Seascraps

After finishing my hearts I took a notion to do some pictures using scraps of fabric. He is my new Seascraps Series. I really enjoyed keeping these very simple. My stash of shells came in handy but I must visit Cunnamore and Coral Strand to collect some more. I think I might do some Landscraps too, perhaps moorlands??

 

 

Santa has been to visit

My lovely sister knows me SO well. Here is the bag she bought me. It transforms into a bucket bag too so it will be perfect for my new stitching bag. It even has a little notebook for capturing inspiration when it strikes.

 

 

Frosty Fred

Kevin made me a snowman for the front doorstep. I helped by making a scarf. I think this one looks a bit lonely so we have to find some more logs to make a companion. I was also busy making rag wreaths. Here is one in Di's new home. I made 2 nautical ones and a sea one too. Now who needs an Easter one?

 

 

Bridgets Place

I was visiting Kerry this summer and stopped off to see the homeplace of my grandmother Bridget Connor. She lived in Rossdohan near Sneem until she left to go to the USA as a young girl. She met and married my grandfather there and they returned to live in Bandon.  

 

My mother visited her grandparents there every summer during her teenage years. She would cycle from Bandon to Sneem in a day. I took her back to visit and to meet her two 1st cousins. It was 70 years since my Mum and Jack had last met and they were overjoyed to see each other. I could see the young people they had been. Shortly after my Mum died I went to tell Jack but he already knew. He could see how upset I was so he sat outside with me and told me how to forecast the weather by looking at the sea and the mountains. I have never met a wiser man. He was content with what he had and with living out his days in his homeplace.

 

It is sad to see it empty now and it would be lovely to hear it ring to the sound of children's voices again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A very special place.

EbbandFlow

Julia made some hearts last year and that inspired me to have a go. I have been wanting to play with layers of fabric for some time and  this was a good project to start on. I used the embroidery foot to sew the strips to the slub satin background first. Joan me a good tip. She suggested I hold the strips of fabric in place using strips of paper which I could remove as I went along.

 

I will do things a bit differently next time. The shells were very difficult and most of them fell off even those I had managed to get some glue on. I think the best shells would be cockle or mussel. I must keep the beads and embellishments away from the edge so they do now catch the sewing machine when I am sewing up. I sewed the hanging ribbon in as I went along but I must be more careful and make sure it doesn't slip. The ebbandflow words fell off too. I will need to sew a layer of chiffon over to make a pocket.  The finished hearts are too big and the next time I would have a more rounded shape.

 

They are cute though!

 

 

 

 

Winter Workspace

I am all set up for my winter jewellery making sessions. I had two lovely days with Jo and Maureen and that inspired me to leave everything out so I can dip in and out. I love these new metallic druzy agate beads that I found.

 

 

Big Birthday

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I have created this for a friend who had a big birthday recently. The granny square pattern is called sunburst and the border is V stitch from Lucy at Attic 24's blog.