Friday Smiles - Or maybe not !

I might have mentioned that I’m presently reading this fascinating book based around London and the River Thames and Cornwall.

 

It’s not a book I would advocate reading at bedtime, some of the facts are quite stomach turning.  Like dog faeces being collected and sold to tanneries to be rubbed by hand into specialist leathers used to cover books or make expensive gloves. 

You could have had a job as a bone grubber collecting animal bones off the streets to make tallow candles, soap and glue.  

One story I whispered in Philip’s ear as he was dropping off to sleep was about the 82 bone combs found on the Mary-Rose warship,  raised in the 1980’s,  still containing nits that were almost 500 years old.

I can see your faces now screwing up in disgust.  Sorry I can’t help but laugh.  I must be a bit warped I think haha.

Listen to this then for a bit of late night reading.  Did you know that in the 1800’s all human sewage went straight into the River Thames from holes in the floorboards of dwellings,  and in the summer the windows of the House of Commons could not be opened because of the dreadful stench half choking the MP’s.  In the Palace of Westminster the curtains were soaked in bleach to disguise the smell.

And don’t get me started on eels being stewed and eaten in long pieces then swilled down with the liquid they were stewed in. Yuck !!!

Okay enough of the stuff that makes you baulk.  Here’s a sweeter fact for you. Did you know that sugar in the 1700’s was a luxury and as time went on and it became more affordable the size of teaspoons went from a quarter to a third of a tablespoon.  

Think they could have done with some masks back in the day don’t you. Haha.  I really am sorry for keeping laughing but I’m just imagining your faces reading this.

I promise to get my naughtiness under control by the next post and I hope I haven’t put you off your food.

linking to Annie’s Friday Smiles

Take care and please come back soon.

Lynn

X 

Ps.  I’ve borrowed these images and if they are yours I hope you won’t mind.  Thanks lynn x

 

Friday Smiles - Or maybe not !

I might have mentioned that I’m presently reading this fascinating book based around London and the River Thames and Cornwall.

 

It’s not a book I would advocate reading at bedtime, some of the facts are quite stomach turning.  Like dog faeces being collected and sold to tanneries to be rubbed by hand into specialist leathers used to cover books or make expensive gloves. 

You could have had a job as a bone grubber collecting animal bones off the streets to make tallow candles, soap and glue.  

One story I whispered in Philip’s ear as he was dropping off to sleep was about the 82 bone combs found on the Mary-Rose warship,  raised in the 1980’s,  still containing nits that were almost 500 years old.

I can see your faces now screwing up in disgust.  Sorry I can’t help but laugh.  I must be a bit warped I think haha.

Listen to this then for a bit of late night reading.  Did you know that in the 1800’s all human sewage went straight into the River Thames from holes in the floorboards of dwellings,  and in the summer the windows of the House of Commons could not be opened because of the dreadful stench half choking the MP’s.  In the Palace of Westminster the curtains were soaked in bleach to disguise the smell.

And don’t get me started on eels being stewed and eaten in long pieces then swilled down with the liquid they were stewed in. Yuck !!!

Okay enough of the stuff that makes you baulk.  Here’s a sweeter fact for you. Did you know that sugar in the 1700’s was a luxury and as time went on and it became more affordable the size of teaspoons went from a quarter to a third of a tablespoon.  

Think they could have done with some masks back in the day don’t you. Haha.  I really am sorry for keeping laughing but I’m just imagining your faces reading this.

I promise to get my naughtiness under control by the next post and I hope I haven’t put you off your food.

linking to Annie’s Friday Smiles

Take care and please come back soon.

Lynn

X 

Ps.  I’ve borrowed these images and if they are yours I hope you won’t mind.  Thanks lynn x

 

Lockdown Diary - Sunflowers for Auntie Gladys

SPRINGHILL HOSPICE SUNFLOWER APPEAL

When I read about our local hospice running a Sunflower Appeal I knew I wanted to honour the memory of my Auntie Gladys so I sent off for a pack.

Not being a gardener myself I knew it would make her smile to know that flowers would pop up around the country if I asked friends to plant the seeds in their gardens in her name.

They have gone off to Walsall, Inverness, Hampshire, Berkshire and Cumbria. Thank you ladies.

Auntie Gladys with her smile so bright

Under normal circumstances there would have been a public event at the hospice, but because of Covid 19 it’s not possible.  Even so I’m glad they’ve found a way round it.

So not only does she have a greenhouse named after her in friend Nancy’s garden in Berkshire, she will have gardens full of sunflowers too (hopefully).

Today we popped up to Bacup to do a couple of errands.  This time though we had to wear masks wherever we went indoors.

It was nice to be able to go out without a raincoat and umbrella for a change.  The waistcoat is one we found in a charity shop before lockdown and it’s supposedly shared between me and the wandering welder but he hasn’t seen sight of it yet in his wardrobe and if I remember rightly I got the dress from the Vintage Emporium at Pear Mill, Bredbury, Stockport. LINK HERE

Look at this fantastic job someone has done of painting Captain Tom on the side wall of the local pub.  On another wall there’s a character from Peaky Blinders.

Couldn’t sign off without showing you this picture that was taken of my mum and auntie Jill in the new M&S in Rochdale.  Wherever they go they get asked about their flip up visors.  They could have made a fortune if they’d been selling them. Apparently this gorgeous pair of 80+ year olds are going to be featured on the M&S website.

There’s talk of us having a day of hot weather and sunshine tomorrow.  I’ll believe that when I see it.  It’s been fair grim up north recently.

Upcoming blog posts

‘Rag & Bones’

‘Where did you get that dress’

In the meantime take care and stay safe 

Lynn

x

Lockdown Diary - Sunflowers for Auntie Gladys

SPRINGHILL HOSPICE SUNFLOWER APPEAL

When I read about our local hospice running a Sunflower Appeal I knew I wanted to honour the memory of my Auntie Gladys so I sent off for a pack.

Not being a gardener myself I knew it would make her smile to know that flowers would pop up around the country if I asked friends to plant the seeds in their gardens in her name.

They have gone off to Walsall, Inverness, Hampshire, Berkshire and Cumbria. Thank you ladies.

Auntie Gladys with her smile so bright

Under normal circumstances there would have been a public event at the hospice, but because of Covid 19 it’s not possible.  Even so I’m glad they’ve found a way round it.

So not only does she have a greenhouse named after her in friend Nancy’s garden in Berkshire, she will have gardens full of sunflowers too (hopefully).

Today we popped up to Bacup to do a couple of errands.  This time though we had to wear masks wherever we went indoors.

It was nice to be able to go out without a raincoat and umbrella for a change.  The waistcoat is one we found in a charity shop before lockdown and it’s supposedly shared between me and the wandering welder but he hasn’t seen sight of it yet in his wardrobe and if I remember rightly I got the dress from the Vintage Emporium at Pear Mill, Bredbury, Stockport. LINK HERE

Look at this fantastic job someone has done of painting Captain Tom on the side wall of the local pub.  On another wall there’s a character from Peaky Blinders.

Couldn’t sign off without showing you this picture that was taken of my mum and auntie Jill in the new M&S in Rochdale.  Wherever they go they get asked about their flip up visors.  They could have made a fortune if they’d been selling them. Apparently this gorgeous pair of 80+ year olds are going to be featured on the M&S website.

There’s talk of us having a day of hot weather and sunshine tomorrow.  I’ll believe that when I see it.  It’s been fair grim up north recently.

Upcoming blog posts

‘Rag & Bones’

‘Where did you get that dress’

In the meantime take care and stay safe 

Lynn

x

What’s on your Workdesk Wednesday

How are you all doing ?  Sorry if I sound a bit muffled I’m practicing wearing my mask.  The wandering welder says it should be a permanent thing.  Cheeky !

I can’t remember the last time I bought paper to wrap a present, usually I scout around the house to see what there is.

For a friend’s 70th this week I’ve made a bag out of a scented drawer liner.  It’s machine stitched along the bottom (you could use double sided tape).  As you can see I’ve punched two holes in the top and threaded a bit of string through to hold it together.  The back overlaps so didn’t need any securing.

This one contains a book and it’s wrapped in 1945 magazine pages and again a bit of string.  This one is for our neighbour  and friend Mark.  He will love reading the articles on the wrapping and the book I hope.

On the go I’ve got a hole to repair in a vintage underskirt and a little project to work with that you can read about here 

MEDICINE SPOON PROJECT

I’m reading my Anne Brooke’s Textile Wanderings Book again to while away a rainy afternoon and to inspire the stitching I’ll be doing.

ANNE BROOKES TEXTILE WANDERINGS

If you’ve been following the Art tour around my house

posts, here’s a wonderful gift we were sent by my Instagram chum Rachel. Isn’t she clever. She’s even got my Orla Kiely shoes to a T.

Part one - Our House Art Tour

Part Two - Our House Art Tour

Well I hope you lovely desk hoppers are having better weather than us Northern lasses, it’s been rain, rain and more  rain.  Don’t know about wearing masks, it’s wellies and raincoats here.

Take care

Lynn

x

Linking up with 

What’s On your Workdesk Wednesday

What’s on your Workdesk Wednesday

How are you all doing ?  Sorry if I sound a bit muffled I’m practicing wearing my mask.  The wandering welder says it should be a permanent thing.  Cheeky !

I can’t remember the last time I bought paper to wrap a present, usually I scout around the house to see what there is.

For a friend’s 70th this week I’ve made a bag out of a scented drawer liner.  It’s machine stitched along the bottom (you could use double sided tape).  As you can see I’ve punched two holes in the top and threaded a bit of string through to hold it together.  The back overlaps so didn’t need any securing.

This one contains a book and it’s wrapped in 1945 magazine pages and again a bit of string.  This one is for our neighbour  and friend Mark.  He will love reading the articles on the wrapping and the book I hope.

On the go I’ve got a hole to repair in a vintage underskirt and a little project to work with that you can read about here 

MEDICINE SPOON PROJECT

I’m reading my Anne Brooke’s Textile Wanderings Book again to while away a rainy afternoon and to inspire the stitching I’ll be doing.

ANNE BROOKES TEXTILE WANDERINGS

If you’ve been following the Art tour around my house

posts, here’s a wonderful gift we were sent by my Instagram chum Rachel. Isn’t she clever. She’s even got my Orla Kiely shoes to a T.

Part one - Our House Art Tour

Part Two - Our House Art Tour

Well I hope you lovely desk hoppers are having better weather than us Northern lasses, it’s been rain, rain and more  rain.  Don’t know about wearing masks, it’s wellies and raincoats here.

Take care

Lynn

x

Linking up with 

What’s On your Workdesk Wednesday

Lockdown Diary - someone turn the heat up

Can somebody tell July that it’s summer please.  I’ve had to resort to a woolly frock, opaque tights and Chelsea boots today for a drive out with Mum.

The bag is one I made some time ago from a tapestry, a piece of hessian and some gingham.

Another day, another outfit.

Layering up my £4 Wallis charity shop frock with a full length vintage petticoat and wardrobe staple grey cardi. 

My fabulous basket was a gift from friend Vix.   I get such a lot of great comments when I use it.

VIX’S BLOG LINK

As the library still isn’t open I’ve visited Mr Amazon again to get Rachel Joyce’s new book ‘Miss Benson’s Beetle’.

My bestie spotted a review in a magazine and thought it was worth a read.  

Joyce has written several books which have been translated into 36 languages and two are in development for film.

Other titles are :

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

A Snow Garden and other stories.

The Music Shop. 

LINK TO RACHEL JOYCE AUTHOR

Not really night time reading but I’ve dived into this book.  I don’t know where my fascination for mudlarking and beachcombing comes from, other than playing in the river and picking broken crockery out of the embankment during long hot summer holidays from school.

One thing that is disturbing in the book is the information on  the effect of plastics on seabirds.  By 2050, it is estimated that 99% of all seabirds will have plastic in their gut. It’s predicted that by weight there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. That’s quite disturbing.  

LINK TO BOOK

I’m getting into a real blogging stride now and loving writing in my journal as well.  I’ll be running into a second one before long.

During the week I’ll be  back with another home art gallery tour and a post about a very special dress.

Until next time, it’s still important to stay safe.

Don’t forget to wear  your mask.

Lynn

X

Lockdown Diary - someone turn the heat up

Can somebody tell July that it’s summer please.  I’ve had to resort to a woolly frock, opaque tights and Chelsea boots today for a drive out with Mum.

The bag is one I made some time ago from a tapestry, a piece of hessian and some gingham.

Another day, another outfit.

Layering up my £4 Wallis charity shop frock with a full length vintage petticoat and wardrobe staple grey cardi. 

My fabulous basket was a gift from friend Vix.   I get such a lot of great comments when I use it.

VIX’S BLOG LINK

As the library still isn’t open I’ve visited Mr Amazon again to get Rachel Joyce’s new book ‘Miss Benson’s Beetle’.

My bestie spotted a review in a magazine and thought it was worth a read.  

Joyce has written several books which have been translated into 36 languages and two are in development for film.

Other titles are :

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

A Snow Garden and other stories.

The Music Shop. 

LINK TO RACHEL JOYCE AUTHOR

Not really night time reading but I’ve dived into this book.  I don’t know where my fascination for mudlarking and beachcombing comes from, other than playing in the river and picking broken crockery out of the embankment during long hot summer holidays from school.

One thing that is disturbing in the book is the information on  the effect of plastics on seabirds.  By 2050, it is estimated that 99% of all seabirds will have plastic in their gut. It’s predicted that by weight there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. That’s quite disturbing.  

LINK TO BOOK

I’m getting into a real blogging stride now and loving writing in my journal as well.  I’ll be running into a second one before long.

During the week I’ll be  back with another home art gallery tour and a post about a very special dress.

Until next time, it’s still important to stay safe.

Don’t forget to wear  your mask.

Lynn

X

Home is where the ART is - Part Two - Art in many forms

Art for me comes in many forms.  So today’s home gallery tour is a look at a small selection of the different pieces around our eclectic home.

Cornwall OPI Toy maker Jane Ryan’s  wooden beating heart was an anniversary gift to each other. One Christmas I had family group ones made as presents.

Link to Jane’s Instagram page

I’m a big fan of

British contemporary artist - Rachel Grant 

We have two of her canvases and I’ve given many of her prints as gifts.

Link to Rachel Grant website

Another of my favourite art forms is papier-mâché.

This sweet thing sits on my kitchen unit watching me make a cuppa.

She’s made by English maker Doris n Doris.

Link to Doris n Doris Instagram page

Wall art I’ve received from friends and another piece by Doris & Doris

A couple of  years ago  I came across English ceramicist 

What Kate Loves

What Kate Loves website

Another favourite of mine is this piece by ceramic/textile artist Karen Shapley who I met at a makers event in Pendle.

Link to Karen’s blog with photos of her fab work

I’m not kidding I could keep my home art gallery tour going for weeks, the more I look round.

Hope you will stay with me.

Back soon with 

‘Life in the living room’

Now more than ever it’s important to support 

British makers