Seagulls and packing tape...

.. It's been another busy week here with lots of packing, quite a few trips to the Post Office plus a day off of sorts to Hull. More of that later but first as it's Friday it just has to be ..

 .. Fabulous Folksy Friday Finds!

As the Festive season fast approaches we thought we'd take the opportunity to showcase gift ideas found on Folksy and so this week the theme is gifts for the men in your life. Do try and find time to delve deeper into these gorgeous shops, their shop url's can be found under their photos.

  Gifts for men

Twit Twoo

Beautiful Barn Owl, made with such attention to detail, it would look wonderful perched high on an old beam. Lee specializes in capturing wild birds in her magical carvings, her shop is a 'twitchers' paradise: 
https://folksy.com/shops/LJBirdCarving

Brew time

This stylish looking travel mug comes with a handy lid and is just the ticket for holding a hot brew. It is constructed of black Walnut and Maple and has a real Retro feel to it: Ben also makes these handsome mugs in Cherry wood for an equally stylish finish:
https://folksy.com/shops/CreationsByBen

Pin striped 'Pinny'

An Apron with a hint of the city gent about it. Crisp pinstripes give this artisan apron a masculine edge for all those aspiring 'head chefs'. Lisa's Folksy Shop has aprons for both big and little boys: 

https://folksy.com/shops/adoglikesparky

Shampoo in a bar

Scented with Citrus and Clary Sage this solid Shampoo bar is suitable for both men and women, so you might as well order two to go! Melanie's home must smell fabulous with all her traditionally made lotions and potions containing such heady scents as Jasmine, Cedarwood and Bay Rum:

https://folksy.com/shops/TraditionalCrafts

We found ourselves in Kingston upon Hull on Wednesday. The real reason was to have our car serviced but it did give us an excuse to explore the city and perhaps get some reference shots for future artworks. We found ourselves in the old part of the city which surprisingly still contains Tudor buildings that managed to survive the heavy bombing the city withstood during the second world war. 

Tudor bricks on the old Grammer School

As the weather was behaving we made our way to the banks of the estuary, which even though is only a couple of minutes walk from the heart of the bustling city is a place of peace and quiet, we could stand on the foreshore and listen to the lap of the tide.

Gary took lots of bird reference shots and while on one of the jetties spied a solitary red shank feeding on the estuary mud flats. Such a delicate bird with a busy habit, it's foot prints left in the mud looked like a complicated dance move!

Can't go to the sea without spotting a seagull

Red Shank looking for lunch.

Another Shoreline bird feeding...

There will be more on Hull in a future blog, but until then, enjoy your weekend.



'Travel and change of place import new vigor to the mind'.
Sebera