Sunday 18 August 2013

Sunny Seaside

 We're back from the sunny seaside after a really lovely time..........regular readers of this blog will know that we usually go to the beautiful isle of anglesey at this time of year, to stay in the pretty little seaside town of beaumaris while my hb sails in the menai straits regatta...........
 .........this is penmon lighthouse, one of my favourite views........i love the pebbly beach there too......
............ this little beach hut cross stitch  was made into a quick seaside pincushion that i took with me.....i'm still using up lots of little motifs in this way :).........
.............we were joined for a few days by the family too and had a fun time with them, as well as meeting up with other sailing families, friends and acquaintances............charlie and daisy love the whole seaside experience, and we also visited a country farm this time and saw lots of baby animals but i'll save that for another post..................
 ..........i took along my little greengate tin of red, white and blue hexies ready to begin sewing them together..............
            ..........i tried a few different layouts, but this was the one i liked the best...............
 ................and the hexies were very quick to sew together into the seaside flowers...............
 ..........when i began going through my fabric stash looking for red, white and blue fabrics i found some pretty nautical prints which were perfect to include.........and lots of the lovely blue and red prints from pam kitty morning looked gorgeous too.............i am surrounding the seaside flowers with hexies made with white kona cotton from sew and quilt here......
............when we visit beaumaris we always love going to the janet bell gallery and this year was no exception............it was lovely to see janet again and her beautiful new paintings and other happy seaside products like calendars and cards, textiles and cross stitch kits...............
 ...........and it was exciting this year to discover that janet now has another lovely shop.....a children's boutique that she has opened with her friend zoe............it is called tinkers and belles and has the most lovely colourful and well designed clothes for little people and lots of adorable toys.......(and who wouldn't love a shop with a little corner cupboard filled with maileg bunnies and mice?)...........
.................my hexie quilt made steady progress for the first part of the holiday, not so much later on, but now i'm home i shall be getting on with it again..........btw thank you for all your kind comments about my home sweet home quilt in my previous post........i am planning to send it away to be professionally longarm quilted, something new for me to try.......i do love the look of those closely quilted ones and i think the design lends itself perfectly to that...........i will keep you posted...........and do please let me know if you have any recommendations for longarm quilting in the uk.............
..........i will leave you with this peaceful view.........i also wanted to include it because if you click on the picture to enlarge it you can see an air sea rescue helicopter which is one of the ones that prince william flies here on anglesey.........he might even have been flying this one :)...........thank you for dropping in to see me here and for your sweet comments and emails...........i am so looking forward to catching up with everyone now and being back in blog land again.............wishing you all a happy sunny week............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

57 comments:

Ali said...

I love your posts - they are always so pretty and inspiring - just gorgeous as always xxx

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Beautiful view of the lighthouse Helen! So glad you had a lovely trip away.
I love all your nautical photos, that is going to be another beautiful quilt!
You little beach hut cross stitch is gorgeous too, something ever so pretty about beach huts, I think!
Have a great week,
V xxx

moonstruckcreations said...

As ever your photos are lovely!

Such jolly seaside colours. I used to go to Angelsey a lit as a child but haven't been there for years.

Have a great week, Helenxx

rabbitquilter said...

What a lovely holiday!! I love your Hexie quilt! Can heartily recommend Barbara at www.firtreequilting.com for your Home Sweet Home quilt.

debbie @ happy little cottage said...

Seaside vacations are the best vacations...lighthouses, beaches, sailboats and all that lovely blue!!! The red, white and blue hexies were the perfect project for your trip!! Welcome home! xoxo

Crafts @ Home said...

Lovely photos and colour schemes throughout this post, it's taken me ages to read your post though, I kept going off at a tangent, reading all the links.....
SueXxx

Ladybird Diaries said...

Glad you had a lovely holiday. Your photos are so pretty and I love the little pin cushion.
M x

Lori ann said...

love this sweet nautical themed post helen, the red white and blue looks so fresh and cheerful! it looks like you had beautiful sunny skies on your seaside holiday, that must have made everyone so happy!

LOVE your hexi quilt, it's so simply perfect. and the pin cushion too, both sweet reminders of your time by the shore!

have a wonderful week ahead!
xxxxxxx lori

Deborah said...

Welcome home and I'm so happy you had such a lovely time! As always, I love your inspiring projects and colors. Your seaside pincushion has stolen my heart.

Simone said...

Welcome back Helen! What a lovely post with the red, white and blue theme. The hexie quilt looks great!x

Christine said...

I love your hexies and all your pictures. Red, white, and blue is such a fresh and homey color scheme for me.

Unknown said...

Welcome back, Helen! Your photos are so stunning, like postcards...and the hexies are super, so jolly! Love the tin for storing them - I think I'll dig out a similar one from the girls' toy box, so much cuter than the plastic storage bag that currently keeps my hexies... Glad you're back! Chrissie x

Cindy said...

Love your red, white and blue quilt. I am so glad you had a good time on your vacation. It looks lovely there!

sweetpea family said...

Lovely post Helen - Beaumaris is one of my favourite places, we often take the grandchildren and they love crab fishing off the pier. I've also visited your friends lovely allery and have a stash of her beautiful cards. Happy Sewing
Sue x

Connie said...

Beautiful photos and I love your little pin cushion. Thank you for letting me tag along on your trip to the shore :)
Your blogging sister, Connie :)

Dora, the Quilter said...

Not exactly England, but Kay Bell does incredibly beautiful work. Here's a link to her blog:
http://borderlinequilter.blogspot.com/

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Helen! Beautiful holiday photos! I love your hexie quilt which seems to grow very quickly! x Teje

Jane said...

Welcome home. dear Helen. What a lovely time you had and your quilt is coming along beautifully. The tin is perfect for storing all you pieces in. I am intrigued about long arm stitching...as a non quilter I will look forward to see what this is. Love all your red, blue and white...such a seaside colour combo....I can smell the sea;0) Enjoy your week, Jane x

Naturally Carol said...

Hi Helen, it sounds like this year's holiday was a hit! The lighthouse is so picturesque, it must have been hard to build out in the ocean to draw attention to all of those hidden rocks. I wonder whether it was the Prince flying his helicopter...we'll never know!

harmony and rosie said...

It sounds as though you've had a wonderful, relaxing time. And good weather, too.!

lilac and old roses said...

What a lovely post! We have spent many many happy holidays on Anglesey and know the area very well. No stay is complete without a visit to Beaumaris and Penmon is one of my favourite places in Wales. My sons first words were spoken on a holiday near Penmon, sea and dong!! Janex

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Welcome back Helen!..Such a wonderful nautical post....I love you red, white and blue theme! Your little seaside pin cushion is gorgeous as are your hexies in such pretty fabrics.
I think it's a wonderful idea to have your Home Sweet Home quilt professionally longarm quilted...I'm sure it will look beautiful...I know The Quilt Room do lots of this and have all their prices on the website..
Happy New Crafty Week!
Susan x

thriftwood said...

Simply lovely! Summer in one fell swoop ...

Love Claire xxx

Annerose said...

Sehr schöne Bilder vom Meer und Leuchtturm, ich mag sie auch ganz besonders gerne. Kompliment für deinen wunderschönen Quilt, er sieht fantastisch aus und passt perfekt zum Urlaub am Meer.
Liebe Grüße Annerose

Unknown said...

Welcome home so good to see you back and hear that you had a lovely holiday. I love the start of your hexagon quilt I have a soft spot for hexagons it was the first quilt I made and I must do another one soon. Enjoy your week, dee x

vintage grey said...

Welcome back Helen!! Looks like a beautiful and lovely time!! Love your hexes!! So pretty and can't wait to see the quilt!! Wishing you a wonderful and crafty week! xo Heather

Unknown said...

Hi Helen, What a lovely time you had!!!Love the seaside flowers and that is the most beautiful lighthouse!!!A pebble beach is just amazing!!!Never seen one before!!!Have a happy and creative week!!!
Love
AMarie

Madelief said...

Welcome back Helen! You brought some beautiful images back with you from Anglesley!

The blue, reds and whites are really cheerful. I like the way your holiday inspired your work :-)

Hope your husband did well in the regatta?!

Happy week!

Madelief x

busybusybeejay said...

Beaumaris is my OH's favourite place.It is just over an hour from where we live.My daughter and her OH and two children were in Beaumaris last week and also visited Janet Bell's gallery.I love her work.Thank you for sharing the trip with us.Love your hexies.

mags said...

Lovely photos especially the lighthouse . Your quilt is looking beautiful. I haven't done any hexies for 40 years but I might have another go!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love everything about the sea! You always inspire us with your creations! Enjoy your week!!

Amy DeCesare said...

Such a pretty post! I've been infatuated with beach huts this summer and have just posted on my own blog about some beach hut pillows. You would love the fabric I found for them!

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh Helen.. I so wish you'd show a photo of the boat your hb crewed on! I just put a post up of our camping trip and our Sunfish sailing.. we had a good time. Your trip sounds divine!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Crafted by Carly said...

What a gorgeous, seaside-y post, Helen! I love the way you've put the photos together - and I love your red, white and blue crafts!!!
Carly
x

Country Rabbit said...

lovely sea side post...love the beach hut and lighthouse feel # love your crafting ;0) xx

By Neymes said...

OLÁ HELEN SEU BLOG SER MUITO BONITO E APAIXONANTE,A GENTE COMEÇAR OLHAR E NÃO QUERER PARAR,PARABÉNS.GOSTARIA DE FAZER UM PEDIDO,POR FAVOR COLOQUE UM TRADUTOR DE TEXTO,ASSIM APROVEITAREMOS AINDA MAIS SUAS LINDAS IMAGENS.UM FORTE ABRAÇO AMIGA.VALÉRIA.(BRASIL).

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

It looks like you had a wonderful time!! Your red, white and blue hexie's are perfect and your pincushion is adorable too!!

Unknown said...

Hi Helen what stunning photographs, we love the island and by chance we were opposite to the lighthouse today on a lovely beach at Llanfairfechan which we visit often. Due to family illness we have not been able to holiday this year but try to get away for days - we had our two gorgeous granddaughters with us today and it was perfect. Your post brought lots of happy memories to me. As always your post and your work are stunning Helen, you are so so talented. Thank you
Lots of love
Dorothy
:-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for glimpses of the sea, as well as your current projects, Helen! I'm glad you and yours had a good holiday :) I bought some of Janet's cards last year because I wanted to enjoy her wonderful seaside paintings, and have been wondering what she has been up to. Thanks for the links! I have driven to Nebraska with my oldest sister and am visiting my niece and nephew's family farm. My latest projects are a crocheted coat for my cane, and a crocheted and knotted bookmark for my great nephew. Your posts are wonderful gifts to open. Thanks!
Gracie xx

driftwood said...

oh how I love your hexagons x

Mia said...

Hello Helen,

Welcome back! I wish you had the best time, and you're now full of energy for the new season to come. All that blue-red-white here makes me smile... Thank you for sharing!

Happy weekend soon!

Yours,
Mia

Crafty in the Med said...

Hello Helen,
Impressive view of the lighthouse and of course I have enlarged the pic to see the sea rescue helicopter. It looks as if the lighhouse is floating on the sea surface!!!
Puffin Island!!!.... now I swear I read an Enid Blyton novel of the famous five on Puffin Island! :-)
So glad you had a lovely holiday.
That patchwork is going to be another wonderful quilt!
Your little beach hut cross stitch is smashing too!


I've a giveaway on the go at present...just two days left!!!

keep well

Amanda xx



forgetmenotsblue said...

I recognised the lighthouse straight away! looks like you had a wonderful time in Anglsey. It's one of my favourite places. The pin cushion is lovely.
Love your photo of the puffin island board xx

purple-roses-country-cottage said...

Dear Helen,

As ever your photos are lovely!
It looks like you have had a lovely holiday.
The pin cushion is really lovely.
And the colours of your hexie quilt are looking gorgeous. Have a nice weekend. Nicolexxx

Things and Thoughts said...

It seems that everything was perfect and I'm so glad for you Helen!You enchant us once again with the work of your "gold hands"!

claire said...

Hi Helen - I happened to have asked about long arm quilting myself when I was at the Quilt Show - I was recommended three place: Totally Patched in Bewdley, Bramble Patch and Zig Zags. Hope that helps claire :)

My Little Home and Garden said...

Such productivity, Helen, even while on holiday at the seaside! I admire your skill and creativity so much.

Have a delightful weekend.

-Karen

Connie said...

Hi Helen, it was great to have you visit. Thank you for the sweet compliments on my kitchen and signs. I do have a lot of love changing things up around here. I'm just an old hen feathering my nest :)
I'll say it again . . . your blog is amazing . . . you inspire me to do better :)
Have a great weekend,
Your blogging sister, Connie :)

koralee said...

Love the seaside and your inspirational colours today...makes me want to jump in the car and find a lovely beach. Hope your summer has been amazing....so looking forward to jumping into Fall! xoxo

Annie Cholewa said...

I'm loving the red, white and blue Helen, so wonderfully sea side holidayish :)

sew said...

I am so envious of your seaside trip - I love Anglesey ♥♥♥
I'm all crocheted out here having completed a large (Attic24) granny stripe blanket. I've just forwarded a link to your blog to someone locally who is making a lovely quilt. We have a needlecraft fb page where we share photos of what we've made - it's a great idea. Thank you for this beautiful post - I want to go to the seaside!

Unknown said...

Lovely seaside pics and inspiration. I love the little sachets with the cross stitch. Happy baking and almost September!!

many greetings from America,
Anne and all
PlumCreek22 Studio

❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁ said...

I'm loving your red, white and blue hexie quilt!! Just curious as to the finished size of your little hexagons and is that the size you always use or does it depend upon the project?
I'm telling you...you've really inspired me to start my own hexie projects!!

Hannapat said...

What a lovely post Helen. Your visit to Anglesey looked wonderful. We have been meaning to go for so many years, maybe next year we will get there. The view of the lighthouse is simply wonderful, and so is that hexie quilt you are busy working on. I love the colours you chose and the layout you settled on. I am sure it is going to be very beautiful when finished. Wishing you a very happy and creative weekend. xoxo

Anonymous said...

What lovely summery seaside post. Makes me feel as if I am on holiday again. Love Pat x

paula said...

Love the granny stripe, great colors and your hexie is taking shape. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas.

Unknown said...

This is another beautiful and inspiring post, Helen. YOur new blue/red/white has inspired me to make a quilt for my son. I was originally going to buy him a nautical one I saw at the White Company but it is a bit pricey so I feel I may do it myself.
Thanks very much for your hint of where to get the white fabric for the surroundings. It seems like a very good option.
I love lighthouses and found your pictures of it very evocative, a bit like a Hopper painting.
Thanks very much, Pati x