"Don't cry because it 's over....Smile because it happened"

Dr Seuss

Thats all I have to say today

Hugs 4 smiles M x

Doris, Jack and a new found confidence :)

 A few days have passed since I returned home from my trip to North Norfolk and although I am a little melancholy this afternoon, its for the right reasons. My mind keeps trailing back and reliving the 5 days I spent in my most favourite place. Norfolk is a leveller for me, but this time I went in search of confidence, and I have certainly found a small spark.
Lots of walking, meditation, thinking and having a special friend to ponder life with, has helped me regain a positive attitude.

This little river set in splendid surroundings helps power an old restored watermill, I found it by chance, the journey stopped abruptly as there was a ford across the road warning cars not to go across. So I parked up and took in natures wonderful beauty. Alongside the river a bench, the dedication was for Doris 1001 and Jack 89 who had loved the area and each other for many years. I sat for some time watching and pondering, in my head I made up little stories about the couple....did Doris feel the same way I do right now,  after her family grew up, did she regain a new confidence? I think maybe she did, she embraced life and all it had to offer, that's her secret for a long happy life  I think :)
So perhaps I will be a Doris and reach for my dreams. Jack well he is in my heart and always will be,   Jack was her forever love... 
A little bridge crossed the river and I could not resist playing Phoo Sticks....yep a middle aged woman reliving her childhood dropping sticks into the water, watching them race under the bridge and then cheering the winner. I was alone...I hope:)

A trip along the coast took me to a place called Eccles....the beach was almost deserted and I enjoyed hunting out witch stones, for any of you that don't know a what a witch stone is, its one that has a hole all the way through. I then sat for a while and took in the atmosphere. Couples arm in arm , children content in the autumn sunshine to paddle and build sandcastles, excited dogs running in and out of the surf enjoying their freedom.

I spotted this man who seemed to be pondering the meaning of life, I captured the moment as he seemed to be doing the same as me, re-evaluating and at a crossroads in life. I wonder has he got a Doris in his life?? 
So home now and have re-discovered my Mojo....Drop the negative thoughts that keep me in my cage...I can see the colours a little more clearly now and I plan to do mostly positive things. Today well its the start of a new journey of discovery, baby steps to start with and not trying too much at once. I  have a list of life and heave already ticked off 2 items. 
People without Mojo see lemons as lemons. People who have Mojo take lemons and make lemonade...I know who I would rather be :)


So as the sun set on the last day of my trip it was time to say goodbye....time for new beginnings................ 

'What it is....is what it is'

Hugs for lots of new smiles M xx

Cloud Cuckoo Land, courage and moving on!

Cloud Cuckoo Cottage is set in a pretty row of terraces in Cromer, North Norfolk. The name is very apt for me as after 3 years of living in cloud cuckoo land inside my head, it seems I am taking a few steps forward. Its not easy by any means...like the Lion in The Wizard of Oz  I seem to of lost my courage somewhere along the way like he did. Some days just getting to the local supermarket becomes an ordeal, which is very frustrating as it was not so long ago I would reach for the moon and follow dreams. I feel like a little bird in a cage....but I know I have the wings to fly and make changes.

So I am at the crossroads right now, I can either stay the way I am....or embrace the future, and live my life. My Aunt threw those words at me over the weekend, and yes she is right, I can either sit around waiting for God, of go for it and embrace life as I did a few years ago. Of course there are many changes, children are adults now, and no longer need my full attention, The house still feels so unfamiliar after the restoration...if you don't know we had a major house fire 3 years ago, and I find myself almost guarding my nest in case it happens all over again. I no longer have my dogs to walk each day and so much of my creativity has vanished. But I am sure it will all come back and hit me on the head. he he

When I listened to My Aunt I suddenly took on old age as something to look forward to...she is active in the community, learned to drive at 61, loves to dress up and indeed she is very trendy.. She has enrolled to take a computer course, which will open a whole new world for her as she knows nothing about this technology....rock on girl you will soon be blogging and setting up on Facebook! Oh and at 76 she is off to have her first Tattoo this week!!

Last week I has a 2 day adventure of my own, a trip away was just what i needed to boost my self esteem. Facing my fears was not easy but the feeling afterwards was euphoric. No monsters those 2 days He he x
So onward and upward one day at a time. I have booked a short break to my favourite part of the world....yep you have guessed Norfolk. i will be taking part in a yoga and meditation workshop and after I am chilled and calm spend the next couple of days revisiting favourite familiar places and catching up with a very special friend.Maybe we will get to sail paper boats, throw found driftwood back into the sea on a new journey, and of course sip tea and eat cake in a steamy tea shop :)
Hopefully standing on my own 2 feet for a few days will be the foundations for a new confident journey ahead, and I will dance down that yellow brick road just like the lion with his friends. You never know I might even join my aunt and get a tattoo!!!! lol 

The next full moon is on the 12th September which will be the start of my trip....and I will be looking at that moon and making a wish and reaching up for new hopes and dreams.Watch this space :) Hugs 4 smiles M x

Butterflies, fairies and lollipops :)

Auntie Margaret and me!

Meeting up with one of my aunts this weekend was therapy indeed. My family is one divided and I had not seen Margaret for a very long time, over 25 years, and until now I have seen few of my extended family, my parents died a fair while ago, so this was a chance to discover a little bit about me and my roots.
I have a few childhood memories of Margaret, my uncle and my 2 cousins, and the same goes for many other aunts cousins and extended family. 
Margeret was so very welcoming and we had a lovely weekend catching up with chit chat.Old albums were brought out to ponder over while we sipped tea and munched on lovely light Welsh cakes, she lives in Wales and is very proud to do so. We also got to learn a few Welsh sayings and discovered lots of Welsh culture.

My great Grandmother

My Great Great Grandmother

Over the past few years I have spent time tracing the Wall family tree, and have researched back to 1700 and discovered where and when these people lived but until now many have remained faceless.Margaret enlightened us with happy and sad stories of days gone by and helped fill in some of the gaps. Many of my ancestors came from Shropshire and worked on the land and judging by their photos life was quite tough.
As we turned the pages I could find few facial similarities between myself and the eyes looking back at me, I suppose I have taken my Mothers Jewish looks on instead! But some of the stories my aunt shared made me realise some of these people had left their footprint on my funny little ways. I discovered my Gran loved fairies and always decorated a small tree at Christmas with lollipops for the children who dropped by. If you have read any of my other posts you will know my fascination with fairies, perhaps it is due to her that I break the shell of a boiled egg on finishing it, to let the fairy out. And up until a few years ago I always decorated a branch sprayed with gold and silver paint with colourful lollipops for anyone who dropped by over the festive season. I seem to of stopped doing this now my gang have grown up, but maybe its time to return to the tradition!
I am the worlds worst fidget and rarely keep still....oh and talk to myself....light candles each day and it appears my aunt is the same. I worry sometimes about old age too, but Margaret is 76, wears really trendy clothes, loves life, and buzzes around like someone much younger.....oh and she is also having a tattoo done next week of 2 butterflies....I am a fan of butterflies too. 'When I am old I will will wear purple' springs to mind, but in this case its 'when I am old I will have a tattoo'....he he 

My Grandmother and Grandfather on a day out

                                       

A young grandfather

Granny as a girl

It was fantastic to gather up the stories of her childhood with her brothers and sisters, and all the extended family, the album really came to life.And I feel I have discovered a little bit about me!

My Gran, Margaret on right, Peg (Primrose left) Clive (my Father) in front

So if you have an elderly relative, drop by and get them to chat about the 'good old days' you will be surprised at the little snippets of information that they give you about family....and Oh boy do we have lots of skeletons in the cupboard!!! But that's another story.
Hugs for now M xx

Dreams and Driftwood

Aberdeen 

I seem to of been in hibernation for a bit, creativity has eluded me these past few weeks, but once again I have bounced back for a while anyway!! The picture of distant boats on the sea at Aberdeen reminded me of my Paper Boats, setting them to sail and hoping they reach their destination.Words written oh so carefully on  paper, of secrets hopes and dreams, then carefully folding the paper into a little boat, and letting it free on the waves, along with its spell, watching it drift away on its own, finding its path and enjoying the adventure, a bit like me really, seeking out a new journey, new dreams to reach for. 

I know I am not the only person who sends dreams across the ocean....I have a friend who on finding driftwood, sends it back on its journey after whispering a few quiet words. I wonder if their hopes and dreams are similar to mine.. maybe.. I shall never know. But its a bit like a child crossing their fingers for luck....you never know what may come back :)

 I picked up some driftwood on the beach in Aberdeen and unlike my friend I brought them home to capture their colours and textures in pencil. I wonder what stories these sea washed branches can tell? Adventures from all over, stopping here and there for a moment... or longer, someone walking on by and throwing them back, or a dog picking them up taking them to their owner for a game of fetch. Children decorating sandcastles, or playing games of dragons and knights in armour, with the branches becoming swords, or people like me stopping to admire their rugged beauty and wonder......making up fanciful stories....

You know I do believe paper boats come home, and driftwood keeps its words of dreams inside resting one day on the beach....and like the boats when they are discovered by the right recipient the words are shared..... Who knows...Dreams can come true....
Well hugs 4 smiles, and I hope your dreams come true as well xxx

Endings and New Beginnings.....

Hello all, hope everything is good in your world? I have been busy lately so there has been little time for dropping by here. Our house right now is full of endings and new beginnings. Morgan has come to the end of his school life and moves on to Uni in the Autumn....as does his girlfriend Em. Charlene graduated from Aberdeen Uni last week and is now taking that scary step into the workplace. Gareth is about to change his job and move on to greater things, and his wife Sarah has just qualified as a Doctor. So lots of changes for them....of luck gang and I am proud of each and every one of you x

I realised along time ago, you only borrow your children, nurture them, love them and guide them. Enjoy as many moments as you can with them as they grow up so fast. Let them go and tread the path of life, spreading their wings, allowing them to reach for their hopes and dreams. Now I stand on the sidelines and watch....giving them guidance if need be, a shoulder to cry on and the odd dinner or two....oh and some things will never change... my love for you all.....x

So I believe now its new beginnings for me....where this path will go I have no idea....all I can say is, it will be fun finding out! xx

Bright lights ...oh and more strawberries!!

Hello once again  :) I hope all is bright and happy in your world? 

My days have been busy, gathering yet more strawberries, we are now up to 75pounds! But the crop has now finished....good in one way as I will admit I am getting tired of the red juicy sweet fruits. some nights as I shut my eyes the first image that pops in my mind is a bowl of strawberries! Now I am on to gathering broad beans, blackberries, mange tout, beetroot, broccoli and redcurrants. As I shelled the peas and beans and prepared blackcurrants yesterday, my youngest son said "You know that is why we have Tescos to make life easy, pop in buy the veg, take home, cook, eat and enjoy", he has a point, it took a good couple of hours to finish the task. But when I served up some of the bounty for Sunday dinner the chore was forgotten and the taste of freshly gathered and prepared food was sooooooooo good.
I have also had some creative days, another bag based on the Bright Lights theme that I and a few other textile artists are working to. Hopefully this time next year we will be taking our combined work on exhibition.

This work started life as pieces of collaged vintage textiles and threads, then heavily machine stitched together to form a whole cloth. The shapes of these bags are based on loose drawings of the human form. Once cut out the new cloth is embellished, lined and stitched. Apart from small seed beads I make all the components myself, again using up-cycled ingredients! The colours are based on some lovely dancing bright light reflections across the water in Sydney Harbour. A feast of colour for the eyes that always inspire me on my creative journeys. I return to these images time and time again. 

 Detail of hand made cords and beads

Close up detail of design and stitch

 Contrasting lining

Another close up of detail

I hope you have enjoyed the riot of colour and its made you smile and brightened your day? 

Hugs 4 smiles M xx