Meditation

Walking or running for me is like a form of meditation, our Big Dog gives me an excuse to get outside and walk or run and I pretty much follow one or other of a couple of tracks every day. What I find inspiring is being able to observe the same scene day by day as it unfolds, in effect a slowed down, back to front version of those speeded up films that show a flower opening, or traffic in a city condensed down from a 24 hour period.


Today I could see that the blossom on the wild peach trees had finally burst open, the cows had muddied the walking track into a luge down to the beach,  and yes there were even ripples at Ripple Bay!


We had been asked to make suggestions to the school's physical environment and as I walked it became clear as crystal that the school and the children are missing a community garden where they can plant, pick, sow, eat, cook, learn about compost and all those things that connect us so tightly to the natural world. My walk/meditation having solved the pressing issue of the day, I came home and had a virtuous coffee!




There are some great innovations like this one here so the next job will be working out how to realise the actuality of a school garden, and making a plan.

 Happy weekend, Blue x

Snail Mail

Detail of front

Yesterday was a red letter day. The rain was driving in sideways and it was the perfect time to make myself sit still and finish sewing by hand the binding of my Blue Silk Quilt which I blogged about here.

Detail of back

And then when I went to collect the post from our post box 2 kms from our house along a metal (gravel, unfinished) road, there was treasure inside - two handknitted cushion covers made by my fabulous Mother and sent with love to the other side of the world. Smiles all round!

                                   

I love the cabling and I especially love the detail of the buttons. Just right for huddling up with on a cold and rainy day - thanks Mum! 

                                       

Then I just had to look out some vintage buttons for inspiration......... 

Love Blue x

Hang Ups

We all have hang ups - if we're honest.

My hang up: I don't like disorder - a bit tricky with a couple of small rascals in the house!

However yesterday I turned my hang up into a Hang Up.

Using polystyrene, kebab sticks, paper and glue I transformed my messy box of 40-odd sewing threads into a creative display.

I also thought it wise to hang up my pins, needles and scissors too after a few pricked fingers.

Who said you must suffer to be truly creative!

Happy creating!

Making an impression

Becoming unexpectedly immobilised yesterday due to a leg injury was a great excuse to sit down and experiment with stamping.

I was spurred on by a fantastic book - Making An Impression by Geninne Zlatkis.

 

The lino cutter makes precision cuts

Carving your own stamps is fun, fast and the perfect way to bring your drawings and doodlings to life. Inspiration can come from anywhere and the stamps can be applied to pretty much any surface from fabric through to terracotta and stone.

 

I was pretty happy with my 'sick' day - although that could also be something to do with the painkillers!!!





I had leaves on my mind after trimming our hedge







A belated birthday card and envelope



My daughter was trying to cheer me up!

 



Pattern Friday

I got out the paint box this week and painted some monarch butterflies for Tiny Happy's Pattern Friday. I could imagine a fine gauzy fabric printed with these wonderful butterflies, fluttering gently in the breeze.

 You can find out more about monarch butterflies and what you can do to support them here.















Happy weekend, Blue x

seaweed harvest

seaweed to boost the new mandarin tree

The seaweed came in today and so we rushed to gather some while the tide was low. Now we have tucked up the fruit trees and our secret garden to overwinter. Fruits of the sea! 

Hope the passion fruit vines like seaweed?

 And this week the hellebore has decided to put on a show and the bulbs have started coming out - can this really be winter?


 Love Blue, x

Treasure hunt

Sometimes it takes a bit of effort to get some exercise - but when you get a stunning morning like today it is irresistible.

My wanderings this morning took me through misty woods....

.... passed the ducks who, upon seeing me, had one thing on their mind ....

... over to the placid Clydesdales ...

... up the steps ...

... and home to display my newly found treasures in my redecorated printers tray.

These trays make a great display case for everything from jewellery and personal mementos through to birds nests and sea-smoothed glass. I found this one in an op shop and covered the damaged wood and holes with beautiful paper.

Happy treasure hunting!

Preserving Lemons

Isn't it amazing to get a glut of something and, isn't it even more amazing when it is something that is totally outside your expectations. Being a Sussex person (south of England) I still struggle with the concept of going into the garden and picking a lemon from a tree. A big tree in fact. And the lemons taste so gorgeously lemony that they must come from a different planet from the supermarket offerings I remember.

So when a neighbour turned up with 2 buckets full of lemons burstingly ripe my jaw dropped and then I wondered what on earth I could do with them. I know Daisy blogged about hers here but what we did was the simplest thing possible which was squeeze them, put them in ice cube trays and freeze them.

All i can think of is summer G & Ts.......... complete with lemon ice cube!
Do you have a favourite recipe for a glut of glamorous proportions?

Happy weekend, Blue x