my week = a week at sea

I know I was moaning about the rain last weekend but this week has erased all that -

wow, we seriously had some sun

I got out on my rowing boat, AT LAST

in fact, I got out on it every day this week and I'm the colour of a coconut

I sketched, relaxed, let my mind wander and photographed

stag rock, freshwater bay

just floating.  my little boat

green water and white rock

mermaid rock

watcombe bay and my little pride and joy

utter bliss

I hope your week was as good

tinkety tonk

what i'd wear = nautica

Can you think of anything more delightful, dahling, than tripping along to hubbies' J Class regatta in this wonderful ensemble? 

Of course, one doesn't need to actually sail, does one, to appreciate all things nautical?  

So long as one stands on the blacony of the yacht club looking beautiful, 

that's all that Hon. Hugo Bunty-Twistleton could ask of his dearest.

Oh, for a pink gin and the starter's horn!

 Seriously though, this vintage dress is AMAZING.

I reckon if you know someone handy with a sewing machine it wouldn't be a hard design to knock up.  

(Says me, who can't even thread my machine properly...)

Anchors Aweigh!

Tinkety Tonk

paper + card = new home

Hello one and all.
I'd like to share with you another card I made.
I particularly like how it turned out so I might make some more in a similar style.

My mate moved into a new house.

He invited us over for a meal, which was lovely, and I made this card for the occasion.

I started with a white chalk based house design (free hand) and then used a resin glaze to give it a 3D effect 

(you can't see that on these photos, though)

I embellished it with a tiny keys charm on a jump ring and tied them on with some grey ribbon.

Simple but striking, even if I do say so myself.

My friend certainly appreciated it, which is a good thing!

Tinkety Tonk

my weekend = english wild flowers

Crickey, you know what?  There's nothing like a long walk to clear your head.

 We've got some sun at last and, bugger me, I had forgotten how fandabbydosy it is.
So combine, walking, sun and wild flowers and what more could you want?

Here's some blooming lovelies I saw this morning:

English Wild Flowers

Top left: Agrimony, Top Centre:  Meadowsweet  Top Right: Ash Tree

Bottom Left:  Hogweed, Bottom Centre: Great Willowherb? Bottom Right: Camomile

Utterly Glorious,

Tinkety Tonk

want wednesday - Trees

Sometimes I just browse Etsy and see stuff I want.

Want not need, mind you.

Often the things I linger on share a theme; I assume it must be linked to mood.

I'm not sure what this says about me but these are the things I lingered over today:

Tree Art

 Top left: Wall Inspiration (plywood wall art) by Kristen Bangs  Top Right: 'Through The Forest' Rustic Wall Art by Matthew Mills. Bottom Left:  Branches Papercut by Joe Bagley.   Bottom right: Winter Tress Wall Decal - Wall Consilia 

Maybe I just need to go for a walk in the woods.

Tinkety Tonk

my weekend = summer rain

Could someone please sort out the weather.

I know Britain isn't known for it's sun but we generally get some in summer.

Which is what it is supposed to BE.

Anyway, it was an open arts studio this weekend, organised by Isle of Wight Arts, so I splashed around the studios in my local area and really enjoyed myself, despite the pouring rain.

I naturally couldn't take photos of other peoples' art (they might have thought I was going to plagiarise) so I took one of me and the boyfriend 'enjoying' the gorgeous weather and some coastal plants that I saw while walking around.

Hope your weekend was less damp.

Tinkety Tonk

Gelato - Let's get cynical

Anyone else find it annoying that everyone's started to refer to ice cream as gelato?

I've looked it up and it seems that some really want to claim that gelato has a higher fat content, but I've seen ice-cream made with clotted cream and you can get any fatter than that!

Does no one realise that gelato sounds pretentious unless you're Italian or buying ice-cream from an Italian. 

Or is it just me?

Or is it just a Friday grump?  

Tinkety Tonk

paper + card = ballerina with 'legs'

I haven't posted any craft for a while.

Quite frankly I couldn't whack up the energy. 

I've been in a job I loath for nine months and coming to the end of it's rather a slog.

I just about have the energy to endure and that's all.

However, on to more positive things.

Here's a card I made for my neice's birthday.

She loves to dance.

I thought she might like a jolly finger dance too!

Ballerina birthday card

Those are my fingers, not hers, by the way!

 I sketched a ballerina, coloured it using colouring pencils, and then used Anita's 3D gloss finish.

It's for clear embossing.  I assume it's a type of resin.  Here's a semi-profile:

Clear embossing

Fun, eh?

I'd had the embossing gloss for ages and never used it and when I did get round to it, I loved it so much I used it on a few more cards with I'll share another time.

For now,

Tinkety Tonk

what i'd wear = city chic outfit

Like me, you might LOVE to drape yourself in the finest threads known to humanity

but your purse (and significant other) probably doesn't.

To stave off the depressing realisation of impending pauperism I created another set on Polyvore.

This is where I go to live out my haute couture fantasy existence.

In this other world I'd go to the American Bar at The Savoy  

and toast this montage of delight with a White Lady.

creamy chic by mintymontague featuring long sleeve blouses

 

I really do need some gold shorts immediately and........ ahem......bronzed and slender pins to match.

Tinkety Tonk