Kids, phones, photos....

Do you find random shots on your phone camera that you never took?
It happens frequently here...usually involving a small child's face with a tongue sticking out or googley eyes...and usually about 100 of them one after the other!
The other day however I came upon these photos below which tickled me ... as I looked at each one I could only guess at the thought process that went behind them...and was amazed at how we influence our kids without even knowing it!

Let me walk you through them...
Backstory : Skye and I were in my studio space, I was tidying while she was having fun with my pens drawing on a block, which I have lying around (and use to mount my textile pieces).
I continued to tidy up (clearly distracted as I wasn't aware of her taking photos with my phone), and she took the first photo...which was very blurry but where the block stood on its own on top of my bureau, the rest of the items that normally live there shuffled down a little.....

Cue my interpretation of the "thought process"  and the rest of the photos.........

"Hmmmm think we need to style this photo a little...I need some props!
Lets add a fox......"

"Yes! loving the pop of orange...but  no! not enough! I want some more flow and movement ...lets add a stick with cones....and straighter ....lets get the photo straighter!"

"Oh yes I am feeling it now....but something is missing....I want something little and furry looking......I must have  a miniature bear...that is the missing key for sure! Oh and the tiny  ceramic heart dish?.....That's definitely part of the shot now... even though it really is only there as default from not shoving it far away enough..."

"Yes! That is it.... perfect!.......the flow, the balance, the colours, the movement......

Or is it?

Gah! scrap the woodland animal theme....so last season .......

No ...the classic look is where I'm at....bring in the perfume bottle....but best keep the precariously balanced curvy stick in.....I am ALL OVER the curvy stick!"

"Perfect darling PERFECT!"

Trust me there were many more photos....repetitions of the ones above.... but the final style shot remains the one above with the perfume bottle! Perfect indeed  :)

The amount of photos I've taken of my items over the years, and presumed Skye was otherwise occupied or simply not interested  has clearly been wrong! They really don't miss a thing do they?

Now to claim back my curvy stick...cos I'm all over that too :)x

PS. I'm moving blog in 2 WEEKS! Prepare for some goodie GIVEAWAYS!

M.I.S.H.A!

Howdy! I am still alive just Missing In Summer Holiday Action......
Park visiting, sunshine beaming, cousin playing, ice cream scoffing.....

Sandcastle constructing, wave jumping, sea splashing, fun frolicking.....

Camping, face painting, food festival chocolate tasting, dog over cuddling

Even managed to fit in a little magazine appearing! (my toadstool cushion..not me!) Oh my!

AND selected for the Blog and Buy Sale Wishlist too!...Lucky lucky me.....

There's still 2 weeks left ....wonder what can be vacuum packed into that? :)x

Bear unfinished....

I've been spending my evenings on a little sewing project inspired by some incredible artists that use embroidery as their medium. They deserve a post all to themselves (and completely show up my efforts!) but go check out  Hiroko Kubota  , Stephanie K Clarke , Tara Badcock , Kimika Hara .....you will be amaze-balled (yes that is the proper term!)

Its a 10 inch embroidery hoop to give you some idea of scale and this shows the bear 8 hours in...at this point I'm wondering if I have bitten off more than I can chew.

I got some lovely cheers of support over on facebook and with it a second wind to carry on 

12 hours in....can you even tell the difference?

This is where I am at now...around 16 hours later...... and I'm actually liking him less with the more stitches that fill him in. Hmph.....

I'm leaving him for a while until the next step becomes clear......maybe he'll end up amongst the many other projects  that were started but never finished .... however that's ok...nothing is ever lost. I walk away from this with the firm understanding that I work way better when the outcome is achieved under 8 hours! And I have developed an even greater respect and awe at the embroidered works of art I have the fortune of stumbling upon. x

Making new friends...

I hit the wall last week..well and truly!
 Yes , a smidgen of  it was to do with the thing I knew I'd stress about as I'd left it till the last minute...but it was heavier and felt bigger than that.
Something I've been working towards for the last 9 months with excitement and eagerness now felt rubbish, and I was quite up for jacking it all in. That in itself scared me!
I sugar coated this heaviness with postive thoughts....you know the likes.... "It'll work out all right in the end"..."It's just an off day", "I'll feel better in the morning"....
But the feeling remained, and to add to it I managed to strain my back (while sitting?!Agony!)) and my hands came out in this wierd itchy rash.
What the heck.....

Loumora.com

At times like this I've learned there is really only one thing to do, and despite our natural instinct to flee from ALL uncomfortableness, (already done with no success! ), the answer is to dive in and FEEL.....
So I did.

And who should I meet as I dived in to feel...but this tiny little huddled up fear called Failure.
The relief was immediate.
Turns out just a simple acknowledgment was all this fear wanted.

All I could think of was why hadn't I done this days ago?!

Digging  deeper it was clear my fear of  Failure was in some serious need of a hug and some love, because despite it trying to change and grow in the situation, it was struggling to let go of  the only things it knows..which is to protect me ...and to be afraid of failing.
*sigh*
So I sent some love as well as hug upon hug...and what would you know..........we became friends. And the Failure fear revealed to me that it really wouldn't need to show up if something new, exciting and expansive wasn't being attempted.

Tarafirma

Hmmm interesting.....and as I let these words sink in, my new friend began to disappear and be replaced by Possibility and Courage.
The heaviness feeling had lifted and yep!shortly after my back eased up and my hands lost their itch.
The wall had been climbed over.


So now I finish off the last little bits before heading down to London, with excitement and anticipation restored.
Who knows what will happen...truth is it doesn't really matter. But I'm all for making friends with the uncomfy bits, the parts yet to reveal themselves, the uncertainty and unknown.
Because that's where the magic is and this is the life I've chosen.
Can I get a hell yeah?! ...

Thanks Rachel Castle!

XX

Sewing and smiles...

That's what my weekend has consisted of.. sewing and smiles....and how lovely it has been.
I had fallen behind on the sewing project which is not exactly setting the best example!..so I set to work to catch up...sharpened needles at the ready. After my youngest was tuckered out from her busy birthday party day on Saturday, I set up my laptop with 2 films at the ready and began stitching away on the blossom design. (design here)

Its funny how often things I'm  initially not keen on turn out to be my favourite...this design can join that club. I'm really pleased with how it turned out and the colours used. Pretty pretty indeed.

Sunday brought an opportunity to sew while yet another 6 year old had a birthday party, and this is where the squirrel started to take shape. (design here) He got finished off last night while watching Vikings (yes to  Ragnar Lothbrok!) If I were to do it again I'd choose a different colour for the squirrel and different fabric for the background...

However seeing all the flags I've sewn so far..I'm really liking how well they sit together.

I've been getting so many messages and such great feedback from the patterns and "stitchery lessons" I've been sharing over the last few weeks. Thankyou all so much to all those who feel inspired to take part. Jo has been sharing her take on the spring project work over on her blog and a bit of her process, which has been a joy to see. If anyone else feels like sharing their sewing I would be delighted to see and share. 

Sewn by jo at Sleeping dragons 

So I'll end with the birthday smiles....these were from the midweek "official" birthday celebrations....

Yes! despite it only being late afternoon that is Skye in her pj's..but as she told me ..it's MY birthday....

 "Fair enough "I said...."but you will need to take off your roller boots when you go to bed"....reluctantly she agreed :)

Hello Spring!

Hello spring, I see you sneaking in with your warmer winds, glints of sunshine and unfurling buds, the eking out of days and the lightness in my heart.
My most favourite time of the year!
It's brought a hustle in our house with painting and DIY, and a serious urge to de-stash. So much clutter here.
It has also brought relief and hope that maybe, just maybe the only 3 pairs of tights my youngest will wear will provide leg coverage for just that little bit longer......I have perfected my skills in darning this winter, that is for sure.

I found myself with the urge to paint a pink doe the other day...so I did.
who knows what urge Spring may bring tomorrow!

My website has been getting the spring treatment too, with some new bits and bobs added..still working away on the shop though..the big reveal will be sooooon!

Oh and I finished the BOOTCamp assignment....

This is what I handed in for the submission to Lilla's Gallery. Not entirely overjoyed with it, but felt it was time to move onto the next thing (like the pink doe!) 

I did find the phone case a struggle to get into...the fact that they are such a small and odd shaped "canvas" ...plus  I guess I should bashfully own up to being one of "those" who has a phone (still the size of a brick..I do believe they are coming back in fashion now) which is either not switched on, misplaced or left at home. Stu loves that part of me I am sure ;)

Anyhoos I digress...

Back to spring, hope you're feeling it in the air x

A song burst of celebration!

Its been 2 years today, two years since I left midwifery and became a self employed artist.
Just writing that feels pretty amazing.

New card design that's gone off to the printers.

                       
It's quite a feeling to remember the lead up to that date and the utter fear of failure (and being poor!) that surrounded it, and to be sitting here now knowing that everything has worked out beautifully so far.

I had a dream during the "fear" phase where I told myself to write down a list of all the miraculous things that have happened in my life ( I get the odd "prophetic" dream so am inclined to listen!) I'm grateful I did, because once I'd searched my memory for all the things that had occurred/ magically happened/ worked out in miraculous ways, I was overwhelmed with the proof that life really is set up for good things and that it conspires to have it all work out for us!
The "fear" phase left pretty swiftly after that.

There have been other phases of course...the "excited but really have no idea which direction where I'm going but I'll just keep creating and put my name down for a Trade Fair even though I don't know what I want to sell yet "phase. Surprisingly that worked out.

"Phase 1" 2012

Then there was the "blimey these stitched pieces seem to be going down well so I guess I'll sell them and go to a Trade Fair too" phase...that worked out also! 

"Phase 2" 2013

Now I find myself back at the Trade Fair scenario for year 3, but it's a new phase called the "realising winging it is maybe not the greatest business model, so having a little more purpose,clarity and direction is a good thing...and I'll launch my new work at Pulse Trade Fair 2014" phase. (or Phase 3!)
Hmmm feels like the best phase yet...and I'm kind of hoping the track record keeps its momentum ...that things works out too :)

I've never considered likening my business to the growth that we experience, but I'm realising that's precisely what my business and I have been experiencing together....birth, vulnerable and still developing, exploring/touching/tasting everything, first steps, starting to walk, learning as we go, making better decisions, maturing a little.....
I don't think we're much further than that....but not bad considering we're only 2!
And I have to say I'm so delighted and thankful to be here, because the prospect of the future and the rest of our growing together is really exciting, and so much BIGGER than what I could have imagined at the start of this journey 2 years ago.

So yes, I'm celebrating!
I also have to end by sharing the other phase I've entered , inspired by receiving not 1 but 2 of these diaries as crimbo pressies. (I did tell you I am "inclined to listen"!).....

Designed by Rachel Bright

The "becoming ruler of the universe and eating cake " phase (otherwise known as "Phase 4"). Oh yes! Consider yourselves duly warned ;)xx

Hello 2014!

So it's back to "auld claes (old clothes) and porridge" as my Granny would say, for the holidays are well and truly over.
I've been spending the last few days taking stock of what 2013 has brought, dreams fulfilled, lessons learned and improvements required. I tell you it's been quite a year! One which I am so grateful for, as here I am a year later with quite a different view of the world  and an exuberance that I've not felt before! 2014, you are going to ROCK!



The start of 2013 took me to Glasgow Trade Fair with my textile pieces. The ensuing months became filled with stitching and MORE stitching . Six months of fulfilling orders, as well as preparing for my first ever Gallery exhibition (a solo exhibition at that), culminated in a sewing overload and  required a serious re-think as to what exactly I wanted from this creative business of mine.

Summer brought blazing sunshine and a beam to any shadows in need of blasting!Aaah, I am a sunshine girl for sure.
Late summer heralded a new chapter, as my youngest started school, which brought some letting go and opening up...a new space was created for experimenting, developing and designing. This became the quiet and introspective balance to the frenetic beginning of the year.

2013 also saw my dream of getting published realised..more than once in fact! A delicious treat of an experience and one to be recommended to all!
Not sure I can say the same for turning 40 (ha!), but it brought the treat of time away , just me and Stu ...and plans/dreams for what's next on the homefront.

My big girl disappeared and a young woman showed in place, first exams were sat and new challenges met with courage. My little girl grew also, teeth fell out and tooth fairies visited..I do declare she may finally be getting to grips with wearing clothes too!

Of course, oh so much more ...a full and beautiful year!Thankyou 2013. So very much.

I feel so much excitement for what this year will bring. I'm so aware that seeds need time to be planted and to germinate, but with prudence and care the time comes for growth and harvest. I'll be planting plenty more seeds this year, but I'm also showing up for some harvesting! yeeha!
I'm heading to London's Pulse Trade Fair in May with a whole batch of new goodies to launch into the world. I've never felt prouder of what I've created and can't wait to show you.
Stu and I are working on our house to get it ready for selling too. That bit of land is waiting, it's a-calling us to it!
There is more, but room needs to be left for the delights of life that wants to show up by themselves....you know,the ones that are so sublime we can't even imagine them up?
Yes...2014 bring on the Rockin'! xx

Walk with me.....

Its day 3 in the vomiting child household...and caught between sleep deprivation and cabin fever I've already succumbed to a pre-crimbo chocolate indulgence (mint matchmakers..how could I ever resist you?!)

Don't be put off by my desire to share all though, as the baulk inducing topic is done..I'm moving onto feelings of glad-ness. 

For glad I am, that I listened to my inner urges last week, of walking amongst trees and being out in nature while the sky radiated an almighty blue, and the air was crisp and clear.
These early dark days really sneak up on you, and I am realising it's all too easy for me to spend day upon day of working at home without stepping out other than doing the school drop off and pick up.
That is not a great way to function. (and only has one outcome...the demise of a LOT more minty matchmakers )

In need of a little nature fix right now I thought I would indulge myself and re-live last weeks winter sunshine, and get you to come along too......

Walking past the sand stone houses..admiring the birds and their viewing place.

Sand stone walls (dry stane dykes) ,old relics  and golden leaves

Heading through the woods to MY tree!

Oh magnificent Scots Pine...did you know you were MY tree ;)

If I turn my head to the left from here, I can see the ancient standing stone....there are so many of these to be found around this area, some with intricate carvings, others like this....pre-historic monoliths which were created for a reason no one really knows. It's hard not to feel reverence when you come upon one....often they can be seen in the middle of a farmers field which has been carefully ploughed and planted around. These ancient stones remain, and will continue to stand for more seasons and lifetimes than I can ever imagine.

A wee rest against the stone. I can see the "lowlands" in front through the oak leaves.... 

 And the "highlands behind me. These are the hills that call me....and formed the backdrop of my youth in the days when fear didn't prey on parents minds and kids were free to roam.
Ah soul food for sure!

This is the view I fill up on before heading back home.....a horizon that feels limitless to me.The hills just keep on going and going....and a little bit of my heart too....till the next time I follow my inner urges.
xx

Thinking outside the box

You can't get more literal in "thinking outside the box" when it comes to living in a home which moves away from the traditional idea of a house and what constitutes a "home".

"Train car" from tinylife.com

I've always been inspired and fascinated by things that step outside the boundaries of the norm. As a result , when it comes to living spaces I have found myself over the years staying or living in all kinds of places , including yurt, boat house, vintage caravan, teepee and even ambulance!

What I think I love most about  living in a "not quite the norm" home is the vision and and creativity that's required to first design /build/adapt it.

 And next the innovation it inspires to make full use of the space available (which in my experience has been pretty small!)

Inside!! Wowzer!

What I have also found with most homes outside the norm (and my other fave bit) is that nature becomes the largest part of the home...there's no back garden but rather the home extends into the nature that surrounds it and stretches as infinitely as the sky you can see!   

Treehouse at Alnwick  photo credits: Maia Blair  taken on our recent holiday. AMAZING!

And how's that for an entrance to the front door! (Alnwick treehouse) Photo credits:Maia Blair

 Its been a dream of  Stu and mine to design and build our own home, a tailor made nest that fits our family perfectly. We are very blessed that Stu has the skills, knowledge and experience to do this.

 A lot of time has been spent  imagining this home, and it's tended to go along the lines of.. grand ,open plan ,spacious,light and big windows, (think Grand Design type) one of which would require nothing short of a lottery win! However it recently dawned on us both that in truth this is not really a match for us and was really just continuing to remain "inside the box" 

And as providence would have it an opportunity out of the blue came to us just before the holidays to buy a little piece of woodland!! 

Alas this piece of woodand was not for us, the planing permission wasn't up to spec for what we would like to use it for...(think tree house meets log cabin!). But what we came away with was the utter joy and excitement that a dream of ours is completely achievable and within our reach....without a lottery win either!

So we are biding our time knowing that the right bit of land will come along at the right time and we'll be jumping on it.....and a new home will be created that matches perfectly the creative life we lead! :)

And funnily enough what keeps showing up are reminders of this....

True originality can be found in the most unusual of ways....(thanks Em for the share) ..check the inspiring story out here.

 There are waaaaay more inspirational homes and images to look at out there ...I dare you to go look ! ;)