Summer Sun

The weather is so lovely at the moment I don't wan't to be out on placement at all! Too nice to be stuck in GP offices and cars! Been relatively craft-free recently as I have had exams and then straight into placement so it has been all go. Currently chilling out on my balcony with the cats enjoying the rarity that is sun in Scotland :) Loving it! It's the kind of weather we had in Malawi minus the dust (mind you that was their winter!). This time last year James and I took a wee trip to Northumberland in The Bitch and saw a Volkswagen show and stayed in cute little wigwams. Was a fab little trip away!

I just love this circus inspired beetle! The blackboard paint on the side just adds to it's character. I only hope they don't really drive around with that tower of luggage!

How cute is this old ice cream van. For that day it was fully functional and getting a lot of business. One thing it lacks is jaffa cake ice cream that I have fallen in love with from a wee place near us called Big Licks. It's so fab I've had it twice this week already.

This camper van was by far my favourite! How girly and cute selling yummy cakes. I just wish I had thought of something like this. I'm sure she gets used for all sorts of festivals. The cakes were nice too. Good job all round. What an awesome touch that little picket fence around it!

The first wigwam we stayed in on a wee farm. Looks like something from Lord of the Rings.

James' Beetle:

The second wigwam. It got the thumbs up from me:

This was my favourite part of the trip. We went to Alnwick castle and gardens. They were just phenomenal. Despite Harry Potter being filmed at the castle the gardens definitely bet it. We went on a really interesting tour in the poisonous plants garden. It's amazing how people killed folk using plants with a little know how. And that some of the same plants can be used to cure e.g used in chemotherapy! Fascinating. Not that I remember anything now though. I have a memory like a sieve! 

James and I tried our hand at a little archery:

Here's hoping there are plenty more fun little trips to come. Now off to the park!

Later xx

An Intro to 'The Bitch'

James and the Bitch

About two years ago James decided he wanted a vintage beetle. He did loads of research and finally spotted the one for him. A little rust bucket named 'The Bitch'. I must admit, when we went down south to see it I did think - what the hell! How can they be asking that amount, looks like heap. I have come to love the little thing (despite there being no seatbelts and the suspension is lowered so much that it scrapes over speed bumps which makes the most horrendous noise!) The first journey in it was terrifying but you do get used to it. This type of beetle is referred to as the Rat Look.

The Bitch

He had saw this cloud plushy in a wee local shop which he really liked that was pretty pricey so I thought I would try and make a mini duplicate that could hang from the mirror instead of the Hawaii flower thing that was already there. This is the finished product simply using felt, embroidery thread, silver ribbon and stuffing:

He was very chuffed with it and it dangled happily there for just over a year but it has recently been moved because he finds it distracting during driving :-s

Because of his love of beetles, whilst in Malawi I came across this little stall in the wood market that made cool wooden toys. I spotted this on my last day and because the guy knew I wanted it badly I got mega ripped off - my haggling skills went down the toilet in desperation to get this gift. It was worth it though.

He is planning on selling it sometime in the future. It will be pretty sad to see it go. Hopefully we will have another little adventure in it this summer before it goes!

xx