It Has Begun.

Spring finally arrived in Cornwall on Wednesday and though today is cold and foggy I am feeling a definite lift in spirits thanks to the beautiful wonderful sun. A need to be outdoors has taken over with Lucy helping me to sow some seeds to start us off. Nothing quite so exciting as sorting through seed packets and dreaming of all that's to come is there? Of course, you can add yarn and fabric to the nothing so exciting list too.

So far we have parsley, spinach, tomatoes (Italia), rocket and some courgettes underway. It is a little early for some but with our not-too-attractive-but-highly-practical plastic box posing as a greenhouse I am confident the balmy Cornish air will help them on their way. I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought how brilliantly obvious it was for someone who has a greenhouse that is beyond dilapidated now. Such a quick solution until I can sort the greenhouse out. Look here for the original link.

And it seems somewhat appropriate in all this talk of gardens to pop a picture of my In The Garden door hanging which seem to be particularly popular just now. Thoughts turning to the outdoors I guess and also, of course, ideal for Mother's Day gifts!

Hopefully more gardening will take place this weekend though the forecast looks a little dreary. Isabella's broad beans are racing away and have made very strong plants woven as they are among the daffodils in the cutting patch. This rectangular patch is now yielding so many gorgeous daffodils that our house has jug and bottles of them on every available surface, the bright gold casting a sunshine all of its own into the corners of our home with so many more bunches yet to come.

The need to be outside saw me packing the children into the car after the school run and heading for the shore instead of home yesterday. The beach was almost empty and the air positively tingled with ozone. It was just beautiful and Isabella soon was up to her thighs in the icy sea. That child simply cannot keep out of water!

Again, the warmer weather seems to bring a flurry of orders only this time for my Beach Bags which are available in two designs. This one is Ship Ahoy

and this one Lighthouse

Each bag has its own little pouch of shells collected from the Cornish shores by my team of workers (the children!)

and also is available in either child or adult sizes....Mother's Day perhaps? Just trying to help!!

Here's hoping the warmth returns and bring more spring cheer to us all.

Have a lovely weekend x

No Grumps Today.

The grumps have gone thanks to your sweet comments - thank you - and a beautiful long day of sunshine... just the one you understand, nothing too much nor too heady a cup to sip from, but a hot, sunshiney day nonetheless where we decamped from the house to the beach returning home late in the day to collapse full of that wonderful lassitude from a day of fresh, fresh air. A day of playing



of blue skies with the fluffiest of clouds occasionally, lazily, drifting by



of searching for shells for Mummy



that last lazy amble across the beach as the sun gently lowers casting long shadows in its wake. Pretty fields across the water aren't they?



Other than these intermittent trips to the shore the week has been full of making. The holiday jar came up with 'make a cake' and oh, it was delicious ...



and also produced a label saying 'make bread animals' which produced some truly gruesome creatures once the dough had risen!



The rolls Dave also made were so scrumptious - love that word - and so good toasted,
slathered with butter and mint jelly that I have just made another batch for breakfast. Quite fancy trying teacakes at the weekend, though it does suggest a roaring fire and pot of tea to accompany them.



A cushion I sewed for Granny-Mother's birthday. I really enjoyed making this as I just made it up as I went along. No drawing first or planning out...bliss. Dreadful picture as it was a very dull day.



A cluster of houses...



a lighthouse...



and it all ends up feeling very Falmouthian - or that was the hope anyway!



That's me for now.



Have a lovely day x

Beach bags and broccoli.

A lovely weekend here, though the weather took a slight nosedive on Saturday - mist rolled in from the sea and worked its way inland, refusing to lift till Sunday when it was glorious. I quite like the mist as its one of the many things that go hand in hand with living so close to the sea; I love the atmosphere it brings, all ghostly and cloaked suggesting pirates and mystery, where sounds become distorted and intensified so that all the senses seem keener in an effort to orientate oneself. Where I grew up on the North Cornish coast sea mists were a little more common and, combined with the majestic cliffs and huge, huge seas which flattened eerily in misty weather to an oily slick, the whole gave a very free reign to my always fertile imagination. As I walked my dog alone over the cliff tops surrounded by rustlings and weird noises it was impossible to name, I would frequently find my step getting faster and faster in an effort to outpace the blanket rolling over me from the sea - no wonder I have such a love of the Gothic genre! Of course, I would never let any of my children walk alone like this; how times have changed.




Well, enough of that. As I said, Sunday was just perfect and provided the ideal opportunity for photographing the latest range to come from the Pipany sewing room (which sort of implies they made themselves - if only!). As usual poor Lucy was dragged in to model for me; actually, she loves it and was only slightly cross as she hadn't time to change into a pretty dress!





The bags are from my 'Summer Days' range and come in two sizes (child & adult)and have a central panel appliqued & embroidered in one of three designs: The lighthouse, Beach Hut or Ship Ahoy. Each also has its own pouch of shells collected from the beautiful Cornish beaches which can be added to of course and the adult size has an interior pocket to pop keys, etc into to keep them safe. I think all the designs would work as well for the beach or a trip into town.





End of business bit except to say that it has been incredibly busy and I do apologise for being so behind in my blog reading - I will catch up hopefully this week now the designing stage of these bags is finished. Other lovely things this weekend were:

* Working on the allotment - broccoli (sp?), brussels, spinach, pots, mix of lettuces all gone in; much skimming of sward & digging of beds happened & much involvement of children of all ages in digging, eating Dave's homemade scones sitting on a blanket and generally enjoying being outdoors.

* Tea with Dave's mum which is always gorgeous and consists of far too much food (meringues, strawbs & Cornish cream; ham; chicken; salad; choc buns, etc, etc...)

* The beach, of course - children in & out of pools, and Isabella loving the water, however freezing it may be.



And finally, a picture of her lovely ringlets just because I love them. It's her 2nd birthday on Friday and I can't quite think where the time has gone.

Have a lovely day xx