Olympic Torch Relay...Waltham Abbey

I had become very excited that the Olympic Torch Relay was due to pass through Waltham Abbey and as it got nearer the time realised that I had to go along and have a look.  The only negative apart from the weather forecast was the fact that it would mean getting to Waltham Abbey before 8am on a Saturday morning!

With various family members we managed to park in a supermarket car park nearby and walk the last 1/4mile to the end of Church Street.  By sheer luck we managed to position ourselves outside of the Abbey and extremely close to the 'kissing point'.  The number of town officials nearby was a big clue to that.

After an hour or so's wait the Olympic Torch Relay cavalcade went into overdrive, sponsors vehicles with music, dancing and freebies and some BMX freestylers to boot. The weather was being very kind and apart from some black clouds we did see lots of sunshine.  It was getting very tense anticipating the moment when the Torch would pass us although probably not as tense as the next runner felt who had been delivered from a sponsors vehicle opposite us.

The cheering from the crowds and all of the flag waving around us told us that it was going to be happpening very soon, the first runner came past followed by 'the kiss' and then they were away again for the next leg of this epic relay.  I must admit that it was quite emotional when it was happening even though it was over in a flash from our point of view.

Luckily we are surrounded by about three more Olympic Torch Relay routes and now I've been to one would certainly check out another.  Waltham Abbey came out in force and then continued to have a lovely community day in the surrounding area.

Olympic Torch/Everyone Active Loughton

I have been excited by the Olympic Torch relay for weeks now and today the cavalcade hits Waltham Abbey and Waltham Cross!  Leaving shortly for quick glimpse of it around 8.50am.  Today is also a day when Everyone Active Leisure Centres in Loughton, Waltham Abbey, Epping and Ongar will be having open days with lots of free activities.  I am having a stall with Made at Home by Leigh Clothier at Loughton from around 10.30.

Time to finish my coffee and off to see the torch.....

Mind The Map

I LOVE MAPS, there I have said it out loud and I particularly love the art of the London Underground maps and posters.  Yesterday I visited the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden for the first time!

I had seen a mention of a new exhibition called Mind the Map on Twitter and knew that I needed to visit.  It opened last week and runs until 28th October 2012 and is free to enter once you have purchased a ticket for the museum for £13.50.  This is not as bad as it sounds as the ticket is then valid for 12 months and I will definitely use mine again.

'Mind The Map, Inspiring art, design and cartography' is how the exhibition is billed and it doesn't disappoint. It shows the work of Harry Beck and MacDonald Gill as well as contemporary art works based on their designs.

Although I have looked at the Underground map a million times I was unaware of how many changes had happened over the years.  The art and design on display is fascinating and there are a number of talks, walks and activities linked to this.  Last year I read Walk the Lines by Mark Mason and he is leading a walking tour on Saturday 14th July.

The rest of the museum is equally good and it is great that you can go into vehicles and get the feel of them...some of the train carriages felt very dark and eerie and make you appreciate how design makes a difference even on a train or bus journey!

Other books worth a look:

Mapping London, Making Sense of the City by Simon Foxell
Mrs P's Journey by Sarah Hartley (the lady who devised the A-Z map)

Stanford's in Longacre is the place to go for the most amazing selection of books about London.  I discovered on my last visit that as it is 2012 the London section has moved upstairs to take centre stage!

Jubilee Weekend Craft and Art Exhibition...

iPad covers...made yesterday

Following on from my travel tissue covers I have decided to make some iPad covers.  I don't own an iPad but have longed for one since their launch.  Son no. 1 on the other hand does own one and I was able to use that to get the sizing right.  I love the Liberty Hello Kitty fabric and the button detail that I made for securing.....

I have lined up several other fabrics to make these in and also some in vintage 1970's fabrics.  I can't wait to make some more!

Lovely Day in Epping

Yesterday I spent a lovely day at Everyone Active Epping Sports Centre where there was a charity day in aid of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Charity.  It was very well attended and there were lots of stalls for adults and children alike.  I debuted my tissue covers and was very pleased with the response as well as the new cards I had made. 

Today I am off to Valentines Park in Ilford for London Pride an art event to mark the Queens Golden Jubilee in Redbridge.  This is just a visit and I will post pictures later.

Here are a few from yesterday....

Age Cards....not done those for a while

I have spent a very enjoyable few days looking at fashions, nothing new there then but this had a purpose.  I needed to see the fashion from 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years ago for a new set of cards I wanted to make. 

I'm still getting over the fact anyone who is 40 this year was born in 1972!

I've also used some of the images in general Happy Birthday cards as they are so lovely.