The Cowslip Workshops

I love surprises, particularly when they are as nice as this one! I spotted a small write up about the Cowslip Workshops on one of those Devon tourist leaflets. Reading between the lines, which is a skill I'm working on, gave me the impression they were worth a visit and Wow, I wasn't disappointed.

The cafe was buzzing and it reminded me of a French bistro/cafe at Monet's garden. Oodles of chic style, delicious fresh food, seating outdoors and in, all hidden away down a long track leading to a sweet little farm. The quilt shop is 'something else'...!! Packed with Moda and other wonderful fabric brands, this is the serious end of quilting heaven.

Given that Mom had asked if there was anything I'd like her to make for me, I dived straight in and bought fabric to make a half size quilt for my bed. Rock on Mother!!

They do courses thought the year so I've signed up to their mailing list and will be back!

 

 

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Devonshire bliss!

It must be my age. That realisation that life is precious so wasting a single moment on the process of winding down from work seems pointless. I finished work for a week's hols on Friday and already, I'm in Devonshire bliss. Bring on the balance!

There are few things nicer in my world than lovely people and special places. I'm with one of the most lovely people I know, my Mom, and in a very special hideaway on the edge of Dartmoor. I don't have a garden to sit in at home so being outdoors, and being able to write is a novelty, the pleasure of which isn't lost on me.

So what's the story? Yesterday's late afternoon secret spot will do for now. Sitting or a more accurate description would be lying, on a vintage deckchair reading Sunday's magazine. Feeling glad I succumbed to my whim and bought the half bottle of gin on our way home from the Cowslip Workshops so I could enjoy a G&T&orange in the later afternoon sun.

The bees and insects are buzzing, the birds are doing what birds do and I'm happy ;-)

 

with more to follow...

 

 

 

 

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My comfort zone

 

It's not home cooked in my home but it's as delicious and tastes just like it might have been but it's not just any ordinary meal. It is fact a delicious salad lovingly prepared by none other then one of the Baker Bros. I feel privileged to live in such a beautiful area so to discover that one of the best lunch time haunts in the Corswolds is on my doorstep, is a real treat. Today I had a fabulous salad which was dressed beautifully, certainly better than yours truly, with wonderfully soft curd cheese - yum!

 

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The rising waters of Bewdley!

Wild and very wet, today we were mad enough to walk in the pouring rain to visit the swollen river Severn at Bewdley.

 

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My friends and other animals, swans in fact

I'm really fortunate to have the most amazingly, fab friends. Last weekend for example, five of us sat down for lunch. There was my adorable college friend Fi, who has me to blame for her crafting fetish. Her husband, Rob, Top Totty, who is a wizz at money-saving tips! His cousin, Karen, who I'm getting to know gradually, little by little and who brought me lovely tulips and a bottle of apricot brandy. That scores her brownie points in my book! And her partner daredevil Tom who oozes charisma and always fits in and seems to smile a lot. They're all sporty, which is enlightening for me. They all eat well, which makes me feel my efforts are worthwhile. They all get on with each other well, which means I don't have to try. Which in turn means I can have a lovely time too. Win, win, win!

Fi has the photos of my lovely friends!

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My Baker lunch!

There's a tiny piece of sanity in my world and this is it! A cup of coffee, a tasty light snack and something to read. It's not much to ask really but knowing it's not possible unless I'm at home makes it all the more special. Do you know that feeling you get when your head and heart are simultaneously happy? If you do, you'll know what sanity feels like.

My crazy work/life has taken over 14 hours + of my day, which makes treating myself immensely important. When I leave for work on a Monday, it honestly feels like I'm holding my breath. Nothing is quite the same again until I'm working from home again, which could be 3 days later. I'm up before 6am, in work just after 7am and I'm on the hamster wheel then until at least 4pm, when I'll get into my car, drive home and usually enjoy cooking a meal before I start work again. Honestly, it's no life for a girl like me! But hey, it's the life I've chosen for now so I just need to find how to shift it, twist it, just 5% is all I need to make a difference.

Happy days ;)) x

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My Honeycomb Hello!

Woo hoo, I love a challenge! Ginger Claire and myself had such a fab weekend last week playing with paper and glue that we've decided to take part in the Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge every single week! It may be pouring down with rain here in the UK, but it's definitely a sunshine day for crafting. Here's my pretty honeycomb hello ;) using a PI die to reveal PI text style paperstock beneath. I've stamped using my PI natural beauties stamp set (on loan from MGC) using hibiscus pink ink and added a sweet PI hello from Trendy tree tops stamp set. All in all, a triumph of engineering, stamping and a fitting start to our PI Make it Monday challenges!

PI stamping is my most favourite stamping in the whole wide world. It's just so easy, everything works a treat and results are guaranteed, which for me is a real bonus!

I enjoy the creative process of making a card and whether it takes me an hour, a day or a whole weekend, that doesn't matter to me. I definitely subscribe to the quality over quantity scenario. I love th precision of this gorgeous diamond patterned card. Every tiny details is covered in Nichole's blog, even the colour and positioning chart so I know what to stamp where and in what colour. How fantastic is that?! It's not quite finished yet, but it's so pleasing to look at that it's made it onto my blog already! Roll on some 'me-time-craftime'...! ;) x

T

 

 

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Christmas has never felt better in the middle of January!

A friend bearing gifts is like an enormous hug. A friend bearing a huge carrier bag of gifts (all for me!) takes me back to my childhood. I'll admit it, I haven't opened so many presents all in one go for a long, long time and I loved it!

There are some things that my friends know about me and one is that I love stationery! I have never lost that addiction to newly sharpened pencils and a clean page in a brand new notebook. The crack you hear when you open a notebook that's never seen the light of day before. Paper clips and all the paraphernalia that you used to cram into your beloved pencil case when you were at school. MGC knows me very well indeed! Enough Green & Black chocolates to sweeten my Springtime, oodles of smashing stationery, a pretty case of pampering goodies, and a book & CD on my all time icon - Marilyn Monroe. And more.... ;)

 

 

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A little spark...

What makes us do what we do, when we do it? What motivates us to take that leap of faith to try something new that we've not done before? Or in my case, return to blogging. Something I think has to happen to either capture my imagination, shift my perspective or in this case, spark my interest.

I have a great bunch of gorgeous friends and each one brings something different into my life. Ginger Claire lights sparks, really she does. She energises those parts of me that are dormant and like a true friend, her love for me is totally unconditional. She's like that weetabix kid! 24 hours into her visit and I feel more creative, more 'me' and suddenly want to share my thoughts with everyone again. How does she do that?! If you had an imaginary friend, you'd want him or her to be exactly like Ginger Claire. Someone to pop up when we need them and remind us of the parts of us we'd forgotten. Who is your little spark?