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