Home from the islands ... with a taste of the sea

I can hardly believe it's been over two weeks since my last post ... but I have an excellent excuse! I've been on a wonderful holiday with my husband and two friends to the Isles of Scilly which, for me, represent a little piece of paradise just off the Atlantic coast of Cornwall (south west England).

Whenever I go there, I am inspired by the intense blueness of the sea and sky, the whiteness of the spectacular sandy beaches (strewn with beautiful shells) and the vibrant colours of exotic, sub-tropical plants that thrive in the islands' mild climate.

Of course, I took loads of photographs which will eventually find their way on to cards - and here's the first design that I've had time to work on since arriving home:

The main photo is a view of an elegant yacht moored off the island of Bryher, and below it is a section taken from a wall of the fabulous seashell mosaic 'house' which stands in the Abbey Gardens on Tresco.

I thought these images would make a perfect background for some 'beach life' quilling: some angular rocky coils, a yellow periwinkle shell, some narrow strands of seaweed ... and my attempt at a scallop shell, made using graduated strips. (You can see the real thing in the mosaic photo.)

I had a wonderful break, but now I'm really glad to get back to my quilling. My head is just bursting with new ideas, which I hope to share here in the weeks ahead.