Monday 6 August 2012

Thats the way to do it.........

Well we are in the throes of Olympic Sailing here in Weymouth and the headlines on todays local newspaper.
I know I was not a fan in the lead up with all the road closures , and the town being brought to a virtual standstill by road works for 18 months , but I am the first to admit the fever is contagious and so many people are in the town and just to prove it. A square inch of sand not to be had. The Nothe that if you saw it on TV ,was ticketed and costing £50 a day (ouch) ,I stayed home and enjoyed it all on the box! I was jumping up and down too.
So WHOO HOO way to go Ben!!!!!!

So how are you enjoying the summer, I think we may have an influx of visitors next year. Well can but hope.
Anyway you did not come for a visit today to hear about sailing. My friend Sally is (virtually) coming down to watch the boats and sip Pimms by the sea tonight ,we are starting a new Sal for 2012/13 and stitching Blackbird designs. I have decided to start Bird in Hand ,a small design but it will sit in the Berries and Birds basket when it is finished. Talking of Sally our private exchange was Shepherd Bush ,designs of which we have been stitching all year We decided to stitch a surprise for each other a SB design of course.. Oh I was so pleased when I opened Sallys stitching to me she had done a sweet little ornie and Scissor Fob,with our initials and everything and some lovely ribbon  ruched around the outside.
Didn't she do a great job. Thanks Sally Look forward to next year.
I  can now show you what has been kept a secret for so long. This is Sallys from me. 3 shepherds bush designs made into a needlebook. Life certainly seems hard for her at times so I thought she deserved something a little special.
It looks a bit wonky but it wasn't.This is the back.The button is not in the middle, I do not do straight or centre lol.
.This is the front inside and then the complete thing undone,.I really enjoyed doing these as I also stitched one for my Julie friend for her birthday. I have heard from Julie she may be visiting Weymouth ,ooooo excitement  Julie ,will be in touch  very soon. Julie also said I could use the photos from her blog as mine were cr..!

The front cover from My Heart is true book Blackbird Designs ,It is the project book designs but not made up as theirs. This is the inside.
Yes Julie the saying is so true.Cannot believe it 3 years now.
I have to admit to being rather pleased with these. I know the ladies involved were pretty delighted too. So good job done all round.
A few people asked in my last post  where the design Know your own Happiness came from well sorry folks but I am not sure if it is oop it is The Valentine Book of The Sampler Girl. It may be available still but if not and you leave me a comment maybe I will stitch one for you. So that is Shirlee, Angela, Sally and Margaret. Do not hold your breath as it will be as and when I feel like it.Leave a comment if you would like that.(Not for you to hold your breath !)
Thanks for the lovely comments on the birds and cherries too, it is great when something works that is in your head . I do not have a lot of success on that front lol.
I do have another finish for you though , another to go in the Birds and Cherries basket -when Martin makes it for me. This is LHN design Cherries,sitting on a plate made by Martin.
I was taken to the Dorset Arts and Crafts exhibition last week ,no photography ,so cannot show you some of the amazing work that was there. I did have a couple of things bought for me, I am so lucky to have a man who within reason lets me have what I would like, I am not one for diamonds and fast cars.

I have always wanted to do whitework , wonder if this will start me off on another hobby, hmmm we will wait on that one . As well as the exhibition there are lots of people demonstrating and selling and when I saw this, it reminded me of being by the sea (not that I need reminding, the seagulls are a constant reminder good job I do not mind their raucous calls).

The lady has even put feet on the bottom so it does not damage the canvas work. Inside is pockets for pens and mobile phone and a zipped compartment . I shall have this little "Portland" bag hanging from my arm when next I venture out.The other side is different.
I was very taken with a house elf, not a real one(his name is Martin) , but a cloth one but just could not justify spending £50 on him for him to gather dust . He was lovely though sitting in a rocking chair with his arms crossed on his chest. If I had been allowed to have him he would have been named Dobby. There was so much to see and seemed like miles of walking that by the time I got back to the car putting one foot in front or the other was an effort. 3 hours of resting helped when I got home and it was so worth it.
I seem to have so much to tell you this time and I do hope you are still with me. Last week Martin had to go to his uncles funeral in Kent.This is George through all stages of his life. I had not seen a funeral order of service like that, thought I would show you.
 Graeme our son took him as Martin is having problems with his other eye. I went as far as Graemes to "childmind" Ella our 12 year old grandaughter , I think it was her granny minding me! She would not let me lift a finger , she baked some fabulous cake (what talent at 12) must be in the genes as Graeme is a master baker by trade and Sue a confectioner. They both now work for a supermarket Sainsburys as managers. Such a waste of talent. Graeme (my claim to being a proud mum) was given the freedom of the city of London and made a member of the Worshipful company of Bakers. He got the highest marks in City and Guilds. He could drive sheep across the Westminster Bridge if he so wanted. LOL. Bet he couldnt get free tickets to the Olympics.Slightly off pic of Ella,

Back to those Olympics last week Martin took me to town to see what we could see and so would you like to see. Angela do you remember this part of Weymouth.
Can I have a go please!!!!!!!! Just one swing - oh alright I know I would be sick - hee hee.
Looking back to the beach and seafront.
Told you I do not do straight, this was in preparation for the windgatherer battle and show, you can see one of the big screens off to the right. 1,500 people went into the sea with torches when the Doldrums had been defeated and the wind gatherers had made sure there would be wind for the sailors.Kate and children went down for that , she said it was amazing. So preparations were under way.
We then walked round to the harbour and knowing you would like to see a bit of Weymouth ,if you don't stop reading now.
Boats all decorated on the opposite of the harbour - that is the Nothe Fort side behind the trees you can see is where the Nothe was for watching the sailing that I mentioned earlier. Moving up into the harbour.



The steps on the right lead to the little ferry boat that plows across the harbour that takes people to the other 
side to save them walking all the way round. One day I will attempt to walk along the Nothe to stone pier and show you the view from there. Of course you get the locals sitting about just waiting for fish!
The police were busy giving the onlookers a show on their jet skies , bet they won't be here next week.Then we look toward the town bridge ,could give you a history lesson but you probably would be bored to tears,if you aren't already. 



Onward to the Marina , where the gin palaces are moored - well a few anyway.



 

Not sure if you will see more from the slipway but will show you anyway.

Well folks I think I had better leave you in peace or you may never come to visit again. Hope you enjoyed your visit to Weymouth and now I am going to see who has won medals today. Wherever you are in the world hope your country is enjoying the Olympics and getting medals too. You all deserve a Gold for sticking with this. As always take good care of yourselves and for any comments you leave thanks they brighten this slightly off centre womans day.
Hugs n stuff
Barb x









22 comments:

Clare-Aimetu said...

Beautiful pictures Barb, I love Weymouth and said to DH just the other day that we should visit again soon. My Dad loved his holidays there and one of his ship paintings (I'm keeping this one) is a yacht in the harbour. The gifts you stitched and received are beautiful, as for Olympic fever I think we've all caught it :-)

Vickie said...

Beautiful stitching. Thanks for sharing so many pics.

Shirlee said...

Thank you for the offer to not hold my breath! I'll take you up on that ... lol! So many wonderful examples of stitching! You do beautiful work! I love that Cherries design ... I need to search that one out : ) Your Portland bag is very pretty! What a nice photo tribute to George ... & Ella sounds (& looks) like a lovely girl. Graeme sounds like a great son : ) The photos of the water are beautiful! Almost as good a being there : ) Thanks for sharing!

Michelle said...

Oh Barb beautiful beautiful stitching. When the olympics started I wasn't looking forward to it I have to admit but I find myself watching it most nights on TV - how odd is that. Lovely photos thanks for sharing them xx

Melissa said...

Wow!!! What beautiful finishes! They are just gorgeous!!!
How much fun to have the Olympics near you. I've been watching them nonstop. It's just awesome!!!

Gabi said...

Great finishes. Love all of them.

Poppypatchwork said...

Lovely pic's from Weymouth, we were there 2 weeks ago, popped in as we were passing, I to am not a lover of sport, but my TV is on BBC all the time I am home, and we are caught up in it all. Love the athletes and their winning, but also so proud our games and how well they are going, great to be British. PS I hope we do not pack away our union flags, love to see so many flying

Julie said...

It seems the whole of the UK has been hit with Olympic fever. I did see your man do his sailing bit in Weymouth - well done him!

... and hubby did say how beautiful your little hometown looks and so typically our type of place to visit. It does look so pretty and beautiful, you have captured some fabulous pics (and sunshiney days too). I love the punch and Judy header pic, such happy memeories of seaside visits as a child, you cant beat the British seaside.

Wonderful stitcing and finishing, i love my needlebook, i'm taking it to the stitch club tomorrow to show it off to the ladies.

Such sad news about Martin's uncle, a lovely collection of photographs of him, i've not seen one of those before either.

Cant wait to see how you get on with the whitework, i've had a little go before, it's nice to do and only 1 colour lol.

much love xxx

Sally said...

Beautiful photos of Weymouth Barb. One day I hope we 'll get to visit.

I absolutely LOVE my exchange piece. It is so pretty and I keep looking it. Julie's birthday gift is beautiful too.

Love the Cherries piece. You finished it so beautifully.

So sorry about Martin's uncle. Lovely photos. {{{hugs}}}

Oooh yes I won't hold my breath! I would love one!

Christine said...

What a great post Barb. I loved all the pictures of the harbour.
Fabulous stitching too, those needlebooks are awesome

angelasweby said...

Ohhhh Barb, what wonderful photos of Weymouth. I loved the tour. Thank you so much. I definitely do remember that photo of the swings and I loved looking around the harbour. My 4 digs mates and i used to go regularly to The Ship Inn because they did a huge range of home made wines....back in 1971...haha! That wonderful sand so soft and fine looks the colour of the delicious Dorset clotted cream and look at the beautiful sky and sea. The Punch and Judy brings back so many memories :-) I've been glued to all the sailing events and imagining I was there.

We visited a couple of years ago and there was an arcade there with a lovely little needlework shop in it and a patchwork shop. Are they still there?

What an amazing needlebook you stitched for Sally. I saw it on her blog a couple of days ago. it's so intricate and so useful. I can imagine the look of delight on her face when she opened her package. And wow!! The one for Julie is stunning too. What fantastic gifts!!

And talking of gifts. What a wonderful generous offer to stitch us desperate people a Know your own happiness pillow. I would love to graciously accept. I will definitely know my own happiness to have something so pretty stitched by you, barb. Thank you so much.
Well, enough of this essay and mutual love affair with Weymouth. I definitely need to get back there, even for just a weekend :-)
Angela xx

Solstitches said...

What a lovely post Barb. I have thought of you when I watched the sailing in Weymouth. Thanks for the tour. It looks to be such a pretty place.
I love the gifts you made for Sally and Julie - so pretty and the bag you bought is gorgeous.
Thanks for the sweet offer to stitch a little pillow for me. It's an offer I can't refuse although I won't hold you to it. I doubt I could stand to stitch the same thing four times!
Margaret x

jane said...

Thanks so much for sharing the photos of Weymouth, it look slike a lovely place, must get around to visiting one day. I was thinking of you when I saw the TV pictures of the sailing.
Beautiful gifts sent and received and your bag purchase is gorgeous.
Such a talnted family you all are..it's so nice to hear about everyone!

Anonymous said...

Hello

Just found your blog.
Weymouth looks beautiful in your photos. I've been bitten by the Olympic bug too.

Lovely exchange gifts and your bag is gorgeous!
Sorry to hear that you've had a loss in your family.

Lindsay-ann said...

I enjoyed hearing all about what's going on down there in Weymouth with the Olympics. I loved seeing the lovely sunny Weymouth pictures with blue skies. I have only spent one day in Weymouth and it rained all day so it's nice to see it in a different light :) It looks beautiful, I am so envious of you living there. I am glad you enjoyed time with your grandaughter and your recent projects are gorgeous.
Lindsay
x

Mindi said...

I'm not sure where to start with the post! So much beautiful stitching and exchanges, gorgeous pictures of Weymouth, and the Olympics! I don't think I ever got a chance to visit Weymouth when I was living in England, but after seeing your pictures, I definitely regret not getting there.

Heidi Kuijer said...

Beautiful work as always Barb. Did I spy some chocolate stash in there??? :-)

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Dani - tkdchick said...

What wonderful treasures you stitched up for Julie and Sally they both deserve it!!!

Anne said...

Such pretty SB pieces you and SAlly made for each other!! Weymouth looks like a place I should visit. I would love to sail on those waters!! Thanks for sharing the photos!!

Unknown said...

beautifull stitch work

Brigitte said...

I loved taking this little tour through Weymouth and have a look at the wonderful houses, the beach, the marina and to take in the peaceful atmosphere.
The two needlebooks you stitched and finished for Julie and Sally are terrific and I'm sure the ladies were thrilled when they received them. Great stitching and finishing.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Wonderful finishes! Thanks for sharing all the pics too, I especially like the ones by the sea! So very pretty!

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