Coming up for air

My oh my. oh my. What a month or so since I last had a moment to sit and contemplate...
Teaching is a monopolising occupation, which I knew in theory before I started, but I know in actuality now... I love it, I do, and I am so thrilled that I am on a path which, without a doubt, is creative, productive and meaningful. What I didn't stop to consider however is the utter exhaustion that I would feel most evenings and weekends, and how term time doesn't allow you to recover fully from anything that is thrown at you at school.

Now, however, I am slowly recovering. I have come up for air, and have begun to recuperate. But I have lost track of the projects which I had started, the dreams that I had set in motion and the light of all the creativity which I had discovered in my home life... thee are two weeks before I go back to school and I am determined to find it all again. I have just picked up my knitting needles to cast on with the wool that my love gave to me for valentines day (yes, he knows me well) and so hope that two weeks will allow me to find my way again. I then need to expand this little blog to my next project... Which will become clear in time, and finally to take stock, look forward to the Easter weekend and relaaaax....

And then the sun shone once more

I have made it oop north, after one false-start, and a rather long journey on the M6, but it was well worth it. The moors, the house, the open fire and the beginnings of a little artists' colony at my sisters house have been all the inspiration I needed to get back on track after a busy half of term. Today we worked at the Gibside Farmers' Market, where I was a little distracted by the wonderfully landscaped estate - and took a walk through the grounds. It is now a National Trust property and beautifully cared for and complemented by the family-friendly approach to days out. I felt as if I had been transported back to the 1890s when the house had only just begun to fall into disrepair. Woodsmoke floated around the stable block, and the sun made an appearance once more to light up the spring morning.



The highlight of the day was most definitely the trip to RE in Corbridge. I have been dying to visit this emporium of fabrics, interiors and vintage finds since the aforementioned sister gave me a stoneware jug and pressed glass goblets (with bees on) for my birthday last year. It was a trip worth waiting for. Tucked behind the garage in an old warehouse-like building, the outside felt unassuming... but walking in was a dream! I am a total sucker for anthing vaguely French-interiorsy, and anything that mixes a little glitter with the softness of indian quilts and crispness of starched linen...



As I move ever closer to my dream home, this was a gooood place to add to my address book. While I struggle for space, I will have to make do with the crab-shaped cookie cutter that I treated myself to.

Out in the Snow

Who can believe it?! What a difference a week makes. The soft blanket of snow that fell around our way was beautiful enough to hide all the cracks and make our corner of Oxford feel like a winter wonderland. We stomped accross the meadow and stopped for hot chocolate, loving every minute of our 'snow day' off from school... what a treat!

Out in the sunshine

This weekend, it could have been Easter. The sun shone and the clouds stayed away, and we spent a blissful weekend in Cornwall for a birthday party. It was so lovely to be surrounded by children and out in the sea air... I feel fully refreshed and ready to tackle the shortened week ahead. Who wouldn't after this?

Project : : 1

Well, strictly not 1, but the first to finally make it here. There is a wonderful interiors shop in Oxford called North Light, which stocks scandinavian design products and fabric and about which I have developed a slight obsession! Luckily, I have a boyfriend who pays attention and filled my Christmas stocking with delights from its shelves.

My latest purchase was fabric to make these cushions for my sister, and an as yet un-photographed yoga mat bag for my mum for Christmas.



There is something a little 80s about this fabric, and yet they look perfect on against her Farrow and Ball walls, sitting on the window seat in her kitchen. Definitely a look that works for me.

Feeling festive at last

Well, a bit belated, but I am prolonging Christmas as long as possible, while at my parents' house with the tree and cats and log fires....

It took a while to get into the swing of things this year, but do you know what did it? Returning home to my bookshelves of childhood favourites and remembering the joy of Christmas books...



I even found the animation of this on you tube... which really took me back to my favourite family Christmas rituals...




What a joy. I even got a brilliant new camera from my boy. Which means I must now get up to scratch on my presentation - all being well it shan't take long...

Merry Christmas all, and Happy New Year.
xxx

Joyful

My favourite friends and I gathered in Paris last weekend for the best re-connection ever - a day of cycling around the boulevards, stopping to sip a chocolat chaud and watch the passers by, while catching up and indulging in a bit of mutual adoration.

These girls are my sisters and our friendships have evolved over the years into solid, reliable and bankable certainties. As a result, the weekends when we take stock together are always meaningful and restorative. Joyous indeed.