Postcards

Hello.............. Over the summer I took part in a postcard swap with some friends who also have chronic illnesses,  we all signed up to send five postcards over the Summer, to five different people. Such a good idea as there is nothing like a little bit of happy post to cheer a day up.

Plus it was the perfect opportunity to get a little crafty, I already had some postcards to colour and my first effort is at the top of this post.

Here are some of the cards I received over the summer months.  They say that postcards are dying out with so much instant tech these days, but I still think there is something rather lovely about them.

So that got me thinking how could I crochet a postcard ???? I thought about adding a pretty crocheted border to a card but in the end I opted to make up some little motifs I could add to a card.  

They were all a bit free style and crocheted from fine cotton.

I simply placed them onto the postcard and then started to doodle around them with silver pen.

Ta-Dah

One (sort of) crocheted postcard.

Lots more colouring went on to, for this card I used watercolour pencils, then went over them with a water wash.

Before finishing up with some glitter glue.......... (as you can never have too much sparkle!!)

The final card  I sent was one I bought in Southwold, I just couldn't resist these beach huts and the wonderful refection's in this photo's.  I hope you all had a great summer and perhaps received some postcards too, lets try and keep the tradition alive.

Happy Crafting

Clare xx

Seven Sunny Days in Suffolk

Hello......... Last week we closed up the summerhouse and trundled off to Suffolk.  I love this little corner of the world and have visited it so many time over the past twenty years it's like visiting a old friend.

As you know my health and energy levels have been pretty poor this year, so one of the first things we did was visit Dunwich heath, it's one of my favourite places, so we wanted to go while I still had some energy.

This year we visited the National Trust's part of the heath, as they have a tramper, that less able visitors can borrow, which enables you to get right out onto the heath and in amongst the glorious heather.

It's a little bumpy but there are wide sandy paths that you mean you can go exploring.

Wonderful things to see and wildlife to spot, the heath is situated next to the rspb reserve at Minsmere, (where Spring watch comes from) and we saw so many birds, insects and bunnies out enjoying the heath.

After being coped up in the house it was just wonderful to take in all the views

and as for the heather  wow, we caught it at it's very best I think.

Now in case anyone is interested the Trampers are free to borrow, but you do have to phone and book in advance, (we phoned in the morning and went in the afternoon).  

They do give you a little bit of training but they are fairly easy to use once you get the hang of them.

Now I knew there were going to be some days when I would not be well enough to leave the cottage so I took lots of supplies along, for rest days

I did however make it to the beach for the first time in a year

so wonderful to feel the sand between my toes and lie in the warm sunshine, a luxury for me as the medication for Lyme disease makes me allergic to sunlight so if I go away I always have a treatment break.

So it was lovely to sit in the sunshine with my crochet.

Another short trip I managed was a drive out in the car to Snape Maltings,

Where we saw the traditional sailing barges,

and on the way home I snapped a quick pic of the 'house in the clouds'

Lots of resting gave me time to read my holiday book, and it was lovely to just lie and read, without any enforced pacing, normally when I follow my pacing program to help manage my energy I can only read for ten minutes a day, but as I was on holiday I decided to relax this, so while everyone else was out having fun I was keeping myself entertained with DVD's and my book.

Now no trip to Suffolk would be complete without a visit to Southwold, although I did find it scarily busy with so much traffic up in the town. It was my last trip out for the holiday as by then I had used up all my spoons

So the last few days of the trip were spent resting up in the cottage, although I did manage a short outing to the village duck pond.  So that's about it, what can I say the weather was perfect and Suffolk is so lovely.

But after a busy week both my nephew doggie and I were completely wiped out and in need of a good rest.

Happy Crafting

Clare xx

The Blues

Hello............ I hope you'll indulge me but it wouldn't be Spring time at the Summerhouse without a trip to the Bluebells

Things have be difficult here health wise to say the least, so I wasn't sure we'd make it before they were all gone for another year, but we did last weekend, just in the nick of time I think.

The woods are at Kings Wood in Kent and are just about doable with a wheelchair, as long as there has not been too much rain, the bluebells can be seen from the road and accessed from the car park, so they are worth travelling to if you are less able. A huge thank you to my friend 'J' who had the task of pushing me.

I love them so much.

and hope one day I'll be well enough to go for a long walk in them.

I'm going to shut up now and

just

let you

enjoy

the blues

It's just so magical

the trees aren't bad either

Bye Bye Bluebells until next year.

Even the crocheted inspired by the blues.

A very Happy but exhausted

Clare xx

Suffolk 2015

Hello....  Today's post is all about  a somewhat soggy Suffolk,

A couple of weeks ago I travelled to a very pretty village in Suffolk with some friends, 11 of us in total, six children including two cute as buttons babies for a fun filled holiday.

Day one the sun shone so brightly so we set off for the beach, crossing the cute little crabbing bridge

to get to the golden sands of Walberswick.

Where was paddles picniced and of course I took my crochet along.

The next morning was sunny too, and it was wonderful to practise some gentle yoga in the garden, enjoying the sun on my skin, a rare chance for me as one of my medications makes me allergic to the sun,  I was a treatment break especially to go away.

 Then the weather kind of broke, perfect for the ducks who live on

 the villages very pretty pond, but not so great for us.

So after that it was all about inside activities, for young and old alike, hedge row crumbles

A little bit of music

Warming homemade soups for lunch

Board games

and Play Doh,

 I was thrilled to discover they now make glittery Play Doh!! 

and some crafty upcycling, which you can read more about 'here'

The rain did stop occasionally and everyone was bundled into the car and off out for a walk in the woods.  I was happy just to admire the beautiful sight of Dunwich Heath from the shelter of the car.

Happily reading my book while the others were off exploring.

Then down to the beach, for the mini's to go fossil hunting,  while I happily sat listening to the waves crash to shore.

I had plenty of time to put my feet up and have a good rest too, while the other went for walks in the drippy drippy rain to help ease the mini's cabin fever.

 and of course there was plenty of crochet, we did go to the RSPB reserve at Minmere one day, which I'll share with you in a separate post

Then of course I managed my epic slip and fall, flip flops, wet decking and kitchen floors are a bad combo.  

Thanks for all the kind words, I had four X-rays taken today as it's still very painful.  Thankfully no broken bones, but I have damaged the ligaments, which are going to take 6-8 weeks to recover with the help of some physio.

What a wet old summer it has been here in the UK

Happy Crafting

Clare xx