Have you seen my glasses...

Its very easy to fall in to a rut with sewing, I keep sewing, I know what works, I can do it and it sells. Great...but sometimes its nice to take time out and have a play.
I am still on the hamster wheel trying to get so much done and yet I don't feel like anything is happening, but it is. One of my 'littlies' went into hospital which of course was stressful, he came out without any damage done and in fact he was chipper, so with a day off taken to recuperate along side him, I had images of reading to him, making him comfortable, healing chicken soup cooking on the hob... how wrong I was, his capacity to bounce back was astounding.
So we spent a day at home, we had some yummy food to see us through the day, we started the day curling up on the sofa together, it was not long before he wanted to go off and do his own thing, so whilst he built a Lego Star Wars Ship I made a pot of tea and went into my sewing room.
It was a treat to have some free and unexpected time so I enjoyed the time playing.

As a constant cry from me before we rush out the house is "Have you seen my glasses" - well no more, I have my very own free form embroidery glasses case, I liked them so much I made a few, I think they are a nice line to add to the Christmas fairs. I loved picking the fabric and matching them up with buttons and ribbons and they are very squishy as I used my best iron on padding. I have not shown them to anyone yet so as usual I am a little nervous about them. I did pop into a friends gift shop and she has some similar (only factory made) and I was told they had sold well, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Its also an excuse to use my new labels...I am pleased with the quality of these, nice and thick.
In the evenings this week I have been taking to curling up on the sofa with a glass of red wine and my tray of hand sewing... its starting to look a lot like Christmas here!!!
Indeed I have accepted that the summer is over and the Autumn season is passing through... so its Hot Chocolate time with marshmallow treats...
Just what you need to warm up after a wet dog walk...I love living near the canal...Photo not out of focus, just lots of rain!

Have a great weekend!

Blowing in the wind...

A person post...

Indeed life is testing but I was truly blessed with a weekend full of memories that I will be able to draw on as we go into the colder crisper days ahead. Things get on top of me sometimes and I feel like I am wading through fog as I cope with so many changes, as a whole I am a positive person but these last couple of years have really shown me how quick your life, with no choice of your own, can turn your world upside down. Not to be too down in the mouth all the time I do need to say it has also given me moments of feeling completely alive and living right in the very moment. Its given me a one off opportunity to get the life I want, that I was maybe too scared of the unknown before or simple just in too much of a comfort zone to make changes or take any chances.Things change here on a weekly basis, I am rolling with those changes now, they don't scare me much anymore, sometimes I even embrace them. A few simple fact sees me through, I love my children and they will always be my priority, but I have learnt that I count too. If I am balanced I mother better and see the direction I want my life to go in despite others trying to take away our pride. I have found the last few weeks so testing as the summer ends and I accept my role in society as a women trying to provide for her children, a single parent. I was so close to making my sewing a proper business, to be able to work with my hands and put food in our tummies and keep us warm. The dream is not given up on, I have orders to fulfill and opportunities just keep popping up. I need to combine and multitask like never before. I encourage my children to follow their dreams yet responsibility and conformity have won on this point for me and my little family. So was it just a coincidence that as I settle to this change and the melancholy I feel to the change of the season the weekend brings me sunshine, time with a loved one and friendship.
Rosy the pup found her sea legs and totally enjoyed the experience as we plunged through the calm sea waters with the wind in our faces...
Paddling and then swimming in the clearest of waters on the 1st October. Rosy the pup played with her doggy friend on the beach all day as happy as dog should be with freedom to play, pounce and dig.
I looked at my surroundings and felt peace fill my soul.
I saw the colours of summer turn to the richness of autumn and it made me smile...
As the light of the day seemed to end too soon. At the close of the day good food, drink and a warming fire was shared with friends. Yes I learnt that around every corner of the pathway of our lives we are given just what we need to lift our heart and soul. A busy week ahead with lots of meetings and yet more new experiences to work through, also a very nervous time as my eldest son goes in to hospital on Thursday. These memories will keep me calm.

Of course with all this personal chatter I am aware that I sound like I am not creating, don't worry I have not lost the plot, my sewing is part of my everyday day life and indeed without this creative living I would be in a sorry state. So it being October and with my felt box out to play I have been 'bat'ting a few ideas around.
A while ago I knitting some adorable bats for my little ones, but when I saw a photograph of these pretties I thought I must have ago myself, so off I went and made a couple before before I was happy with the design... and after an afternoon of cutting, sewing and stuffing... here are my bats.

I have been asked to make some pumpkins to go with them... er, need to go and play again to see what I can come up with. I thank you for your comments and emails, your support is such a special thing and sometime I just have to be a little more personal than crafty...

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) !!!

Coming to an end...

The summer break is coming to an end and my heart is heavy, oh so heavy. Its been a time of huge highs and quite deep lows. My children have given beautiful joy and light into my world at every turn. How lucky I have been to have such a special friend who has allowed my little family the use of their beach retreat for the whole of the holidays. It was the most painful loss to me when through my divorce the children lost their much loved caravan by the sea. Its not the caravan that we morn, it was the way of life, their friends, safety, confidence, fun and of course beach time all centered around this place and for my youngest it was all he had known. Of all the loss this was the hardest because I am reminded of it daily as my children struggle to comprehend why it went. Their loss was eased by a new place, a new beach to discover and new friends to make. Indeed, it has been a fabulous summer for them with lots of new and exciting things experienced and of course some very crucial down time, or as my children say 'Chillax time'.
I drove home for the day and as I battled my way through rain, traffic, motorways and then once home I headed off to the local supermarket I felt my stress levels heighten. With the boys out on playdates I stole a moment whilst I battled through the pile of washing and gave this emotion some thought, literally whilst sat on the kitchen floor folding laundry. I have just spent seven weeks on an island, living with the basics and in a small space, my garden has been a field and my horizon has been the sea, eating outdoors most meal times, shopping for food in local stores, making small talk with locals, driving around country roads which involved lots of reversing if on the odd time you meet another car! Not wearing a watch and listening to my own body clock, my natural rhythm, for the first time in three years I have slept through the night without waking to my head whirling through things I have done and yet to do. I have been a better mother, laughing instead of crying and once again I have seen the beauty in all the things around me. I laughed as my new hand cream did indeed make me feel happier... the small things that when rushing at living you just don't notice. Yes seven weeks of bliss, making new friends and rediscovering that my creativity was stirring in me again with pleasure.

So then I return and I look at my life, my home which know feels soulless, worrying about the future, with the bill of the divorce to pay I am now unable to meet the payment for my college course yet alone pay for the washing machine which has finally given up the battle to keep going.

So many things to think about and my eldest son points out that the changes in me by coming home. Is this really the place I want to be in, surrounded by the painful memories of my old life.

To big a question to deal with just know... so with five days left of the holidays before the new school year starts and the clock watching begins I have arranged a friend of look after the house and the boys, our pup, the guinea pig and me are packing off to our island life again...

You cant beat a little escapism...

Summer time blessings...

Just one more week left of our long summer holiday, a time of so many blessings, love, laughter and outdoor family time plus sharing precious moments with friends... my sewing room has moved to the beautiful outdoors, a spot I am able to watch my children run around the fields or simply curl up on the hammock with books or paper and pencils.
Enjoying simple meals in the fresh air with such prettiness around us...
many walks along stunning beaches...
watching our little pub grow by each passing week and gaining more confidence day by day, she makes me smile and warms my heart...
ending days snuggling up around fires and gaining summer 'puppy fat' from too many toasted marshmallows.

There has been a few tears, my divorce came through after almost three years trying to gain closure, of course along with it came the most ridiculous bill, the story that only the solicitors gain at divorce is one I can well and truly agree with. AOL went down so no internet for most of the holidays and it took so long to get back on line as I tried to prove I was indeed the owner and bill payer of the phone line. An unexpected call back home from my beach retreat as I had an attempted break in, not a lot to take from my house unless you like vintage goodies and fabric.

All this however could not over cast the beautiful time I have spent with my children, the memories of this summer will certainly keep us warm as we move from through into the Autumnal season.

Dotty Red has been busy this summer and the machine has hummed along to the rhythm of the day and by the time the holiday has come to an end all orders should be completed and then its time to start on the Christmas designs... Ahhhhhh did I really say Christmas?

Wishing you only the best as we start the bank holiday and then enjoy the last few days of the holidays...