Workshops and holidays

I have managed to finish off all I wanted to do last week, The new Angels are well on their way and the commissions have been collected, sent and ready to be sent this week to fit in with the clients. I had a successful long day on the book and then in the evening managed to loose the whole lot! I must admit I couldn't help the tears, out of frustration and anger with myself for hitting the wrong button on the keyboard. I remember the days when every thing was written down in long hand, with the only worry being where had it been left, but I also remember the hours spent trying how to find the correct spelling for all the words that needed to be used, I love my spell check!
I have topped up the missing work on the book by writing in the evenings. Not my favourite way of writing as I find the words and ideas do not always come as thick and fast as in the day. Whereas my sewing does, whether day or evening, I can always sew.

I started a new piece yesterday, a piece for myself, well a piece for the new collection for origin The Crafts Council in October at Somerset House, The Strand http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/ I just wanted to have a new piece already started because as from a week on Monday I am on holiday. There is no way I am going to have it finished by Monday, but I just wanted a piece ready for me to carry on with when we get back from our travels. Its a lady hurrying along holding a little dog with another dog behind her trying to keep up. I don't yet know whether it is her dog or not which is following her. And I don't know whether is is sunny or raining with them all. I think her coat is going to be light blue.

This coming week I travel to Cornwall as Saturday and Sunday are spent at Cowslip Workshops in Launceston, http://www.cowslipworkshops.co.uk/ I am running a two day workshop in Pictorial Machine Embroidery. I am very excited indeed. Cowslip is a wonderfully magical place to be. Run by the lovely Jo Colwil and her husband Stephen. Cowslip as well as runing courses is an Organic Farm with a dairy heard. It hosts a fantastic Cafe and a sumptuous fabric and haberdashery shop, full of everything a textile lover could possible want and desire.
Then I am on holiday for two weeks! and we go away to Wales, were the weather is going to be hot and sunny all the time. We plan to walk, drink in pubs, eat and laugh alot.

Work and Puddings

It's been lovely having our friends to stay, we managed to cram a lot of company into two weeks. Great food and some lovely walks. We heard a Cuckoo one afternoon, saw eels, tiny fry, dinner plate sized trout, herons, yellow iris's, steam trains and had almost a whole train packed with day trippers wave at us from our garden. All in all a very successful time. here is a few of our lovely visitors and friends their web sites and blogs:

http://www.janetbolton.com/
Curious Things
http://www.pamfranklin.co.uk/
www.doodlespace.co.uk
http://www.sarahtyssen.co.uk/

Puddings included: cheesecake, sticky toffee pudding, Mrs. Millers old English trifle, fresh fruit salad with almond liqueur, cheese platter and ice cream. (I could eat them individually all over again and then again.)

The children's half term workshops at the studio were great, lots of children making lots of creations, lots of noise and lots of fun. The sun just shone down on us, Jill and I had the children sewing outside - heavenly. More workshops are planned for the beginning of the summer holidays, in I hope more glorious sunshine.

I've been working a long houred week last week and shall again this week. The light in the evenings has a gentleness about it, slightly defused, its a nice light to work in and as long as BBC7 is broadcasting a good Ole murder I am happy to work the evenings away to get my work done. I finished another largish commission and three little ones. They are wrapped and ready to be sent and collected, always a satisfied feeling as they are carefully shrouded in tissue paper ready for their new owner. I cannot allow myself to become sentimental about the pieces that I make, but sometimes I really want to keep them. Each piece finds its own home.
This week amongst the jobs I have planned, I am going to start some new Angels and have another day on the book as well as making an order for a shop.

I am pleased to say that Big One has made a full recovery from his teeth extraction and once again is noshing his way though a huge box of oh so fishy, followed closely behind by Maurice and his slightly more delicate appetite.