A quick catch up before we're off again .........

Good morning!   Happy Monday.

May is flying by ...... it's a busy month for us, and ...... the TT is back!!!!  Can't wait.  There's a lot going on before that though!

Well, we're back home ........ for the next few days at least.  

We're off on our travels again on Friday this week.  Not in the van this time though.  

We're off to the Norfolk Broads, hiring a boat this time and spending a week on the water.  The long range weather forecast is looking good at the moment, fingers crossed it stays that way.

Last time I blogged we were on Lucksall Campsite, in a place called Mordiford in Herefordshire.  A lovely campsite, by the River Wye.  

We stayed 4 nights, it was so peaceful.  Hubby managed to work during the day and then we spent the evenings by the river ......... living the dream!!

It was a lovely spot, we walked by the river, and into the local village ........

As you can see, the weather was lovely, we'll definitely be back here at some point.

Our next stop was Tewkesbury ........ a busy little campsite right in the middle of the town, in the shadow of Tewkesbury Abbey

We had four nights here, so plenty of time to explore.

We went to see the Abbey .....

This was huge! ........ a stunning Copper Beech tree in the grounds

There was also this going on behind the Abbey ......

 

Every year in July, they re-enact the Battle of Tewkesbury (the War of the Roses) at the Tewkesbry Medieval Festival.  There's knights in armour, cannons, and soldiers.  Townsfolk in medieval dress, sleeping in traditional tents, cooking and eating typical food, and showing how life was back then.

What we saw was a prequel to all that ....... showing the amour and weapons used.  It was all very interesting.  Unfortunately we won't be back this year for the actual battle but, it's now on our to do list.

As always, we had to find a watering hole or two.

This place was a must ........  Stephen's mum and dad spent their honeymoon here, in 1963.  Looks like it hasn't changed much

And this place was a little gem ......

Good food, nice wine ......

Whilst hubby was working in the van, I took the opportunity to have a play in an art journal that I had with me.  Nothing too fancy, I had minimal supplies with me ......... coloured pencils and a few wax crayons, a couple of ink pads and the odd stencil.   Word stickers, a few pieces from my bits box (backgrounds, mop up cards, that sort of thing) and some pages that I pre-stamped before we left.

A bit of ink blending and colouring ......

A little bit of collage ...... love these Kate Crane images

Practicing with my coloured pencils ........

and a little bit of doodling on an old stenciled card.

I also doodled on a messy painted page from a workshop that I never got around to finishing

It's still not finished, but it's getting there.

I think this is going to become my version of a junk journal ........ my van journal.  

It's a ring binder so I can add or take stuff out as I go along.  I've already put a few more different pages in there, some that have been started, and some blank.   Lets see where it takes me!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

It's time to start packing for the next trip now.

Cheerio until next time ........

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month ......

Happy Friday! .....

Welcome to May!!!

I hope you're all well and staying safe during this pandemic.
This last week has been a tough one what with one thing and another.
Thankfully my mojo seems to be returning, albeit VERY slowly, and I have spent some time in the craft room, which has been a much needed distraction.
I'm doing a lot of playing in my art journals at the moment ..... and I've also signed up for a few Facebook Live workshops which I'm really enjoying.  Two or three hours of following someone elses directions ...... learning new tips and techniques, and remembering old ones that I haven't used for years!  It's great ...... I'm actually using all this stuff I've bought ....... finally!

Here's the results .......

Journaling with the lovey Sharon from the Forget Me Not Kraft Kabin.  Lots of paint and doodling ..... I loved it! (I'm actually spending the afternoon online with Sharon again today ..... can't wait!)

I've also been catching up with an online course from the Artful Academy (previously know as Mixed Up Creative Academy)

I didn't have all the products that they'd used but, I improvised.  We can always find something in our stash that will work.  It was a resist technique on the background ..... not perfect but it wasn't bad.

And finally, inspired by the very talented Tracy Scott .......

This has taken me a while to finish but ....... I got there in the end.

My journals are not the only thing keeping me busy ....... these arrived the other day

There's something very satisfying about completing a jigsaw. 
I'm not getting very far, but it's keeping me out of mischief!

Of course, a new month means the start of all the latest Blog Challenges.  I'll be back later with the first of the CAS challenges ..... see you then!

Thanks for popping by ........ I'm off to get my things together for this afternoon's journaling class.

Cheerio until next time .......