Monday 15 September 2008

A grand day out

You just know you are going to have a grand day out when this is the welcome committee


Yup, I spent yesterday at the Pigeon Loft and had the most fantastic time!

Especially when I opened the white box and found a friendly little face looking up at me

My very own Mr Pigeon!!!!

with his little passport ready for any adventures!

I was prepared and had already made him a special little tanktop so he could remember his new name..........................


Lofty Locket!!!!!

(He really looks much nicer without his tanktop because it is so badly knitted - but Charlie and I reckoned this was his super-hero outfit, especially as it makes his wings stick out!)


And if getting my VERY OWN PIGEON wasn't exciting enough, there was cake too!


But even more excitingly (if possible) I got to play with this........................

Can you see?


We got to do Gocco-ing

It's incredible!

and now I am going to completely overwhelm you with the number of photos I took of the whole process - sorry (well, I'm not really sorry so you'll just have to put up with it!!!)

Step 1

The first thing we had to do was come up with an idea for the design. Charlie said I could choose and after a few many minutes of me dithering and saying things like "but I can't draw" and "I don't have any good ideas" I decided that a really "Lucy Locket thing" was my allotment


so this was my design (told you I can't draw) - little packets to collect seeds from the allotment for next year.

Step 2

Then Charlie turned it into a proper picture - because she really can draw (in fact she really can draw really, really well)


but Lofty started taking a keen interest in proceedings


so Charlie let him add a few details

Step 3

Next the pencil drawing had to be over-drawn with black pigma pen (I let Charlie do that bit too!)


Step 4

Then Lofty showed us where to put the original drawing


and then demonstrated where the light box should go


Step 5

Once the light box was in position with two new bulbs, we simply pressed down, the light bulbs went pop and our image was transferred to the plastic screen-y thingummy.


but you can't see it because it is practically invisible (and I took a rubbish photo)


Step 6

Then I chose what colour I wanted and Charlie inked over the design


while Lofty messed about playing peek-a-coo (hee hee, I'm so funny!)

Step 7

Once the screen was completely inked it went back into the printer and a plain piece of paper (or envelope) was put on the green pad. Then we pushed down and hey presto there was a newly printed image!


Step 8

so we kept on printing until the ink ran out (which it didn't) and ended up with gazillions of lovely seed packets standing neatly in the drying rack (and spread all across Charlie's kitchen)


Step 9

Finally I glanced at the time, realised I was in danger of being late for collecting the children from school, gave Charlie a big hug thank you, and ran out the door fiercely clutching all my new goodies.

Fortunately I got back in time and Lofty quickly made himself at home in Fred's playground


before discovering this rather lovely car


so I had to get him off quickly before he left any little "presents"


And when I got home look what arrived......

Not one


not two


not three


not four


but FIVE PARCELS --- All for me!!!! So come back next time to see what was inside!

51 comments:

Charlie P said...

Brilliant! I didn't even notice you taking the vast majority of those photos! Lofty looks right at home on that lovely pigeon-coloured car :)

Lina said...

Seriously, seriously fabulous. The whole post. Thanks for showing us the gocco process and what beautiful seed packets! Thanks for sharing.

Lindsey said...

Wow!!! Can a day be any better than that?! I'm soooo jealous:

1) you got a piegon (I'm on the list to be notified of each release but keep missing out ),

2)you played with a Gocco machine,

3) you got 5(!!) parcels.

Can't wait to see what was inside...

. said...

You lucky Mrs Locket, you!

The Gocco machine looks like loads of fun, unfortuntely I too am artistically challenge when it comes to drawing anything so I wouldn't even attempted to give it a go!

*Waves* Hi Mr Lofty Locket.

5 parcels?? 5?? I'm so jealous. Exciting parcels are few and far between at the PTC household. I shall just have to live vicariously through you and stalk the next post for what goodies they contain.

xMx

French Knots said...

That looks such fun! The seed packets will be great for saving seeds for next season, and so sweet too!
And parcels galore - what a treat!

Gina said...

That is a seriously grand day out! I love the design for your seed packets. Can't wait to see what was in all those parcels!

Cele said...

What a Grand day indeed. The gocco prints look amazing.The pigeons are so cool.

Kitty said...

Oh that's fantastic. I confess I wasn't sure of the exact 'doings' of Gocco-ing, but it looks such fun. No wonder you had a good time. (I predicted you'd choose blue ink ;-) )

And that Charlie ... wow! What an artist. (And not the p*** artist kind either!)

The parcel pile is seriously exciting - can't wait to see what was inside!

x

dutchcomfort said...

What a great post!
The printed cards are fabulous!
My grandmother had a car like in the photo...!

Chloe said...

Arghhhhh, I want to see whats in your parcels!

The nosey being that I am.

The Gocco printing looks very complicated but the end result is fab!

Thimbleanna said...

Wow! That gocco stuff is really cool -- no wonder everyone raves about it. I love your new design. And FIVE parcels??? The mailman must really wonder about you???

wonderwoman said...

what a lovely day - i almost expected to see wallace and gromit!!! 5 parcels - you lucky girl you - i do so love your pigeon.


xx

Rosie said...

Ooh, I'd always wondered how gocco printing worked. It looks fabulous, especially when you've got your very own pigeon to help, and the design for seed packets is brilliant.

Twiggy said...

My goodness, how exciting is goco -ing, I didn't even know what it was!!! The seed packets are gorgeous and your design is just lovely. I love your little pidgy too, can't wait to see what's in your parcels, too much excitement. I need to go and google Gocco now :)
Thanks for sharing
Twiggy x

Heleen said...

This post makes me smile all the way! Your piegon is adorable!

ginny said...

I love the gocco print. i have been wistfully viewing them for ages... i shall put one on my christmas wishlist. The seed packets look fantastic.
love your pigeon too.
ps. not at country living this year but at the vintage and handmade fair with lots of other lovely bloggers.

ginny x

Anonymous said...

looks like your wrist is definately on the mend :-) What I'd give for a Morris Minor traveller - in my dreams.. Can't wait to see whats in your parcels
lisa x

Kaz said...

Wow that;s a very handy gadget and don't the seed packets look great. You draw far better than me!! Can't wait to see your goodies.

Anonymous said...

Oh wow! Not only did you meet (again) the creator of fabulous pigeons, you got to take a fabulous pigeon home with you AND you got to have a play with her fabulous toy!!

What a fabulous day!

:)

.... and all that was before the fab five parcels!!

rachelmp said...

What a great day Lucy! Those seed packets turned out so well. I'll have to add a goco to my wish list too. Lucky you to spend another day with Charlie and have your own pigeon too.

Blossom said...

awwww lofty is a sweeeet little guy!!!

goccoing looks like fun!!!

mmmmm so many parcels!!!!

est said...

cute lofty locket and i'm drooling looking all yr packages!!! lol

JuliaB said...

WOW! that's amazing! I want one of those! What lovely seed packets! xx

Brenda said...

OMG! You're such a tease! I was all excited with the post and then...a cliffhanger! I came from The Pigeon Loft to find out what the heck
"Gocco" was and now I have to add you to my bloglines so I don't miss the big reveal (as they would say on Network Television, LOL!) Be back soon!

April said...

Lofty is adorable!!! 5 parcels - lucky you

April xx

Mrs Moog said...

Oh Locket....I am overcome with pigeon and Gocco envy!!

I love your seed packets and you CAN draw! (Need a Gocco RIGHT NOW!)

Lofty looks very Superheroic in his lovely tank top and I can't get over you having the nerve to take photos of him in the playground and on a stranger's car!

Can't wait to see what was in the other four parcels :)

Can I go to work now please miss?

xxxx

Anonymous said...

Oh! you had a lovely day by the looks of things *not at all jealous!*

I'd sooooo love to have a gocco but it's being discontinued :(

lofty is a very smart pigeon!

Anonymous said...

amazing!!!!!!! what a wonderful idea! where do we get those printing thingies from??

Kylie said...

Oh what fun you had - does this mean that the wrist is improving???

Love the new addition to your family - it looks like he has fitted in straight away and knows just how to be a helpful penguin and help out with the Gocco

Unknown said...

Hi You! how fabulous - your very own seed packets! I am so jelous of you Pigeon - you lucky thing!!
x Vicky x

Country Cottage Chic said...

What a fun day out.... I used to have one of those machines many moons ago & they really are fun.

I like the look of all those parcels!

jennyflowerblue said...

Thank you-I don't feel dumb anymore, I now know what this Gocco is off which so many speak. Cheers x

sewkalico said...

What a lovely post!

Tracy x said...

as a fellow pigeon owner i can share that moment of sheer joy when the lid of that magic white box is lifted....
ahhh
the power of the pigeon!
love, love, love the seed packets - you should sell them to raise funds to keep the pigeon in knitted garments :)
t x

Jodie said...

The only downside to Gocco is that it really really makes me wid=sh i could draw....but boy is it addictive Lucy. Watch out.

Apryl said...

brilliant! I am so jelous I want to have a play with a gocco printer!

lovely post too, thanks for sharing all your pigeon and gocco fun!

Unknown said...

Such a fun post. Quite jealous you got your very own pigeon!! The gocco machine looks amazing ... quite addictive.

Jennie said...

ooh those seed packets and design are fabulous!
I love the pigeons!
Can't wait to see what was in your parcels you lucky lucky gal!+

Anonymous said...

Hey there, Mrs L.

I'm massively impressed by your IT skills - I think you deserve some big points from Lesley for that!

And you said you weren't a geek!!

;)

Anonymous said...

.... ahem .... I've just seen that you've already put yourself forward for the aforementioned points, and that it wasn't at brainwave on my part at all ....

.... let's say no more about it ....

:*

the vicious chicken said...

Hooray! You're feeling better! And it looks like you had a truly brilliant day! :o)

Lofty Locket is lovely, and looks chuffed to bits with his hand-knitted gansy. Please keep quiet about that, though, as I don't want my own pigeon buddy to start whinging because I haven't cast one on for him yet...

So, what's in the FIVE parcels, then?? :o)
VCxx

Tilly said...

I love it when the postman arrives though sometimes need to make sure that it doesn't coincide with Mr Earplugs being at home. He just doesn't appreciate the need for more sock yarn! Isn't Lofty fabulous!

Carin said...

I had never seen a Gocco machine before what a cool thing! Love your piegon he is adorable.

Jackie said...

I have been wondering how a gocco machine works. Thank you.

Annie said...

FANTASTIC seed packets. I LOVE them. Sounds like you and Lofty had a great day.

Anonymous said...

I'm really impressed with the final product!!! And LL's jersey is beautiful!! Sounds like you had a great day with Charlie P!

Simone said...

I love this Lofty and Gocco post! Can't wait to find out what was in those packages!

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

OK OK I admit to having turned a rather unpleasant shade of green whilst reading this post. Lucky Lucky you...

Selfsewn said...

OMG I want to play with the Gocco. What is it, where is it, how can I get one!!!!!
Clare

Anonymous said...

That is the coolest little light box thingy! I've never seen anything like it. Where did you get it from?

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Thank you so much for explaining Gocco to me. I have eyed up these fab machines before but never had the courage to go for it!!
I think the seed packets are charming and so is your wonderful little assistant..

Michele