Where to start? I didn't mean to be away from my blog so long. I haven't blogged here properly since before the end of May and now there is so much to catch up with and so much going on
Firstly, I want to say thanks for all the lovely emails, flicker messages and comments on both blogs that I receive. You are all so kind and thoughtful and have helped me get through a tricky patch
28th May - The Botallack Hoard
I was compelled to go back to Truro Museum for another look at The Botallack Hoard. This display of fine art installations by artist David Kemp are truly fascinating. Each one is made from recycled parts from cars, computers, boats or found objects from the beaches and tin mines of Cornwall
I know that one or two of them are a bit on the scary side, but look closely and you will be impressed with the ingenious way the parts have been carefully selected and used
Not out of place on the set of Dr. Who
I'm just showing here the "God Dollies" and faces/masks. There are too many installations to show you all of them but the collection included birds, insects, boats and musical instruments and even a cine camera recycled from a hamster cage
Or how about these doggies made from welly boots? How clever!
The hounds of Geevor
Me
I visited David Kemp's work after a trip to hospital, of which there have been many recently. I'm now able to tell you that I'm doing ok and I'm feeling so much better. I have to go into hospital for an operation in July but it's nothing to worry about and I will be fine. I had the news that I'm cancer free, so the operation is just a formality
The hardest part was the waiting (for hospital tests and results). My little world turned upside down and my heart wasn't in anything at all. I didn't get an awful lot of anything done for three weeks, hence the huge catch up now!
I had such a lot of support from family and good friends and I was grateful to get so many nice emails
I had some nice RED post to cheer me too!
This beautiful stitched postcard full of redness along with a lovely seedhead card came from my good friend Penny of Fibrefrolics. It's gorgeous and comes with a message:
Laugh often
Yes - we should all laugh often! The best medicine in the world. Thank you Penny ♥
More red treasure came from Penny of The Linen Shelf
Penny sent me this altered matchbox ... containing a birdie and some red berries ... a few of my favourite things
Penny included some Jewellers rouge powder and some dark red primitive check fabric in the parcel as well as a little tag and card that she made for me with a birdie on
Thank you Penny ♥
31st May - Birthday
I had a quiet birthday at the end of May. Hubby and I went to Godrevy beachcombing and later out for a meal to a Chinese restaurant called "The Sea Palace" in Penzance
I had some nice pressies. From my very lovely friend Cathie I had a book of beautiful nature poems. I will be using the poems and words in my blogs, but not today as this is already a rather long catch up post
My Nan sent me some birthday money and I wanted to spend it on something I would keep and treasure. I chose a piece of art by Cathy Cullis called "Red Dress Dreamer" and Cathy very kindly sent me some special birthday treats too
Red Dress Dreamer
My friend Jo always spoils me rotten too. I had a big bag of goodies to open ... too many to show here. These are lovely ... some red heart towels for my kitchen and some lovely sewing labels
Friendships are sewn one stitch at a time
Tuesday 1st June
The day after my birthday I met up with blog buddy Diane of Heart Shaped. It was only my second "blog buddy blind date" (the first was Julie who also adores St. Ives) and Diane and I hit it off straight away. We chatted away like we'd known each other for years and put the world to rights. Diane loves St. Ives and comes down every year so we are definitely going to meet up again next time
We enjoyed a pot of tea and a huge slice of cake at the little cafe next to Art Space. I had coffee and walnut cake and Diane had carrot cake ... both were delicious!
This is Diane ... a lovely bubbly lady
Diane and I swapped gifts. I made her a few little textile things and Diane presented me with a calico bag with "a taste of Yorkshire". It was a really thoughtful and generous pressie and inside the bag there was:
- Yorkshire Life magazine
- Emma Bridgewater red hearts tray
- Yorkshire Gold tea bags
- a bottle of Henderson's Relish
- a tub of Henderson's Relish flavour crisps
- a tub of Henderson's crisps - sea salt flavour
- some gorgeous buttons from Diane's stash, a hand made card and some ribbon
Buttons from Diane's stash - you can never have too many buttons!
I will be showing some more of Diane's things in another post. Same time next year then Diane?
Wednesday 2nd June - Chris Gray (another lovely blog buddy) and I had planned to meet up. Chris - big cake next time OK?
Open Studios - Friday 4th June
At the end of May/beginning of June we have Open Studios in this part of Cornwall. Many artists, who are not usually open to the public the rest of the year, open up their studios and invite visitors to browse. I didn't have a lot of time this year so I went to see the work of one of my most favourite artists ever - Mel Sheridan who has a studio at Hayle
I've known Mel for a long time now and I love her mixed media abstracts and textiles. I love the colours and the unusual materials she sometimes uses. If you are down in this part of Cornwall on holiday and would like to see Mel's work you can contact her through her fabulous website
Here are a few of Mel's cards which inspire me so much
While I was at Mel's studio I bought some these ceramic buttons made by a local artist
When I bought them I had in mind a round robin sketchbook project which I'm going to be doing with my friend Cathie later in the year. The theme is circles and round shapes with particular attention to colour and texture
While on the subject of sketchbooks, last week I signed up for The Sketchbook Project 2011 and I'm eagerly awaiting my moleskin journal from Brooklyn, New York. If you have signed up for this project too and want to add me as a friend please click here to go to my sketchbook project profile then send a "friend request" and wait for me to "accept"
Visitors
5th June - 19th June
I had my brother and his family to stay for a few days of seaside fun, immediately followed by my hubby's mate who came to stay with us for the first ten days of the World Cup and only went home yesterday
During that time I spread out on the dining room table and got some stuff made and started to catch up with various projects and challenges. More on that next time!
Hope you have a great week ahead
Carolyn ♥