autumn on the beach

Today is the first day of October and the first day in a new phase of my life.  This sounds profound I know but there have been a lot of things happen in my life over the last few weeks and, indeed, the last few years actually.  I have been quiet the last few weeks, considering and reflecting, making life changing decisions and adjustments.  I hope these changes will mean I have more time to follow my heart, pursue new interests and progress my work.  It's really rather exciting to find myself on a new path ...

These photos were taken on the beach a few days ago when I was rock pooling with my very dear friends Julie and Stewart.  I love how the camera picks up colours and textures that are otherwise unnoticed.  I adore the peacefulness of beachcombing and always appreciate the inspiration that comes from such a ramble amongst the seaweeds.

Recently the coast of Cornwall has seen hundreds of Portuguese Man O War wash ashore, most probably due to the storms over the Atlantic in recent weeks.  I confess to not knowing very much about these beautiful creatures, other than they cause very painful and potentially very dangerous stings when touched.  It is tempting to want to get close to them and I very carefully turned one over with a stone to reveal their luminous, fluorescent blue ribbons (tentacles).  However, they should never, ever be touched by human skin.  I intend to read up and find out more about them.

In the days ahead, I will share updates, news and begin again with my projects.  Till then, I send love to you all x

autumn treasures

I've had such a lovely autumn day today

It's been very foggy. Proper fog with proper Cornish mizzle thrown in for good measure. It's dark and cosy indoors and I've finished all my work. I've been putting in some long, long hours in the office this week and I feel happy because I've finished! Today I got to play a little …

Nature's treasures

Arranging gathered finds…

various pieces of peeling bark, bark from a Tenerife palm tree, seeds, pods, acorn cups and dried berries

The finds are arranged on some fabric that Julie gave me from a project she did on distress. I'm really interested in the project that she did so I was able to find out all about it from her when we met up recently. I will tell you more as I enter into the same project shortly ...

I'm sneaking my favourite leaf in again!

Hello leaf!

So, continuing with my love of autumn colour, today my treasures are gold and copper, precious metals and gifts from friends ...

These beautiful leaves are so gorgeous I wanted to show you them again.

They were made especially for me by my friend Cathie

These treasures were a second wonderful package from Cathie

Gold mesh and metallic fabrics, a long strip of copper, gold and copper charms with words and numbers, a Native American herbal teabag and some delicious white chocolate. White chocolate is my favourite and this chocolate was a real dream. It was Ghirardelli's "Vanilla Dream". I've never had it before, I've never even seen it in England. It was the creamiest, meltiest in the mouth sort of chocolate

These were gifts from my friend Julie. We met up recently when she came to St. Ives on holiday with her husband.  We immediately got on like a house on fire, spent a long time chatting over tea and muffins, exchanging gifts and having loads of fun

The fabrics were all results of various experiments by Julie where she left a package of fabrics, papers, photos and images tied up and hanging in a tree for months. The object of the exercise was to see what natural effects the elements had on the various materials. I am currently putting together some bundles of materials to have a go at this myself

The other fabrics were the result of Julie's experiments with blackberry dyeing and the two more colourful fabrics towards the right are Julie's experiments with rust dyeing. Julie also gave me a sketchbook covered with copper fabric that she had made herself and printed with sea horses and on top of that there is a small piece of the painted fabric she used in copper and purple.  I really love the rust dyed fabrics which I've used in my photos below

This little pumpkin guy was made for me by Monique of Blueberry Fields. We did a swap together. She gave me the little pumpkin and I made a calico birdie collage for her. He is so cute! He is just four inches and smells so sweet of sugar and spice and all things nice ...

Monique also sent me a huge bundle of leaves in all shades of Autumn. They are beautiful with a very slightly waxy feel to them which I like. I have them pressed inside a big book to finish drying out

Here is my little pumpkin guy

With the help of Monica of The White Bench I am trying to dry out this pumpkin and gourd so that I can gild them. I have already had one fatality. One of the gourds was shrivelling up nicely in a very interesting way but it got way too smelly and then the stalk fell off so I had to throw it away. So far, these two pumpkins are still fine. I think it will take months and months for them to get how I want them. I was going to dip them in wax until Monica shared her gilded pumpkins on her blog

Autumn treasures

I was recently inspired by Sharne to try some natural dyeing with spices

Paprika and Cumin

I chose Cumin and Paprika because they looked colourful and I was enthusiastic until I smelt the Cumin. It's not to my personal taste buds, or should I say “smell buds”.  I had some simmering away in my dye pot for 15 minutes. It produced a mustard brown coloured dye. The fabrics came out very pale yellow

The paprika did not smell so strongly and produced this vibrant "tomato soup" coloured dye






















I will show the dyed fabrics here when they have finished cooking

Have a lovely weekend whatever the weather x

A for Autumn

My next few posts are about nature and colour in my little world

I only started blogging properly around this time last year when I was ill in bed for weeks and couldn't do much else! Since then, I have met some really lovely blog friends and I've had some fab swaps recently so I would love to share a few bits n bobs with you. I have divided all the little treasures into piles of colour and today I'm showing the Autumn colours of green and brown

These variegated orange/green threads were part of a lovely package I received from Connie, photographed on top of a page from the latest Stitch mag and with my favourite leaf

I've been photographing this leaf a lot. It's very dark on the "right" side. I left it to go curly and crispy which made some nice interesting textures. When I turned it over I could not believe how beautiful the colours were on the back … so wonderful!

This green and gold yarn with sparkly bits in is Sirdar Juniper

Conkers always remind me of my Nan. She says if you put conkers in the corners of your rooms and by doors and windows it keeps spiders away

Cathie treats me to lovely flavoured tea bags. This one is full of green leaves in a little silk bag and is White Tea flavoured with orange leaves and lemon grass

Then there is a yummy Ferrero choccy. I had to get it because it was NEW. Someone had to test drive it!

On the right is a lovely card Julie gave me when we met up recently so it will go in my journal and will always remind me of the day we met and had a cuppa and a good old natter.  It’s from one of her paintings!

This postcard is of a lovely stitched landscape by Michala (Kaylacoo). I recently commissioned one of her small stitched landscapes and when it came she had kindly included a few cards of her work. It's very beautiful. The brown metallic thread and the green thread are from Connie x

So, in my little world of colour I always, always enjoy my favourite mags, Country Living and Country Homes & Interiors, every month especially with chocolate and a nice cuppa! At this time of year they are extra-specially nice and full of warming, inspiring ideas for cosying up and enjoying Autumn into Winter

I love the idea of hibernating and getting ready for Winter. As a little girl I used to read a lot of books that featured cosy homes in the woodlands. Little animals preparing for hibernation by gathering and preparing lots of foody treats to get them through the Winter

This picture is from one of my books called "Fairyland Secrets". I am very happy that I still have a few of my most favourite childhood books about woodlands and fairies






















Last year, I found a book in a charity shop that had to come home with me. It's an adopted favourite now. It's called "Rook" by Deborah King. It tells the story of a family of rooks through all the seasons, as the weather and the countryside changes and how it affects them. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and I love to read this book






















I find these illustrations very inspiring and they are spot on with the seasons. I would love to stitch some of these one day

This is the picture for October - season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. A mixture of cold, harsh, bleak landscapes and the warmth of the late Autumn sunshine and harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries












































This is a beautiful birdie tag made for me from Kath - thank you x

I kept this sweetie wrapper because hubby gave me these -I love the nostalgic label!

For my love of green and brown I have included this picture of ferns I took back in the Summer, photographed on my sketchbook, because really there is green and brown all year round …

Lastly, I would love to share with you this photograph of a poppy seed pod taken by my sister. Her photographs are beautiful and I really enjoy her work and her experimentation with texture and colour

I hope you enjoyed seeing these beautiful autumn colours today x