Today's thought

"If you persuade yourself that you can do a certain thing, provided this thing be possible, you will do it, however difficult it may be.

If, on the contrary, you imagine that you cannot do the simplest thing in the world, it is impossible for you to do it, and molehills become for you unscalable mountains." 

~Emile Coué ~

Thought for today 1st December

"Some people come into our lives

and leave footprints on our hearts ....and we are never ever the same."

~ FLAVIA WEEDN ~

Thought for today 30th November

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start,

anyone can start from now

and make a brand new ending.”

~Carl Bard~ 

New ~ Sea Glass Section

Such a long time since I blogged!!  But today I was doing a Google search on something completely different when my own blog site came up!! 

Now that was a surprise as I was searching for information about my grandfather lol.

Anyway.... I'm hoping to revive my blog.  So today I've added a new section called Sea Glass.  Please take a look..... it can be found at the top of my page.

blessing to all of you who are still here and looking at my blog...... and blessings to those who have just found me.

Willow xXx

Collage Inspiration!

I've been inspired!

 I went to Yarndale last month, as you know, and met an amazing woman who produces fabulous collages. so when I got home I started searching online to find lots of different styles of collage.... and discovered so much that I was a bit overwhelmed.

 a few days later I joined Jani Franck's 'The Bubbling Well' which is an online space for 'creative beings'.... (you will see the link to the right of this blog). reading Jani's inspirational words and watching her short videos I became more focused and started to really think about the work I could produce. so I made my first collage.....

first I drew out the picture of a cove scene from a recent visit to Wales..... and then I searched for pieces of fabric and paper to construct the scene.  I crocheted piece to represent the large grey rocks.....

and I found some lovely fabric to represent the beautiful pebbles on the beach. 

the pretty primary-coloured boats were represented with pieces of felt

I placed crochet, felt, fabric, ribbon and part of a map on my piece of paper....... and it all started to come together!

but the little felt boats seemed to clutter the picture up too much so they were abandoned..... it was a shame really as they were a very striking part of my original visit to the cove. 

I stuck each element in place with a tiny bit of glue and then used various stitching to attach the fabrics and papers to the backing.  (please note that I am no needlewoman lol)

a page from an old book about the sea formed my coastal path, and ribbons for the sea and sand.  the flowers on the beautiful hillside were a piece of old lace.  I used part of an old map to represent the wider countryside to the side of the cottage, which actually wasn't on the beach, but about half a mile away 

when all the hand stitching had been done I machine sewed it all round...... and then glued it onto a canvas.

Ta Dah!!!

finished and mounted on a canvas

I've just finished a second one but can't show it yet as it is a gift for someone.... but I'll show it when she lets me know that it has arrived safely.

until next time.... blessings, Willow xXx

Adventures at The Bubbling Well

I've just signed up for a year membership of Jani Franck's 'The Bubbling Well'. basic membership is free... and includes loads of wonderful creative things to experience. one of those things is some little videos ... including this one for going on an Artistic Adventure. why not have a listen to what Jani suggests. . . . . . . I'm planning an 'adventure' early next week.... so watch this space to see where I end up :-) until then, many blessings, Willow x . ps.... if you fancy joining me and Jani >>>> Click here to visit Jani Franck.

Yarndale

I'm still trying to catch up ...... so I'm still blogging about what I did in September.

we are now on Saturday 28th September......

oh it was a brilliant weekend!

some wonderful people in Skipton had organised an amazing festival at the Skipton Auction Market, in Yorkshire, England, featuring all things yarn-like.  there were different types of yarn to buy and lots of crafts and demonstrations.

here is the poster advertising the event

M and I planned to arrive at mid-day on the Saturday as I had arranged to meet up with two lovely ladies that I met online and have been talking to for a couple of years.  but traffic was terrible as we got within a mile or so from the venue.  

tempers were frayed as M is a typical man and doesn't like waiting in traffic..... but we finally got parked up and walked to the entrance and were greeted with an amazing sight of loads of bunting wrapped around trees.

bunting on a tree near the entrance

bunting in the entrance hall

 this was the sight in the main entrance hall...... with bunting made by people from 30 different countries..... miles of it!!!

bunting with list of countries that participated

the knitted picnic

it looked like we had arrived just in time for cake!   :-)

knitted sweeties

..... and there were plenty of sweeties too.

bunting everywhere

house bunting made by Lucy from Attic24

this house bunting was fun at the Knit and Natter where I met my friends

Alpaca

I even met, and made friends, with an Alpaca :-))

Lucy Attic24 cosy corner

it was great to meet and chat to Lucy from Attic24 as she has been such an inspiration to me (you will find her blog to the right of this under 'My Blog List').  unfortunately it was so crowded around Lucy that I couldn't get a great photo of her section but she has put some on her blog..... so nip across there and have a look.

I want to thank M for taking me and all the organisers for putting on the festival....

a very successful event!  and a great weekend


more adventures soon
blessings, Willow x