Have i told you........

A frustrated Kakapo parrot !!!

2009-10-12T20:46:00.005+01:00

Hi

I attach a link to the bbc 2 programme with Stephen fry and Mark carwardine and a Kakapo parrot. So click onto the title and watch the video for yourself.

update

2009-10-02T19:58:00.004+01:00

Where has the time gone, its well over a month since I was on my blog, so I thought I enter something.
Currently been very busy at the project group, seams that the flood gates have opened on commissions, not that we are complaining.

I just had a one to one workshop with a customer, who wanted to make a 2ft circle panel in glass to go into a current 3ft hole that she has in her home, which turned out to be a success.

Next, the group is getting involved in a fashion show to be held on the 3rd December at the Memorial hall. So a group of the members (me included) are making costumes, out of old cloths donated . So what this space for pictures and updates............................

New Arrival

2009-08-26T20:42:00.003+01:00

On Saturday the 22nd of August, I decided to pay a visit to Shropshire Cat rescue, to see how the new Cat retirement village was taking shape, and also to see the vast number of cats they currently have in. It was on the second part of the visit i was introduced to Charlie who had been in the rescue for just over a month, and therefore being the big softie that I am, Charlie is not at the rescue anymore but at home with me.

As you can see from the picture as to why she is called charlie!!!!! she is also just 18months old..

supermarket news

2009-07-21T21:55:00.004+01:00

I made the mistake of going to morrisons on the day they opened, and was amazed by not the amount of people they had in the store, but at the way the store was laid out. Comparing to the layout that somerfields had, Morrisons really have quashed in the shelving, making it very enclosed. It would be very interesting to know what the total food capacity is for both the current and past supermarket.

With that total, and the amount of space that Home bargains (which opens on Saturday) covers , surely with these fiqures in mind it must take it near to the proposed amount perdicted, to serve Oswestry in the future.

So, With the proposed plans for another supermarket to go to the planners soon, I hope they take on board these fiqures.

day before the opening

2009-07-01T21:04:00.005+01:00

With the opening due tomorrow 2nd July 10.30 am, a group was down at the Nursery to just finish of a couple of things that were outstanding, ie gate, flags, project group stepping stone filter for pump.Then again it could be just to top the tan up!!!!!

Photo above: A stepping stone made by Carolyn at our group as a signature for the work we have done.

Two photos above: shows the gate I recently made, designed to keep the children divided.

Below: See-saw with flags mounted.

Photo Below: Showing the completed Igloo with one of the Talking heads in the foreground ,the well stocked raised border being complemented with 11 painted pots(painted by members of the project group) planted with a sun flower.

Stepping out at the nursury

2009-06-22T20:13:00.004+01:00

Stepping stone wheel , with a large mosaic made by oliver and jess, complements the other mosaic stones made from drawings made by the children from the nursery for which this commission was done for.

WE ARE GETTING THERE !!!

2009-06-19T20:46:00.010+01:00

Its been over a week since my last update on the sensory garden project, and how things have now moved forward, and coming to its completion, with the official opening happening on the 2nd July 2009 ( so look out for your invitations).

Below are two photos showing the before and present:

So who needs those make over programmes !!!!!!!!!

Below the Sew -saw water pump (near Completion) and below the Xylophone.

Below : shows one of the Borders well stocked (thanks to the hard work of our own Chief Plant person Rachel Curties).

Couple of pictures

2009-06-04T21:41:00.008+01:00

Photo`s show: Top to Bottom.
Border two flowering , Igloo and Border One Flowering

SEE-SAW INSTALLATION

2009-06-04T21:09:00.007+01:00

A new week and work was started on the see-saw water pump, as you can see from the following photo :-

The two main uprights supplied by http://tomtheappleman.wordpress.com/ and the metal bar by Steve davies have been installed and the lower(shorter blank) fixed to the cross bar. Awaiting to be fixed to the longer board by bolts. This will hopefully be done on friday. Also today we had a team working on retouching up the balls and blocks on the abacus..... or was it a case of topping up the tan!!

THE GRAND OPENING DATE

2009-05-31T22:10:00.004+01:00

Its official.

2ND JULY 2009

Is the date of the opening, and invitations will be going out to all those who have either worked,contributed or parents who have children at the nursery.

So watch out for yours !!!!!!!!

Finally, the Igloo has been installed

2009-05-28T20:37:00.005+01:00

Thursday 28th May, weather -sunny. Well that gave us the push to get our task for today done, install Igloo, Install water pipe and fill in trench and plant both the tree and some more Plants that we had purchased.

So, just laying the water pipe and filling the trench in was a big land mark, as it had been open for at least 2weeks. What a differance that made, to the look of the garden, with just that done, then this was topped off with the installation of the igloo into the garden, (pressure was put on us to get it out of the nursery hallway), so from the following pictures you can see the igloo from both the front and back........................

We have finished the raised borders, so they can now be planted

2009-05-20T20:23:00.008+01:00

After delays in getting the raised borders fitted, thanks to the weather, we finally got the last 2 fitted, even though we had to work under a canopy at time.

Above : Finishing touches to the
last of the raised beds.

pic: He you can see two of the raised borders

The following picture shows what one looks like planted up :

Update: It is hoped that the igloo. which has had all the panels fitted by washing line to give it a unusal by great effect , will be installed next week after the bank Holiday, as some more ground work is still required before installation.

sewing for men

2009-05-17T19:26:00.003+01:00

A while back in early 2008 , I had lessons with a sewing machine, which believe it or not, found it to be fun. The reason for this was that a series of masterclasses incorporation with VSM and Craftspace, where set up for a number of members to attend and each being run by artists who are well known in their fields of media. The Sewing one was labelled to be called `sewing for men`,but their was only two men on it , but that did not stop us to have fun and learn a new media and techniques and all under the guidance of internationally known textile artist Karina Thompson.

Raised borders started

2009-05-14T18:56:00.008+01:00

Thursday 14th May was the day to hopefully get the igloo installed, as well as the three raised border and start on the water pump............. Well, it did not quite work out like that,,as you can see from the picture below,

pic Gabi inside the igloo

work is taking slightly longer than we thought, even with a team of 5, was not enough to get it finish, so tuesday is hopefully the day the igloo can be set into the ground in the garden.

So watch this space........

As for the see-saw pump, we managed to do a test on a pump design , which to my amazement worked. So the next step is to take it further and get it attched to a see-saw to work as we want it to.......

Filled with confidence from the see-saw, we then went onto starting on the raised borders, as you can see from the pictures belows it was not a easy job..............

pic : Kath & Mike pic : the first border in and planted

I have also attached another picture of the wooden man.

Working on the Igloo

2009-05-13T20:00:00.006+01:00

Where`s the sun !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wed 13th May 2009, was the day the frame of the igloo arrived and a team of members was to come down and lace the panels that we had manufactured at pennants in Oswestry. We started of well until the weather changed for the worse, luckily we were able to move the frame and panels inside to do, which was a great help.

As you can see from the picture , many panels have been fitted and laced up, with Gabi and Arron posing for the camera.

One question I have been asking myself is..........

I just hope that we can get the igloo out once completed.

So that`s what a vacuum is for !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pic below .Gabi doing a good job with the vacuum Cleaner

Weather permitted, It is hoped that we can get work done on the see-saw water pump, install the raised borders and if the lacing is completed, the igloo can be concreted in.

Installation of talking flower and Woodenman

2009-05-07T20:00:00.011+01:00

May the 7th, dry sunny weather and wind,- prompt work by steve, who made the Talking Flowers helped us to be able to install both talking flower and wooden man. as you can see from the photo below is one of the talking flowers stems:

The picture below: All 3 stems are showing just behind the water channel. The middle one, will be inside the igloo that is still being worked on. Thats, due for delivery to the site on the 12th of May, where the panels will be fitted.

The picture on the left, is of the woodenman structure after being fixed into position, awaiting the setting of the concrete. Once set a small flower border will go around the legs of the structure.

Pic Right: Down tool time, no, just the team having some down time and taking stock before tackling the wooden man. (well, thats what they said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) could be they just wanted to top their tan up!!!!

My plants are flowering...............

2009-05-06T18:39:00.007+01:00

A visit to the nursery garden on Tuesday 5Th, to get another border planted, brought a nice surprise to me ..... one of the plants I planted has started to flower. (I`m easily pleased) especially that I am not very green fingered.

One of the borders being planted below:-

Nursery update

2009-05-01T20:32:00.004+01:00

As we get into the 1st May, and we take stock as to where we are, items still awaiting for the project are :-

The Igloo, which is away being coated, the panels for it have been cut, which will have foot prints added to them.

The wooden man is awaiting fixings, so that it can be fixed into the ground, also braiding to be added to the trunk.

Talking flower, this is going to be made up with it being available at 3 points. the channel has been started to install it, some work on the units still to be finished and painted.

See-saw water pump, this is still in the infantsy stage, but it purpose is to be able to pump water to the top of the water channel. It is hoped, the with the movement of the see saw two pumps will be able to draw/pump water with each movement.

Mosaic stepping stones - still some to be set into cement.

Gate for the abacus barrier.

So there is still plenty to do before we get to the opening date of the 25th June 2009. Let`s hope that we get good weather to help us along.......

Another day and more progress ..............

2009-04-29T22:02:00.004+01:00

Being the last day, to be able to get to the Nursery this week due to other activities, saw another flower border to come to life. (Picture to follow). Progress was also made in getting the water channel set in, so that next week the moasic can be finished. Then work started on a channel to take the pipe work and post for the talking heads

Installation of the water Channel

2009-04-28T21:17:00.011+01:00

Today, Tuesday the 28th April, the welding of the water channel took place, to join the 4 sections together before being set into position in the garden. Once set, the final pieces of the moasic can be then completed........

picture below:- Shows the water channel joined together.

Nb : click on photos to enlarge

The abacus barrier.................

2009-04-23T20:47:00.007+01:00

These are a couple of pictures of the newly installed abacus, painted by members of `The Project Group`, still awaiting a gate to be fitted.

NB : Click on photos to enlarge

The area of the Sensory garden........

2009-04-23T20:22:00.006+01:00

The area in black will accommodate a water feature, raised borders and a Igloo..........

The photo on the right, will accommodate a Apple tree, Xylophone....

This photo (left) shows the recently Abacus barrier, to divide the garden into two sections, the ramp on the right leads down into the area from the other playground the children use. This area will hold the Wooden man , borders of flowers various stepping stones made from tiles incorporating pictures drawn by the children from the nursery........

NB Click on photos to enlarge

The first of many of the plants to go in..............

2009-04-20T20:07:00.003+01:00

Here is our own Chief gardener Rachel Curties :

Some pictures showing the canvas for the Sensory garden

2009-04-20T19:46:00.003+01:00

wooden benches for the nursery

2009-04-18T23:02:00.010+01:00

Another workshop was arranged to make some benches for the sensory garden. So five of us met up at Tom Adams workshop to make them.

Traditional methods where used in making the seats, as shown by the photo below left:-

Below: one of the legs being prepared by axe

This method was used for most of the legs, with one of the aims of the workshop was to not use to many power tools, only a belt sander and drill to make the tenons on each of the legs.

It can be done by hand, but we had to cheat as we only had 6hrs to make 3 benches.

Below: You can see from this pic one of the 3 benches finished barring a fine sand and a coat of linseed oil

We now have 3 fine looking benches awaiting to be delivered to the sensory garden a few days before the opening of the garden in June 2009.

If you would like to find out or are interested in a workshop in wood with traditional methods then send Tom Adams a e-mail (tomtheappleman@yahoo.co.uk).

Xylophone going through its paces

2009-04-13T20:40:00.004+01:00

Footsteps nursery garden

2009-04-12T20:36:00.006+01:00

Just some more photo`s of the xylophone that we have been making, that is to go into the Footsteps Sensory garden project.

Watch this space for more of the xylophone when it is installed!!!!

Hitting the right notes !!

2009-04-08T21:17:00.010+01:00

Another suggested item for the nursery garden would be to have a xylophone made out of wood, (Sweet chesnut) so that the children could add some sort of music to the garden. So four members and a team leader went of to the hills, to our leaders house, where we, under the guidance of Tom, went about discussing and testing various pieces of wood for sound.

So after about 5 hours we have come up with :-

You can see tests still being done on the notes. So tomorrow it will be sanding and fixing to make it, resemble a xylophone. Then onto the next part of the project..........................

The project group

2009-03-27T20:25:00.010Z

Nursery sensory garden Commission

Well, a well intended quiet friday turned out to be a busy and productive day. First part of the day was helping get more done to the `wooden man`. This involved cutting out a slot so that the top part of the wooden man can be attached............

Picture left shows:- Simon(artist in charge off this section of project) working on the slot for the top part to be attached.

Picture right :- You can just make out the top part of the wooden man. Also on the table , are two parts of a water Channel that has just had some mosaic put into it. This will become a water feature which the kids from the nursery can float wooden boats down it.

The second part of the day was to do some more tests
on clear perspex acrylic boards, which when heated up can be shaped into the design that is required of them. The idea behind these is to form flower borders, and with the panels being clear will give the children at the Nursery off what goes on/moves around/lives inside the soil .

Picture above :- is just one of many moasic`s that need to be done. I did this one, which will be turned into a stepping stone, its just awaiting to be set into concrete. The designs as you can see are copied from drawings that chidren from the nursery have done.

WATER PUMP

2009-03-22T21:28:00.003Z

A commission for a sensory garden for a Nursery in oswestry, requires a water pump to be made so that it can be operated by the children of the nursery. The pump is to get water flowing down a channel approx 135mm wide, 75mm deep and approx 9m long. To which the children can float hand made wooden boats down. There is no means of electric available either!!

The question is how to build a water pump suitable?

Selection of my quirkey clocks

2009-03-18T20:44:00.007Z

Here is a just some of the clocks I have recently made in Glass. They have also been on show at the Qube in Oswestry, which was a great success, as it was the first time I had put items into an Exhibition.

SHROPSHIRE CAT RESCUE FUND RAISING EVENTS 2009

2009-03-15T19:50:00.001Z

To Help raise funds for the Shropshire cat rescue, various events have been arranged to raise money.

The dates, event and location are as follows :-

18th April Spring Fayre Memorial Hall, Oswestry

9th May Summer Fayre Memorial Hall, Oswestry

1st August Oswestry Show Park hall showground, Oswestry (T.B.C)

31st August Ellesmere Carnival Ellesmere (T.B.C)

12th September Ellesmere Festival( 9.00am- 2.00pm) Ellesmere

17th October Rummage Sale (10-12.30pm) Memorial Hall, Oswestry

18th November Fundraising stall Bailey Head Market, Oswestry

4th December Oswestry Christsmas Live (6pm-9pm) Oswestry

12th December Cat Lovers X/mas Fayre Memorial Hall, Oswestry

So, Please make a note in your diary or on your calender and come along and support

`Shropshire cat Rescue`.

See you there !!!

the results after stripping..........

2009-02-24T19:27:00.000Z

He is the results after a morning stripping the bark off.........

PIC BELOW,From Left - Andrew,Alfie,Simon and mike

PIC ABOVE, Back-Mike & Simon

Front- Sarah, Jo & Andrew

Wanting to adopt a cat or just sponsor one.

2009-02-23T22:23:00.001Z

Being a bit of a softy for cats, I currently sponsor two cats. one called `Willow` and the other one called `Tinker in picture`, both who are residences of the `Shropshire Cat Rescue` in Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury.

So, on Saturday 21st feb, I paid shropshire cat rescue, a visit, although it was not arranged, I was warmly greeted by Marion, who runs the rescue centre from her home. She showed me around the place, and the operation they have and I was currently surprised at the number of cats/kittens that were currently at the centre, with just a few places available. That not including the places over at Church stretton centre, and several pens in Llynclys, which were taken at the time.

On asking why the number of cats, Marion said it was a number of reasons, marriage break up, cruelty cases, strays, current financial state just a few reasons, but no healthy cats put down. One thing I did think was the costs it must take, including vets bills to keep such a much needed operation going, so with that I offered my services to help with any fundraising projects up and coming.

So, a note to fellow bloggers, especially cat lovers, if you can either help by sponsoring a cat or making a donation to the rescue centre, even adopting a cat all will be much appreciated.Even pass this onto friends or family who also might be able to help with such a good cause.

So for more information, please use the link provided to Shrophire cat rescue.

Thank you for reading this.

stripping tree

2009-02-20T22:04:00.000Z

Just finished stripping the bark of part of a tree to make a wooden man for a sensory garden at a nursery in oswestry