Oh I do like to be beside the seaside ....

Thank you for all your kind and supportive comments to my last post - this quilting community sure is something isn't it?!!  To gently ease myself back into a blogging routine I give you very few words today but lots of pictures!

I have a little thing about rust and lichen - so I was delighted at what I saw on Bournemouth Pier!!

My couple of days away was just what I needed,  The cobwebs were literally blown away and the sea air and coastal walks were so good for my soul.  I walked a lot, I thought a lot and I read a lot.  I resolved that I would ensure I booked time away BEFORE I reached breaking point next time so you may see some more coastal pics up here soon!

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside ....

Looking back through some photos from last year I found these beach gorgeous huts.  We were on holiday in Bude, North Cornwall and these were just off Summerleaze Beach.

 

I just love the colour combination shown here.  When I last had a play on Palette Builder 2.1 the colours that were thrown up would be challenging for me to make a quilt in.  These colours would jump into my basket of their own accord and be welcomed very warmly!

 

I don't know if playing with colour is good or bad ....... Good because I have enjoyed seeing different combinations that I would not have normally put together, bad because I want the whole range of Kona solids and I would like them now!

 

 

Hope you are having a lovely weekend! x

Colour choice ...

Last week I joined Soma in her Wandering Camera feature and took some photos of the canal basin in town.  I then saw this post on Night Quilter and thought that I would also have a play with play craft's Palette Builder 2.1.  I may, or may not, have been there some time ...

 

The photo and corresponding colour palette I found most interesting is this one ...

The fabric colours in Kona cotton, from left to right, are Black, Moss, Ivy, Stone, Hunter Green and Putty.

 

The interesting thing for me is that whilst I love the colours in the photo I would never have thought of making a quilt or project in the associated fabric colours.  Now I am thinking why wouldn't I?  It is such a break from anything else I have made but I am tempted to give it a try ..... and play a bit more with colour palettes!

Through a camera lens ...

Whilst over at Whims and Fancies recently I saw her post about The Wandering Camera.  It made me think about my own pictures and photography ...... or lack thereof apart from what is taken with iPhone!

 

So on Saturday I decided to take my 'proper' camera into town and take a walk.  The weather was cold but sunny and I had a wonderful time. 

 

Part of a lock mechanism on the canal

 

What I loved about the couple of hours I was wandering was that I saw things I have never noticed before - who knew how many locks were between Stratford upon Avon and London?

 

 

And then onto the theatre.  I have noticed all the patterns on the building every time I pass and this time I had my camera to take some shots.

 

 

I see lots of quilt designs when I look at these photos ..... oh if I only had more hours in the day.  And talking of quilts, I thought these square cobbles really showed the difference between whether square blocks are set square or on point.

 

 

Thank you Soma for reigniting a passion of mine.  I look forward to taking more photos and showcasing them here for the linky party once a month.  Head over here to join in the linky party or just to see some other photos!

What a day ...

Yesterday we had a brilliant day!

I have been very busy the last month trying to start on on-line business so my time has been pretty precious.  How can it be that you want to start something that is all about making things and end up not making much but spending LOTS of time on your computer?

Anyway, yesterday we went over to my Mum's for breakfast with some friends who are visiting from Canada.  Breakfast was delicious - fruits salad, homemade granola, pastries and true Canadian Maple Syrup.  Did you know it takes 40 litres of sap to make 1 litre of maple syrup?  Now I understand the price.  They had also bought over maple butter which I haven't tried yet but will look forward to next time I am at my Mum's.

Then it was off to Packwood House.  It's a regular haunt of our but we hadn't been this summer yet and I really want to the house in the woods I friend told me about.  They have some follies in the grounds which were amazing to look at.

The girls had great fun figuring about what parts of the pieces of furniture were used.

I was using a digital SLR for the first time.  My nephew has lent me his and I had so much fun - 200+ photos is a testament to that!  I have a manual SLR which I was really enjoying using before Miss M was born (nearly 10 years ago now) but have since just used a compact digital camera.  Oh it was so lovely to look through a viewfinder again and to have sports and macro modes.  I won't put up all 200+ but here's a few ....

 

 



They both raced up to the lake edge and couldn't wait to feel it.  "It's kind of like a beach.  I just want to go swimming in it!"  Water and the coast is certainly something that has been missing in our lives since we returned to the UK.

I got beautiful shots of Miss C dancing wildly on the lake shore but, unfortunately, I was not allowed to use them.  I was, however, given permission to use the one of the back of her head!