Something old, something new

I think my walking boots have seen better days, I'm starting to get damp feet. Not surprising really, they're a little neglected, and have covered many miles. But I do love that worn sort of vintage look. New ones won't be the same. And I'd like bright laces on my next pair.


I have a bit of a 'thing' about Moleskine notebooks, and have quite a collection. And I haven't got around to using them all yet, I just like seeing them in piles. I've used the pocket diary for several years, having ditched a cumbersome filofax.


Yesterday, I made the first couple of entries in my new 2008 diary. Bliss! Crisp, clean pages, the snappy elastic to keep it closed, and all that potential....

Shrunk!

Here are the results of sunday's shrinking and felting session.


This cardigan is now baby sized, and the wool has felted really well, it's lovely and dense. I think I'll play around with some pattern ideas and make a bag, keeping the buttoned-up front and deep rib.


I think one of the attractions of felting (aside from the feel, appearance and texture) is that I don't think my sewing abilities are quite so crucial here. On the other hand, perhaps I'm about to learn a vital lesson or two!


I particularly like the berry colours, they have a real autumnal feel. I'm not sure yet what plans I have for the other pieces. So many possibilities!

Walking for Tamba

Yesterday, along with two friends and our dogs, we got creative in a different way. Dogs are another passion in my life, and sunday saw us going for a beautiful walk and raising money for Tamba at the same time. Tamba is in a fabulous rescue in Wales and I wanted to do my bit to help. A big thank you to all the friends and family who generously sent donations.

We were blessed with glorious warm autumn sunshine and bright blue skies, walking around Cornwall's largest natural lake, Loe Pool. All that separates the lake from the sea is a narrow sand spit, Loe Bar.


I'm not sure what this plant is.....but the vivid red leapt out at us from the more muted autumn colours. Tropical species are abundant in the mild cornish climate.



Whichever way we turned the views were breathtaking



A beautiful morning walk....and a pleasure to raise funds for a much needed cause.



My afternoon was spent with the washing machine on the boil programme, shrinking and felting some old jumpers, blankets and charity shop finds, ready for more creative endeavours.

This and that

This was the view from my bedroom window when I got up this morning, and the day just got better and better.


I interrupted the flow with coffee and indulgence mid-morning (just a few muffins I quickly made last night. Mmmm, not many left now!) and then walked on the beach to catch the sun and feel the chill in the air.



This was enough for the pup, time for a snooze, and so I got back to work, uninterrupted.



happy weekend!

On the make!

Definitely time to make something, so last night I attempted a little gift for one of my sisters, who always decorates her house so beautifully for christmas. These things are never as simple as I think they'll be......


my sewing machine jammed (I don't really know how to use it properly!), and I left a far-too-tiny hole to turn it right side out, so had to re-do. It looks a bit wonky, but hey, it'll add to the homemade charm! And I hope she likes it.

Today

The morning walk....... I'm so lucky to be able to walk on the beach each day - great for inspiration, clean air, seaglass finds and pebble-hunting


......and looking outside tonight - no stars, but the moon looked like it was hurrying off somewhere else (or maybe I didn't keep my hand still when taking the photo?!)

Something I've been saving

I often buy little pieces of gorgeous ribbon, then stash them away and don't want to part with them, or use them for a project, or to wrap a gift....here's some I've just found in a cupboard!



I love the sorbet colours of these ones, and the way they shimmer when they catch the light.



Now I just need to make something, and actually use them.

The spaces in between

Trees in my local woods - I love the way each tree has its own shape, and it's the spaces in between that make the image...an 'almost' jigsaw where the pieces don't quite meet.

And here on the beach, the spaces between the ripples of sand are as important as the ripples themselves.

I think in life, as well as in nature, the spaces, the pauses, the still moments, are as important as the times we're actually doing, creating.

I've done it....have you?

I've just pledged to make my gifts and cards this christmas season, and to only buy handmade



easy peasy.....ok, it's easy to pledge, but to honour that pledge is another matter entirely.

What's it all about?

I feel I need to clarify what my blog is about....for my own sake at least! I want to explore creativity in my daily life, and celebrate the beauty in the everyday, the simple things, that less is more. I love making things and often when I see something someone else has done I think "Oh, I could do that" but in truth I rarely get round to it. Things happen a lot in my head and in my imagination. And that's where they seem to stay. So I thought if I made a commitment to writing a blog, and sharing what I'm doing, I may actually create something more tangible than images floating around in my head. Sounds simple, doesn't it?

A day lent from summer

If you go down to the woods today......

I had monday-morning-itis today.....so decided to take my dogs to the woods, and find some focus for the day. Crisp beech leaves carpeted the ground, a rainbow of all shades of russet through to gold. After a brief interlude the sunlight filtered through the canopy of nearly-bare branches, soft shadows dancing through the trees, sparkling on the water....

I came home feeling a little more focused.....and wanting hot chocolate!