seaside treasures and mandala madness...

Very little to show you from this week.
I have worked on the mandala but I've not managed to complete even one round!!
I made a start, figuring out the very complicated section, and then I found after completing the first section I didn't have the right amount of stitches left at the end. Also I wondered why the longer stitches were pulling too much and found id worked in a row too low, so had to undo...

I've now got into the rhythm, but it takes a lot of concentration and is very slow going, and I don't think the next round will be any easier! I will persevere as am loving how this is turning out. Unfortunately it takes up and awful lot of my craft time. I've made a couple of basket bases in preparation for the next styles. And I  did get some of the ideas I have in my head down on paper

Ive managed a couple of walks down by the sea, both of which were very windy

During the week we'd had stormy weather, so the sea had gone quite frothy

And today's walk was deceivingly chilly, with moody skies

Good for the kite and wind surfers though!

The tide was on it's way out so we did some more treasure hunting

As usual hubby helped to find a great haul, and this time had a terrific find of our first blue piece

A great mix of colours found today

We now both have a week off work and tomorrow we will be swapping one coast for another as we head to Weston-Super-Mare to visit my Grandad, and also take in a trip to Cheddar Gorge

Until next week...

Textural mandala...

Not too much to show as its been another week dominated by work.

I'm still continuing with the Mandala.

The rounds are slow now, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it! After a couple of pattern repeats, it usually stays in my head and I get in the rhythm, but at times I think I must have nearly gone fully round, only to find I'm only halfway!
As promised ive managed to get a full picture, its getting harder to do so now as it increases in size!

I am really loving all the different textures that are coming through with all the different mixes of stitches, and I'm learning a great deal, trying stitches ive not used before...

I am going to be making some more baskets. I have got a few ideas that I want to try, not sure which one will be first, ill see how it starts to work up

We managed one brief seaside walk, but it was deceivingly chilly!

The waves were crashing well and it made them all frothy!

We got a new (well new to us) piece of furniture delivered this week. Its going to be great to finally sort through all our dvds and cds and be able to have easy access to them.

Sadly I don't think ill get much crafting time the week ahead either as I'm travelling northbound for a training course, but ill see what I can fit in!

A new start by the sea...

Well hello,

It's been a whole month since my last post, and despite no crafting having taken place, there have been a lot of big changes!

We've moved. House, job and county!

With both our jobs we were able to transfer. We've moved into a spacious flat, which we can just about see the sea from the front windows.

We have been surrounded by boxes for awhile and probably will for a long time yet.

The move went pretty smoothly, thanks to family and friends.

We left town behind, there was nothing keeping us there as we only moved with my job, but leaving behind people who we'd grown close to was the hardest part, but our dream of being by the sea has become a reality.

I went straight into work, so its been a bit of a whirlwind!

With so much to do, we are making sure we are taking the time out to appreciate where we are.

In the space of just two weeks we have seen an extreme of weathers. Strong gale winds, blue skies and beautiful sunsets, all have been exciting and exhilarating in their own way...

We are looking forward to more adventures by the sea, to get out on our bikes when the weather improves and to start geocaching.

I've got the massive task ahead of unpacking and sorting my crafting items which i've amassed over many years, wish me luck with that!!!