Monday 3 January 2011

Looking Backwards, and Forwards

Happy New Year to you all.

I've been reflecting on a colourful year...


I'm remembering wintery visits to the coast, followed by Easter baking and Spring flowers...
 

Discovering Northumberland for the first time in May...
 

Gathering colourful wool for exciting new crochet projects...
 

Our first foray into camping...
 
  
Completing the Rainbow Bolster...




...and enjoying the fresh home grown salads from the garden...


Summer brought blushing, succulent apricots and delicious home made cream teas and lemon shortbread...
 


...not forgetting our midsummers eve picnic...

 
Painting work continued, when and where it could...
  

...and the garden bloomed...
 
  
A September trip back to Northumberland...still wild and beautiful as Autumn approached...

 

Autumn flowers appeared on the window sill, brightening the shortening days...


...then it was time to carve pumpkins and search for the largest conkers in the forest...
 


Home baked cookies were a staple as the weather turned cooler...


And in the blink of an eye, Christmas was upon us and we had fun making decorations...
 

The snow came...and stayed...but it was so very beautiful...
 

...and a home made mince pie and a steaming mug of tea was most welcome following our winter walk...
 
 
I hope you have enjoyed my little wander through 2010.  I like to reflect upon the journey I've had through the four seasons as the old year ends.  It seems it's something that I do quite naturally, and I contemplate how I can make my life happier, simpler...how I can evolve as a painter and grow as a person and as a Mum.

This new year promises to see some changes as I try to free up more time for family and painting.  Don't worry though, I'll still be blogging (in fact I can't imagine not doing that now, it's such an enjoyable thing to do).  I have some ideas to help this little blog grow into an even more colourful, inspiring place for you all to visit as the year unfurls, so I do hope you will join me on my journey into 2011.


I look forward to seeing you here, thank you for dropping by.


Brightest New Year blessings to each of you ~
Julia x

32 comments:

  1. That was lovely Julia, a colourful year indeed.
    Have you started thinking about camping trips yet like I have? Not actually going to go until spring but I have found my mind wandering, imagining....*sigh*
    Here's to another year of your lovely blog.
    xx

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  2. Looks like you had a wonderful year on 2010, and I wish you the same, even better, on 2011!

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  3. Happy New Year to you. Some stunning photos you have of your year. I discovered lots of new things in 2010 and your art was one of them. Looking forward to following 2011 with you on your blog.

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  4. I so enjoyed seeing your lovely photos of 2010. Your blog is such a pleasure to read and I'm really glad I discovered it this year, as well as your lovely art work. I hope you have a very happy, creative and fulfilling year in 2011. Helen x

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  5. Ahhhh what a lovely inspiring post! You are so creative and I look forward to seeing what you come up with this year. I love your bloster cushion. Really badly love it in fact! Best wishes for 2011. I am happy to have met you in 2010. x

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  6. Hallo Julia and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
    Your lovely blog is one of my guilty pleasures, when I take time out with a cup of tea and a biscuit or two to see what you're up to.
    Here's to 2011.

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  7. I just started following your blog, and when this post showed up in my reader, all I could say was YUM! To everything, the sweets, the crochet, the snow - and that bolster pillow is beautiful. Happy New Year!

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  8. Hi Julia
    Thanks for sharing your year.
    Time marches by so fast hope 2011 brings you what you want.
    Jo x

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  9. What a really lovely post, the pictures are stunning! I think we may like a trip to Northumberlaand over the summer - any recommendations on where to stay??

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  10. What a glorious chronicle of your past year, I love the reflecting and remembering and then the planing and pondering what the coming year will bring xox Happy 2011 to you and your family xPenelopex

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  11. What a lovely year Julia! Looking forward to reading about more of your projects and adventures in 2011:) Happy New Year to you and your family, Jenny xxx

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  12. Thanks for that Julia, just what I needed on this grey winters day. Happy New Year :-) x

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  13. Great photos of a brilliant year - but doesn't summer seem a long way away!! Happy New Year Julia!

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  14. A beautiful trip through 2010 iwth you Julia, so pretty and seasonal.
    Wishing you a Happy New Year full of fun and love and creativity
    Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  15. Pati from London3 January 2011 at 20:19

    What a lovely post, Julia. I really enjoyed going through the seasons, your seasons... Happy 2011!! x Pati

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  16. Happy New Year Julia.
    A great review of 2010 in pictures!Looking forward to seeing what 2011 brings for us all!
    I love your artwork and am so looking forward to your new creations this year,
    Andrea x

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  17. I really enjoyed that little trip through your year Julia!
    Have a wonderful, creative 2011. :)
    Vivienne x

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  18. I love posts like this as it's so nice to see how people have grown through the year! I look forward to seeing the changes this year brings for you too xx

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  19. happy new year julia, hope it brings you joy, happiness and colour xxx

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  20. Happy, Happy New Year....

    What lovely pictures, I so look forward to what 2011 will bring & following you on your journey...

    Lx

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  21. Hi Julia, I love blogging too. your blog is so lovely and the pictures are very inspiring. I look forward to reading them this year.jennyx

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  22. And a very happy new year to you too. I intend to do my best to make it a great one - inspite of what the politicians throw at us. xxx

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  23. Happy New Year. Love your blog xxx

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  24. Lovely memories of your blog throughout the year as I recall seeing the photos for the first time. Thank you for sharing, SO enjoyed the colourfulness, especially as looking out of my workroom window I see the snow is beginning to settle in some places, but turning a bit sleety now, so maybe nothing to worry about,or in my case, sadly nothing to get excited about!
    Happy New Year and success with all your endeavours too.

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  25. How lovely to see all your best bits of 2010 in one post. Hope 2011 is fab for you xx

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  26. Hello Julia! Thank you all these wonderful, colourful and beautiful photos! So lovely post!
    Best wishes from Teje
    Ps. we have the same taste with the cars...mine is red.

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  27. What a lovely journey - I'm looking forward to the next stage, I hope you have another wonderful year.
    Oh can we peek into your sketchbook again? I'd love to know how it's going. x

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  28. dear Julia

    this is all so sweet and scrumptious. how i love your rainbow bolster and cushions and all your pretty pictures.

    i am now back in blogland i'm not sure if you'll remember me, i previously (for a short while) had a blog called skipping in the meadow, i started my new blog on jan 1st and am so excited about this new beginning.
    even during my absence i continued to admire your blog. it is a little ray of sunshine, a daily blessing xxx

    warmest hugs

    millie

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  29. What a lovely special year, thanks for sharing and Happy New Year to you all too :-)

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  30. hello Julia and a very Happy New Year to you too my lovely. I can't wait! x

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  31. Hi Julia
    What a lovely post it is sometimes good to look back as well as forward - and with the help of blogging it is so much easier to glance back at what you did last year.
    Happy New Year to you and your family
    Jillxx

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