A little bit of New England...

In South Wales

 

How can you live somewhere for 7 years and not know how close you lived to the sea? Ok its the Severn Estuary, but its still the edge of the land and there is sea to be seen! I knew we were pretty close but I didn't realise that 10 mins down the road I could walk through the most beautiful reedy Wetlands. And there's a cafe which sells cappucino and cake!

 

Its the newly renovated Newport Wetalnds Centre and its just stunning. Ok, on Saturday, it was glorious, but numpty here forgot the camera. So instead you have drizzly poorly photographed wetlands today. Still stunning though.

 

And the cute wildlife were out in force too.

 

 

 

The Silver Swan who, living, had no note,

When death approach'd, unlock'd her silent throat.

Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,

Thus sung her first and last, And sung no more:

"Farewell all joys, O death come close mine eyes.

More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise."

We recently sang this beautiful piece by Orlando Gibbons at the Spring Concert. I'm sure those last 2 lines must have meant something dark and mysterious in Tudor times, but I love the sentiment - when you see swans, you just know that there is something other-worldly about them.

All this New Englandiness got me thinking about my new seagull print fabric from ikea. I wanted to make cushions for the living room and I am delighted with the result

 

I love the white gull with the red beak. Making it face the wrong way is a touch of genius. I then figured that this is the perfect fabric for my holiday beach bag. Lined with heavy denim and the new addition of an adjustable strap, I can't wait to get it filled with sarnies and suntan lotion!

It was a big hit with Edith too, so I made her an itsy bitsy version which she already adores and has stuffed with essential items such as her "sun-glathes".

 

Cute eh?

What I wasn't expecting was my 6 year old son demanding he had a birdy bag too. I know. It's not what you expect from boys, but he looked so sad and left out. So I made him one from the larger print and as long as he fills it with cars and trains then surely that's ok. Isn't it?

Well too late. Its done.

 

Hope you had a good one too x