Monday 24 October 2011

Has it really been 7 weeks?

Oh gosh, that's my worst break yet.......but I have been very busy, honestly :-)

So what have I got to show for all that time away? 

Well......a couple of weeks ago DH and I decided to visit Mum's cousin Irene in Devon. We've never met before, so it was quite an emotional moment for us both and we spent a happy 3 hours together, chatting about the family and looking around her studio. Irene is currently painting for two exhibitions and there were pieces everywhere....I was totally in awe. I wanted to buy one but they were all needed for the exhibition, but I was stunned when she presented me with one of her original paintings that she did a few years back...and I absolutely love it! I reminds me a little of my mum when she was younger....
A treasured reminder of a special day......
(Update: For those of you who asked, you can see more of Irene's work here )

After that we spent two days in Padstow and Port Isaac.....
( I had a good look at Doc Martin's house, of course).

Then spent 2 days in St Ives ....where I fell in love with an amazing view

...and where I was ambushed by 2 of these and they took my WHOLE ice cream cornet!!!
 Bad, bad gulls :-(

We also visited The Lost Gardens of  Heligan
 and The Eden Project (climbed up to the new viewing platform at the top of the rainforest biome)
and finally ended up in Mevagissey, where we stayed an amazing b&b. It was the cheapest of all and the best  ......owned by the most delightful couple. It was a bit too nippy to use the pool...but maybe next time ;-)
Trennicks Guest House
We've also been to 2 weddings over the last fortnight and visited Knaresborough for the 3rd time this year. Plus I organised a workshop at my house for 6 lovely ladies last week.
So you see....I have been busy :-)

I finally completed the Stef Francis piece....its going in a frame.
I also completed a scrapbook of my photos from Cornwall...... this is page 2 out of 20.


Peachy helped of course...he loved watching the Cricut machine cutting out letters....

.......but then he got bored and fell asleep in my card drawer.

I've been photographing wildlife in the garden ....
...he'd just wrapped up a wasp for lunch.

And I've become rather obsessed with hydrangea flower skeletons......
 ....so very pretty.

Well I think that's about it..... I'll show you the quilt I'm attempting to make in my next post. Which will be very soon... ;-)
Now I need to start blog-visiting......

28 comments:

Becca said...

Wow you have been busy, but I do miss reading your posts! I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Cornwall. Your pictures are beautiful. The colors you use in your art pieces are always delightful! What a special gift from your family that you visited. Oh Peachy! You are such a dear sleeping in that drawer...so sweet! Have a lovely week my friend!

Cynthia Schelzig said...

You have been busy for sure.....lovely art, fotos and of course my favorite kitty kat...Peachy...sleeping in the drawer...tooo cute,,,maybe I should try that when I don´t feel the mojo...start sleeping with the paper....have a good week...ahhh those fotos of the hydrangea skeletons...wow,,,ugh, that spider..omg

Anonymous said...

Some fantastic trips there, would love to visit them all. the hydrangea skeletons are amazing Linda, love those. Can;t wait to see them appear in other things- knowing you. xox Corrine

Lynn said...

Yes, it's been that long LOL.. Lovely to see St Ives again, hope to get there someday soon, and I absolutely love your quilt block, is that what it's called?
Hydrangeas are just as beautiful if not more when they are dried up don't you think?

Heavens2Betsy said...

Wow! I absolutely love everything here - the story-telling, the photos and the art. I love the picture that you were given.I would like to see more of her work and wonder if you could let me know where I might find it please? Your hydrangeas are real things of beauty. penny

Julie said...

Well, I don't know where to start :-) You certainly have been busy. The photos of Cornwall and St Ives in particular brought back lovely memories. There are a lot of those orb spiders around at the moment. My DH spent hours photographing one in Suffolk a few weeks ago. The hydrangeas are beautiful, I must look at mine too.

Your cousin's art is outstanding. The portrait has an atmosphere about it and has echoes of Picasso in the drawing and maybe Matisse. How wonderful for you to be able to enjoy it every day. I like the vase next to it in the photo too.

Lorraine said...

what a fab painting like the vase its next to. great photos of cornwall I went there when I was 17 and stayed with a cousin. like the hydrangea leaves..they would look great as a watercolour which I am learning to do at the moment. Lovely stitching piece too like the colours and texture

Terri said...

Oh it is so good to see you again! I am glad you are busy doing all these fun and inspiring things. The painting your cousin gave you is incredible! No wonder you were in awe! She has quite the gift.
And you saw Port Issac too! Yay! Isn't it just beautiful! St. Ives looks incredible. I will have to visit there some day, as well as the Eden project and the gardens. So much to see!
Your Stef Francis piece is a real treasure. I adore the colors, all the amazing stitching and little tidbits of glorious all over it. You did a splendid job on it!
Your spidey photo gives me the chivers, but it is a really good shot!
The hydrangeas are amazing, I am fascinated too. You have such an artistic eye for all these things!
Hugs,
Terri

Lynette (NZ) said...

Missed you :-) Love your stitching - wonderful colours.

Judy S. said...

So good to see your lovely photos again, Linda. I've missed you....and Peachy. That is one very impressive spider! Can't wait to see your quilt!

Sandy said...

Hi my sweet Linda,

Welcome back my friend. I have missing you and your inspiring work.

Your new work is fantastic. Wonderful stitching.

ju-north said...

What a wonderful variety of things you have done! Love your new work!

Heather said...

Wonderful post - the painting is so strong yet fine - a lovely gift, and glorious views of Cornwall.
I almost lost my packed lunch to a seagull on Sark once.
The Stef Francis piece is gorgeous and I too love hydrangea flowers, especially the skeletonized ones. Looking forward to seeing your quilt.

Emma said...

Great to have you back, we've been waiting patiently! (no pressure, honest ;)

Lovely SF piece & you know I adore hydrangea, specially yours.

Connie said...

Awesome post. I don't know what I like the best!

BumbleVee said...

hahaha... welcome to the club of that a lot of us have been in over the summer and fall.......

but, honestly...how the heck did you manage all of that in the brief time you were away?

Hey another artsy relative.... how much fun is that? and I love the little project that is to be framed. And how wonderful to get away for a little holiday and see such beauty....not that cheeky gull, mind...but, the seaside and village and such... and the lost gardens looks interesting.... and the biodome thingy.... how strange and how interesting that looks....

Maggi said...

Great post. I only ever had choc ices stolen by seagulls. The piece looks even more lovely than when I last saw it. Gorgeous hydrangeas, must try and sneak a peek at my neighbour's. The boy is as beautiful as ever.

Els said...

Hi Linda, thanks for visiting. The paitings of Irene are gorgeous (looked at the others too !)
The Eden Project must have been fun to visit ...
Love your little (?) piece with all the different yarns and stitches !

Caterina Giglio said...

oh St Ives.... did you by any chance visit Carolyn? your fabric piece is wonderful and love the further adventures of Peachy... makes me smile... : )

Jill said...

Fab post - enjoyed catching up with your news. What a talented artist Irene Jones is - and you're not doing so bad yourself!

Shashi Nayagam said...

Glad to see you post Linda, wow that painting a so beautiful and so is your Stef Francis piece. A lot of work! Love the photos too.

Sandies' Patch said...

We all need a break sometimes from everything!
Lovely pics of your trips.
Lucky you being given a picture by 'Auntie'.
Love the Stef Francis piece, it's those colours I adore together again! ?Your 'signature' colours, LOL!

This all reminds me, I'd better get some photos taken and a couple of blogs updated!

Sandie xx

Heloise said...

Looks like you have had a wonderful time doing so many different things. Especially love the SF piece and your pictures of the hydrangea flower skeletons.

Jacky said...

What a great catch up post Linda and I absolutely adore your lovely painting. How exciting to visit your cousin and see her art in the flesh (and what BEAUTIFUL art it is). I love the piece she gifted you and have checked out some of her other work....really love it!
So much beauty in your post; those hydrangea skeletons are lovely, and such wonderful colours.
Love to you and Peachy...nice to see you both again.

Jacky xox

Sujay said...

Well done carry on.

Anonymous said...

So very envious of your trip to Cornwall!! Who could not fall in love with those places? :o)

The Stef Francis piece looks gorgeous and your skeletonised hydrangea petals photos are amazing. :o)

Catharina Maria said...

What a lovely post Linda!
I have been in st Yves some years ago , I love that little place .
Haha , and your ice cream that piced away from you .
Love from ♥RINI♥

Morna Crites-Moore said...

OMFG - the Stef Francis piece is Drop Dead Gorgeous - WOW! Curious about your frame choice - this is my nemesis - to frame or not, to put it under glass or not, to mount but not frame, etc. In fact, it will be the subject of my next newsletter - which I'll be getting around to any year now. :-)

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