Bits and Pieces

Firstly...as requested by Tracey E  here's the finished framed crochet picture:

I'm really enjoying Tracey's witty rib-tickling and exciting P I G Y adventures.

Tracey T now has this piece of felted crochet on her kitchen wall!

There are a few more tiny owls to swoop into projects!

The owl was created by fiddling...and it is felted with the right side down to give a bit of extra texture on the upper surface.

 I seem to be drawn to taking shadow photos on Sundays... following Anne's fabulously coloured shadow shots last week - look what spontaneously occurred during the Golden Wedding celebrations!

A mention of the Olympics is a must: we all were captivated and moved by the awesome opening ceremony...too many magnificent moments to mention....we have also been glued to the epic achievements and stamina of all the competitors. Keep up all the inspiring work!

I've a few colourful projects on the go....hope to post some rainbows soon!

Flower Power!

I had a white plastic lampshade when I was much younger, beautifully simple and sculptural...my memories of it have been rekindled by all the Scandinavian dramas we have been watching...and I keep shouting out during the criminal investigations or visits to politicians houses- 'That's the lampshade I'd like'!

Blogging has been a bit sporadic recently as we have been doing up a room, which necessitated a weekday (crowd avoiding) trip to Ikea.  I quickly spotted THE lampshade and along with the heavy flat pack furniture we brought it home. It too was flat packed in the most amazing compact triangular box and turned out to be an entire light fitting!

With the purchase of an extra circular ring we have been able to just use the shade. The instructions looked more complicated than they were (I am baffled by diagrams and don't usually read instructions) but a methodical rhythm soon enabled the construction.

It was more beautiful than I expected but when I looked from underneath this is what I saw:

a perfect flower with the energy saving bulb as a stamen!

The design is also a thing of beauty - 40 identically shaped pieces placed onto curved armatures creating different protruding shapes....

 It looks fabulous - and complements the orchid we have on the windowsill

It reminds me of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings too...

As its a Sunday...here's a shadow of a different shade...its difficult to capture on camera - but looked like a giant ceiling covering daisy!

I can't believe I've written a post about a lightshade...but it is pretty cool!

Shadow Shot Sunday

I've often seen references to Shadow Shot Sunday and have sometimes strayed onto the blog to admire all the wonderful photos.

Today -  looking at photos I have taken  - was a  Sunday shadow opportunity too good to miss! 

We were up at 4.45am and the sun rose illuminating lots of spiders webs on the washing line....

street cleaners - people and vehicles  - were visible in good numbers, and the local pizza shop owners were polishing their windows...

after a brisk bracing walk in the sunshine we arrived at our destination, having passed quite a few locals waiting in anticipation or shuffling  slowly, drawn magnetially to the edge of the pavement. 

We could hear the fabulous steel band playing to a gathering throng of bleary eyed but cheerful camera clad onlookers munching on free bacon butties or veggie sausage sarnies!

The buzz grew louder as the first wave of police notorcycles passed.....then a convoy of large, loud  lorries....

...and eventually the Olympic Torch!

...its a bit of a blurry action shot...but as I looked at a following photo I spotted something right in the middle...and by the power of digital zooming.....

..here's the flame travelling through Birmingham on day 44 of the torch relay!

What an experience - and all over before 7.30am!

Now to carry on with normal Sunday routine...a bit bleary eyed, 

though I did start a crochet flower at 6am...not sure when I'll finish it!