Harry Potter Party

Last night we celebrated the launch of the final Harry Potter book at a costume party in Belvedere House. We had such fun! Loads of people made a great effort to dress up, including us.


We took loads of photos. Above is our group [L-R: Joe, Audrey, Eddie, Daithi, Rachel].













Choosing the costumes was so much fun, my talented friend Annette was a great help and is responsible the two above: My own slick witch look, and Eddies Dementor - which scared the living daylights out of a number of children.










It was brilliant having a like minded witch along! And she even let me play with her Unicorn!




Although she lost interest in us once she found the man of her dreams!




I thought Joe looked fabulous, rather like a distinguished Rincewind. And my brother Daithi had the Weaseley look to a tee!
















This last picture is especially for Aoife who kindly warned me about the Trolls in Belvedere when we visited Karen last weekend. She even donated some very brave cuddly toys to protect us! Thanks Aoife, you're the best.

Mid Summer Nights Dream

Yesterday evening we attended a magical performance of a Mid Summer Nights Dream in Belvedere House.




We picnicked on the lawn, in the rain, before the show (admittedly under a big umbrella, while sitting on a waterproof rug), but it was still great fun.



Thankfully the rain cleared up for the play to start. And the actors threw themselves into the performance with great gusto - even rolling around on the mucky ground ;-)

I was so excited about attending an outdoor performance of this play, and I really wasn't let down. Even the early rain enhanced the experience as the sweet smell of the damp grass lent an authentic feel to the play!





And the suns' light was so amazing as it glistened on the trees.





I'm so pleased I had the opportunity to see this. It really was magical.

Now I'm really looking forward next weeks Harry Potter fancy dress party!

Wednesday Stamper - Buttons

When I saw the most recent Wednesday Stamper challenge was Buttons, I immediately knew what I wanted to do. I love this fabulous old photo of my Grandad and his sister, and especially the quaint 'button up boots' she is wearing.

The images are printed on cardstock, torn and inked at the edges, and layered on fun vintage button patterned paper. The title and background script are stamped. Some coastal netting and a selection of AMM buttons are used to embellish.

ScrapWest - City LO

This weeks theme, set by Lainey, was the perfect opportunity to scrap these photos I took for my Mums book.

The pictures are of the street where she grew up in Cork.

The papers are the delicious K&Co papers which I picked up at Scrap-a-ganza.

Movement for Cheryl

Hello! I've been missing for a few days on a short break to west Cork. Amazingly the weather was beautiful there over the weekend. As a result I have a lot of catching up to do both blogging and crafting!

Here are two of my shots for Cheryls 'Movement' assignment this week. It was a tough assignment, but has really got me thinking and looking forward to trying out some new ideas.

The first shot is some gentlemen from the Irish Navy - they were berthed in West Cork for the weekend due to the major drugs haul - and I was lucky enough to catch them popping into town for a pint on Saturday night ;-)

There were a number of Herons trying to snaffle free fish from the hardworking fishermen. My second shot is of this rather cheeky chap coming into land.

I was thrilled to get home to find out my 'Frame the Shot' no. 2 was selected for images of the week, and my Up Close & Abstract 'Square Rainbow' was shortlisted for last week! It's so encouraging, and I'm enjoying photography so much more as a result of this course.

Up Close & Abstract

This was the brief for our homework for Cheryl this week.

I started out with no real ideas, other than trying the old food colouring in milk trick if I was stuck. Anyway tonight I cast my eye around the craft room, and hey presto!

I have to admit the ink palette images are so simple, I almost feel like its cheating ;-)

But I am so pleased with the impact of them, I had to run with them.



Finally, the Diamond Lines were really fun to shoot, as it was a challenge to get the lighting right for them. Although in fairness, even though it was a much harder shot to take, it just doesn't have the same impact as the rainbow palettes.

Frame the Shot - Cheryls Assignment

I'm so delighted with Cheryls course, I can't tell you!

Last week my dramatic shot of Joe got in 'Images of the Week', so I am over the moon about that. And I've just found out I've been shortlisted for 'Images of the Week' again this week!

My 'Frame the Shot' entries were taken at Leixlip Confey Train Station.

I decided to take a stroll, between showers, one evening last week to see if I could snap anything for the assignment. I had in mind some natural style image framed by trees, or some such. Of course, the final product is nothing of the sort.




Instead I took these rather industrial looking images of Confey Train Station from the canal. But aren't they striking?

I was lucky to catch the lovely soft evening light as it reflected in the water and also from the metal railings.







The second image has been shortlisted by Cheryl, and it is my favourite, although only just. Up close the wooden sidings on the canal in no. 1 are so textured and the colouring in them is fab, and no. 3 somehow manages to be dramatic and yet dreamy at once.