from the garden

I've never knowingly sown borage seeds in my garden.


Luckily these beautiful flowers have graced me with their presence anyway.

raindrops on nasturtiums

That title doesn't quite have the ring of raindrops on roses does it? Never mind. A promising sunny start to the day accompanied my early morning Walter walk but by coffee break time the sea mists rolled in, bringing a grey damp drizzle.

(click to enlarge)

I could do without the rain, but it does collect beautifully in tiny pools on my nasturtium leaves, which are currently rambling all over my garden. Such beauty in something so simple.

And now to my giveaway - thanks so much for all your lovely comments! Friday fatigue has crept in so I've taken the easy option of the random number generator, who has picked:

which is

I also have a runner up:

which is

So Jeanne and Lynn, please email me with your addresses, and I'll get your goodies in the post!

A few people asked if I was going to sell some of the cards (and I have to confess I did a little leap of excitement at that moment, so thank you!) and the answer is yes. I have a limited quantity, but I plan to do another print run once I've ordered some more card so if you're interested, please email me.

Thanks for taking part, and have a happy weekend!

gocco giveaway

Last month I was part of the one : gocco swap organized by Sarah at cloth.paper.string. The theme was 'one' - one image, one word, one screen. And to then interpret that how you like. Taking my doodles as a starting point, and my love of the cornish hedgerows and their abundance of wildflowers and weeds, I created a very simple sketch. In fact, this is more like the shadow of the hedgerow, as all detail is lost and I'm simply showing the outlines and form.


One image, one colour, one cornish hedge. I printed notecards, all on recycled card stock (some plain white, some banana paper, and some brown craft, plus envelopes), and these little packages have been posted off to my swap partners in Glasgow, Australia and the US. In return, I'm receiving some lovely goodies in the mail.

I also have some of mine spare, so thought it was time for a giveaway - a little set of five cards with envelopes, to one lucky person. Leave a comment, and I'll make the draw next friday, 10 July, after 6pm.

I may be back before then. We'll see!

dropping in...

...to say hello!

Has it really been several weeks? I'd not intended to be away so long but you know how it is - life creeps up on you when you aren't looking. Real life things that need my time and attention. So this is a tentative wave really. The first of the month seemed like a good time to ease back in to the swing of things.

The photo was taken at a fabulous Midsummer Fair I went to a few weeks ago. I love wooden buildings, especially when the wood has faded with the elements to a beautiful soft silvery driftwood grey. In fact, a little wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere would suit me perfectly!


And on another note, I do have a little giveaway planned - some of my cards I made for the gocco swap. So back soon.

pausing

I seem to have a hundred and one things going on right now, and am finding little time for this space at the moment, let alone responding to comments and emails. I'm also heading up country today for a family visit. So time to press pause until sometime next week.


The photo is here just because it feels peaceful in my busy world. A reminder to slow down. To breath. To pause.

going purple

The wild rhododendrons are showing their seasonal purple splendour again - just like last year, and no doubt year after year stretching back in time.


Whenever I go up on the Carn, often at the end of the day, the light is hazy and the purple shimmers around me, tapering off into the distance. It's a special place - a place for quiet, for contemplation, for pausing, and for tuning in to the sounds and sights of nature.


Back at home I pulled up a last ruby chard plant left from last summer - it was idling in a pot, gone to seed. The purple-ruby-pink colour extended right down through the roots.


Posting has taken the slow road here...I'll be back with some answers to a tag. And I've also signed up for the gocco swap, so something creative needs to happen here, and soon. Lots of ideas running around my head, which I need to get down on paper.

when a blog friend comes to stay

Ginny and her two lovely girls have been staying with me here in Cornwall for the first part of half-term. You would think I'd have lots of photographs documenting these fun-filled days, but shamefully I didn't take a single photo until they were about to get in the car to go home. We were far too busy chatting, laughing, eating and drinking, dog walking and just enjoying spending some unhurried time together. Crochet and knitting remained untouched, craft books were poured over and discussed, and Walter was stroked to his heart's content.

Ginny spoiled me with some beautiful lavender birds she'd made, seen here decorating my garden.


I love the fabric choices and their stringy legs.


And string. How can a string-lover like me fail to get excited about the addition of not one but two new balls to add to my supplies? Thank you Ginny!



We also went and spent a day with Pipany and Dave, Lucy and Isabella. The dreary damp weather did not deter us. We were relegated to an inside picnic, the delicious homemade food mostly cooked by Dave's fair hand. Many cups of tea and chocolate brownies stretched into the afternoon admist more chatter and laughter, and squeals of excitement from the younger girls. Pipany's lovely garden was admired and Walter wet himself with fright at the sight of the cats (he's a bit of a wuss, my boy). And then we were fed all over again with delicious homemade pasta and bolognaise, and veggie lasagne. A veritable feast!

It still astounds me that I have made such wonderful friends through blogging - friendships that really touch my heart. Thank you, Ginny and Pip, I feel very blessed.

it went like this...

7.30 this morning
I pull in to a local car park, open the boot of my car and start to unload all my recycling, tossing it into the various appropriate bins. Walter is lying in the boot, watching.
A road sweeper is picking up litter nearby.
"Morning" I say, "lovely day isn't it? Sunshine at last."
He saunters over.
We exchange a few pleasantries, and then I continue to sort my recycling.

He walks over to Walter and starts stroking him, and then he says:
"You're a lucky boy aren't you? Bet you're about to go for a lovely walk."
I smile.
"Actually, I'm just about to take him to the vet to have his balls chopped off."
The man pauses.
There's an audible intake of breath.
And his hands move involuntarily, in a protective fashion.
He mutters his commiserations to Walter, and then we laugh, and go our separate ways.


Walter's fine. And it seems he has a new fan club at the vets too.

old friends

I'm a girl who lives in jeans. They're my uniform, day in, day out, and fortunately for me that's ok for work too. And the more ancient they are, the more comfortable they are. Old friends really. I've lost track of how many pairs I have, but I have noticed that most of them are worn at the knees and need some attention. Not that I'm against the torn look, but just not on every pair.


My old Bernina has a darning option, which is perfect for sewing over the ripped and worn bits of denim and strengthening them, in a relatively discreet way.


If the denim's really thin I put a small patch on the inside to make the repair a little more substantial.


So...more life in these old jeans yet...and several more pairs to repair too. It helps to pay attention while you're sewing - a momentary minute of mind wandering and I neatly sewed right through my finger nail, with the broken needle coming out of my fingertip. Ouch!

nature walk

Last sunday I joined some friends for a nature walk around the cliffs and woodland of the Lamorna Valley. Apart from learning a little more about the flora and fauna of my local landscape, there was an ulterior motive. In September my friend Peggy is cycling from London to Paris in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care. The nature walk was one of the events organized by my friend Kate to boost the fundraising. Cycling to Paris in three days, a distance of 200 miles, is no mean feat (I know, I've completed this ride twice....but it was about twenty years ago - in my younger and fitter days!) Peggy is training hard, and blogging as she goes - any encouraging comments are very welcome.

The nature walk was led by Brian, who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the wildlife and flowers that adorn the rugged cliffs and sheltered valley. The sun shone, the sky was blue, the weather was balmy, and the sea was enticing the boats out around Tater Dhu lighthouse.


We paused for a while at Carn Barges before meandering back along the coast path to Lamorna Cove.


I love the way the wildflowers hug the cliffs - my favourite is undoubtedly thrift, which looks even more beautiful when the sea is sparkling in the background.


I can now also identify bladder campion, which grows prolifically along the coastal path.


There were also occasional clumps of sea campion, whilst the yellow kidney vetch seemed to be everywhere.


We paused for ice cream in Lamorna Cove, before heading back up the valley through the woods, bluebells stretched out as far as the eye could see. This walk was a breath of fresh air (no pun intended) and it was a real joy to walk with someone who was so willing to share their abundant knowledge. Thank you, Brian.

(If anyone would like to make a donation to Cornish Hospice Care, and support Peggy's ride, this is the link to Just Giving)

reasons to be cheerful

:: Walter has made a complete recovery! Thanks so much for all your lovely messages and hugs for the two of us - they've helped me get through a tense few days. I was a basket case on friday! It seems that Waltz was extremely weak after what seemed like a very mild upset tummy, and lacked the strength even to stand up. Fortunately it wasn't a serious hip problem (hip dysplasia, for those with doggy knowledge), or spine for that matter, which we were suspecting. He's now his usual cheeky, smiley, energetic self. And I'm so happy, but feel a bit wrung out.


:: yesterday I went on a wonderful nature walk along the cliff tops - more on that soon.

:: a parcel arrived from Amazon (spent my birthday vouchers), with plenty to distract me over the weekend. The joy of new additions to the book pile!


:: a blustery day today - perfect for blowing out the cobwebs and re-energising.

:: pink skies tonight....shepherds' delight!

thinking of walter

I had plans for another type of post, but am completely distracted with worry over Walter. Yesterday he had a mildly upset tummy but was otherwise fine. Last night he couldn't stand up, all strength completely gone from his hind legs, although once I helped him to stand he could walk, albeit a little stiffly. The same this morning. So I rushed him off to the vet - at the moment we can't find anything obviously wrong, and he's been given anti-inflammatories. There is a possibility it might be serious, but we just have to wait and see. He's up and about quite happily now, the drugs doing their job.


So please send healing and positive thoughts to my dear sweet boy, and keep everything crossed that this is nothing more than Walter inadvertently overdoing it while playing on the beach.

treating myself

Seduced by this post I treated myself to some handmade soaps from Oakmoss. When I came home on friday a little parcel was waiting for me - delicious smells wafting from within. Inside, beautifully wrapped soaps and a little extra gift too.



Amber has a talent for blending essential oils, which she adds to her soaps. The results are delicately fragranced creamy soaps in generous sized bars.


I'm extremely fussy about what I use on my skin, and don't buy any commercially-made products, so to please me is no mean feat! Amber also sent some lovely soya wax (non toxic, unlike paraffin wax) essential oil blend tea lights, and a little linen bag of bath salts, along with a sweet handmade thank you card.


All packaged with great attention to detail, and simplicity. I love brown paper and linen string! And I feel thoroughly spoiled, too. Thanks so much, Amber!

So go on, check out Amber's etsy shop, and spoil yourself too!

through the press

Thank you all for your wonderfully supportive and encouraging comments on my doodles - this one really made me laugh:

"I like the doodle of the birds with the long legs because....
I like birds with long legs"

Thank you, Discerning Admirer - just as well you do have a bird with long legs!

So, this week I did some more monoprints, and this time I used the press. I wanted to continue to explore similar images to last week, and see the difference. They're rather faint...or should I say subtle! (click on the images to make them larger...and clearer!)



I think I prefer the simpler ones from last week, not least because I like a white background, but these are growing on me. And what is it that's so appealing about washing on a line? There's a washing line a short walk up the road from me that consistently has an entire line of socks, or pink football shirts, or black pairs of shorts. Love that symmetry and repetition.

do you doodle?

I'm an occasional doodler - a term I use quite loosely. Anyone can doodle. But when I think of drawing...well, in my head that's something I can't do. Last week, on the spur of the moment, I joined the new term for the printmaking evening course at my local art school. It was with trepidation that I went and joined a well- established group of students. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing, so I had a demonstration in monoprinting from our tutor. And then came the moment to dive right in and just get on with it! Scary - particularly as you can't prepare your image beforehand (if I could I'd be drawing, fiddling, rubbing out, re-drawing...you get the picture) as you 'draw' your image either directly into the ink and then press your paper over it to create an image, or onto the back of the paper, which is laid over the ink, and so you produce your print at the same time. So time for doodles - and these are my 'prints' - all done very quickly onto ordinary copy paper. I'm very nervous about showing these, I feel like I'm really exposing a part of myself that is usually private. But I also think it's good for me to just loosen up a bit, and say "to hell with it!"





What I like about these is the softness, the slightly fuzzy lines, and the uneven patches of ink. Tonight I did more monoprinting, only this time I used the press and the results are quite different (and still wet).

I thought it would be interesting to share some of the process here, and see what develops over the term. Gulp.