Friday 27 August 2010

Seaside Inspiration

Hello dear people!

After an unexpected interlude (a two week one actually), I'm back ~ and how are you? It feels like an age since my last post, so let me explain what I've been up to!

First of all I'll tell you about the picture above. It's the beginning of a new/old painting. I say this because I started it several months ago and suddenly stopped because I lost all direction and couldn't for the life of me decide where to take it. It's strange how that happens, despite sketches and being able to see it so very clearly in your mind, some paintings just follow their own journey and end up being nothing like you intended. Which isn't always a bad thing, and I'm sometimes quite good about this process, being very patient and just seeing where we'll end up, and other times not; I stamp my foot and get cross. I remember how this painting stirred up something of a small temper and the painting ended up being shoved carefully out of sight, until I rediscovered it a few days ago and realised exactly what was needed to make it good...and I will share that with you as soon as its done!

Lets just say for now (and you can probably tell by the colours) that it's going to be a very happy, colourful, coasty type of painting!! Hurrah!! :D

And that's something else I've been doing too, spending a bit of time at the coast! I have been staying with my sister in Suffolk and we had the absolute best fun crabbing at Walberswick (near Southwold) one warm, sunny afternoon!

This is that lovely sort of fun that takes you back to childhood, putting pieces of ham on your hook then lowering your line and waiting a while...drawing it up slowly through the luminous green water to see if you've caught anything, and oh so exciting when you do!! (happy little dances on the quayside when we realised we had actually caught a real live crab).

After a long and enjoyable while, someone suggested ice-creams and so we walked over to the little beach and let our crabs go...nothing better than a nice ice-cream after a spot of crabbing eh?!

Off the little chaps go...

...scampering safely back to sea!!

There's such a lovely nostalgia about this part of our coastline for me, old fisherman's huts, upturned old boats with peeling paint, it feels as though nothing has changed in a very long time and I do like how coast meets countryside here and is so very, very pretty.

As for the rest of my 10 days in Suffolk, although the weather wasn't too fabulous for August, we did enjoy some gorgeous sunsets from the garden, chatting and enjoying a nice drink together once all the kiddiwinkles were in bed fast asleep.


Continuing with a seaside theme, I had to show you these postcards I picked up at a very nice shop in Walberswick. They are taken from etchings by a very talented fellow called Glynn Thomas.

This one above is of Southwold lighthouse, and the one below is of Aldebrough:

I like to collect postcards and cards like this, they are very good for inspiring me when the creative well has run dry. Luckily at the moment, I'm full of enthusiasm for my new/old painting and I also had a fabulous idea whilst away for another new crochet project. Yes. I know...another one.

I can't help myself.

But....I'm being very strict with myself, I have bought the wool...

...see how coastal and seasidey blue they are?

Very nice, I know - but I am absolutely and completely going to finish my Popcorn Granny bag first before I begin my New Project.
And whilst I haven't made much headway this last week or two, the squares are mounting up and all I need are a couple more before I start to join them ~ and I will share a little tutorial for this as I've been asked how you do this, and so I will gladly explain (with the help of a few trusty pics) as soon as I get to that point, which won't be much longer I hope as I'm itching for a new bag, my old one is dropping to bits!

I might just have to take my squares off to Northumberland when we go, for something to do in the evenings as those nights are quickly drawing in aren't they? We have taken to lighting a few candles of an evening, to enjoy the last stretch of evening before night falls (about half past eight in these parts now) and resist putting the lamps on until we can barely see one another! I do like this time of year, for lots of reasons, but notice inwardly that subtle things are changing, like the scent of the air in the morning, and the sun now lower in the sky, altering how the shadows fall in the garden...

And it feels as if Summer is quickly ebbing away, and so, to help holiday memories linger a little longer I have repackaged my Beachside Art Cards, which are a fabulously printed set of five of my most favourite seaside inspired paintings! They come in a sturdy brown box that is prettily flecked with white (and reminds me a little of sand) with five envelopes, and they are blank for your own message.

And this is what is inside!

They are available here for UK customers, with free P&P - and for my lovely customers overseas, please check my Etsy shop (link up on the right there), as I'll be listing them there too.

Because Summer isn't quite over yet, is it?

I'm looking forward to catching up with your blogs now I'm back, and want to thank you for visiting me today, it's always a pleasure to know you have stopped by!

Have a great weekend, much love
Julia x x x

15 comments:

  1. Hello my lovely! Glad to hear that you had a great break away visiting your sister. Crabbing is such fun! I think as we get older, and all the serious bits like childcaring and mortgages and bills etc, make us forget that, we can have fun and do the simple things that remind us how it is to really 'live'!!!!! Being a grown up doesn't mean you can't have fun and do childlike things

    Ooooh I am intrigued both by what your new crochet project is, and how the popcorn squares will turn out! Can't wait for both....oh, oh and the painting too....looks like it will be one to make the heart sing!

    I still need colour....the days feel so Autumnal now, which I don't mind except that I feel we havn't really had our summer yet! boo hoo

    Well, I hope that you manage to have yourself a very lovely Bank Holiday weekend! Much love Vanessa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  2. Hello Julia, glad you had some lovely seaside time! Your pics are super and made me feel a little summery inside (lots of rain outside!). I cant wait for the joining up tutorial for the popcorn flowers and am adding to my pile daily! All the best for a jolly bank holiday weekend!
    Deb x

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  3. What a lovely post. Glad you had a nice break - the photos are fabulous. I took my son to the Hunstanton Sealife Centre this week and we came across a HUGE crab - very, very scary, not at all like the little things we see on the beaches around here!

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  4. Hi Julia
    Loved reading your blog, you are so right about enjoying the simple things in life, We have a lot of mussels around on the beach here but they are too good to admire, so we eat them with lots of wine and cream & garlic, I love your postcards just a little reminder that summer is still clinging on!
    hugs
    Jillx

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  5. NNNNnooo Summer isn't over yet - Autumn can wait a bit longer :-) Sounds like you had a fab week, you can't beat the seaside. Love your new postcard package, nice idea.

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  6. No, Julia I agree summer isn't over yet! I've been saying this all week, we need to hang on to it for a while longer!!
    Looking forward to seeing the new crochet project. :)
    Vivienne x

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  7. How I love your posts Julia. You transport me to another world! I love EVERYTHING in here. The wool, your photos, your art cards (which I shall be ordering by the way). I am praying for an indian summer. xxxxx

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  8. Hi Julia, glad you are feeling inspired by your seaside trip. I've got crabbing pics on my blog too,we were on the isle of wight.
    Looking forward to seeing your finished picture.
    I'm having a giveaway over at my place if you would like to join in.
    Jacquie x

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  9. Ah, lovely Southwold and Walberswick.... such a long time since we visited.
    Great pictures, love your postcards, though I would be tempted to put them in a frame, either singly or one of those where you can put several in together. Loved the other postcards too.
    Enjoyed reading your blog, as ever.

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  10. Just when I thought summer had ended, we've just had 2 glorious sunny days - and over a Bank Holiday weekend too - so unexpected! Glad you enjoyed your Suffolk trip - lovely photos. Love to you xx

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  11. Lovely to hear you had a nice holiday! And i cannot wait to see the bag! I was so excited when an e-mail with your post was in my inbox thismorning *joy!*
    Lots of love to you from Alice and Raymond XXX

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  12. Dear Julia, you have took wonderful photos! I love your blog and waiting to have time to try the popcorn flowers!
    Best wishes Teje

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  13. Hi Julia,
    I wanted to thank you for your lovely comment.
    Your holiday pictures make me envious as we have not seen the sea this year.
    It looks beautiful and I can see how it influences your painting and craft work.
    M xx

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  14. Hi Julia
    Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog. You had a fun time at the seaside!
    Enjoy your work on the painting you will make.
    Love from Trudis

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  15. It sounds like you had a lovely break with your sister and family...I always love getting together with my sister. We have the best time, we both love the same things and although she doesnt paint/stitch, she loves sharing in my projects.

    The postcards are wonderful...I love his 'view' of the world, a different perspective.

    Your new painting looks lovely and I'm very interested to see what your *idea* is...

    The two blues you have chosed for your next project are gorgeous...lovely seaside colours. Will you just use these two blues or will you bring in some other colours too?

    Lovely to have you home again brimming with enthusiasm and ideas.

    Jacky xox

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