A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step

Ann Medd

"The grace to be a beginner is always the best prayer for an artist. The beginner's humility and openness leads to exploration. Exploration leads to accomplishment. All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step". 

Well I took that first step on Ann Medd late on Thursday evening and I must admit it is a little scary with the over one on 35 count. It is so hard on my eyes but I will persevere.

Ann Medd

I took ATS to the framers yesterday and the young man's face fell when I unrolled it. Bless him, he always does a good job, hopefully it will be ready in a week or two.

Yesterday was another crazy Friday with changeovers on the cottages. I surprised myself with a repair I managed to carry out, a girl should always have a few screwdrivers to hand and a youtube tutorial for guidance.

When we bought Trewoon Ray, who is not at all practical, gave me a tool kit the first Christmas and it has been used many times since.

He is, however, wonderful in many other ways. He has always encouraged me with my needlework, takes a keen interest and never begrudges stash purchases. 

I will never forget coming home from work one day to find that as a surprise he had arranged for a selection of my samplers to be framed and hung on the wall. (Thank you my darling, that was one of those special acts that will remain with me for ever).

It has been a glorious spring day and we have spent the morning out of doors. We visited Millie in her garden at Trewoon.

We like to spend time with her although she is always in our hearts no matter where we are.


The birds were out in force today and I spent quite a while watching and photographing them. 

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

British robin Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the Cornish seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

My dishwasher has just started beeping and has developed a fault so I am off to take the dirty dishes out and wash them my hand - UGG. 




Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

And They Sinned is FINISHED

And They Sinned

Hurrah - it's finished. I am so pleased, I have enjoyed stitching the design although it is quite different from the samplers I normally stitch. Started December 1st 2011 finished today January 26th 2012.

Thank you Siobhan as it was through your blog that I discovered ATS and a thank you to all my pin pals for your words of encouragement along the way.

I will be having a giveaway for the pattern and some threads for my followers only. Just leave a comment on this post saying that you would like to be included and I will pull a name from the hat on Sunday, 5th February.

I am off to sort my threads for the two Anns.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

Sew Little Time

And They Sinned

Well I finished Stephen King's 11.22.63 before ATS. Although I am not normally a King fan I would highly recommend this novel.

I think that I have another three days work on this endless grass, I have had to order some more Green Apple today as I am going to run out tonight.

I have changed the bottom to a wording of my choice. I would have like to include in the year of our lord 2012 but there wasn't enough room.

Ann Dale

Ann Dale arrived Monday afternoon as promised and she is exquisite. I am a one BAP at a time girl but have decided that I will be stitching Ann Medd and Ann Dale together. If I find that I do not like working this way then I can always carry on with just one of them.

Mullion W I craft section photographed by seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

This morning was the weekly meeting of Mullion WI craft section.

Mullion W I craft section photographed by seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

Work on the village heirloom wall hanging is continuing with new scenes from around the village beginning to take shape.

Mullion W I craft section photographed by seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

I love the different ways of creating a scene

Mullion W I craft section photographed by seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

 
The group is entering the WI competition at the Royal Cornwall Show and last week I was asked to contribute towards the entry. It is top secret so I cannot show you what I am working on until after the show. I spent two days last week working on my design and today the ladies approved my presentation so I am going to have to spend some of my time away from the two Anns.

Sew little time.



Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

Do well the little things now

Do well the little things now - Moira Blackburn

I have been a busy bee doing lots of little things over the last few days and going by my sampler I am now hoping that great things will come to me !!

I can't believe that it is twelve years ago that I stitched this little sampler. Where do the years go?

Fate has been against me spending a good chunk of time over the weekend on finishing ATS but I hope that it should be completed within the next four days.

Fate and destiny are funny things. On Thursday morning when I rang Sew and So they were doing a special order from the States for me on Ann Dale, that afternoon they had a delivery from their American suppliers and low and behold Ann Dale was included as a new design !!

They kitted her up for me and she is arriving this afternoon.

Lara kindly found a link to some photographs of the original Ann Dale. It is well worth having a look at Madelena.com.

Daffodils by seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - The Chocolate Box, Trewoon Poldhu Cove Mullion

It is the most beautiful spring day here and I could not resist a quick stroll around the garden before settling to my chores.

Daffodils by seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - The Chocolate Box, Trewoon Poldhu Cove Mullion

There are lots of flowers blooming.

  Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - The Chocolate Box, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - ByThe Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Blue was unable to resist a quick dive in the pond. It's a warm day but not that warm !! Brrrrrrrr

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

The bird chorus today is music to the ears. The beautiful weather has brought the birds out in force.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - The Chocolate Box, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

This little one has been ringed.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

And this one.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

Female chaffinches have such a gentle face.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

This Great ... (the word not to be mentioned) was busy watching me with the camera.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

I love the Blue ...'s expression - he seems to be saying "these peanuts are all mine"

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

It is amazing how they hold onto the feeders.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

This is a popular feeding station.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

This male chaffinch is bold and doesn't seem fazed by me or Poppy and Blue.

Photographed in the seaside garden  of the holiday cottage - By The Seashore, Trewoon Poldhu Cove  Mullion seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk  

I am afraid that it is now back to housework :( wishing every one a good week ahead.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

And The Winner Is ...........

La couleur de coeur - The colour of the heart

My DH has just made the draw and the winner is Deborah from Cranberry Samplings.

Congratulations Deborah I hope that you enjoy stitching Marie's beautiful design. Please could you email me your address and I will pop the chart and some goodies into the mail for you.

 I wish everyone could have won. Hopefully it will be your turn to be lucky when I have a giveaway for the chart And They Sinned, probably, by the end of the week when I have finished this endless grass. Watch this space !

This is a very quick post as I am having a chaotic couple of days. Normal blogging should resume next week when I will catch up with all the posts in my reader.

Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

Ann Dale 1827 Big and Beautiful

Ann Dale 1827 Big and Beautiful by Shakespeare's Peddler

I came across this design last night whilst surfing the net and immediately fell in love with it. I couldn't find a UK store that had it in stock but good old Sew and So are getting it in for me. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has stitched the sampler and to see come close up photos.


This has to be one of the best singles ads ever printed. It is reported to have been listed in the Cornish Guardian.


SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me.. Call 01272 ......6420 and ask for Annie, I'll be waiting.....



Over 150 men found themselves talking to the Truro RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Isn't Annie a cutie.

How could anyone abandon or mistreat her let alone any of God's creature is beyond me.


Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx

In a fast-paced life walking slows us down

Photograph taken from the headland at  Polurrian  Cove , Lizard Cornwall
seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

Ray and I took Poppy and Blue out for a long leisurely walk yesterday afternoon with lots of stops on the route to pause and admire the views. In a fast paced life walking slows us down. 

Reed Beds at Poldhu Cove Lizard Cornwall
seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

We started from Poldhu Cove, normally everyone photographs the views out to sea, here I have shown the reed beds facing away from the sea. This was once a fast flowing river that originally formed the cove. Now it is home to many species of wildlife and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest by English Heritage as has most of our little cove. This gives it great protection and will ensure that the natural heritage is preserved for future generations. 

Murmuration of Starlings  at Poldhu Cove Mullion
seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

Every year between Autumn and February starlings flock to the reed bed to create huge and magnificent murmurations. This must be one of nature best sights, the starlings sweep ball like in their hundreds of thousands, twisting and turning in formation before flying down to the reed bed and roosting for the night. The sound of their chattering fills the cove.

Murmuration of Starlings  at Poldhu Cove Mullion
seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

We were walking to Mullion Cove and set off along the coast path on an overcast but dry day.

Photograph of the view from the Marconi Field at Poldhu Cove, Lizard looking towards Mullion Island
seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

The Island is now a bird sanctuary and no one is allowed onto the island. Do you remember Enid Blyton's books about the Famous Five. I grew up on these books and in my imagination I was with them on each of their adventures. Many were set in and around the fictitious Kirran Bay Cornwall and on  Kirran Island.

The first time I saw Mullion Island I immediately thought Famous Five. I think that was one of the reasons I fell in love with this area.

This time of year you will more than likely get the coast path to yourself.

Coast path looking back towards Mount Bay Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk

Coast path Looking back towards Polurrian Cove Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

There has been coastal erosion here. If I lived in this house and there was a bad storm I would be worried that the house would end up at the bottom of the cliff.

 Polurrian Cove Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

It is a steep walk down into Polurrain Cove and back up the other side.

The steps leading up from Polurrian Cove Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

When I took this photograph there was a fine mist blowing in from the sea so it is hazy.

Polurrian Hotel,Polurrian Cove Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

The hotel is undergoing a multi million pound upgrade. We are looking forward to visiting the spa when finished. Can you see the tennis court, it is on the edge of the cliff, you can just see the ground sloping away.

There can't be many tennis courts with this view. You can just see the Poldhu in the distance.

View over Mount's Bay Cornwall seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

Onwards we walked to Mullion Cove. There is an old cannon guarding the entrance

Mullion Cove & Island Lizard Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

You could imagine an old pirate ship dropping anchor here.

Mullion Cove & Island Lizard Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

Then we went inland passing these chickens on the way. They were very interested in us and came rushing over.

Chickens at Mullion Meadows Lizard Cornwall  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

Their eggs are served in the cafe at Mullion Meadows which is a great place to stop for a light lunch and good coffee.


We then did a large circle around the village and back onto the coast path and home

  seasidecottagescornwall.co.uk 

We were glad to see this sign, only 1.25 miles to home.


There were lots of snores coming from two tired dogs and one husband last night as I sat stitching grass on ATS.


Warm Wishes from Stitching By A Cornish Sea Shore Nicola xxx