celebrate...6000 page views!

wow, just a peek at my stats and I am soo happy that seems like a lot of page views...thanks to everyone who visits and like my blog...I love to sit here tapping away and planning lovely photos and things to share...it's a real creative boost! 

...and it just wouldn't be the same without my blogging friends out there who read and look and even leave comments and altogether give me a wonderful feeling of warmth and love and sharing! if I'd know you were coming I'd have baked all a cake...so here's a virtual one, handmade by my fair daughter with stars for all you stars out there!


 


I little thought when I first set out on my blogging adventure that I would be so happy 18 months later...to have changed careers...become a fulltime textile artist and maker...running workshops with real lovely people...sharing my love for machine embroidery and arts'n'crafts...and have a Facebook page to boot..me that's "Mrs I'm a Bit Scared of Facebook!"...so a HUGE pink thank you to my good friends Lynn (A Life Worth Living) who helped me start blogging and  Lyn (Boo Bears Cumbria) who booted me on to fb!! getting creative and sharing what I make and getting feedback is just...awesome!





...and BIG pink thanks to to my husband and daughter mine who wait patiently for their turn on the family computer as I upload yet more photos saying I'll only be a minute... ha!ha!...and for their support as I venture out into the virtual... and real...world as a new me!

 and the BIGGEST and pinkest of thanks to the Universe for all these fabulous gifts...xx

celebrate...moments...

...summer skies...handmade bunting...grass and flowers...the hum of bees...warm sun on your skin...moments of just being...shared with daughter mine and husband of patience...halfterm heaven...

 

celebrate...

60 years...not many folk have a job that last so long! well done Ma'am...tea and cakes...parties and pomp and people...dare I say the word bunting...celebrate today and each day...whatever and however you like...each day is a new day...create another 60 years...of fabric and making and fun...with lots of love in all that you do...

summer...vintage crafts...lakes

Saturday...hot...summer...sun...a trip to Penrith in summery clothes...where in the Evergreen Hall we found Nostalgia Meets Design... beautiful vintage craft fair...and daughter mine and I made a few lovely purchases...could have bought everything! note to self...next time prepare mentally for such deliciousness...need to follow intensive training programme by going to many more such delightful crafty affairs!!

 

I have wanted a Priscilla Jones piece for ages...and I finally treated myself...isn't it beautiful...

 

and a wee delicate teacup and saucer...just to look at...

and now we're ready for the Jubilee thanks to Cool Crafting...who also do fab crafty workshops

then for a good rummage in all the local charity shops...picked up a yummy picnic lunch (have you tried Five the wholefood cafe run by Mind in Penrith?)and then drove to Ullswater...found a little private spot and lazed and ate...daughter mine is sooo brave, wetsuit on and into the water with many shrieks about how cold it was! a tranquil afternoon, hot with a breeze...could have just done with a hammock....note to self..always carry a hammock in the car in case of opportunity...

a small boat and the steamer...a gentle hint of Swallows and Amazons...


 
cold (very!) water on a hot hot day...

perfect picnic spot by cool lapping water...

tall trees and dappled shade...

and wildlife...can you spot the woodpecker?

a mermaid on the rock...and a little extreme crocheting?...well al fresco...happiness is making wherever you are...

hope it's still summery where you are..even if it's just in your head!xx

It's Friday...it's summer..and I'm loving...

that I am now a freelance textile artist...as from 1st May I am self employed...so everything I do is towards my own 'Starship Enterprise'...I decided I don't like the word business...too much like 'men (or women) in suits...so husband of patience suggested the word 'enterprise' which I like very much as it's so broad in meaning and much more positive sounding... so here goes...

that it's Friday so down-shift husband is at home...actually he works to make sure he gets a weekend, and he has done the shopping since I broke my wrist (one of the many positive aspects of that my dears! must remember to tell him when it's better...)

that being self-employed may mean lots of work at strange hours and being responsible totally for my own income...but I can go and sit in the sun anyime I feel like it!!  and I can sit and work in the garden too if I hand sew...or plan...or read up on my next venture...

that breakfast was outside again in pjs' with NO fleece or hat or socks... such a pleasure as it is so warm, sunny and has that wonderful smell of summer...

that it was so lovely yesterday i just lay on the grass and shut my eyes and listened to the birds and felt the sun on my face...and the chickens pecking my feet...

that there's a lovely craft fair at Penrith this weekend as a treat...

Nostagia Meets Design at the Evergreen Rooms, Bluebell Lane Penrith...can't wait to go and see all the lovely makers including my favourite Priscilla Jones...

   

that we are going to have a lovely family weekend when daughter mine gets home from school...hope she's not too hot and tired...

and now I'd better 'step away from the computer' and go and get on with my enterprise...get down to the studio full of lovely fabrics and textiles and get on with my machine embroidery and making... Woolfest won't wait! I love what I do and do what I love...

hope you all have a wonderful sunny relaxed weekend too...