Friday Catch Up - 6th October 2026

Doodlewash Art Challenge

1. Mop, 2. Anniversary, 3. Frame

Also for Friday Face Off

4.Snail, 5. Cornstalk Doll

6. Slip

Another Quilted Crumb Bag

I have made bags before but I did find this 'frankenbag' tutorial helpful

Autumn Trees for Flower of the Week

and Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge

Photo Challenges -  from Porto, Portugal

Monday Window, Thursday Doors, Pull Up a Seat

Looking down the Rua dos Clerigos

Close up of the pink building, I couldn't work out whether that was a small  window or a decoration

Igreja dos Clerigos, from the front [above] and from the side [below]

The other end of the building sits the famous tower

This is actually two churches {Carmo and Camelitas} separated by a three foot house . I would have liked to have seen more of the tiny house but that is the part with the scaffolding. It was lived in until the 1980's. A close up below of one of the churches.

The sides are being renovated so you can only see the true colours on a small strip at the bottom.

I like the shadow of the tree on this building

That's all for this week. I can hear fireworks outside. How can people afford them, they are so expensive? I heard a lot last night and I daresay there will be a lot on Saturday night too. They are quite pretty but I don't think they are good for the environment or the animals either.

But whatever you are doing, enjoy yourself.

 

Friday Catch Up - 30th October 2026

 

Doodlewash Art Challenge

26. Cornstalk

also for Friday Face Off

Leafy Sea Dragon

I didn't use a prompt for this, I saw a picture and I thought it would be a challenge

27. Jack O' Lantern

I quilted another crumb bag. 

They seem to have taken quite a while to do but my pile of scraps hasn't gone down much.

Photo Challenges

Monday Window, Thursday Doors and Pull up a Seat

More from Porto

Below is the beautiful Sao Bento Railway Station, it was very busy with people looking at the building rather than catching the train. We did catch a few trains from here.

The deck chairs were at a small market.

Flower of the Week

One from the summer - Fox-and-Cubs. It is a wildflower but we have lots of it in our garden as it spreads all over but it does add a bit of colour.

And as it is Halloween tomorrow I thought I would take some photos of my neighbours decorations.

Have a fun weekend.

Friday Catch Up - 23rd October 2026

Doodlewash 4. Dalmatian

also for Friday Face Off

below is the version shows the pen work before painting

5. Handbag, 6. Black Cat

22. Pinecone

23. Cauldron

Crumb Quilted Bags 

made from scraps of fabric

I forgot to mention last time that I wouldn't be around for a couple of Friday's. I was in the lovely Porto, Portugal which is where I took these photos. It was very run down in places and had a lot of graffiti but I still loved it. It was also very busy so difficult to take photos without people in the shot.

 Photograph Challenges - Monday Window, Thursday Doors and Pull up a Seat

Flower of the Week

It was our 49th wedding anniversary yesterday and our children bought us a gift of flowers and chocolates. The unusual spiky flowers are called Pincushion Protea. My arrangement of them could be better.

Last time a few people asked about this photo at Beamish

It is a waiting shelter repurposed from an old 'egg ended' steam boiler and it can be found at Pockerley Waggonway Station where the Puffing Billy replica operates.

The Structure: It is a historic iron cylindrical boiler with rounded, dome-shaped ends (hence the name "egg-ended"). A section has been cut open to allow visitors to step inside and shelter from the elements. 

Historical Accuracy: In the early 19th century, it was common practice for collieries and early industrial railways to upcycle worn-out or obsolete machinery. Repurposing old boiler shells into storage tanks, water troughs, or trackside shelters was standard practice during the Georgian era.

That's all this week, hope you enjoy your coming week.