To act on impulse...

is something I do love to do...so how nice after a morning out to be spontaneous and have lunch out...by myself! 

actually it was a way of saying thank you to the cafe owner who kindly displays posters for C-art and workshops etc...and it's a great cafe for such casual dropping into...and a way of celebrating the joys of being self-employed...

after all it was lunchtime so I had to eat... and a delicious bowl of soup and homemade roll doesn't cost the earth...wonder if I can put it down as an expense after a morning publicising my business?

it's funny too that we are all so used to people taking phone photos these days that no-one batted an eyelid when I took out my camera (in my handbag for another task)...

It was so lovely just to take time out and sit and people watch and read a magazine...it has been kind of hectic lately with summer hols and C-art so this was a chilling out moment. Note to self...must do this again sometime...

it reminds me of when I was a student many moons ago in Liverpool...the height of grown up decadence was eating pizza out by myself in a nice pizza restaurant and reading Cosmo...so sophisticated!  

ps I did eat out with friends too....amazing what you could manage on a student grant (happy days!)

 I rather liked this smiling woman and her big basket...rather an attractive house too...

can you guess where it is yet??

...and did I mention C-art is on till 16th September?? had a fantastic weekend with so many lovely visitors...and sold lots of artwork and bags and cards and Ian and Steph sold their beautiful books and prints too which is soo very gratifying...hope all the other artists in Cumbria are doing well too...

do you think this gets the message across? I just couldn't resist using up my spare stickers...



have a great week....hope you get the chance to chill out and relax a while too...xx

have you seen...Hestascene??

what to do on a rainy day in Cumbria??...well lots of choice...stay at home and count the dust bunnies or perhaps clean the kitchen floor...mm or jump in the car and trundle to beautiful Caldbeck...for a little lunch with a dear friend and visit the lovely local shops including the wonderful Hestascene gallery...which just happens to stock my wares...where the talented Julie and Karen have a warm welcome for all visitors...and in case you're wondering 'hesta seen' means 'have you seen'...

I love the drive to this special place  as you leave the main road beahind and head for wilder freer places...the journey is part of the magic...

Caldbeck village is in the northern Cumbrian fells, remote and beautiful...a special place with delicious tearooms and little shops and the most wonderful views...you drive through the landscape with cows and sheep roaming free... saw a mummy cow feeding her calf just feet away from the car...

I persuaded Julie to have her picture tooken...so nice to see real people on blogs don't you think...Julie is a wonderful feltmaker with a very arty background and it's great that she and Karen have the vision and passion to run this inspiring gallery...so public and artists alike can enjoy the lovely work by Brisitch makers...and all artists need somewhere to show their wares...mm is that an emmieandemma teacosy in the background?? 

some of Julie's beautiful felted and stitched cushions and scarves...

 

I love these delightful handmade buttons by Amanda Mercer

a graduate of the University of Cumbria whose work epitomises the contemporary art and craft which Julie and Karen like to showcase

ceramics and textiles mix so well...I love ceramics with texture like a fabric...

irresistible(ok I bought one!)tiny porcelain pieces by Emma Louise Wilson

and is that some Charlotte Macey textiles I spy...I love her quirky stitched and printed designs

not only finished and polished pieces to buy but you can also see Julie's work in progress...



and downstairs is the place to be for craft workshops...inspiring creativity in all who come here...I have enjoyed 2 or 3 including nuno feltmaking with Julie and wire jewellery making with Jan Huntley Peace... here's one of her lovely neckpieces...

and then a choice to walk by road or river for a few minutes along to lunch at Priest's Mill...past the tranquil church where huntsman John Peel 'in his coat so grey' lies buried...

past beautiful old houses and pretty gardens...

 

 

past temptation at the plant lady's emporium...The Potting Shed...full of lovely things you didn't know you needed!

as I wander I remember bringing my young daughter and her friend here to swim and play at the end of term one summer...the Cald Beck river was calm and smooth then...this day so much rain has fallen so it is swollen and rushing in a very dramatic fashion...

and nearby is the restored water wheel which would once have powered the  cornmill, later a sawmill...

and down at the bottom lies another treasure...The Wool Clip...home of Woolfest...of which you have heard much hereabouts! but I will save that visit for another day...as lunch beckons...so inside the mill for a delicious lunch and catching up with my friend...

and then...who knows...home I guess across the wild fell road...nowhere better to live than Cumbria, especially on a rainy day when the clouds are low and the fells are moody...

see you again soon..hope you're enjoying a lovely August and making the most of summer whatever the weather...xx