The good the bad and the ugly

Hello from sunny Lancashire.  There’s a lot of bad stuff been going on in the past two months but we won’t go into that.  I’m here to share the best bits and hopefully make you smile.

Here in the studio there’s been secret assignments going on, some stitching and some lovely zoom meet ups with my No Rules Textile Society Members.

Like What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday folk we are all like minded and encourage and urge each other on.  Isn’t it wonderful when you find your tribe. 

We’ve not been going as long as WOYWW but firm friendships have been formed, just like you gals.

Creative wise we’ve got a new prompt and it’s “Colour”.   I’ve pulled out some books for inspiration and I found this lovely card in Country Harvest farm shop on our way to the caravan in the Lake District.  The jelly fruits that I bought didn’t last long after the photoshoot haha.

We met up with our lovely friend Maria who lives in Ulverston for the first time this year and had a fab day. If you’re an instagram fan take a look at her account it’s beautiful.

Rosey Tinted Spectacles

What else have we been up to ?  Oh yes !  We had a lovely rummage round Holden Wood Antiques on the way back from the Lakes and I found a few treasures for the studio.  It’s ages since I’ve had a truffling session.

We’ve got some serious stuff going on at home so I won’t be around much but I did want to say I hope you are all well and being creative and to say enjoy the summer whatever you’re up to.

Lots of love 

Lynn 

x

Linking to 

WHAT’S ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY

May you’ve been such a pretty month - WOYWW

Hasn’t May been such a pretty month.  We’ve had some lovely days at our old caravan in the Lake District.  To smarten it up I added new checked pillowcases and some candle lamp shades.  It was so nice sitting outside eating breakfast listening to the birds.

Honestly I thought retirement was a slower pace of life.  Not in this house our days are always full of activities. I’ve spent too many hours to add up looking at kitchens for my sister. Thankfully one is ordered now.  

There’s been a visit to the cinema to catch Back to Black, the Amy Winehouse film.  We’ve had some lovely walks and a visit to the North West Alpine Flower show which was held at our local civic hall.  The entries were stunning.

Last weekend I visited a textile/vintage/craft event in Todmorden at Felinewood Crafts where I came across this cut up skirt on the Rag Table. 

I’ve since found out it comes from product development at a fashion house.  Apparently they cut out chunks of fabric for reference and the rest they purposely damage so unsanctioned designs don’t get sold on. (Thanks Katherine for the information).

I will be passing that snippet of news onto the members of the No Rules Textile Society at our next zoom meeting.

LINK TO NO RULES TEXTILE SOCIETY

Lucky me won a £100 voucher to spend on summer clothes at our local garden centre.  We had great fun at the prize handover followed by lunch in their garden cafe.

There has been some sad things in this lovely of months. Two of my best friends lost their Mums within days of one another.  So we’ve been keeping each other going by visits, phone calls, support and little gifts of food, books, magazines, planned outings and general chit chat.  

Back in my studio I’m following a plan that one of my textile pals used to get her over a creative hump.  She told me she showed up at her work desk/studio every day for three weeks with no plans only to see what would emerge.

Crikey she is so right, I’ve been doing it for the last week or so and guess what I’m coming out of the inertia that has swamped me for months.  I don’t set myself a time, task or length of time to be there, just letting it be what it is.

I started this Stitchbook yonks ago and this week I spent some time finishing my samples before arranging them on the pages.

I’ll let you know how the rest of the “Show up every day” project goes in my next post.

Before I sign off can I give a big shout out to Julia Budd our beloved leader of 15 years who has kept all the fabulous crafters of What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday together over all that time. You’ve done an amazing job and we are sorry to see you step down but love the friendships you’ve created with your weekly blog link up.  Thank you gorgeous lady xxx

I’ll see you at the end of June everyone if not before.

Enjoy the warmer days and lighter nights.

Lynn 

xx

Linking to What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday 

WOYWW

April you’ve been fun and full on

April you have been full on, but then I did know that as it’s me who organises events, so I can’t complain about being shattered can I.

We started with a few days away with my mum and sister at Alvaston Hall in Cheshire.  The weather was lovely as was the evening entertainment and food.  We even managed some outdoor games.

We followed this with a day aboard the elegant Northern Belle train, travelling from Todmorden in Yorkshire up country then back down via Lancaster.  Our friends who were celebrating their 60th birthdays loved the whole experience. 

NORTHERN BELLE LINK

The day after we drove upto the Lake District to open our caravan for the start of the 2024 season. Again the weather was kind to us. Our friends followed us up and we went to see our favourite band My Darling Clementine.

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE LINK

What a quirky venue, high above the town of Ulverston, in the village hall at Water Yeats.  We rocked upto a wooden hall painted blue and inside it was laid out cafe style with an audience of around 30.  We had been told to bring our own drinks and nibbles and had a fabulous evening.

Sunday we drove five minutes up the road to yew tree barn antiques and restoration centre.  It’s like Aladdin’s cave and always a must to visit.  

YEW TREE BARN LINK

Look at the gorgeous interior of the Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge where we had our evening meal.

Even the loos had amazing wallpaper.

Add into the month a few lunches out with other friends and we move onto last weekend and two trips to Manchester.

Friday we had dinner at the Bridgewater Hall followed by a concert by the Average White Band, their final tour ever.

We were transported back 46 years to our courting days, driving down to Port Madog in Philip’s Ford Mustang with their music blasting out of the cassette player, and also the soul sounds of Earth Wind & Fire.  Happy days.

Still with me ?

Saturday it was an early start with the drive over to Bolton to look at kitchens for my sister Jill.  This was followed by a quick dash over to my favourite tea room Park Farm in Ramsbottom for Afternoon Tea with friend Sue who needed cheering up.

Sunday saw us at the annual Antique Textile Fair at Fallowfield, Manchester.  We saw lots of fellow Instagram chums and had our photo featured on the Textile Society’s page.

I was quite restrained in my spending but couldn’t resist this 50’s fabric covered box.

I also picked up a piece of 1950’s barkcloth and a bundle of French print scraps.

Art & craft wise Ive played about making a mood board then using the app PhotoGrid I created a blended image of fabrics and a ceramic jug I have, made by artist Karen Shapley.

Well that’s it from me and a very busy April.  I’m leaving out the sad bits as I want to remember the month as a joyous one with lots of fun times with friends.

Hope you’ve all had a good April and are looking forward to May and all it will bring us.

Linking up with What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday 

LINK TO WOYWW

March blogging

Hello and thanks for popping by.  I’ve had a few problems with disappearing blog photos so I’m hoping that this lot stay put.

Above is a screenshot of my Instagram account and a look around my studio, housed in the centre of our 1950’s country cottage.

Im weaning myself into blog writing as I’ve a bigger project coming up and need the practice.

Spring is on its way, the first signs in our garden are the snowdrops and the camellia which is a beautiful bush but the heaviness of the flowers mean it doesn’t last long as they drop off.

This pic made me chuckle.  It’s my 20 year old VW Beetle Frida getting a good wash.  How I love my car, I’ve had it since new and will never part with it.

I’ve done a bit of crafting in the form of an Easter wreath using dried flowers.  There’s been some fiffing and faffing about curating the studio wall.

And we had a meet up with some of the members of The No Rules Textile Society members.  We met up at Jayne Emerson’s home and studio in the beautiful village of Dumbleton, Gloucester.

And of course the wandering welder came along as well.

He loves a good rummage through the fabric stash.

We’ve visited the magnificent newly renovated Rochdale Town Hall.  You may recognise it from the tv series Peaky Blinders.  It is well worth a visit if you are in North West England.  There’s a great pub over the road for lunch as well (The Flying Horse).

As April brings us longer daylight hours it’s good to get outside.  Hope to see toy again soon. 

Lynn x