camera + magnets = NOOOOOO!

Yesterday I went to the National Sealife centre in Birmingham as a birthday treat. There's one just down the road from where I live (I posted about it before) but I wanted to go to the one in Birmingham because I haven't been before and wanted to check what it was like. I also want to travel a bit more and I've never been to Birmingham (ok yes- not exactly the most scenic of places but this is the year I want to see *everywhere*)  I really enjoyed myself, there were some lovely displays though I was a bit disappointed with the shark tunnel; it was quite short. However there were hammerhead sharks which I've never seen before and they looked a bit strange. After we'd had a look round, we headed through the shop where I bought myself a mini keyring torch and my mum got some magnetic stones. They all went into one bag plus my camera- big mistake. Anyway, after a lot of walking around sightseeing and a two and a bit hour train journey, I get home and decide to have a look at the pictures I had taken. I turn the camera on and that was fine, put it in playback mode- nothing, back to normal mode and try to take a picture- nothing, totally unresponsive. I couldn't change modes and even taking the battery out and putting it back in didn't work and neither did removing the memory card...nooooo!   Now I can't be sure it was the magnets, it may be a big coincidence but in future I will keep cameras and magnets apart!
So this afternoon I took a trip into town to the local Jessops and got some advice, I could have chosen to have it sent away but it would have meant a total expensive rebuild so after some uming and ahhing I came away with a new camera. I've yet to figure out how to get the most of it and I haven't a clue how to turn the flash on but I guess thats what the manual is for! I've had a play around and had mixed results as you can see..

Blurry Pansy

In focus after a lot of head scratching

My beetroot seedlings

Some yellow flowers

I hope to have some better photos next post!

29

It's that time again folks! It's Handmade Monday. I'm posting early this week as tmw I'am off to Birmingham and wont be near a computer.
Breaking from tradition (I'm all bookmarks lately!) I have a few bracelets and a keyring to show you. I used elastic to make the bracelets as I wanted a 'solid' look without a clasp (if that makes sense) I was halfway through making the green one (it was just going to be plain) when I saw the chain and an idea formed in my head.. I love it when that happens, when an idea just arrives and it develops as you put the jewellery ( or whatever else it may be) together. There is something so natural about it. Sometimes it doesn't work, I've had many a crafty mistake, but I think it's through experimentation and just playing and having fun, that the best designs are created. Something just feels right. Anyway, I am really pleased how this one turned out and am in two minds about putting it on my folksy shop as I have fallen a bit in love with it. Perhaps I will make another.... I hope you like the pictures and be sure to check out everyone else who is taking part in Handmade Monday

It was my birthday Wednesday (the 13th- seems apt somehow) and I have reached the grand old age of 29. It is hard for me to believe that this the the last year of my twenties, I feel a bit sad about it really. I suppose the cf,' life expectancy of 35' thing is bothering me a bit but I've always tried to be a positive person and as I like to think it's just averages, there are loads of people older than me who are really well and some younger who are not doing as good. I'm somewhere in the middle which I am grateful for. Still, I'm not going to turn this into a depressing post so onto my plans for the year..There is so much I want to do in the next 12 months  to give my twenties a good send off.

1) Go to London because I have only been once and I miss seeing the sights. I want to go 'ooo there is Big Ben' and 'Ahh wow, its Buckingham Palace and isn't that the Queen sat in the window reading The Mirror?'

2) Eden Project because a massive greenhouse with loads of plants sounds ace.

3) See some live music because my last gig was forever ago.

4) See Lochness (and the monster?)

5) Travel around a bit though I'm not sure where yet.

6) Set up my Folksy shop properly. ( I've already started this but it needs a few tweaks and more things listed. Please take a look here and tell me what you think, good or bad. http://www.folksy.com/shops/LittleHarriets )

Hope you all have a great week.

Seahorses and peas

A bit late to be blogging about it but I have some pictures from Mothers day that I would like to share. Deciding to do something a bit different, me and my dad took my mum to the Sealife centre for Mothers day to have a look at the sharks. We had a great time and I learnt a few things 1) sharks are one of the coolest animals going and 2) talking photos through glass is a massive pain.
There was a touch pool with some shrimps which would crawl all over your fingers when you dipped your hand in the water, I loved them but this bloke who was stood next to me ( he was about 6ft and built like a rugby player) kept flinching and squeaking when they went near his hand. It made me laugh :)

Have spent the day in the garden. Bit disappointed that it is not as warm today as it was yesterday but I'am sure we are going to have a lovely summer (fingers crossed!) I got all over excited when I saw that the peas I planted a few weeks ago have sprouted and are about an inch tall, not long and I'll be swimming in piles of peas :)

Have finally got my profile page on my folksy shop all sorted. Was having a bit of a hassle with adding a link to this blog but after some much needed help from Bonnita (please check out her folksy page) I finally got it sorted. All I need to do now is to take a deep breath and start listing *bites nails*

And now to my Handmade Monday items. Please take a look at the other things people have been making at 1stuniquegifts.co.uk

Blue Glass Bookmark

Blue Glass Bookmark in detail- how cute are the little acorns?

Fabric flower bookmark again with the cute acorns.

Two fabric brooches.

Brooch back.

Earthquake

Today has been a bit rubbish from the moment I was woken up at 3am with my bedroom door rattling to the errand I went on turning out to be a total waste of time. Rant time I think...

So this morning I was fast asleep, dreaming nice dreams (I hope) and all tucked up in bed when the next thing I know something was poking my back and rattling my door. Now in my half sleepy state I was convinced my mum was hitting my door while she hooverd.. not something she has done before as she knows how much I like my sleep. That sleepiness lasted 2 seconds before my brain caught up and I realised it was an earthquake! I’m surprised at how completely nonchalant I was about it, I just lay there wondering if it would do it again and if I should get up, before I knew it I was fast asleep again... if it had been a thunderstorm I'd have been hiding under the covers with my arms over my head. I told a mate what happened in the morning and he thought was an April Fools joke which I said would be a bit insensitive after the recent events in Japan. Still, I can see why he would think that but, hand on heart, it really happened.

On to the next thing that went wrong….I’ve been making some flower brooches and had two all done and dusted. However there was one I wasn’t totally happy with so decided to take it apart and start again, cue me taking apart the one that was finished and lovely.. I’m sure if you listen very carefully you will be able to hear the echo of my RARRRRRRRRR.

After that I decided to put off any crafty endeavours until after I had had some munch and a bit of fresh air so after filling up on sausage rolls (I have a craving for them at the mo even tho I’m sure the meat is mostly lips and eyebrows) I decided to go and sort my bus pass out, a trip that involved a 20 min drive and a lot of faffing about. I was shattered when I got there and my lungs have been grumbling at me all day. After getting there and providing evidence of where I lived I was asked for the evidence to prove I’m entitled to a bus pass, said evidence was and still is, in the tin on top of my wardrobe…again listen for the RARRRRR.

So that’s what’s gone wrong today, I hope tomorrow is better.