Searching . . .

Hello dear friends & readers

My Clan Gathering group went well & I was so pleased we managed a brief patch of fine weather for the day

The cows were in the house paddock which added a nice touch for all the men folk who were dairy farmers

The group had their afternoon tea here - which they had provided & dropped off beforehand 

The next day when they came to collect their plates they presented me with a beautiful cyclamen which I am enjoying inside for now

As this was my last group before winter sets in I felt relieved when it was over

However I must confess my "crafting mojo" has gone missing of late

And though I have been searching for it . . . 

I have only had brief patches of creativeness

The continual wet weather has provided some good crafting days
as I am NOT a gardener who goes outside no matter what!!!

One wet grey day I set about making my friend Donna a birthday gift
I had decided on bunting made from wool blankets
for her studio space she had recently moved into 

I was going to applique "Donna's studio" but decided it would be too long & make the bunting too big to hang anywhere
so I settled on just "Studio" 

I very much loved the soft pastel - sort of bubblegum shades - of the vintage wool blankets & chose a pastel vintagey looking fabric for the applique

I chose a cream bias binding, but upon deciding it was too stark, I dunked it in a hot parisian essence solution til it was the right shade

Also, when I was down at Mums I began this simple stitchery
which I coloured in with pastel colouring pencils
& decided to make up into a cushion for Donna as well

The bottom line reads "we're girlfriends and we're gorgeous"

I had planned to make it into a wallhanging but after making the bunting, I decided one thing for the wall was ample
& so settled upon a fat little cushion for a chair in her studio 
that she could look at while she was creating  :-)

Donna was delighted with her handmade gifts & said it had inspired her to tidy up her studio space !!

In the midst of a soul searching week I received the most lovely surprise package in the mail from my friend in the South Island
I had written to Carolyn of how much I was (still) missing the fat fluffy & how huge the gap was that he had left in my day.
She walks her 2 dogs every day on the beach & gathers "treasures" that have washed up

upon finding these heart shaped rocks she made me this most beautiful "mosaic" with tiny shells that spelled his name
I have placed them on his plot & they certainly warmed my heart - 
& bought the sun back out again :-)

I am off to continue searching for my crafting mojo
wishing you sunshine & rainbows where ever in the world you are folks

I hope you find some creativeness in your week
thanks for stopping by my world :-)
much love/hugs/friendship,
Julie xoxoxox