Autumn blessings (part 1)

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans
John Lennon


berries, shining and scarlet
Life seems to be so busy all the time...

We all seem to juggle so many things in our daily lives and working weeks. I don't know about you ... but I am constantly trying to find that elusive balance between meaningful time with family and friends, working, blogging and actually creating

I make endless lists and try to work out new "realistic" housework schedules in an effort to gain control. The days rush by ...

~ petite pomme ~
a tiny apple the size of a cherry


I feel like I missed the best of the summer ... so I'm making sure I don't miss out on my favourite time of the year. Every spare moment I get I've been out walking, gathering Autumn treasures and taking photos

berries, shining and scarlet


conkers ... richly dark
Sadly, I didn't find time to go blackberry picking and make jam this year. Devil's Blackberry Day is nearly upon us and the blackberries I've seen in the hedgerows are now past their best ...

... but I did make a collaged card for a friend's birthday
with sycamore seeds and a leaf

on the dry leaf carpet
and the colours in the leaf inspired this mosaic for
Things I Love Thursday

Autumn blessings
Things I Love Thursday

... rich rose pink tones, warm Autumn reds, berries
pomegranates, roses, sunsets, poppies, nature and textiles ...


I also made a couple of little stitched ATCs from silk velvet and beads

with love


I like to ramble!

it was such a glorious day

in the woods and lanes the leaves were beginning to turn

Autumn's rich berries

and I like to press a few fallen leaves for projects through the year


leaves of many colours

A busy time ... we went "up country" for a wedding at Chiddingfold, Surrey on the 18th September

We had the St. Ives September Festival from 11th to 25th September and went to see Robin Trower, The Hamsters, Limehouse Lizzy and Livewire AC DC "For Those About to Rock" which took me back to my NWOBHM days :o)


Then on 24th September blog buddies Julie and Stewart came down to St. Ives for a couple of weeks staying in a cottage at Westcotts Quay

The day we chose to meet up it was dark and raining heavily so we were quite happy to sit in Bumbles Tea Room in The Digey most of the morning, drinking tea with a tea cake, chatting, catching up and exchanging gifts

Julie's DH gave me some of his cards featuring his beautiful photography. This is one that he took in Italy, one of my favourite places, and I chose to show it because I love those warm rosy tones. I think it's a great photograph. Thank you Stewart ♥

Julie is such a nice blog friend, we get on so well :o)

I had some lovely pressies from her ... some cream lace from a vintage dress, a rose scented heart, some red beads made from carved stone, some textured hand made silk paper from textile artist Dawn Correia in Lincoln and something extra-specially gorgeous that Julie made for me (which is connected to my pebble project on the other blog so I will be showing it there). Thank you Julie ♥

We had lunch in their cottage in Westcotts Quay and her DH made us delicious cheese on crumpets and we had buns with our tea. Soon after, it stopped raining and it brightened up so we went on the lifeboat beach for some beachcombing

flotsam and jetsam washed ashore

ballad of the fisherman hauling his nets

To top off our day nicely Julie and I had a look round an exhibition of textiles and crafts in The Arts Club where I bumped into many friends. It was a grand day out :o)

Thank you for visiting my blog today

I do hope you will pop back for Autumn blessings (part 2) coming drekly ... natural dyeing with plant dyes, Alfred Wallis hearts, nature tags, more autumn photos, a workshop Julie and I did with favourite artist Sally MacCabe and special things from friend Cathy Cullis ... and there will also be a post on my other blog some time this weekend ...

Happy days
Carolyn ♥
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