It's been almost a year...

…and funnily enough I was at Richardson Dees Park this afternoon; the site of my last blog post from November 2013.

Much has happened in the last year, as is life I suppose.  I'm now a stay at home Mum (I won't use the term full-time mum because I think whether you work or don't, mums are full time - period).  I'm enjoying myself - I can't deny that; although I do miss the classroom, the sharing of ideas, skills, the "bouncing around" of ideas, the days when a student shows you a piece of work and you just think "wow"…

However, one of the things I'd promised myself I would do is invest more time and effort into my freelance work.  It's always ticked over quite nicely alongside my teaching so it seemed pretty straightforward that now I have more time, doing my freelance design/making would be a piece of cake right?! Wrong!  I've been completely at a loose end recently, wondering how to get started again - and I think that all of my pondering and over thinking has just stopped me dead in my tracks.

…so I did the totally sensible thing and booked myself a table at the Christmas selling event at my sons school (details to follow) which promises to be a lovely shopping evening…nothing like a deadline to make me get started!  So here's to starting over - again; trying to blog a little more often, create, design and hopefully indulge in keeping a sketchbook again (that means actually filling them for those who know me…not just buying beautiful sketchbooks for them to remain stacked up looking lovely and er totally blank)

Sketchbook detail

Autumn walks

Autumn walks in Richardson Dees Park with friends...

Easter Folksy Friday

Now I may not be able to do this every Friday, but it's Easter, I'm off work , so here goes!  This weeks Folksy Friday is Easter themed - click on the pics to link to the seller's shop.

http://folksy.com/items/4278422-Easter-Eggs-Card-from-Original-Illustration

http://folksy.com/items/3118902-Easter-Pastels-button-necklace-

http://folksy.com/items/4062434-Easter-rag-wreath

http://folksy.com/items/4008290-Green-crochet-Easter-mug-cosy

http://folksy.com/items/4132290-16mm-Easter-Vintage-Chicks-Print-Grosgrain-Ribbon

Freshly cut grass

Has spring sprung?  I'm not sure...it's cold all over the country, the daffodils in my garden are struggling and yet Easter has arrived.  When I was a kid (oh dear...I sound like my folks all of a sudden) Easter consisted of bunches of spring daffs, choccy eggs, usually, if i remember rightly,  a new dress (when I was very little!) and a visit to the Spanish City in Whitley Bay. Easter this year feels quite different.  Although this morning, for the first time this year, i smelled freshly cut grass whilst walking Alex to nursery-hopefully that's a sign that things are picking up!  Fingers crossed for warmer weather and blue skies.  I'll leave you with some snaps of the daffs I got for Mother's Day from Alex and a great old pic of The Spanish City.

 It didn't look like this in the 80's but I love this nostalgic photo

The Complete Guide to Handsewing and Embellishing

I was thrilled when this plopped onto the door mat a few days ago...it's a book I contributed to (in a small way!) late last year.  (I'm listed in the credits at the back, with page references).

The Complete Guide to Hand Sewing and Embellishing is available to buy now and is an absolute must for any keen sewer.  The glossary of stitches include functional and decorative types and there is a fantastic section at the back of the book containing a good range of motif design templates.  It's beautifully presented and very user-friendly; with easy to follow instructions throughout...well worth a look!  You can "search inside" on amazon.co.uk

Below are some of my own snapshots.

Thinking about renewing my logos etc...might use this?! Thought s welcome!

Brilliant beetles...

Okay, so to start with, I blogged the other day about the contentment my family brings.  I am indeed very happy with my lot...but catch me at around 6pm most week days and I may not look like the picture of contentment...fellow parents may well know what I mean!  Ah little cherubs that they are!

Anyway, now for a little ray of loveliness in the form of some fantastic modern stumpwork.  Many of you reading this may have already heard of this lady as she has sold her pieces world-wide, but I just discovered the work of Claire Moynihan a few days ago when the current issue of Selvedge plopped onto the doormat.  I would love to have one of these pieces to own for my own home...especially the snail...enjoy.  

Starting over...

So...sitting here in front of my computer clicking through websites and Facebook, I thought that it's about time I blogged again.  Penny Kinnersley was born in May and is a wonderful addition to our family!  I originally started this blog to post about my work in textiles and the work of others which I find interesting and inspiring.  Now I've always believed that "you can find inspiration in everything, and if you can't, look again" (Paul Smith) but it seems that since having Penny and being off work again on Maternity leave I've been reminded of this quote and it's meaning.  I've done a little bit of freelance work recently, and it was wonderful to get back to some sewing again; but I find increasingly that I am inspired to create by those around me and by the contentment that my family brings.  So maybe this blog may take a new turn.  I hope to be lucky enough and find the time to continue my freelance work and will enjoy my teaching when I return in Spring, although we will all have to settle into a new kind of routine.  But perhaps when I do blog I'll add some of my less obvious snippets of inspiration.  Winter walks, changing seasons, baking (Alex loves to bake!).  Hmmm...let's see then...

I'll make a start again with some little snapshots of my recent work...

 Couching

Beadwork

It's been a while...

Hello all, it has indeed been a while since I've posted my ramblings and pictures here.  I have lovely news (and also possibly the reason for the lack of posts!), I'm expecting again!  New baby Kinnersley is due soon and boy have I been tired!  Today I'm posting news which I should have mentioned a couple of months ago; the book which I was busy working on on last year has been published.  100 beaded Trinkets, Treasures and Charms is available to buy now!

Amanda Hinson is the author, the brains and creativity behind the wonderful beaded miniatures.  I did the fabric work in the book (I even get a mention in the credits woo hoo!)  If you're interested in crafts and bead work it's definitely worth a look!  It really is a lovely "how to" book and very easy to follow.

It seems fitting to do this week's Folksy Friday on vintage florals!   Click on the link below each image to visit the seller's shop.  Scroll further down for the lovely vintage floral wallpapers from Belsay Hall which I posted yesterday!

http://www.folksy.com/items/1786870

http://www.folksy.com/items/2098317

http://www.folksy.com/items/2229929

http://www.folksy.com/items/2042461

http://www.folksy.com/items/2112441

Vintage wallpaper

Just wanted to share these beautiful vintage wallpapers I found at Belsay Hall.  Although much of the downstairs is stripped back to bare stone, some of the original wallpapers upstairs remain.  Floral and faded...gorgeous.

Catherine Howard Designs at Belsay Hall

I spent a very relaxing afternoon at Belsay Hall's Christmas gift fair today.  I'd like to feature the work of Textile designer, Catherine Howard, whose stall looked rather yummy!  Catherine had an assortment of goodies on her table, including her tailored waistcoats and some highly decorative Christmas tree baubles.  Catherine runs Textile workshops here in the North East and is quite an inspiration when it comes to surface decoration, embroidery and print techniques!  She teaches Textile Design and has also given talks for the Embroiderer's Guild.  To contact her and see more of her work visit www.catherinehowarddesigns.com

I haven't blogged for a while having been quite busy helping out with costumes for the school production.  It seems fitting then, that my (rather late!) Folksy Friday is based on The Wizard of Oz!  Click on the link below each picture to visit the seller's shop.

http://www.folksy.com/items/2070853

http://www.folksy.com/items/2011749

http://www.folksy.com/items/2218017

http://www.folksy.com/items/2388973

http://www.folksy.com/items/2399537 

Cocktails

Collage work using tissue and Brusho.  I do love using Brusho, the colours are so vibrant :)