There and back again

So, the great Hebridean trip is behind us. We've done our duty and visited the various  relatives in Cornwall. but we still can't settle! After a lovely a trip to the North West Contemporary Weekend Group on Sunday, I really thought I'd be rearing to go on Monday, but it was so hot that the DH and I collapsed in front of the tele and watched the tennis!

Still, I have not been entirely idle. Sandra made some lovely colour themed packs for the NWCWG and mine is a "sea" pack. Here it is!

There are 11 bits of fabric, thread etc and we have to use 6 of them in one item and the instruction is to play! I feel so guilty that I haven't really done any sewing recently, but as I'm off the CQ Summer School on Friday, I'll aim to get started then. I'm doing the Hand quilting course with Helen Parrott. Her work is very contemporary and I'm hoping to learn a lot from her.

While we were in Cornwall, we used one of our free days to visit St Ives. It was beautifully sunny, and as my DH has led such a virtuous life, there is always a parking space in the Island car park. Not today though, and neither was there any room in the car park over the Tate.  We should have parked at the park and ride, but couldn't face going all the way back so we drove down the coast road to Botallack and had lunch in the pub there. On the way we visited the Schoolhouse Gallery at Morvah . Their latest exhibition was really good. Paintings by Cath Ensor and textiles by Wendy Hermelin. All the work was related to the lovely scenery around this part of the Cornish coast, especially Cape Cornwall. Very inspiring!

On the cliffs we met a young man from Bradford who was just overwhelmed by the colour of the sea. As he said it's quite different from the brown stuff you get at Whitby! Exactly!

Here is what he meant!  Although the photo's a bit over exposed, it still looks lovely! I really can't begin to imagine what it must have been like to actually work in those mines!

And  here's a rather windblown Peneller digesting crab and prawn pasta rather nearer to the cliff edge than is truly within her comfort zone! Full report of Summer School next week!

Another day; another beach!

After almost a month away in the Outer Hebrides, getting back to the routine is proving somewhat problematic. For our week on North Uist, the sun shone, the wildlife (except the otters), performed, we discovered Salar smoked salmon and other seafood delights and we had a lovely relaxing time. For the two weeks on Harris and Great Berneray, the weather was not so kind and the wildlife not so prolific. They were probably all inside sheltering from the vicious wind! We tramped through a large number of bogs where we were assured that otters, red necked phalaropes and other rarities would be sure to be found, only to get very wet feet and to discover that they weren't! But, we did see lots of Gannets, Eider Ducks  and all sorts of little waders so we can't really complain. I have also collected yet more shells, driftwood, sand and dried seaweed to be used (or not) in my mixed media art projects and we have over 500 photos on three cameras to delight out friends and family! Here's a taster!

On the way home we discovered the lovely Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye where we stayed with Emma and Dave in their B&B at Barabhaig and although it rained, we managed to spend out last day exploring this lovely part of Skye.

The drive home was pretty scary due to gale force winds rain and sleet, but we made it and although our bodies have returned, our minds haven't! So we're just going to have to go again next year.

Now I must get down to getting some of my memories recorded in our journal and I hope to be able to get a quilt underway at last!