Rosy Lady

Berries and textile design

I finally feel like doing something more than sitting around or sleeping so, I've come to my studio this afternoon to be a bit more productive.  I like to have a fruit snack in the afternoon and the colours of these berries just spoke to me so, of course I had to stop and grab my camera before I could enjoy them :)

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that my dream remains to be a textile designer.  While I got a little distracted for a little while, I am keen to crack on with that.  I've decided to stop overcomplicating the matter by feeling like I have to know Illustrator inside out before I could design anything so, I'm going to get back to basics.  I have had my ideas sketched out (roughly) for some time now.  I plan to draw them out on A3 paper and paint them to see how they work and then I will figure out how to redraw and colour them in Illustrator/Photoshop. That sounds less overwhelming to me.  I have been signed off work for another 3 weeks so, I might as well use this time to get my act together, right?  

So, here's the plan:  I will give myself five days to draw and paint my ideas, two weeks to create my designs in Illustrator and another week to finalize my portfolio.  Please feel free to support, nag and remind me about this.  I think I need to put it out there and have some deadlines if I'm ever going to get it done.

Wish me luck!

xx

 

I believe in miracles

I was going to tell you about my trip to London last week when I went to the Victoria and Albert museum and saw the quilts exhibition of quilts from the year 1500 onwards.  I was also going to tell you about my visit to the Fashion and Textile museum afterwards to see the exhibition of the textile company Sanderson who is celebrating their 150th year in business.  But, so much has happened since then that it all feels like a blur and as photography wasn't allowed, it doesn't help.

If you've read my blog for a while now, you may have read the post where I shared with you about my Hubby's journey through cancer and the impact that it has had on us.  There was a bit that I didn't share though.  When the consultant told us that Hubby had cancer, he also told us that he wouldn't be able to have children after the chemotherapy.  Initially it felt like a double blow, but as we started to live from one day to the next, I remembered and started to hold onto the promises of God.  Looking on the internet, I found out that in a small percentage of cases, it is still possible to conceive, but that medical advice was to wait 2 years after chemotherapy.  Well, as you may recall, going to Hawaii was our celebration of him being 2 years cancer free.  Well, it was also from then on that we decided that we're not going to stress about it but if it happened, it happened.

And, it did!  I'm pregnant!  And, I thank God for two miracles in my life.  I am filled with gratefulness, joy and a peace that I cannot put into words.  It is also wonderful to see my Hubby so happy.  He is already so caring and supportive.  My cup flows over.

As I ponder on the little miracle, I am reminded of the scripture:  "For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well."  Psalm 139: 13-14  

It is still very early and I know 'they' say you're not supposed to share your news too early but, I am too happy to be able to keep this quiet any longer.  So, I hope you'll share this journey with us the next 9 months as I intent to craft and sew my way through this. 

xx

London Love

We went to London on Saturday.  Hubby started a six week course and I went to see some of shops that I've been wanting to visit for ages.  

I went to Liberty of London first and was not disappointed.  I walked into the scarf section on the ground floor and it was like an explosion of colour and interesting print and pattern.

I would've loved to buy a Liberty scarf but, prices seemed to start at £150 each.

       There were four floors of goodness to explore, here are some of the other bits that stood out to me:

 

Next up was Anthropologie.

     

Some of the shop displays also caught my eye:

     

The above photo is not very clear but, the shop window was filled with vintage singer sewing machines.  A subtle hint to the handmade movement?  I remember sewing on one of these in primary school.  The school had several of these and only one 'modern' Bernina where we had to take it in turns.  I remember staying behind after school in the art and sewing class, making my own clothes with the help of an amazing art teacher.  She was such an inspiration to me.  On Saturday, me and my mum would go fabric shopping, carrying bags and bags of fabric back in the house like two naughty children.  We would sew away every spare minute and usually on a Saturday, the sewing machines interfered with the TV reception when my Dad wanted to watch rugby.  We would have to wait for TV adverts to quickly sew a piece and then wait for the next advert break.  Beautiful memories that I treasure.

 

I enjoyed all the design inspiration but, the ABSOLUTE highlight of my day in London was that I got to meet the lovely Melissa Averinos from the yummygoods blog.  I got excited when I heard she was coming to London and sent her an email to enquire if she was going to do any book signings for her new book.  Melissa did not have any planned but, offered to meet me anyway!  I was beyond excited and quickly ordered her book so that I could also have it signed.

Melissa was so sweet.  We chatted about London, her super cute book Small Stash Sewing and fabric design.  I have followed Melissa's blog for at least 3 years.  She is such an open, honest person that I felt like I was meeting a friend although, I was a stranger to her, she didn't make me feel that way.  I felt so inspired (and a little star struck) after meeting her :)

I can highly recommend Melissa's book.  The projects are so creative and there is something for every taste.  I am keen to make the shoelaces next as I've been wanting to customize my Converse trainers.  There are great projects for the home, gift ideas and sewing projects for children, for example a cape for a budding little superhero.

I was so glad that I took a small gift for Melissa because totally unexpected, she gave me some of her fabric (Sugar Snap), post cards and a sweet unicorn notebook.

    

This was definitely my kind of day :)

xx

Easter Sunday

We started the day by attending the sunrise service on Waikiki beach.

The service was held by various churches in Oahu who came together for the Easter Sunday.  There were lots of people but it was a very special experience for us.  Many of the familiar worship songs were sung in English and Hawaiian.  They re-enacted how the first missionaries came to Hawaii on the sea, it gave me goosebumps.  It had rained the night before and there was a rainbow behind us over the sea for the duration of the service.

After this we had a lovely breakfast before we caught a boat out to take a ride on a submarine.

The water was so choppy that we both felt a little green before we even got to the submarine but, once the wonder of the underwater world unfolded, we momentarily forgot about all of that.

 

We saw loads of fish, sea turtles, coral, ship wrecks and an old airplane wreck.   

The sea is this blue because the sand is so white and reflects the sunlight.

The rest of the afternoon we enjoyed being on solid ground and wondered if it was such a great idea to go on the sunset dinner cruise that we pre-booked for the evening.  We kept feeling like we were still going up and down.

    

It turned out to be a lovely romantic evening of steak, lobster, Hawaiian entertainment, a little dancing and watching enjoying the sunset.

Oh, I wish I was back there now *sigh*.

xx   

Aloha!

Thank you for your patience while I went off to have the holiday of a lifetime.  

 

We had the most amazing time in Hawaii (Oahu, the Big Island and Maui) and San Francisco.  Just when we thought it was all coming to an end, we had an unexpected week long extension in San Francisco due to the volcanic ash over Europe.  We definitely needed the extra time in this beautiful city.  We got back on Monday and have been straight back to work.  We have both needed the last few days to process all the amazing experiences we've had and to get over the jet-lag.  SF is 8 hours behind the UK and Hawaii a further 3 hours so, I am wide awake at night and want to sleep in the day.  But, let's skip the boring stuff.  I hope you wouldn't mind, but I would love to share some of our holiday photos with you over the next few posts, I have been so inspired.  If you have followed my blog for a while, you will know that I love color, flowers, nature, my husband, sunshine and good food so, as you can imagine, Hawaii was right up my alley.  

I fell in love with Oahu the day that we arrived.  It was a warm sunny day, the people were friendly, we were greeted with a Lei (the floral necklace), everywhere I looked was vivid colors, flowers and the blue of the ocean, oh, it was sO blue!  That's when all the stress and worries from the last two years just melted away.  I felt a little teary eyed as I thought how we always wanted to visit Hawaii together, how that almost did not happen for us, and then felt incredibly blessed and humbled to stand on our hotel balcony and overlook Waikiki. 

I hope you will join me as I relive our journey and capture the memories that I never want to forget and all the design inspiration from these wonderful islands.

  

I hope life has treated you kindly?

xx

Looking up

The sun came out yesterday afternoon and I couldn't resist making a start on some pruning and de-weeding in the garden.  While I was down on hands and knees, pulling out weeds, I suddenly looked up.

I just felt inspired by the light coming through the yellow petals.  This moment really spoke to me. Here I was so busy focussing on the mud and the weeds around me that I almost missed the light and beauty above me, had I not looked up.  Of course I had to stop what I was doing to grab my camera to capture the moment.

My life seems to be at a point right now where I feel constantly reminded to look beyond the stress, worries and problems of life that often feels like it is surrounding us and instead, to look up or look around us and to try and see the beauty in the ugly or to notice that when you thought you were knee deep in weeds and mud, that the sun has been shining above you the whole time and that there are blessings that blossom in abundance over you, if you would only look up.  This may not make sense to you but, that is where I am at and I needed to record this as a reminder to myself.

Hope you have a great weekend full of beauty and inspiration.

xx   

Seeing beauty in the ugly

I drove past an empty building the other day where the windows have been boarded up.  Posters have been pasted over the boards that cover the windows.  It is such an eye sore in a neighborhood but, then I had to take another look.  Someone has seen the potential for beauty in the ugly and painstakingly created these images that stir emotion as you look at each of them. 

They say that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' and I'm sure that someone would see this as vandalism but, I admire the creativity of this street artist.

It was a powerful reminder to me to always try and see the beauty or the positive in life, no matter how difficult or negative something seems.

I am a great believer in 'counting your blessings' and finding something to be grateful for and that has carried me through many difficult situations.  Thank you so much for the kind words regarding my earlier post to all who has supported and loved us.  

Happy weekend everyone!  

 xx

Stop and smell the coffee

I have been doing a lot of reflecting of where my life is at, what we've been through and can finally look forward to where we are going.  This probably doesn't make any sense to you but, once I have gathered my thoughts, I will share some more with you.

I have found the above in a little coffee shop in Franschoek, South-Africa and thought it was such a sweet idea.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and say 'hi'.

xx

 

There is a time for everything

After several days of rain, we've had a break in the clouds and I just had to go for a walk in the park while the sun came out momentarily.  I have always loved the transition from one season to the next and was delighted by the early promise of Spring.

There was a sense of anticipation as though Nature is on a stage, just waiting for the curtain to open so she could dazzle her eager audience.  There were buds everywhere and green sprouts just peeking through the ground.

While the sound of water falling and splashing in various fountains around the park encouraged some blooms to take a peek...

The door of the museum located in the park and witnessing the transition in seasons reminded me of the different seasons in my own life.

The seasons of life is so beautifully described in Ecclesiastes 3.  Have you ever read it?

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

I find it comforting to know that there is a rhythm, a balance and a season to the circle of life. My family always say "the wheel turns" meaning that sometimes you're under and sometimes you're at the top.  I have had my time of being under and going through the mud but, I believe that things are looking up.  

xx        

Light catcher

I bought this item in South Africa when I was there last December.  It is now hanging on the curtain rail in my studio and I often find myself looking at the light coming through the coloured beads.  I've always loved coloured glass, beads or crystals, especially in front of a window.  There is something enchanting about the light streaming through in different colours.  

The light catcher is a bit longer than shown in the photo.  There are some more beads, leaves and another heart towards the top of it.  I'm sure this could be a fun and easy project to make yourself.

Hope you have a good Friday!  

xx