A grand day out

Well I wasn’t expecting to be able to sit outside in the sun on

Tuesday afternoon, let alone get the washing dry.

What a bonus of a day that was.

In the morning, I’d sorted the company paperwork out, put the washing out and

had a zoom one to one with my fab textile facilitator. We even managed a zoom tour

of each other’s homes. She’s got tons of interesting stuff in her house, I can’t

wait for a proper visit. After that I did my weekly zoom Pilates class.

It’s a good top up for my own daily practice as it enables me

to bring in new movements and not do the same thing every day.

After lunch I did a bit of tidying round the garden while Philip fitted

a new on/off control to the shower.  Then I sat out listening to the birds

and starting work on a little loom I got ages ago. 

In the evening we watched the final of All That Glitters on BBC.

I’m in awe of the jewellery makers in the competition, that is one heck

of a skill to have.  It’s well worth a watch on BBC Iplayer if you haven’t

seen it.  

Instead of market shopping on Wednesday we took ourselves off to

see and hear the Singing Ringing Tree Panopticon that stands on top of the hills

overlooking Burnley.  As you can see the wandering welder was really taken

with it and is now threatening to make one for the garden.  Worryingly it

could happen as he has all the materials needed in his man shed.

You can read more about it and listen to the sounds in the link
INFO & VIDEO LINK HERE

It really is a magical construction, the sound coming through the tubes from

the wind is both eerie and mesmerising.


Leaving Crown Point we travelled over toward Rawtenstall and came

across an antique centre.  I’ll save writing about that for tomorrow.

It’s good to get out and about again.

Take care

Lynn

X

Happy 12th anniversary deskhoppers

Hello desk hoppers its been a busy week in the Holland hideaway

and it the 12th anniversary of us all meeting up together for Julia’s 

WHAT’S ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY

Over the weekend I spent hours with Alexa crooning out songs

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong while I got down

to stitching for my No Rules Textile Society project.

I’ve gone through so much thread I’ll be off to the haberdashers

to stock up again this week.

There has been playing with dissolvable fabric, needle felting and free machine embroidery.

There’s more to do on this yet.

But here’s some hangings I finished, using vintage barkcloth,

cotton gingham & a plain green cotton.

From the notes made during our zoom meetings I’ve surprised myself

by managing to incorporate every technique we were shown.

Talk about being teachers pet.  I did have an apple ready just in case.

There’s a long way to go yet in knowing how to work the Zoom thingymebob properly,

but like the wandering welders always says - You are very persistent and won’t give

up until you’ve cracked it.

Speaking of which, has anyone who uses Blogger had a notice to say that in July email

notifications of new blog posts will no longer work.  If so have you managed to work out

how folk will be made aware you’ve written a new blog post.

Better get to work on the anniversary ATC and sort a postcard out of where

I live for whoever is next after me on Julia’s link up today.

My sister is coming to stay for a few days tomorrow. We haven’t

seen her since October, I’m very excited and flexing my arm muscles

ready for a big hug.

Have a good week folks.

Lynn

X

Moving forward moments

On Friday I think I subconsciously dressed to match

the blossom trees that are in full bloom right now.

Dress made from a vintage barkcloth curtain.

My wear with all tweed jacket £8 charity shop find years ago.

From our house through to where we do our shopping in Bacup,

there is a plethora of pink blossom trees on both sides of the road.  I don’t know

why I haven’t noticed it before, they are so beautiful.

I left Philip to get on with the task of filling in the strip of garden that has

become known as the Trough of Trouble.  It’s hard to see on the photos but

the ground underneath the stone flagging has shifted over a period of 30

years as it was laid on what was a massive slope originally that was grassed over.

You couldn’t do anything with it. It was to steep to walk on and served no purpose

so we created a patio area with a rockery.

Our thinking now is to bang a load of compost down and fill it with plants and

bushes we’ve truffled from other parts of the garden and see if they take.

Hopefully it will form a type of hedge.  If not all we will have lost is a few bags of

compost.

 On Saturday morning I started reading Jay Blades book Making It.  What a good guy he is.  You might

know him from The Repair Shop or Money For Nothing, both on BBC1.

Today’s the day we are going out out.  Its over the hills to our favourite market town to do a bit of

shopping and have lunch with our friend Sue.  It’s the first time the three amigos will have been out

together for months.

And it’s the first pint of draft beer Philip has had since October.  Coincidentally we were in the same

pub, Honest John Bar, when he had his last, only this time we were sat outside cosy under the gazebo

and with a very efficient heater above us.  It was so nice to sit and chat over a pub lunch and have a drink

or two.

On the market it was good to see it vibrant and buzzing with folk and new stall holders.  This box of

taster bakes had to come home with us and I also got some beautiful handmade presents for some new

babies of friends of mine.

Back home I settled in for a night of textile experimenting on my sewing

machine, while Mr H watched football and nodded off after his well earned

two pints of Yorkshire finest beer

Sunday is threatening rotten weather so I guess I’ll be faffing some more in my

craft room before friends arrive for an easy tea of quiche and salad and a few

more beers no doubt.

Hope your weekend is going well.

We are getting there.

Take care

Lynn

x

What’s on your Workdesk today ….. knickers and compost

Morning campers, I’m doing a round up of my week so far

before I get to what’s on my workdesk.

Monday morning I dashed down to Chantilly in Rochdale

to pick up my order of new underwear.

Marjorie who owns the shop was in the same year at school as me

and it’s nice to catch up with her every few years when I go in.

It’s nice to see her daughter Jocelyn too who will

keep the family business going if /when Marjorie retires.

In the afternoon we took delivery of seven massive bags of compost

for our next garden project.  Don’t be expecting me to move this lot

with my dicky back, I told the wandering welder.

Tuesday afternoon and off I popped for an eye test.

Look at this lot. They are normally scattered all over the house.

I’ve one proper pair and the rest are from the poundshop.

I’m happy to say my eyesight has stayed the same so no need for

new specs.  More money for new knickers haha.

Now to the desk, well wall.

I’ve started work on the new prompt over at the textile group

I’m a member of.  Our first task is weaving with paper.

I’ve used an old song sheet and the back of an old gallery programme.

The cork wall will over the next month will display all things Weave

related.

Above this is a bit of old packaging and some cut up papers.

Here’s a bowl made using dissolvable fabric I made as an experiment.

and a bit of stitching just cos I felt like it.

That’s it from me. Sorry to have gone on a bit.

I think I’m caught up now.

Take care and have a hug on me on Monday desk hoppers.

Lynn

x
LINKING UP WITH WHATS ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY

ZOOMING THROUGH MAY

On Saturday I got ready for the zoom meeting with the 

No Rules Textile Society

We spent a couple of hours chatting, exchanging ideas, doing a show

and tell on what we’d been creating, recommending books and talking about

different textile techniques.

I love these meetings, it’s so fabulous to be with like minded folk.

You feel as if you’ve found your tribe.

Once a month we are given a new prompt by Jayne who facilitates the group.

She doesn’t even know what the prompt is herself until it’s pulled out of

the bowl.

So the new prompt is WEAVE.  Hence the basket, hat and blanket

photo at the top of the page.  You start to see weaves everywhere.

While I was busy zooming my new book arrived. 

THE ART OF REPAIR

Sunday I took Mum to a craft fair she fancied. It was good that

we had to register our details and sanitise our hands on entry but

although most people wore a mask there was no social distancing

despite signs on the wall.  Mum enjoyed it and bought some

handmade cushions and a gift for her friend. After a quick look round I

waited outside as I wasn’t comfortable being shoulder to shoulder with folk.

Don’t get me wrong, I know we need to get back to some form of

normality, but it just wasn’t for me.

On the way home I spotted a lovely vintage tearoom serving

afternoon teas outside.  I’d definitely go back again. The interior

was delightful.

The dress I wore is from British designer/maker

The Well Worn, who only make one of each size and use recycled fabrics.

I like support small British makers.

LINK TO THE WELL WORN

The bag is from Vicky at The Linen Garden and I’ve had it a few years now.

LINK TO THE LINEN GARDEN

Our rug is a charity shop find and has a price tag on the back of £175.

We paid £25 a couple of years ago from Age UK at Milnthorpe, Cumbria.

I’m a bit behind with my blogging so I’ll be back tomorrow with an update 

Lynn

x

It may be winter outside

It’s easy to wear summer frocks all year round.

Add thermals or a full length vintage petticoat, thick tights,

a pair of boots and a cardigan

It was just a coincidence that my outfit matched the magazine

that arrived yesterday 

The dress is made by British maker Alfie who trades as Scarlet Sometimes.

I have a few of her creations and wear them a lot.

Like this gypsy skirt.

Pinafore

Crotchet jumper

Gingham dress and I have one in red

Skirt

If you’re an Instagram fan you’ll find Alfie and her creations here

SCARLET SOMETIMES

She doesn’t even know I’ve done this little post but I felt we could

all do with a bit of colour on this miserable wet weekend.

Stay dry, keep colourful, summers on its way

Lynn 

x

Lockdown Diary …. There’s plan afoot

Do you know the song .. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES,

24 little HOURS

Well on Wednesday we were able to put all the garden stuff straight

that had blown over and got smashed.  It was even sunny enough to

sit out, albeit with my woolly cardie and tights on.

(Charity shop frock and handmade cardigan from Stockport vintage market)

This week saw the 22nd birthday of Sofia my beautiful goddaughter.

He she is a few years ago ready for her school prom.

Back in the craftroom I’ve been experimenting with threads and dissolvable

fabric on the sewing machine. This is my second attempt, the first bowl

I made was a bit floppy because I washed out too much of the adhesive.

If you fancy a go, here’s a link to a You Tube how to video

HOW TO MAKE A BOWL VIDEO

We are getting quite excited now about the forthcoming visit of

my sister Jill from Oxford.  We haven’t seen her since October.

Normally she would have been home for Christmas and mum

would have been to stay with her several times during the year.

So I’m making plans and getting things booked.  We will be having

a meal at our favourite restaurant which is due to reopen on the 17th.

Then there’ll be a girlie meet up with a friend at our go to place, 

Park Farm Tearoom.

On the Saturday we have a tickets for Grayson Perry’s Art Club exhibition

at Manchester Art Gallery. Our slot is 2pm. It’s very well organised.

We watched both series during lockdown and loved it.

Speaking of art did you watch this weeks Sewing Bee on BBC 1,

they had to make an outfit based around the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

I thought they could have been more flamboyant. Not that I could do any better.

 I enjoyed watching it though.

link to you tube video of exhibition

It seems strange booking trips out.  Exciting but with a touch of nervousness

thrown in.

We've even got tickets to see one of our favourite bands in June.

Because we know the layout of the theatre and it’s table seating I

somehow feel quite comfortable with that one.  

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE LINK

Look at us two, proper groupies in 2017.

How are you feeling about going out into the world again.

Have you anything booked yet.

Take care.  Have a lovely weekend.

Lynn

x

Linking to 

ANNIE’S FRIDAY SMILES