I've been neglecting my blogging duties of late, pray forgive me!

Here are some photos of what I've been up to - a ramble around Newcastle, County Down. Forest, beach, ice cream - it really is the summer already.

Tullymore Forest Park and Murlough Bay. Good times.

Hope you all had a lovely Easter.

Well Hello Dolly!

I recently chanced upon these lovely old dolls. At first I thought the top one was a proper antique but then I noticed that it was made of plastic. I like her dress though.

A sneaky peek up an old-time lady's drawers.

And as for the Spanish/gypsy doll below, I just want to be her.

And then there's this pretty creepy looking doll under a plastic dome. I can't quite recall now why I bought it but then it was during the Late Night Art tour so there may have been free wine involved.

Oh! And Dan and I actually bought a piece of art this time! It was from the Vent Collective show in Platform Arts on Queen Street. We picked it up yesterday so I'll post photos soon.

Conquering Slieve Donard

On Sunday a few of us joined a charity climb up Slieve Donard in Newcastle, for our sins. It's the highest point in Ulster and if I'd known how hard it was going to be I probably wouldn't have done it but I'm so glad I did. The walk up from Donard Park was gorgeous, following the river through the forest before opening up into a wide heather-covered valley.

Taking one of many, many, many rests on the final push up the hill.

And below, me being the highest point in the North of Ireland.

Youth club silhouette workshop

Last night I led a craft class with some young people from a youth club in Larne.

They made silhouette pictures of themselves and then we did some simple origami pictures.

They were all really lovely kids and and they had some nice art skills too, I love some of the original touches they've each given their silhouettes. 

Today's finds: unknown portraits

Finally I've made a start on a collection of portraits by unknown artists. I adore the 1960's paint by numbers portrait called 'The Cavaliers Lady', especially with the inscription on the back.

The ballerina is sweet though I have an urge to paint around her in black.  Is it okay to change someone else's artwork?

I took this photo one sunny evening years ago when my dad drove me out to the Woods around Portglenone to see the bluebell carpet. Makes me want to go there now.

Today's find: vintage magazines

I found these great 'Picture Post' magazines in a charity shop (the same one where I got the old music manuscripts) and they all date from 1939 or 1940. There were hoards of these magazines, carefully preserved by someone for 70 odd years and they are filled with photographs from all around the world and really interesting articles about anything and everything under the sun though not surprisingly Hitler and his cronies feature quite often.

I'll make another post with pictures from the articles but for now here are some adverts. I might frame a few of them or use them in craft projects if I can bear to cut them up. 

 

Above: ways for the modern lady to wear a veil, how very civilised. And below, a brilliant advert for Phosferine tonic wine as a remedy for depression.

Random photo of the day

I met this beautiful schoolgirl in Ndola, Zambia when I was there the first time with an organisation called Friends of Africa. Two of the other volunteers were student teachers so I spent a few days visiting various schools with them. The buildings and teaching materials were very basic but the kids were really eager to learn. 

Here's one I made earlier

So I've been trying to come up with a few alternatives for how to make antlers for a craft class I'm doing at the Crescent Art's Centre this summer. I thought up this method today using two wire coat hangers and some wire mesh left over from making my brooch bouquet. 

Antlers (both real and fake) as I'm sure you've noticed are so hot right now and have been all over decorating websites and trendy shops. I quite like the results of this one and the slightly deranged look the creature has. 

I made it sitting out in our back yard, huddled into the tiny corner of sunshine. Summer's coming soon I think.

Lost and Found - The Shop!

So I've just discovered a wonderful program that allows me to add a shop section to this little blog o'mine. I probably shouldn't have made it public until there was more stuff in it but I'm far too impatient to wait any longer.

I'll be adding all the items I've already had on the blog for sale as well as lots of new junk. Why not call by the shop and please let me know if you're having any difficulty viewing or navigating it, as usual I'm learning on the job!

Found jewellery

Some jewellery I scored for £1 each from a shop that was closing down (Muse in castlecourt in Belfast for the locals). I'd regretted not buying the antlers ring when I saw it another shop so I'm chuffed with finding it today for £1. The gold butterfly chain thing is for wearing over your head - very boho princessy. And the green stone heart on a long gold chain is just plain pretty. This haul makes me happy.

I also bought endless more meters of yarn, enough to last a lifetime if I don't get cracking soon. And did you SEE that 80's Diet Coke ice bucket? It'll be on here for sale soon if I can bear to part wth it.