Exciting times.

It's all been go, go, go around here this past fortnight. First I was asked if I would be willing to sell some of my handmade things at Carruan farm & restaurant Polzeath. This is situated on the hill going down into Polzeath and has recently been taken over by Jackie. There's a shop and a

cosy restaurant selling reasonably priced homemade food. Outside there's more seating and a children's play area.

I made a new batch of feather filled cushions and took some pieces from my stock.

And the other exciting news! My 17 yr old was interviewed and subsequently offered a place to study English & creative writing at Falmouth University. 800 applicants for 90 places, this was her first choice & she desperately wanted to go there so smiley faces all round!

Then on Friday my 21 yr old applied for a job as commis chef with Paul Ainsworth at No 6 in Padstow. She was asked to go for a trial last night and he offered her the position of trainee pastry chef starting next week. We're delighted for her & she's very fortunate to have this chance to work at one of the best restaurants in Cornwall. Happy Days :)

Better late than never.

Reading on FB & Twitter today about people taking down their Christmas decorations reminded me that I hadn't even blogged mine so here goes. First a few cushions that I made this year.

In the middle of December I went to a wreath making demo in the village all where we were taught how to make a wreath then provided with the bits to make our own. The evening was great fun & we also had mulled wine & mince pies all for the princely sum of £3. It's so easy to do that I've made 3 more since perhaps I'll do a tutorial for next Christmas.

We took L on Santa's steam train and visited his carriage grotto, which she enjoyed although I was sure that Santa had had one too many Christmas beverages.

Some of my decorations.

Last minute iced cake trying to attempt Kirstie's polar bears :)

We also had a brilliant evening at the Eden project with a lantern parade, music by a shanty band & a shadow puppet theatre not forgetting the very yummy cups of chicken chilli & ginger stew and the chestnut, parsnip & cranberry stew.

A few of my presents.

I'll be back very soon with my Christmas makes.

Happy New Year x

Summer time

Thank you for the cushion love on my last post, I did sell 9 of them that weekend & a couple more since. I will be selling online hopefully soon, I've set up a Folksy shop but that's as far as I've got. As well as our normal 3rd Saturday of the month Craft/Produce market we will also be having a market every Wednesday during August so I now have to have a cushion making frenzy as stocks are very low.

I was given this picture by a little girl who had bought a Lavender sachet off me, the fabric was a cat one, so cute!

Other than sewing we've been busy on the allotment everything is growing brilliantly this year, we've now picked 29 courgettes & haven't wasted any. I've started making preserves, not for sale just for the storecupboard, using courgettes, rhubarb & blackcurrants so far, it'll be marrow next.

We went to Eden to see the Summer flowers, which didn't disappoint.

We've been finding lots of creatures there's lots of grasshoppers & slo worms in the field and the chrysallis is just under the rim of the shed roof.

Obviously a lot of time is spent watching & talking to this pair :)

And we managed a bit of kite flying on the moors.

I happened to find some lovely Woods ware :)

and a few bits of rosey china.

So that's about it really a condensed 2 weeks, now I'm going to continue looking for courgette recipes, what a way to spend a Friday night!

Plodding along ...

and not getting anywhere very fast! As per usual there always seems to be so much to do & so little time if only we had a few more hours in the day :) I think when the sun comes out time just goes fast forward. I've been trying to get more cushions finished each one probably takes about 4 hours or more! Some friends and I have started a quilting group as well, meeting fortnightly & having a laugh. I've decided to hand sew a Grandmother's flower garden quilt, which is made completely of small hexagons, it may take some time!

Of course in the sunshine you also have to spend time at the beach.

Going for walks.

And waste a lot of time watching the hens having dust baths,

Maude is more dignified with hers.

And then hours & hours of gardening & watering.

Of course a fair bit of time has to be spent thrifting.

The recipe book is full of recipes which 2 friends have sent to each other & magazine newspaper cuttings including this from January 21st 1945.

I also helped a couple move into one of the most gorgeous houses I've ever been in and she gave me these curtains, originally from Liberty. I don't know what I'm going to do with them yet, there are 4 curtains probably 7ft in length & double lined so they weigh a ton!

Some more linen found at a car boot

along with this tray,

lovely & big bowl,

a shaving brush to put with my collection of mugs,

yet another cake stand & some plates.

And finally a laundry basket to be painted & covered ...... one day!

And today it's back to the sewing machine & the cushions. I've also got to do some walking as next week I'm doing a sponsored 11 mile moonlight walk for Marie Curie/ Macmillan cancer charities & haven't really done any practising yet :0