ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 7TH OF 2016 AND 285TH ROCKING POST SINCE IT COMMENCED

Good morning one and all - I hope I find you well - it is Friday which means only one thing in this household 

So first up is having an app that allowed me to follow said 15 year old's jaunt off to New York - although it did make me wonder if the pilot got lost at certain points in the journey! 

Next up - another application that I love Whatsapp - using the hotel wifi he was able to send us the odd photo from his travels - including this pretty awesome one from when they flew over Greenland! 

And even a selfie - well half selfie when he was in Time Square!

Yes, he had a fabulous time, yes he saw some amazing things, yes he agreed it will help on his media studies - and yes he is home safe and sound - absolutely shattered but safe and sound nonetheless!

So what have we been up to whilst said 15 year old has been jet setting again?

Well a trip up to Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a wander into skyspace - one of our favourites!  It really is loved to take stock and enjoy the changing picture above and given that it was a blue skies day with the odd white cloud the picture did change!

And as we had had to park in the lower car park we got to see some Henry Moore sculptures up close. 

We also discovered this amazing tree, despite being literally opened up - it is still growing and the buds are just beginning to show. 

Obligatory selfie and me and him in Skyspace

The main reason for visiting, was the first ever Kaws exhibition in the UK - we were not disappointed! 

Drawing on images and elements of childhood he creates these amazing sculptures, this one as you can see is in wood! 

As was this one I believe but with a dark lacquered finish.

We even ventured up to the Long Gallery - despite the mud (although there was a courtesy bus up there if we'd wanted it). 

We were (for a change) allowed to take photos inside.  The paintings on the back wall have been created just for this exhibition and the one at the front of the picture is made from bronze! 

Inspiration for the next one came from the Donnie Darko films, it also reminded me of Bugs Bunny

And I loved the 'bendy' sculptures too.

Monday we made our way up to the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield, somewhere we haven't ventured to previous.  A good mix of unusual artwork in there and as it was raining it was good to have a wander for a few hours. 

On the way into the gallery we saw this fabulous sculpture in the boat yard. 

Inside we saw more work by Henry Moore as well as work by Barbara Hepworth, whom the gallery is named after. 

We even found a Snoopy picture - second day running! 

I loved the children's work in the gallery - inspired by a Henry Moore piece 

Like I said it rained a lot! 

Tuesday we headed off to Lincoln, what a fabulous place, we went to the Castle and found a Victorian Prison to wander around 

Had a great wall walk around the castle walls

We ventured over to the catherdral, the third largest after St Paul's Cathedral in London and York Minster. 

Trying to capture the Lincoln Imp on a phone proved tricky - he is in the middle of where the two arches meet - at the bottom!

And some beautiful cloisters as well, apparently the cathedral was used to film the Da Vinci Code when Westminster Abbey refused license to film.

And as you can see it was an amazing blue skies day! 

And due to the sunshine, the inside of the cathedral was bathed in beautiful rainbow colours from the stained glass. 

We got a decent shot of the Cathedral from the wall walk around the Castle walls.  There is a third tower hiding, although from this angle it reminds me of French Cathedrals and apparently originally had spires on top of the towers, but a lot of the cathedral was destroyed during an earthquake many centuries ago! 

Wednesday we ventured a little closer to home, heading into Sheffield, we found this beautiful artwok near the Art House, where we wandered around an exhibition of an illustrator.  It is a strange little venue, I've been following them on facebook and they have some fabulous looking courses, but we felt a little out of it in the venue itself, I'm assuming most people have already discovered the place and therefore the need to welcome in newbies isn't quite so paramount - hey ho - might try again a different day!

And as we were unable to take photos inside the Millenium galleries, I took photos of the floor instead! 

Graves gallery were more accommodating allowing photos in a lot of the gallery (not my favourite gallery however, with the spinning Damien Hirst art and the 3 dimensional people art that we saw). 

I did like this though, set out in a little square cube. 

And the 'bluebird' artwork working lending it's way up the central staircase.

And I'll leave you with this fabulous quotation!

As you can see it's been a positive and fun week up to now, the weekend should hopefully be a positive one as it's hubby and Mum's birthday - not that we have any set plans at the moment, I hope you've had a good week as well.  If you fancy joining in pop a post together, pop back and link up - don't forget to leave a comment so I can come and visit. 

ART, SUSHI AND HELLO SUNSHINE

Morning all, well another blue skies day here, which pleases me no end.  So another three layouts this morning. 

First up a layout documenting some of the art we were involved in last year, some abandoned art pieces and peg weaving on a bright and breezy background. 

Next up the first time we ever managed to get said 15 year old to a sushi bar, he was more impressed with the desserts - well some of them! 

And finally, another shot from nieces 16th birthday last year, when they toddled off to play adventure golf, they had us giggling for quite some time! 

I've managed some more scrapping recently which I will be sharing soon, I hope you are having a fabulously arty scrapping day! 

FAVOURITE PHOTO, HIKE AND BE OPEN TO WHATEVER COMES NEXT

Good morning, well I find myself on Tuesday and the sun is shining and there are definite blue skies at the moment, so we are off out in a moment to enjoy the day.  I hope you are making the most of it too! 

Three layouts to share this morning, first up a photo from the Members Garden Party at Chatsworth last year, we had a fabulous evening in the garden, enjoying the band, the food we had taken and the fireworks! 

Next up a photo of said 15 year old on his main hike when he went to Crookestone Barn last year as part of the team building for the Lesotho expedition.  I just remember how tired he was when he arrived back that weekend! 

And finally a photo of niece and her friend at their prom last year, I love love love, the natural pose of the two of them!  Utterly beautiful! 

I created all three layouts from a colour kit I put together inspired by a CSI post.  

I hope you are managing a happy scrapping day! 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY 6TH OF 2016

So here we are the first Friday in February and time to take stock and look back at the previous week! 

Time with my Mum last week, we only went shopping but it was great fun and we had a good few hours wandering and purchasing as we went.  Even stopping for a cuppa midway through out trip! 

So first up our trip out to the theatre last Friday, we went to see the Ladykillers at the local theatre just me and him.  We had a lovely few hours out, it was a strange play but fun nonetheless.  We are planning on having a date night every month - let's see if we manage it! 

Next up we managed a walk around the local dam and look at what we saw on our trip around - blossom - already - I can't quite believe that! 

Sunday saw me make a start (not a very good one) on a fabric journal that I'm working on with the theme of Shakespeare.  This first pages are based on Macbeth, I've started with grey material with applique stitched brickwork.  Then I've added a felt dagger dripping with blood, the tip of the dagger shaped as a love heart.  It's debatable as to whether Lady Macbeth did things out of love or the need for power - but it's February so I'll go with the love theme! 

Monday we were finding items for said 15 year old's next trip away - he's off to New York shortly with school - talk about a jet set life style!  We've been warned that it'll be very cold so we've had to make sure he's got the required items with it.  I'm technically trying to not over think it, I wasn't brilliant with him being so far away when he was off to Lesotho; I'm hoping now that he's contactable by text and whatsapp whilst he is away that it won't be quite as bad and it's nowhere near as long! 

And finally a mahoosive thank you to a fellow blogger, Annette, AKA Voodoo Vixen, who finding out about said 15 year old's expedition to Lesotho and the fact I'm in the middle of scrapping the photos, asked if I would like some items she bought when she lived out in South Africa!  It was so lovely of her to offer and look at all the items she has sent, I was overwhelmed and said 15 year old was too.  So a big thank you to Annette, expect to see these items soon on a scrapbook layout! 

Now lovely people that's my bundle of grateful moments from the week. 

Why not do the same, if you fancy joining in pop a blog post together pop back and link up so we can come and visit. 

LIFE IS IN THE DETAILS, PHOTO AND LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

Morning all, well it's Thursday already and I'm sharing another three layouts this morning. 

First up said niece and her friend doing a mud run last year, I loved the photos they shared afterwards!

Then a Rob Ryan exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park last year, led to the next layout.  Using a couple of photos we took of his work, which is utterly amazing it has to be said! 

I love the whimsical statements that he makes in these pieces, the one about bunking off work and going to the seaside but not telling anybody always makes me smile! 

And finally sister, lil bro and Jess at a very wet Download last year, I don't know how they managed for the weekend I really don't! 

Hope you are having a happy scrapping day! 

EVERYDAY MOMENTS, TODAY AND THIS MOMENT

Morning all, well it's a little dark and grey outside at the moment and the wind is still blustery, hoping for that to calm a little today.  Unfortunately I didn't make it to my craft table last night (sob), but I'm hoping I might make it there tonight - fingers and toes crossed.

Three more layouts this morning.  First up Mischief 1 and 2 last summer refusing to pose for the camera, thinking in their infinite wisdom that I wouldn't document it - wrong!  We were at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, enjoying a lovely walk when we stopped off for a rest! 

The shape is a piece of shaped paper I've had forever that I use as a template, I cut it out and matted on cream cardstock, layering up the elements and then finishing with stitching to make it pop!  

Next up water fight at the seaside for my niece's 16th birthday last year.  Despite being in the middle of their teens they had a fantastic time and had us rolling with laughter!  

The photos we took weren't of the best quality but I think the energy is clear in the photos for all to enjoy!  I used some Graphic 45 paper I got in a kit from Jen and mixed it with some bright yellow paper shaped in a wave form; you'd think this was down to being at the seaside you'd be wrong I just like using the wavy boards I got in my Secret Santa a couple of years ago! 

Then finally the addition of some stitching, if I can't find an embellishment that is just right for the layout, I fall back on hand stitching using my ample (although now diminishing) stash of cross stitch threads!

And finally another layout from the day, this documents two photos taken about 30 seconds apart.  The first one at the bottom has my sister and my niece's friend posing for the picture before tucking into their fish and chip lunch, but my niece not posing.  She commented on this so I took a second photo where said 15 year old had joined the photo and then three out of the four were too busy with lunch, with only my niece posing - the words I give up come to mind! 

It is a full on layout this one with a strong mix of papers, but I must admit I really enjoyed working with this colour scheme.  I added a bit of washi tape to it but that was about it!  Sometimes layouts don't need anything else! 

Have a happy scrapping day and thank you for popping by!

PROM, DOCUMENTED AND REALLY!

Morning all, well I'm sharing the layout I created of my niece ready for her prom at school last year, how stunning does she look!

I kept the layout simple as I wanted to attract the eye to the main photograph, I double matted the photo, varying the depth of the mat which I think works quite well!

Next up my brother and sister at my niece's 16th birthday - she decided she wanted a seaside day, which is exactly what we had! 

and finally a shot taken by hubby last spring, we had a warm sunny day and said 15 year old decided to sunbathe - words fail me! 

I hope you are off to a flying start on the scrapping front in February!