good friends...

are so precious and can make all the difference to life! they think about each other even when they can't be together...share experiences and most of all help each other out in so many ways...as well as remembering each other's birthdays even when they aren't 21 any more...

a good friend visited me on Saturday and brought these beautiful red blooms...aren't they stunning? I had to put them in "Grand Edna" our biggest vase (wedding present...doing well!) to show them off...

I spent most of Saturday with my friend, we talked and had lunch out and came back to my studio...she is an undercover poet (I was an undercover artist but am now 'out'!) and we are sharing a new experience of trying to work together...she with words and me with stitches... to create...well who knows what...we have no idea what will come out but the process will be something special too. She has a beautiful knack of observing the tiny elements of life and can create a moving image with her delicate framework of words...

and we share something precious...a history...an understanding of each other as who we are...for me especially of who I was before I became a mother...and we have lots of raucous fun too!

and I'd like you to meet my newest best friend, Lulu.... a real smooth mover and clicker...bright and sharp but soo kind and friendly and easy to use too...rather shy, prefers to be behind the lens but for once here she is in her shining glory...

it's funny to think I used to be an SLR girl in my youth famous for my big carrier bag of lenses at parties and weddings...I even once thought of being a photographer...but I now use photos all the time to help me in my work, and of course just for pleasure...

and this photo is of some of my work now in the shop at Tullie House Art Gallery in Carlisle...thanks to a friend behind the scenes...I am thrilled to see my creations in a proper shop!

...no the scarves aren't mine, but the pictures are and you may recognise the basket of brooches and little birds...the spotty flower brooches are brand new EmmieandEmma designs...

and lastly I must thank my dear friend Fifi my sewing machine...she has been my constant companion these many years and without whom I could not make or create or stitch or sew or embroider...unthinkable! she too is rather shy...but here's some of her recent creativity...

think she's feeling a little summery...fingers crosssed she's right!

see you soon, have a lovely week my blogging friends...

love Emmax

it's Friday night and I'm loving

that I have so many wonderful things in my life...

I haven't done one of these posts for a wee while and I do like to stop sometimes and look around me and just be grateful for so much...little or large...

I'm loving that I am easily able to find lovely fabrics, threads and all manner of stitching bits n bobs in friendly local shops (as well as online cos they're people too!)...and that I have all the time in the world to get sewing and creative...
I'm loving that I keep meeting such lovely people on my blogging journey...I love how kind and generous people are in sharing and taking the time to stop and comment...I'd especially like to thank Sue at Sweetpea Family...who not only bought one of my bird brooches last week but put it and me on her blog...and that led to some nice new blogging friends coming for a view and who have joined me here as a result - hello and welcome to you all...and indeed to all my lovely followers!

You can see Sue's inspiring blog here ...do call by and say I sent you! 
and here's some of her beautiful  Russian Dolls...

I'm loving that I keep having interesting new challenges in my life...I went to a Zumba class for the first time today and although I probably looked like a demented duck it was fab and fun and I met some wonderful women..and our instructor was inspiring with her energy and enthusiasm...I thought I want some of that!!

I'm loving that spring, although being a tad cold and chilly is bringing us rain and sun (even April showers...does hail count?) and yet again has given us such beautiful flowers...form tiny forget-me-nots to large and loud daffs...to brighten up the garden and hedgerows...and such a fresh green of new leaves...

 and i'm loving that it is Friday and soon both husband of patience and daughter mine will be safe home and our weekend can begin...hope you have a lovely one too! Emmax

in the pink...

delicious pink tulips...such a joy and a cheering up in a still cold springtime...and a wonderful book which I dip into to remind me to keep creating not just my art and craft...if you haven't read it I can really recommend it...in fact anything by Louise Hay helps keep me right when life is challenging...don't you think they go well together?

 

hope you've had a great weekend...here's a cheery start to the week and tho' we have been glad to have rain here hope it is sunny and warm...

Travelling light...

you can make and sew and stitch anywhere...all you need is a big plastic box (I know...not attractive...but very practical!)...your selection of fabrics...needles...threads...scissors and delicious pincushion (of course!)...and you can get creative where-so-ever you travel...or if you're out for coffee (it's a bit like breastfeeding in public..get used to strange looks!)

and just look how many felted wool rose brooches I was able to make...

we've had a blissful little holiday staying with wonderful Grandparents...with Swiss cousins and Sis-in-Law we had a fine time..so lovely just to be away from home and all the usual chores and "creative mess"...and to spend time with loved ones...tho' it is always a strange contrast with our tranquil countryside as we headed into the buzz of the urban life of London ...

the highlight for me was travelling on the Tube...reminds me of when I was young and carefree...it's soo exiting to be surrounded by all kinds of people from all over the world...and then the DLR (Docklands Light Railway)...and a driverless train!!

and food is never far away...Grandma's fondue set was put to good use with a genuine Swiss chocolate and strawberry fondue orgy...

mmm...can you just taste that strawberry and choc combo...

To Pin..it...or not...

ho hum, easter is gone and the chocolates too...the sun is still shining...I love the yellow brightness of the brave and cheery daffodils outside...the ground is dry and the air still sharp and cold...but spring is moving closer...the lighter nights are a great uplift to the winterwoollyfied spirits...

...and I ponder over a new pincushion design...just what colour of pins to use...and how many pins is just enough?

 
is that about right do you think?