Exhibtions.

I have been really looking forward to today. The weather couldn't have been any better either! On our arrival in London just had to take photo's of interesting buildings, like you do.

Nickie was on the look out for interesting gates and doors for her barriers project. This was taken at just after 10 this morning and already there was a eat haze over the Tower.

We stopped at Trinity park last time for a photo so just had to do it again today, a different season.

We loved this sundial, such lovely textures in the pictures depicting the history of London.

Then it was the V&A, the reason for the trip to London. We hired the I-Pods, and it was worth doing so, we learnt so much more from listening to it, and being able to zoom into the quilts, to see close up details was a bonus.
No photos of the quilts I'm afraid, not allowed. There were some lovely quilts but others were quite thought provoking. If you get a chance to go, do so.

We got in at just after 11, and couldn't believe it was 2.30 by the time we had seen all the quilts, no wonder we felt hungry. Lunch on the V&A lawn in the sun, watching the children paddling in the pool-great.
We then went to the National Portrait Gallery to see the Indian Portrait exhibition, exquisite work, so fine and a lot of it was miniature. I don't know how they painted such detail without the use of a magnifying glass, it made my eyes hurt to look at it! As we were leaving we saw a sign for an exhibition called Contemporary Connections: The Singh Twins. I put my hands up, I am very ignorant when it comes to art and I had never heard of them- but their work, WOW! It is styled on Indian traditional mixed with contemporary Western influences. Well worth visiting if you get a chance, but see the Indian Portrait first, to see where their work is coming from.
In spite of working in London for a couple of years when I left school, I have never been to China Town, so we did a little detour.

The sights, sounds and smells!

Loved the dual language signs everywhere, I am always looking at the text marks used by other nationalities.

Loved the colours on these papaya's.

We don't know what these were, they are quite large, almost lelon size-prickly pears maybe?????

We couldn't resist getting one of these Japanese ice-creams. Take one very thin crepe and decorate with cream,

add sliced strawberries and banana,

then some kiwi.

Embellish with chocolate sauce and add a scoop of ice-cream.

Fold in half, and roll up. I am going to have a go at making some of these for the family.

It was delicious. Time to make our way home, stopping to do some brass rubbings on the sundial we saw this morning. We used a foreign newspaper as our sketch book paper was too thick and we couldn't find any drawing paper to buy. We got some very strange looks but were used to that.

A fantastic day, but oh my legs ache! Thank you Nickie for a great day out!;0)

Tomorrow night Nickie and I are off to Embroiderers' Guild.

Catching the rays.

As the weather has been so good we had lunch in the garden sitting by the pond, I just love the sound of the water trickling down the waterfall, it's so relaxing. It also meant that I didn't do any stitching as I was clearing flower beds instead, never mind, that sun felt great.
Tonight, Hubby took me out to dinner to my favourite Indian restaurant- feeling very full.
Tomorrow Nickie and I are up to London to the V & A museum to see the quilts.;0)

Beatles to Bowie and more.

I have been a bit busy since I last blogged.
On Thursday, my brother came to collect my Smart car, it was sad to see it go, as I have had lots of fun driving it.
I was told to hang fire on my reports by one person at school and told to get them done asap by another. Too many chiefs I think!
It was school speech night yesterday, Diversity were hoping to come to officially open our new sports hall, but work commitments meant they couldn't make it.
Yesterday when I got home from school, this..... was waiting for me. My prize from Carolyn's blog give away. Soooooo generous, I couldn't believe my eyes. Three packages were inside the postbag which contained..........

This beautiful card AND

this lovely textured heart AND

a brooch to wear at work AND

papers, fabric, threads, stamps, shells, beads (some made by Carolyn as well) AND

some more AND

some more, this package also contained some decorated labels.

Thank you so much Carolyn, a truly wonderful package. The photo's do not do it justice.

Today I went up to London with Di to the National Portrait Gallery to see the exhibition 'Beatles to Bowie'. Lots of photo's that bought back many memories of my childhood and made me feel quite old. We also went to see the Twiggy exhibition celebrating her 60th birthday-she wears very well! A quick cup of coffee and the onto the V&A to see the 'Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts' Lots of paintings and jewellery, not many textiles, but a great insight to the life of the Maharaja's. I am so glad that we went to see it.

Tonight I have finished constructing my 'Textured Totem' inspired by the work Roy Ray. It has had one coat of paint so far, more to follow to get a depth of colour. More photo's when complete.