Half Term Fun.

The week is flying by and has been full of many things: the beach - of course - on one of the few absolutely gorgeous days. A day of eating an absolutely enormous picnic made by Dave, feeding appetites sharpened by running in and out of the sparkling blue sea...



and body-boarding in the gentle ripples.



A day where my Sam decided to join us as he was leaving for Belgium to stay with his sister the next day. He had only been back from New Zealand for a week after a stay of several months, so it was lovely to have him all to ourselves before he disappeared once more. He will probably have the shock of his life if he sees himself here, though he is an incredibly laid back chap and I can't get hold of him to ask anyway!



The wekk has also consisted of frantic cleaning of the house ready for a visit from Ginny of Sweet Myrtle and her lovely girls, and Diana of Pebbledash accompanied by Walter who behaved impeccably (despite being terrified of our two cats!). I cannot show any pictures as we made a pact, though there is a lovely one of us comparing noses which I was tempted to put here! Such a lovely, perfect day of eating and chatting and laughing, where Mr Davey fed us with homemade bread, tortilla, pasta, scones, pasties...oh the list was endless and lunch drifted into dinner. Diana and Ginny brought heaps of goodies too: delicious homemade hoummus (not sure of spelling) and egg mayonnaise and peppers; again, the list was pretty extensive and so we all did it justice, particularly Lucy!



Quick photo of the scarlet poppies in place of us! It truly was a very special day and the first time I had met Ginny who was just as gorgeous as I had thought she would be, arriving with the most beautiful gifts for us all (whereas my plans had all gone completely awry to my utter mortification. It will be rectified girls, I promise!). Lucy has lived in her strawberry tee shirt, even wearing it to a writing workshop the very next day, so thank you Ginny. The children all got on so well and were glimpsed screeching their way up and down the corridor from time to time with great smiles on their pretty faces. Lucy really loved it and Isabella was the quietest I have EVER known her!



Yesterday, Tom showed us one of the shell pictures he has been working on. He wanted to bring out the subtle colours of mussels, the mauves and blues and charcoals with the pearly insides reflecting the shimmer of light. Unfortunately the light was very flat yesterday and so these photos do not do it justice, but he is going to take more on the seashore when the weather improves.



Such a beautiful pattern which highlights the swirls we associate subconciously with the ocean: the swirl of ever-moving currents and waves



of rippling sands moved by the shushing waters dancing on the shore



the swirl at the centre of shells of many colours, shapes and sizes, all having that tactile quality that makes us run a finger over the surface



I think it is beautiful and foresee a new business starting here ...well done Tom x



That's me for today. Have a lovely Thursday x

A busy but lovely week.

I don't seem to have found much time for blogging this week. I hate saying how busy I have been all the time because almost everyone I know is busy too and I certainly don't think I am the busiest of busy people BUT I do seem to have been fairly up to my eyes in it just lately. I am lucky though as I really, absolutely, honestly love having lots of different things to do. Even so, it was good to stop yesterday morning for tea and cakes with a friend I haven't seen for a long, long time and her lovely husband. Actually, the photo is a bit of a farce as I completely forgot to use our tea cosy! There were cakes aplenty though and scones, jam and cream to help them along (all freshly baked before the school run I might add, just prior to a frantic cleaning session as the reality of our hovel hit me...groan).



Such a lovely morning of catching up and next week brings the chance for a meet up with another couple of dear friends: Gorgeous Ginny and Dear Diana - hurray! We are planning a picnic (hopefully) with children and Walter Dog who no doubt will be spoiled rotten. Oh, and Mr Davey is planning to join us (be warned). Can't wait.



The garden is also being squeezed in where I can. I raced out to mow lawns after a sewing of orders session yesterday afternoon to find this...



How beautiful are these scarlet poppies? I have been waiting, waiting for them to start the dance, but they have stayed in the wings, not quite ready to spread their skirts in the cruel winds blustering the rest of the garden to pieces. The sun shone for a little while and suddenly the scarlet silk shimmered and rustled and lit the garden with its beauty. Wouldn't you just love to own a dress like this?



As beautiful inside as out, which is as clothes should be and yet so rarely are.



Other good things happening just now:

1. Davey was visited by Ofsted and got Outstanding...Again!!! How proud are we? VERY! x

2. We are going out on Saturday to a party...woohoo! Haven't been out for an age and will be required to get dressed up and wear lovely thing such as these dearly loved shoes which haven't had their chance to dance for far too long.



3. The sewing room has been working overtime - well, with a little help from me - as I have had orders flowing in...again, woohoo! pipany is now stocked in a number of stores throughout the country and orders from my website have been increasing too. This is all due to a huge amount of work on my part, but it is truly paying off now and I am so thrilled. So, on that note I think I will go make Lucy's packed lunch, get Isabella dressed and ....probably eat a brownie!



Have a lovely day x

A birthday weekend.

Isabella was three years old on Saturday, so the weekned consisted mostly of baking, cake and balloons.



Present opening took place with everyone piled onto our bed as usual and even big brother Tom arrived ludicrously early so as not to miss out. Note the 'Dr Feelgood' name tag from her doctor's set which we thought was hilarious. (The Duplo arrived the day before, Jane!).



Elias made fresh pasta for dinner with a delicious spinach pesto sauce. He really is great at making it using the pasta machine and can do the whole process on his own now, which is pretty cool for a twelve year old I think.



Food for the party on Sunday was started in the morning with Lucy kneading the dough for the pizzas and helping to make cheese and salami palmiers (flaky pastry bites which are best warm), pizza sauce, egg sandwhiches with lovely fresh eggs from our own hens, and more.



I decorated my lemon cake with lots of pretty spring flowers.



Mr Davey made scones, tortilla and the gorgeous chocolate birthday cake as tradition dictates. Jugs of beautiful aquilegia, campion and buttercups from the garden were placed throughout the house. I think we made enough!



I hung a net of balloons over the table and once the candles were blown out on the cake, we released them. Such an easy thing to do, but it looks so lovely. Shame I forgot to get a photo! Here's Isabella all excited about her cake and that gorgeous chap holding her is my lovely Sam (second eldest son!) who arrived back from New Zealand as a surprise about 7.45am that very morning after a 44 hour journey and little sleep. Isabella took one look at him, said in a sorrowful voice, "Sam I lost you," and raced to hug him...so sweet! He's back for about a week, then off to Belgium to stay with his sister for a bit, so I am making the most of him.



Other than Isabella's birthday and Dave & I endlessly reminiscing about when she was born, the weekend had me sewing like a dervish to finish up the next batch of orders, and poor Dave also working his socks off as he has Ofsted visitng his school this week - just to add to an already overflowing workload. Hmm, sometimes life throws a dozen balls in one go and the result is sleepless nights. Soon be half term and a brief respite from all the stress...for a bit. At least someone was able to sleep!



So, Happy Birthday my gorgeous, feisty, stubborn, very cute and absolutely precious Isabella. We love you our little growing-up-girl'. x



(P.S. forgot to say on a totally practical note that today is the last day for the Lauren Tote Bag offer, so click on the link if you would like to order one.)

The Weekend & an Offer.

The weather has turned cold yet again, dull and windy but not raining so I guess I can't complain and I will be tucked away in my sewing room today where, no doubt, I won't notice whether what is happening outside. I have a clear roof in there and the light quality is amazing, but sometimes I find I emerge at the end of the day with no idea what has been going on in the world outside. I will work away, listen to Radio 4 and think of the weekend that has been with its bluebell walks written of in length in the last post.



I will think of the delicious food consumed in fairly large quanitities such as these stuffed butternut squash full of toasted pecan nuts, chopped salami and cheese with a generous sprinkling of mixed herbs fresh from the garden...mmm.



The birthday pasty made by Dave for a friend with a pasty obsession! A lovely evening of chat and much laughter.



The choosing of a suitable bowl...



to use as a base because Isabella wanted to make nests. Having collected 'dicks' (unfortunate that Isabella doesn't often pronounce the 's'!) and feathers from the duck pen, she then decided that a nest really needs buttercups and proceeded to pick handfuls of them. So pretty, but not long-lasting - tears followed; more tears followed when our papier-mache efforts dried too quickly and all the paper dropped off the bowl! Ah well, you can't win them all. As I can't show a picture of the finished work, I will show a picture of a dress I made many years ago for a niece instead... or not



The second the camera comes out Isabella sees a chance for a game. I'll try again while she is drinking; no, that still doesn't work as she fidgets constantly, this little never-still butterfly-girl. How dated and quaint the huge puff sleeves seem now and yet I rather like to see her wear it, her ringlet curls somehow suiting the style.



Another photo of bluebells I think...



before letting you know that I have decided to put an offer on my website for the Lauren Tote Bags as they were so popular in the feedback from my giveaway. From now until next Tuesday (19th May) anyone who wishes to order a tote bag will be able to do so for the offer price of £20.00 per bag instead of the usual £25 they sell for. I have removed all postage & packing costs from the website, so the total is as stated. Just click on the 'order now' button and the new price will show on the checkout and will apply however many you may choose to order - well, I don't know - you may have a run of birthdays coming up! Anyhoo, I hope it may be of use to some of you who didn't win the main prize.









Well, the sun is now shining brightly and it is a blissfully breezy day, so I will off to my sewing room.



Have a lovely day x

Giveaway result!

Well, here it is and I have to say I really enjoyed doing this - right up to the moment where Isabella picked the names out of the bag; suddenly I felt a meanie for not giving everyone kind enough to join in a present. Oh well, I think I may well do another giveaway very soon.

So, the result is.....



Preseli Mags - well done you and could you please email me your address so that I can post off your prize (though it may not be until early next week as I am still frantically working on orders!). Promise it will get there soon though x

Calico Kate
Vanessa
Milla
Twiglet

I also got Isabella to pick out 4 more names and will send these a little something - though probably not what you said was your favourite item, she said panicking that stocks will dwindle quicker than I can stitch!!!


Please email your address to:
poltiskofarm@talktalk.net

Thank you all again for taking part and helping me out too x

Bluebells.

This weekend was just lovely with a walk yesterday afternoon down through the woods to the place Dave takes the littles (and sometimes the bigs too) camping: Tremayne Quay. This wonderful place is situated on the Lizard peninsula, an area of Cornwall which has a magic of its own with hidden villages, leafy lanes and the most amazing beaches. And of course, it is bluebell time, so everywhere was covered with carpets of blue.



We set off through the gate and made our way at a very brisk pace down the track. Isabella never walks anywhere, but hurtles along at the most precarious rate ever, hence our need to keep up with her.



All the way down through the woods we could hear or see the river keeping us company, its calm waters glittering through the branches



and sometimes glimpsing the tree-lined bank on the opposite side. The river widens the closer to the quay you get, but always, always you are surrounded by that sensual perfume of bluebells.



Gorgeous, dainty, wonderful bluebells.



Past the beautiful boathouse built of granite and slate, and so pretty against the backdrop of trees.



Finally down to the quay itself. You can camp either here on in the woods for free and it is rarely busy as it can only be reached by either walking the long track through the woods carrying all your equipment or by river. This is proper camping with no shops or toilets, no fresh water supply or shower room. It is the best and the children absolutely love it. They spend their days exploring the dense woodland, playing by the water or swimming in the creek, but mostly building fires to read or play games by, or to just listen to the sounds of the river.. Of course, a fire is good for making hot chocolate and toasting marshmallows too, something we continue in our own garden by our campfire.



The view is wonderful



with even a swan or two



and that special feel of water neath gently bending boughs of freshly opened leaves



Then back through the woods once more



looking over rolling hills and patchwork fields.



Is there anything like...



too many...



bluebells? No, I didn't think so either.



I will be doing the giveaway draw at 12 noon as promised and will pop a brief post on to say who won. Still time to enter for those who haven't.
Happy Monday x

Thank you and a Little Reality.

I wasn't going to blog until my giveaway was over, but some habits seem hard to break. I also wanted to thank those of you who have entered so far; the feedback has already been so useful and has helped focus where I am going with products for the future. What I have found interesting is that your comments have very much reflected the orders I have received since I started the business almost 18 months ago - that long? Where did time race go? - with a huge variation in what people listed as favourite items. My orders seem to take in the whole range from bags to bunting to door hangings, and I can honestly say there is no product that has been left un-ordered. This used to worry me a little as I felt I was indulging my own huge range of interests and perhaps not being entirely professional in my approach. Now I think, blow it! If people like a wide variety and I enjoy designing and making a wide variety then where is the problem?



One of the products that seems to be quite popular judging by your lovely comments is the Bright and Breezy bunting (seen above in all its former glory). Hmm...reality check methinks as I have been so busy business-wise that the garden has somewhat taken a back seat lately. Nature is fighting back and the bunting on Davey's writing room, once indeed Bright and Breezy, is now faded and tired, the colours bleached out by so much sun (and so much rain too) and the room itself being surrounded by triffid-like nettles. I love making the bunting and so will be making more very soon, some for our own use and some to replenish the stock running low in my sewing room. I am also thinking of adding a new colourway to the range, an equally bright and cheery - new name maybe? - line of festival flags which are great in the garden or inside for parties...or just because.



While I am finally allowing reality to impinge - darn it - I noticed the duck house so lovingly built by Dave several years ago now is desperately in need of a scrub and repaint. Ducks, as those of you who keep them will know, are messy. They poop copiously (and noisily, sorry to shatter any dreams here) and love to ferret around in earth, particularly soggy earth, flicking it hither and thither in gay abandon. Ours have the use of a vast pond and four ducks diving, splashing, shaking wings dry means there is a lot of mud flying around hence the mess viewed here on their house. Once a pretty forget-me-not blue, it really is rather sad now, so time I wielded a brush once more.



Nettles in the hen pen are almost taller than their house and laugh at me each time I venture near!



There is a prettiness in some of the wildness with ramsons and bluebells viewed through tangles of slightly faded scarlet tulips.



Of course, neglect means there are masses of golden buttercups to gather. Wonder if I like butter?



A quick search reveals prickly, hairy goosegogs - I love them in crumble with golden clotted cream (Cornish of course).



I know this is a tale I have told before, but when I was pregnant with Isabella, Dave sent me 100 bluebell bulbs as she was due in May and I had always wanted a Bluebell Baby. I knew nothing about them and they arrived on day where I was feeling grotty (20 weeks of all day sickness had pretty much wiped me out). Such a lovely, wonderful gift and very much typical of my lovely, wonderful, romantic Dave. Now Isabella is almost three and the bluebells are flowering beautifully all along the bank of the hedge, their evocative scent perfuming the air and that soft haze of blue shimmering against the leaves. I love them.



So perfect.



Well, that was supposed to be a post showing all the grotty bits in an attempt to prove that blogging can sometimes present a slightly unreal view of life, but you know, once I started looking all I really saw was the beauty hiding away. I am quite good at shutting my mind to mess. Notice there are no shots of the house though - apart from this one where it is fairly hidden away and can only be seen peeping through the undergowth!



Thank you again to all those who have entered the giveaway. Lovely to hear from new people and I hope you will return as I love getting everyone's comments and getting to know new people. If anyone hasn't entered but would like to there is still plenty of time. Just leave your comment on the post below. I am changing the draw to Monday 12 noon as I realised that a Sunday evening was a strange time full of homework and uniform washing and baths...groan.

Have a good weekend x

The Forgotten Giveaway!

Ok, so I admit I forgot - I offered the chance of a giveaway and then completely forgot about it. In my defence I have been busy, very busy, but still 'tis no excuse and I apologise. Better late than never though, so here it is (fanfare, drumroll, etc about now): I shall be giving away one of my Lauren Tote Bags and hopefully, very possibly (if I don't forget that also) one or two other little bits and pieces as well. All you have to do is:

a) Tell me which colourway you would like - Bubbles



or Jazz (really need to do a new shot of this one on a beach as the colour is just lovely, but isn't shown off as well as the others here)



or Blossom



or Almond Blossom




Now on the subject of product images, the one of Almond Blossom was taken on our jolly down to Cape Cornwall - pictures in the last post - and it made for the most gorgeous backdrop. If only there were time enough for travelling the county every time I need to do photos! It shocks me just how long these things normally take and yet this time the light was perfect, I only took one photo and as for that setting...sighs deeply at the memory, especially as today is dull and grey yet again.



Now for the second part of the giveaway (sorry, but I thought you could help with market research). Could you please pop over to my website and have a look at the products, then let me know:

b) which product do you like best? if none, please be kind and lie! It may be the Summer Days Bunting above, or perhaps a Lavender Hush Heart



or a Dreamy Days Doorhanging



or something else entirely...just let me know as it helps with future product development (official sounding isn't it?). So that's it. Just let me know which Tote bag you would like and which product you like the most, and I will draw names out of a hat next Sunday evening 10th May at 7.30pm (because that will be the first chance I get!). I truly don't mind if you have never visited/commented before, have lurked forever in the background or whatever, please feel free to enter anyway. Sorry for the product heavy blog, but that was sort of the point. Here are some more crab pots to cheer youy on your way...



oh and I'm still trying to get the newts...



what do you mean you can't see them!



Ah well...



Bye for now! x

Cornwall.

(click on the photos for a better feel of how it is!)

There are so many reasons I love Cornwall and I thought today I would show you just one of them: the landscape. Though it is a small county, a tiny peninsular where you are always within easy reach of the sea, there is huge variety to be found in its landscape. Most counties have something wonderful about them - the coast, huge hills or soft rivers for example - but Cornwall has a little of everything. There are the bleak moors popularised by du Maurier's 'Jamiaca Inn' if you feel the need for a Heathcliffe moment; there are the soft, gentle inlets and coves with their lush banks so romantically tree-lined and inns tucked away telling of a smuggler's past.



The North coast has dramatic and rugged cliffs towering majestically over pounding seas (truly where my heart lies), whereas the South has calmer waters with gently rolling headlines in the distance, the waters most often sparkling jade and turquoise blue, topped with gleaming freshly-laundered horses that shimmer as they break. Of course, as everywhere, there are parts that tell of a different Cornwall, an industrial past of tin and copper mining, of engine houses and chimney stacks and blackened walls that no amount of rest and time have softened. For me there is beauty even in this as I am forced to confront the hardship of this life by a landscape that hides nothing away. The parish of Pendeen in west Cornwall has all this and more with its breathtaking views from the coastal road over vast seas, mines perched on the edge of cliffs and picturesque fishing villages. This is what we saw yeterday: golden, coconut-bun-scented gorse blazing against an endless blue sea.



The moors are scattered with many carns (Cornish for hill), huge piles of granite rocks precariously balanced against a blistering blue skyline.



Fishing boats, rowing boats, boats of every size waiting ready be hauled down steep slipways...



into a deceptively calm sea. A look at the smoothness of stones tells you how wild and dangerous Madam Sea can be when her fickle mood changes and why it pays always, always to show her the very greatest of respect.



A reminder of her power shatters against the sharp rocks. It is these deadly teeth which led to the erecting of Pendeen Lighthouse to lessen the number of ships tossed like so many matchsticks.



Crab and lobster pots heaped at Sennen.



Mr Davey collecting pebbles for a quick 'best of three' game of Ship, ship Sailing.



I won!



One of many engine houses.



Houses crouch against the cliff



Dinosaur egg pebbles...stones...boulders



Having fun



Cornwall. I love it so.



Have a lovely Monday x

First day.

First day of the Bank Holiday weekend dawns bright and shiny, so of to the beach we head...only to find a mist lurking on the horizon. It drifted in and out for much of the day, mostly making its ephemeral way up the river which runs through Falmouth from the coast, but not really affecting those of us playing on the beach as it hovered just far enough away. We spent the time skimming stones...



Watching the young gulls negotiate the breeze



Being chased by waves



We spent most of the day in glorious sun before the mist finally wound in across the shore making it a little chilly to stay.



We came home full of sea air and tired, but rested. A quick scan of the garden in the quiet of the early eve reveals the aquilegia are opening their purple bonnets, the colour picked up by the bluebells scattered along the hedge wall and suiting my calm mood.



Such pretty flowers aren't they?



As are the lilac gathered in this jug, possibly the last for this year as the huge abundance of flowers are just beginning to go over after filling the house and garden with that sensual perfume for almost a month now.



Lemony does her best impression of a stork



All is peaceful and I think I will light the campfire and quietly sit with a glass of wine , watching the flames as the day drifts away into dusk - my favourite of times - and let my mind also drift quietly over the day that has been.



Hoping for more of the same tomorrow...how about you?

Bye for now x

Flamouth harbour.

Whew, I am so tired at the moment. A few nights of not sleeping well and I feel as though I am drugged, dragging my heels through the days with a feeling of not really being a part of it. There is no particular reason behind my current insomnia - no worries of work (though busy) or money (same as ever) or family niggles creeping into my mind in the dark of night (though I do miss Sam and Lauren and think it is high time they stopped galivanting in New Zealand and Belgium respectively and came home!). So, what to do with Isabella who frankly cares little for the needs of her sleepy-eyed mother who so desperately would like to curl up on the sofa and snooze away the day? No, she wants to see yet more boats and so it is down to the harbour we go once more.



It is filling up rapidly as the weeks progress and there is a pleasing mix of old and new, some brightly coloured and glinting in the early sun, others worn through much use, the faded paintwork partly flaking to reveal the base colours.



We sit for a while on the narrow granite steps leading down to the moored tenders (boats used to ferry people to and from their vessels) and watch the sun flashing in the ripples on the almost still surface. The tide is half in, half out and I have slightly lost track of which way it is going. Ebb or flow? It is unusual not to be aware of this in a county so connected to the sea, but I have forgotten for today.



Isabella is fascinated by the algae and barnacles clinging to the sides and as ever wants to poke her fingers into the green. The sliminess makes her shriek before I wipe it away and a seagulls answers her call with one of its own.



We walk on to find the 'lady' nestled away at the bottom of one of the many side alleys. Falmouth town is really on long street with quaint alleyways leading off it down to the sea and this ship's figurehead sits between a chandlers and a sailmakers keeping watch over the ancient building that perch either side. Unfortunately we noticed some idiots had daubed green paint onto her face - why?!!!



I love these ramshackle buildings which seem so precarious in their wibbly-wobbly way. They have stood for hundreds of years though and will no doubt long outlast me.



The light looks cold in these pictures, but there was a little sun for a change. It has been so cold and wet in Cornwall over this last week, though the late afternoons have changed into beautiful spring sunshine. Hopefully the Bank Holiday weekend will improve and my mood along with it - I do wish I weren't so affected by the this nonedescript weather, but I am and lack of sleep isn't helping. Ah well, there is always the thought of a roaring fire to cheer the days, nicely helped along by a glass of red wine...evenings only I hasten to add!



Happy May Day x