A birth of cushions!

I'm offski! Picture Dick Whittington heading off to London seeking his fortunes with a hanky on a stick and his cat, and you're half way there .... except it's a suitcase I carry and my mum for company!
I wanted to change up the vibes here even though my last post did end spectacularly on a HELL YEAH! (Which I must add...Thankyou so much for all the hell yeah hugs in reply! Made me smile  xx)
I'll also be away most of next week so consider this my blog post in advance.

I wanted to share the final items that are coming with me..the last of my "babies" which  have been gestating over the last 9 months!
They are all cushions...

and I have to say ALL my favourite (spoken like a true mother!).....

Fox!

You've seen the squirrel before.

Doe!

And big ol' Bear!

I'd done a little market research on facebook to determine whether "dangles" were a good idea or not.... in the end I reckoned  FUN  far outweighed practicality! I may however live to regret this as dangles are a pesky thing to sew...

Cuckoo!

Toadstool...

There's a red one too!

 And last but not least...Twin Peaks!

Hooray!

Finally they have made it out in to the world......I'm happy...so very happy indeed!x

A stumble into STILL-ness

A snowstorm of sorts

You know when things just happen at the "right time"? My introduction to Mary Jo Hoffman, her blog and these beautiful photos was one of those moments.

Recycled, re circled

Right slap bang in the  middle of a crapstick week I got transported to a place of serenity and peace.....where all thoughts temporarily switched off  leaving nothing but simple visual stimuli and the ensuing response.

Maple seed fractals

The compulsion of the Bowerbird

Utter bliss!

And rather handy as I have very little to share this week other than the grumpy ramblings of having no  heating or hot water for the last 2 weeks (and forseeable future)...

So back to the photos! 

On the edge of winter

Mary Jo began taking and sharing these photos in Jan 2012 hoping to "enjoy the discipline" of taking a photo a day", and perhaps share it with "a few kindred wanderers". She set up with basic tools; a "not very fancy camera",her kitchen counter and make shift tripod. Turns out thousands of wandering fellows (including Martha Stewart and Design Sponge) have joined her in her daily practice of Still-ness and photographed beauty.

An Avian collage

STILL in its sublimely understated but hugely powerful way, is the perfect antidote for this time of year , when we tend to overlook the tiny details and miracles that surround.
If you need a reminder I urge you to visit x

Finding the groove!

It's only on days when you wake up clear and relaxed and happily anticipating the unfolding of the day that you get a glimmer of just how upside down life has been!
Thinking of all the mini events that have happened since the summer holidays ended  it becomes obvious why I've been feeling far from my usual "relaxed" self!
Events go from having labyrnthitis (again?crappo!) to amazing shop sales (over 30 items in 3 days wowzer!)...with various interludes in between such as croup, house decorating, work schedules, birthdays,school changing to full days etc etc...

It's safe to say, the main thing has been about a re-jig of life and pace ...my family as a whole undergoing changes, ones that are making room for us all to grow,but that are creating some real growing pains! There's bound to be more tweaks required and adjustments made before things start to feel that easy comfortable way. However taking the foot off the accelerator definitely helps ...and Stu and I got the chance to do this over the weekend with a luxurious trip away...... a whole day and night WITHOUT the kids.Oh my!

It was under the guise of a birthday trip, a treat arranged where Stu and I could disappear off on a little adventure, just the two of us. Alone. Together. *Sigh!

Nature and remoteness was a-calling, which living in Scotland is quick to provide....the thing I cherish most about this home of mine.

We adventured and talked, walked and  laughed, drove and dreamed of whats next. 

The parenting second nature of always looking behind to make sure all stragglers are close behind, or not touching something that shouldn't, was remarkably quick to go! 

We had soon set a pace of our own, a familiar one but slightly forgotten....heading further into the hills and highlands.

The view from our hotel window in Ballachulish. Bliss!

Night time journey home from our fresh seafood dinner.

Even though we had such a short trip it was so lovely to re-connect and remember "us". It is all too easy to let kids and life take precedence. It also gave room for us take stock of the incredible abundance that blesses our lives and the amazing things that have unfolded for us and our little family. I for one, definitely returned with a groove to my step!

So happy I can't even open my eyes haha! 

A windy drive home...with the cobwebs well and truly blown out.

And talking of "groove", I just have to share what made me beam from ear to ear during my suffering of labrynthitis ..this edited video......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBXv37PFcAQ

ps.I want an afro and am currently perfecting my dance moves  xx

Autumn fruits and sketching...

I can see the sun shining but my nose and fingers are feeling a touch nippy...darn you autumn..!
However compensation does come in the form of autumn bounties......coupled with an urge to sketch...

Loooove the velvety insides of these beech nuts.

The oak is my most favourite of trees (followed closely by the silver birch), and I always  like to have a little "wand" of oak lying about..never know when it may be needed! Soon these leaves will be a falling so no time to waste....

I thought you might appreciate my high tech set up..yes that is an oak twig blue tacked to my sewing machine. That's just how I roll :)

Hope you're soaking up the last bit of growth and gathering before hibernation sets in xx

Jaunty jig

I'm feeling a little smug...just returned from a little family jaunt WITHOUT webbed feet...perhaps even a little tannage! Sweet!

It was a few days over "the border" in Northumberland, and ultimately was spent between beaches and castles..thought you may like to see a few photos!

Bamburgh Castle...certainly has the "wow" factor when you arrive in the little village of Bamburgh...

Loving the zingy green leaves against the weathered rock....

The beach view.... wonder what chances the sea fairing marauders thought they had! 

The universal activity that will keep kids of all ages happy..wave watching...followed by splashing in the sea with nothing but your undercrackers on :)

The Holy Isle of Lindisfarne was my favourite...a causeway cross took you over to the little place, where St Aiden arrived from Iona and set up a monastery. This is the castle perched on the end of the tiny Island....

Delighted by the bright pops of colour against the weathered wood... Salty air makes for wonderful sculptures!

And impossible not to smile at the dormant boats just waiting for that incoming tide and a wee "lift"!

Hope you enjoyed the little trip too :)x

Ahem....

Still a work in progress...

I'm showing you the big textiley piece first...try and make up for the fact that I have indeed failed rather hugely at my "Walk on the wild side challenge" of creating an animal a day.....

But seeing as how it was a self induced mission, I'm taking heart in the fact it's only really myself I'm letting down! hehe!

You see, life as always gets in the way of best intentions, what with school/nursery days off, family birthdays, family wedding and guest book to be made, open studios in 2 weeks.....there's more but I'll not bore you!

                            
So my walk on the wild side has slowed to a meander which will take in a few more animal sights..but not daily as originally planned....
Perhaps you'll happily meander along too? :)

Take a walk on the wild side...

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get myself cornered into a place where I find it hard to break out..it's entirely my own doing...my own self imposed limitations....and then that trapped feeling comes in and I know its time for a change...

"Beautiful, BIG"

So while my winged girls will get the appropriate attention as I sort out orders...I'm feeling the need to (cue music) "take a walk on the wild side...!"

I've set myself a challenge for the month of May.....a combo of paint, fabric, paper and stitch and creating an animal a day...sweet!

It'll get my creative juices flowing, stretch my  seemingly ever decreasing boundaries, oh and get my etsy shop updated more regularly too!

I'm aiming to post my animal creation everyday on my facebook page (which if you so feel inclined I'd love it if you popped over and likeee liked!) 

I'll do a weekly round up here..fingers crossed I stick to the challenge because frankly it would be a first!

I'd be delighted to hear your animal suggestions if you have a particularly favourite one...

And while we're on the topic of wild side, it seemed fitting to show you the photos my 12 year old took on our weekend walk..love how she sees the world :)...very wild and overgrown and yummmmo zingy green!

I swear she finds hearts wherever she goes.  :)

A wee trip! ...and a nice surprise!

Bonjour! Its been a bit longer than normal for a post..so much going on!
I've been away on a gorgeous holiday together with the whole family... a big house on the west coast of Scotland, which mum and dad hired for the week as a lure to get all the siblings and their young uns together...it worked well! :)
Such a lovely time was had by all...we started off in flipflops and tropical sunshine and ended in snow and wellies. Yup 4 seasons in one day!

castle ruins 

rugged coastlines and meanders

nature love 

bright blooms suddenly appearing from nowhere!

Oh! And a thrifted find that had to be carried around all day! 

I needed a table for the trade fair I'm now getting ready for, and spotted this in a little charity shop on one of our days out! So funny standing at the harbour throwing stones with a little side table to rest my bag on...felt like royalty! :)

And then I came home to the welcome of an email telling me one of my handmade books has been featured on Imaginative Bloom! How coooool! Sooo delighted to have my winged girl amongst such other beautiful sewn work. I'm a big fan of this website and the art that is shared here. So I am VERY chuffed!

And last but not least..if you're still with me.....

the next time I post I'll no longer be a Trade Fair virgin.....eeeek!

Its a crazy amount of last minute organising (atleast I have a table now!)..but I feel so GOOOOD about it all. This is the next step, a MAHOOSIVE one....but my BIG girl's pants are on and I'm ready for whatever is to come!

Wish me luck :) xx