Happy thoughts

Sunday, 8 March 2009

Fame!

I went to see 'Fame' last night with a group of friends from work. The dancing was brilliant and I spent a lot of the show sitting there wishing I could dance.

I never went to any dance classes as a child, but started ballet when I was 23. Living in London, I had endless choice of dance classes. I started off at an adult beginner's class which was part of the council's adult education programme. Then I started also going to beginner's classes at Laban dance studio and after about a year also joined the intermediate class. I also did occasional classes at Pineapple Dance Studio. Doing three classes a week meant that I was fairly fit and could actually see improvements. But after moving to Bristol I tried several classes and couldn't find one which was convenient and well taught. However, I'm now inspired to try and do more at home, using the books and DVDs that I still have.

Friday, 20 February 2009

A Mighty Heart

I just watched A Mighty Heart, based on the memoir written by Marianne Pearl, wife of Daniel Pearl, a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in Pakistan in 2002. I chose to watch it after seeing a trailer on the DVD of The Kite Runner, which I watched a few weeks ago. I wouldn't say it was a brilliant film overall; a lot of it lacked dramatic tension and cut confusingly between scenes and between short flashbacks and the present. But the end made me cry, which is one of my tests of the quality of films, since I have to have formed some sort of connection with the characters to empathise with them to the point of crying. Films like this that are based on true stories really bring home the human, personal elements of the stories that are in the news. It was also good to see Angelina Jolie in a more serious role, very different to the Tomb Raider character.

http://www.amightyheartmovie.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0829459/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Heart_(film)

Scrapbooking pad

I know I have far too much scrapbook paper that I hardly use, but this set that I bought today is pretty enough that it ought to inspire me to get going again. The first few pages have press-out letters, words, phrases, frames and other accents, then the rest is gorgeous double-sided patterned paper. Now I just need to get some photos printed!

I've also just discovered that the same company does paper designed by Amy Butler, who creates gorgeous fabric patterns.
I've found it online on lots of websites, including Mod Scraps (who also do scrapbooking events in Bristol) and here, and matching embellishments here.

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Travel quotes book

One of my friends is about to go travelling round Europe in a van, so I made her a book of quotes that she could use on her blog.

I found lots of quotes and vintage-style pictures on the internet, intending originally to print them out to form a simple book. However, using Microsoft Word and an HP printer made it impossible to print pages double sided and get them to line up on each side. So I ended up printing each page individually.

I then decided to go for a ring-bound format and got to work cutting and gluing, interspersing a few differently decorated pages. I had a lot of travel-related stickers left over from the book I made for my sister a few years ago, documenting our travels round Spain and Portugal. I then decided to protect the pages with sticky-back plastic, since they were printed using an ink-jet printer and even I was beginning to smudge them with slightly damp fingers.

I was really pleased with how the whole thing turned out. Even Andy, who only saw it unfinished, said it looked really professional.

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

First signs of Spring!

I saw this patch of crocuses as I was walking home yesterday, a sign that Spring is on its way!

THE SONG OF THE CROCUS FAIRIES
Cicely Mary Barker

Crocus of yellow, new and gay;
Mauve and purple, in brave array;
Crocus white
Like a cup of light,--
Hundreds of them are smiling up,
Each with a flame in its shining cup,
By the touch of the warm and welcome sun
Opened suddenly. Spring's begun!
Dance then, fairies, for joy, and sing
The song of the coming again of Spring.

The Crocuses

by Frances E. W. Harper

They heard the South wind sighing
A murmur of the rain;
And they knew that Earth was longing
To see them all again.

While the snow-drops still were sleeping
Beneath the silent sod;
They felt their new life pulsing
Within the dark, cold clod.

Not a daffodil nor daisy
Had dared to raise its head;
Not a fairhaired dandelion
Peeped timid from its bed;

Though a tremor of the winter
Did shivering through them run;
Yet they lifted up their foreheads
To greet the vernal sun.

And the sunbeams gave them welcome.
As did the morning air
And scattered o'er their simple robes
Rich tints of beauty rare.

Soon a host of lovely flowers
From vales and woodland burst;
But in all that fair procession
The crocuses were first.

First to weave for Earth a chaplet
To crown her dear old head;
And to beautify the pathway
Where winter still did tread.

And their loved and white haired mother
Smiled sweetly 'neath the touch,
When she knew her faithful children
Were loving her so much.

Valentine card

The card I stitched for Andy this year:

My plan was that it would look a bit like a football scarf, and in appropriate colours too! The only bit I wasn't really happy with was the bottom of the U, but I hate unpicking stiches, and I was working to a deadline! The top and bottom edges were folded over and hemmed with a backstitch above the top stripe and below the bottom stripe.

And the envelope, made from a page from a children's book called Albert Le Blanc.

Monday, 16 February 2009

Etsy purchases

I ordered some lovely jewellery from Etsy over the weekend, all from OzBushfireAppeal.etsy.com, so all the proceeds will go to the Australian Red Cross.

Donated by FantaseaOceanGlass.etsy.com

Donated by vibedesigns.etsy.com

Donated by realisationcreations.etsy.com