early morning walk

Mother's Day was celebrated on Tuesday as Nic, Will and little Ben were staying 
with us.  A big bunch of lilies, now open and smelling gorgeous. A trip on Sandbanks 
Ferry to Studland.   It was autumn cold.  A brief walk on the beach before lunch at The Banks Arms where we warmed ourselves by the open fire.  


Today dawned sun shiny bright so down to Sandbanks early, only a few dog walkers at 8.00am.   The sun was deliciously warm.   

piles of shells

flowers for Mother's Day

On Monday I took a workshop at Hansons Fabrics  in Sturminster

Newton.   The Dorset countryside looked just gorgeous, decked

 out in the colours of Spring.

There were ten lovely students, who all managed to get a good 

way on the embroidery, learnt to stitch shisha mirrors with my

failsafe way so they don't fall out!   They left with instructions on

 finishing and making up the Book Bag.   Radka has completed

her bag and it looks great.  You can see it here.

A winter beach walk

Blue sky days, but oh so cold.    We took a walk along Sandbanks Beach.

Plenty of dog walkers, and mad wind surfers.   The sea was boiling, the

wind coming from the south east, whipping up the sand.    Very invigorating.

An hour was enough.  Back home to warm up with a bowl of winter

warmer lentil soup, and curl up with some stitching.

Summer Time

....... and the living is easy.    So, life takes over.  Not a lot of stitching

going on, or much else really.  Just enjoying the weather - evening meals 

on the balcony, so nice to sit outside and chill out with good company,

good food, wine, plus lots of candles.  Could be on holiday.  Then visits

from Mr. Ben and Will.  Days on the beach - the first steps into the sea.

Hmmm ....... that needs thinking about.   Sand castles and moats;

collecting shells;  kicking a ball.

Updating the shop has been on the agenda for a while.

It's high on the list for next week.   Might be going into

colour with some of these

and adding some Indian embellishments - shisha,

tiny shell buttons and a few beads etc.   

A few hectic days ahead, including a Greek evening for a

group of friends.   Then, it's out with the dye pots, reviving

the indigo vat, gathering some stitching for moments

in the sun - and updating the shop!

Well, hello.

Dorset Arts Week(s) finishes this weekend.   Been pretty busy, 

setting up, meeting and greeting, just being there over the weekends.    

Good fun though,and exhausting.   A couple of workshops thrown in 

for good measure.

A highlight of last week, you will have to indulge me here!  My son 
Will brought young Ben down for a stopover.  His first visit to 
Dorset.  The weather glorious and we found ourselves on the 
beach at 7.30am.

Ben's first paddle 

My turn.  Sandbanks and Shell Bay looking fabulous.

Only a few dog walkers at this time of day - later it

will  be crowded.

There are dolphins out in the bay.

This is the nearest I can get today,

the base of a Poole lamp post.

Drain cover

Sunny drain cover!

and finally, back to the dye plot to replenish 

dyed yarn.