What I did on my Holiday

Hi

In England and Wales the school summer break is just starting.  Traditionally six weeks long and, when I was a child, those six weeks seemed to last forever.  A new challenge starts at Crafty Boots Challenges today and the theme, which was chosen by Sandra, is 'Summer Holidays'.

During those six weeks holiday my father would take two weeks off from work for our family holiday.  Throughout my childhood these holidays would alternate between two weeks at the beach and staying at home, but going out somewhere different each day, to the zoo, a stately home, a trip to London to see the sights like the Tower of London, Madame Tussauds, Buckingham Palace etc. but my favourite days where the ones to the beach.  Those were idyllic days and the sun always seemed to shine.

In all of those trips to the beach my parents never rented a beach hut, I would watch other children, and their families, going in an out their beach huts all day long, returning with cups of tea, sandwiches, deck chairs, bats and balls and, of course, changing their cloths.  It seemed to me that Beach Huts were related to the Tardis and they were a source of endless fascination to me.

Imagine my envy when, many years later, I discovered that my husband's family always rented a beach hut for their beach holidays.

My DT project harks back to those long summer days and the mystery of the beach hut.

I started by painting my miniature beach hut with a coat of Gesso, then I painted it in blue and white stripes - it is what I think of when I think of beach huts but if you actually take a walk along the front at Crommer or Felixstowe or West Mersea or indeed any of those other British seaside towns, you will see that most people paint their beach huts one colour.

I used Toffee coloured Flower Soft for my sand, it has the perfect texture.

A long time ago I bought a small bag of very expensive tiny sea shells but I had never knewn how to use them.  They were perfect for this project.  I put one at the apex to the hut and a small pile by the door - as if a small child had just left them there.

I dressed my scene with some dolls house furniture, the sorts of things those children from those distant holidays would pop into their beach huts and return with.

Please take a look at the fabulous inspirational projects made by the rest of the Crafty Boots Challenges design team.

Good luck with your entry.

Dionne