End of half term

I know how lucky I am to have the school holidays to do what I want. We are trying to plan our holiday in May/June half term which will be our main holiday. It is a price we pay for working in a school and only having certain weeks off, the price ofthe holiday is cut dramatically the week we return to work.
Thursday

The second half of the week was a lot more relaxing. I had to take my car to the garage in Huddersfield on Thursday and it was booked in for 8am. I left in plenty of time and arrived far to early. I sat for half an hour outside the garage and chatted to a car hire man who was waiting to drop off a car. When The staff arrived at 8am I left the keys and wandered into town. There is not a lot to do in any town centre on a dull, grey February morning at 8am. I walked around the market where they were beginning to set up the stalls for the day. I took photographs of the lovely buildings with the view of doing some Matthew Rice style paintings from them at a future date. I had a coffee then when Waterstones opened spent a lovely hour looking at books and yes I did purchase one!

Then I made my way home at 10.30am and home in time for a cake and coffee and a sit down to do some painting.

I did a painting for my Blogiversary winner Gerry and then couldn't resist doing a little something else for another fellow blogger. I can't show you yet but when they have received them I will.

Friday

Friday was a funny day. I couldn't settle to do anything. I posted Gerry's parcel and did some ironing, a bit of painting but not anything worth while. I had to restrain my yellow hyacinths with a bit of ribbon.

I had a boiled egg and soldiers for lunch, see I told you it was a funny sort of day!

Saturday

Saturday we woke to this-

More snow over night.
But I was so excited as I was going on a Rag Rug Workshop at Touchstones in Rochdale.

I went on my own but met some lovely ladies there. I sat next to Cath and we did have a bit of a giggle and offered each other advice etc. The workshop was taken by Diane West (she doesn't have a web site) and the hessian, fabric scraps and tools were all provided.

I decided to use the woven and wool tweed bits of fabric which were all quite muted colours.

The design is drawn first in chalk then when ready in thick felt tip. You work on the back of the rug when doing this type of rag rug. (Prod down, hook up. This was not hooking)

You prod the fabric through the hessian with a proddy stick made from a dolly peg.

This is Cath demonstrating the technique.

I was quite pleased with my efforts by the time we stopped for lunch but we all wanted to get back and carry on as soon as possible.

We reluctantly packed away at 4pm and Diane made sure we took sufficient fabric home with us to be able to finish the rug.

My circle design I later decided reminded me of my dried Hydrangeas.

I am going to do aubergine and navy in the background. (I sat Sunday morning doing some more.)

Then I walked around the excellent exhibition at the gallery which included work by the very talented Abigail Brown. I just love her work.

Sunday

Today more snow and a lovely walk before rushing home to do my rag rug while watching Larkrise to Candleford.

Hope you all had a good week?