Simply Crochet magazine

Sunday Sevens #48 11.9.16

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Crochet in the midday sun


On Monday we were given an extra bank holiday here in Gibraltar. We celebrated National Day yesterday, and as it fell on a Saturday we got an extra day off tagged on the end of the Gibraltar Music Festival weekend. Mr Postcard had to go to work for some of the day so I took the Little Postcards to Europa Point to take their bikes out for a spin.

As they cycled round trying to avoid taking out a few tourists on the way past, I carried on with my #sixtymilliontrebles project. It’s coming on so quickly it’s bigger than the lighthouse already ;-).

Sometimes it’s easy to forget just where we live. As I sat hooking up my trebles the voice of a tour guide was carried in my direction on the breeze ‘…the amazing thing about Europa Point is that from here you can see three countries, two continents, an ocean and a sea.’ Good point Mrs Tour Guide, and I’m just sitting on a bench hooking up granny squares oblivious to this amazing backdrop…

An evening out

We had a lovely night out child-free this week. We had no plans and went out for a walk not knowing where we would end up. Our final destination was Queensway Quay where we enjoyed a lovely meal. It was so pretty there at sunset.

And relax…


On Thursday morning I found myself with a whole hour of free time. It was the first time since all three children returned to school that I’d completed my to-do list with time to spare before heading out on the midday school run. Life will be so much easier once full-days return to school next week. (Schools here finish at lunchtime for the last few weeks of summer term and before National Day in September). 

I’d been to collect my latest issue of Simply Crochet magazine from the post office and all the shopping was put away. So I had a guilt free flick through 🙂

Aerobatics 


Friday saw the Rock gearing up for the National Day yesterday. A now regular feature of the celebrations is an aerobatic display. The pilots had a practice run late on Friday afternoon and it was quite a sight to behold across the Bay. I spied them out of the window and dashed to grab my phone for a quick photo. By the time I’d got out onto the balcony they’d gone from right in front of our building to down near the lighthouse at the tip of Gibraltar! 

They were amazing – although I couldn’t imagine ever having a ride in one!!

Gibraltar National Day 2016

It was a scorcher of a day here yesterday as Gibraltar celebrated it’s national pride in style. Some people choose to spend it on the beach, others in town. We had a quiet lunch with friends and a walk through the Alameda Gardens.


It wouldn’t be National Day without a great fireworks display. It was spectacular as usual (not so great for our four legged friends though).


So there you have it, the summer is officially over now. We had a long school summer break, the fair came to town, then the Gibraltar Music Festival last weekend and now National Day has passed us by. Schools go back on Monday for full days, so it’s packed lunches and after school clubs all the way to the end of October! 

Thank you for stopping by, this has been Sunday Sevens, part of a weekly blog series devised by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins blog. 

Sunday Sevens #33 29.5.16

~ Making Stitches ~ 15 Comments

Hello there, I do hope you’ve had a good week. It’s been a great one here, busy as usual, here goes…

Big blue

The week started with a belting Monday morning. It was glorious, as you can see there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I popped out for a quick walk/ jog/ limp along and found myself in Rosia, by Parson’s Lodge and at Camp Bay. It was truly beautiful. It’s at times like this I remember just how lucky I am to live here. 

Not wishing to burst this bubble of loveliness, but within an hour of taking these pictures the clouds had rolled in and the wind was gusting. I guess I was very fortunate to enjoy the best of the day!

Spring Visual Arts Competition

The Spring Visual Arts Competition was officially opened on Tuesday. It’s a chance for anyone to enter their art works and see them hung on the walls of the Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery in Casemates Square. The categories included; Painting, Drawing, Prints & Digital Painting,  Sculpture, Photography, Video and Installation.  

In all 145 entries were considered for the big prize which was won by Alan Perez for his very moving installation (in the bottom left above). Called Shame on Europe history repeats itself, it featured photos of the European refugee crisis projected onto a huge pile of suitcases roped together. 

Natural colour combinations

On Wednesday I took a walk to a different part of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve To visit Devil’s Gap Battery. (The walk features in my latest Stroll around Gibraltar) On the way up to the footpath the nasturtiums were beautiful. I spotted this clump with the tiny purple flowers between the vibrant orangey yellow. You can’t beat that for a colour combination.

Med Steps

I just can’t keep away from them can I? I went back up the steps on Thursday morning. It was another beautiful, warm, late spring morning and I really enjoyed the walk. Every time I go up at the moment I seem to notice new flowers and plants. As one type of plant dies off it’s replaced by another stunner. I spotted these lovely flowering cacti this week. They’re like a huge version of what my Mum has in a pot in her front porch at home!

Dressmaking class


The time has finally arrived (on my dressmaking course) for me to design my own skirt. I have two very special family weddings coming up next year, so I figured I may as well make my skirt a bit special so I can wear it for those. (Plus, one wedding is on my side of the family, the other on Mr Postcard’s so no one will know I’m wearing the same outfit twice 😉 shhh! It’s our little secret)

I’ve decided upon a fifties style of skirt and am hoping to make a top in the same fabric when I learn all about tops next year so it should look like a dress…. No pressure!

At last!

I love agapanthus. I have tried unsuccessfully to grow them for years, both at our last home in the north of England and here in Gibraltar. I reckon I’ve tried at least 4 times since we’ve been living on the Rock. You’d think living here with this climate I might be able to manage it. Well at long last, after many false starts I have a healthy specimen and she’s looking beautiful on our balcony. I think she knew it was Chelsea Flower Show this week and thought she’d better make an effort! 😉

Crochetasaurus


This week I have been crocheting little amigurumi dinosaurs again. (The pattern for them is in Simply Crochet Magazine Issue21) I just can’t help it, they’re so addictive. I have had requests from the smallest Postcards for two and I’ve made a third as a gift for a young man I know. I love the crochet part, can you tell that the sewing together is my least favourite part? I’ll share a finished picture of them next week. 

Thank you so much for stopping by, until next time have a lovely bank holiday weekend! 

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series featuring seven photos from the last seven days. It was devised by Nat at Threads & Bobbins blog. Pop over to her blog to find out more if you fancy joining in!

Sunday sevens #32 22.5.16

~ Making Stitches ~ 16 Comments

Hello there, I do hope you’re having a good weekend. Well summer seems to have arrived here in Gibraltar this week, Thursday saw the hottest day of the year so far, with highs of 26 degrees. The flip flops are out, the toenails are painted and we’ve had our first barbecue of the year!

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series which features seven photos from the last seven days. It was devised by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins blog. Pop over to her blog to find out how you can join in.

Sunday = rest day!

After the exertions of the Med Steps 5 Challenge last Saturday, Sunday was a rather quiet and stationary affair. We did manage a walk to the botanical gardens and a trip to the supermarket but mainly it was spent at home. We made a pleasant discovery on our balcony when we found that this flower had opened without us even noticing the bud had formed. I do love my hibiscus.

Watercolour class

This week we continued our study of orchids. I finished off last week’s attempt and worked on a couple of other styles too. Still more work to do on these though…

Dressmaking class


I have done absolutely no sewing at all in my dressmaking class for the last two weeks – it’s been exam time (well sort of). In order to test the knowledge we have gleaned so far, we were given a series of skirts to make mini paper patterns for. It was just to reinforce what we already know and to push us a little to experiment and consider how other styles we haven’t yet tried are put together. 

The first few were relatively easy. The last two though, my word – my brain hurt! (The one above was one of the tricky ones). I had to go outside and have a walk to try and process what I was trying to achieve. I’m pleased to say that with a little gentle pushing in the right direction by our lovely teacher, I got there in the end. I was a bit of a zombie for the rest of the day though – I only seem to have limited brain cells available these days!!

Town scenter florals


Town scenter… do you like what I did there? No? Sorry, I won’t do it again! Walking through the new park in the centre of town this week I was overwhelmed by the beautiful scent of Jasmine. The old wall, the entire length of the park, has been planted up with Jasmine and they are in bloom right now. They look beautiful against the old brickwork and the smell is amazing. 

Crochet crazy


Wednesday was rather pleasingly filled with crochet loveliness. First, I had a lovely response to my Med Steps Crochet wreath post. The highlight being that Lucy from Attic24 who had inspired me to have a go in the first place said on Instagram that she thought it was lovely! Hurrah for that – it made my day 🙂

Secondly, I went to the post office to collect my latest edition of Simply  Crochet magazine which contained a kit to make a bright flower brooch. I had intended to crack on with my spring cleaning, but got ever so slightly distracted 😉

Med Steps… a return trip.


I did say in my last post that I would stop going on about the Med Steps but it would appear from many of your lovely comments that you’ve become rather attached to them. Well I guess I have too, as on Thursday morning I took a walk up there again. It was a lot quieter than last Saturday and it was a lot hotter too. I think I may have to stop the morning walks there as the sun’s beating down on you at that time. An alternative route will be found and Med Steps will soon have to become an afternoon or evening destination.

I was thrilled to find out this week that the Med Steps 5 Challenge raised over £7,000 for the Gibraltar Cancer Relief Centre. Our little gang of girls who walked up the Rock together managed to raise a fair chunk of that, over £1,700, which is utterly amazing to me. Our lovely friends and families have been so generous as well as a few lovely ‘blogland’ friends too. (I didn’t ask for sponsorship through the blog as I don’t like to, but a handful of lovely people actually contacted me and asked if they could support our efforts). Thank you all for helping us to help this wonderful cause. Xxx

He’s back!


Our eldest arrived back safe and sound from his week away in England with school. He had an amazing time rafting, canoeing, quad biking and learning archery among many other exciting things. I know he and his friends have made precious memories which they will cherish well into adulthood. Thank you to the teachers for looking after their precious cargo so well and bringing them safely back home to our families.

It’s been a busy week here chez Postcard, I wonder what the next seven days hold in store? Until next time, thanks for stopping by…

Sunday Sevens #28 24.4.16

~ Making Stitches ~ 11 Comments

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie at the Threads & Bobbins blog. It gives you a chance to reflect some of the things you’ve been doing in your week through a series of seven photographs. To find out more, or to join in, pop over to her blog for more information.

**Warning – this blog post contains a lot of Med Steps related things – apologies for the repetitive nature but it’s kind of consuming my world at bit at the moment!**

My Med Steps training update

Monday morning meant an early trip up the steps and boy was it worth it, the view was absolutely stunning from the top of the Rock. Look at Spain heading off into the distance!

Time didn’t allow me to train again on Tuesday or Wednesday but the weather would have stopped me so it’s probably for the best. We did the school run on Tuesday morning to a soundtrack of thunder, Wednesday was wet too. 

Thursday was dry and bright and meant for the first time we managed…

4 times round…  

I can’t quite believe that we managed it, that final (fourth) ascent was a killer. Just in case you haven’t heard, me and a couple of other crazy ladies are currently training to take part in the Med Steps 5 Challenge next month. That means we hope to climb the Med Steps five times in the one day – see, I did say crazy. 

Why? I hear you say… Well here’s how it all came about:

 My post-Christmas hangover cure…

  

My secret’s out, the reason why I’m doing the Med Steps 5 Challenge is because I agreed to do it while under the influence of Christmas spirit! ;-). My Med Steps journey so far featured in an article in our local e-magazine for parents Mum on the Rock. Do check out their website or the Postcard from Gibraltar Facebook page if you want to read it. 

And now for something completely different:

In my watercolour class this week I decided to revisit my bird of paradise flowers from Easter. This photo was taken part way through, my teacher told me to loosen up my style and be a bit less detailed. I’ll put another layer of paint on top of this once it’s dry and see what happens next week.

Dressmaking class  

This skirt’s a bit tricky, I’ve got lining, panels, a waistband and an invisible zip all going on at once -arghhhh! Deep breaths, slow and steady does it…. 

#tightsqueeze


Twice this week I got stuck behind two buses having to negotiate the same very narrow stretch of road. I have no idea how they achieve this feat without coming a cropper. Do you think they ask the passengers to breathe in? I wouldn’t fancy attempting it!! Hats off to the very skillful drivers. 

A quiet Saturday morning


This weekend has been very strange in our house. Our two eldest went away on Friday evening to a scout camp. We have spent the weekend with just one child in the house for the first time in over eight years. I was really looking forward to it but to be honest I’ve missed them and it felt really odd. Yes, it was nice not to have to intervene in sibling arguments and play referee on who’s turn it was to watch their choice on TV, but I’m not sure I liked it. 

I’ve felt very uneasy the whole time like I should be busy doing something… So I had a quiet post-breakfast sit down at the window looking out over the Bay and doing a spot of crochet – it’s a green stegosaurus this time ;-). It’s my second attempt at this Simply Crochet magazine pattern, I think they’re so cute.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you’ve had a good weekend. 

Sunday Sevens #26 10.4.16

~ Making Stitches ~ 12 Comments

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins. If you fancy joining in, pop over to Natalie’s blog to find out more.
 Gibraltar’s national flower 

I have been really good this week and managed two trips up the Med Steps. On the first trip up I spotted these beautiful flowers, they are Gibraltar candytuft, the national flower of Gibraltar. The Rock is the only place where they grow. 

 Dressmaking class

  

This week’s class meant practicing attaching lining to a waistband. That’s the last of my pre-skirt samples after practicing invisible zips last time. Next lesson means I can begin my latest skirt for real – can’t wait!

Home furnishings class

 

In my home furnishings class I made a cushion, the first time I’ve ever made one using a zip. This is specially for a young man in my life with an appreciation for all things public transport related.

Meet Tracey Triceratops   

Remember the dinosaur I started crocheting on holiday last week? Well she’s finished and is now living in her new home! I used a pattern from Simply Crochet magazine.

 A thank you gift 
A few weeks ago I made some little crocheted hearts for an Instagram friend of mine @bonnies_little_crafts. She’s on a mission to collect 7000 woolly hearts to give to visitors to the Yarndale festival in her hometown of Skipton. This week I received my very own woolly heart as a thank you along with a really lovely letter. It made my day. If you would like to get involved in the #7000challenge take a look at her Instagram account.

Med Steps 5 Challenge  

On my second trip up the Med Steps this week I stepped up my training a bit and managed two circuits. Crikey it was hard work, and it’s starting to get really hot up there. How we’ll manage 5 circuits in mid May for the #MedSteps5 challenge, I have no idea!! 

A busy day in port

  
Yesterday there were three cruise ships in  port. The perfect day to avoid Main Street! It gets so busy in town when the cruise liners are here. I believe that later this month four will visit on the same day – the busiest day of the year for cruise visitors. I think we’ll be lying low that day!

Have a great week!