May your days be merry and bright ...

I've made so many precious friendships over the past year!

I would really love to thank you all for visiting my blog, for adding yourself as a follower and for each and every one of your valued comments and emails















May you enjoy the beauty and blessings of the season
Merry Christmas to you all!
Carolyn ♥

Magical

Thank you all so much for your get well wishes ♥

I'm feeling a lot better now and I'm so pleased I'm over it in time to be able to enjoy these few special days before Christmas ... the most magical week ...

Magical



















All credit goes to the wonderful and talented artists and photographers whose work is included here. Please click on the links to go to the artists' work

1. White snow crystal 2. Imagine snow girl 3. DSC_0478 4. Untitled 5. | 6. Untitled 7. Snowflake macro 8. As a star in the night ... 9. Tiny houses painted 10. White Christmas Lavender Bird 11. Untitled 12. Christmas snowflake balb 13. This years tree 14. Star 15. Nature's Silver Jewels 16. Hug

... and now Christmas is only a few days away ...




















I've sprinkled Christmas all round the cottage ...

Pebbles, shells and candles
















As you know, I like to decorate my cottage with things from nature such as pebbles, shells and agates. I especially love agates because of the sparkly crystals inside that catch the light









I'm attracted to sparkly things

Shimmery shells












I love beachcombing all year round




















Peaceful colours



















Embroidered leaves, floral and umbel patterns that I love - especially honeysuckle which brings special memories flooding back













A cosy corner



















Decorating with seedheads, acorns and fir cones















Thinking about the year ahead

While I was resting, I had chance to think about some things I want to achieve next year. No strict resolutions as such, just enjoyable things I want to pursue

Top of the list is to finish off the jobs in the cottage once and for all and I've made a "serious" snagging list!

I would like to experiment more with paint and collage in my sketchbooks, spend more time with photographic projects and I've committed to making a textile art quilt for Annabel's Festival of Quilts 2010 group. I'm bursting with ideas and inspiration for my piece, which will involve a lot of experimentation with fabric dyes, image transfer, printing, machine embroidery and embellishment - very exciting!

Later in the year, I want to work on a large and "slow" soft cloth piece (inspired by Rebecca Sower). I want it to be something that takes me a long while, something precious that I can pick up and put down, take on holiday ... something that will evolve (inspired by Jude Hill)

My hubby gave me this perfect fir cone he found for me!













Well, I shall do my best to catch up with all of my blog buddies over the next few days before Christmas and I will be back with more things here very soon (lots to catch up with!) and there will be some RED I promised a short while ago ...









... and if you (or someone close) are unwell at the moment I'm sending you huge get well wishes too ♥

Carolyn ♥

A cold and frosty morning

I'm sorry that I haven't been round to visit you all
I'm not well at the moment :o(




















1. Dreaming tree 3 2. Willow trees in early frost #1 (South Oxford 2006 ) 3. Dressed in a white coat, 4. Morning frost 5. Hathersage 6. Berries 7. Untitled 8. Old tree stump 9. Winter white hearts 10. Mystical tree 11. Fog and frost 12. | 13. Frozen Candelabra

All credit goes to the wonderful and talented artists and photographers whose work is included here. Please click on the links to go to the artists' work

I hope to be back soon and able to spend longer on the computer to visit everyone - sorry!

Carolyn ♥

Frosted beauties

I've just got back from four days away visiting family and delivering early Christmas cards and gifts. This week I'm finishing off my hand made gifts and getting parcels posted so I will be back blogging again at the weekend. I'm sorry I won't be able to blog hop very much until the weekend

Meanwhile, with help from Daisy, I've added some seasonal music to my blog so turn up the volume if you would like to listen, or turn it off ... if you don't ;o) LOL

Frosty oak leaves
















1. Frosty leaf 2. Frosty oak leaf 3. Frost on the acorns 4. Frosty oak 1 5. Macro of frosted oak leaf 6. Frost on oak leaves 7. Frosty oak leaves P58 8. Frosted oak leaves 9. Oak leaves in frost

All credit goes to the wonderful and talented artists and photographers whose work is included here. Please click on the links to go to the artists' work

I hope you have a good creative week ahead ...

Carolyn ♥

December

I thought my star photo would make a pretty calendar for December




















I hope this December will be calmer than in previous years
I hope that my time writing cards and making gifts can be savoured and enjoyed

In December I wish you inner peace
Let's all try to go slower and savour the moment ...

Carolyn ♥