Beautiful Bernina

Let me introduce my new swiss companion...
Bernina!!!

Last week I took my digital Janome machine to be serviced. I'm pretty rough on my sewing machine and it was in need of a bit of attention. Well the shop had several used reconditioned machines, one being this wonderful Bernina. For the sewing savy Bernina machines are known as the Rolls-Royce of the sewing world. The best things to come out of Switzerland, Bernina and Toblerone!
I have aLWAYS wanted one but didn't think I could afford one, until now.
well maybe this one isn't new, but my goodness she is wonderful! I think I was meant to find her!

 Started with a bit of playing about to see what she could do. Thought I would make some Daffodils as I have photographed them recently.

 She is so quiet and sews so easily.

Then onto making some wee cottages on papercloth.

working on larger pieces of papercloth, creating texture..
Having fun seeing what is possible!

Spring sunshine

I wandered lonely as a Cloud
That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd
A host of dancing Daffodils;
Along the Lake, beneath the trees,
Ten thousand dancing in the breeze
(William Wordsworth)

The last few days have been filled with lovely sunshine, and then on friday snow!..
This was Eilean Donan castle last week before the snow... It did look glorious! Those Daffodils really were dancing in the sunshine.
Many of you may recognise the castle as it graces shortbread tins and 'visit Scotland' posters, and who wouldn't want to visit if the sun shone like this every day!

 Eilean Donan is about ten miles from the Skye bridge.

Daffodils blanket the ground in the woods on the Island...celandines too are starting to peep through the earth and open their small yellow flowers.

 Primroses too...

Yellow daffodils picked from the garden...
captured in my sketchbook.

Finally for those curious souls who are waiting to see a little of what I am busy with.....

 I will reveal once finished, but I think you get the idea of where my mosaic paper clay pieces are going!

Spring jewels

I have begun a new spring crochet blanket..... inspired by the little flower jewels of April.

And the soft fleece like feel of new Lambs..

I do love spring, new life and light after months of dark and cold.

On my work desk some different jewels of colour. Little pieces of paperclay. Individually cut, moulded and stamped. washed with acrylic paint.

What am I going to use them for?
Well I will reveal soon.  ;)