Morning all, well another mix of layouts this morning, this layout documents the inspiration behind the art. In the left hand picture you can see hubby stood next to a giant piece of smoky quartz at Chatsworth in the right hand picture you can see said 15 year old next to a resin seat made using the quartz as inspiration. Both pieces are beautiful!
Then the Alice trail in Llandudno - yes another layout - I told you I've got almost a full album on that one trail alone. Here is me and said 15 year old stood next to the Cheshire Cat sculpture in the park (there are two in this trail, the second appearing in the second part of the trail which covers 'Through the Looking Glass').
And finally a layout documenting Colin the crow at Harewood, he is really cheeky and quite tame and very very inquisitive and he likes it when visitors pass him sticks through the bars apparently, a couple of up close photos and a family 'selfie' with Colin in the background!
Earlier in the year I managed to get hold of a gorgeous mini book kit from Jen at Wear Crafts and I dutifully made the mini book (which I love so I've made loads more since). However, I did have a bag of leftover bits of paper left and I really couldn't throw them away, being a Yorkshire lass you don't waste when it comes to scrapping.
So after I'd moved them around my desk a few times I thought it was time to use them up. The background papers were from my stash, the leftovers created the embellishment.
Photo of hubby when we were on holiday earlier this year.
I put my heart die to good use and managed to create lots of mixed hearts, which I added to the layout below, I think they draw the eye to the photo, taken at the grotto at Chatsworth!
I also decided to go very geometric with this layout, creating lots of squares to highlight the Instagram photo and I also enjoyed putting the pieces onto a black background to really make it pop!
This one helped me document some fabulous photos of the oriental room at Harewood house, the wallpaper with its none repeating pattern is gorgeous and doing the three strips across the page allowed me to include more than one photo despite none of them being the same size.
So my question is - do you have mini book spares lurking somewhere and if so - what do you do with them?
I'm sure it was blink and miss it Monday yesterday, however it went at a merry old pace which I don't mind, so here I am on Tuesday already.
Two layouts this morning, the first is a selfie shot from earlier in the year, had great fun with these papers (Simple Stories from Jen at Wear Crafts) and using lots of circles, a bit of stitching and a border punch, sometimes the simplest of layouts can be the most effective. The photo was taken at Harewood during the spring.
Next up said 15 year old on one of the 'Take a Seat' chairs at Chatsworth, it might look awesome but we decided probably wasn't all that comfortable to lay on and get comfy as it were, hence the 'odd' title!
Hope you have a happy Tuesday and hope it goes just as quick as Monday.
Good morning, well the week fair trips along at a merry old pace and before I know it I'll be facing the task of my 'Rocking' post tomorrow, but today I'm continuing to share layouts in order to empty the blog folder.
First up me, said 15 year old, niece and sister at Harewood House earlier in the year, we were having a wander in the gardens and this was the long walk back up!
Then me and said 15 year old at Chatsworth for their Lumiere evening, we had a great night, it's a shame they aren't doing it again this year as it was a lot of fun and we got some great photos!
This was Christmas Day last year, hubby sorting out the turkey and said 15 year old dressed in his Minion all in one checking things out on the computer, as we always have a lot of family over in the afternoon the day is always a busy one but I enjoy each element in its own right. This quiet time after presents, prepping food time with hubby and son is utter bliss!
My favourite sculpture at Chatsworth last year for their Beyond Limits exhibition the 'hive' was bronze cast and looked amazing against the different coloured grass!
One of my favourite sculptures at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and it always looks different depending on the time of year due to the tree cover.
And that's your lot for today, you'll be pleased to know the folder is emptying - unfortunately I don't appear to be refilling at quite the same pace!
Good morning, well what a strange Monday I had, I'm enjoying being back at my old work place but I am finding it mighty strange with my two old work colleagues no longer being around. I'm sure I'll get used to it but I'm finding that I'm being pretty silent for the day and so finding it harder to be chatty and socialise at night as it were - does this make sense to anyone else?
Anyway I digress, I'm hoping by sharing a few posts I might get productive on the scrapping front again as my mojo has simply upped sticks and moved and I've no idea where it is at the moment!
First up a layout taken at Harewood last year - quite a simple one for me in retrospect!
Then luminere at Chatsworth last year - had a fab evening!
Oh I feel like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland - I'm late I'm late - mind you I bet no-one has actually noticed LOL!
So what have the last 7 days had in store for us, well apart from the fact the weather has been improving - which is a big Yay!!!!! We've also had a few other things up our sleeves.
A trip out to Yorkshire Sculpture Park - we walked over to the Chapel and got to see the iron tree
We managed a selfie by the river (despite people walking past)
We got to enjoy the view including sculptures in a far off field - red net cylinders with yellow centres
We climbed (albeit slowly) the 71 steps!
And got up close to some highland cattle who were far more interested in eating than us!
We went and had a look at the elephant in the workshop at the end - which is now stood on board a viking ship. Apparently it's destined for a shopping centre somewhere.
We also found a new sculpture
And the current exhibition Henry Moore
We also managed a jaunt to Gainsborough Old Hall which is quite honestly - fantastic!
We had a great wander and read of all the info around and as it's English Heritage there was no money exchanging hands!
We found some fab textile art which is great given that said 14 year old is doing art textiles
Some of the work was very intricate and detailed
We even managed a walk up to the top of the tower
For a great view!
More textile art in the gift shop
Outside we got to enjoy the gorgeous building
Wednesday was a sad day as I left my job that I started last April. I had a lovely send off - really lovely, we all sat and had lunch together, Lynne organised arranged and sorted it - which was lovely! I got a gorgeous bunch of yellow roses off Pat and a gorgeous cup and herbal teabags from Sandra and I got a lovely leaving card and a Hobbycraft gift voucher from all my colleagues and you all know how much I will enjoy using that! I didn't shed a tear despite getting a bit emotional when the CEO handed over the gifts but I've 'volunteered' to help out during the transitional period so I'll be popping in over the next few weeks so it will ease me back out of the place as it were!
Thursday we headed up to Harewood, we often end up there later in the year so it was nice to go early and with most of the children back at school it was really quiet. My favourite room in the house is amazing and lighter than previous years thanks to some new blinds they have!
We also enjoyed the story of the world's oldest rum found in Harewood going back to the 1800's - this rum was made when slave trade was still rife throughout the world. Harewood actually sold some of the rum at Christie's auction a few years ago and donated the money raised in a foundation in memory of a great lady who helped young people in performing arts!
Although I'm not sure I'd have been as keen to try it when the bottles were found looking like this!
We also got to see the marquette of the statue in the garden - both of which can be seen in this photo.
We even managed a family selfie!
And said 14 year old managed chips in the garden - she says rolling her eyes!
We were also amazed to see the red kites there - amazing to see so close!
Another family selfie
And the main statue in the garden
Said 14 year old got a panoramic for me - expect to see this on a scrapbook layout shortly!
We also enjoyed the walk around the birds, overall a fabulous day out!
Other positives this week have been rejoining Slimming World with a better frame of mind, given the health issues that we've had to deal with over recently months in the family as a whole this had definitely fallen by the wayside but back on it now!
Mini book making - which I love - however I've got a bit obsessed and created about 5 up to now this week - no idea what I'll use them for but they've been fun to make
Spending time with hubby and said 14 year old and enjoying going back through the Fast and Furious films, also getting said 14 year old to watch The Outsiders finally - one of my favourite films in my teens and my go to teen book as well - amazing story and fantastic film!
Overall a pretty spectacular positive week - I hope yours has been positive and eventful as well, if you fancy joining in then pop a post together, pop back link up and I shall come and visit - don't forget to leave a message telling me that you've visited!
I swear these weeks are speeding up, it really doesn't seem two minutes since I was sat preparing last weeks post!
Without further ado let's take stock of the last 7 days and reflect on what positives I have from them.
Hairdressers last Friday, there is some sort of therapy in getting your hair cut, even if I did need a time turner to get there!
Dry autumn days - there is something about blue skies and dry days that is good for the soul.
Wandering around a local shopping centre with hubby we don't do that sort of thing often but I was four-walling it so escaping for an hours wander was quite nice.
Sunday brought a pre-planned visit to Harewood with my sister and niece as a belated birthday celebration as my sister had been working the weekend of my birthday. Unfortunately we didn't check out their 'what's on' before we set off and arrived on a triathlon day - which meant unusually we were parked absolutely miles from the house! However, as the day was dry and quite pleasant we didn't mind so much. We had a wander around the courtyard and had a cuppa, visited the birds in the zoo like area (it is actually just birds but the penguins that you see first always remind me of a zoo).
Played on the stepping stones!
Enjoyed the gorgeous Chinese Room in the house (one of my sister's favourites)
Loved the modern art in one of the rooms - the lenses in this created little mini pictures in their own right).
This is Adam - a sculpture done by Epstein in alabaster and always makes you wonder - what was he thinking to make the statue like this?
And finally a natural shot of us taken by hubby - after lots of huffing and puffing by niece! Why I've no idea because she really is the prettiest young lady!
We also got to admire the flamingoes and had a walk to the water fall, where we found kids wandering around in the water collecting the pennies people had thrown for wishes - strange thing to see if I'm honest and we had a debate about whether the wishes would come true if someone stole the pennies, we thought it might make for an interesting story.
My sister was in her element in the second hand book store. We had a wander around the gardens at the front which are gorgeous, we could see the triathlon from a distance and had seen cyclists coming up the hill all day.
We then made our way to the fish and chip stall for a portion of chips, the guy who serves on there is so chatty and happy! We ordered chips and he gave us free sausages - crazy man! But they were lovely not very good for my healthy eating plan but lovely nonetheless.
Cuddling up on the sofa with hubby, feet up covered in blankets - bliss.
Managing to get the grass cut one evening when it was dry and a couple of blowy days to sort the washing out. It was as if God had read my to do list and decided to help out by providing a couple of perfect drying days.
My boss for allowing me to leave a bit earlier when said 14 year old wasn't well.
Hubby sorting out the printer issues after spending hours and hours on the issue, he is a star! Finally got it sorted by ringing the helpline we pay for - worth it's weight in gold as don't think we would ever have fathomed it!
Chat's with old school friends on line and sorting a meet up.
Milky coffee when I got home from work on Thursday, I needed something to pep me up and it did the trick!
So this week has been good - some truly positive moments to enjoy and look back on! How was your week? Did you enjoy it, did you have some silver linings in the week to look back and enjoy? If so why not pop a post together, come back link up and we'll come and visit.
