Thursday 7 July 2016

Summer morning


Front of the cottage this morning. Hollyhocks grow really well here and during the summer, people strolling up the road often comment on them.
down the path and through the gate
a new arrival, photo does not do the colour justice!
just about to break out!
A little alcove inside with our new ceramic 'thing'.
Latest felted cushion cover with loads of texture.
 
 


Embroidered hanging inspired by the amazing Jessie Chorley. Picture quality awful, blame camera, but it says 'all was peaceful, the clock ticked tocked as the last page turned'.  Visited Jessie's shop at 158a Columbia Road recently and met the talented lady herself. She was quietly sewing and spent time talking with me which was lovely. Purchased an indigo dyed vintage, patched and stitched smock, a beautiful apron made by Jessie's mum and a few other goodies too.  Am booked on to the Altered Journal workshop in August, can't wait!



Tuesday 2 February 2016

Imbolc, return of the maiden

Imbolc,  the goddess returns to the land as the maiden. The quickening of the year, the first stirrings of Spring in the womb of Mother Earth. A candle for the fire festival of Brigid.

A felted snowy white bag I made to store kindling to keep our fire burning.  This could easily belong to Mrs yeti.

Monday 23 November 2015

Winter Tags and Frost Giants

A Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

icicles, frost and snow

Winter pearls and frozen rain drop




Became impatient for frost and snow so decided to make my own, then I spotted these two making merry in the village.
 


Two Frost Giants strolling around without a care, scattering frosty sparkles in their wake. They seemed surprised I could see them and said they can't be seen in photographs. Hmm



Monday 7 September 2015

September and October are my favourite months. I love the cool, crisp mornings, gentle twilight and the soft mist that gives way, if we are lucky, to bright sunny days.  The heat of summer is just fading, the light lessening to a soft gold glow and that early morning and evening air sends an olfactory message to the deepest part of our human psyche that winter is on its way.  The harvest is now in and the time is right for gathering the natural bounty from hedgerows and orchards to make jams, preserves or just feast upon straight from the tree or bramble.  We are lucky enough here to have a small, community orchard where you can find lots of different apple varieties, plums and pears and if you know the secret location of, a walnut tree. Brambles grow around the edge and the hedges are drooping under the weight of indigo blue damsons.  Butterflys were evident yesterday, we spotted a Red Admiral and a tiny blue one skittering amongst the wild grasses and others which flitted about our heads as we picked.
Greengages and damsons


the sweet, highly perfumed pears were picked, made into pear and almond crumble and eaten within two hours.  If I say so myself, really yummy.

We are lucky enough to have a Hazelnut tree at the bottom of our garden and this year it has had a bumper crop.  We did find recently, a massive horde of nut shells under the old shed we took down which probably explains why the nut harvest has been poor over the last couple of years - a wee mouse has been feasting and hiding them under the base of hubby's shed!  Leah and I removed the husks and just have to shell them and make into hazelnut fudge brownies (Elizabeth Luard's recipe)
Whilst I love this time of year, it also leaves me with a slight melancholic feeling, a sadness that I can't quite explain.  Its not mourning the passing of summer as I love winter but it is a time of reflection for me and also a time of new beginnings.  September is usually the time I make big changes in my life,. new job etc and also a time to reconnect with my spiritual beliefs.  Brought up a Christian then discovered Wicca in my early 20's or should I say Wicca found me, studied native American shamanistic practices and explored the New Age movement and read dozens of books on self help, crystals, meditation but then drifted away from this with the birth of my first child (now 20).  Lately, having read Lynn Baron's beautiful blog, Sea Angels, I have reconnected with the old religion as Lynn touches on the Wiccan teachings in a gentle and honourable way.  Funny co-incidence when on a recent day out with hubby, in a second hand bookshop, there staring right at me were two books; Scott Cunningham Wicca; A guide for Sole Practitioners and a book on Wicca by Vivian Crowley.  I was lucky enough to meet Vivian a few years ago at a talk and book signing evening.  She is an amazing, beautiful woman who shares her beliefs in a captivating way and has written many books on the religion.  Belonging to a coven does not appeal anymore, but to honour the natural world in all its beauty and terrible wildness, the turning of the seasonal wheel and to receive the blessing of the goddess, puts my heart and soul at ease.

These autumn evenings are just right for a bit of sewing, below is a scarf I'm working on which started it's life as a shirt.  Bought in a charity shop (where else?) it's been deconstructed and reworked with patches, stitches and a little magic sprinkled in too.  Trying to achieve that Japanese boro look but not quite up to Kapital Clothing's standards. ha ha....
Will form part of my stall at the Burnham Christmas market in December.
Thank you for stopping by, I welcome your comments so please feel free to leave me some.  Love to all you hedgerow gathers and makers of homemade delights.  Now where did I put that jam pan .....


Sunday 12 July 2015

Cherry red and Cherry pink
wild cherries growing near Bradwell beach
So naturally we  picked some

my pink cherry blossom cushion

with Laura Ashley fabric backing, found at our local charity shop
Kantha is a type of stitch used by Indian women to make exquisite quilts from old saris.  Two or three pieces of material are sandwiched together then stitched with a running thread, usually in a contrasting colour to the fabric, thus achieving the quilted effect.  Old saris make up the outer pieces and little fabric scraps are used as the inner filler so nothing is wasted.  The fabrics used on the front of my cushion cover are vintage scraps bought from the Selvedge Spring fair and stitched in a similar way to Kantha.  The beautiful rose material  was a real 'find' and just enough to make the backing.  A large feather pillow is inside.  Its really comfy and squishy to snuggle up to.
 

Monday 29 June 2015

cool beach walk

A cool breeze blew across the beach as we studied the Anglo Saxon Fishing Weirs on Bradwell beach.
 
 

The beach is entirely made of shells and this time I was attracted to grey ones..
and a few white ones....
 
 
and some teeny tiny ones.. so beautiful..
 

lovely colours and textures


Being on the beach always puts me in a quiet, reflective mood. I don't want to talk or move too quickly.  Elements of nature wash my soul and free my spirit reconnecting with all that has been and all that will be as time is circular not linear...









little lady gets a blue manicure, beach style....
 
Seaside Style by Taschen covered by me in vintage linens
and a felted bag I made to carry it all in..
What do you like most about being on a beach?
 
 
 

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Hungry for market delicacies....

 
An almond ring from our little market ... really yummy with a strong coffee taken outside on the patio in the sun and some 'French' kitchen sacks I made which make me think of Provence. 

 
It is sunny and breezy here on the east coast so I decided to wash all my old linens and peg them out with some jaunty pegs I found in the local hardware store. Old dolly pegs would probably suit better but these ones made me smile.  I hope you are enjoying the sunshine today.