True Colours Thursday - BLUE & WHITE!

My digital camera's Memory Card may need replacing as it seems to have developed intermittent amnesia - a bit like me :), as the images taken for today re Delftware were amongst photo's missing when I downloaded them into my lap-top, so it was into Archives - fortunately, I did find @ least one BLUE & WHITE not previously shown or written about.

Last year, whilst staying in Derbyshire with friends, we visited Cromford Mill, where the Arkwright Spinners group regularly give displays of their skill & sell their wares.

This lady dressed in BLUE & WHITE, is spinning dogs hair - in this instant, hair brushed from a Samoyed...

The spun yarn, she then cleans & from it, creates Chan Brown's 'Pet Hair Bears' - traditionally jointed teddy bears ...

A small bear that sits approx @ 7" needs 2.25oz of hair, a big boy ie 13" needs 9.5oz.

That is an awful lot of grooming!

Now the Spinners attire, reminded me of Alice, as in "Alice in Wonderland" in her BLUE dress & WHITE pinny, as seen here looking through the glass...

And flying off with WHITE Rabbit to the Mad Hatters Tea party...The above photo's, both previously posted, come from the now defunct 'Oxford Story' that featured her & her creator - Christ Church College academic & author Charles Dobson aka Lewis Carroll in animated detail - it was an entertaining tourist attraction, now replaced by a Sportswear Shop!!!

My cake from the Celebration Cake Shop is destined to be a repeat too, there was no other choice but this one...

To join True Colours Thursday, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, as I do now, with many memes, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment below, so we know you are 'IN'!
Next weeks colour is PUCE, a cross between red & purple - suggested ages ago by Rinkly Rhymes, who plays TCT & again by Jeannie who doesn't but maybe should next week!
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Twisted!

Once upon a time I use to do Arts & Crafts.
One, I taught myself was Macrame - the art of tying cord into knots to form useful or decorative pieces.
It was very popular in the 1970's, which is when I probably, made this belt with it's twisted knots...My waist was obviously a lot slimmer back then as it nolonger fits!

tnchick is the long standing host & prompter of Saturday Photo Hunt.

A Secret Santa & my 1st genuine Christmas Card!

In a moment of pure madness on my part; several months ago, I decided to participate in Helena's Secret Santa Christmas Card Exchange.
What was I thinking of ???
The idea is that you personally hand create a card to be sent to fellow blogger.
Within the group, no one knows who, they will receive 'Seasonal Greetings' from, apart from Helena.
She advised me of my reciprocant, whose happens to be someone I've never followed, but Helena sent me her blog address, so on the quiet, I could discover her tastes etc.
Fine in theory, but I've only managed to access this paricular blog successfully ONCE!
All other attempts have caused my laptop to freeze-up & I had to repeatedly re-boot; so, I resigned myself to a making a generic card.
The next problem was, that I hadn't done any craftwork for ages & I do mean AGES; had no materials, and the only old Christmas Cards I had, I certainly wasn't going to cut up to use - I kept them rather than recycle their card, because they were special!
And, as creative inspiration was in very short supply, I procrastinated as usual.
What's new?
But, I was getting increasingly desperate this week, as time was running out on me!
That was 'til I happened on some hand-made cards in the Helen & Douglas House Hospice's charity shop in the Covered Market.
Poopsie was SEVERLY tempted to buy one & try to pass it off as all her own work!
But, Blue's conscious prevailed, so I resisted the temptation; however, I did steal a clever idea.
After a quick visit to a craft store for bits & pieces and an evening of trial & error and screaming frustration; here's my finished effort; have used a blank CD-r... Should have photo'd the mess I made making this & my original failures but pride prevents that; even Bob T Bear (esq) & Dillys would have created much less chaos than I did last night!
Thoughts of designing all my other Christmas cards have been firmly pushed to the back of my mind, though I may just reconsider, re doing one or two, once the dust has settled.

And talking of Christmas cards - just look what I rec'd in the post this very morning...Yes, my dear Aire friends, Maggie & Mitch are way ahead of the game.
Just wish I was soooooo organised!!!
Anyway, love this photo card; it'll stay on display, long after the Holiday Season has passed.
Thanks guys!

Handmade!

Went to an early Christmas craft fair with a difference this afternoon.
'Handmade' was celebrating the work of local independent designers/makers.
Prior to the event, it had even set up it's own blog!
This scanned image, is my free goody bag given to me upon arrival - now that is different...Now, normally, I'd have photographed my 'booty'; however, you'll now just have to take my word for it, that it contained:-
A pretty, delicate and appropriately blue & white, handmade butterfly card by Linda Butterfly; a small bar of handmade purple Plumeria Shea Butter Soap from The Pig & The Peacock; a neat 2 x 3" Notebook enhanced by Love a Little; an attractive hand threaded gold beaded Zip Pull from Snapdragon Beads, along with a host of business & promotional postcards relating to the individual creative artists holding stalls @ the event.

Of the Fair itself, it was very eclectic - love that word - a real mix of the traditional & ultra modern; from painted canvas's to stained glass, from button jewellery to sterling silver pieces, from dark chocolates to scented 'cupcake' candles, from bags to booties, and toys to original greetings cards & tags.
For the serious shopper with Christmas gift conundrums, it offered a wealth of lovely, unique & useful items.
And, like yesterday @ 'Discover Dogs', I could have happily spent away.
But, with the cost of a new camera looming over my head, I kept my hands in my pocket as the saying goes; which was fairly easy as I felt as if, my right hand, had been cut off anyway, as not able to take photo's as I normally would have done when out & about @ such an event.
I'm just not sure, how I'm going to handle this camera-less state!!!