MIAM

MIAM

Tuesday 25 June 2013

I've Got Plans For Yew

Apologies for the appalling title, but I couldn't think of anything better.  I was chuffed to bits last week when I found this perfectly sized small.. (sideboard sounds a bit grand) cupboard for my kitchen/dining room.  I've been scouring chazza's, auctions and junk shops for months to no avail when I suddenly remembered a furniture recycling centre near my Dad.  I couldn't believe my luck when the first thing I clapped eyes on was this.

   
For a change I had remembered to take along my tape rule and once measured I snapped it up for the bargain price of £20.


It's quite scratched and a bit knackered but I've been reliably informed the Yew veneer is suitable for a paint job, so all being well, watch out for the big reveal.

I've been working on something else recently - a peg bag.(can you contain your excitement?)  My previous Poundland peg basket had disintegrated and as you can see, a replacement was urgently required. How hard could it be ?


After googling a few 'Peg Bag' tutorials I cobbled this together with some left over curtain fabric, random buttons, ribbon and a coathanger. 






Whaddya reckon ?  I'm never going to be a contender for the Great British Sewing Bee but it can't look that bad as I've already got an order for another one.

I'm linking to Magpie Monday and Op Shop Show-Off.  So come on, what bargains have you found recently and what have you made ?  Do tell.

  

Saturday 22 June 2013

Croatia Part Two - Dazzling Dubrovnik


  I did threaten promise to show you the remainder of my holiday snaps in my last post so if you can't handle a picture heavy post and a history lesson, look away now!


 

Halfway through our week we caught a ferry to Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 45 minutes away.



We spent a day in the old walled city which was absolutely fascinating.  We couldn't possibly have visited all the museums and churches in one day but we walked the entirety of the wall which encompasses the old city and takes about an hour and a half.


We were advised to time our arrival before the cruise liner passengers who descended in their droves at midday.  But even early on the city walls were full of activity with tourists of various nationalities jostling for position for the best camera shots.  

 

There are hundreds of steps around the circumference of the city so I was glad of a breather every now and then. I found it amazing that the people who live within the city walls carry on their day to day lives with all the tourists gawping at them daily.

 



 












 After completing the city wall circuit we stopped for a restorative beverage and then went in search of the cable car which travels up Mount Srdj, the defence point of Dubrovnik during the Croatian War of Independence.




I can't ever remember travelling in a cable car before and I must admit that looking down was a mistake, but I tried to concentrate on the scenery and thought how cleverly they'd colour co-ordinated the cable car with the rooftops below.  The cable car was completely destroyed during the war and was only restored in 2010.


 


At the summit there's a War Museum in the Napoleonic Imperial Fort. Unfortunately we did not have time to view this, but I remember well the nightly news bulletins during the 90's reporting on the atrocities.




Dubrovnik Old Town was attacked by the Yugoslavs People's Army in 1991 with a siege that lasted seven months.  During this time artillery attacks damaged about 50% of its buildings.  Following the end of the war the damage caused by shelling was repaired in the original style but some evidence of damage can still be seen. 



  After our descent we headed back to the harbour to catch the ferry back to the hotel.  As we arrived on the waterfront we noticed a crowd gathered around and wondered what was going on. Mrs Nosy Parker managed to get a photo. 


It was a lovely happy moment to end a brilliant day.


Now back home I'm well and truly out of holiday mode and this morning thought I had been transported back to November as I woke to lashing rain and howling winds, just the weather to stay at home and craft.  Here's what I made.




I punched two squares in a Post-it to form a rectangular aperture and then sponged a background through it onto cream hammered card stock.  Stamps are Wetland Border by Memory Box, birds by Crafty Individuals, the words are part of a sentiment by Woodware. 
I'm linking this card to  



I'm off to finish a crafty makeover now which I'll show you soon.  Have a great weekend wherever you are.







Monday 17 June 2013

Croatia Part One


I'm just back from holidaying in Croatia with my school mate Sue where we had a lovely relaxing time.  Want a look at my holiday snaps....?  I'll try not to bore you.

 
 We stayed in the delightful little resort of Cavtat,



 and after a cloudy start to the week the weather turned scorchio.



         Here's me, (not quite Ursula Andress) sporting
       'this year's tankini' after a dip in the crystal 
                    waters of the Adriatic.



We explored the quaint narrow streets of the village and visited its two churches and Franciscan monastery,

 

where we saw the above monstrous altarpiece. The cherubim atop it were bastard ugly and looked somewhat familiar. It's difficult to see in my snapshot but just something about the hair... reminded me of Lurcio.        
 Don't titter Mrs!


      






 
In the local supermarket we came across some rudely named ice creams..... more tittering ensued. Bwah!
 


 

Before heading off one evening, I discovered it was possible to use the self-timer on my camera whilst balancing it on a chair, two pillows, an upturned waste paper basket and a trashy novel.



I also learned that I'm quite partial to a moreish Mojito
whilst watching the beautiful people swan about on gin palaces moored in the harbour.



So, that's the end of Part One, top marks for a good effort if you're still readingPerhaps I'll show you Dubrovnik next time?



Night Night














Saturday 1 June 2013

Front Door Dissatisfaction

It's time for LIM's latest challenge and this week they want to see cards inspired by the colour of your front door.  



The card I've produced is somewhat like my UPVC front door, ie uninspiring! I should have spent more time on it but I've been busy in the garden today and also revising for my refresher exams. 

 
Later on this month my niece Emily will be sitting her Grade One piano examination and I have no doubt that she will pass it having listened to her playing her exam pieces. However I think this card looks more like a wedding card, I guess that's always the danger with white cards. The only other colour on my door is the silver coloured letter box, so I used grey for stamping the Woodware bunting and I highlighted the letters with a touch of iridescent glitter, hardly visible in this photo despite the sun. I embossed a long piece of card in a Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder and swore quite a lot as I got a line across the centre the first time round. Despite my displeasure with this creation I'm also linking it to

CAS-ual Friday- Congratulations
52 Card Pick Up

This time next week all being well, I should be 35000ft up in the air winging my way to Croatia, Yippee!  Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get some decent weather there!

See you when I get home.
xx