Monday 14 September 2015

Autumn Look Back





What does Autumn mean to you? Cooler weather? The end of summer? Nights drawing in? Downhill all the way? Personally, I've always enjoyed Autumn. Possibly because September is my birthday month, but mainly because I've always seen it as a New Beginning. This stems from schooldays, of course, but decades later, that feeling lingers on. I look forward to a change in my cooking, what I'm wearing, and sometimes even an improvement in television programmes! I don't focus on the coming bad weather, or being clogged up to the knees by fallen leaves in our garden. Our cottage, dark even on the brightest summer day, comes into its own when the weather is grey, enfolding us with its thick walls;  the low, beamed ceilings and small windows keeping the warmth in. Autumn is a good time to pause and look back at the year so far, and I've been doing this a lot recently.

Remember in early spring, I said I felt an uncomfortable restlessness? That feeling manifested itself as a very strong desire to move further east of the county, to a lovely market town called Fakenham. I'm not going into the whys and wherefores, suffice it to say, that after a good deal of effort on my part, we shall NOT be moving. I'm very sad about it, but there we are, not up for discussion on here because to be honest a) it still upsets me and b) I am totally bored going over and over the reasons why and why not. Instead, we have an action plan for changing a few things round here, both in the cottage and in our lives. Sometimes out of sadness comes forth sweetness. I think that's a quote from the bible but no idea where.

So that, in a nutshell is why there have been few posts this year. Too much going on, and then, finally, too upset to post. Even my beloved Burwell Bash didn't happen for me this year, though we did drive over there for the Friday afternoon concert. It was a good move, and re-connected me with my "Other Family", in fact I was hugged to death, I felt so happy to have been remembered by everyone.


The moment when Tola Custy, fiddle tutor and internationally renowned fiddle player, noticed me in the audience. Also seen are my lovely friends Debs, Jayne, Thelma, and Jude, with Nicky at the back with a tree growing out of his head!

I have done a couple of craft fairs this summer, at the Fakenham Makers Market and also the second summer at Back to the Garden in Letheringsett where the sun shone both days, I sold a bit, got a commission, and interest shown by the owner of an interior design shop in Kensington. (I didn't follow this one up, as I don't want to change what I do, nor be burdened by deadlines, but it was very flattering, nonetheless.)


The hare cushion could have sold several times over! I must make another one of these, they seem popular.


I did the June Fakenham Makers Market as I told you in my last post; in August I didn't have a stand but had promised to provide some "musical wallpaper" with my two friends Marj and Rob. We played for two hours and enjoyed ourselves. Apparently we went down well with the punters and stall holders.  I'm busy preparing more cushions for this month's craft fair, at the moment.

Earlier this month I attended a great mosaic workshop with the lovely Carolyn Ash, who incidentally made one of the Go-Go Dragons exhibited around Norwich. I've always loved mosaics and am now busy collecting and smashing crockery to make my own. Here are some photos to give you an idea how we got on.


My effort, un-grouted. I could have placed the pieces closer together, but you learn as you go along.


My "Heart" mosaic, grouted and some glitter added to the spaces. I'm quite pleased with it.




Two small mosaics by the other students on the day. We had great fun!


                                One of Carolyn's mirror frames Oh! Look! Who's that??

A lady who was a student of Carolyn a couple of years ago, now makes her own brilliant mosaic art. Sue Welfare, a novelist, felt-maker, artist and mosaicist, lives in Norfolk and is also a regular on the craft fair circuit. I saw this wonderful piece on her stand at the Burnham Market Craft Fair a couple of weeks ago.


This is "Star-gazey Pie" and I love it to pieces. I have a very special place in mind for this which I'll tell you about in another post. I just love the amount of detail Sue has managed to suggest in this piece; the fresh sardines sticking their heads out of the pie-crust, sitting on the kitchen table next to a vase of flowers, in front of the kitchen fire-place. Absolutely genius! I'm off this week to see more of Sue and Carolyn's work at Mosaic Madness, an exhibition being held until the 19th September at the Dragonfly Hall in Watton, Norfolk. Do go and see it, you Norfolk readers!

So there we are, finally got my act together and got this written. Profuse apologies to all my blogging friends - having distanced myself from my own blog I found myself unable to even look at yours let alone read and comment on them. I have a huge amount of catching up to do! Fingers crossed I won't be as slow getting the follow-up written! Happy Autumns, everyone!

18 comments:

  1. Nice to have you back! Desires, feelings, wants and needs are what keep us going sometimes. I think they are like ships that pass in the night, some are meant to be boarded, some are not:) I just wish sometimes, i could summon the strength to climb the rope ladders i am supposed to!,

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    1. Thanks Dc. Yes, you just have to wave goodbye to some plans which are never going to come to fruition, and move on.

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  2. Beautiful mosaics and felt creations, Lynne!!!! :) See you soon I hope xx

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    1. Thanks Lizzy. Yes, catch up on the horizon, I hope! Lx

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  3. Interesting reading here about your desire to move - I'll share with you via PM on FB our situation. LOVE the work you've done - I design wedding stationery and am currently working on a commission - it's been put on the back burner because of the scarecrow fest but I must make a move with it ....we have a pumpkin fest planned for 31st October! No rest for the wicked!

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    1. Hi Denise, thanks for kind remarks! And I have seen your lovely stationery, you are certainly further up the business ladder than I ever hope to be! Yes, do PM me. Lx

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  4. nice to have a catch up on what's happening - sorry that your plans to move have had to change but your cottage always looks so lovely in your photo's to me - a big change is on the horizon for us next year when dave retires and i would be devastated if that didn't happen so i hope you begin to feel better soon - i love all your cushions but the flower ones are my favourites - lovely to see your progress with the mosiacs ..... also well done for declining an order from london!!! how lovely to be asked though!! take care xxx

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    1. Hi Lynne. Yes, all very sad, and yes, I do know how lovely our cottage is, but there are inevitably things about it which won't "do" as we get older. Also Kings Lynn is our local town and I hate it. But there we are. Thanks for your ongoing support! It's always good to hear people like what I make. Lxxxx

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  5. Good Morning Sweet Lynne, I can not even start to tell you how happy it makes me feel to see you back among your blogging sisters. You have been missed! We had the hottest summer of my life, but this week it is suppose to cool down and stay cool all week . . . Hurrah! I am so tried of sweating, LOL. We had one day that got up to 112 degrees and two months with three digit numbers.
    Enough about that. I'm sorry to hear that you didn't get to make the move you were wanting, but don't give up on your dream . . . it could be that the timing just wasn't right. My Steve refused to even think about moving, and when we bought this place it seemed almost like a miracle. Things and people change:) Love that you are getting into mosaics, but never stop stitching, your items are beautiful and I can see why the hare cushion is so popular, it strikes a cord in me too. :)
    Welcome back, I missed you.
    Connie :)

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    1. Dear Connie, how wonderful of you to still be checking my posts after such a long break! And thank you for your (as always) lovely comments. I certainly shan't stop stitching, but i see the connection with mosaics and quilting and rag rug making …. little bits brought together to make something new! You have had a better summer than us, and we are definitely into Autumn now - hurrah for soups and casseroles, my favourite kind of cooking! Much love, Lynne xxx

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  6. Dear Lynne, lovely Autumnal post. I too start afresh September (a fellow Virgo). I love your designs and the mosaics are really special. This year is a very hard one I agree... I hope next year is better. Sending positive things and warm wishes - Ali XxxxxX

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    1. Dear Ali! Yes it has been testing! But here's to good things happening again. Lxx

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  7. I've watched for you daily! Sooo happy you're back. I have the same feelings about Autumn home. Cozier I think and I want to cook more and do more makes....just comfortable. I am not much of a Summer person. We all have plans and dreams that don't always pan out but we still have the comfort of HOME.

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    1. Hi Linda - bless you for keeping faith despite my terrible posting record!! I'm already planning soups and casseroles - really enjoy my cooking in Autumn. xx

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  8. Great to hear you've been doing fine this summer, Lynne !
    That mosaic course gave wonderful results !
    And happy Autumn to you too Lynne ;-)

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    1. Dear Els - our stitching habit takes us to some wild and wonderful places doesn't it? Happy sticking and mandala-making! xx

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  9. Autumn and Spring are my favourite times of the year... I love this time of year for the colours, the feeling of being snug inside our little old house, warmer clothes and throws to cuddle into.
    So good to see you back again, and I empathise with your feelings of your hopes for a move being thwarted. I've been through that a few times! The one time I actually got to the point where we had an estate agent round, the only thing her visit did was make me look afresh at this house and realise why I fell in love with it in the first place, and why I love it still. Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt!
    I've checked the blog every few days, hoping that you weren''t unwell too. I could have emailed, but didn't want to intrude if you were feeling you needed to withdraw.
    Take care, Nina x

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  10. Edwina, thanks for your concern. All well now, the feeling hasn't gone away, and I will go on feeling frustrated living where we do. I long to have a proper market within reach, decent grocer/butcher within walking distance… I really do not like going into Kings Lynn any more, the shops are rubbish, the market is no more… ah well, it was not to be. We are doing good things to the cottage and the other plans we have are providing us with great fun at the moment. I'm also hoping to get back into blogging mode! Lxx

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