Tuesday 10 June 2014

5 in 5 - MELANIE - June 2014


 
Melanie is my friend who lives in Australia and she loves photography. Every month Melanie has taken part in this monthly neme and we managed to find a way round her not having a blog by posting here. I love that we have found a way for her to take part!  When I began this photo challenge last July I did not anticipate that this partnership would develop. It was not planned but I am SO glad that it happened because it has added something unexpected. I am so excited each month when I open Melanie's email with her monthly photos so once again Melanie, a big thank you, and over to you:

For my June 5 in 5 I decided to take my camera off to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.  I had thought there would be lots of autumn colours but that thought proved wrong.  In the spot I choose to take my photos there was lots of colour and lots of sunlight.  Even the bees were still buzzing despite the fact that winter in this part of the world begun on June 1st.  The gardens were also a hive of activity not only buzzing with bees but buzzing with school children.  There were children of all ages, some eating lunch, some being entertained with drum music and many more following trails.  There were plaques all over saying part of the World Environment Day Trail and I realised that was why so many schools had sent children to the gardens as June 5 happened to be World Environment Day.  So back to my photos.  I had intended to make a note of the flowers/plants I took photos of, but ended up being short of time (good job the photos all have to be taken in 5 minutes) and so please just enjoy the photos.  Please watch out for the bee on the yellow flower.



I am always impressed that Melanie's photos reach me so promptly each month, especially this time when she was travelling and mid journey. I wonder if next months photos will be taken on a different continent?

If this has inspired you to take part in this challenge you have until 25th before the link closes. It's great fun and this post should answer any questions or give any other information that you need.
Thank you to Melanie and everyone else who has joined in or left comments. Links for this months posts are here and I'll be back with more photos from Melanie and myself next month. I hope you will join me! Incidentally next month will be an anniversary - one year since the first post. So I will be back soon with an idea to celebrate.  

Thursday 5 June 2014

5 in 5 - June 2014 - TRAVEL JOURNAL


                                         Welcome to '5 in 5' where on the 5th of
each month I post 5 photos that I have
taken in 5 minutes. 


 
 
This month I thought I'd share photos of the travel journal that I made.  It is work in progress because I will be writing in it as I go and there is a thick pocket for storing any leaflets or information I want to keep. So, let's start with the cover and take a glimpse inside:
 
 
I used a coat of Multi-Medium matt to protect the cover and help keep the chipboard title in place.
 
There are lots of pockets for tabs and extra pages.  These are great for private journaling or just for storing things away. I need to start writing on this page!! 



See Multi-Medium Matt on my shopping list?! I borrowed a friends to do the cover and decided it was something that might be useful in my own supplies.  I like to try before I buy sometimes as it is too easy to buy products that disappoint or go unused.


You might not always want a whole page to record a memory.
Sometimes a slip of paper can be enough. 


And here are my lovely pages waiting to be filled and as I look at them I've decided to add a couple of more plain pages for art journaling, that wonderful play of paint, doodling and what ever takes my fancy!  Tomorrow the journal and I will be in the campervan on our way. If you missed yesterdays post you might like to pop back and find out more about my plans.  Otherwise, this is a monthly challenge where I invite others to share their own 5 photos taken in 5 minutes.  And I know Joy has added photos of her own travels so do check out the links below, and if you want to join in that would be even better!!  There are details here.
Thanks for popping by.

I hope you are inspired to get out your camera and join in. Here is the plan:
1.  Choose a location.

2.  Have your camera ready.

3.  Set a mobile timer for 5 minutes.

4.  Take as many photos you can until the time is up.

5.  Choose 5 photos to download and share by using the link tool.
   You have until the 25th of the month to add your photos.

 
And one more thing - when you use the link tool, please click on your post title.  This will show the web address. Please right click, copy and paste this as your link.  This will take readers directly to your '5 in 5' blog page and be easier for them to find.

Thank you to those who have taken part so far. I have loved seeing your photos and hope you will be back with more. 

And don't forget, you have until 25th to post your link!

Wednesday 4 June 2014

ROAD TRIP - GOING SOLO

A year ago I went on a road trip.  It wasn't planned to be, but after accepting an invitation to an evening event in Bournemouth I realised it was unrealistic to drive there and back in a day.  And so I  decided to extend my trip and as things unfolded I grew more and more excited. You see I discovered the Craft Barn had a special event that weekend, a craft Extravaganza. It couldn't have been better timing, and it made a perfect stop on my way home.  So I booked sites to stay overnight and set off in my campervan.  There was a mix of excitement and adventure. I'd not done this on my own before...

When I arrived at Bournemouth I took time to admire the views from the cliff top and to relax after the long drive.  I had gone all that way to listen to someone speak, and after getting to know them on line it was wonderful to meet them in person.  It was inspiring and motivational, I left buzzing. 

 
I thought about going down to the beach next morning, before leaving the coast, but I didn't have the energy.  And so I took the day gently and drove through the New Forest, pulling over for a while to watch a herd of ponies before making my way to my next overnight stop.  At the farm I discovered they had a shop and their own butchery.  I had enough supplies but I couldn't resist  buying more for breakfast, good then, that there was space in the fridge!    It was when I drove into the field that my nerve wavered.  I discovered I was alone.  Now I'm not an anxious person, but it was a good distance from the farm and mobile signal was poor.  Bravery was needed!
 
Undaunted I relaxed with cups of tea, my journal, and art materials.  The view from the camper was amazing... miles of open countryside stretched a head and I watched the sun slowly settle. I loved being alone and going at my own pace.  Dinner at a local pub was the end to a perfect day - especially when I got back and discovered a couple more campers had joined me.  Phew!  Sometimes it is good to escape, but right then, company was a welcomed sight. 
 






 It was good to relax into the night with my craft materials.  I never travel without them and there was happy mail to post next morning, and a travel journey in the making.....

 
 
A leisurely cooked breakfast was the perfect start to the day and I lingered over writing my morning pages.  I also took time to feel the grass beneath my feet, this always grounds me and recharges my energy.  I loved this time to appreciate a slower pace and unwinding. I need to do it more often. 


And when I was ready I packed the camper and headed to the Craft Barn.  I stopped to post my happy mail on the way, though it was tinged with sadness, because I was posting to a friend who had just weeks left to live. I had decided to make a postcard to send her each day. What do you do when words don't feel enough, or might be too much?  It's hard to know what is right.  But I hoped that letting my friend know I was thinking of her would help.  

 
And as for the Craft Barn?  Well I had an amazing time!   But I'm not going to tell you about that now, because this post is long enough, and besides, I'm planning another road trip this weekend.  There is another Extravaganza and I shall be travelling down Friday in the campervan and staying until Sunday.  This time I have invited friends to meet me, some are coming for breakfast on Sunday and others will join us there.  It's going to be fun filled.
 
Following the first trip I made a mini book and added photos that I took on my journey.  Go here if you would like to see it.  This time I have made a travel journal to take, with pockets and pages and places to write.  I can't wait to get started.....  
 
There's a page to list 'Things to Pack'.  I guess that's as good a place as any!
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