Sunshine and tears

July you have been a month of flowers, happiness

and smiles tinged with sadness.

I’ve hand stitched and machine sewn

and learnt new things along the way 

Sketching, printing, flower pressing, different techniques

for making textile samples, free machine embroidery and

patchwork.  

The sun has had his hat on so there’s been time spent

in the garden

There’s been a return to the caravan and a catch up

with friends and for Mum to have a little holiday in her favourite

place Grange Over Sands.

A chance to see the Grayson Perry tapestries

It’s been a month for the country to open its doors

again and for us to take the masks off if we want to

in public places 

It’s been lovely to see goddaughter Sofia graduate

after all her hard work and for her to be starting her

career in September 

And our beautiful niece leaves school to move on

to college and a future in teaching like her Mum.

July you’ve given us some lovely memories.

My final one is tinged with sadness as we remember

our friend Sandy.  We have hearts full of the times 

we spent together. So we will smile as we think of

you.

ANNIES FRIDAY SMILES

And in the blink of an eye

No I’m not on the naughty step. Tuesdays sewing class was cancelled

because someone had been in Gail’s shop who had tested positive for

covid so she had to get tested herself.

Not to worry that gives me a week to bite my nails before I’m

tortured again with cutting and stitching accurately.

So to Wednesday and market day.

One of my favourite things is seeing our fresh fruit and veg

in the sink in cold water ready for washing. Doesn’t it look colourful.

Look here the strawberries look like an advert for Marks & Spencer.

In the garden the Astilbe has joined the party

And the hanging baskets are growing more beautiful

by the day

Thursday and it’s been a day of running round doing errands.

Poor Frida my 18 year VW is spending a few days in the garage

being serviced and a bit more tweaking ready for our trip upto

the Lake District next week.

We had a lovely early tea with our bestie and her Dad then

back home to watch Channel 5 Inside Hampton Court and another

episode of Baptiste on BBC Iplayer.

I might sound like my chirpy self but a lovely friend Sandy

lost her life to cancer recently at 48 and after visiting her

Mum and sister on Thursday I’ve lost my chirp a bit.

Here’s to you our beautiful quirky friend.

It’s hard to let you go.

Love to all our friends at home and in my little iPad world.

See you soon.

Lynn

x

And then how did this happen so quickly

Our gorgeous niece Olivia off to her prom on Friday night.

MORE LESSONS THAN I HAD AT SCHOOL

In Grandma’s days Monday was always washing day, so

sticking with tradition the bedding was stripped and on the

line first thing, taking advantage of the hot weather we are having.

After a trip to the Post office I dropped off a frock at friend

Val’s, who I haven’t seen in over a year, then called

in on my buddy Jane and had a cuppa with her. Nearly four

hours after I’d left the house I reappeared to the wandering welder

thinking I’d left home.

After a late lunch I stocked my basket up with books, pencils, more

books, some stitching and headed off into the garden.

These are some pieces I’ve been tinkering with.

Painted bondaweb with yellow emulsion paint then ironed onto plain navy cotton.

Next up I’ve cut out pieces from a print fabric and machine stitched them down.

They are my sample pieces for the textile group I’m with.

Tuesday after my Pilates zoom class I set to work on the next

part of Jo Hill’s Flowers and Grasses course.

This retirement malarkey is full on, she chuckled.

How was there ever time to go to work.

I’ve a new book to start tonight by a new author.

It’s a modern day Romeo & Juliet with the trials of two

people from different religions.

LINK TO BOOK

Before that though I’ve got the last of the sewing classes

held locally.  I know I’ve managed to make a tote bag and

a fabric basket, but I have to tell you ladies all this pattern

cutting and accuracy is not for me.

I’ll be sticking with my usual make it up as I go along stuff.

Have a lovely creative week

Lynn

x

LINKING UP WITH

WHAT’S ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY

Welcome to the weekend

Welcome to the weekend 

SATURDAY

Basket at the ready, eh up there’s something missing.

No not the wandering welder, he’s getting the car out ready

for the off.

It’s a brooch.  A girl has to have a brooch or one is quite

underdressed haha.  Certainly not underfed from this angle.

So off we set, over the moors to visit our favourite market town,

Todmorden in Yorkshire. A twenty minute picturesque drive

from our house in Whitworth, Lancashire.

Today felt like Saturdays used to feel before covid. Relaxed.

The sun was out, the market stalls were full and we

came home with lots of treats and essentials.

Flowers from Petals & Patina, on the inside market, for the

jug I recently bought from THE LINEN GARDEN

Its an early birthday present for me from me. I’m spending

my pension money already.

PICTURE SUNDAY IF YOU WILL

A walk across the moor to post a birthday card.

Flowers and grasses gathered on the way back.

Time to stop and stare.

Back home there’s flowers to be pressed between the pages

of an old sales ledger

Some to put on my desk for inspiration.

and the rest outside where I can investigate their origins further

in the Flowers Show To The Children book from the early 1900’s.

Our local art gallery Touchstones have mounted their

newest exhibition - Grayson Perry’s tapestries.

So I’m sorting a date for us to go.  

Job done and it’s time for tea. French onion savoury

tart with salad and chutney for the wondering welder and a salmon

and asparagus one for me. Bought fresh on Todmorden market yesterday.

Tonight we will be watching the new thriller series Baptiste on BBC1

then trying our best not to binge watch further episodes on IPlayer.

I hope your weekend has been a luvverly one

and whatever the new week brings, make it a good ‘un.

Lynn

X

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN

There’s not a lot happened since Wednesday’s blog post except

for learning about a Japanese printing method called Hapa Zome.

Flower bashing to you and me.

YOU TUBE VIDEO On HAPA ZOME PRINTING

Here’s my first attempt.

Then I messed about with the image on PhotoGrid and

came up with a lovely print.

There’s been a call out from best friend Sue asking if I had

a toilet bag her Dad could borrow to take in hospital with him.

This led me to quickly stitching one together with no idea what

I was doing and ending up with one flowered side and one tweed side.

Don’t ask me how that happened, the flowers should be on the inside.

I knew I was getting a bit above myself thinking I could do it.

The night before at the sewing class I’m attending I managed to

make this fabric box with blow by blow instructions by teacher

Gail. I’ve never been as quiet in my life, I had to concentrate so hard.

I was sharp enough to use the same fabric on the inside as the

tote bag I made last week and I’ve got them earmarked now for a

friend’s special birthday later this year.

Next week is the last of the sewing classes. Even though I’ve

managed to finish things it requires far too much brain power

for my liking. I’m more of a faffer and bodge it sewer.

I spotted this the other day and thought Annie’s Friday Smile ladies

would appreciate it.

Here’s a little update of what’s going on in the garden

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.

Have a good weekend

Lynn

x

LINKING WITH ANNIE’S FRIDAY SMILES