Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Pinky but not perky

Well ... the start of the month saw me taking care of
Mr. Love Stitching Red who came down with flu and so
our family were not able to come down and stay with us after all

Our plans of a round trip on the open top bus and a special
beach side table for dinner at The Porthminster Cafe
were postponed until another time (hopefully later in the year)

(critters keeping me awake at the moment!!)
trying to get back into the swing of things again ...

I was able to spread out in my work room and enjoyed
reviewing the various projects and things I have "on the go"

I sorted out my beachcombing treasures found in June

including this gorgeous piece of vintage rose tinted pottery
found on the harbour beach
(my newest most favouritest piece!)

and made a little seaside display on my windowsill

♥

... when ... each of the little waves came inshore it lifted her up ...
I'm really enjoying pink at the moment

and inspired by a jar of dried hydrangeas on my windowsill
(the red ones given to me by Lesley have faded to a pretty pink)

I had to have these gorgeous silk ribbons
they were too "pretty in pink"to resist!

from Lisa at Mudhound Studio

a little treat, perhaps, for making hundreds of beads for my shop

selling all of them (and getting lovely custom orders too)

so I just got set up in my "studio"
making lots of new beads and hearts and
getting back into routine at my art class at St. Ives Arts Club

... when I came down with flu as well ...

hydrangeas on my walk down to art class
and I've been poorly since last Monday (11th)

it's been one of the nastiest flu bugs I've ever had
with terrible headaches and earaches
that all I could do was sleep for a week

finally, on Sunday I was able to get up
and move about normally, thank goodness,
as there is quite a bit still to do on my quilt entry for FOQ

progress is slow as I'm still full of cold
and my head isn't working properly yet
but I'm confident of getting it finished in time
and I'm enjoying all the subtle "nuances" and layers

thank you so much for your get well wishes left here
and on my other blog, on flickr, twitter and facebook
(gosh ... so many places to be these days!)
I'm so grateful for your kind thoughts

and thank you for visiting me today

sunshine and love
Carolyn
♥
Posted by
Labels: , , ,

40 FAB AND GROOVY COMMENTS:

  1. Glad to hear you are on the mend! Such inspiring images, I love your collection of beach treasures, beach combing is one of my favourite things to do! Cant wait to see your quilt, it looks amazing x

    ReplyDelete

  2. Oh thank you. I will be showing more of the quilt later. Can't show too much at this stage as I think it's supposed to be judged anonymously!

    x

    ReplyDelete

  3. Get really well soon, Carolyn. There is always something about getting colds or flu in summer which makes one's symptoms so much worse.
    I am so envious of your gorgeous beach treasures. Such delightful finds are just not part of our NZ beach experience.

    ReplyDelete

  4. I'm so glad that you're starting to feel better. It's an awful thing to have the flu in the summer time (well, it's awful at ANY time of the year, but seems worse in the summer). Take care of you and don't rush into doing too much.

    ReplyDelete

  5. P.S. Just love your sumptious beads!

    ReplyDelete

  6. Glad you are a little better at least.
    Love the pink pottery too!
    I love the pink beads too!
    When you make them, do you wear a mask or respirator? That's what has put me off having a go as I don't have a respirator or a mask come to think of it!
    They are gorgeous though! Any left?

    Sandie xx

    ReplyDelete

  7. P.S...What is the heart made of in your beachcombings pic?
    Also...it's crow families keeping me awake, they setlle then unsettle and cackle and caw on and off most of the night, I think it's the young 'uns!

    Sandie xx

    ReplyDelete

  8. Yes, it's baby seagulls causing the raucous and the over-protective parents constantly on territorial guard ... driving me mad!

    I've had an idea about the sea glass! Next time I go collecting I will make an extra bag and offer it as a giveaway for anyone who doesn't have these treasures available

    I've been thinking of having a giveaway of some beads too ... when I next make some. Sandie, I have none left at the moment but will be making some more as soon as the quilt is done

    Thanks for all the comments x

    ReplyDelete

  9. so many pretties~!!~
    and i'm so glad that you are feeling a bit better.
    continue to heal and take care.

    :-)
    libbyQ

    p.s. the bit of plate pottery is sweet~!!~

    ReplyDelete

  10. Hope you are feeling better.... I love your collections. Also, tonight I noticed how beautifully color-coordinated whole sections of your flickr photos are! do you do that on purpose? or does it just flow from being "in your palette"?

    ReplyDelete

  11. Lots of lovely pink images ~ I love your pink beachcombing finds!!

    ReplyDelete

  12. Carolyn, thanks for dropping by today. It helped me find you and I'll be a regular here! Some beautiful things!

    ReplyDelete

  13. Dear Carolyn
    Glad to see you back & hope you are feeling much better? I just love all your beach combing finds. I wish I could find such wonders on our beaches over here. I comb & comb but nothing, well no lovely sea glass or pottery.

    All though I do have to say our last trip to the sea side, my eldest daughter found the most amazing piece of tumbled pottery in beautiful creams & blues.
    Your Friend
    Elizabeth xx

    ReplyDelete

  14. Glad you're feeling much better and I love your beach combing finds, and also everything else x

    ReplyDelete

  15. Get well soon sweetie, Summer colds and flu are the worst! You tortured me with your beach finds - that pottery is the best! Harbour beach is the best beach in the world for treasure seeking. The beads are so beautiful. You continue to be my inspiration. xxxxx

    ReplyDelete

  16. I'm so sorry you've been ill but glad you're on the mend. I hope we'll be able to see this wonderful quilt when it's finished. Inspired by you I've signed up for an online City & Guilds Level 3 in Embroidery which I hope to start any day now. Scary and exciting!

    ReplyDelete

  17. Sorry to hear that both you and your husband have been so ill. Glad that you're on the mend and hopefully able to sew again soon, to your hearts content.

    ReplyDelete

  18. Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better Carolyn. I love all those pretty pink bits and bobs. Looking forward to seeing your quilt at FOQ.

    ReplyDelete

  19. So glad you are feeling a bit better Carolyn, take a slow recovery as that virus sounds nasty. I love hearing about your world through your eyes, you see things others might miss and then put them together deliciously! I so love reading your blog. xx

    ReplyDelete

  20. PS
    Forgot to say, that quilt looks brilliant, can't wait to seee it in all its glory!

    ReplyDelete

  21. hope you are feeling better and better
    love the images, as usual - so beautiful
    and what lovely beach finds!!

    ReplyDelete

  23. Hi Carolyn...glad you are on the mend...question for you...I love the images you use, what do you find works best to transfer them onto fabric? really love your blog and the work you do x

    ReplyDelete

  24. I love those beads. Glad you're feeling a bit better now.

    ReplyDelete

  25. Sandie - I forgot to say that the heart I found on the beach seems to be some kind of hard sponge

    Dee - it's serendipitous - whatever is in my head at the time - my colour palette or thought process

    JK and anyone else interested in image transfer - as you know there are many products on the market for transferring an image to fabric. I've used many different products over the years (though not all) and recently I have been most pleased with the results I get from using TAP (transfer artist paper). In the UK I buy it online from ARIO. This is the product link:

    http://www.ario.co.uk/details.php?code=ATIP

    I like this paper because my results have been perfect every time with no fuss and a quick transfer. The image really does imbed into the fibres of the fabric and I've also used wax crayons and pencils on the image and these too have imbedded into the fabric with no mess and no plastic feel or look about the image

    There is also a TAP product produced by Lesley Riley which I would like to try but have never yet been able to get my hands on any but have been more than happy with the one from ARIO and would personally recommend it

    ReplyDelete

  26. I hope you're feeling better now!
    your finds are so beautiful! during my holidays I'm always looking for bits of old ceramics and china - most I found blue ones, also wonderful! But the pink piece is gorgeous! your beads, too!

    ReplyDelete

  27. Oh poor you.......

    Hope you are soon back to normal.... there is so much going around at the moment.

    I blame the weather!

    Take care

    Lots of love

    Karenx

    ReplyDelete

  28. Dear Carolyn , I am glad you are a little bit better at this moment .
    You have there a beautiful red piece of ceramic !
    Love from ♥RINI♥

    ReplyDelete

  29. Pink is lovely - I never tire of it! The dried hydrangea flowers are still a pleasure to look at, as are the beach find treasures. Don't go overdoing things though Carolyn, as flu can really take its toll. x

    ReplyDelete

  30. Lovely pink and gold beads and your glimpses of your quilt for FOQ looks as though it will be very special. Can't wait to see it in person. Keep well xxx

    ReplyDelete

  31. What a good haul from the beach - treasures. I especially love the ceramic pieces - I am always on the lookout for them in the Portobello Bay, Dunedin. The ones I find are quite dirty as it is a muddy bay, so the mud darkens up all the cracks.Sometimes I want to cheat and smash up a plate and pop it out to weather because it is hard to find nice patterned pieces! Love the look of your quilt too - the images have translated so beautifully - I can feel the delicacy and layering.

    ReplyDelete

  32. Hi Carolyn! I'm so glad to hear you are on the mend! Your beads are absolutely amazing!

    ReplyDelete

  33. your quilt is so divine.. i would love to see more...i love the transparent layers..so ethereal!
    many thanks for the kind mention Carolyn...the pink ribbons do match your delightful beads! I still have not used my beautiful beads but have lots of creative ideas for those little lovelies...
    fabulous beach treasures...the little red pottery piece is so sweet.. i have blue one just like it that i found in Maine a few years ago. scouring the beach for treasures is one of my very favorite activities!
    Stay well and keep resting..the flu is quite mean!

    ReplyDelete

  34. I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better and your beach finds have reminded me of what I've been meaning to do this summer! I am fascinated by the treasures that wash up on shore and my imagination goes wild thinking of the journeys they've taken. If they could only talk, what tales they would have to tell! I have a question - will any of your "sea" themed hearts be in the shop soon? Take care.
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete

  35. Thanks for all the lovely comments. I am definitely going to have a sea treasure giveaway very soon x

    Sherry, I will be making more hearts and beads very soon. I just need to get my art quilt finished over the next week and posted off to FOQ. I'll update about that soon and then the hearts will go in the shop. Thank you for asking x

    ReplyDelete

  36. The subtle dreamy palette of vintage colours on the quilt is lovely and I'm very envious of the sort of finds you manage to come up with on the beach! Glad you're feeling better - real flu is horrible.

    ReplyDelete

  37. Glad you are feeling better...Enjoy using those lovely pink silk ribbons :-)

    ReplyDelete

  38. How gorgeous treasures you found on the beach! Thanks for sharing all the inspiring images :-)

    ReplyDelete

  39. I'm very pleased your feeling better! It can knock you for six sometimes can't it. My boy Sam has come down with something nasty on his first day of the holiday :( ! I am truly hoping this comment actually posts, as you know I have been having trouble commenting on lots of blogs lately, so fingers crossed! Your treasures are beautiful, I haven't done any treasure hunting for a while but now its the holidays I shall take Sam with me when hes better cos he's rather good at finding things, hope to see you soon Carolyn xxx

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)