Another lovely week whizzed by filled with happy moments
Friday 27th May I enjoyed an afternoon with my friend Terri
We had a long lunch at The Harbour Pool Club and then had a walk around some of the quaint cobbled streets of St. Ives. The weather was stunning, hot blue skies and white sand beaches ... but ... it wasn't a good day for the camera as there were too many long dark shadows on just about everything I wanted to capture on the back streets in downalong ... so will have to re-take another day

as it was so hot, we went for a cream tea in Madeleine's Tea Room
for no other reason than "just because"

I discovered that textile artists Sandra Hardy and Vivien Staunton were exhibiting just up the lane from me
so I couldn't wait to go along and meet them
Why had I not met Sandra Hardy before?
Sandra moved to St. Ives just a year ago but spent the first year renovating her home and creating her beautiful studio workspace and is now settled and about to offer textile courses from her home and sell her beautiful textile pieces

and some postcards with some birthday money I received
Have a look at Sandra's wonderful website
Sandra Hardy

very fine felted and machine embroidered pieces

I greatly admired her beautiful woven textiles and
bought one of her cards but the photo didn't do her work justice
♥
On Tuesday 31st May I had a birthday
My hubby booked a stay at The Idle Rocks Hotel in St. Mawes
as a birthday treat and I must say I was thoroughly spoilt
My hubby booked a stay at The Idle Rocks Hotel in St. Mawes
as a birthday treat and I must say I was thoroughly spoilt
I aged the photo I took

not far from Falmouth on the Roseland Peninsular and
in comparison with St. Ives it was very quiet and peaceful
with a lot less hustle and bustle
when we first arrived we had afternoon tea on the terrace
it was a very warm day and we sunned ourselves
till it was time to get ready for dinner
I enjoyed a couple of pints of Betty Stogs
a Cornish ale brewed in Truro
and then a seven course dinner - very posh!
next day I had time to visit several lovely galleries and shops
and bought a few art cards for my collection
I had a very happy birthday

Surface Treatment Workshop book
Caran D'Ache water soluable crayons
Winsor & Newton watercolour paintbox
watercolour pens and new batteries for my camera
and a new sewing lamp
(so I have one upstairs and one downstairs)

hand dyed by Nells Embroidery on Etsy
from my very dear friend Cathie
thank you dear bezzy ♥

I thought you would like to see it as the flowers are embroidered

and silk threads in pretty mauve tones

came from The Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival
and a very pretty heart tag made by Cathie

April in Paris

a nest and eggs magnetic notepad from
The North Carolina Museum of Art
(wow ... would I love to go there!)

the wollen fabrics I shall use on my embellisher
and you know how much I love to use sheers!
everything was beautiful and so "me"
thank you so much dear Cathie ♥

she gave me these project pots of beads in gorgeous colours
that perfectly match the threads ... so inspirational!


it's so fab and so funny ... I adore it!
Thank you for my brilliant presents Jo ♥

because she knows I love Cornish cottages
as well as a gorgeous birdie notebook
Thanks Karen lovely ♥

♥
the very next day after I got home from St. Mawes I met up with
some blog buddies at the cafe next to Art Space Gallery in St. Ives

It was lovely to see Lesley and Diane again and meet Noelle
for the first time even though she also lives in St. Ives!
we enjoyed tea and carrot cake
(a nice way of getting one of your five a day in!!)
put the blogging world to rights and then
exchanged gifts as is customary in blogland
from Noelle this adorable seagull
which my hubby loves as much as I do!
Stanley Seagull

she is heavily embellished with beads, sequins and charms
Noelle ... thank you so much ♥

a pretty satin heart decorated with lace and beads
and a lovely flower corsage with a beaded centre
thank you Diane ... they are lovely ♥

I love Lesley's paintings all inspired by St. Ives
land and sea 2010

some of my painted beads and made them each a gardening heart
inspired by summer skies and the secret garden
it was a beautiful sunny day

and text from one of my fave childhood books
The Secret Garden

because a girl can never have enough beach treasure!
sea glass, ocean tumbled pottery and seaweed
ocean worn plastic and fabric altered by time
ocean worn plastic and fabric altered by time
19 comments:
I'm just about to post my account of our morning! You had a really busy week - I'm thrilled we got to meet up again. My tummy is still a bit bluuuurrrgghhhh so I'm hoping to lose half a stone because of it!! xxxxx
Wouldn't we all love to have a birthday like yours! Happy belated wishes!!
I don't know who sang it but, the one line in the song kept popping into my head whilst reading this post...'Fantastic day'.
The day must have blown your mind and what lovely gifts an memories made!
I long to visit or live by the sea...dreaming of St. Ives tonight!
Sandie xx (Sandies' Patch)
great blog....just love looking at your inspiring pictures and what you have been up to, really brings a smile to my face, thanks
It sounds as though you have had a wonderful birthday Carolyn with such thoughtful presents. We visited St Mawes last year when we stayed in Portscatho - so beautiful. I'd forgotten Sandra Hardy had moved to Cornwall - I know her from years back and studying machine embroidery together... lovely lady and lovely work.
What a wonderful post and I'm so happy you had such a great birthday with gorgeous presents and loving friends. What fabulous things you are all making!
Looks like you had a lovely Birthday! It was great to meet you all and the pressies were fab, all displayed on my dresser. I love your work Carolyn. We must meet up again soon for more tea and beachcombing xxx
Oh, Carolyn! You have such a kind heart for people. You are celebrated for that!
Look how you invite such beauty into your life! I'm so glad I know you!
Thank you for the comments ... they are so valued as I am hearing from several bloggers via email that they've tried to leave comments here and blogger is still playing up ... so may I thank you for visiting me here
Carolyn ♥
Such lovely photos as always Carolyn - I particularly like the last and also admire your 'beach haul' of plastic and glass in the colours of the sea.
Sandra Hardy's work is so fresh and pretty....
Thanks again for the Gardening Heart - I can't get over the depths and many hues and shades of blue comprising the flower - the varied fabrics all reflect light in a different way! Fascinating.
Your wonderful birthday was richly deserved. x
I have just got back from moving my son and his wife to their new home and suddenly realised, after looking at my diary...l missed your birthday! Can you send me your address via my email elemaitch@yahoo.co.uk as l had actually made you some thing!x Looks as if you had a lovely time and l love your images.xlynda
http://tryingtocreatearteveryday.blogspot.com
and
http://chocolatelifeandjazz.blogspot.com
What a beautiful post and a lovely birthday and meeting with friends. I love, love, the mermaid! Sandra Hardy's work is lovely. Pom Pom is so right, you are a beautiful lady xxx
What a lovely time you have had! Loved all of your presents. As you say, all very you.How great to meet up with your blogging buddies. The beach treasure looks fantastic. Beautifully displayed too.
didn't you do well....
i am so glad you had such a lovely birthday :)
What a feast--you always manage to get so much loveliness in one post! I'm glad you had such a delightful birthday.
St. Ives......... oh my goodness,
has easily moved up into my top
5 dream places to travel. believe me
your photo is fantastic!
I love all the blueness in your pieces!
Thank you for the birthday wishes ♥
Fabulous - I LOVE the colours in this post
So interesting post. Thanks for it!
Post a comment