Transition...

Longing for the cool clear sea water to be sloshing over my toes, listening to my babes as they squeal with delight as another day at the seaside awaits them. Thinking about what to pack up in the picnic and have I got enough towels for wrapping us up all warm and cosy after a dip in the water. The feeling of my skin at the end of the day being sunkissed as I wash away the suncream...

The transition to Autumn is a hard one for me, everyday I read how so many fellow bloggers adore this season, its colour, crisp leaves under foot and homemade soup... why oh why do I only see it as the season that ends my summer..

Indeed I have been a poor blogger as I adjust to this transition, I am nearly there...starting to enjoy the walks in the woods while the children kick up the leaves. Nearly there at finding yet another new rhythm to my daily family routine. With a college course, extra study time and 'Dotty Red' keeping me happily busy, also changes for the children, the first time they have had to have childcare, dinners that are sometime thrown together at the end of a busy day, not been able to spend time chatting and more time just doing...
Yes changes all round, forgive me whilst I adjusted to this and I promise, if only to myself, I will get back into blogging, I will find a time that allows me the creative space to witter on about creative living...

A blessing my way as the summer returns for a few days... off to the beach and time to play in the sea... Have a great weekend and I thank you from my heart for bearing with me.

Felt cat pins for winter coats and woolly sweaters...actually I have had a bit of a run on playing with my felt, I have a supplier of lovely mixed wool felt and made a little stash so when the evenings end early because of no day light, to chase the blues away I have been cutting, sewing, adding beads, little eyes, some stuffing and pins... results next week....;)

Tea and cake

Tick tock tick tock... time is passing by and I feel I am not getting to the place I want to be. With post holiday blues hitting my soul and a never ending list of things to accomplish its all a little overwhelming.

So lists are drawn up and future plans are made with dates by their side to get them finished by...
Once this was done it all seemed a little more manageable. So I allowed myself the luxury of time in my sewing room, putting together some stock and working on some new designs for the next season.
I try with all my being to not morn the loss of summer, I find it hard to get excited about Autumn, yes I love the changing leaves but I know soon the leaves will be gone, the sky will be grey and the ground wet and cold. So imagine my delight when the day I had given myself to work on my textiles the sun came out, dried up the grass and the sky was a beautiful milkie blue.
The chores got done, beds made, breakfast dishes washed, hovering done, meal prepared for the slow cooker... then I was a off to the sewing room, the best room in the house... wait!!!
I can not go indoors whilst the sun is out. So the sewing room was taken outside, I worked on the patio table and hand sewed on my swing seat which offers views over the changing pennine hills from green to rustic golden hues.
Playing was intended and I put the feed dogs down on my trusty sewing machine and drew with thread...
Tea cups and cup cakes...
using the lovely linens I had picked up over the holidays and lots of pretty scraps of vintage fabric...
Finishing them off with some beautiful East of India ribbon and of course a Dotty Red heart label. What a productive time...

Today I am in school with my 'teachers assistant' hat on and I have committed to my next level course, scared the cost will ruin me and scared it will take away from my sewing just as it seems to be establishing itself as a possible career. Dreams of opening up a shop with beautiful textiles and classes on design will have to wait as I try my hand at the real world and complete my qualifications. I guess as I have no idea where I will be living in a year it is the more sensible option but its the option that takes me away from my children and means childcare costs. My theory being its about time I was a grown up with a career that most people consider 'proper' under my belt... don't you just loath conformity!!!

So with all this thinking done its time to head off to the Island again this weekend for some much needed time on the beach, walking the dog, the smell of the sea air and the feeling of being at peace with my surroundings and of course too much hot chocolate and cake from the beach cafe...

Have a great weekend.

(Blog post typed in lunch break between playing with the dog and making lunch... Ahhhhhhh and spell checker is not working, accept my apologies!!!)

Forward planning...

With our last memory of the beach this summer, moments before our drive back to reality. Splashing in the chilled water, a kite flapping in the wind and searching out the pennies for an ice cream or two... the return to the Island for the final days of summer was indeed the best decision. I am so touched by your comments both on the last post and email. I can not express how they warm my heart. So with the end of the holidays the sewing steps up a level and its time to stock up ready for the craft fairs and Christmas goodness. Over the summer I spent a little bit of time designing a new range for the coming season. This is one of my free form machine embroidery designs made into a cushion. I have to confess I have fallen just a little bit in love with denim jean fabric. I love its firmness especially when its teamed up with soft, pretty delicate fabrics, such a happy contrast. I have plans to make more of these and also use the design for fabric zipper bags, Santa gift bags and fabric tags.
In keeping with the denim fabric I tweaked my boat design, the denim works really well, it keeps the boat shape and of course is filled with lavender for that extra summery sense.
Little boats also, actually I played with this design in the summer and just made three, however I have had very good feedback and have since made quite a few more, I like the little ones as I can play about with different fabrics and again the boat is filled with lavender.
Another new design for me, my little 'Rosy' Lavender pups. Its a simple design and one that is I have seen as many things and in many places, this however is my own self drawn design, it lies flat so can either be a pin cushion or popped in a draw to keep your 'panties' lavender fresh...
and it would not have been summer without a few camper van designs, oh how we have missed our camper, this keyring design turned out better than my last design which looked more like an oncoming train...
A little Dotty Red update, lots of bits and peaces that make up my collection. Lots more planned and I am in the process of purchasing all things red and green... ribbons, buttons, felt and fabrics!

My boys are back in school now and I start back in school this Friday, at the moment for one day a week, college is still under consideration as I try and work out my finances. The seven weeks holiday with my boys was such a blessing and has grounded me and helped me think more clearly about the direction and rhythm I want my life and my families life to go. There are so many obstacles yet to get over, but I am now running at them with the mind set to hurdle rather than running blindly in the dark. In just a few days of returning home my seaside retreat feels like a happy dream, yet I wake up to sand in my bed and the biggest mountain of washing that is sitting in a corner threatening to take over my home yet I do seem to have the ability to walk past it and kid myself its not there, the elephant in the room... ice creams stained, sea salted smelling, with smears of suncream washing. Can I really wash the memories out of our summer clothes. (OK OK! I AM, I ADMIT, JUST LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE NOT TO DO IT) !!!