miss marie's miscellany

Cool and cooler

More African flowers on the go lately, I like this pattern a lot as the possibilities of colour combinations are endless and delightful. I usually favour what I'd call cool colours ie not too bright, but I thought I should get out of my comfort zone and spice it up

I bought these vividly coloured yarns when I visited Liverpool in this fantastic Aladdin's cave of a shop, well worth visiting if you are in Merseyside or North Wales, or you can order online too. I really couldn't decide if they worked or if I was completely mad to try pink, yellow and orange together. but I'm glad now that I went against my instinct. It is bright and summery and the black edging brings it all together IMO.

Just for a cooler contrast, I made some in a different colour mood; there is a bright pink along with pale pink, turquoise/green and white, again edged with black.

Although the green and bright pink are pretty vivid on their own, the combination with the 2 paler shades gives a more spring like palette.

I like them both, the first is very uplifting on a wet cold windy day like it is here in Glasgow today, and the second is soothing on a hot sunny day like it was on Tuesday in Glasgow........yep, it's the good old British Summer, feels like Autumn today and a couple of days ago I was roasting myself in the garden!!

 

July 2011

July was a pretty good month, and even if the weather was a little variable, there've been a lot of sunny, hot days; I'm not a great sun lover but even a pale person like me needs some brightness and warmth!. I had time to chill out and do some thinking about what happens next, there were quite a few birthdays of family and friends, and I visited my hometown of Liverpool, which is where I took this month's photo, down at the Pier Head where there were celebrations for the centenary of the famous Liver Buildings. It was a beautiful evening and the sky looked amazing, as you can see.  Happy times :-)

  

Super arty Liverpool

3 years ago when Liverpool was the European City of Culture, one of the art installations I really loved were the Super Lamb Banananas, strangely named and beautifully decorated sculptures which looked like lambs with banana shaped backs and tails. They were dotted around the city and brought a vibrant touch of colour and texture to the street. There was even a SLB trail which you could follow all over Liverpoool and view all 125 sculptures.. When I visited last week, I ran into a few of them which seem to have re-appeared.........here's a Klimt-inspired one near to the Liver Building

Next to the river

The next 2 are outside the new Museum of Liverpool

 This is the Heroes SLB.....looks lovely with the poppies 

And this mosaic patterned one is inside the museum, it's the Mandala SLB.

I think they're beautiful and fun, and they really do put a smile on your face!

 

 

2010 retrospective

2010 seems to have sped by with great speed, and to be honest, some of the ride has been very bumpy. But despite that, when I looked back over my photos, there were lots of good recollections and happy moments.

The weather and seasons have been quite a feast for the eyes, sunsets and snow seem to be greatly featured in this collage.

I have carried on my love affair with crochet. It has kept me sane over some difficult times this year, and it makes me really happy to see how far I've travelled since I first picked up a hook early in 2009. And I made all of these! 

I've been on a few trips to places interesting and beautiful

And last but not least, the garden has been a wonderful source of inspiration and pleasure

Thanks to you all for reading and commenting, lovely blog friends; let's hope 2011 is full of adventures and new wonderful opportunities for us all!

Happy New Year  xxxxxxx

3 good things - day 4

1) My dad phones and says he has received a CD I bought him from Amazon which I understood he wouldn't get till the end of next week. I'm glad it got there quickly and in time for Christmas.

2) It's still soooooo cold here, but the trees are covered with glittering frost and the sun makes them sparkle  - you have to stop and stare, it really is magical (and thermal underwear makes it possible to gaze for more than a fleeting few seconds!)

3) I am asked to play for the ballet - it is a piece I don't know well and I have never played before, but I take a leap into the dark and it's ok, very exciting and brilliant music :-)

Oh well, it is Christmas Eve. The state of play in this household is good - food prep well on course, the presents are wrapped, the cards are written, the wine is chilling; I'm ready for the big day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

 

 

Christmas lights

July collage

This year is passing by rather quickly, I can't believe it's the end of another month. There's been lots of crochet, some trips away and a mix of good and bloomin'  awful weather, sounds about right for the good old British summertime!

 

Strolling in the park

These palatial gates are the entrance to Birkenhead Park on the Wirral. My brother and sister-in-law live quite nearby and took me for a visit. The park was created in the 1840s and inspired the architect who designed Central Park in New York.  I can see why......it's vast with wide avenues, lots of trees and flowers; you can walk, run, cycle, play and even go fishing in the park, motorists can drive round the perimeter road in the park, and there was even a horse-drawn carriage sitting by the gates when we passed by. And of course, there's the all- important cafe, I didn't go there but I'm reliably informed it's good!

There must have been hundreds of squirrels running about the park, I managed to snap this one, they don't really like posing for photos!

 

We headed for this boathouse. It seemed Italian in style to me, both exterior and interior.

 

It has an amazing floor decorated with pebbles.

 

A lovely tranquil place in what is a busy urban area, good to know it's being looked after so well and is there for everyone to enjoy. 

Old Hall

This elegant old building is Rufford Old Hall which i visited last week.It's not too far from where I grew up as a child but strangely, I've never been here before. The building above, the Great Hall,  dates from the 16th century and is the oldest part of the hall; bits have been added on over the centuries,17th and 19th to be precise, so it is a hybrid building, but full of character and history because of that.

Here is the 17th century facade





The gardens were full of interesting features; a pair of swans and a squirrel topiary.


as well as plenty of flowers. You can see the 19th century part of the Hall on the left of the photo.


This leaded window is in the Great Hall


as is this wood carving on the wall


and also this strage window in the roof of the Hall. It was added in the 19th century to give more light over the snooker table!!



Photography was allowed only in the Great Hall, so I can't show you any of the beautiful rooms in the main part of the house, full of huge fireplaces, paintings, china, original furniture and squeaky floorboards.The cafe is very good too, I had a delicious ploughman's lunch with Lancashire cheese and my dad had hotpot which disappeared rather fast :-) All in all, a good day out!

April collage

Time for another monthly round-up; during April there has been a trip to Liverpool, the garden has started to come to life, colourful crochet, time spent with friends and family, and the Knitting and Crochet Blog Week rounded it off nicely; all in all a good month with plenty to be happy about:-)