New Camera, New Inspiration!

Two posts in a week!  Can you believe it!!

I am back to report that I have a new camera, and I am all inspired to take more photos again!  My old Nikon SLR is over 10 years old now, (and it was an old model when we bought it!), and is so heavy to lug around over my shoulder.   I wanted a lighter camera that was a bit better than a 'point and shoot'. My new phone has a fairly decent camera for that.  So we went into Jessops, and had a really lovely assistant who spent ages with us looking at the small mirrorless cameras.  I chose the Panasonic LX100, as it has a decent size sensor, and lots of dials and buttons for manual adjustment.  It looks a bit retro in the silver too!

It has its first outing up to London on my birthday on a really sunny Sunday in March.  We  were headed for lunch in the Shard!  Here's some photos:

The Shard is the tallest building in London.  We were headed for the 32nd floor for the restaurant, about half way up.

We were so lucky with the weather!  Bright, sunny and clear.  Here's a view towards the financial district with the 'walkie talkie' and the 'gherkin', other iconic buildings.

Looking to the East, with Tower Bridge in the foreground, and Canary Wharf in the background.

That is St Paul's Cathedral in the centre of the photo.

We had a lovely lunch, lovely food, well presented and brilliant service.   I thoroughly recommend the restaurant.  It was so lovely to spend the day with my family on a day out!

From left ro right, Danny (Lucy's boyfriend), Lucy, Nicholas and Maurice.

Finally, here's me and Maurice by Tower Bridge.  

So now I am all inspired again, can you suggest photo memes or challenges that I can join in and post on  my blog?

Decorating China with Transfer Papers

My crafty friends Burnice and Tash bought me a china decorating workshop for my birthday!  You will know that we like a workshop.  This one was run by Elaine at Made and Making in Ditchling, East Sussex.

WE had the choice of a plate, a small tray or tiles.  Tash and Burnice chose the plates, I chose the tray.  We were able to choose from lots of pretty transfer papers.  You cut out the shapes you want, then soak the paper in water and the transfer slips off the backing and sticks to the china.  Easy!

Here I am tracing off the beach hut shape.  I chose 5 different patterned papers and then cut them up and rearranged them on the tray.

Here's a picture of Burnice playing with the placement of her papers

Burnice and Tash hard at work!  You can see that the workshop is really cute!  Lots of lovely things hanging around for inspiration.

Here are my beach huts ready to place on the tray

The final products (well not quite, they have to be fired now).  Aren't these plates cute with their washing lines?  Tash did the clothes and Burnice did the quilts.

We had a great day, and are all keen to go back and do a Christmas plate later in the year!