Guinea fowl by Krystyna Pomeroy The Kilbaha Summer School I now have all my teaching here in Ireland organised for 2018.  I will still be doing Festival of Quilts and the Knitting and Stitching Shows at Ally Pally and in Dublin and Harrogate. I will also be doing the Fashion and Embroidery show in March at the NEC Birmigham. So I will be about in the UK.    My house viewed from my field. Look. Draw. Stitch. I will be offering 9 weekends of Look. Draw. Stitch. There is a page on my website if you would like all the dates and details - /kimthittichai.com/html/land-_sea_and_sky  The idea of these weekends is to get back to basics. To look at what I consider to be the basic skills you need to create original work. It is all very simple, but not something we tend to do unless we are pushed - ever so gently!!!!  The view from my house. It isn't always sunny . . . !   Some of the lichen on the local dry stones walls is so long - it waves at you as you

   And so the journey begins . .  I am traveling in Ireland for a few days. I am here to start getting an idea of which area of County Clare I would like to move to. I have had a wonderful time exploring, wandering off wherever I fancy. I knew I wanted to be somewhere near the coast - no more than half an hour away, and no more than an hour away from Shannon airport. I THINK I have an idea of where I would like to live now. It will of course, depend on where the house I would like to buy is situated. I may have to compromise. Ideally I would like to live in the triangle between Lahinch, Ennistymon and Milltown Malby.  Lahinch beach, very popular with surfers. You can walk for miles, it is very beautiful. There is one very narrow road in and and out. The beach at Lahinch is stunning but will be busy in the summer so not too near there. Ennistymon is a lovely, very colourful town. I will need to be close to some kind of amenities.   Ennistymon high street.    

 Some of my collection of shells from Curracloe beach. So - here I am in Carrick on Shannon, Ireland on a 13 day break. With nothing planned!!!! I have 4 days left before I travel to Dublin and the Knitting and Stitching Show. As many of you will know, my life is usually planned out at least 2 years in advance with little room for manoeuvre.  I have had time to catch up with emails, this blog, do some exploring . . . and rest. I was a bit worried about what I was going to do with my self - I have managed to occupy myself splendidly. Regular readers will know I taught in Australia in September at the Geelong Fibre Forum. One of the tutors there was Nicola Brown - from Ireland. The world just gets smaller doesn't it? Nicola is eco dyer, eco printer and felt maker. She is great fun to be with and it is great to meet like minds. As we got on so well I suggested we meet up when I was over here.   On the road, across country, to Borris. It took just over 3 hours

One of several sand drawings made on the beach at Strandhill. I am having the best time in Ireland, I have flown over early - I am due to be at The Knitting and Stitching Show in Dublin next week. I was a bit worried about spending so much time on my own - 13 days - but I am doing fine. I really need the break. Time to decompress, make plans and catch up with myself. I have been experimenting with a few products and getting down to some stitch - sheer bliss . . .  My 'studio' in my apartment. I have a sheet on the floor to protect the carpet from all the sparkle!!   My first trip out was to Strandhill beach over on the West Coast near Sligo. I am using Carrick on Shannon as my base. I have stayed here before and love it. Strandhill is only 40 minutes away and my favourite place for breakfast is on the beach. www.shellscafe.com     Strandhill beach. I have also been on a boat trip up the Shannon . . .   The weather has been a mix of fog, clou