Storms, Dips and Hopes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I can't believe how long it is since I've written anything

on here, I've even missed the last two scavenger Hunts although I'm determined to 

complete this months.

 It was so long ago that  I still had summer flowers in the garden

whereas now my winter Clematis are in full bloom and look lovely

on the rare occasion it is nice enough to wander around the garden.

A lot has happened since we last met and I will show you some of the things 

I've been up to in my next post which I promise won't be far away.

The Norfolk coast, along with so many other places around the country,

has suffered at the hands of the weather and my heart goes out to 

all those people who have had their lives and homes destroyed.

I haven't seen the damage anywhere other than at Cromer but that 

was shocking enough with huge chunks of concrete ripped from the sea wall

and thrown around like drift wood along the promenade.

Great gaping holes left in the pier, beach huts reduced to 

match wood and tons of mud having slipped down the cliffs.

But the British are a resilient lot aren't they.

Within a few days the pier was patched up and the 

theatre was open for business again even if you had to have a head for heights

to walk out to it past the fenced off holes.

By Boxing day it was business as usual with the 

BOXING DIP pulling thousands of spectators to watch

hundreds of those mad enough to run into the sea, not just once but twice,

wearing swimsuits or flimsy fancy dress as no wet suits are permitted.

My Son and Youngest daughter were amongst those crazy people

even after my son said last year that he would never do it again.

All my family have now returned to their own homes

and I have returned to my sewing room after it's temporary

use as a bedroom.

Now I don't make resolutions as I don't keep them, year after year I tried to give

up smoking in January and finally managing it (many years ago now) in September.

So I thought this year I would set out a couple of things I hope to achieve this year.

Firstly--I want to do more hand embroidery.

This has been brought on by finding this fabulous 

embroidery stand in a local charity shop for £3.75!--can you believe it.

I had this old linen table cloth among my boxes of old linen

which is printed and ready to embroider 

and even if I don't manage to finish it, it still looks good

in my room.

Then on my sewing table, other than one of my new mugs,

is something else I'm going to add some embroidered embellishments to.

It started with a little foundation piecing

and will end up as a book cover.

The pattern is by Anja Townrow

which I bought when I did a workshop with her a few weeks ago.

Now to just add some stitching. 

My second hope for 2014 is to be more organised 

so that it isn't 2 months before you hear from me again.

So with that in mind I wish you all a very Happy New Year

and will see you again soon.

Gillxxx