A Cornish Chill....

Hello my lovelies!

How are you all doing?

Today sees me back at the computer,
back in normal mode
back home here in the Fens...

For the past couple of weeks Mr T and myself have been investigating 

the gorgeous delights of southern Cornwall, right at the very end of 

civilization as we know it, here in the UK!

What do I mean by that?

Well, simply put, we have been holidaying amongst the

most rural part of our little island in amongst the

granite and moss, walking in amongst the wildflowers and

hedgerow lanes.

It doesn't sound alot really does it?

For us though, it was a holiday of a lifetime.

Following Mr T's diagnosis of cancer four years ago and then secondary cancer last year meant we haven't had a 'proper' switch off holiday in four years; and even more poignantly for us, we weren't really sure we ever really would have again...

Cornwall stole our hearts a few years ago and it was Cornwall that took us in her arms

to soothe our worried souls when we first received the diagnosis four years ago.

Naturally, it seemed the perfect place to return to in order to 

recover a little from last year's journey....

Our intention was to do nothing...

but for anyone who knows this part of our island, that's not easy when 

 there is simply too much

history and natural beauty for an old Fen bird like me to ignore!

We stayed as far south of Cornwall as you can get,

 amongst the ruggedness of an ancient moorland that holds 

some of the most beautiful tales and stories.

Sadly, it also holds tales of  the sad reality of an immense hardship 

from an industrial mining area many Cornish folks had to endure..
I think coming from the Fens, I could totally relate to the community comradeship
that many families took as normal life.

Everyone associates this area with the romantic view of Poldark now but visiting many of the small hamlets and villages and tuning in to the history of 'Kernow' (Cornwall)

you really couldn't be further from the truth if you tried.
The average life span for a miner back in the 19th century was only 39 years if he was lucky.
Most children worked in the mines from the age of 10 and then were sacked at 16 so owners didn't have to pay an adult wage.
Their stories write our history and like many tales from our past, sadly
it is not a way of life many of us these days are happy to hear about and yet
we all have a connection to these memories in some way or another.

Southern Cornwall makes no apology for their style of tourism.

What you see is what you get!

There are no fancy frills, no twee bunting like in many Cornish hotspots.

You are greeted with an attitude of 'this is us, take it or leave it' 

which as a Fen 'gal I quite like!

Of course there are some absolutely beautiful gems to be found if you only search for them...

These three-cornered leeks were everywhere and I fell in love with them!

Aren't they the most adorable little gems?

Their stems are what they say...three-cornered!

Little Cornish booties dancing in the breeze...

 

In amongst the down time of not walking, photographing or exploring,

I loved investigating the flora and fauna of the Cornish hedgerows around us.

Colour was simply everywhere.

May is definitely a beautiful time of year to see her sparkle.

And the added bonus of course to that is that there is so much inspiration 

for my little doodles and designs....

It was absolutely beautiful to sit in the Cornish sunshine watching the wildlife chatter about me

whilst I captured the sights around me...

I felt like Beatrix Potter with the bunnies skipping in the buttercup meadow!

I've always loved Beatrix but spending two weeks studying bunnies I have a new found admiration for her.

Why?

Well, she didn't rely on taking snaps with her camera or mobile as we do today.

She relied solely on her ability to observe, for what must've been absolutely hours, to then follow with sketches in order to draw her illustrations.

Amazing...

There is way too much to write about Cornwall in one post so I've leave that for another day.

In the meantime, here is a little snippet of few Cornish memories...

Wildflowers, granite tors, azure seas,

art & design, a new language, Living Stones,

ancient history, Cream Teas,ever-changing skies,

ferns, harbours, sunsets, meandering lanes leading nowhere,

Colour, vintage gems, an old way of life,

calmness...

If you've never explored this part of the British Isles, 

I thoroughly recommend you give it a go...

I will post more pics on my Facebook page so do pop by...

In the meantime

I'll say toodle-ooh for now!

November Slowly Beckons...

Hello lovelies

Thank you for popping by last weekend.

It was lovely to know so many of you enjoy my little Fen ramblings on life...

So, today sees the official start of

the darker season after turning back the clocks last night...

Did you remember?

As Autumn continues to swish and  twirl in her silky petticoats as she performs her much rehearsed daliances, she's leaving a beautiful veil of misty cobwebs all around us her in the Fens as we watch the Earth slowly dying and decaying in between the nooks and crannies.

I know for some of you all this may seem a sad time of the year but I believe it is a wonderful time of year.

For me, Autumn is always a season I welcome.

It always means it is a time for reflections...

It's time to allow our bodies to slow a pace and take time to take notice of the stillness in the air as Winter is preparing to start off on her journey and is meandering our way...

Have you ever thought about how the trees never want to cling on to their leaves,

they simply watch them tumble towards a new path.

I think Autumn is a generous lady who allows us to release the old to make way for the new

in our own little way...

We all have a story to tell of how life has ventured during the year.

I for one won't be sorry to say goodbye to this year in many ways 

and yet I am really looking forward to that new path ahead..

This year has seen me travelling up and down the motorways more times than I've ever done in my life before, for both happy & sad reasons.

I'm a firm believer in things happening for reasons often unknown to us at the time so I usually try to find the positives that sit alongside their negative playmates...

So, what's my reflection on the outcome of all that travelling?

Well, for one as a driver who isn't really that confident I can now hold my own on a motorway with the white van bully boys, I can now understand when Sat Nav Simon says keep right he doesn't actually mean turn right he means keep straight (and yes we have had words over that description with each other many a time!) and finally I have learnt that despite building up the number of miles on my little car's speedo, I in fact still absolutely hate motorway driving with a passion!

On a positive of course all that driving has enabled me to work in a many new venues, meet loads of beautiful people, watch my book being turned into a reality and

enjoy seeing a little more of Britain that I haven't seen before.

And so...

the first day of Autumnal darker days sees me finally snuggled in at home with my sparkly lights aglow again (I LOVE sparkly lights!!!) looking forward to a new season of so many sweet things... but that's another post!

For now I'm just chuffed to be snuggled in my cosy home with Mr T ,

 slowly stepping toward our festive celebrations...

Until we natter next time folks...

Toodle-ooh for now

Tilly 

x x x

A Year of Nature Walks....

Hello lovelies!

How are you all?

Deccies are packed safely away now until the next Yuletide,

our little home has finally been dusted again and January awaits with bitterly cold eagerness!

I suffer so bad with the cold as I have several ailments that abhor the cold but 

despite this I LOVE this time of year...

I love the winter sparkle

I love the winter crispness

I also love the winter hues at this time of year

New beginnings

Frosty mornings

time to stitch a new patch on your

life's quilt of memories...

So having gathered my thoughts after a very stressful end to 2106

I am now ready to face a new year ahead of beautiful smiles...

I very rarely make New Year's Resolutions as I often 

fall at the first hurdle of just the basics....consistency!

So instead, my philosophy in life has always been the same since a teenager....

slow and steady wins the race...

I write lists and have fun watching them slowly be ticked off, as and when.

This year my list consist of only one thing so far and that is to make myself get out more

to walk and photograph Mother Nature in all her finest splendour.

I know I do that already but this year I am on a mission to

make it a more determined effort.

All of my workshops and exhibits this year will have a theme running through them...

'Inspired By Nature'

Mother Nature is always waiting for a visit from us.

She offers us a free hug when we need one.

She listens to us when we need an ear.

And in return she offers silence for those who listen.

I have decided that photographs from my  #ayearofnaturewalks will be posted on my Instagram page

for anyone who wishes to have a nosey or join me.

You can find me here on the link Tilly Rose Instagram

I have been teaching a variety of crafts based around the ethos of well-being for so many years now

and I always use Mother Nature as an inspiration to encourage others to 'have-a-go' at something...

I shall be using my photographs on my workshops to continue this during the year.

I will be showcasing many techniques that some of you may not have encountered before or perhaps have not even considered having a go at doing.

I love to push boundaries...

I like to bridge the gap between a variety of crafts, combine them with my love of cloth and thread and add layers to my projects.

I always add in a flavour of nostalgia of course and 

mix in a blend of creativity to shout happiness from the roof tops.

* slow stitching * free motion embroidery * patchwork * mixed media * textile art * weaving * 

I will also be experimenting with new products and 

giving you tips on how to include them in your own designs.

If you are interested, I shall be posting details of my workshops onto my website and Facebook page next week once I have given them a little TLC and a fresh lick of paint for 

the New Year ahead so to speak!

I am only doing a few workshops so don't miss out on booking your place if

you are interested as I know they will go fast.

In the meantime I shall wander the paths and byways up and down the UK

to capture snippets of beauty that so often get overlooked by most.

You never know we may just bump into each other now and then!

Wishing you a beautiful weekend my lovelies...

toodle-ooh for now!

September Equinox...

Morning my lovelies!

How are we all?

Today celebrates our September Equinox which welcomes Autumn with all her beauty... 

a change in the seasons...

Evenings will become slightly darker soon, curtains will need to be closed to keep in the warmth and  our gardens will turn their thoughts towards closing their eyes for a little nap as Winter waits at the front door to be let in.

For me, Autumn brings such joy....

Having had a very busy summer working at a variety of events around the UK this year, I have to say I am really looking forward to getting back into snuggling up on the sofa with a good book or sitting down to blog. doing a little slow stitching or even crocheting...

It is also a time that I feel I can re-connect with Mother Earth a little more...

I always think Autumn allows us time to slow down a little to notice those treasured snippets of beauty.

We are only here for a fleeting moment on this beautiful earth and are often so busy simply getting through our daily lives that we miss Mother Nature's gems. 

We need to nurture our planet with human warmth and kindness.....

often a walk in the woods, a glimpse of a deer saying good morning, blinking at a flock of birds migrating or listening to a Robin's chorus can bring us those happy smiles.

These are just some of the ways we can chat with Mother Earth...

to keep us grounded with what is real in life.

What really matters.

We are simply keepers of this land until a new generation comes along and each season reminds us of our own walk through time.

Instead of feeling down about it we should be rejoicing in all of our new seasons with a warmth for the ever turning tides of history.

how many times do we hear or even say "gosh I'm getting old, time is slipping away too fast..."

I hear it all to often on my travels.

My answer is always the same.... 

enjoy today

enjoy minute by minute

simply enjoy...

Celebrate Autumn with a little love in your heart for this beautiful time of year...

Let her hold your hand and guide you through the cooler evenings,

She's only stopping by for a short time before she visits her next family.

So enjoy her company, relax in her glorious golden tones 

and simply 'borrow a moment or to' from her to add to your patchwork of special memories

however happy or sad those memories may be.

Toodle-ooh for now!

Happiness at the bottom of the garden....

Hello my lovelies...

Only one day left of February 2016

Am I happy or sad???

Well I have to say that February always brings hers challenges...cold, greyness, gloom, frost

and more cold...

For this ol Fen bird living with Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis and 

Raynaud's my poor little stitchy fingers really do suffer dreadfully....

BUT

February also brings hope... hope that warmer days are on their way soon...

My flowers are ready to start doodling all over my garden again and bring

the outside alive with the promise that lighter days are definitely on the agenda!

Soon the country patchwork will bloom also....

Every where there is new life beginning to set down roots...even if it is in the wrong place...

This is my little basket of what was a gorgeous array of pansies but the foxgloves have decided they are moving in!

I'm a firm believer in letting Mother Nature decide most of my garden design.

She knows what works best with the soil, looks best in the right place with the right neighbours.

if you put your trust in her she will happily guide you....

I'm always amused at how much we all spend in Garden Centres trying to paint our own pictures

Man has always decided he knows best and often spends a whole lifetime arguing with her, trying to stamp his own designs on a landscape and yet Mother Nature will  always win the argument; however long it takes!

So to celebrate the dawning of Springtime I have spent this afternoon 

baking special treats for my visitors...

Hope they like this year's recipe!

I was lucky enough to spend some time capturing some fab little gems with my camera before the weather turned chilly.

I love the reflections hiding in my glass baubles hanging on my cherry tree...

So after a fab afternoon I've refreshed my Fen roots with a little weeding therapy

and oh boy has it made such a difference being able to work outside finally.

Am I the only one who finds happiness at the bottom of my garden with a bucket

of  weedy stems?

Just need to chat with the fairies before I go and warm my toes by the fire...

Toodle-ooh for now!

Creating an Autumnal Design - FREE TUTORIAL

Hello my lovelies...

Following on from my last blog post, as promised, here is my tutorial on how to use Mother Nature's inspiration to help you with designing a project....

The number one question I am always asked is "As a textile artist, how do you know where to start when designing?"

the answer is simple... I don't!

I'm a firm believer in letting a design evolve in an organic way and apply this philosophy

to all my designing but I know that many crafters find this concept quite hard to follow.

If you love stitching, by hand or machine, you will want to experiment with colour, texture and of course think of your own designs.

Once you have gained confidence in your actual stitching from using a pattern you will want to move on and start designing your own projects.

I've previously written a tutorial on how to gain inspiration from Mother Nature to help you get started which you can read here

Today I am showing you how to use those ideas in the next stage of your designing...

Using elements from Mother Nature...

I hope you will gain some ideas from the following tutorial....

Creating an Autumnal Design

Last week I collected these leaves on an early morning walk not knowing quite 

what I wanted to do with them.

I simply loved the colours, the smells, the shapes and the textures!

I wanted to capture their beauty for future projects.

So, how to get started transforming them into a design?

Start by photographing each leaf in turn to show more detail and finer points to include in your design.

 Take time to look carefully at the colours, the shades and how the pattern emerges together

The next step is to capture your leaves actually onto paper for future reference.

You do not need to be an artist to do this....

Using a normal HB pencil and piece of plain white paper, simply trace a fine line around each leaf in turn to help you become familiar with the shape of each leaf.

Please do not worry about being exact because you can add a little more detail once you start shading.

You may want to only use the outline of your leaf for a particular design rather than a full leaf so try experimenting with ideas.

I like to use Derwent Artist's drawing pencils but you can use any medium you prefer.

You may prefer to use felt -tips (for a firmer outline), charcoal or even watercolour pencils

that you can later add more detail to.

The process is simply to take things back to basics and look at the shape of the leaf

and how the shading alters the actual look of the leaf.

Allow yourself permission to take time and focus on the leaf itself.....

These doodles will form the foundation of your designs however you decided to use them.

You can keep them as a visual reference and if you combine them with your original photos

you will have a choice of designs.

I chose a few of my leaves to combine to compare shapes and designs....

Here are a few questions that may help you decide what to look for when doodling...

Do you want to capture the glossiness of the surface?

Have you looked carefully at the leaf veins?

How many colours will you need to use?

Don't forget you DON'T have to use the exact colouring...

It is your interpretation.

You are simply using this as part of deciding how you would use your leaves in your design.

There are no right or wrong ways!

Even if you have no idea of how your leaves will be used in a design as yet you will have your doodles in your reference library that you can use time and time again....

You may want to use them for 

- hand embroidery

- free motion embroidery

- machine embroidery

-applique

- mixed media collage

- card making

I have used my designs on a piece of calico with some free motion embroidery

which I may make into a bigger piece of textile art

You can see that I have used the actual size of the leaves but you can of course reduce or 

increase your sizes to suit your project.

I often draw with my enbroidery threads creating shading as I work but you may want to work on top of your designs if you have maybe painted them onto fabric.

Of course, you will need to make sure you use washable markers if you intend to launder your actual project.

If you would like some more inspiration for Autumnal projects you can check out my Pinterest board

here

I hope these few simple rules will help

when starting to design...

I would love to see some of your lovely projects...

Happy stitching...

Tilly

x x x