The beginning of June

Wow how the year is flying by and in the Holland household the months have been jam packed with good stuff. We don’t give the bad stuff headspace here.

Saturday the 1st June I took myself off for the day to Bolton’s Festival of Stitch.  A whole day of talking textiles and nobody  to think about but myself.  Bliss.

I caught up with lovely friend and very talented textile artist Catherine Hill.  We were treated to a talk about her career, family, inspiration and influences for her work.  She captured all our attention with stories of life in north west industrial England,  her mother’s recipes and childhood memories.  All of which are captured in Catherine’s red stitched pieces.

link to Catherine’s website

The first speaker was someone I’ve admired and wanted to meet for a long time, paper and stitch artist Jennifer Collier.

Link to Jennifer’s website

Every piece is made from recycled papers.

Jennifer also had us spellbound as she explained her work process and her ideas.  Who knew that paper could be manipulated so beautifully. What a talent.

The third speaker was Diana Morrison.  She works with dyes and machine stitch, layering up fabric to create exhibition pieces.



This collar was created in response to the antique textiles at Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire.

I booked myself on a printing workshop run by Wendy Roby at Stockport in August.

What we’ve been to see…….

I read the book quite some time ago and the follow up,  The Wild Silence.  This is a true story about a couple who lost everything they owned through no fault of their own. Following a diagnosis of a terminal illness Moth and his wife Ray take to walking the coastal path and we learn of their joy and pain along the way. I can strongly recommend it as a wonderful sensitive film that will touch your heart.  I’m hoping they will make a sequel.

I’ll be back next week with stories of our day at the Vintage Home Show and Antiques Textile Fair in Manchester.  For now though I’ve got to get my skates on as we are off to the National Portrait Gallery at Media City in Salford, for an immersive experience with some famous folk through time.

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The month of May

Where I’ve been ……

What a busy month May has been.  We had another trip to Grange Over Sands so that my 92 year old mum could have a few days in Coach House Bungalow that she loves.

The week after we were in Ruthin, North Wales to visit the new Jessie Chorley Textile Exhibition and have a catch up with lovely friend and mixed media/textile artist Tina Gilmore and hubby Gav.

JESSIE CHORLEY

Upon our return we had a long awaited day out at RHS Bridgewater Garden in Manchester with my sister.  Couldn’t believe when I bumped into childhood playmates, twins Pat & Pauline.  We will all be 70 this year and haven’t seen each other for 50 years.

If you get a chance to visit the gardens it’s well worth it.


Before our feet could hit the ground our bags were packed again

and we were back in Wales, this time Llandudno with good friends

Trish and Lee.

Look at this fabulous bar/restaurant we went in.

I’d have all this in my house. Oops, oh yes I already have haha.

Well not quite so many light shades 

Back home again in my studio and on zoom with my textile group the No Rules Textile Society,

we had a Lace Workshop. Our prompt for the month has been SHARE. Members sent each other pieces of their fabric or paper stash to work into.

There’s been so much more happening as well. The everyday stuff that I won’t bore you with. I will say though

that June is just as full on. 

Hope you’ll stay tuned and thanks for popping by.

Lynn 

xxx

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Hello April …….

Hello….  I only seem to come to my blog now when there’s lots of loveliness going on, and April is not only bringing sunshine there’s been some good trips out over the early part of the month.  I like to use my blog as a visual diary for myself to record the good stuff.

After a workshop was cancelled in Nottingham, we took the opportunity to make our first trip of the year to our caravan in the Lake District.  It’s 27 years old now, we’ve had it 17 years and although its blumming cold at night in it, it’s still  a wonderful peaceful place to be.  Lots of birdsong, deer roaming round and nature at its finest.

A visit to Grange Over Sands wouldn’t be the same without lunch in our favourite family run hotel, Clare House.

Even though it’s literally 15 minutes away from our caravan we often treat ourselves to an overnight stay.  Later this year we are booked in with friends to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and my 70th birthday.  How did I get to that age so fast .

Back home Philip set to repairing the rotten fascia boards on the garage and I got stuck into tidying the garden and planting up a wall climber I bought last year.  Isn’t it good when you can start having your windows and doors open and hanging your washing on the line again.  

Our No Rules Textile Society have been looking at Texture as a project this month and one of our members led a mindful meditation during a zoom meeting.  It was so calming.

As well as layering up fabrics and lace, I’ve been experimenting with tissue paper and dress paper patterns.

Adding a fine layer of olive oil (any oil will do) by rubbing it over my hands first I then gently screwed up the paper, straightened it again several times until it had a fabric feel to it. Once dried I machine stitched into it and tore some pieces back.  It’s difficult to get back into crafting when the suns out and you’re pulled to be outside.


Plus we’ve done quite a lot of socialising. Well what’s retirement for, if not for seeing friends and shows haha.

We went to a local theatre who were staging an adaptation of Bill Bryson’s “Notes From. Small Island”.  It was brilliantly funny and insightful to see how the UK has changed over the years.

Tuesday afternoon I went to the cinema with mum and my sister to see the musical SIX about Henry Vlll wives.  Honestly it was genius and if you get a chance to see this recording of the live London show, don’t miss it.  It’s so good I’m going again on Saturday afternoon with hubby Philip.  After which we will be going to friends for a chippy tea, followed by salted Caramel Vienetta (we’ve just discovered it in the shops).  We know how to live up north.

If you’re still with me thanks for following along.  There’s plenty more to come this month, a trip aboard the Northern Belle train next week, a visit to Stockport Vintage Fair on Sunday, Monday afternoon at the Polished Knob pub in Todmorden where there’s live music and dancing. Who knew that Mondays could be that lively.  A visit to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester to see Abigail’s Party. An 80th birthday party and of course Wednesday afternoons are all about Philip’s stint on the radio.  Oldham community radio 99.7fm 1pm-2pm Phil’s Country Music Highway.

Thanks for tuning in folks to my ramblings.  I’ll be back with more soon.

Lynn 

xxx

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