2BDC467FE.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTMa8_y-NeKR4S_BAG5PQgkPqLvJ4Gg7sMwWGV0GV0rVq9fQq67jI7NQ-cQVziGN6FtA6ZSNJvXQm50R6eX-DNpCdIcsbrmSeg9nLB52bjQIrEYpnYUyOMzaCN2PivjxmFQB7I8zMd54/w400-h400/EF842530-46F4-4321-A0D3-6BA2BDC467FE.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">A Cautionary Winter's Tale</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">It was one of those winters of childhood memory, where you always wake to a world cloaked in muffled silence, enveloped in a blanket of snow. Of course, most winters were not like that at all, and just like the endless hot balmy summers we recalled from our youth, they were merely imagined memories, given rose tinted spectacles with the passage of time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">But this particular Christmas we really did wake to find there had been a heavy snowfall during the night. It was a late start with the adults weary from the celebrations of the evening before but us children couldn’t wait to get outside. Donning hats, mittens, scarves and boots we wrapped up ready to go and play in the road, in the days when it was safe to do so. The overnight snowfall had been so heavy it was unlikely there would be any traffic on our quiet street anyway.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Snowballs were hurled, landing on our necks sending trickles of icy water down our backs as we shrieked in mock outrage. Snowmen were built as we rolled huge balls up and down the street, gathering layers of clinging wet snow speckled with grit. We lay on the fresh unspoilt snow in the front gardens making ‘angels’ with our arms and legs. We played for what seemed like hours, until our ears and noses were tingling and our fingers became so numb, we could no longer feel them, encased in their mittens coated with clinging clumps of ice.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Back inside our wet outer garments were discarded, leaving puddles on the floor and soggy damp wool was draped over heaters to dry, as my mother boiled up a kettle to make us hot blackcurrant drinks to warm us up. As we sipped the steaming hot mugs of blackcurrant cordial there were cries of disgust. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZHFjL4VjzAevKOtoOxlMEqN71DWHcSmBCWUZM1rRaOlXAClkK_Z5TcIEAntrPXY-3QWn6_fKw5BsahfFHBfvh6IqXhlYxJFwLUepJvSjEO7JKF1VIBNk1NLUrad_z7MhxW6x2XyzZxs/s259/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZHFjL4VjzAevKOtoOxlMEqN71DWHcSmBCWUZM1rRaOlXAClkK_Z5TcIEAntrPXY-3QWn6_fKw5BsahfFHBfvh6IqXhlYxJFwLUepJvSjEO7JKF1VIBNk1NLUrad_z7MhxW6x2XyzZxs/w400-h300/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">“This tastes really strange”, “It’s horrid”, “There’s not enough Ribena in this, you’ve made it too weak”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Mum emptied the bottle, adding extra cordial to our mugs, in an attempt to improve the flavour but it didn’t help much. It became sweeter but still tasted disgusting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">And then my uncle Dave, ex merchant navy, appeared, taking in the scene of complaining children with their hot drinks and realisation dawned. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">“You didn’t use that half bottle of blackcurrant I left on the sideboard, did you?” He asked my mother. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">“Yes, thought it best to use that up before opening a new bottle.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">“Ah… I mixed that with my rum last night!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Fortunately, none of us had drunk more than a sip or two and none of us actually liked the hot rum and black, but the story was told for many years about the time all us kids all got drunk on uncle Dave’s rum!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p>*****</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p>You can read another one of my forays into writing <a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/2018/02/off-piste.html">here</a>.</o:p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-20272203105676421292020-12-09T20:47:00.001+00:002020-12-09T20:48:33.099+00:00Christmas Crafting.<p style="text-align: center;">I had a mad moment last week when I wondered if I might do a post every day in December, like I have in the past, a sort of blogging advent calendar. Which had I gone ahead would have meant more blog posts in this one month than I managed the entire rest of the year... but I came to my senses in time! I'm not sure what it is about December that makes me think I can do ALL the things as I go into a frenzy of making gifts, handcrafting decorations, baking, pickling and preserving and more. I turn into a crazy crafting woman who could give <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/kirsties-christmas-quick-easy-craft">Kirsty Allsop </a>a run for her money!</p><p style="text-align: center;">During an afternoon set aside for clearing up my studio, I found a bag of pebbles that had been knocking around for years. There has been a bit of a thing in our village (and in other places too I believe) for painting pebbles and hiding them for children (and adults) to find. The idea is that they get photographed, the picture is posted on a special Facebook page called 'Guilden Rocks' and then pebble gets hidden again for someone else to find. I thought it would be fun to paint my pebbles and hide them... needless to say the studio didn't get cleared that day!</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-ow-akFCtW0nmPBg1_Um-rnu5MLcZd-3eD0MgD72Ys9gK3QhvdqWQGQblG6WEpoRjrEvv4McGpOcicyvUHRULz0kXHRxagCEQVthetkEruPixb2nQQW6rpuR0jLGB5RESWjiI1pIlWM/s2048/C55E3B98-F872-456A-94D8-57F8BAB6A379.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-ow-akFCtW0nmPBg1_Um-rnu5MLcZd-3eD0MgD72Ys9gK3QhvdqWQGQblG6WEpoRjrEvv4McGpOcicyvUHRULz0kXHRxagCEQVthetkEruPixb2nQQW6rpuR0jLGB5RESWjiI1pIlWM/w400-h400/C55E3B98-F872-456A-94D8-57F8BAB6A379.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">I've also been making some origami stars to go on the front of some Christmas cards... I was inspired after reading some of those other advent posts from my past.<a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/2017/12/advent-2017-day-11.html"> This one here</a> should you fancy giving them a try. I seem to remember threading them onto invisible thread and hanging them up as decorations too.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GRVOiUwIyrIA5zF1M4LLcDpCFDN6wrgGjG8Wd4QcTEN7qRFBn_8x5oTWp01J-PJ2JAIwU6LEbhg7BqZs0W2eUiKFYn-pkrgeMEsYGP1W-9WOMl633bSKeKGW4SlXMAN7dU14gRGvQRM/s2048/692CC06E-ED9B-4790-9498-233F1C34CAB6.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GRVOiUwIyrIA5zF1M4LLcDpCFDN6wrgGjG8Wd4QcTEN7qRFBn_8x5oTWp01J-PJ2JAIwU6LEbhg7BqZs0W2eUiKFYn-pkrgeMEsYGP1W-9WOMl633bSKeKGW4SlXMAN7dU14gRGvQRM/w400-h400/692CC06E-ED9B-4790-9498-233F1C34CAB6.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">But they look quite cute on the front of cards!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WITnKPkeOaEieA8wDFzA3zv183LwzAJXqr49p8yzM0-SNgRlmC1f-U9AKy8kLCm6FJh9y9__xFe1JmqoKPfxptk3ucHdpACmxc2glKo7nvoyeHAEMauLLJmtqvdGZ4zgMSiFEH3D67I/s2048/55BBD80F-680F-4A27-BF87-1015CD8E4C4E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1972" data-original-width="2048" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WITnKPkeOaEieA8wDFzA3zv183LwzAJXqr49p8yzM0-SNgRlmC1f-U9AKy8kLCm6FJh9y9__xFe1JmqoKPfxptk3ucHdpACmxc2glKo7nvoyeHAEMauLLJmtqvdGZ4zgMSiFEH3D67I/w400-h385/55BBD80F-680F-4A27-BF87-1015CD8E4C4E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also made some of these cute little tags after watching a fabulous free tutorial by <a href="https://www.designmatterstv.com/">Laura Kemshall.</a> Given my usual aversion to anything patchwork related these were strangely addictive and I ended up making a dozen or so to go on the front of more cards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkBm4jgFz4pN0rIByJajvwJMMKBj-SgMN0Nnuj_S1rCGh5IqXa6AEjnZKfR0FK6B1IDulyXjLSoXkwH5f9_GKNhklWR9hNZONWDsqheq-JgSPWGJntM7k0_wV3wAJL9Krt0h6teAuowU/s2048/A76E119E-EE4D-43DE-98E9-9AE274AC5A31.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkBm4jgFz4pN0rIByJajvwJMMKBj-SgMN0Nnuj_S1rCGh5IqXa6AEjnZKfR0FK6B1IDulyXjLSoXkwH5f9_GKNhklWR9hNZONWDsqheq-JgSPWGJntM7k0_wV3wAJL9Krt0h6teAuowU/w400-h400/A76E119E-EE4D-43DE-98E9-9AE274AC5A31.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Or in some cases to decorate parcels. The observant among you may also have noticed there were mince pies made too. You can find my recipe for <a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/2017/12/advent-2017-day-4.html">almond topped pies here</a>... regular pastry just doesn't come close.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtopA7Seawovl1siOqvWxTy4c-0nU9oNfNKRBE6NGnCPi91FvSobSA9XjoFZA2fE1DmD7_Q3mHys5Z8-bYem3u_E1mY1htmZTMPK__tsamGK3u99ZuJqfxb8ABKpsUVaF9htDmgnoXmQA/s2048/CEAADF46-0A7C-4DF9-89FB-9E8B4AF54E1E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtopA7Seawovl1siOqvWxTy4c-0nU9oNfNKRBE6NGnCPi91FvSobSA9XjoFZA2fE1DmD7_Q3mHys5Z8-bYem3u_E1mY1htmZTMPK__tsamGK3u99ZuJqfxb8ABKpsUVaF9htDmgnoXmQA/w400-h400/CEAADF46-0A7C-4DF9-89FB-9E8B4AF54E1E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As if that wasn't enough I've also crocheted these Christmas trees which came in kit form from <a href="https://www.cottonpod.co.uk/">Cotton Pod.</a> It was the most beautifully packaged kit I have ever received and felt just like I was sending myself a gift. It was almost a shame to unwrap it all to make the trees but I'm glad I did because as yet they are the only decorations up so far... and they look rather jolly on the mantlepiece.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEFwYRSwd_n2LUHknquOMI4pmj29fUUkGnJY1tJOWzBUuSp4ge505gH2TzZfrhRG-Wm7G3jcBTv9wdXM8KZ7hp6dXhFYbZ-jfxI-ImhcPPCWgI-_X3wVKOsRmyhijJpaRgwsiU8wvOx8/s1440/336480F3-DF03-4203-9CF2-D3C0D36B1DB7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEFwYRSwd_n2LUHknquOMI4pmj29fUUkGnJY1tJOWzBUuSp4ge505gH2TzZfrhRG-Wm7G3jcBTv9wdXM8KZ7hp6dXhFYbZ-jfxI-ImhcPPCWgI-_X3wVKOsRmyhijJpaRgwsiU8wvOx8/s320/336480F3-DF03-4203-9CF2-D3C0D36B1DB7.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">I may not be doing a blogging advent calendar but the real one I made for our eldest grandson has gone down a treat. We get daily photos as he takes the latest ornament from its pocket and hangs it on his tree. The joy is infectious!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPqzoTadjw3ZfBtnV8oq3QR0Klw12SUFInVWhlu7XmQspYiQfiA1c-AnGz-A6hpvnZsjvCu_aYFDTriLW65zWvaqYjXJ-EHN_huA7zLv3V4MHdvRImZskr08BkxnJvwxFq4Uw-z_Hl0M/s1024/FD2C59A6-490F-4442-862E-67F5CCF48DD8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPqzoTadjw3ZfBtnV8oq3QR0Klw12SUFInVWhlu7XmQspYiQfiA1c-AnGz-A6hpvnZsjvCu_aYFDTriLW65zWvaqYjXJ-EHN_huA7zLv3V4MHdvRImZskr08BkxnJvwxFq4Uw-z_Hl0M/w300-h400/FD2C59A6-490F-4442-862E-67F5CCF48DD8.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_UbzdUzJoIZHQi5eNLGhyphenhyphen2vvE8AXslUFFXZtevHvhiJRQgPHhtmcNyLYNbNN81tg4HqWzSDlg1IuhZU0M5C8zsfqW-9j05_3ntNl5jJVItiYnWfFC12vjR6XsgSkplWgKEjrwm6b0JI/s1024/DD2BD8A6-94ED-4E0F-B67D-674992369B2E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_UbzdUzJoIZHQi5eNLGhyphenhyphen2vvE8AXslUFFXZtevHvhiJRQgPHhtmcNyLYNbNN81tg4HqWzSDlg1IuhZU0M5C8zsfqW-9j05_3ntNl5jJVItiYnWfFC12vjR6XsgSkplWgKEjrwm6b0JI/w300-h400/DD2BD8A6-94ED-4E0F-B67D-674992369B2E.jpeg" width="300" /></a> </div><p style="text-align: center;">And as final note, which really has nothing to do with what I've already written about (I tried to think of an elegant segue but failed), I thought I should mention the second episode of my podcast with <a href="https://www.isobelmoore.co.uk/">Izzy Moore</a> is out tomorrow at 10 am GMT and we will be talking about some of our favourite textile and art books... as well as about painting pebbles and Christmas cakes! (Yes, I have made my Christmas cake too... I knew I could link it to making stuff somehow!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuUN8IIRgql_mbfOToBP2SFR5TD_pxawJpMrwgEjvYJVtj7sahPeI5XcUxip_PbvRuHJOVx3rvMQUO4YTuZTwNqsIBB6toPMOjYVEOO0p93bgp1xBgudifAslGtDDNTBlDq8hQZ_oZPY/s2048/IMG_4832.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuUN8IIRgql_mbfOToBP2SFR5TD_pxawJpMrwgEjvYJVtj7sahPeI5XcUxip_PbvRuHJOVx3rvMQUO4YTuZTwNqsIBB6toPMOjYVEOO0p93bgp1xBgudifAslGtDDNTBlDq8hQZ_oZPY/s320/IMG_4832.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/izzy-gina-in-stitches/id1541044016">Izzy and Gina... in stitches</a> is available on all the usual podcast listening platforms. Have you listened to the first episode yet?</div><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-9945549477364680842020-11-29T20:13:00.004+00:002020-11-29T20:13:34.571+00:00Too much excitement for one week?<p style="text-align: center;">You might be pleased to hear that my dizzy head is almost back to normal and I'm allowed to venture out on my own once more (I'm not sure I was ever not allowed but we were being cautious). I have even taken the dog's lead again, with some trepidation I might add! However there is still a lot of giddiness down to excitement round these parts.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Isobel and I launched the first episode of our podcast -<a href="https://anchor.fm/izzyandginainstitches"> Izzy and Gina ...in stitches</a>, last Thursday. Lots of informal chat about art, embroidery and life in general... although mostly just introducing ourselves in this first episode.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcex_H1zd7kj1LYrTXKipVE0BHjXdTY34iF5NSx2quTnzhc04ojqPZFx1JX1yKa9BUMh4D_c9yfY3C30D97acRsiQmlDcNVI0eFKqv4_p0BIrqGdJFHJIkx_ZCXMFv9btCdRnxQaLVPE/s500/F42B7C77-B79E-4AD1-81A9-F1A1EDD8D62B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcex_H1zd7kj1LYrTXKipVE0BHjXdTY34iF5NSx2quTnzhc04ojqPZFx1JX1yKa9BUMh4D_c9yfY3C30D97acRsiQmlDcNVI0eFKqv4_p0BIrqGdJFHJIkx_ZCXMFv9btCdRnxQaLVPE/w400-h400/F42B7C77-B79E-4AD1-81A9-F1A1EDD8D62B.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">We were ridiculously excited and nervous about how it might be received but so far we have had lots of lovely feedback and we're busy getting episode 2 ready for release on 10th December. Have you listened yet? I'd love to know what you think... well maybe only if you liked it! We've got a whole episode planned about feedback and receiving validation from others. Izzy and I have both written blogs for quite some time (I think we have a podcast episode planned about blogging too) so we are used to waiting for comments and wondering if anyone is reading, and more importantly enjoying what we are putting out there. I've also had the occasional negative comment too so we think this could be quite a meaty subject.</p><p style="text-align: center;">In fact we have loads of meaty episodes planned so if you enjoyed the first episode you might like to subscribe in future. It's available via all the usual podcast platforms.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc6dIIhadbx4bML21TetaOyPQEA6kcsxK372Fmq6Dbb5tlWj9aLvIbyMATPy7_hXVahivFd97rjegeeHbL13QqN2aAdIWUizAaox8dXI0nLXHKrisAUnx4h8fpoGBPLfmxobibXEnRzk/s1845/IMG_4762.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1717" data-original-width="1845" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc6dIIhadbx4bML21TetaOyPQEA6kcsxK372Fmq6Dbb5tlWj9aLvIbyMATPy7_hXVahivFd97rjegeeHbL13QqN2aAdIWUizAaox8dXI0nLXHKrisAUnx4h8fpoGBPLfmxobibXEnRzk/w400-h373/IMG_4762.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">The excitement continued this week as I received my copies of WOWbook 6 on Friday, in which I have an article on how I combine painting with stitch. I wrote the article and went to have my work photographed by the lovely <a href="https://www.michaelwicks.com/">Michael Wicks</a> way back at the beginning of the year before the first lockdown, so after such a long time it was wonderful to actually see it in print.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaPEG-gkPyCSCav92-uGfbeFKvcM6enwUT9J-Wsgh4CKkB3iqK4_YMJuIHvZdU5JLOkhDlrSQ2dvDgGyz0XGITPZvjjMpOb119WZTjJnzZfcHdYEstzWYTAXLH7t8_NkVv25IvQf65uw/s2000/IMG_4761+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaPEG-gkPyCSCav92-uGfbeFKvcM6enwUT9J-Wsgh4CKkB3iqK4_YMJuIHvZdU5JLOkhDlrSQ2dvDgGyz0XGITPZvjjMpOb119WZTjJnzZfcHdYEstzWYTAXLH7t8_NkVv25IvQf65uw/w400-h266/IMG_4761+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photography: Michael Wicks</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpuvmkWCCudsSHvpNUSzhEEU8GNfri_-FOz0w2WWYFfJw_kKLNb15-T_FT-1WXXYEv8Dr2VpErdhZHNpACKOUbh5w1P2vBR5vnRjKtrwNcXHs3vE4pqgc7xbEeo2omIjrAbgJIVZmenw/s1500/IMG_4760+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1500" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpuvmkWCCudsSHvpNUSzhEEU8GNfri_-FOz0w2WWYFfJw_kKLNb15-T_FT-1WXXYEv8Dr2VpErdhZHNpACKOUbh5w1P2vBR5vnRjKtrwNcXHs3vE4pqgc7xbEeo2omIjrAbgJIVZmenw/w400-h278/IMG_4760+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photography: Michael Wicks</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">It's a gorgeous book and full of fabulous articles so it would be a good one to put on the Christmas list if you like creative textiles. It's available from <a href="https://www.d4daisy.com/">d4daisy books.</a> Or if you fancy winning a free copy, I am planning to give one away next week to newsletter subscribers only. You can find a link to sign up in the side bar.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I've also taken part in a virtual Christmas market in our village this weekend, seeing as any real Christmas markets or craft fairs are not happening. I wasn't really sure what to expect or how it would work but it was actually fantastic! It was all done via a Facebook event and it was hard work keeping track of who wanted what, and then sending payment instructions as well as arranging collection or delivery, but it all came together and was really successful. There was also a virtual raffle that raised lots of money for charity and I continue to be impressed with the way people are finding ways to work around these difficult times.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi794h4rev9nAQYV6EgYtSHRycQKGs4AphBxwqHV7xFW0vYMWu_CrbxiV1-M1-dUndqB3JuxdkRhWfNvwLtwhK4q-vINvwSCE33_LLMPFIlrCrJkuQcdhGMmSdRRIX0XKhhGTRNwM_Rlm8/s2048/DE09BE62-6DFF-42BD-86D1-2DAD4B43B4E4.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi794h4rev9nAQYV6EgYtSHRycQKGs4AphBxwqHV7xFW0vYMWu_CrbxiV1-M1-dUndqB3JuxdkRhWfNvwLtwhK4q-vINvwSCE33_LLMPFIlrCrJkuQcdhGMmSdRRIX0XKhhGTRNwM_Rlm8/w400-h400/DE09BE62-6DFF-42BD-86D1-2DAD4B43B4E4.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">My best sellers were these little angels... I sold out! I spent a ridiculous amount of time making boxes for them and then writing little individual stories for each one that I put into miniature books. Totally bonkers I know, but I think we could all do with a bit more bonkers in our lives don't you?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIV7ANB_h6i_VWvjd-6fnM6dnX0tZLFyFew-y94nLaz_kOdZSSiES1WQVZbaiX4UUDKKG6R6JObrJTzRXMIhZeotM82FpsmKDOgBiTBBITs7Vq1cdFD9VCtuJ2Fh7wEWvZx2ZqicIUOs/s2048/FFD591F9-31BD-4B9B-AB6B-1ED922672078.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIV7ANB_h6i_VWvjd-6fnM6dnX0tZLFyFew-y94nLaz_kOdZSSiES1WQVZbaiX4UUDKKG6R6JObrJTzRXMIhZeotM82FpsmKDOgBiTBBITs7Vq1cdFD9VCtuJ2Fh7wEWvZx2ZqicIUOs/w400-h400/FFD591F9-31BD-4B9B-AB6B-1ED922672078.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">And if you fancy making you own angels I have a course telling you how <a href="https://coursecraft.net/c/angelinaangels">right here.</a>.. and it's totally free!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xhs44GbD6RvXG0oQXkR4y7-JG2Y0OjGZaCR1zW7pH20xeHaUibtKv-rQhubZTfMvPWkbw-8HwvEJvXmdBmia2A2S8UjDtUayG_wjSnZTbdHSX1UTGAG8HFUX4NitlXK1Kv9zsWhqVf8/s1080/51D6FA30-C251-4109-853C-F55C921DABD5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xhs44GbD6RvXG0oQXkR4y7-JG2Y0OjGZaCR1zW7pH20xeHaUibtKv-rQhubZTfMvPWkbw-8HwvEJvXmdBmia2A2S8UjDtUayG_wjSnZTbdHSX1UTGAG8HFUX4NitlXK1Kv9zsWhqVf8/w400-h400/51D6FA30-C251-4109-853C-F55C921DABD5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">So after all this excitement the plan is for some down time with some knitting and tea... although I confess the mug of tea has been replaced with a glass of wine!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2o2l1naRwbAzOJ_luLlPbVRv8nxAI_MhL3Gy7HvD-2JmVQJ6yrv6XSOICFB4ELPJcfzMKyh8ZDuCBQ8OFnk8smdleUJU_5eWIeX8xZtMk9bBrrMjp9vzXrAeTiBKT0Ic-UGjDOiON30/s2048/IMG_4770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1976" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2o2l1naRwbAzOJ_luLlPbVRv8nxAI_MhL3Gy7HvD-2JmVQJ6yrv6XSOICFB4ELPJcfzMKyh8ZDuCBQ8OFnk8smdleUJU_5eWIeX8xZtMk9bBrrMjp9vzXrAeTiBKT0Ic-UGjDOiON30/w386-h400/IMG_4770.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">So what have you been up to this weekend? Listened to any good podcasts?</p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-471833920142456172020-11-19T19:38:00.001+00:002020-11-29T20:14:02.411+00:00Pastures New<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thank you for your lovely comments and concern about my head (<a href="https://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/2020/11/november-days.html">last post)</a>. I've not moved very far from the sofa all week and I'm going a little stir crazy as I still have vertigo, but today the giddiness might just be down to some excitement round these parts!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anyone who receives my newsletters will have picked my hints that there was an exciting new project I've been working on. And of course if you receive my newsletters you'll already know why I'm excited. It's something that has been on the back burner for a while since the summer when my friend, <a href="www.isobelmoore.co.uk">Isobel Moore </a><span style="font-size: small;">and I, first had the same crazy idea. I had just about come to the end of </span><a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/2020/07/venturing-into-unknown.html">Open Windows</a><span style="font-size: small;"> and I was wondering what I could launch myself into next, musing over ideas whilst walking the dog. (I know, before anyone else tells me, I should be paying attention when walking the dog as with my track record, the only place I'm likely to launch is in the bushes).</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqTovZqMIaEmqLnVsqURe1G82NG2v9hadQ84bZeCB0PxZsj63ky-8pB8FkkL7XZBZDLgVhuUk39UPSCGvt4LXSxybN7KAdPCdMzuRpobyH8xfs1CJ0j2YE2zXBD1bQpKGbh00fNiGApA/s2048/67BE2E57-2705-4B86-885F-485D9EC4BBDA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqTovZqMIaEmqLnVsqURe1G82NG2v9hadQ84bZeCB0PxZsj63ky-8pB8FkkL7XZBZDLgVhuUk39UPSCGvt4LXSxybN7KAdPCdMzuRpobyH8xfs1CJ0j2YE2zXBD1bQpKGbh00fNiGApA/w400-h400/67BE2E57-2705-4B86-885F-485D9EC4BBDA.heic" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Various crazy ideas popped into my head but one wouldn't go away, so I sent Izzy a message asking had she ever thought about doing a podcast and she responded instantly with a resounding "YES!" (I believe there was some screaming and splurting of coffee too but don't hold me to that!) It turned out that she had been thinking the exact same thing and what is more she also thought it would be fun for us to do it together! We are now ready to let the world (or my limited readership) know what we have been up to, so you might want to see a little taster...</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/480757889">Izzy & Gina... in Stitches</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBpRkVgf5Nz4_8h_ZnZWkzaDhmz_u2sWEy5cuxGDHuQvafpv6rIXAot36ijLI29vatwciD_Fdl-VWw7MPHeK3VhkUXjTsXwhJ4DF3q9gmRY_IZZDjJj6LgKg4ikHwDtw3MizUC-3mxoE/s500/FINAL+VERSION+Izzy+%2526+Gina...in+stitches+SQUARE+LOGO.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBpRkVgf5Nz4_8h_ZnZWkzaDhmz_u2sWEy5cuxGDHuQvafpv6rIXAot36ijLI29vatwciD_Fdl-VWw7MPHeK3VhkUXjTsXwhJ4DF3q9gmRY_IZZDjJj6LgKg4ikHwDtw3MizUC-3mxoE/w400-h400/FINAL+VERSION+Izzy+%2526+Gina...in+stitches+SQUARE+LOGO.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Isobel and I have known each other for about ten years. We are similar in many ways: we both took our City & Guilds Diploma in machine embroidery at Missenden Abbey with the same tutor, albeit at different times, we're at exactly the same stage in taking our teaching online, and we are both dog owners - but our backgrounds, interests and personalities are definitely different! Hopefully this will allow for some lively discussions and debates on the pros and cons of being a textile artist, teaching and running a creative business… but our main aim is to have FUN!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA01Z450aizmSVUo2pFWItIprqZ94J1ieoZozzPu_B_KDUDpp0UpR-z35ZfydVlFda-lfNZ18YXaoeUubFFW6Duwnn6Wovqpvz1G4cmZ9T4IEjS7p1rHrZgSeHKD2J5r7mWhg09Gm8T0/s2048/D81A059A-E25A-4CF4-92CF-66B63AF71864.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA01Z450aizmSVUo2pFWItIprqZ94J1ieoZozzPu_B_KDUDpp0UpR-z35ZfydVlFda-lfNZ18YXaoeUubFFW6Duwnn6Wovqpvz1G4cmZ9T4IEjS7p1rHrZgSeHKD2J5r7mWhg09Gm8T0/w400-h400/D81A059A-E25A-4CF4-92CF-66B63AF71864.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We'd both be absolutely thrilled if you would join us on this adventure. You can </span><a href="https://anchor.fm/izzyandginainstitches" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">find our new podcast here</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, with links how to listen on the usual podcast platforms (if we’ve done it right - this is a very steep learning curve for both of us!) We're aiming to release an episode every other week, with the first one a week from today on Thursday 26th. We finished recording our first episode this morning and it was absolutely nerve wracking even though we were only chatting to each other, but we did laugh... and it was fun for us, at least.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'd love you to leave me a comment to tell us what you think of our mad, crazy idea, and especially if you have any questions you would like us to discuss or if there's anything you'd like us to talk about! It's terrifying and exciting in equal measure - neither of us has done anything remotely like this before - so be gentle with us! And wish us luck.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-58280255913612922202020-11-15T19:22:00.003+00:002020-11-15T19:28:54.430+00:00November Days<p style="text-align: center;"> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvdsZ819j_kNEVhA_3XuyreK-eZXjzLyvPHXS6kHe0wmVFtMTmJdcTJwngTnQaOB93S9p_W4E3xmDWaDfKXcedQcwF5pR-u_YjdWVG-nE_DebYDYBwK1q_cACWqdaZdQQZnsJ1fPaSOQ/s2048/AA9CF628-03E1-44E3-B6BF-A87541F64EFF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvdsZ819j_kNEVhA_3XuyreK-eZXjzLyvPHXS6kHe0wmVFtMTmJdcTJwngTnQaOB93S9p_W4E3xmDWaDfKXcedQcwF5pR-u_YjdWVG-nE_DebYDYBwK1q_cACWqdaZdQQZnsJ1fPaSOQ/w400-h400/AA9CF628-03E1-44E3-B6BF-A87541F64EFF.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Despite another Lockdown here in England and the ever shortening days, life had started to get into a pleasant rhythm of daily dog walks and beautiful sunrises at the beginning of this month. I'm trying not to sound like a cliche but finding the simple pleasures in life seems more important than ever right now, and getting outside and appreciating our surroundings is one of those pleasures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9V7_l7xMas5H2S0k8bDI6n3ui5rvCl_7cKVya5pDJ3cEYoorl-NgeRbCV3BjkG5Os7VWwA2EaCfWj_A0Bj_27y1YpaLGpcnSh5d_mfq89UZFHJIWk-CICWK_11cb_xINgzkryhKqhss/s2048/8EB01CB9-2580-4295-810A-694772486DC3.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9V7_l7xMas5H2S0k8bDI6n3ui5rvCl_7cKVya5pDJ3cEYoorl-NgeRbCV3BjkG5Os7VWwA2EaCfWj_A0Bj_27y1YpaLGpcnSh5d_mfq89UZFHJIWk-CICWK_11cb_xINgzkryhKqhss/w405-h405/8EB01CB9-2580-4295-810A-694772486DC3.heic" width="405" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV_vYoC6RiW0X2BI-HVTS_B3MJ3rMtr3V6GzKrqJoewI-Cd89yDz7qNjvl5VQGgHtbXNB9_xJOM24R1U_SkkZ-6a_vYr8ZEcEJJh2h_x7-iCadCv6_LDW-CiGVkW_pWcU9mfVWx2fDXk/s2048/1B8AB22D-012D-438A-8609-168262027384.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV_vYoC6RiW0X2BI-HVTS_B3MJ3rMtr3V6GzKrqJoewI-Cd89yDz7qNjvl5VQGgHtbXNB9_xJOM24R1U_SkkZ-6a_vYr8ZEcEJJh2h_x7-iCadCv6_LDW-CiGVkW_pWcU9mfVWx2fDXk/w400-h400/1B8AB22D-012D-438A-8609-168262027384.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I launched my <a href="https://coursecraft.net/c/free-machine-fun-appliqu">final online class</a> of the current series of three this month and although I am working on a short free class to launch next month I had decided to take a little break from creating new classes</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmTVs3ztm9RGSFzCNw3fb57xyAZIAhLZqT_-bkPxgtC2xVq8YAdqpTi1aOpTE68wULMwFFa6mj84r8lTMUK6Wr4AeaDnE0-Q5a-2wBZzU8zWlZNL0G8ZU7nD36S9MC2BkZWiI-kNICQ0/s1080/CFF17FF4-D3BD-4E08-B9C0-168615E8AC1E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmTVs3ztm9RGSFzCNw3fb57xyAZIAhLZqT_-bkPxgtC2xVq8YAdqpTi1aOpTE68wULMwFFa6mj84r8lTMUK6Wr4AeaDnE0-Q5a-2wBZzU8zWlZNL0G8ZU7nD36S9MC2BkZWiI-kNICQ0/w400-h400/CFF17FF4-D3BD-4E08-B9C0-168615E8AC1E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Instead I thought I would try to get back to some painting. I've not picked up a paintbrush since before breaking my hand in the summer so I have been easing myself back by working in a sketchbook and following <a href="https://www.designmatterstv.com/sketchbook-challenge-home/">Laura Kemshall's sketchbook challenge</a> to fill a sketchbook in November. It is a series of eight classes, two per week, just colouring pages, stencilling, printing etc, all very relaxed and informal... and excellent value. It was all going so well...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-9rHeQ5ysXOyOaeFf4zibda8NFed1yhB2Jy4AuywRqMvS-r1wqjiSLAvBXUo3uGUJWbZ8MsOc9GD6gqVpk9rw8FYTSB2zlUFcvSnDGl99k7nBh9GSH6RshDWdghIu3OzCshOXVzgd_M/s2048/B4567753-5C26-43FD-B5B0-BAAEED18840B_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-9rHeQ5ysXOyOaeFf4zibda8NFed1yhB2Jy4AuywRqMvS-r1wqjiSLAvBXUo3uGUJWbZ8MsOc9GD6gqVpk9rw8FYTSB2zlUFcvSnDGl99k7nBh9GSH6RshDWdghIu3OzCshOXVzgd_M/w400-h400/B4567753-5C26-43FD-B5B0-BAAEED18840B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then out walking with the dog on Friday afternoon, on our way home, literally ten yards from our back gate, Hector spotted another dog and lurched to say hello. I was completely off guard, so the lead whipped around my legs pulling me with it and the next thing I knew my head was smacked against the road. I thought that 'seeing stars' was something that only happened in Beano cartoons but it happens! I've never known my head hit anything so hard. What followed was a blur of trying to sit up (I couldn't), being moved to the pavement (I was in the middle of the road), hearing someone say there was blood and Stewart calling an ambulance. Neighbours came out with blankets and a hot water bottle and all I could think was that I couldn't possibly die as I hadn't finished sewing our grandson's advent calendar and there was no way Stewart would know what to do!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7PI1CyGZfuMx19R98QkJ5-xaMcipDuL2vHs1owYII3fIR1nEJpUD-O9L80yd_SMzO1B2BbS8eXbPrdBg3_HmYH8wU0cTsVR-GKZxQwxEcVe0lQEgUV1ADV2_lyDn2p4wzRupLM5Qsx4/s2048/1E3E48B5-850A-4888-9D40-715B0E52C9A3.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7PI1CyGZfuMx19R98QkJ5-xaMcipDuL2vHs1owYII3fIR1nEJpUD-O9L80yd_SMzO1B2BbS8eXbPrdBg3_HmYH8wU0cTsVR-GKZxQwxEcVe0lQEgUV1ADV2_lyDn2p4wzRupLM5Qsx4/w300-h400/1E3E48B5-850A-4888-9D40-715B0E52C9A3.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was taken by ambulance to hospital and it was scary for a few hours - I've heard way too many horror stories of brain damage and worse after head injuries - but although it wasn't really what I had planned for a Friday night, I cannot fault the hospital staff who ran just about every test possible. A ct scan showed I was lucky, my head was just bruised so besides concussion, vertigo, some minor cuts and a headache I was fine. In fact, more than fine... blood pressure, heart and lung function and everything else was absolutely tip top! They let me go home at midnight.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jFQWHxuNDcUWycvgOFWxT66daw2TX6-zFiA_WHLvqDaQQuhZ97I5EK9nRX2HjV5zPKD-bu0HORzvuFMl_Glri0BankOhDCqqTiKFNml8xIn2zAivUulE6O9uWlUDk1a53E73bXrB5ZA/s2048/9259C9F6-72A1-45BB-907A-A709C6C548CA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jFQWHxuNDcUWycvgOFWxT66daw2TX6-zFiA_WHLvqDaQQuhZ97I5EK9nRX2HjV5zPKD-bu0HORzvuFMl_Glri0BankOhDCqqTiKFNml8xIn2zAivUulE6O9uWlUDk1a53E73bXrB5ZA/w400-h400/9259C9F6-72A1-45BB-907A-A709C6C548CA.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saturday morning the dog wouldn't leave my side... you might be fooled into thinking those doleful eyes are saying sorry, but I'm not. He's a hooligan and would do it all over again if another attractive pooch were to wander past. I do wonder what we achieved with all those months of puppy training.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6BPLq97IYw_m4042R-QSPxlG7IIT2LQTZ5WqQVSO1cfmpQq3yVe7FpoNSf5dcTd-L_-GdjsT0_I94Exl32iHtW2t8WvbbZr4e-DZokosHFM_tf6cJ6CCl8hSoEBxcSey5UqLYhSvpok/s2048/BBDF4B0F-3D89-4511-B06B-39BE2F64D011_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6BPLq97IYw_m4042R-QSPxlG7IIT2LQTZ5WqQVSO1cfmpQq3yVe7FpoNSf5dcTd-L_-GdjsT0_I94Exl32iHtW2t8WvbbZr4e-DZokosHFM_tf6cJ6CCl8hSoEBxcSey5UqLYhSvpok/w308-h400/BBDF4B0F-3D89-4511-B06B-39BE2F64D011_1_201_a.jpeg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meanwhile I'm confined to the sofa. My headache has eased but the vertigo not so much. When I get up and walk I feel like I'm on a boat. It's very strange and quite disorientating. Fortunately, if I don't move my head too much I can still read, type and knit so there has been a lot of progress. The painting and other activities will have to wait again until I can safely get out to my studio. You can find details of these hats on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/people/ginaferrari">Ravelry.</a> I've been on Ravelry for years but only recently started to figure out how it works! Well, how some of it works at least.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Vle2eJZaNmxxh_mwy2wtJAnB7coP24IeRQy2DsQ1qcBh5DRLCTq0B2tygf2Bv0OTQwKSGxWFpaZ_o2IWljAhLgTJguqmsUWOQsexAIjb69jKLPDl3b0c_9vMWpiL6X9I4IO04DUoPg/s2048/8B6AED05-35B4-4D9A-A43C-452670756220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Vle2eJZaNmxxh_mwy2wtJAnB7coP24IeRQy2DsQ1qcBh5DRLCTq0B2tygf2Bv0OTQwKSGxWFpaZ_o2IWljAhLgTJguqmsUWOQsexAIjb69jKLPDl3b0c_9vMWpiL6X9I4IO04DUoPg/w400-h400/8B6AED05-35B4-4D9A-A43C-452670756220.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I'm still counting my blessings and appreciating the simple things in life because to be honest, I was grateful to wake up on Saturday morning (even if it was at 4 am with a stonking headache).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you are all keeping safe and well.</div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-91935413238346683432020-10-21T12:39:00.006+01:002020-10-21T12:39:28.522+01:00Cables and Cake<p style="text-align: center;">Hello... it's been a while, but we're on holiday in Norfolk and the weather is rather damp today so we're having a lazy morning sitting around reading, knitting, drinking tea etc in the hope the rain might ease a little so we can walk this afternoon. So I thought it would be an ideal time to drop by this sadly neglected blog in the hope there might be someone out there!</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIVbDXTuE7OqXeGHHWKCdtxrPi6bsBoViyCn0EtDL2KRWgyrixG6sq_ELcfwV9MxcpYrHUNIhR2D9r7jv_BUpaHFJfyfhK4KS_Q7FEMOZ7Mp1OXFMGH8hCijdBGaSl2lAkaTBwVmvl5k/s2048/6C1B62BF-D4F5-4A45-BA80-EC3F1FF7D816.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIVbDXTuE7OqXeGHHWKCdtxrPi6bsBoViyCn0EtDL2KRWgyrixG6sq_ELcfwV9MxcpYrHUNIhR2D9r7jv_BUpaHFJfyfhK4KS_Q7FEMOZ7Mp1OXFMGH8hCijdBGaSl2lAkaTBwVmvl5k/w400-h400/6C1B62BF-D4F5-4A45-BA80-EC3F1FF7D816.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">It has been so long since I was last here I'm not sure where to start, but the one consistent feature in my life over the past six weeks has been knitting! My hand has virtually mended now and except for heavy lifting or bare knuckle fighting I feel I can tackle pretty much anything I did previously. (For new readers... I'm not in the habit of fighting, honestly!) I'm sure knitting has helped to keep my fingers flexible. Mostly I've been making hats and have fallen in love with cables. I don't think any of this woolly headgear will be destined for me as I look about 103 in woolly hats... it's not a pretty sight.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEDKtge-TNNQNDj10fie6RXAaSNnLuDSoQ0DctG9Hd6W-DyJZlZNMaQJd4Zi3N-cpUVWdspQb57cdqS0rOv3kcWSUHeqabONSm0_0EN-HyghDeRKFsp4ToEV6H2dn5bMCbYQ9_R-Zc7A/s2048/0337C969-864B-4DD4-87C7-44F1B4AC817B.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEDKtge-TNNQNDj10fie6RXAaSNnLuDSoQ0DctG9Hd6W-DyJZlZNMaQJd4Zi3N-cpUVWdspQb57cdqS0rOv3kcWSUHeqabONSm0_0EN-HyghDeRKFsp4ToEV6H2dn5bMCbYQ9_R-Zc7A/w400-h400/0337C969-864B-4DD4-87C7-44F1B4AC817B.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Once I was able to wield a pair of scissors safely, I also cut out the fabric to make a new dress... It's the Factory Dress by Merchant and Mills since you ask. It's a lovely dusty pink linen that I bought over a year ago. I don't like to rush things! And it just so happens that it is a perfect match for the beautiful yarn that I bought from <a href="https://whistlebare.com/">Whistlebare</a> last week. I'm progressing from hats and intend to make myself an Aran cardigan in the pink, although the blue is already another cabled hat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnhiMRnUxqDRwGbV2AlNE2VfDonbTBd_5fvjeuhs8Lj0Ep-5r9eSswnrQbV6hGlwMgB-ao_HlzTx5vA0A6VA_0DJDBSfDJNOHhPFprfyTv0HBr7LyEcr8PkqqyAYY50r3yrufpEC_YIM/s2048/99778F9E-EE5F-4506-9FDA-929223765D1C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnhiMRnUxqDRwGbV2AlNE2VfDonbTBd_5fvjeuhs8Lj0Ep-5r9eSswnrQbV6hGlwMgB-ao_HlzTx5vA0A6VA_0DJDBSfDJNOHhPFprfyTv0HBr7LyEcr8PkqqyAYY50r3yrufpEC_YIM/w400-h400/99778F9E-EE5F-4506-9FDA-929223765D1C.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Talking of Aran cardigans, I have also been doing some surgery on an Aran jacket that I knitted over 40 years ago from yarn that my parents brought back from Scotland in 1978, bought directly from the mill.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikK-KzU-282eWwJGrJXrg83nHzbxCietxAMBsLaiBAcPYeBGkGHFKhzTPhmzoT1CXvSKxpK5ZVQ18EPU790jNerRVq3YoeKdfJ_PFWIQ_ESN4F2mJopV6-fPwKCOKfrkhVgbAHXETJosQ/s2048/6C1413A0-3986-41DC-B944-3BC87F9881B9.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikK-KzU-282eWwJGrJXrg83nHzbxCietxAMBsLaiBAcPYeBGkGHFKhzTPhmzoT1CXvSKxpK5ZVQ18EPU790jNerRVq3YoeKdfJ_PFWIQ_ESN4F2mJopV6-fPwKCOKfrkhVgbAHXETJosQ/w400-h400/6C1413A0-3986-41DC-B944-3BC87F9881B9.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">As you can see it has been sadly neglected in recent years, often just worn around the garden or to keep me warm in the studio (hence the paint on the very worn cuff) It has been given a good wash, seams have been repaired and both cuffs have been ripped back and re-knitted, with a ball of yarn that was spun from my friend's Ryland sheep. And I have to say it is as good as new!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SRxUHui_9yoHaK6H_vVqM-WGI7m5g30Iv4hoc2Mgc9T04Kzci8fnPc8-u12y8C4soQef_y2XFsNpzx8XZl9CXUAYKcd-f63B4pTq45GECPKg50tQHpqJuRkO_uQ4_OYcjVYZClGWfxQ/s2048/16E422DB-9A1D-46A3-AAB4-6A313BF485F7.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SRxUHui_9yoHaK6H_vVqM-WGI7m5g30Iv4hoc2Mgc9T04Kzci8fnPc8-u12y8C4soQef_y2XFsNpzx8XZl9CXUAYKcd-f63B4pTq45GECPKg50tQHpqJuRkO_uQ4_OYcjVYZClGWfxQ/w400-h400/16E422DB-9A1D-46A3-AAB4-6A313BF485F7.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">This is me wearing it about 37 years ago... I know because the small child I am dragging along is my eldest son and he recently celebrated his 38th birthday. Which makes me feel very old... maybe I really am 103 so it's no surprise that I look like an old lady in woolly hats! I do wonder if the jacket will still be going strong in another 40 years (when I actually will be 103 in the unlikely event I am still around). I have a feeling the jacket will outlive me and hope there will still be someone who wants to wear it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ073tv0GZdM38DwDHTFHREfqyUzmKulmOguith-7xzSAVXfVc9IXEKdzQKW2d8Smu7r0Z2oYudRF4jnY_qkS4v57wV62_9NgDdio_ifuGP1GZArrnad5hSP8PuV2Tgrql8aZsrfjFmIM/s2048/C55FC5DB-0491-4A6B-8300-13BDCF47FE45_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ073tv0GZdM38DwDHTFHREfqyUzmKulmOguith-7xzSAVXfVc9IXEKdzQKW2d8Smu7r0Z2oYudRF4jnY_qkS4v57wV62_9NgDdio_ifuGP1GZArrnad5hSP8PuV2Tgrql8aZsrfjFmIM/w400-h400/C55FC5DB-0491-4A6B-8300-13BDCF47FE45_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">In other news... there has been baking. As the weather cooled, the Aga was switched back on which means once again I have an oven and can bake. My lovely sourdough starter Vincent Van Dough has gently bubbled away in the fridge, occasionally being fed or being added to pancakes and is now incredibly vigorous.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3y0Ii3tCz_ABkWx14GnxaWWVJtNYxOXbl3SzjXmGMKPPser7ErRr_UHklMXyuZUc4skPx_KBxu3jUA-EIkhhBCafSrmJrzokaF-Dv6ECQ0Okx0KVX-8Wi-h7gip5fVrUchMhRDFD7bw/s2048/25AA0AEF-A239-47A0-AC5E-6AFABF92B516.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3y0Ii3tCz_ABkWx14GnxaWWVJtNYxOXbl3SzjXmGMKPPser7ErRr_UHklMXyuZUc4skPx_KBxu3jUA-EIkhhBCafSrmJrzokaF-Dv6ECQ0Okx0KVX-8Wi-h7gip5fVrUchMhRDFD7bw/w400-h400/25AA0AEF-A239-47A0-AC5E-6AFABF92B516.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">So now it is supplying us with bread as well as pancakes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p7lo_nJTHoiIenYxneGp2SLpW-n2MXhNtmad7t_R8mfZDIBMl7U1ETojWMMtDM1YfwWYTOmyRX9Y-zMxvdACHwWeZ3OVvrtufeQEtLal9Fard6xsusLf15b2teH8jrIKvyba2gnOwl8/s2048/166729F1-7B71-46FA-AC5D-84FA539E2D78.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p7lo_nJTHoiIenYxneGp2SLpW-n2MXhNtmad7t_R8mfZDIBMl7U1ETojWMMtDM1YfwWYTOmyRX9Y-zMxvdACHwWeZ3OVvrtufeQEtLal9Fard6xsusLf15b2teH8jrIKvyba2gnOwl8/w400-h400/166729F1-7B71-46FA-AC5D-84FA539E2D78.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Of course I have been making cakes too whilst still basking in the novelty of having an oven, after a summer without one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2QYS29XPB-wXtID6ugiN42DZkKHgvz-BEjgMQfrGam1siAUylRXZd63Sr9cUmMdLgEGANmm8xWu8ag2YEfb0GpqtM17Uq1nhn96YEDETqx3xMHCajAyiKZkYuDlaBem-_7Z01NLxh_w/s2048/831E2FBF-61F0-432B-A2FD-5F5B50972F67.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2QYS29XPB-wXtID6ugiN42DZkKHgvz-BEjgMQfrGam1siAUylRXZd63Sr9cUmMdLgEGANmm8xWu8ag2YEfb0GpqtM17Uq1nhn96YEDETqx3xMHCajAyiKZkYuDlaBem-_7Z01NLxh_w/w400-h400/831E2FBF-61F0-432B-A2FD-5F5B50972F67.heic" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">So that's what I have been up to... as well as seeing family while we still can, getting out to walk, reading lots of books and generally avoiding the news. I think this might be the pattern of our lives for some time yet. I'm also continuing with my online teaching which fortunately is going really well as this morning I have had conformation of yet another face to face class being cancelled. Details of my latest class are in the link below but the best way to keep up to date with what I'm teaching is via my newsletter which you can sign up for via the link in the sidebar. I think online teaching is the future for me now and it certainly has its appeal without all the bags to pack and load in the car, not to mention the long car journeys around the country too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sr8mo1aFCh5ACfPJ0GReDvIFMIWVl2bYhDaUvW5UZWxP2K72uNC4D9i0QIotTf7yk8uOmayugNmVzwBBFoi9aYw6W1Hr5p7IFyU-YsHvgYwtb3S40JjAxA44yMXQxEH9jw3j2bI5e2c/s1080/408F7A8B-971C-480A-8300-3066D3BA9938.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sr8mo1aFCh5ACfPJ0GReDvIFMIWVl2bYhDaUvW5UZWxP2K72uNC4D9i0QIotTf7yk8uOmayugNmVzwBBFoi9aYw6W1Hr5p7IFyU-YsHvgYwtb3S40JjAxA44yMXQxEH9jw3j2bI5e2c/w400-h400/408F7A8B-971C-480A-8300-3066D3BA9938.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://coursecraft.net/courses/z93C5">Free Machine Fun - Thread Painting</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">So that's my news... how have you been?</p><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-11522907673470676752020-09-06T15:00:00.005+01:002020-09-06T15:00:42.064+01:00Knitting myself in Knots<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An update on the hand since I was last here...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I turned up for my scheduled surgery having had nil by mouth for 12 hours to find I wasn't on the list for the day. During the long wait to find out what was happening, a young lad with an identical injury to mine asked me if I had broken my hand fighting. Being rather alarmed that I looked the sort of person who might sustain an injury due to fisticuffs I explained 'my fall' but wish I had told a little white lie. It probably would have made his day to have met a boxing granny! Eventually I got to see the surgeon for him to tell me he didn't think I needed surgery after all, which was actually a relief, although probably quite convenient given I'd been missed off the schedule. I didn't really want anyone cutting my hand open so I didn't mind. Apparently there is a slightly higher risk of me breaking it again without a pin so it means my fighting days are over but I reckon I can live with that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNIKmZ85zIArBG7uTe-XxXPgaxK4BtLAEqeMguC5zxX46wOCzF-xdxLjd7w5W4mnv086bG1GU5Y6rHG6-8yF9CJuYuiI_e4Am5EnVT6Wl7u-hmZiUiZEECA22KFri-sCwUE2goL4EisQ/s2048/js8RJvsuTBydoZEtk7jS9A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNIKmZ85zIArBG7uTe-XxXPgaxK4BtLAEqeMguC5zxX46wOCzF-xdxLjd7w5W4mnv086bG1GU5Y6rHG6-8yF9CJuYuiI_e4Am5EnVT6Wl7u-hmZiUiZEECA22KFri-sCwUE2goL4EisQ/w400-h400/js8RJvsuTBydoZEtk7jS9A.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cumbersome cast was removed and replaced by a splint with some pretty snazzy purple strapping, allowing some freedom of movement in my forefinger and thumb. The world was my oyster with such a nimble pincer movement, although I soon discovered picking up anything heavier than a jigsaw piece was pretty much impossible.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHlkw_DQwUeFcuC8_LhUUR8n2o-FzdPc7wcDgHd0Whf9Wa5cyqQbKkMTFwGv0DgtelZxrk1b_IDYHoPYpaXFSkcD2VmwSd8FHxae-MxeZoZt_7EOdFlurMlnQAYZSw-Yu2hICQy9RxCg/s2048/zpKIaTLuTF2lQ6iTtwqR4g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHlkw_DQwUeFcuC8_LhUUR8n2o-FzdPc7wcDgHd0Whf9Wa5cyqQbKkMTFwGv0DgtelZxrk1b_IDYHoPYpaXFSkcD2VmwSd8FHxae-MxeZoZt_7EOdFlurMlnQAYZSw-Yu2hICQy9RxCg/w400-h400/zpKIaTLuTF2lQ6iTtwqR4g.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Much as I appreciated being lent the jigsaws, after finishing the second one I really had scaled the heights of boredom. I couldn't cope with this for another four weeks. Spying some knitting that had been languishing on the needles for the past six months I had a mad idea. This was the first of a pair of Latvian mittens that I offered to knit for <a href="https://www.isobelmoore.co.uk">a friend </a>who didn't understand the pattern. I didn't like to tell her that I didn't understand the pattern either, so this was about the third reincarnation of mitten no. one which was why it had been abandoned. There were just about six rows left on the thumb and it would be finished. What if I could adapt my pincer movement to knitting? I found by supporting the knitting with my left hand I could grab the yarn and wrap it around the needle with my thumb and finger of the broken hand. It was slow, it was cumbersome, but I could do it and after about three nights I finished the first mitt whilst watching endless episodes of the <a href="https://fruityknitting.com">Fruity Knitting </a>podcast. In fact I have learned so much about knitting during those few rounds of the mitten thumb I think I now sort of understand the pattern and the second mitt will be a doddle. Well it might be once I can use my hand properly again. At least I have cast on and I'm ready to go.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqqQebdifzaLdZyONraJ6dNOaPsHo1dx_Cgk955r4Pej_hlW0dcWN2iaUj7KsF0VNZo4xqluFJu5nvh891aItgoSzEzHQ7hazbVCjKsr2VQ3lFCEySTrfuXqZ0FhMnMrwB8e8K3QnMKQ/s2048/Gywqj3ttRPOsFud8nk9vbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqqQebdifzaLdZyONraJ6dNOaPsHo1dx_Cgk955r4Pej_hlW0dcWN2iaUj7KsF0VNZo4xqluFJu5nvh891aItgoSzEzHQ7hazbVCjKsr2VQ3lFCEySTrfuXqZ0FhMnMrwB8e8K3QnMKQ/w400-h400/Gywqj3ttRPOsFud8nk9vbg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Inspired my my mitten success I thought I would practise on something a little less fiddly and found a kit I bought last year from my lovely friend <a href="https://www.lucylocketland.co.uk">Lucy Locket </a>for a hot water bottle cover. Except it wasn't less fiddly and in fact was cast on over two circular needles creating a seamless bag, something I had never done before. But my technique has improved and I can now even support the right hand needle in my right hand... and all that thumb twiddling is proving to be excellent physio.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-T-Ef61qvZ9HmRhYMQou7fb3M2emv1kqXY7ngsgWTR7_yTs5PJoywCWNcGX0E4h8fFMKQ8YOsDGjs7KEdJeq6lNpgEg1Hggd03RkCIGFTV-GII-cjRstLjvhTPumySWR7cjJNmwU8og/s2048/YYGGSCOpQgG%2525UAPh8i%252BKiw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-T-Ef61qvZ9HmRhYMQou7fb3M2emv1kqXY7ngsgWTR7_yTs5PJoywCWNcGX0E4h8fFMKQ8YOsDGjs7KEdJeq6lNpgEg1Hggd03RkCIGFTV-GII-cjRstLjvhTPumySWR7cjJNmwU8og/w400-h400/YYGGSCOpQgG%2525UAPh8i%252BKiw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So now I have a lovely new hot water bottle cover which I don't really need but that's beside the point!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWBLXJ5W3-43CaFqch05eH0cf8IUyqxxBX1s8eXzmw5gNmGxInplIUHynrXtGLcpgggHIgwdV77WuAWpKLog_KkpRVVv1zvvAyiaVsm81M1xrxNh9PIthZEtucsQ80Ybnex4jJ2o4oMk/s2048/7XCTFjSSTwun6XzhSpaP%2525g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWBLXJ5W3-43CaFqch05eH0cf8IUyqxxBX1s8eXzmw5gNmGxInplIUHynrXtGLcpgggHIgwdV77WuAWpKLog_KkpRVVv1zvvAyiaVsm81M1xrxNh9PIthZEtucsQ80Ybnex4jJ2o4oMk/w400-h400/7XCTFjSSTwun6XzhSpaP%2525g.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Something else I have discovered I can do with just a finger and thumb is press those buttons that say 'buy now' and I seem to have purchased several more balls of yarn for the literally hundreds more knitting projects that I'm planning. I don't like to do things by half... I'm all or nothing me.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHsP6MufRN1H4cs8LSlEekCstXK3z1C-Bdj3ZzW1PgKyPeePnRc86GecDyrs1nwrQekvWzfssdTbXL9vKFUFRz-4ol8SKH2H43Xkxqb8mm-k-MDYQfrxKrbHHwt9zSmvNNsOfaZOcWx8/s2048/K9XM5rVqQbq6Z9NpBZb2cA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHsP6MufRN1H4cs8LSlEekCstXK3z1C-Bdj3ZzW1PgKyPeePnRc86GecDyrs1nwrQekvWzfssdTbXL9vKFUFRz-4ol8SKH2H43Xkxqb8mm-k-MDYQfrxKrbHHwt9zSmvNNsOfaZOcWx8/w400-h400/K9XM5rVqQbq6Z9NpBZb2cA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In between all the knitting planning, knitting watching and knitting doing I've also found time to record the final videos for my next online class "Free machine fun - drawing with the needle". Some of my stitching is a bit wonky but I can draw better with the sewing machine than I can with a pencil so it has all worked out quite well and is a lovely introduction to free machine embroidery for the beginner or anyone wanting to brush up their skills. You can find out more about it here if you are interested:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coursecraft.net/c/drawingwiththeneedle">Free Machine Fun</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9qLqRjxPTNjfUFWIl3DFvHbNbxR3gmIBCN2K10QX8rn1qZQ_rIKePTdHkcnY-sl-8KvYDa33AeWm1dtUEiNtpJnmtvBbwm4P0JiAZW45gEbX_LXXa5ArwhqLjKFfnUd_tw7lTakhe3Y/s1080/Blue+Ocean+Photo+Summer+Instagram+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9qLqRjxPTNjfUFWIl3DFvHbNbxR3gmIBCN2K10QX8rn1qZQ_rIKePTdHkcnY-sl-8KvYDa33AeWm1dtUEiNtpJnmtvBbwm4P0JiAZW45gEbX_LXXa5ArwhqLjKFfnUd_tw7lTakhe3Y/w400-h400/Blue+Ocean+Photo+Summer+Instagram+Post.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So that's my news for the past couple of weeks. I've still got another week or so of wearing this splint so plenty of time to discover more skills... which funnily enough don't include cooking, washing up, vacuuming, ironing etc. But I think I can cope with that.</div><br /> <p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-39655986498932269322020-08-23T13:03:00.020+01:002020-09-06T15:04:41.687+01:00Just when you least expect it<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You guessed I would be back didn’t you, although I’m here for reasons I would never have guessed! Since I was last here it has been quite a month one way or another. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">It all began with my daughter in law being taken into hospital in labour three weeks early. After four very stressful days for them (and considerable worry for us), the labour wasn’t progressing and so Rosie was delivered by emergency caesarean. Fortunately, all was well eventually and we have another beautiful and very tiny granddaughter</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzo7p22Y9_VfsUspoYtBILMzatgpzye9N37vsjKWBoW01iB0Kp1UMNQtpYq7S1LqiIVb5K9GksZ9FpDaWI1f-9_KzByMKnIswUb2BbtjvDK1wUWIHqqu_0YUoVP3zJoeBsSgX3eD0ZYQ/s2048/IMG_2930.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzo7p22Y9_VfsUspoYtBILMzatgpzye9N37vsjKWBoW01iB0Kp1UMNQtpYq7S1LqiIVb5K9GksZ9FpDaWI1f-9_KzByMKnIswUb2BbtjvDK1wUWIHqqu_0YUoVP3zJoeBsSgX3eD0ZYQ/w385-h512/IMG_2930.JPG" width="385" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzQi8JJ_ouIQO6geVpIx-Sq4l7ZUmkef8rZwhBRlkAbMT7WhODZie90yo5Q4O59Q4tNvtkP3BL1SuVKoy83nrMrqW9OlopxB_tufu_KmkqMH3us2vLtOUMo0OuxewF0TA6g6_zsnnvSo/s2048/IMG_3054.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzQi8JJ_ouIQO6geVpIx-Sq4l7ZUmkef8rZwhBRlkAbMT7WhODZie90yo5Q4O59Q4tNvtkP3BL1SuVKoy83nrMrqW9OlopxB_tufu_KmkqMH3us2vLtOUMo0OuxewF0TA6g6_zsnnvSo/w384-h512/IMG_3054.JPG" width="384" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meanwhile, Stewart had received a call that his father was very poorly. He drove straight up to Scotland not knowing if he would get to see him. As it happens his lovely Dad hung for another week before passing away peacefully, so Stewart, his Mum and sister were all able to be with him. Not entirely unexpected but sad, nevertheless. Meanwhile the dog and I carried on at home, with one more weekend of Open Windows and then the launch of my online course. Amid all the stress and sadness, it was an incredibly successful launch and the class was full within a week. So far so good and there have already been some beautiful results, so I have started to plan and film for some more shorter classes to be launched in the autumn, although I’ve had to put a temporary stop to that for now. Read on and you’ll understand why.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EGIrlHuvbSxARavYL1PLIzI2_SS14iFMnTDBkJ443O8hp0eQc0pGm-F8wpJXnd-wPH1Vqd-4vgM-AcytX-7pFInjD3qI7jyt3HLer4Gl1aTuWkb0e-KEa-GeNkYX9PPtnQ-530W-OrU/s851/fullsizeoutput_4a6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="581" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EGIrlHuvbSxARavYL1PLIzI2_SS14iFMnTDBkJ443O8hp0eQc0pGm-F8wpJXnd-wPH1Vqd-4vgM-AcytX-7pFInjD3qI7jyt3HLer4Gl1aTuWkb0e-KEa-GeNkYX9PPtnQ-530W-OrU/w350-h512/fullsizeoutput_4a6.jpeg" width="350" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Couple of the finished landscapes from my course.</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP0WcmuUTuM34O6_ifKQswnhbYZzgu7zaeQrfwTiUDe6NN-ERJqvvulSttxtj_ZElboFFKB7nzOHVmqamRt29QCDP2AigG8MCNq_gnJEFjwap3Ua4JOnqimmFix1oegc_Pi5sCeW8fgs/s655/fullsizeoutput_4a9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="473" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP0WcmuUTuM34O6_ifKQswnhbYZzgu7zaeQrfwTiUDe6NN-ERJqvvulSttxtj_ZElboFFKB7nzOHVmqamRt29QCDP2AigG8MCNq_gnJEFjwap3Ua4JOnqimmFix1oegc_Pi5sCeW8fgs/w370-h512/fullsizeoutput_4a9.jpeg" width="370" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Of course, we have since both returned to Scotland for the funeral, which was a beautiful send off for a much loved man, despite only being allowed twenty people, all masked. Given what a tough few weeks we’d had, I suggested we stop off for a couple of days break on our journey home. Despite what seemed like the entire country choosing to vacation in the UK we eventually found a fabulous B & B in Ambleside in the Lake District.<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">The town was too crowded for my liking and there was an awful amount of litter everywhere, but it was still beautiful and the weather was kind to us. There was a lot of rain overnight, however it was dry during the day and we managed two wonderful days of walking. Until…</p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxzoajUqWcjv_yg-TohMQ_O_y4kHQshIdBk5SBDg78ydHZuURDt0lYCVf7MsP6v9U0XdQi3cOtq1-jqS-8W9Kt2TCOIcDFJg0r3XdCfup6SsOg5bxw9UEJElA3grhnWRe2n26ObYrW8Y/s2048/unxVZWGIQr2Sugz1MB4nng.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxzoajUqWcjv_yg-TohMQ_O_y4kHQshIdBk5SBDg78ydHZuURDt0lYCVf7MsP6v9U0XdQi3cOtq1-jqS-8W9Kt2TCOIcDFJg0r3XdCfup6SsOg5bxw9UEJElA3grhnWRe2n26ObYrW8Y/w410-h410/unxVZWGIQr2Sugz1MB4nng.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSN8QVSqBYU-3Sv3RZyqtd4QKysw9EwCHtBJtpu5eTORqrEovxmcmj_I62yrGJ7Kx2OgZsD0zIAJe5vVD4Udcq-wCyr_Oh1cF-nHGOP8UVdpIz2FS2Rmsx20qtlGj5yB957jLW4BUiUw/s2016/IMG_3017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSN8QVSqBYU-3Sv3RZyqtd4QKysw9EwCHtBJtpu5eTORqrEovxmcmj_I62yrGJ7Kx2OgZsD0zIAJe5vVD4Udcq-wCyr_Oh1cF-nHGOP8UVdpIz2FS2Rmsx20qtlGj5yB957jLW4BUiUw/w382-h512/IMG_3017.JPG" width="382" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I slipped on some wet mossy rocks on a steep descent falling heavily on my lower back, putting my right hand out to stop my fall. After lying in the wet for what seemed like an age, I got up, brushed myself off and walked gingerly back to our B & B. After a hot shower I decided I was a bit shaken up and bruised but okay and we even managed to go out for pizza. Fortunately, I can still hold a wine glass in my left hand.<o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0j-AX3QB_-YXHM-pVJaBYXfvrSP1HJfviX-xYV2SG87wwBhENNPGixu0v40-jLeVhj-Ho-z4gixoCX-mlwo0oF_mbadJUyXA23dGTT0NObfR7ySQi4RXwvUNXjyjlKqFWgVUhZuSi5U/s960/IMG_3083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0j-AX3QB_-YXHM-pVJaBYXfvrSP1HJfviX-xYV2SG87wwBhENNPGixu0v40-jLeVhj-Ho-z4gixoCX-mlwo0oF_mbadJUyXA23dGTT0NObfR7ySQi4RXwvUNXjyjlKqFWgVUhZuSi5U/w512-h512/IMG_3083.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">We drove home the following day and despite not having much pain in my hand it was very bruised and swollen and I couldn’t grip anything or apply any pressure so called 111 for advice. After endless questions and answers, which I then had to repeat an hour later to the clinical practitioner who called back, I was told I should not go to A & E but rest, ice, compress and elevate my hand for 72 hours. 72 hours later, with virtually no improvement, I called 111 again as advised. Despite them having all my notes cue all the same questions all over again… four hours later when I got the call back I went through them yet again for a fourth time… questions designed to ascertain if I had internal bleeding, was about to have a heart attack or had contracted an infection. All I needed to know was could I get myself an x ray! And the diagnosis… ‘I can’t tell from your answers whether it is bone or soft tissue damage’ No shit Sherlock! As a result, I was advised to call my GP who could book me in for an x ray… hooray! Except after going through it all again, I discovered he could indeed book me in for an x ray (although he was reluctant as he didn’t think my hand looked swollen enough from the photo) but because of Covid there would be a six week wait. So finally, the next morning we drove 25 miles to a walk in critical care centre, where the staff were wonderful. I was seen within an hour, received x rays of my hand… and received the diagnosis. A spiral fracture of my fourth metacarpal on my right hand, plastered to my fingertips there and then and referred to plastic surgery to have a pin inserted, which will happen tomorrow!<o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63Hzvq0zOi3wBnwzx9V2Bl6tTph6a2zzLTvdTPhZHYNagXoQQD28v7sz6BnkB8pmJmQatYHulLvH-kgKAZn6bNsvcdPoDyKYzMnJKgCTk7GmqUcrb5sUS6UBXoEeiC5B-dIpEmmXW4ls/s2048/7tHWEY%252BNQgCcrlcxs66IbA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63Hzvq0zOi3wBnwzx9V2Bl6tTph6a2zzLTvdTPhZHYNagXoQQD28v7sz6BnkB8pmJmQatYHulLvH-kgKAZn6bNsvcdPoDyKYzMnJKgCTk7GmqUcrb5sUS6UBXoEeiC5B-dIpEmmXW4ls/w512-h512/7tHWEY%252BNQgCcrlcxs66IbA.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I’m not complaining… when it works our NHS is wonderful and when I finally received it, my care was excellent but it does feel like the right hand hasn’t a clue what the left is doing… bit like me at the moment really. The nurse who did my plaster agreed 111 needs to get its act together!<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">So here I am trying hard not to focus on all the things I can’t do which are many, like write, draw, paint, knit, crochet, sew, tie my shoelaces, cut up my own food etc and instead think of all the things I can do, which are few!<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I can type very slowly with one finger of my left hand, which is why I’ve written a blog post, although it has taken all morning so I can’t really see it becoming a regular activity.<o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCfBbDb1RUcKTrfXvg_6NzkIBubrqa6j6r5qMEk56fZmvfR7p4h6AryeDPgh-4cVZfjgAMa1EHlNgEictmlRuLWryDIdHJH2ob7Qx7lmJvyay705kv4Uhwfs66NzTS0bRvp7XMySL3iA/s2048/K41WdLY2S3SEaInHT4gStw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCfBbDb1RUcKTrfXvg_6NzkIBubrqa6j6r5qMEk56fZmvfR7p4h6AryeDPgh-4cVZfjgAMa1EHlNgEictmlRuLWryDIdHJH2ob7Qx7lmJvyay705kv4Uhwfs66NzTS0bRvp7XMySL3iA/w512-h512/K41WdLY2S3SEaInHT4gStw.jpg" width="512" /></a></div> <p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">I can read and fortunately have a pile of books to get through. I have just finished<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36809135-where-the-crawdads-sing"> ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’</a> which I really enjoyed despite finding bits of it hard to believe. I also felt the last couple of chapters were superfluous and it could have done without all the explaining… hard to say much without giving away spoilers but I prefer an author who leaves something to the imagination. I have also read ‘<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157669.The_Distance_Between_Us">The Distance Between Us’ </a>by Maggie O’Farrell who always writes a good story and I’m currently loving ‘<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130028.Moon_Tiger">Moon Tiger</a>’ by Penelope Lively.<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Of course, I can watch TV and we’re working through the entire <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_of_Duty">‘Line of Duty</a>’ boxset. I’m not sure how we missed this up until now but it is edge of your seat amazing. So cleverly scripted and well-acted, I love it.<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Well meaning friends in the art community have suggested it is an opportunity for exploring work with my non dominant hand but I’m not really feeling the urge for that right now. Maybe in a week or so when I’m really bored.<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">So that’s my news. I’m now going to stop as I have cramp in my left hand from all this unexpected activity. I’m going to see what I can rustle up for lunch as Stewart is at work and I’m on my own today… could be interesting. And then I’m going for a walk (without the dog, who I can’t manage on my own) to borrow a jigsaw from a friend, although it now looks like it's going to rain and I'm not sure I can get my coat on. Can’t remember when I last did a jigsaw!<o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-60043135164419610962020-07-28T22:06:00.000+01:002020-07-28T22:06:04.747+01:00Venturing into the Unknown<div style="text-align: center;">I realised the other day I have been writing this blog for thirteen years this month, which coincided with me thinking again that perhaps it is time I stopped. I'm no longer very sure who my target reader is or whether they are still reading and I am no longer very sure why I am writing. As I write less and less frequently it is feeling as though the blog is gradually fading away and maybe that's the way it should end rather than with a big announcement from me. So I'm not here to to say that this is my last post (although it could be) but I'm not sure when I'll be back again.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last time I was here I spoke of feeling a bit 'flat' and I know a few of you identified with that feeling. We're all getting a bit fed up with the current situation yet know it's far from over. But I'm not one to stay feeling that way for long and the last couple of weeks have been quite exciting. The Open Windows project was hugely successful and far exceeded my expectations. I ended up creating over fifty drawing in the end, of 71 people (five of them twice), 11 dogs (2 of them twice!), 2 cats, 2 goats, an owl, a budgie, a sock puppet and <a href="https://www.inthenightgarden.co.uk/about-the-show/igglepiggle">Iggle Piggle!</a> I sat outside and spent my weekends drawing, stopping to chat to visitors who came to see the portraits as well as those just passing. We have got to know our neighbours better and made new friends in the village. It became quite the talking point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuRhCTIfly8JlyhZ5mg_CdO86CzijJmyJpAMkuoS1xRJQFIg-MaybEG0W-tzUXI6SRGvmfdecChTk5xc7Hb_Ix-bYm6AlCrDDh3ByZ5ASyqm3sNeKnSLze7Jp-4PSB4d3GYmwx_zTrLU/s2048/AcX5TOggQT%252BDQdocES2vYg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuRhCTIfly8JlyhZ5mg_CdO86CzijJmyJpAMkuoS1xRJQFIg-MaybEG0W-tzUXI6SRGvmfdecChTk5xc7Hb_Ix-bYm6AlCrDDh3ByZ5ASyqm3sNeKnSLze7Jp-4PSB4d3GYmwx_zTrLU/w400-h400/AcX5TOggQT%252BDQdocES2vYg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_AN1pj5fRYMpzZXKEN_SN6mN3QVKUsgmpX6hIWVm9zntLcHl5MJAGGzeXvp8w8rzm83E5yeiwOQY7yZDNVDLJbRr3LvKxUyQQx77nHhJZiB1XJ-t6QP7raRF6atTiBy9_hrq-nw4YPI/s1440/Gina+Ferrari+Open+Windows+2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1440" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_AN1pj5fRYMpzZXKEN_SN6mN3QVKUsgmpX6hIWVm9zntLcHl5MJAGGzeXvp8w8rzm83E5yeiwOQY7yZDNVDLJbRr3LvKxUyQQx77nHhJZiB1XJ-t6QP7raRF6atTiBy9_hrq-nw4YPI/w400-h296/Gina+Ferrari+Open+Windows+2020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were lucky with the weather too and of the eight days it was only last Saturday that was wet. I started out sitting outside but as the rain started I retreated to just inside my front door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AafrF6iuBnetLqkJ_ybOWpE_ptpA74bgImzInqWG8nYc6CgZjXgeYrK7VJC5elaidSstmyINGI5CvxQW_nQHEGREbST0D871yxPg56hDzPasWE03372GOUUVq-tICEQXyAvmvQ_2pwQ/s2048/2JFDzFKRQW6UEBjL6UPmFw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AafrF6iuBnetLqkJ_ybOWpE_ptpA74bgImzInqWG8nYc6CgZjXgeYrK7VJC5elaidSstmyINGI5CvxQW_nQHEGREbST0D871yxPg56hDzPasWE03372GOUUVq-tICEQXyAvmvQ_2pwQ/w300-h400/2JFDzFKRQW6UEBjL6UPmFw.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I sat for a while working (more about that in a minute) but as the rain became heavier it was obvious that no-one was going to be hanging around looking at pictures in my window, so I called it a day. But Sunday I was back outside for a great last day. If it hadn't been for the virus, Open Studios would have taken place as usual and I would never have come up with the crazy idea of filling the forty panes in my living room window with portraits of friends and neighbours. Sometimes it takes a change of circumstance to make us think outside the box and venture into the unknown.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZikk7gWZ4FKWNy0EtKeIpA1Zu49EG48wuUc9kEB7Hz-o3GlrpGARcIUF4Nq1RQrAyKVs9vYyml-KEU0-o2JYlMkgMWjzmnd9VzDfMwde6S8po6RInkwD6QHrm7k449n5xFHAnJwOi40/s2048/BJSIA7dfSryCqjASuVBEdQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZikk7gWZ4FKWNy0EtKeIpA1Zu49EG48wuUc9kEB7Hz-o3GlrpGARcIUF4Nq1RQrAyKVs9vYyml-KEU0-o2JYlMkgMWjzmnd9VzDfMwde6S8po6RInkwD6QHrm7k449n5xFHAnJwOi40/w300-h400/BJSIA7dfSryCqjASuVBEdQ.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And so to my next venture into the unknown which is online teaching. I had occasionally thought it was something I might try one day, but there was never any real incentive until of course, all of my face to face teaching stopped. And so for the past three weeks every spare minute has been spent recording and editing videos and adapting one of my most popular courses into an online course which goes live this Saturday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is rather exciting but slightly nerve wracking too... I haven't quite finished editing and uploading the videos (that's what I was doing while the rain kept me inside my doorway at the weekend). Enrolment for my Machine Textured Landscapes course has already opened and I'm discovering how much time it takes to answer all the questions that keep coming in and keeping an eye on everything. A bit like walking around a classroom checking on everyone I suppose. So although it has been keeping me awake at night it is mostly VERY exciting!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtpeTnzUtoQCkTsl6nq9LKG5pZ0UWbc2HsW3nTRLYOnKHjtjMlEYPF4LJXcSSYZKLxG3HVfiqc4P9V8EZYH8QPfkHoJGB1YXakurmogSa-hWxF75Mwi6y2NzIHwOnoP1WE1ymp73t-XE/s2050/Machine+Textured+Landscapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="2050" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtpeTnzUtoQCkTsl6nq9LKG5pZ0UWbc2HsW3nTRLYOnKHjtjMlEYPF4LJXcSSYZKLxG3HVfiqc4P9V8EZYH8QPfkHoJGB1YXakurmogSa-hWxF75Mwi6y2NzIHwOnoP1WE1ymp73t-XE/w400-h153/Machine+Textured+Landscapes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So if you fancy learning how to stitch your own landscape like the one below you can find out more by clicking on this link</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://coursecraft.net/c/machinetexturedlandscapes">Machine Textured Landscapes</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8whaLYzeRxMqA1LgPDvk_f6syIawEkBws70KB1YkMsHX6MKOrnpfGfxPiZAIgKEySYWhHh5VwrajPAxKpSSN-LinEWITWzeQwCS8UCOuVwqiL3BCrJ0KuRZPLxJQtjAXvhD8gkjiQsM/s2579/fullsizeoutput_405.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2579" data-original-width="1219" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8whaLYzeRxMqA1LgPDvk_f6syIawEkBws70KB1YkMsHX6MKOrnpfGfxPiZAIgKEySYWhHh5VwrajPAxKpSSN-LinEWITWzeQwCS8UCOuVwqiL3BCrJ0KuRZPLxJQtjAXvhD8gkjiQsM/w189-h400/fullsizeoutput_405.jpeg" width="189" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So here I am venturing into unknown territory, not sure what the future is going to hold... and already thinking about the next big new idea. So maybe I shouldn't stop blogging just yet or you will never find out what that is. And it's a good one!</div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-25693190201184320932020-07-13T22:53:00.001+01:002020-07-15T10:10:14.734+01:00Out of Sorts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How are you all? Well, busy, staying sane I hope.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel I'm managing two out of three most of the time but life does feel strange and I feel a little adrift and out of sorts. We are fortunate that we are healthy and our family are all well and we live in a beautiful area where it's easy to get out and walk or meet up with friends and family at a distance so I'm not really complaining. We are a lot better off than most but life is feeling a little flat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time to focus on the good things I think...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibV57RklR45-lRsNt6nNlliaWHQdMutT18zE-fuFyZlXHOVESpqXxIULhnFd2p1xQ4S5xAKFVVXGX-CaKXv-FW3G6-6IyK6-7vHwca7mtUbgvgwIoxMKg3FKpO6blqtQ0MiWSq6abgGXQ/s1440/Gina+Ferrari+Open+Windows+2020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1440" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibV57RklR45-lRsNt6nNlliaWHQdMutT18zE-fuFyZlXHOVESpqXxIULhnFd2p1xQ4S5xAKFVVXGX-CaKXv-FW3G6-6IyK6-7vHwca7mtUbgvgwIoxMKg3FKpO6blqtQ0MiWSq6abgGXQ/w500-h370/Gina+Ferrari+Open+Windows+2020.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first couple of weekends of our alternative to open studios have gone well and although the first weekend was a little breezy I managed to sit outside and chat to loads of people who came to see my portraits... all at a safe distance of course!</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see all the portraits here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Stkn1pfTc&t=5s">40 portraits</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IQoyCE1TqMnaghjvNBG4w_8YIyFBmhrhfNFI3vxGaXWJryYZo0_YI26hJnFgZUw6W86fV5Rpchmcy03oyMi4HPbu3NlX4QwJDwtsle6ZZfjT_2tP1nE7N7hZO_xmYXHo400XN0JjbCs/s2048/IMG_9389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IQoyCE1TqMnaghjvNBG4w_8YIyFBmhrhfNFI3vxGaXWJryYZo0_YI26hJnFgZUw6W86fV5Rpchmcy03oyMi4HPbu3NlX4QwJDwtsle6ZZfjT_2tP1nE7N7hZO_xmYXHo400XN0JjbCs/w400-h300/IMG_9389.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And in between visitors there was time to catch up with my art journal.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO9InlIbqHAqlVW_7O5NK0oRC_mYeCLRvcpNt8JSs7Lh7P-MB-7L6weJs729bV-u7D84Jdo4LcwrCaOyFYQe1GGa-4a491EmGngDCTMDqWUB-wGYhk7O0DrLWY8jh9mw_MynuyfIej90/s2048/eCKe%252BqwFSS%252BKDBTDh6UWwg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO9InlIbqHAqlVW_7O5NK0oRC_mYeCLRvcpNt8JSs7Lh7P-MB-7L6weJs729bV-u7D84Jdo4LcwrCaOyFYQe1GGa-4a491EmGngDCTMDqWUB-wGYhk7O0DrLWY8jh9mw_MynuyfIej90/w320-h320/eCKe%252BqwFSS%252BKDBTDh6UWwg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was a trip out to Aldeburgh for my birthday. A friend had been the week before and said it was relatively quiet so we decided to risk it. It was another breezy day but we managed a lovely long walk along the coast.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWqNwILTZZHfwqez9cd3fy1Ax5aXWEsCtxOhdtp9AL3wOAxtBSy8zZ5V47ltKTyVoNNTI1hdDM1ZTwEpmZtQyg_eIiVOPutCiew9C2qkGkwNU414Lr3YK8cS9r94msMqMmI8Ps6OlCy4/s2048/KsplSS%252BqQGagtbJVAB9arw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWqNwILTZZHfwqez9cd3fy1Ax5aXWEsCtxOhdtp9AL3wOAxtBSy8zZ5V47ltKTyVoNNTI1hdDM1ZTwEpmZtQyg_eIiVOPutCiew9C2qkGkwNU414Lr3YK8cS9r94msMqMmI8Ps6OlCy4/w400-h400/KsplSS%252BqQGagtbJVAB9arw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I always like to see the magnificent sculpture <a href="https://www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk/the-story-behind-the-aldeburgh-scallop-shell/">The Scallop</a> by Maggi Hambling and just breath the sea air and listen to the sounds of the shore... waves breaking and gulls calling.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiobuxSrD0F4pjYohnVwgT2BBJizGTa8uMUeirDXSTLtEuWYd7_dN4cm5hybGG5h1AYZnOvfXw_gmVS3Y0GufT88LGzeksCH6G1oVpunsS9XB-Sjvo4AYnEUIBEEga7IhLkOuvzc0q6rU/s2048/YrbXYHC8Q4ChjI%252B1Fr%2525gvQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiobuxSrD0F4pjYohnVwgT2BBJizGTa8uMUeirDXSTLtEuWYd7_dN4cm5hybGG5h1AYZnOvfXw_gmVS3Y0GufT88LGzeksCH6G1oVpunsS9XB-Sjvo4AYnEUIBEEga7IhLkOuvzc0q6rU/w400-h400/YrbXYHC8Q4ChjI%252B1Fr%2525gvQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwsAVaSJJ2CGpbeNgngROHqiNRSrJs8WEtrn-YhUIcxdAiYbbmf6MizfIm8gcBCG2p47uFay0r3YZRMmf2RniGyAnuBLgFobAP-YR-97n-Rdeu92uvJSZpmkPD3HWQ8XGE0EGLhSznUg/s2048/gk43SFdUTj2yrE27ZWE9Zg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwsAVaSJJ2CGpbeNgngROHqiNRSrJs8WEtrn-YhUIcxdAiYbbmf6MizfIm8gcBCG2p47uFay0r3YZRMmf2RniGyAnuBLgFobAP-YR-97n-Rdeu92uvJSZpmkPD3HWQ8XGE0EGLhSznUg/w400-h400/gk43SFdUTj2yrE27ZWE9Zg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We ate fish and chips from the bag, sitting on the prom, which always makes them taste better. And although there were people were around it was easy to keep our distance and feel safe.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhJla5m8DlndvfNYFda20DQJHw9rhlk0ED1pZZkse44PA3Jn9JIVCZKpyWUiEv16VlkSIosbepkQGbHUo6DPp_jByeiSDLkpe8kEwD3Dtfk7Ahisp4BQopX93uTyaTvgK7ANj8sr8Qdg/s960/IMG_2089.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhJla5m8DlndvfNYFda20DQJHw9rhlk0ED1pZZkse44PA3Jn9JIVCZKpyWUiEv16VlkSIosbepkQGbHUo6DPp_jByeiSDLkpe8kEwD3Dtfk7Ahisp4BQopX93uTyaTvgK7ANj8sr8Qdg/w320-h320/IMG_2089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And when we got home there was the most amazing birthday cake that Stewart had ordered for me. Fortunately we had people to share it with and slices were delivered, although we still managed several slices each. My dear husband doesn't believe in buying small when large is on offer!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3v9vcKzOc0UPNODjSOS_rm1KWo3imkEnfm-wWISNCG1-SBWhAVFFSZ_AoO4gWTCHNFuwowiiDPtDN794IZflriQDVubb6SaMVeIRHq-wzjReOzpeIKiBcE7eYiNleDCCfzakpDqYnMg/s2048/WCcnVB5HRIy%2525HFBbNz7WEg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3v9vcKzOc0UPNODjSOS_rm1KWo3imkEnfm-wWISNCG1-SBWhAVFFSZ_AoO4gWTCHNFuwowiiDPtDN794IZflriQDVubb6SaMVeIRHq-wzjReOzpeIKiBcE7eYiNleDCCfzakpDqYnMg/w320-h320/WCcnVB5HRIy%2525HFBbNz7WEg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm enjoying a lot more reading and I'm currently enjoying <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41081373-girl-woman-other">Girl, Woman, Other</a> by Bernardine Evaristo although I don't think I will finish it in time for our reading group Zoom meeting on Wednesday.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyzaRZLxui0rQRZTyzFYJe4icKXPTu66E8eR4lvu_a6o6HkQIRg5x602UBNBa3O4W44PVJ435WZJBMcgvI-wTO52VaejfPIF6X3sgvYjdZhb8ktbRjQkgfR9WcqpPI29WV39b6wWXenI/s2048/8d2VKdIDS6eWIChK0tEKVA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyzaRZLxui0rQRZTyzFYJe4icKXPTu66E8eR4lvu_a6o6HkQIRg5x602UBNBa3O4W44PVJ435WZJBMcgvI-wTO52VaejfPIF6X3sgvYjdZhb8ktbRjQkgfR9WcqpPI29WV39b6wWXenI/w320-h320/8d2VKdIDS6eWIChK0tEKVA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today I actually picked some blackberries and although they will be enjoyed for breakfast tomorrow it is way too early in the year for blackberry picking! The world is definitely out of sorts... it's not only me!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V5atiXEgcT_3ayy3Bjg49eOKfNltxueYcWuEAoHEOQj3_MsRMWd7ansbSrXToE23ZcFt-3qc_P1DcI0YXnxasBD9NR5t6GjOtw-2sXW_45_RI-z9Q2qCFJ1ZlSBx50Fzk49b7bZ3BO0/s2048/lHmO4%2525V2T0OfezVsElyM4g.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V5atiXEgcT_3ayy3Bjg49eOKfNltxueYcWuEAoHEOQj3_MsRMWd7ansbSrXToE23ZcFt-3qc_P1DcI0YXnxasBD9NR5t6GjOtw-2sXW_45_RI-z9Q2qCFJ1ZlSBx50Fzk49b7bZ3BO0/w240-h320/lHmO4%2525V2T0OfezVsElyM4g.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDE8oqjIO3-ma06gW3zqDjuJfKlQVnhaACEP1jAsKbBZpH1uajWPwooQSf2OUm8M5PvFtkMnEad058CAT1FJctGm9XX7DGX6efB1smdq4roF4-FLFk9faU3u64byPB6D8gjl81uS3kOY/s2048/tFB1%25256zKTbu4t%2525Eixc4Vcg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDE8oqjIO3-ma06gW3zqDjuJfKlQVnhaACEP1jAsKbBZpH1uajWPwooQSf2OUm8M5PvFtkMnEad058CAT1FJctGm9XX7DGX6efB1smdq4roF4-FLFk9faU3u64byPB6D8gjl81uS3kOY/w240-h320/tFB1%25256zKTbu4t%2525Eixc4Vcg.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And great excitement because tomorrow I have a hair appointment, which feels shallow and trivial but I can't wait. I might even manage a bit of lippy and something other than comfy trousers, although as I will be wearing my face mask, lipstick might be surplus to requirements!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So not much to complain about really... trying to live for the moment and not worry too much about the uncertainty of our future.</div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-18897451171872500012020-06-30T22:24:00.003+01:002020-07-01T08:51:07.932+01:00Forty Portraits<div style="text-align: center;">Hello! How are you all?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I really thought when we went into lockdown that I would return to regular blogging, maybe a couple of times a week but it would seem that the opposite has been true. Maybe there's just not much to say as the days take on a repetitive quality. A bit like my daily phone call to my Mum where the conversations follow the same pattern... "Hi, how are you?", "I'm fine, how are you?", Good, thank you. Nothing new happening here", " No, nothing much happening here either but at least the sun is shining." etc. etc. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My last post was on the last day in May and here I am just about sneaking in on the last day of June. To be fair though, I have been rather busy. One of the events to be cancelled this year was <a href="https://www.camopenstudios.co.uk" target="_blank">Cambridge Open Studios. </a>It was disappointing but obviously it is not a good idea to open up homes and studios to the general public amidst a global pandemic. Instead one of the members has organised an alternative event, Cambridge Open Windows. About 150 members are taking part by display art in their windows during the weekends of July, for people to see whilst out walking, creating an art trail. It's a great idea but a slight problem for me is that my only street facing windows are comprised of several small panes, not creating a great frame for artwork. My living room window has 40 separate window panes. So I came up with the bright idea of creating 40 new artworks to fit within each pane... and then the even brighter idea of making portraits of local residents so that it wasn't just an art trail but more of a game of "Guess Who".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8McaK6-t9oK6REjB3ZNWus6_rd_7t-l-taZ8gX9Ou-rfoZ-QSzA22lAUIX75rCBtN4ecOJ8NX4qJuOruC1aG_WJFj2QXj2kKqWZ1M_DL3RyQqaCA6ivWTrqdTAFx6kMQV247USR4u-f4/s3024/1V01GuEYS%252B60Iv%2525uKuwASg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8McaK6-t9oK6REjB3ZNWus6_rd_7t-l-taZ8gX9Ou-rfoZ-QSzA22lAUIX75rCBtN4ecOJ8NX4qJuOruC1aG_WJFj2QXj2kKqWZ1M_DL3RyQqaCA6ivWTrqdTAFx6kMQV247USR4u-f4/w400-h400/1V01GuEYS%252B60Iv%2525uKuwASg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well long time readers won't be surprised will they.... I'm full of bright ideas, me! And so using our villages facebook groups and word of mouth I asked people to send me a photo of themselves so that I could create small portraits. I've used pencil, pen, paint and collage to create unique portraits of people of all ages. I've discovered that drawing children is SO hard... the last thing I want to do is give people ugly children! Older faces with a bit of character (i.e wrinkles) are much easier. It has taken almost every spare minute over the past month and tonight I finished the final picture. There are 40 pictures of 58 people, eight dogs (all different breeds), two cats, an owl, a budgie and a sock monster (best not to ask). The final one was of a face I see every day. Luckily he likes it but everyone else has to wait until the weekend before they see their picture.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01sr1vT0jZgBJxLp-HjCfBb8hcj4kl7G0Bs4TUAC6AQ4jql5VNASb_EmfazzIr7AwJUGuRVdw0FnYilZd2dCRE5GeSkNuTOqTWcTQg-Oa6fNQ7x8D447x4UCGiWG9G1DfOIxvsi194W0/s3024/d6YoFc%252BNReqriyjuBgcAHw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01sr1vT0jZgBJxLp-HjCfBb8hcj4kl7G0Bs4TUAC6AQ4jql5VNASb_EmfazzIr7AwJUGuRVdw0FnYilZd2dCRE5GeSkNuTOqTWcTQg-Oa6fNQ7x8D447x4UCGiWG9G1DfOIxvsi194W0/w400-h400/d6YoFc%252BNReqriyjuBgcAHw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In other news, I helped youngest son move out of his flat, even though he had been living with us for two months during lockdown, and into a new flat share with his girlfriend. The old flat took us all day to clean. After Jacob had moved in with us, his old flatmate didn't bother to clean, wash dishes, pick anything up etc so you can imagine the mess. There have been trips to the dump (oh the queues), lots of packing and lifting and endless journeys to and fro to a deserted Cambridge. On the bright side, at least parking wasn't a problem and being in town meant we had a couple of picnics in the park with son no. two and his wife. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My next project is online teaching and I'm developing some courses based on some of my established classes. Getting my head around the technology has been quite a learning curve but this old dog is learning some new tricks and I'm hoping to launch my first course in August. If you are remotely interested be sure to sign up to my newsletter (link in the sidebar) for the latest updates. I've been practising my video editing skills by making more free YouTube tutorials that you can find <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClGdiDuUVk3BtTNt2hzH3wA/">here.</a> Please do subscribe to my channel as once I get 100 subscribers I get more flexibility in what I can do. Thank you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So that's what I've been up to... maybe I'll be back before the end of July, but I'm not making promises!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-28741939561498045572020-05-31T20:38:00.000+01:002020-05-31T20:40:18.339+01:00Lockdown Cooking<div style="text-align: center;">
How are you all? Still staying safe I hope. Despite the endless confusing information and bending of rules here in the UK (which makes me very angry but I'm not going there) we are pretty much living our lives much the same as the past ten weeks. We're staying at home, going out for walks but keeping our distance and supermarket shopping when necessary but that's about it. We have had one or two meetings with family members over the past couple of weeks which has been wonderful seeing them after so long, but still outside and at a distance. I needed some sandpaper during the week so actually ventured out to the DIY store but on seeing the queue outside I decided I didn't need it that urgently so turned around and came back home. I have no desire to rush back to pubs and restaurants or anywhere that people are gathering. It all feels so unnecessary. The jury is still out about getting my hair cut... Stewart did seem rather alarmed when I suggested I could shave my head!</div>
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So now that the demand for scrubs has pretty much stopped and I have used up my supply of mask making elastic I'm looking at other ways to stay busy besides painting all day. I've had a couple of moderately successful sough dough loaves from my starter, which I named Vincent Van Dough, which isn't looking very lively in this photo... but it has only just been fed and returned to the fridge. But then in the heat of last week I decided I couldn't endure another summer living with the Aga turned on. I was literally wilting in the heat and seemed to have a constant headache. So we bought a portable two ring hob and the Aga went off. The kitchen is so much more comfortable and our electricity bill has dropped by 75%. I think this could be the decider for it going for good!</div>
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So what to do with poor old Vincent with no oven in which to bake bread? I do have a bread maker so decided it was worth experimenting . I mixed the dough, kneaded it and let it prove before adding it to the bread maker for the longest cycle. I cooked a brick! I was all for throwing it out but the men of the house who will eat anything decided it was worth investigating. And surprisingly it was actually okay with a good sourdough flavour and suitably chewy texture, so probably worth doing again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TQbHivWKZNVor-jFDV_cp0yZWhby5M7zZJHBnHdE939-u9jQEEE4tNCDvQznlf3aVy7MatCeNqkxeQW1j9PBZEkn24tXrk3nxi668rpTjNcAe7tZj9qfRvfdXyAUVZ0XrB8ah9uwhHk/s1600/s8BsqdV3SaezyCi2C6%252Bdrw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TQbHivWKZNVor-jFDV_cp0yZWhby5M7zZJHBnHdE939-u9jQEEE4tNCDvQznlf3aVy7MatCeNqkxeQW1j9PBZEkn24tXrk3nxi668rpTjNcAe7tZj9qfRvfdXyAUVZ0XrB8ah9uwhHk/s400/s8BsqdV3SaezyCi2C6%252Bdrw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But I did also discover sough dough starter makes incredible pancakes so it would appear that Vincent will live on!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA_u8OSxdYGccvolUPmudkk38dibZPyFC5uFIVjjGudFiThrE6RckqNYonKBMYaIIVSzUenb8b7l4vlWi2RB29_8-Tn1nqhWxpU38qzwCl631ud23G3Ftp5vu-zfNke99DgNZIIo1oGg/s1600/AWSkq5XWTQCFXwrWmpY%252BCA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA_u8OSxdYGccvolUPmudkk38dibZPyFC5uFIVjjGudFiThrE6RckqNYonKBMYaIIVSzUenb8b7l4vlWi2RB29_8-Tn1nqhWxpU38qzwCl631ud23G3Ftp5vu-zfNke99DgNZIIo1oGg/s400/AWSkq5XWTQCFXwrWmpY%252BCA.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I then received a wonderful surprise gift in the post from our friends in the Netherlands, who know I like cooking as much as I appreciate art... <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Art-Desserts-Recipes-Confections/dp/1607743906">Modern Art Desserts</a>. On seeing the wonderful Mondrian cake on the cover my heart sank a little as I thought I wouldn't be able to make any of the desserts without an oven. But on reading there were several that do not require baking.</div>
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So On Friday I made these elegant little Panne Cotta based on an artwork by Spanish artist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosana_Castrillo_Diaz">Rosana Castrillo Diaz.</a> A layer of coffee flavoured panne cotta set at an angle, with a layer of liqueur jelly separating it from a layer of maple syrup flavoured panne cotta. An awful lot of work and several dirty saucepans over a period of about six hours but so worth it! Only in lockdown would I spend the time making such a special occasion dessert destined for our Saturday lunch but the Mondrian cake will have to wait until the autumn when the Aga goes back on.</div>
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I even managed to find some edible lustre dust to make the jelly layers sparkle.</div>
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As well as cooking there has been a fair bit of reading and I have just finished <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790842-life-after-life">Life After Life </a>by Kate Atkinson, which I loved. I was so engrossed in the characters that I didn't want it to end so I have immediately picked up a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3722183-a-god-in-ruins">God in Ruins</a>, despite having read it only a few years ago with our reading group. Not a sequel exactly but the continuing story of one of the central characters from Life After Life. It's not often I read a contemporary novel more than once but I'm enjoying it just as much second time around and it's made me think of other books I might want to reread.</div>
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Our reading group has continued to meet via zoom calls although it's not quite so easy to have a discussion. As it happens our book for June is another Kate Atkinson - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43107933-big-sky">Big Sky</a>, the latest in the Jackson Brodie series. Have you read anything good lately? Or cooked anything exciting either for that matter?</div>
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I've not been great at keeping up with blogs or replying to comments etc lately so do forgive me and pop by and say hello! I miss you!</div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-48856448605370209482020-05-16T19:15:00.001+01:002020-05-16T19:15:34.499+01:00Lockdown Life<div style="text-align: center;">
Well hello! Despite my absence on this blog I'm still here, still keeping virus free, and ridiculous though sounds for someone who is suddenly left with no work, I'm really busy. The days seem to fly by. Most days you will find me at my sewing machine where I have moved on to making scrubs and gowns for a local group that is supplying hospitals, hospices and the like. If you had told me three months ago I would have become an expert at fashioning garments from duvet covers I would have thought it a ridiculous idea... but that is what I am doing. I reckon I'd give the contestants on the Sewing Bee a run for their money! I've lost count of how many sets I have now made but enough to have given myself a whole new wardrobe should I wish to dress in old sheeting. I have the fabric waiting to be cut out for two new dresses for myself but they will have to wait. After all I'm not going anywhere so don't need anything new to wear.</div>
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I have been enjoying customising the pockets and making my own labels. Totally silly, as this probably takes as much time as the rest of the garment but it keeps me amused and hopefully brings a smile to someone else's face too.</div>
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My favourite set of scrubs so far have been this Winnie the Pooh set. Some of the hospitals only want plain garments but others are quite happy to take the patterned ones.</div>
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It seems wrong to me that our key workers should be relying on volunteers to make protective garments from cast off bedding... but they do and so I am happy to help.</div>
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When I'm not making gowns or scrubs I have been making lots more masks... over 50 at the last count. These have gone to family and friends and whoever happens to ask for them. Some people have asked to buy them but despite my lack of income at the moment, it feels wrong to profit from the current situation.... not a sentiment shared by everyone as apparently masks have been selling for extortionate prices on the internet. But I have had some interesting gifts and exchanges (as well as donations to charity) for some of the masks I have made... wine, flowers, freshly laid eggs, a chilli plant, home grown garlic... and wellies! I rather like the idea of this barter system! If you want to make your own I have a tutorial here... just make the elastic a little bit longer... about 6"</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSFMC8drZVs">Sew Your Own Mask</a></div>
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When I'm not sewing you can find me pottering in the garden or painting in my studio... I'm now starting to put some of my paintings for sale so be sure to follow me on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/gina_ferrari_art">Instagram </a>if you are interested. I'm taking part in something called the artist support pledge. Artists who have found their income suddenly depleted are offering work for sale for less than £200 and once they reach £1000 in sales they pledge to spend £200 on the work of another artist. Some artists are obviously more successful than others... I've still a way to go! </div>
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There has also been a bit of baking. I have finally learned how to make sourdough bread and there is a jar of starter languishing in my fridge ready for the next loaf. And in the evenings I'm usually knitting or crocheting whilst watching something on Netflix or the like.</div>
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My latest make was this little cardigan for our newest arrival. Our granddaughter, Reagan, was born a week ago. It's hard not to have baby cuddles with her or her little cousin who is now two and half months already... but better to know they are staying safe at home. We are hoping by the time the third grandchild arrives this year (in August) we might be able to see them all.</div>
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So that's pretty much my life in Lockdown at the moment. We might have been asked to 'Stay Alert" but but we're continuing to 'Stay at Home' unless we have to go out. How are you doing?</div>
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Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-89384230250450746362020-04-16T18:58:00.000+01:002020-04-16T19:04:37.268+01:00Going With the Flow<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello! How's everyone doing?</div>
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I thought I would be doing lots of writing on this blog but it turns out that's not the case. I just haven't felt like it. Just like I've not felt like making artisan bread, doing online yoga and pilates classes, finishing all my sewing and knitting projects, learning a new language and cutting my own hair. Some days it feels an achievement just to get through to the end of the day but I'm learning to go with the flow and do what I feel like doing rather than what I feel I should be doing.</div>
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The lovely weather over the Easter weekend made me feel like tackling a garden project and this bench seat was in dire need of some restoration. I managed to scrounge a couple of pieces of sandpaper from a friend when I was delivering her shopping to her doorstep... she threw them at me from a safe distance. And fortunately there was enough paint left in the can from when it was first painted many years ago.</div>
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I have the same aversion to sandpaper as I do to sandy beaches but I persevered and a couple of coats later it is almost as good as new. I managed to paint the dog's ear to match but we won't mention that. I had to have a sit down and pour myself a glass of Prosecco as a reward!</div>
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We also managed to organise a family zoom call on Easter Sunday with all six grown up children and various partners plus the two grandchildren... although the six week old stayed asleep on his Mum's lap throughout. It was lovely to see everyone together. I know I'm not the only one to be missing the family.</div>
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Silly hats/masks were optional... as was the green paint up the arm. It came off eventually.</div>
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This week has been a slow burn but I have made scrub bags for the NHS from an old flat sheet.</div>
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And masks for us too...</div>
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Although I regretted mentioning that on social media as it seems everyone has an opinion as to their usefulness. I agree they offer no protection to the wearer but the general opinion seems to be (and this is from a couple of nurse friends) they help prevent passing the virus on. It also stops me touching my face when I'm at the supermarket and hopefully gives some sort of reminder to others to keep their distance. Although I'm constantly amazed at the number of people who have no concept of two metres. One chap actually brushed past me at least three times yesterday, close enough that I could have punched him. I was very tempted and I've been googling cattle prods since coming home!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qgOrC0zKsJ6B-xeSU3r71m-MlXUG_L_hwtgArL5lcDBcuUMxC5FuXgLT4YcQ9ZHtkDk5YE3K38Uxg-mfm_Z4pMX_tBKcCBNc2MKyZ1lTeM-qjAViiYv2pMRrV7X08v-83wiEu6B_bj4/s1600/ltVmpg8aQeWHDT%252B%252B4mlzIg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qgOrC0zKsJ6B-xeSU3r71m-MlXUG_L_hwtgArL5lcDBcuUMxC5FuXgLT4YcQ9ZHtkDk5YE3K38Uxg-mfm_Z4pMX_tBKcCBNc2MKyZ1lTeM-qjAViiYv2pMRrV7X08v-83wiEu6B_bj4/s400/ltVmpg8aQeWHDT%252B%252B4mlzIg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also quite like the Dick Turpin look and feel like I'm about to hold up a bank!</div>
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I have been drawing pages into my art journal on a regular basis which I'm hoping we'll look back on one day when all this is a distant memory. It seems like a good way to keep a record of what we are going through, both the good and the bad. I don't think you can watch the video of my pages here but it is on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ginaferrariartist">Facebook </a>page and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/gina_ferrari_art">Instagram</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvyK5WZTi-EXf86syx-kkBUhDf_vwjm-3DdxjAWYe0Vm36IjWQ349bhk64zXr_gBel2kI_lPn_TuDK9nwwZC3YS03ay38YaSKiOVx9mdo7xj9F4ejKZfIY3K2TgpogkRRXenWDkerjNM/s1600/joined_video_4c298e7102a2470ea3b32ccd1ed360ad.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvyK5WZTi-EXf86syx-kkBUhDf_vwjm-3DdxjAWYe0Vm36IjWQ349bhk64zXr_gBel2kI_lPn_TuDK9nwwZC3YS03ay38YaSKiOVx9mdo7xj9F4ejKZfIY3K2TgpogkRRXenWDkerjNM/s400/joined_video_4c298e7102a2470ea3b32ccd1ed360ad.mp4" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway... that's what I've been up to. Now if you excuse me I'm off to take my advance yoga class whilst brushing up on my Cantonese. Actually no... I don't feel like it so will probably pour a glass of something and see what's on the telly!</div>
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Stay home, stay well everyone!</div>
<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-76124003750344262852020-04-07T22:13:00.000+01:002020-04-08T10:05:01.538+01:00Appliqué Tutorials <div style="text-align: center;">
How are you all copying as we enter our third week of lockdown?</div>
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Like many people I'm up and down. There are busy days and slow days, but mostly very long days. I relish my daily dog walks and I'm grateful that we live where we do and that it's possible to walk for miles and hardly see a soul. And when we do see others it's a chance to wave and have a chat from a distance. But like many others I'm also struggling with the fact that I no longer have work, which has not only meant no structure to my days but being self employed, also means no income.</div>
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To fill my time, I'm teaching myself new skills and have been posting regular mini video art tutorials on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/gina_ferrari_art">Instagram </a>and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ginaferrariartist">Facebook,</a> as well as putting them on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClGdiDuUVk3BtTNt2hzH3wA">YouTube channel</a>. It all feels very scary and I'm learning as I go but it's also good fun. But I'm also starting to think about how I might find ways to fill the shortfall in my earnings</div>
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I thought that one way might be to share share some of my old tutorials and so have decided to make my seasonal appliqué hoop PDFs available here with a Pay What You Can system for as long as we are in lockdown. Each one is a fully illustrated guide to creating your own seasonal hoop, complete with traceable patterns. The patterns could also be printed out and coloured in if you have children at home.</div>
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At the bottom of this post you will find a PayPal button and all I ask is that if you are able to make a small payment in return for downloading any of the tutorials, then please do. Of course I appreciate that times are hard for everyone right now and if you can't afford to pay anything at the moment, then you may download the patterns for free with my blessing and I hope it gives you something creative to fill your days. We could all do with more creativity!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjclh5AQy-RWGszS_umpBPx4yPVLfWSpIg-rqqMQpjABuqSmWNV8QZZGf36OVs2XHZIWF66AMAMUAFdoE7mXwki0j2vnd91-oHPMu7saEB2uNHQ0m21QW-cZzpCsERekZnhNNlC5GOLs/s1600/5F23E524-FCB4-493C-A75C-E11C39F60251.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjclh5AQy-RWGszS_umpBPx4yPVLfWSpIg-rqqMQpjABuqSmWNV8QZZGf36OVs2XHZIWF66AMAMUAFdoE7mXwki0j2vnd91-oHPMu7saEB2uNHQ0m21QW-cZzpCsERekZnhNNlC5GOLs/s400/5F23E524-FCB4-493C-A75C-E11C39F60251.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The spring hoop is perfect for this time of year, especially Easter and I think I will probably hang mine in the window this coming weekend.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AN3Z5lL9mDeVhLxQljnkA30eb6Bf99CZwFxoV-11XMqk-ezDU7ox7RDbzh1Caq3OBTMMY3mWMNAFPVFHcIXgIDFM3qJTJW0Zc55LwoYjpaeFPkjnK6WyMg7lpUXjxiUhUQsFaZW0L6Y/s1600/BD0782C4-8B65-4EB8-9D13-86ADE074C298.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AN3Z5lL9mDeVhLxQljnkA30eb6Bf99CZwFxoV-11XMqk-ezDU7ox7RDbzh1Caq3OBTMMY3mWMNAFPVFHcIXgIDFM3qJTJW0Zc55LwoYjpaeFPkjnK6WyMg7lpUXjxiUhUQsFaZW0L6Y/s400/BD0782C4-8B65-4EB8-9D13-86ADE074C298.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click on the link below for your download.</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LCWq96ZK2SPvIboD1MMtSe5veh_DQ0Xi/view?usp=sharing">Spring Hoop PDF</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3aYIqKZDjSSjSiwoTLfd2vD9oKCFlbeEUoMHq7AtQPZZ-OM-kz9byXcGERihiUY9PcZoPuKDsnluuAerfwSM4B_Axhq0O1WruPkQq6e275oORnxb1ujfdc4WeE3MTkYdkkIhwiILskM/s1600/5D34007B-C769-4CA6-BDE7-D693825DABB4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3aYIqKZDjSSjSiwoTLfd2vD9oKCFlbeEUoMHq7AtQPZZ-OM-kz9byXcGERihiUY9PcZoPuKDsnluuAerfwSM4B_Axhq0O1WruPkQq6e275oORnxb1ujfdc4WeE3MTkYdkkIhwiILskM/s400/5D34007B-C769-4CA6-BDE7-D693825DABB4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The summer hoop features beach huts and hazy summer days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JyD5NwSySlqv0CUX28UOkYXkDPaVdgWZ7qIqsCVkcM5OjWRoQkGrpDSGTq6ATh76r5VbMhFRNsiCisY7mF6J06vD_TFHt9y252Bnu8pxHh_wSVMHpPNoY8NFY5F6a0YvcF9fQiUhyphenhyphenw8/s1600/338519A9-BB5D-4770-B113-B0EAFF71502B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JyD5NwSySlqv0CUX28UOkYXkDPaVdgWZ7qIqsCVkcM5OjWRoQkGrpDSGTq6ATh76r5VbMhFRNsiCisY7mF6J06vD_TFHt9y252Bnu8pxHh_wSVMHpPNoY8NFY5F6a0YvcF9fQiUhyphenhyphenw8/s400/338519A9-BB5D-4770-B113-B0EAFF71502B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can find the download for the summer hoop here:</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aUgeiZsioCp7eZqr-vM7R-_vlkdkinVc/view?usp=sharing">Summer Hoop PDF</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZpnlLPQv4LbE4MoYAGCvFtjrDOCXFnO0G4mUjhrQoXNBHc191JWjO14vMNDhhqXUc1lyA7X6Qpgt-K44-zNPmlt0mCmkv1ftdyrTFYVFnNLjcvX0ydCCwnNxpBvh8SNBfDMLpz4qCAo/s1600/336FA624-D325-4AB9-BECA-19541B8CB86D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZpnlLPQv4LbE4MoYAGCvFtjrDOCXFnO0G4mUjhrQoXNBHc191JWjO14vMNDhhqXUc1lyA7X6Qpgt-K44-zNPmlt0mCmkv1ftdyrTFYVFnNLjcvX0ydCCwnNxpBvh8SNBfDMLpz4qCAo/s400/336FA624-D325-4AB9-BECA-19541B8CB86D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Autumn hoop features berries and seeds as well as a little fox</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzI55MstKwiiSLH-wciAIJNwPVhCdMvLzNSzF9LIE0DDOpO1phCQCBG-pu7hJQ3ZQW2NJwyxO4uIQhLWg25nmca0sjbT61Rr36XIHet2LhSBxSQoctpjmX1Ts5e78MDhiscfQkfleb4g/s1600/94846AB5-507A-40C0-A467-6FCB87D0DF50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzI55MstKwiiSLH-wciAIJNwPVhCdMvLzNSzF9LIE0DDOpO1phCQCBG-pu7hJQ3ZQW2NJwyxO4uIQhLWg25nmca0sjbT61Rr36XIHet2LhSBxSQoctpjmX1Ts5e78MDhiscfQkfleb4g/s400/94846AB5-507A-40C0-A467-6FCB87D0DF50.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can find the download for the autumn hoop by clicking here:</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p8eu09X02RNErsT0wB8Ct6rRVvV3DCnw/view?usp=sharing">Autumn Hoop PDF</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiETXYZbn4lhMhiU-oiovy29l_vCZghtDifzkaF4uJizAFv_70lW5oJld6PCNBD3yAgs4fnBufC36EI-0FD9CDjrsSs_WKQaiBorMZ8RWVHewGFyfZVkhX6qmGyYPiWjM56DcBZVi9g8/s1600/342F989D-04B6-4622-A63F-6371A323C81C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiETXYZbn4lhMhiU-oiovy29l_vCZghtDifzkaF4uJizAFv_70lW5oJld6PCNBD3yAgs4fnBufC36EI-0FD9CDjrsSs_WKQaiBorMZ8RWVHewGFyfZVkhX6qmGyYPiWjM56DcBZVi9g8/s400/342F989D-04B6-4622-A63F-6371A323C81C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And finally the winter hoop features a suitably snowy scene.</div>
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Although each design is intended to be displayed as a hoop to hang on the wall, they could be adapted to fit in a regular picture frame or possibly made to decorate a cushion or a bag too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9etqsskuZpSQW4pk1tVaomHCC-EIweaVYi4CZ9Pl7CuwjfsUinfWaCJNvYxgdzStUJzGmdYNnjN39-GE_RDUxW2SjT3xC03Qt-yzdRw5U74-xplsXoDT6rd6slSPuxUUH0VFkvrRi9xw/s1600/AD6AE5DB-7BB6-4493-9EC1-4B086858F1DC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9etqsskuZpSQW4pk1tVaomHCC-EIweaVYi4CZ9Pl7CuwjfsUinfWaCJNvYxgdzStUJzGmdYNnjN39-GE_RDUxW2SjT3xC03Qt-yzdRw5U74-xplsXoDT6rd6slSPuxUUH0VFkvrRi9xw/s400/AD6AE5DB-7BB6-4493-9EC1-4B086858F1DC.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can find the winter hoop download here</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y4qI9ohs6SdqjtTCcDBV-rpOae8Mqtvy/view?usp=sharing">Winter Hoop PDF</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8tEQLHep4h6oDku9chSx8wPvceleiSfHLrnX7icr-kq3jC5NUEJwWH20qce9yTzaby6sS2KyAkmTfqXiURR7U6IH1H3a7g2b6IBSvvaLn4M5-y5ifm1qDHBPMDzg_tYzHT4aVrQUeoo/s1600/C424D73C-1B18-4E5D-A244-C0045A136D44.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8tEQLHep4h6oDku9chSx8wPvceleiSfHLrnX7icr-kq3jC5NUEJwWH20qce9yTzaby6sS2KyAkmTfqXiURR7U6IH1H3a7g2b6IBSvvaLn4M5-y5ifm1qDHBPMDzg_tYzHT4aVrQUeoo/s400/C424D73C-1B18-4E5D-A244-C0045A136D44.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have been selling these patterns in my Etsy shop but I have deactivated them while I have the downloads available here. You can find my PayPal button below and thank you for your support.<br />
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If you have any questions, just leave a comment below... and of course if you make up any of the patterns I would love to see them!<br />
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Wishing you all a happy lock downed Easter... We are attempting a family zoom call on Sunday with fourteen of us!<br />
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Gina x</div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-55339384331694203992020-03-29T11:10:00.001+01:002020-03-29T11:10:18.202+01:00The Pattern of my Days<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you are all staying safe, well and busy. Our days have taken on a new slower rhythm as we try to keep some structure in our lives whilst observing the lock down. Stewart still has work delivering groceries so is now deemed a "key worker" and much of his other work has always been done on line so not much has changed to his daily routine. Of course, it is a worry that he is going out to work and potentially at risk of being exposed to the virus but we are being as careful as we can under the circumstances. For me, suddenly being without any work and not knowing when it will resume has meant creating a new pattern to my days. I continue to get up at much the same time as usual and take the dog for a long walk. I come home and we then have breakfast together. The heat then gets put on in my studio and I might catch up with emails or maybe watch an art video or two in the house while it warms up. The day is spent in my studio, with breaks to make lunch, make a daily phone call to my Mum and calling or sending a message to other friends and family. More than ever it seems important that we all stay connected.<br />
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Studio activity varies depending on what I feel like doing, although I've not felt very much like making big paintings this week. The windows in our village are being filled with rainbows, an idea so that children could play a game of "Rainbow I-spy" whilst out walking, although I suspect a lot of adults are playing too... I know I am and feel disproportionally excited when I spot a new one! So I started the week by painting a rainbow for our hall window. I then decided it would be fun to have a more permanent rainbow to hang up and so made another from mosaic. Are there rainbows in windows where you live?<br />
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Although I haven't felt much like making large paintings I want to make some sort of art every day and sketchbooks seem an ideal way of doing this. I have been taking part in Karen Abend's <a href="https://www.karenabend.com/sketchbook-revival-2020/">Sketchbook Revival </a>this week (still not too late to join in) which has prompted me into making an art journal. I've started these before but I've never progressed much beyond the first couple of pages. I thought it would be a good way to document our days at home during the pandemic though and with not a lot else to do I might stick with it this time. These are just some random pages from this week.<br />
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Important to remember to keep smiling I think...</div>
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It is hard to believe we have only been in lock down since last Monday evening... it feels like so much longer. I guess that's because so much has changed in such a short space of time.<br />
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Laugh whenever you can... it's the best tonic to keep your spirits up!<br />
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We have been lucky that the weather has been so good the past week and on my morning walk one day I was struck by the fact that there were so many birds singing. Nature carries on regardless and it's a joy to see so many signs of spring.<br />
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A reminder to myself to make art every day...<br />
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... and to keep in touch with our family and friends. We have a family WhatsApp group and there were all sorts of puzzles being sent yesterday between our adult children. It's hard not being able to spend time with them though especially our new grandson who is already a month old.<br />
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As well as daily sketchbook work I have also been making some short videos with a view to eventually teaching online. If you follow me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ginaferrariartist">Facebook </a>or <a href="http://www.instagram.com/gina_ferrari_art">Instagram</a> you may have seen some of these already but this week I uploaded my first ever YouTube video which you can find here:</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnbBcyyrVM8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnbBcyyrVM8</a></blockquote>
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I made it specifically for one of my classes that was due to meet last Saturday as this was one of the things we were going to be doing, and I know some of the class aren't on Facebook etc. It's ridiculous that I have happily been teaching classes to adults face to face for twenty years but it felt so exposing and I felt so self conscious talking to camera. But I have gradually got braver and my next plan is for a step by step collection of short clips showing the progress of a painting... as a response to a request in a comment from Stitchinscience on my last post. Anything else you would like to see me teach? </div>
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In the evenings I occasionally pick up my knitting but I have also been working on a rag rug for our hallway which I finished on Thursday... I can see a lot of projects getting finished in the coming weeks. I had no sooner put it on the floor to see what it looked like when Hector came over, gave it a sniff, circled a few times and then plonked himself down with total ownership. He approved of the rug that I obviously made for him!</div>
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But this is where it really belongs... in our hall where Hector doesn't go!</div>
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Last night we had a very special evening... we cracked open a bottle of wine... okay that's not that special and seems to be a regular occurrence ... we then had take away fish and chips delivered on our doorstep by our village pub. This was followed by a delicious homemade crumble and ice cream (even if I do say so myself) made with a gift of allotment rhubarb from one of our neighbours (also left on the doorstep). We then spent the evening on a zoom call with several neighbouring families taking part in a village quiz. It was a lovely evening, just as good as going out and makes us realise how lucky we are to be part of such a wonderful community.</div>
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So that's the pattern of my days, which of course may well change as the weeks go by. It's not always upbeat and happy and I have my moments of anxiety worrying about all the people getting sick and whether my family will be safe etc. just like everyone else, but I try to remind myself that I can't control what's happening in the world, I can only control how I feel and act and it helps by limiting my exposure to the news (which I've realised actually makes me feel physically unwell with a racing heart and pressure in my chest). I feel it's good to know the facts but I don't need all the "what if" horror stories and factually incorrect rumours that are abounding.</div>
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How are your days and evenings? I really do hope you are all staying safe, well and busy xx</div>
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Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-16416643231596365402020-03-22T10:13:00.000+00:002020-03-22T10:13:23.539+00:00A New Normal<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't think I'm going to write at length about the current situation sweeping our country and the world. We are all in the same boat, with the same problems to face and everyone going on about it doesn't help anxiety levels. It's going to be tough but I believe we will get through it and hopefully come out of it a kinder and more caring society. Of course it will also bring out the worst in some people but let's hope they are the minority. I'm not used to having so much time on my hands though. I'm not working from home because all my work has been cancelled for the foreseeable future - no talks, no classes. I've starting investigating how to produce teaching material online but it's all new to me so it's a steep learning curve... but at least I have plenty of time to learn.</div>
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Yesterday we cleaned the house, I did two loads of laundry (which dried outside... yah!), washed the windows outside, which were very dirty after recent storms and then decided to clean and sort out our larder cupboard. We don't have a lot of space for storage so I probably have potential to rummage up four or five unplanned meals at the most,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ready_Steady_Cook"> Ready Steady Cook </a>style! Most of the contents are spices, vinegars and jams... so many pots of jam! No hoarding going on here (apart from the jam of course, although it is mostly homemade), but at least I can see what we've got. </div>
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All that was done and it was still only lunchtime so in the afternoon we decided to take advantage of the fine weather and go for a long walk around the villages. It was quite cold and blustery, but lovely to be outside. There were more people than usual out walking but still not that many and all at a distance!</div>
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There were lots of signs of spring arriving which was a cheering sight. Mother Nature carries on regardless.</div>
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It was Hector's fourth birthday so an extra long walk was a treat for him too!</div>
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I've also managed to set up my new website in the past few weeks, which I'm really pleased about. It's very simple but I do quite like it. You can find me here if you want to take a look</div>
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<a href="http://www.ginaferrari-art.co.uk/">www.ginaferrari-art.co.uk</a></div>
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Plans to sell my art are now on hold however!</div>
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This is my most recent painting... I found a tiny rough sketch in one of my sketchbooks and based it on that. I like it enough for the moment but it may get changed or painted over. I've only a limited number of canvases to keep me going over the next few months!</div>
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So that's what I've been up to this week... staying at home, pottering in the garden, making lots more phone calls than usual and sending more messages. It's going to be our new normal!</div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-63424634085806136642020-03-15T18:46:00.000+00:002020-03-16T13:40:16.845+00:00Troubling Times<div style="text-align: center;">
I do hope you are all staying safe in these difficult times. I am sure I am not alone in finding it difficult to sift through the masses of sometimes conflicting advice, plus lack of trust in our government in the UK is not helping, as I really don't believe they know what they are doing. Personally I am quite happy staying at home except for work and grocery shopping (assuming the hoarders have left us anything to buy) but trying to convince my 85 year old mother this is what she should be doing is another matter! If I don't take her out I know she will just get herself a taxi so I would rather it was me driving her to the shops, but then I feel complicit in putting her at risk. I think the sooner we are all told to stay home the easier it will be.</div>
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At least I won't be bored if we get put in lock-down... just think of all those unfinished and yet to be started projects. Recently I signed up for a twelve week art program called<a href="https://www.art2life.com/art2life-creative-visionary-path-program/"> cvp</a> so I know there will also be plenty of painting to do in the weeks ahead. For the first couple of weeks we have been creating Inspiration boards and looking at our motivation and desires etc. so there's not been any painting yet. So I decided I would tidy up my studio in an effort to clear some space for when the painting starts but in doing so I discovered a basket of my old Lino printing tools along with a couple of pieces of Lino.</div>
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An hour or so later I had made several prints and rather than tidy up my studio I had also created more mess... I'm good at that! But I did have fun.</div>
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So much fun, that the following day I went back and made another Lino cut, this time basing it on one of my book jacket embroideries.</div>
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Today, having run out of Lino I made a small stamp from a sheet of foam and made another little bird print. Don't ask me why I decided to go with the Robin Colouring because I don't know. However what I do know is, that come next Christmas when I decide to make Christmas cards I won't have a clue where I have put this stamp, assuming I even remember making it. </div>
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And the studio has still not been tidied up!</div>
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As well as plenty of creative pursuits to keep me busy I also have this ever growing pile of books beside my bed. I think I would quite like some enforced reading time. I've been enjoying the Ruth Galloway novels by Elly Griffiths but I'm trying to alternate them with other books for a bit of variety. I'm also trying not to buy any new books so my reading matter does tend to depend on what I can find in charity shops, borrow from other people or pick up from our village book exchange... although that's probably not a safe activity any more! At the moment I am ready <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10054335-rules-of-civility">Rules of Civility</a> by Amor Towles. It has the feeling of The Great Gatsby but far more enjoyable in my opinion. I loved his only other book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34066798-a-gentleman-in-moscow">A Gentleman in Moscow </a>too and the story of Count Rostov who is placed under house arrest, unable to leave his hotel is probably rather apt for the circumstances we currently find ourselves. From Goodreads: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.</i>" I might just have to read it again.</span></div>
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So yes, there are difficult times ahead for all of us I think, wherever we live, but looking on the bright side not only will I get lots of painting, knitting, sewing, gardening and reading done... I might actually have time to write here more often because I do miss it when I don't!<br />
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What are your lock down plans?</div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-10291383149894761182020-03-08T23:12:00.000+00:002020-03-09T10:43:48.443+00:00A Trip Down Memory Lane<div style="text-align: center;">
Busy schedules, changes of plans and weekends with no trains and replacement buses have meant that I've not managed to see Joe (son no. 3) since Christmas and not only that I've not actually seen his flat, where he has been living since last September. But today the planets aligned and we found a day where we were both free and the trains were running normally so we met up in North London for the day.</div>
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Having lived in Stoke Newington, gone to school in Stamford Hill, worked in Wood Green and frequently spent nights out in around Finsbury Park when I was growing up, it was like a trip back in time. We started from Finsbury Park with a walk across the park, where I immediately recalled going boating on the lake. Joe wasn't sure there was even a lake never mind boats but sure enough, there it was! It started to rain so our first stop was back to Joe's flat for a cuppa and to dry off. Joe lives in an upstairs flat in a typical north London terrace house and as we walked upstairs it felt so familiar. The smell of the house was just like my grandmother's, difficult to describe but it was a woody, 'old' smell that seems more to do with the fabric of the house than anything in it. After a quick cuppa we ventured out onto Green Lanes where there were a plethora of Turkish restaurants to choose from although we opted for some amazing salads at a lovely little <a href="https://musicandbeans.co.uk/">coffee shop.</a></div>
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After lunch Joe suggested a walk or a bus to some of the places I remembered. The rain had stopped so we decided to walk and head down Green Lanes to Clissold Park. By the time we arrived it was pouring!</div>
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Not to be deterred by a spot of rain we crossed the park to Newington Green, where I have memories of going for school swimming lessons.</div>
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From there we headed down Church Street towards Stoke Newington. I lived here very briefly when I was about 10-11 years old and attended the William Patten junior school which was every bit as grim as I remembered! Our playground was actually on the roof! I was in Miss Pinkington's class and I probably have a photo somewhere if I could be bothered to look.</div>
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We lived in a rather ghastly top floor flat above a greengrocers shop, now the Anglo Spice Grill... one bedroom, tiny kitchen, no bathroom and just one shared toilet with the flat below. My brother and I shared a bedroom and my Mum and Dad slept on a sofa bed in the living room. We washed at the kitchen sink and once a week we went to my uncle's flat in Dalston for a bath.... don't worry, I'm not going to go all <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHFZBUTA4k">Monty Python</a> on you! We weren't there for very long but I do remember watching the first moon landing whilst we lived there and singing The Beatles song Obladi Oblada so I guess it was 1968-69. Isn't it strange the things you remember!</div>
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A surprise memory was walking past Abney Park Cemetery. There is something quite special about urban cemeteries like this one that feels unique to London. Crowded, overgrown and steeped with history they evoke an atmosphere of times gone by.</div>
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From Stoke Newington we made our way on to Stamford Hill, where I remembered my grandmother working at the local Sainsburys... in those days it was a shop with beautiful separate display counters for meats, cheeses and groceries and lovely tiled walls and floors, nothing like today's supermarkets. Today the same store occupies the site that used to be cinema where I remember going to Saturday morning pictures! A little way up the road we passed my secondary school, for which I have mixed memories many of which involve bunking off to miss going to weekly mass!</div>
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From there we ventured to where my grandmother lived, but her London terrace house has long since been replaced by rows of flats. I probably have a photo of me sitting outside her old house somewhere too! It looks nothing like it does today.</div>
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After that we wandered back to the main road and on to Seven Sisters where I caught the train back and Joe walked home.<br />
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It was quite a trip back down memory lane and I was surprised by how much came flooding back. Things I hadn't thought about for over forty years suddenly popped back in my head, street names, old school friends, places that used to be but are no more! Such a lovely unplanned day.<br />
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In other news it was my second trip into London this week. On Thursday we ventured south of the river (when it also rained and we got very wet) to meet my new grandson. He arrived last week on what would usually be the last day of February, narrowly missing being a leap year baby. He is called Sokratis and weighed a very healthy 8 lb 3 oz and although I might be a little biased he really is gorgeous with a head of dark hair, just like his Dad!</div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-44093828757577357582020-02-28T13:57:00.002+00:002020-03-08T18:53:31.530+00:00Still here, still painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once again I am wondering whether this blog has run its course. Every time I write a post I think I must do this more regularly but then I forget all about it and it is no longer in my consciousness and another three weeks goes past. I used to write twice a week but its now more like twice a month... on a good month! But I'm hanging on in there!</div>
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To be honest, Painting is taking up most of my free time and these are a couple of my most recent attempts. I'm not sure how finished they are, whether there will be minor adjustments or whether I might even paint over whole areas. It doesn't matter because I am loving it. I am loving it so much that I have now signed up for an intensive three month course called <a href="https://www.art2life.com/art2life-creative-visionary-path-program/">CVP</a>. It was a big decision because not only will it require a fair bit of time but it has also been quite a financial investment. But change never happened without taking risks and I am ready for change. I'm ready to try something new.</div>
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So maybe my blog is ready for change too! Originally I set it up with the idea of recording my textile art as I embarked on a degree in stitched textiles. Not many of my original followers from those days are still around. In the intervening years there has been so much more... knitting, reading, family life and cakes... lots of cakes, but I'm not sure that is what I want to write about any more. It's art and painting that is lighting my fire... or perhaps I should say, Fanning my Flame, at the moment. I have set up a new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ginaferrariartist/">Facebook page</a> to share my art, where you will be most welcome to come and visit and follow me. And I think the website is almost done... I'll let you know when I have finished tweaking!</div>
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But just so you know the blog hasn't changed completely or gone forever, I'll share will you my latest knits for the grandson who really doesn't want to arrive!</div>
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There is a little cardigan from a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Personal-Blog/Knitsofacto-179844712081480/">knitsofacto</a> pattern, a hat that I invented, that has been made twice (since the due date I might add) because the first time it was huge (I have no plans to go into pattern writing fortunately)... and a little bunny in a matching sweater from <a href="https://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/">Little Cotton Rabbits.</a></div>
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Now all we need is a baby!</div>
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Now if you excuse me I'm going out to my studio to paint, where I will ignore the rain and howling wind, while I wait for that phone call with news!<br />
And the blog... I'm not really ready to give it up because letting go is hard isn't it? So I expect I'll see you again in about three weeks! </div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-43477066676419109212020-02-09T16:36:00.003+00:002020-02-09T16:36:42.000+00:00Since I was last here...<div style="text-align: center;">
You might have been forgiven for thinking that I had run away to join the circus but no, I've just been here, keeping my head down, doing this and that, nothing really worthy of writing about. I think maybe it has something to do with the time of the year, February always feels like a bit of a transition time... the space between the new year and spring arriving. Most days I have been trying to spend a couple of hours in my studio doing something creative. My 30 second daily commute is rather inspiring as the garden is awash with snowdrops and hellebores</div>
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It has been one of the lovely things about moving to a new house, that we are constantly surprised by what pops up in the garden. I didn't bother with my little commute today though... I've just sat inside the house watching fence panels come down. It's not safe out there!</div>
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I have been taking another short online course, this time with <a href="http://www.estemacleod.com/">Este Macleod.</a> I like her work and was interested in her techniques, but although I have found it a good course that is packed with content, it has been too prescriptive for me. And I have realised I don't want to paint like <a href="http://www.estemacleod.com/">Este Macleod</a>! I guess I already knew that but the journey to finding my own artistic voice feels precarious at times and it's hard to listen to that inner voice that knows what I want to do.</div>
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I did make a couple of finished pictures as a result of the course that I am quite happy with, although they don't feel authentically mine. There were a lot of very similar looking pictures from everyone else taking the course. But I figure learning what we don't want to do is just as valuable as learning what we do want.</div>
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I have also been making some acrylic paintings that have come straight out of my head - semi abstract landscapes inspired by my weekend in the Lake District last year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-nQNA9JBKlIZyJVMtzK3NimdNE-NcOKPbyO8wf6z3Rjw1leKb5Dbj_dsF-j046V2EM-t6m6RBVtfLoRUwTtdHDkb_1A7LbDDqsZL9zOVHGfFEoTGJHgk7eQzfmUSk-wLOQ_7WXBj5Uk/s1600/9ED50B05-B100-40BC-BD56-8C39C62B0445.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-nQNA9JBKlIZyJVMtzK3NimdNE-NcOKPbyO8wf6z3Rjw1leKb5Dbj_dsF-j046V2EM-t6m6RBVtfLoRUwTtdHDkb_1A7LbDDqsZL9zOVHGfFEoTGJHgk7eQzfmUSk-wLOQ_7WXBj5Uk/s400/9ED50B05-B100-40BC-BD56-8C39C62B0445.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Possibly not everyone's cup of tea but at least they feel authentically mine and that is important to me. Even if a well meaning friend named the one below 'Blue Slugs on Autumn Leaves'. I believe it was an attempt at humour as he rapidly renamed it 'Tarns of an Autumn Dawn' which is far more poetic but I am trying to be impervious to criticism or otherwise about my work!</div>
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There's not a lot else happening really... I'm trying to create a new website specifically for my painting. My old textile website died quite a while ago but it was outdated and clunky to use so there didn't seem much point reviving it. I had to write html code if I wanted update it or change things which was a challenge to say the least. Now I'm battling with the challenge of Squarespace or Wix... anyone here have experience of either? I keep watching online tutorials that tell me how intuitive it all is but I'm not buying it. It might be intuitive to a twenty something but not to this old girl!</div>
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The running has had a bit of a hiatus due to painful knees. It feels like muscle pain rather than joints so I'm hoping I just need to take things back a notch. I was putting ice on them but came to the conclusion it wasn't really helping and just making me cold. The pain has gone now and I thought I might venture out for a gentle jog this weekend but I was working all day yesterday and I wasn't going to battle with the wind today. I'm not that silly... running is hard enough without adding in extra resistance.</div>
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I have also been knitting tiny little garments because after having a year of weddings in 2018 we are now about to have a year of babies. Eldest son and his wife have a son due imminently and then we have another two due later in the year. It is just a little bit exciting!</div>
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Oh... and I made a cheesecake which given the love hate relationship I have with this Aga was something of an achievement. The instruction 'turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven until cold' was a bit of a challenge for an oven that never gets cold and reminded me of why the only cooking I now do is what is absolutely essential. But we had friends over for supper last night and I felt I should at least attempt to make a dessert. All those cakes are a thing of the past though. You would think the weight would be falling off me but it's not!</div>
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So that's what I've been up to... what about you?</div>
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Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-37777342807191625752020-01-27T20:41:00.001+00:002020-01-27T20:41:30.683+00:00Bucket Lists<div style="text-align: center;">
Driving home from work a couple of weeks ago I was listening to a radio programme called "<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000d71w">All in the Mind" </a>and they were discussing bucket lists... you know... those things you want to do before you kick the bucket, like swimming with dolphins, sky diving, that sort of thing. They had an expert giving her opinion and she seemed to think that they were not a good thing, taking away spontaneity and keeping us focused on a rigid path in life. She claimed that it became harder to live in the moment if we go through our life ticking things off a list. She also seemed to think by creating a bucket list we were fooling ourselves into thinking we could control our own deaths but I was already shouting no, no, no at the radio by this point! When I embarked upon my <a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/search/label/sixty%20by%20sixty">60 x 60 project </a>I guess you could have called it a bucket list but it was never like that for me. It was about trying sixty new things I had never done before, visiting some of those places I had never got around to visiting, one or two were long time ambitions but mostly it was a case of instead of saying "I'll do that one day..." , I actually did it! Most of the things I did weren't actually on a list as such but the result of spontaneous decisions. For example we had driven past The Angel of the North dozens of times and every time we said we should stop there one day. As soon as I decided to embark on 60 x 60, the next time we headed north we actually stopped instead of just thinking about it.</div>
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I got to sixty new things but not until my 62nd year, but that didn't matter because it was never a race and I had plenty of fun on the way. Like I said, some were a long time ambition, like starting a baking business. As it happens I decided it wasn't really for me but I would never have known that if I hadn't tried. Many of the things I ended up doing were quite ordinary, several involved food, and one or two things were very exciting like the indoor sky diving and tree top zip wires. As well as recording everything <a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/search/label/sixty%20by%20sixty">here </a>on my blog I also made a scrapbook and it's fun to flick through and remember everything. It certainly never felt like following a rigid path but just like having lots of fun.</div>
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So although when I got to the end of sixty things it was a bit tongue in cheek when I said I was going to start a <a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/search/label/100x100">100 x 100 project</a> I have been slowly notching up some new experiences. There are things I would still like to do such as see the northern lights one day... and yes, I quite fancy swimming with dolphins, but mostly it will be about trying new things. And making myself a new scrapbook to look back on when I get to be 100... maybe!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFYnuMx9HIMhz8yAxjj1WP1icY-CGWfx61SKTyREBqxkWJaMARJzH1KHl1QIocJLDQ6R7P0LdSUHZ340ji97RhPOjd9PumMxHWrFx8Jdofnh85IxvD1mncfTrvBtF2vcQTeE135wuD-I/s1600/Anne-Frank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFYnuMx9HIMhz8yAxjj1WP1icY-CGWfx61SKTyREBqxkWJaMARJzH1KHl1QIocJLDQ6R7P0LdSUHZ340ji97RhPOjd9PumMxHWrFx8Jdofnh85IxvD1mncfTrvBtF2vcQTeE135wuD-I/s400/Anne-Frank.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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The first thing in my 100 x 100 was visiting <a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/2019/09/tulips-in-amsterdam.html">The Ann Frank house in Amsterdam</a> which we did back in September, something I had wanted to do for quite some time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy-ImvC64fCXXBT1Ekdpis7YuByACGlvJHhTOAJHOOw9eTxUogcAW0-GhlvWtCjW19EvkPMpHg-xi8tXujU2ZxdtmINRz1YW6r5Htr40RWLof6-OrcQ2P0qpZY31ULRC0_7Qq73EnTqY/s1600/anne+frank+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="767" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy-ImvC64fCXXBT1Ekdpis7YuByACGlvJHhTOAJHOOw9eTxUogcAW0-GhlvWtCjW19EvkPMpHg-xi8tXujU2ZxdtmINRz1YW6r5Htr40RWLof6-OrcQ2P0qpZY31ULRC0_7Qq73EnTqY/s400/anne+frank+1.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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I can't say it ever occurred to me that I wanted to go on a <a href="http://ginaferrari.blogspot.com/2019/10/a-feral-weekend.html">'feral retreat'</a> and learn to spin in the wild but when the opportunity arose it sounded like fun so I decided why not!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMow8Npgro0ePwRjxSOkxfShXNV87piY2z0PrAtE74rkYZWiVelZDaS5-V8Hix1Ax329WpUfHKkltOZOGKQfbRWxZWrfIPo8dhaLe0wa90ZmlDhYIE5NKx7QUzdG6y4mN0UDiO4Dw-c_I/s1600/feral+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMow8Npgro0ePwRjxSOkxfShXNV87piY2z0PrAtE74rkYZWiVelZDaS5-V8Hix1Ax329WpUfHKkltOZOGKQfbRWxZWrfIPo8dhaLe0wa90ZmlDhYIE5NKx7QUzdG6y4mN0UDiO4Dw-c_I/s400/feral+2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I might also have embarked in some wild swimming if I'd had a decent size towel with me but decided that air drying in The Lake District October probably wasn't sensible!</div>
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I've often said I would like to learn to carve a spoon and so when I saw a course advertised locally I took the chance and signed up.</div>
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I really did enjoy it and whilst I would like to do more, realistically I know I don't have the time for another hobby. Something else would have to give.</div>
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At Christmas I got to wind the village church clock for a week.</div>
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I don't think it would have been something I would have added to my list if there was an actual list, but it was certainly interesting, wonderful to be part of village history and of course a brand new experience.</div>
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The next thing I would like to do is complete a Park Run. That might not seem like much of an ambition for someone who has run two marathons but I thought I would never run again, so getting back to a fitness level where I can run 5k will feel like quite an achievement. And I've never actually done a Park Run so it will be a first.</div>
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And all this is a rather long winded post to say I had another new experience on Saturday. We went to the local pub for a Burn's Supper and one of the choices for dessert was a deep fried Mars Bar. It has always sounded so wrong and actually not something I've ever really fancied but it was there on the menu so egged on my my Scottish born husband (who also had never had one before) we both opted for the Mars Bar rather than the more sensible Scottish shortbread. It wasn't the prettiest dessert, looking more like a battered sausage than anything else, but I have to admit it was surprisingly good. Not something I would eat every week, and possibly never again if I care about my arteries but it's another experience clocked up!</div>
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So that's it... five things achieved towards 100 x 100 so only another ninety five to go! Maybe the Park Run next, maybe something else... watch this space!</div>
Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2419544468759273678.post-17729583253455134892020-01-20T22:32:00.000+00:002020-01-20T22:32:07.761+00:00New Year, Fresh start<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not a big fan of resolutions but somehow a new year seems to be a good time for fresh starts and good intentions. For years I used to be a runner... quite a keen runner, belonging to running clubs, competing in races and even running a couple of marathons. But about ten years ago, on the advice of my GP, I gave it all up as I began to feel the wear and tear on my knees. I've always done plenty of walking and some swimming and my knees haven't really felt any better or worse. But I have really missed running and recently I've had a hunch that a bit of gentle jogging wouldn't hurt... and if it did I could always stop. So I decided that I would like to gently build up to doing a Park Run in 2020 and so three weeks ago I embarked on the Couch to 5k programme. So far so good and there have been no ill effects other than finding it hard work!</div>
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One of the hardest things is resisting buying new kit. I still have a pair of decent running shoes but I have been looking longingly at some of the latest lycra running gear. However, as you may remember, back in September I took a pledge not to buy any new clothes for a year in an effort to consume less... so it's been no new kit for me. In fact I have been wearing long sleeved Ron Hill running tops that are about thirty years old... but they do the job and I'm kidding myself if I think a bit of new running gear is going to make me look good when I run! Wobbly, bright red and panting has never really been a good look, has it?</div>
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My year of not buying new is going well and so far all I have bought is a pair of socks. They were necessary and I think can be classed as underwear which I am allowing myself to buy new. I draw the line at second hand knickers etc. I do have a look around the charity shops now and then though and last week came home with some great bargains. I bought a pair of shoes, previously unworn, a Phase Eight dress and an M & S top all for a total price of £12.50! I'm a charity shop convert.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ1ut1qyrROH2U59zIkG4W3OEEBmck4J6iD2REpNPzAy5J9oB5GjhNahh6MuTuV9uHaSuQBp9mwPCimkBfZmWF7JDrj2GdXHwvQJmXBdhDn4MnODMB68a4Xs8SY_qJ-zG7P8Ud5CH6Uc/s1600/3FB6495B-00A8-49E5-B6E1-6595EF448666.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ1ut1qyrROH2U59zIkG4W3OEEBmck4J6iD2REpNPzAy5J9oB5GjhNahh6MuTuV9uHaSuQBp9mwPCimkBfZmWF7JDrj2GdXHwvQJmXBdhDn4MnODMB68a4Xs8SY_qJ-zG7P8Ud5CH6Uc/s400/3FB6495B-00A8-49E5-B6E1-6595EF448666.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The other intention I have set for the new year is to try and work on my art every day. It is such a pleasure to be working in my lovely new studio that this has been an easy one. I haven't always managed every single day as sometimes work and other things can get in the way but it has certainly become a regular habit and I have made lots of new pictures already this year, using a combination of painting, collage and stitch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fPAmAo9-bsn6qTcF8ok5wd6YbKkCXv6cI6p87rj8kJ8KjNg2nWhafdaowik59Xl9lVMqV08EHYpwSCPuxzjCGTNdvmbCHZY4eeSoDko-txPGEXueUDzhf9xPaXerPUfpnXmDou4QL_k/s1600/ACBDDE87-32B1-40C2-921F-1893F2E0E7CE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fPAmAo9-bsn6qTcF8ok5wd6YbKkCXv6cI6p87rj8kJ8KjNg2nWhafdaowik59Xl9lVMqV08EHYpwSCPuxzjCGTNdvmbCHZY4eeSoDko-txPGEXueUDzhf9xPaXerPUfpnXmDou4QL_k/s400/ACBDDE87-32B1-40C2-921F-1893F2E0E7CE.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And I've been having fun with an app called InSituArtRoom that takes your photographs and makes them look like framed pictures in different room settings!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLisbqhKo9FWkWRIa5UHCB2zzqFFQRb4MwJlblLYk5efZP6VtSIZNZXiLl3f-IxHjHocVVOhtUKywICtUgxT3Y-HNthyphenhyphen-hSoSRcvlGw2dfwf5ac5FY31EfCdA6LgjOZd-iSf2QlrVSRBQ/s1600/6FF58227-79E6-4C77-8E5D-9D4798060122.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLisbqhKo9FWkWRIa5UHCB2zzqFFQRb4MwJlblLYk5efZP6VtSIZNZXiLl3f-IxHjHocVVOhtUKywICtUgxT3Y-HNthyphenhyphen-hSoSRcvlGw2dfwf5ac5FY31EfCdA6LgjOZd-iSf2QlrVSRBQ/s400/6FF58227-79E6-4C77-8E5D-9D4798060122.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Although soon some of my pictures are going to be adorning some real walls and will be displayed in our local pub.</div>
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Have you had any good intentions for this new year?</div>
<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689402000429710324noreply@blogger.com12