Saturday 29 April 2017

This week...singing, tulips and bracelets

This week, I have been taking part in a vocal workshop at a local village hall, which was great fun and from which I learnt a lot about the technical side of singing and performing. The workshop was run by Tsavocal and involved singing three songs from Les Miserables - 'Do you hear the people sing?', 'I dreamed a dream' and 'Bring him home' (none of which are that easy to sing).  It helped that I knew the songs, but it was all done by ear and was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.  I used to sing a lot; I was in a church choir for fourteen years and also joined a Gilbert and Sullivan Society for a few years, but hadn't done any 'proper' singing for ages, so it was lovely to be able to sing again (without worrying that I was annoying the neighbours!)
In other news, this week I have still been enjoying my tulips as the new Ballerina tulips I planted last autumn are flowering now.
 They are so pretty...
 ...even after the rain and hail we've had this week.
 This rogue fringed tulip which I didn't plant, which came up for a few years, then disappeared and then came up again has flowered this year too and is a welcome addition to the spring garden.
Tulip Ronaldo and Princess Irene are still flowering away and I am wondering whether next year I should plant each variety separately as well as some together...now there's a thought.
I have also found a bracelet pattern which  I am going to try to make - a wrapped bracelet using Tila beads which are flat squares.
Photo from Jewellery Maker
These wrapped bracelets were made by Jo Barclay-Loggie and were featured on Jewellery Maker this week, which is what fired my interest.  Watch this space.

8 comments:

  1. I love the songs from Les Miserables, it must have been wonderful to hear you all. Beautiful Tulips, what a straight, upright stem your rogue one has xx

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl. I thought it sounded pretty good, but on hearing a recording, I'm not so sure! Still, it was a very enjoyable experience. They are doing another workshop in the autumn, with songs from Mamma Mia - I really like Abba, so I think I may well be off to that one too.
      The rogue tulip is standing very straight and tall at the moment, unlike some of the more lax ones!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. I used to sing years ago in 'The Brighton Girls choir' this was disbanded years ago but I loved it. I still sing indoors and the neighbours have mentioned that they have heard, lol
    I was only saying to Tom the other day how much I loved the tulips, they sway on their long stems so gracefully.
    Briony
    x

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    1. Thanks, Briony. I hadn't realised just how much I had missed a good sing. I may need to do a bit more in the future.
      I really enjoy the bright colours of the tulips and I agree, they are very graceful flowers.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. Happy singing. And happy gardening. And crafting. Three wonderful expressions of joy.

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    1. Thanks, EC. Absolutely - these are things that make life special for me. I feel that it's vital to be creative, in whatever form that takes for each individual. I also feel creativity is seriously undervalued, especially in UK schools.
      I am hoping to have a very creative day today!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Beautiful tulips! Hope you are having great fun singing to your hearts content!

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    1. Thanks, Amy. The tulips are still looking lovely. However, the singing has had to be curtailed as I have developed a sore throat and cough (annoyingly!). Once my throat is better, I shall be singing again!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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