Christmas lights IV

A very merry xmas to all the regular and occasional visitors to my blog(s). We are off on Tuesday for two weeks in bucolic Derbyshire, a very much deserved holiday after a pretty challenging year! I would like to thank you all for taking the time to visit my blog, it means a lot to me! I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful xmas and a new year full of joy, laughter, creativity, success and love! Paola XX

Knitted ballerina

I think I am going to try to create a similar pair of slippers/ballerina, I only need to recycle an old scarf, make a pattern, get some fabric, some rubber soles and do some hand stitching to finish off the ballerina, it should be fun!

More cute from Accessorize

When I walk into Accessorize I always feel like buying most of the items on display, and the shop window display never fails to inspire me!

Warm boots from Accessorize

I absolutely adore these boots!

The cat, the doll and the glitzy pig

Cute decorations from Accessorize

Cute xmas decorations

An alternative to wrapping paper

While I was preparing Mum's birthday presents, I decided to crochet this cute little brown bag. I was not too keen on buying wrapping paper to wrap the presents, so I got myself some yarn, some gorgeous silk magenta ribbon and a glitzy pink heart that I stitched onto the bag. Mum loves the bag and now she can use it to carry her small sewing items.

Mom's birthday cake

It was the first time that Mom and I baked a cake in an AGA oven, the idea was to bake a Victoria sponge cake, alas the top part was too "brown", so we were left with the bottom half. We then added the rasperry jam, the double cream and tiny sugary xmas trees, white bears and father xmas. It was great fun and the cake was delicious, at the second attempt the following day we successfully baked a "whole" Victoria sponge cake!!!

Inside the second hand shop

Agitated petals III

Shadows on the wall I

Granny's getting ready for xmas

Some cake, crisps, milk, sugar, and checking if she has enough cash in her purse, how sweet!

At the fairground I

At the fairground

Mumsy's birthday

Mom Giulia and I are off for a few days to celebrate her birthday. We will come back next week, in the meantime I am sure I will take trillions of photos!
Have a wonderful weekend you all, regular and occasional visitors, I am glad to share my photos and thoughts with you!
Ciao, Paola

60 minutes before the rain

...which is by the way still falling, almost 24 hours after I took this photo!

Poised V-The Petals Series

Against the fence-the shadows series

Shopwindow display at Accessorize-details

Gorgeous felted heart with applique' flowers and birds at Accessorize; I could not resist, I simply had to take a snapshot!

Happy Thanksgiving!

to the visitors of this blog and friends who live in the USA!

At the dance rehearsal

Early afternoon

Opaque III

Beautifully moody and atmospheric...

At the villa-the "Ballerina" series

About to go on stage I

The ballerina's diary

About to go on stage

The secret garden III

The secret garden I

Petals from a different angle

Oh my darling Clementine!

Sometimes I like to leave my crafts projects unfinished, weird, I know, but I like the hand stitches and details that indicate the item is not finished yet. Mom decided that that Clementine the red turtle needed a hat for the winter months; she looks happy and warm now.

The pink umbrella

Lines in the sky III

Spooky at 5 pm

I don't mind the rain...

...I always look up to the sky, even if it rains.

I have not only been taking photographs lately,...

With a lot of help from Mom I have knitted this acid green jumper and I am so thrilled with the result that I have started knitting a second jumper. I actually bought the yarn months ago and I so wanted to have a new knitting project.
I hope to finally master the technique of casting off stitches and knitting sleeves!

Poised-The Petals Series

The Hydrangea at 2 pm

60 minutes before the rain

Yes, the weather can change dramatically very quickly in the North West of England, I was spared for once the heavy rain during my afternoon walk. The sky was utterly blue and within an hour dark clouds gathered and proved the weather forecast for the afternoon correct!

The Magenta Duo

From an ant's perspective

Walking out of the frame

I absolutely love taking photos of elderly couples; I took this photo in Bakewell, Derbyshire, on a sunny September day.

Under the pergola V

At the Victorian Summerhouse VI

Bling!

Trento, Northern Italy

Glass with pattern

Looking outside from one of the windows at the Derby library.

Breakfast at the B&B

First thing the pot of tea, then white toasts and some lovely home made raspberry jam

Petals and buds III

I caught this beautiful mass of petals and buds inside a shopping mall while visiting Derby.

Walking fast...