Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln cathedral
One of the finest medieval buildings in Europe started in 1072. While we were walking around and let me tell you this is a steep walk up to the top where the cathedral is ... It gives you a work out just getting up there to see it so I can only image when they had to go to church, they must have been tuckered out by the time they got there.
While we were walking around the area, I heard an american accent quite loud .. I looked around a blonde lady and tv crew ... they were doing some talk about Tom Hanks hmm I didnt have a clue what they might be talking about. A little later as we went t the castle for a tour, I asked the guide what that lady was talking about Tom Hanks and a movie here ... he said oh yes that is a while back he was here to do the Davinci Code movie... he said westminister abbey did not let them film there so this was the closest they could get to looking like westminister.
All in all we had a lovely day it was sunny and we tuckered ourselves out .. we wont be long for the pillow tonight.

Scenes from Lincoln  

Irish Bagpipe player in Lincoln 

Stixwould

Stacked up Head stones
Wonderful day out in Lincolnshire. We went that way to pick up something from a guy off ebay that could not be shipped so off we went. He lived right across from the church at Stixwould so I say ohh see you in a few minutes I need to get some pics from the church ... not knowing anything about it ... well interestingly enough some of the coffin lids belong to a covent cemetery. Founded 1135 and benedictine nuns were sent there in 1536.

Images or icons on the church 

Bits around the church 

Coffin parts Stixwould 

Coffin lids around the Stixwould church 

Celtic looking cross Stixwould church Lincolnshire 

Book Covers

Books in progress
This was a technique from Margaret Talbots workshop, I must give her all the credit on the technique ... They look so rich and old with a fantastic weight to them. Perhaps a pain in the but to cut out the motifs but that makes the piece . Dont you think?

reverse transfer kokopelli

Kokopelli by the river
I love this technique with the transfer paints. So when doing this technique you paint the piece then put the resist and iron onthe second transfer piece .... so the image is a resist.. great idea .. but what you get from the paper resist is paint on the paper and you can use that to iron on to fabric again, as shown.
I hand dyed the yellow piece (love it by the way ) and the deep aubregine too and I think they look great together ... shall sew then together and take them on our outting tomorrow .. we are off to lincolnshire for a drive ... pics on that later Saturday night.
If you have any questions on how this is done just let me know and I will explain.

HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY TO THE QUEEN

Today is the Queens 80th Birthday and here are a few facts I found about her.

You can also send THE QUEEN a birthday message

• The Queen speaks fluent French and often uses the language for Audiences and State Visits. Her Majesty does not require an interpreter.
  
• During her reign, The Queen has received many unusual gifts including a variety of live animals. The more unusual animals have been placed in the care of the London zoo, among them jaguars and sloths from Brazil, and two black beavers from Canada. The Queen has also received gifts of pineapples, eggs, a box of snail shells, a grove of maple trees and 7kg of prawns.
  
• The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign, starting with Susan who was a present for her 18th birthday in 1944. A good proportion of these have been direct descendants from Susan. The Queen currently has five corgis, Emma, Linnet, Monty, Holly and Willow.
  
• The Queen also introduced a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi" when one of Her Majesty's corgis was mated with a dachshund named Pipkin which belonged to Princess Margaret. The Queen currently has four dorgis, Cider, Berry, Candy and Vulcan.
  
• The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were married on 20 November 1947 in Westminster Abbey. The Queen's wedding dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell and was woven at Winterthur Silks Limited, Dunfermline, in the Canmore factory, using silk that had come from Chinese silkworms at Lullingstone Castle.
  
• The Queen's dressmakers over the years have included Sir Hardy Amies, Sir Norman Hartnell, Karl-Ludwig Couture and Maureen Rose. The Queen's milliners have been Frederick Fox, Philip Somerville and Marie O'Regan.
  
• The Queen has an extensive collection of jewellery, most of which are Crown Jewels, some inherited and some gifts, including the largest pink diamond in the world. Some well known pieces include; a brooch of diamonds forming a spray of wattle presented by the Australian Government in 1954; and a necklace of large square cut aquamarines and diamonds with earrings as a gift in Coronation year by the Ambassador of Brazil, which The Queen wore on the French State visit in 2004.
  
• In 2005, The Queen claimed ownership of 88 cygnets on the river Thames. They are looked after by the Swan Marker. The first Royal Swan Keeper was appointed around the 12th Century.
  
• Technically The Queen still owns the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the waters around the UK. A statute from 1324, at the time of the reign of King Edward II , states that:"Also the King shall have ... whales and sturgeons taken in the sea or elsewhere within the realm." This statute is still valid today, and sturgeons, porpoises, whales and dolphins are recognised as 'Fishes Royal'. When captured within three miles of UK shores, or washed ashore either dead or alive, they may be claimed on behalf of the Crown. Generally, when brought into port, a sturgeon is sold in the usual way, and the purchaser, as a gesture of loyalty, requests the honour of its being accepted by The Queen.

Is that a paper bag? YES!

Paper bag"!
Can you believe this! They told me that it would work but I never did believe them, but hey look its true and it works ... You know the paper bags you sometimes get from places, for example at fabric booths when you go to quilt shows ect. Well someone said that you could iron them onto fabric and it would take the imprint off from the bag. TADA its true and it works. Left side is the paper bag and the Right side is the fabric that I ironed it onto. AMAZING, hmmmm now what to do with it. I really an not a flowery type of girl.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter
Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!
How are these for nice coloured eggs. Wish I did them.