In this week’s copy of The Big Issue there was an amazing photograph of two Praying mantises that had won the annual Glanzlichter photo contest.
Photographer Hasan Baglar
We had Long-tail Tits in the garden today – my favourite little birds.
A friend of ours recently had a baby boy so I have made him a pair of Sally-boots as I make for all new babies, as my welcome to the world.
We have found the perfect place to keep our new mugs, bought from our potter friend in Open Studios week. Isn’t the turquoise colour just gorgeous?
Last week I was sent some new earrings to use in my glass work and this is the piece that they inspired – purple, white and green, a Suffragette piece! 
I came across this quilt a few days ago and loved it. Just look at the work that has gone into it with words from Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, a favourite song that we sing with my choirs.
Chasing Cars
We’ll do it all
Everything
On our ownWe don’t need
Anything
Or anyoneIf I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?I don’t quite know
How to say
How I feelThose three words
Are said too much
They’re not enoughIf I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into lifeLet’s waste time
Chasing cars
Around our headsI need your grace
To remind me
To find my ownIf I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me…
I put out a call at Suitcase Singers for any old earrings that are no longer wanted and I have been given lots of beauties. These I was given last week and am delighted with them. I take my inspiration for my pieces from the bits of jewellery I am given and just want to find time to get on with these!
Our local hospital uses a traffic light system in the NICU (Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit) to show which new-borns need the most support with feeding. They have run out of orange/amber hats and have asked local knitters to get busy. I’ve made three so far and a fourth on the way. When I have made five, I shall post them off. If you are local and want to join in, I’ll send you the pattern.
Baby beanie hats for The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust NICU
My lovely SIL sent me this gem of Owl Wisdom.
The following tender poem and beautiful art work came my way the other day and I asked for permission to share it here. I love the idea of the “quilt of humanity” and that we all need to recycle, literally and metaphorically, to make our world a safer place to be.
Julia Myers poem with art by Gina Litherland
“The old threads are unraveling,
Get your needles ready.
We are stitching a new quilt
of humanity.
Bring your old t-shirts,
worn out jeans, scarves,
antique gowns, aprons,
old pockets of plenty
who have held Earth’s treasures,
stones, feathers, leaves,
love notes on paper.
Each stitch
A mindful meditation.
Each piece of material
A story.
The more color the better,
so call in the tribes.
Threads of browns, whites,
reds, oranges
Women from all nations
start stitching.
Let’s recycle the hate, the abuse,
the fear, the judgment.
Turn it over, wash it clean,
ring it out to dry.
It’s a revolution
of recycled wears.
Threads of greens, blues, purples
Colorful threads
of peace, kindness,
respect, compassion
are being stitched
from one continent to the next
over forests, oceans, mountains.
The work is hard
Your fingers may bleed.
But each cloth stitched together
Brings together a community.
A world, our future world
Under one colorful quilt.
The new quilt of humanity.”
~Julia Myers
One of our old and very lovely buildings, Redruth Drapery Stores on West End, has been bought and is being renovated to become a place for the community to celebrate the arts in all shapes and sizes. The door hook is either brand new or newly polished and it pleased me.
Shiny door hook
This cartoon, in The Guardian this morning, made me laugh. I, too, have been watching the petition numbers go up but not so obsessively I needed a bucket.
Clare in the Community
A few weeks ago, a lovely friend saw the poster below, advertising a play that had been written from one of my Dad’s novels – The Fate of Jeremy Visick
Stage Struck and The Fate of Jeremy Visick
I saw the play last night and was moved to tears by this production. The interpretation of the story, the bringing up-to-date of elements, the cast – especially the two amazing 11 years olds who played Matthew and Jeremy – the music, the use of technology, the very cleverly designed set all combined to make an unforgettable evening and one which my dear Dad would have been so proud to know about! I sat there almost bursting with pride that all those people were there, on stage and in the audience, because my lovely Dad had written this story! Thank you to Judith Nicholls and to all involved. Let’s hope it can be put on again. It deserves a much wider audience.
I made a Turkey and Leek pie for dinner tonight.
Turkey and Leek pie
I visited the display of my glass in The Craft Collective while in town on Saturday! I’ve up-cycled lots of the bits of sea-glass, earrings, bracelets and other beady bits that friends have given me and have lots more for the next series that I have started already.
Inside The Craft Collective
My first eight pieces
I passed by a bank of Narcissi this afternoon and they made me smile.
Narcissi
Choir friends brought me some more bits of jewellery for my glass work. I am going to have so much fun with all these little treasures!
Gifts from Anne and Jan – thank you both
Visiting friends this evening, I was very taken by the beautiful finger plate on their sitting room door. It is Newlyn copper and is very special. Apparently, when there were not enough fish to be caught or the weather was too bad to go out fishing, the fishermen were taught to work with copper, making small pieces for domestic use. This piece is really lovely with its fish and seaweed in the design.
Finger plate
You may find this page interesting explaining more about Newlyn copper.
At our last choir two lovely people gave me some bits of jewellery to add to my glass work.
Beautiful bits from Lisa and Helen
This ghostly apparition delighted me this morning, especially when the rainbows passed over it.
Our sunshine ghost
I cut the glass for this one a few days ago but didn’t have all the right additions until Monday evening. I have worked on it all afternoon and am pleased with the final result though the photo looks gold and it isn’t! It’s silver!
Today’s work, incorporating the two little turquoise earrings, top left in above photo, and a piece of sea-glass
Commentator Award
