Return to the everyday

We've just spent a very enjoyable week in Majorca where it was just lovely to enjoy the freedom of eating outside in warm sunshine, walking without waterproofs and generally lazing around, catching up on reading and eating and drinking far too much.

The backdrop of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains followed us everywhere, towering above the fertile plains where olives and oranges thrive.

We were musing on how artificial the turquoise swimming pool looks and yet that was the exact shade of the shallow waters at the the edge of the sea here.

I love walking along the cliff edge staring out to sea..this is near the beautiful Deia..where we visited Robert Graves' home. I could quite see why he fell in love with Majorca and never settled  back in England when forced to return during the war. His description of his first wife as "a feminist and difficult woman" in the film we watched made me laugh out loud...pity not to hear her side of the story.

And so back home last Saturday to a decidedly chilly and very grey Nottingham. At least it wasn't so difficult to sit down at the sewing machine and the reappearance of a customer who I hadn't seen for several years was cheering.

I made this pair of cushions in a pretty French floral to replace the pair she bought

I've combined textures in this simple contemporary cushion with a simple linen braid trim

This is a sweet 1950s French print which is great for covering notebooks but decided to make a small shade which I think would be lovely for a kitchen

I'm often asked for pairs of shades but not always possible if I can't get matching frames so I've kept this pair simple. Great for either side of a bed or a console table.

This portrait in pastels intrigues me; wish I knew who she was/is. I think its 50s but not at all sure but framed I think she is quite striking. Have several others to frame before the V&H fair in Chipping Sodbury this Saturday 26th
I'm very much looking forward to the fair and seeing other stallholders and customers who I only see when I'm in this part of the world. Do hope you'll come along and say hello.

But today the sun is Majorcan here in England so I'm going to spend the rest of the day in the garden where a host of jobs await.