Well sorry I missed last week’s Handmade Monday but I was away with my DH having a much needed break!  We have been in the Forest of Dean for a couple of days and then spent 5 days in a cottage in Glastonbury!  Plenty of  scope for coffee and cake adventures!

I love Glastonbury and used to come here 3 or 4 times a year with friends, but because of health issues I haven’t been for 3 years now, which is why my lovely husband suggested it as a holiday for us!  Glastonbury always had a recharging/de-stressing effect on me when I came here touching me spiritually, deepening my sense of oneness with the earth and my ability to tune into the magical/otherworldly realms.  Since becoming ill and having to take pain meds  I have felt a loss of connection to my spiritual side and even an inability to enjoy meditation as I used to do, so I was very much looking forward to experiencing a rekindling of these lost attributes by being once again in Glastonbury.

We had a view of the Tor from our bedroom window!  Sadly I can’t walk up it any more but maybe one day I will manage it again.

Glastonbury Tor

Well I enjoyed my time away, I feel rested and more relaxed, but I didn’t experience the ‘Glastonbury Effect’ –  not any of the ‘connections’ I used to feel at the sacred sites such as the Goddess Temple and Chalice Well.  I drank the well water and walked through the healing pool, I enjoyed the sensation, but it seems that nothing can get through the blanking effect of taking heavy drugs long term,  no tingling excitement or special awakening occurred.  I did read some very interesting books though which the hosts left in the living room and from these I remembered some of what I used to do naturally.  So now I will be working on reawakening my chakras, trying to reconnect with my higher self and deepening my connection to natural world around me to see if I can regain some of my sense of goddess spirituality.

The cottage was wonderful though, comfy bed, interesting garden with a raised patio in the garden overlooking the Abbey grounds. We had some nice cider and wine sitting up there!  Not much intake for me though – another consequence from taking the drugs 🙁

I took my sewing bag with me, expecting to have plenty of time to do some knitting, crochet and  hand sewing to make things like the hexagon patterns for quilts, but didn’t actually do any!  Amazingly, it was too hot to sew or knit or crochet!!!  Everytime I sat down in the garden recliner or on the sofa to read or craft I fell asleep!      They had amazing garden rolling recliners which are the best thing I have found for back/neck support in a comfy reclining position.  They were so good  I ordered one online which my son picked up and had  waiting for me when we got back last night!!   The holiday ones, Tuscany Recliners, were from Greenfingers online store but they have sold out so I got a  Malibu rolling  recliner from Argos which is very similar.  If you have any back, neck, knee or hip problems and can’t get comfy outside I really recommend trying one of these! http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/ROLLING+RECLINER+.htm

Floral binding and Rainbow Wool!

I did also manage to feed my fabric addiction in a beautiful little craft shop in Lydney, and a wonderful emporium called Sew Vintage in Wells.  Here is the ready made quilt binding I bought and some lovely wool I just couldn’t resist.

So now I have even more of a stash and haven’t made any progress at all with making things!!  Oh well, par for the course for fabric fanatics!

Now I’m back home I have decided to make some summer resolutions!

• make time for daily meditation and mindfulness
• work on my craft projects whilst listening to some beautiful music
• keep my craft room workspace tidy but have some pretty things in there to uplift my soul whilst working
• keep up to date reading craft blogs and writing my own

That shouldn’t be difficult, should it?!!      Think I’ll start by popping over to read the other blogs at handmade harbour!!