New Ragdoll finished

I started making a ragdoll a couple of weeks ago and couldn't get her face to look how I wanted so gave up for a while. Anyway I finally finished her today and I'm pleased with the result. She's only the second one I've made so far. Number one went to Mum for Christmas and I don't think she gave her a name.....

Mum and her Ragdoll

Today's make I've named Goldilocks because her dress is made from material called...yes you guessed it....Baby Bear and Goldilocks. I'm just pleased I finished her considering how long it took me to finally get going again. Anyway here she is ♥

Goldilocks

I feel the urge to make another now ;)

Took my camera out today

It was so windy on the prom I only managed a few photo's. Far too cold! I tried the new settings out and was quite pleased with the results but they're still not as sharp as they should be. Practice will make perfect I hope ;)

Unedited straight from the camera

Edited in Lightroom 5

 Been to look at a car this morning and it's a nice one so fingers crossed we may be buying it.

A few photo's from Blackpool and Cleveleys

Learning photography from scratch

I've decided that as I have a lovely new Nikon D7000 I need to learn how to use it to its full potential to justify the £'s spent on it. It's not easy to learn and retain information at my age but I'll have a damn good try. Today I have learnt that ISO is the level of your camera's sensitivity to available light. The lower the ISO number the less sensitive it is to light while the higher the ISO is the more sensitive the camera is to light. Also the higher the ISO number is the more noise or grain you get on your photo so it's almost always best to use as low an ISO setting that you can.

ISO Aperture and Shutter Speed are known as the Exposure Triangle. This is a good link for an explanation of how they work together.
 http://photographylife.com/iso-shutter-speed-and-aperture-for-beginners

ISO = noise The higher the ISO the more noise on or grainy the photo

Aperture = depth of field the lower number F stop (larger opening) eg F5.6 the smaller depth of field (blurry background) The higher the number F stop (smaller opening) eg F20 the longer depth of field (clearer background )

Shutter speed = Blur The faster the shutter speed the more clear a photo is. The slower the shutter speed the more blur occurs. Running water ie a river can look milky if a slow shutter speed is used.

Mum's 80th Birthday photo's

We had a fabulous party at the Ashley Social Club for Mum's 80th Birthday. Link is here

Mum's 80th Birthday

Mum celebrated 80 years yesterday with a Birthday meal at my house....Aniello made her favourite Italian meal pasta Genovese. She had a nice time and now we're all looking forward to the big party on Saturday! Here are just a few photo's from yesterday.

 Coffee and Walnut cake 

Table for 12

 Pasta Genovese

 Happy Birthday Mum!

Love my family 

 Just a few of her cards 

 and presents

 Gorgeous snowdrop vase 

Best times.....Sunday lunch with my family

I love Sunday's when my kids come round for dinner. These are my favourite days........always. Lucia and Aniello made the most delicious chicken roast while I tidied up the attic ready for the Christmas decorations to go back. I always feel a little sad when we take them down, thinking about how far off the next Christmas is......but it's surprising how fast time really goes. Only another 353 days to go ;)

We had a laugh at Lella this afternoon. She asked if we had any spare ornaments for her house so we gave her a little Willow Tree figure carrying a Happy Birthday sign. She was chuffed and totally didn't realise it was one I'd taken from her house 3 years ago as a joke. I took it and placed it on my mantelpiece along with several others I had acquired over the years. I wanted to see how long it would take her to realise it had disappeared but she never did notice it had gone. Her face was a picture when I gave it her and told her the story. Even after all that she left her here! Funny :)

The rain has settled in for the night so we may well be washed away by morning. It really has been a very stormy Winter so far with lots more to come. I'd much rather have the cold and frosty but clear days and nights. Having said that there are parts of America going into -40 temps with lots of snow so I think we'll stick with the wind and rain thankyou.......

I just wanted to post these artworks here to be able to look at whenever I want. They're just gorgeous and painted by local artist Steve Sanderson I shall buy one of his paintings some day :) 

New crochet request

I had a message from Lucia's best friend Claire this morning asking if I could make a coat for her 20 year old cat Poppy. I've never attempted a dog or cat coat but had a go and viola! Here is the almost finished product. Just have to crochet a flower for the back of it. I think the old girl will be nice and snug in it.....that's if she'll wear it ;)

I wanted to go out and take some photo's of the seafront with my new camera today but Lucia was poorly this morning so I couldn't get out. Had to make do with taking some from my attic instead and these are the only ones worth showing. It's taking me a while to get used to the new camera but I will......eventually......

Stormy weather

It's been wild out there today. More flood misery for lots of people. I feel so sorry for them. We're lucky we live high up in Bispham so the sea would have a job reaching us here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25584221

So many flood warnings :/

Had a busy day scanning and printing photo's to make this for Mum's party.

Lucia did an amazing job. Can't wait to see Mum's face when she see's what we have planned for her. Looking forward to celebrating her 80 years with a fabulous party :)

My Happy Thoughts Jar

Today my kind, caring daughter Lucia made me a Happy Thoughts Jar. The idea is that whenever something nice happens and you want to remember it, you write it down on a piece of paper and place it in the jar. At the end of the year you have a read of all those happy thoughts and it makes you feel better. I'm going to get my whole family to contribute their happy thoughts to the jar. They can write their thoughts down at home and when they visit me they can slip the paper into the jar without anyone knowing. What fun it will be to open it......maybe on Christmas Day when everyone's here.

Still on the happiness theme I decided to make a new header for my Facebook page. It's a long time since I made anything in Paint Shop Pro and I've made 2 in the past week! Might be getting my mojo back. 

We're a bit worried about the weather reports. More wind and rain on the way with over 60 flood warnings around coastal areas. This will be the Winter most remembered for its storms. I'd much rather have ice and snow than this but one thing we can't control is the weather. Off to catch-up on Sherlock now......and eat some chocs ;) 

New Year's Eve/Day

Well we spent a lovely New Year's Eve at Enzo and Janet's and everything was perfect from start to finish. Great food and company and winning a couple of gorgeous snowdrop mugs was nice too! The icing on the cake has been getting to spend New Year's Day with my family. Hubby made my second favourite dish....macaroni al forno....and now it's time to relax. The festivities are over and I'm looking forward to this being a good year. Mum's 80th Birthday celebrations to look forward to next week then I'm embarking on a healthy eating/exercise regime. New Year's resolution is to take lots of photos because that's about the only one I'd be able to stick to! 

 Greeted by Enzo, Janet and Toby ;)

 Stunning table!

 My first ever taste of caviar went down nicely with a spot of mulled wine

 Just gorgeous

 Our host and hostess with their guests

Starter prawn cocktail then a game of guess the famous face

We won the game. Love our snowdrop mugs prize

Main course Lamb shank then another game 'Who am I?'

 The Queen appears to have grown a beard! (Peter)

 Harry called in without his bandmates (Margaret)

 Kate looking lovely as usual (Heather)

William trying to take a selfie (Ross)

Micky and Minnie wanted in on the fun (Ciro and Chris)

 On to desserts

 Raspberry Pavlova 

 Brandy Snaps

 Trifle 

Then we had a brilliant game which consists of 2 packs of cards and lots of presents. Hard to explain but fantastic fun

 Outside to watch the fireworks

 These were pretty spectacular

 Back in for cheese and biscuits, coffee and cake

Thank you Enzo and Janet for a fabulous fun filled evening and Happy New Year!