Me on the beach at Mawgan Porth
On a rainy day back in January when a Bedruthan Steps Hotel brochure fell out of my Country Living magazine, I decided to book three friends and myself onto a freehand machine embroidery course with Poppy Treffry on 18 – 20 November. The plan was to get a good three-day break, leaving after the school run on Friday morning, enjoying a relaxing lunch somewhere romantic in Cornwall, arriving at the hotel mid-afternoon in time to hit the spa before an informal meet with Poppy in the “Tranquility Lounge” (just like the one in my house – NOT) at 6pm.
Well. . . what actually happened was this: By 10am we had everyone in the car, plus sewing machines and various other crap. We had to do a petrol stop, so got as far as Newton Abbot Sainsburys before Nat realised she had left her handbag at home. She had also locked herself out so had to crawl around on the floor with her arm through the letterbox in an attempt to get in! Passing through Newton for the 2nd time that morning I realised that I’d been in the car for an hour and a half and had managed to get a mere 4 miles down the road – story of my life really!
Poppy at work
We decide to stop in Okehampton for lunch, not the picturesque Cornish lunch of my dreams but we found a nice place to force down a fry up and it meant we could also pop in to Waitrose and stock up on booze! Finally we arrived at the hotel at about 2.30pm, checked in, did some exploring, drank some wine and somehow it was 6 o’clock – so much for our spa experience!
Poppy and Freya were very relaxed and friendly and the weekend was a great success with everyone churning out cushions, bags, pictures, etc. All from recycled fabrics that Poppy collects. It was very inspiring and I went away tempted to invest in a sewing machine so I can start using the huge collection of vintage fabrics that I have lurking with the spiders in my shed.
On the work front (I do it sometimes you know!) I have been surprisingly busy. I did a little charity fair in aid of The Topsham Museum on November 17th and was flat out (for the two hours it lasted!). My lovely friend Helene took some candles to her friend’s craft party in Teignmouth and came back with loads of dosh for me – amazing! The Vintage Fair in Torquay on Sunday was great fun and I was next to Tracy (My Sister Mabel). Helene was helping me, and Tracy had her Mum with her; the four of us had a right laugh (and sold lots of candles and bags too). 
The lady that runs the Torbay Carnival Craft Marquee asked me if I would like a stand in July 2012 for 9 days, which is a bit scary but maybe I should just go for it? I delivered some candles to Victoria at The London House in Topsham a couple of weeks ago, so let’s hope they sell and I get some more gorgeous votives from her to fill with Christmas scents. I have finally finished 72 little candles in glasses for Debbie from “Beach Heart” which she has put into beautiful recycled wooden holders. They are for sale in The Coffee Rush. I’ve got Shaldon Christmas Market on Thursday, a candle evening at my mate Kat’s on Friday and Stokeinteignhead Church Fete on Saturday this week so I had better go and get on (instead of sitting here in my pj’s writing my blog).
Finished pieces!