Christmas what’s on your workdesk wednesday

I’ve no desk to show you because it’s been a full on time with family.

We met up with Philip’s cousin Stephen who lives in Florida

and was over here visiting his family.  It’s over 35 years since we’ve

seen him.  

Then last weekend our beautiful niece Kimberley married her

soulmate Dan at Mitton Hall in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire.

What an amazing day and what an amazing venue. Built at the end

of the 15th century.  The crowning glory of the building is the magnificent

oak panelled Great Hall.

LINK TO MITTON HALL


Our bedroom overlooked the River Ribble

It’s the first time we’ve seen some of the family for two years.

In that time our nephew Tom and his wife Chloi have had their

first baby, Louii Frank Foley.

and it was so lovely to be with our nieces again.

Our great nephews did a fine job on their speech which was

in the form of a cheeky poem.

Kim’s stunning dress was a charity shop buy with all the

money going to a local hospice.

The happy couple are honeymooning in York for now and

when time allows will be jetting off to warmer climes.

I’ll hold my hand up and say I’m not comfortable being with

lots of folk but there was no way we would miss out on such

a special day.

So I’ll wish you all a happy Christmas and let’s hope 2022

is a better year for everyone.  Thank you for your good wishes

and cards you lovely lot.

And remember to

See you on the other side

Love 

Lynn

xxx

Linking up with

WHAT’S ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY

Life opened up in November

Looking back on November I can see life opened up and looked

a lot more sociable than the November of 2020.

There has been in person craft workshops where it was good

to spend time with folk I haven’t seen for a long time.

There was a surprise afternoon tea for Mum’s 89th birthday with

two of her friends and a birthday treat with my special friend Bev as

she celebrated her 66th birthday and joined me in becoming a

pensioner this year.

There’s been lots of great zoom talks and meetings with

textile artists and the lovely No Rules Textile Society group

I’m in and I’ve carried on with my Pilates

practice via zoom classes.

And there’s been cosy days snuggled up with a few good

books from the library when the snow arrived and the

temperature plummeted.

Then boy did we start December off in style.

Along with our special friend Angela we have been saving for

months for a trip on the Northern Belle Pullman train.

LINK TO NORTHERN BELLE

We took the normal train from a local station upto Leeds where

we boarded the historic diesel pulled Pullman and took our seats

in the elegant Alnwick carriage.

Each carriage bears the name of a stately home or castle and has

been individually designed and restored by some of the country’s

top craftspeople including marquetry experts, muralists and

mosaic artists.

It was the most fabulous day

Delicious food, the champagne and wine flowed as did the

chat with fellow passengers.

Harold and Vanessa, an 80 year old couple who were sat

across from us regaled us with tales of holidays abroad and

their wedding eight years ago aboard a cruise ship. They have

known each other since childhood and always been friends, finally

becoming a married couple some years after Vanessa’s first

husband passed away.

I wish I had taken a photo of this charming couple as Vanessa

looked wonderful in a lilac lace cocktail dress and matching

faux fur trimmed cloak.

We were entertained by musicians and a magician as the train

took us on a round trip from Leeds via Hull and York.

The wandering welder was in his element as Mr Dapper Chap

in his vintage and charity shopped outfit.  His liberty tie was a

£2 Age UK find and his English wool overcoat £40 from a

vintage shop in Portbello Road, London some years ago.

I think the only thing he had on new was his thermals.

The three of us agreed it was a wonderful memorable day.

None of us wanted get off.

But here we are the motley threesome full of food

and wine at the end of the day.

We’ve already started planning our next adventure.

What a lovely start to the silly season of Christmas and

the month of December.

Linking up with

ANNIE’S FRIDAY SMILES

WOYWW - it’s a busy life being retired

It’s been a busy week in the Holland household.

After the Shibori dyeing workshop I did recently, I started

using the dyed pieces to create festive ornaments, bunting

and cards as part of the No Rules Textile Society latest

prompt - Festivities


Here’s a few bits and pieces on the cork wall in the studio.


Tuesday morning was a 6.00am start.

I took a friend to hospital for her hip replacement operation.

Once back home I ended up sat at the desk stitching after a

my Pilates practice.

I may have revolutionised my days by earlier starts.

The ideas and work flowed well, accompanied by a mug of tea

and Alexa playing music by my current favourite band

Hollow Coves.

Zoom talks have become a new source of inspiration as well and

after a talk by textile artist Susan Briscoe on Sashiko and Boro

stitching I went onto produce this little framed piece.

Those folk who know me for my love of charity shop and

vintage clothing might like this.

Here’s an Instagram chum showing off her St. Michael’s denim

dress that she has had for over 30 years.

Here’s me wearing the same one that I bought from a vintage

trader friend for £5 a few years ago.

Isn’t the shearing gorgeous.

Well folks that’s all from me this week, apart from my Mum

celebrating her 89th birthday yesterday with a surprise afternoon

tea party at the restaurant/bar that I did my courting in with

the wandering welder 

There were no afternoon teas 43 years ago as it was a steak

bar and posh drinking hole.

Have a lovely crafty week ladies

Take care, stay well

See you soon

Lynn

x

Linking up with 

WHATS ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY 

*** my comments keep disappearing from folks blogs ***

I’m so sorry I’m trying to work out why

Shibori, cake and cork

Happiness is me being in the company of like minded

folk and learning something new.

On Friday I went on a Shibori dyeing workshop at 

Creative With Nature in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, a quick

drive over the moor from where we live.

I’ve admired the results of this dyeing technique for some time,

so when an opportunity came up at one of my favourite places

I quickly got myself booked on.

Saturday I had my pinny on again this time to bake

Coconut & Almond slice for friends coming round for

tea in the afternoon.

Now I’m pondering on what’s next on the agenda.  The diary is

a lot fuller this year than last and I can’t make my mind up if that’s

a good thing or not.

When I visit the library sometimes I randomly pick books off the shelves.

It results in reading authors you’ve never heard off and dipping

into different genres.

The Better Liar is not one I’d normally go for, it’s a mystery/thriller.

It did have me hooked, so a good choice on that one.

Nearly forgot to show you this.

The old cork tiles in my craft room have finally been

replaced with this lovely thick cork roll.  “The wall will fall down

first before that’ll come off”, said the wandering welder heehee.

Still faffing about with my displays.

Times short today as I’m taking mum for her booster and then

seeing my bestie for a catch up later.

Have a good Wednesday desk hoppers.

WOYWW WEEK 650