Anyway, excuses aside, everything keeps moving along - so here are some highlights..
In between the writing and trips away for work we have managed one or two nice trips out for ourselves too. There have been barbecues with friends - the most recent last night on the beach at Budleigh, walks along the beach and relaxing in lovely spots. Here's a couple of shots from when we had some time in Cockington. This first one is the view from our table in the cafe where we had our cream tea while the pianist played in the garden....
I have managed some bits and pieces of finishing off, the odd doll's blanket and scarf.. like this lacy one. I've also got a beautiful new fleece from one of our Wednesday spinners, Dawn. She sheared her flock on the Saturday and brought a selection of Shetland fleeces the following Wednesday. They were lovely. I've washed mine and started on it abandoning the alpaca that's driving me nuts! (Mind you I am about half way through the throw I'm making from it - I swear that the rest of it that is living in the loft is breeding, there always seems to be more of it each time I open the box it's in...).
Work continues apace, with next academic year's dates already rolling in - so it would seem I'm still employed for the future. On my last visit to Cardiff I went out for a walk in the evening with some of the staff from one of the schools. It was such a change from either having a drift around Cardiff on my own or retreating to the hotel room. We did a couple of circuits of the lake at Roath. To my shame, even though I was at university there for three years, I'd never been to the park. Here it is - can't really guess you're in the middle of a capital city, can you?
I've also been able to get up to see my mum and sister - their birthdays are this week so I'll be back there again on Sunday - and then on to my old school for the end of term. So we'll have time for an evening at their local tapas bar with plenty of Sangria. My excuse is that I'm practising for my holiday. We finally managed to book one for October - so it's off to Fuerteventura then!
Finally, thanks to some of the lovely comments you sent I plucked up the courage to pop into a local shop, Inc. I chatted to Emma who runs it and showed her some of my brooches and she bought a couple to try in the shop. This week I had a call asking for some more and I showed her an ice cream one that I'd made - and she wanted more of those too! Here's some of the batch ready to go down there today! I've never done anything like this before so I'm well and truly chuffed at the response, especially as the first two she had sold so quickly.
I think that's just about everything up to date now.... although I'm sure I've forgotten plenty too.. it's been that sort of time. So I'm about to settle down to some data work for the morning, before I have my usual coffee break browse and Handmade Monday then pop down to Inc with my brooches. After that I guess it's a relax in the sunshine - long may it last!!!!
Congratulations, how exciting to be in demand for your work, and your work really is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am not at all surprised that your brooches are popular. They are lovely and a bit different from the usual things you can buy. Lovely colours too.
ReplyDeleteThat shop looks awesome! That most definitely wasn't in Exmouth when I used to live there. Congrats in getting some crafty makes on the market... I've just got to get some finished and then get brave enough...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting your items shown in the shop and even more congratulations for them selling so fast :-)
ReplyDeleteWell done you! It's wonderful when you sell items. A great achievement :)
ReplyDeleteDid you have a look at the craft studios at Cockington? Especially Gail Tresize the ceramicist. I love her little harbours :)
I loved browsing round them and so did my husband - I didn't even get any complaints from Graeham when I bought some fabric!!!
DeleteHi Sue, your brooches and scarf are lovely. I love the picture of the thatched roof. I hope you are having a wonderful summer!
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