It started with just a little thread...

Morning lovelies!

What a gem of a morning...

The birds are nattering while the bees are meandering.

A delightful day if ever there was one!

It seemed like the perfect time to share the news with you all

that soon my book Stitched Memories will be available to purchase.

I am beyond delighted to say the least.

Never in a million month of Sundays did I think that this little 'ol Fen bird who

is as as odd as the most quirkiest being about, 

would be lucky enough to write a book...

You see....coming from the Fens...well it's not something you usually do is it?

Now if you had said when I was growing up that

I would be the owner of a potato picking firm or 

a tractor driver, well you'd probably be much nearer the mark!

But as I've already mentioned I'm an odd bod.

I like to look for the unusual in the ordinary.

Someone who loves to capture those everyday stories and turn them into a treasured

marriage of cloth and thread...

So how did I get to write a book?

You may well ask...

Like everything in life, it's simply the luckiest thing of

being in the right place, at the right time,

talking to the right person indeed.

I've dreamed of writing a book since I could read and write

but this frizzy haired wild bird was rubbish at school. I got bored easily.

Science and Maths dumbfounded me and still do at times. And yet they totally fascinate me.

The only subjects that grabbed my attention were Needlework, Art and English, oh and Cooking (to which my waistline showcases very well!)

But you see, those subjects have done me proud...

As many of you know, my background was in Education.

I am a trained Visual Impairment Advisor, specialising in Early Years.

Over the years, I have been privileged to help support and teach many

beautiful children and young adults with additional needs and disabilities.

Knowing my own struggles has helped me really sympathise in understanding how a One Size Box does NOT fit all sizes.

 Alongside my teaching days, I always crafted.

It was a passion of mine from an early age

and eventually it has ended up that I am now teaching the joy of being creative through stitching full time.

What's the secret to inspire others?

It's easy....

Simply show the beauty and wonder of the world that surrounds us in every minute of every day and help others to see it's Ok to not be perfect.

Not to be precise is considered a No No in sewing and yet...

Our Mums and Grannies often didn't look at things that way.

Sewing was more often than not a necessity and so with it came the responsibility

of making things work with warped cloth, using not so perfect thread, piecing together scraps to create a whole.

I'm afraid, for me that is what sewing really entails....

When it was suggested a couple of years ago by Search Press, (the world's finest art and craft book publisher I might add) that I write down my ramblings to help inspire others in the form of a craft book, I jumped at the chance.

I was totally blown away.

The fact that someone thought I was capable of writing a book...

As I've got older and wiser, I truly believe that everyone has a gift in some way or another.

Mine is simply to share my love of cloth and thread and use my skills as a tutor

to inspire and guide you...

And so through many many stressful hours of writing, a book evolved.

Two thirds of it was left on the cutting room floor because I had written too much information due to space constraints...something that took a while getting my head around to be honest

but now I've seen the final copy I totally forgive my editor!

I've decided to write those snippets here on my blog so you don't miss out...

So, where to get hold of my book?

Well there are a variety of ways...

I shall be doing lots of book signings with Search Press at some of the big

Needlework Shows this year as well as some smaller events at some of my favourite

workshop venues which will include some scrumptious vintage tea parties...

You can find details here on my website

I will also be offering the chance to get a signed copy of the book on my website with a little extra surprise gift as well

as appearing on the Sewing Quarter Channel with a Book Launch on 30th July.

Lots going on!

I will of course be shouting from the rooftops on my Facebook page also.

So for now I will simply leave you counting down the days to Mr Postie arriving....

Thanks for dropping by and saying hello!

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 Few Autumnal Thoughts...

Hello my lovelies!

Gosh it has been months since I set foot in my little blog home...

It's a little dusty with a few cobwebs hiding in the corners 

but the familiarity is making my heart sing.

Oh how I've missed saying hello!

It's a little like returning home after a holiday and having that wonderful

warm fuzzy feeling of home.

As some of you may know this year has been a box of all sorts of flavours 

for all sorts of reasons

... some very sweet moments hidden under the many varied layers of very sour 

cheek-sucking gems.

Blogging seems to have slipped by the by simply due to time.

Finally though after a very tough time, I do feel as if I am finally able to do a little meamble swim towards the surface for a few bubbles and Autumnal gasps...

So I thought I would take sometime to reflect and refresh on a few thoughts.

Autumn is usually my most favourite time of year to do all kinds of gorgeous things

 but this year, I think I will just be grateful to sit and watch the leaves simply fall around me 

while I rest my weary bones.

It will give me time to stay still and let Mother Earth sing her gentle lullaby while time

slowly glides past at a pace I feel I can handle.

And so... although feeling exhausted and 

having to rest, there is a positive, 

as resting brings me back to my little home of blogging and allows me time to 

slowly catch my breath again which I am delighted about!

It's my little holiday home of calm to capture my Fenland meandering thoughts on life.

I've been blogging since around the beginning of 2007.

Originally, it was my little hideaway safe haven whilst coping with everyday life, learning to live with an invisible illness to many, that was relatively never mentioned and very little was understood about the cause or treatment.... Fibromyalgia

Over the years I've learnt to live with my invisible siamese twin Fibro 

with every waking moment of each day.

Our intense relationship has managed to work together for over 20 years despite

the many arguments.

I learnt back in the early days of diagnosis that taking each day and staying positive was only the way forward to survive.

So I know I'm very blessed that I can still work doing something I love...

 And so, back to the here and now....

My first blog post in a very long time...

Work wise, despite this year being a bit of a clanger I have learnt how to...

- take a selfie and be brave enough to post it! (I hate my pic being taken!)

- wandered along a path with my creativity that I feel is beginning to finally reflect my true self which sounds crackers after being creative since the year dot!

-win an award for first prize at a major event

-write a book.

My first ever book ,Stitched Memories will be published by Search Press early next year and launched in the sunnier months of early Summer (she says grinning like a cheshire cat!!!)

It is my book of Inspirations on how to capture your ever day moments and treasured memories through a selection of slow stitching and free motion embroidery projects.

...my way of leaving a little trail of stitched stories for my future family members showcasing my loves in life and what makes me tick on a daily basis!

I've wanted to write a book since I was a small child and have several stories written but never thought it would be a book about crafts that I would see sitting on a shelf!

So, having done a little stock take of life in the Tilly Rose world I guess what I'm saying a long winded affair is that I feel I can begin to face the dreary cold Fenland months with a little creative smile after all.

Sometimes I think it is good to see the positives in front of you when having been faced with a few negatives of late...

Over the next few months I shall be updating my little cosy home with a few alterations so keep in touch if you fancy seeing the results.

Nothing like a grand makeover but just a few paint touch ups if you know what I mean!

In the meantime 

I will say toodle-ooh for now.

Happy Autumnal Blessings folks!

Looking forward to speaking again 

with you all soon

Tilly x

Stitched memories with cloth and thread...

Hello my lovelies...

Today saw me trundling along the dual carriageway towards 

the NEC in Birmingham for some serious coffee meetings.

Stitches is one of the biggest trade shows for the creative craft industry, 

held annually at NEC, Birmingham.

Anyone working within the industry, traders, retailers & suppliers all get together 

to look at current trends, new products and supplies... and loads of coffee drinking!

I met with many fab people, all of whom are going to be

supporting my book 'Stitched Memories'

I have to say I am a tad excited....just a teeny weeny bit!

It's becoming a little real now....

The wheels are beginning to turn in motion.

We all add a little stitch here and there to our own life's quilt, 

full of precious memories as time goes by.

 In my book, I want to give you all some ideas

and inspiration as to how and what you can actually do with those memories.

As a textile artist I work with a huge variety of fabrics, trims, notions and found objects.

I LOVE pushing the boundaries to see what can be achieved...

As time ticks by I will tell you a little more but thought I'd leave you with some snippets

to introduce my book for now...

If you are a lover of traditional needlecraft then hopefully I can bring a little smile or two for you... 

obviously when I've actually written it that is!

But in the meantime I am off to put my feet up for a well earned rest...