girlie getaway...

it may seem that I haven't been at home much of late ...with journeys here and shopping trips there but believe me I have and the tottering piles have been getting on top of me despite my best efforts... so the bliss of driving away with a packed bag...and boarding a train to York...was wonderful! Even better was that I was meeting up with my dearest school friends (sadly one down as Liz couldn't make it) but Jan, Chris Julia and moi gathered in a nice clean quiet Band B for some R and R and putting the world to rights and catching up on our lives. Hard to believe it is almost a year since we last met...and this time it's "Four of Our Housewives Are Missing!"

I love train travel...it's so simple to get on a train and sit and read and look out of the window with no responsibility other than to get on and get off...perhaps I could start a therapy called "train relaxation" and arrange the tickets for people to do just this and then come home again, you don't even need to stay away a night!

I love the quirky stations with their legacy of the amazing Victorian engineering now overlaid with all mod cons and electronics and wifi...and I love the smooth new trains and all the people I can watch as I travel...

I was in the purple zone at Penrith...not sure if that's just my state of mind...

the B and B was quiet and clean and restful...no 'stuff'... and it was easy to walk into the centre of York...I love the mix of ancient wonky walls and modern commerce..so many lovely independent shops and inspiring galleries...and of course Tea Establishments...

 

 

 

 

 

 

the beautiful and truly awe inspiring York Minster...

parts of the Minster are being repaired and it's amazing to see the simple blocks of stone being turned into intricate carvings...

 

just loved this sign..wonder who lives there?

and when you get to this point it's time to head back for a cuppa tea and a lie down before you head out for lovely evening meal...no cooking, no washing up and no 'what's for tea'...just sheer enjoyment and lots of fun as we celebrate friendship and simple joyfulness!

hope you had a great weekend too...back to making soon!xx

it seems like only yesterday ...

...that we were at school together and now we are all approaching 
A CERTAIN AGE...and loving it... looking at us all you'd never guess! What a fab weekend, spent in the delightful town of Oakham in the tiny beautiful county of Rutland...

not three little maids from school but five...all spread around the country now...from Cumbria, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Surrey and Rutland...all of us married with children..dare I say VERY GROWN UP YOUNG PEOPLE and TEENAGERS!... and leaving our spouses patiently holding the fort at home...and gallivanting off for some quality girly time...in the most gorgeous B and B... thanks so much Rosemary and Graham for making us so welcome and cooking such delicious breakfasts..

So we shopped and talked and ate and talked and shopped some more and then ate and talked and laughed till we cried...Chris brought her diaries...there we were back in 6th form with who fancied who...no mention of A levels or schoolwork tee hee...much hilarity!

the best shops??...well Julia's big green bag and Jan's 2 new jackets are testimony to the charity shops and Emma spent 3 hours in a gorgeous gallery called ITCH claiming it was 'market research'

for her job...  

and therefore she just had to buy a delightful ceramic cup by Katie Almond... 

which seems to have settled in her studio at home very well...and there were lots of really lovely attractive varied local shops selling beautiful things (and not a multiple in sight)...and full of must-buy art and craftyness...Christmas (sorry but it is November...and therefore there are only 2 or 3 shopping days left!) presents galore...

exhausted with shopping a delicious lunch in this delightful wee cafe was just the ticket...with quirky garden area with mirrors and old furniture and plants all mingled...lots of ideas to take home...

and on Sunday morning after another scrummy breakfast off into the glorious sunny morning for a wander around the very attractive Rutland Water all autumn tints and golden light...

and ahem Emma got to ride in Liz's SPORTS CAR!! with the top down! Lizzie looks so cool and she's a student too....way to go! think we all went home with sports car envy...

 

all that and a lovely train ride home to relax and read and snooze...and now there's always next year to look forward to...

and in the meantime...after a lie down to recover from the giddiness and joy...studio making awaits as a Craft Fair and a Christmas 'Open Studio' party with Phil (maker of utterly gorgeous baskets) Stephanie and Ian approaches and my first proper Workshop In The Studio...teaching real people to get creative with textiles ....'Making in the Studio' is launching and it's sooo exiting!!...more anon! Hope you all have a lovely week....

halfterm and halloween happenings....

it's been quite a week, travelling here and there, seeing family and sharing meals and talking and laughing and catching up...

making memories to keep us warm in the long winter nights...

by the sea 

feet in the sand 

in October

spiky grass

rough waves

skein of geese

black green seaweed

sea washed smoothness of shells

apple harvest

warm kitchen

 apple press

slow drip of juice

delicious sweetness

bottles the taste of summer

the rose outside the kitchen window

Mum's favourite

blooms still

put my nose to soft petals

and breathe in

sweet scent

remember

wake to heavenly

red skies in the morning

rain swiftly follows

torrential water downpouring

washing rivers in the lane

 halloween

pumpkins grown

huge and round on

donkey muck

thanks donkeys!

friends fill the kitchen tonight

carving scary faces in pumpkin flesh

 cakes, friendship and fun

celebration! 

and tomorrow 

time is mine

studio beckons

making again

fabrics and threads

freedom and creation

bliss!