This and that

First, thanks to Layers upon Layers for the link to Recycle Runway, which has lots of ideas for creative embroiderers who don’t like to throw anything away. I love the decorations made from Coke cans – it’s a pity we don’t drink Coke, or any other canned drink, come to that.

And how about this – although I wouldn’t like to sit down in it! Wensleydale has a lot of nails – I’m sure he wouldn’t miss a few.

As this seems to be turning into a links post, how about this wind powered knitting machine via Craft?

I’ve spent the afternoon stewarding for the Contemporary Textiles course at college. We were quite busy and a lot of nice things were said about the work. There are also displays by C&G Embroidery, Patchwork and Creative Sketchbooks, BTEC Photography and the life drawing class. Pretty impressive all round.

I spent a little time [and money] with the traders – Art Van Go  and Winifred Cottage. Who could resist?

The odd shape in this image is one of our Bauhaus knock-off chairs, in case you are wondering. The lovely paper bag under all the goodies is from Art Van go, guaranteed printable.

Thank you for the comments suggesting that I am perfectly normal. So to prove it today’s texture photo is – a mouldy satsuma.

 

 

 

 

It reminds me of these,  which I spotted at Mottisfont yesterday – also soft and green and plushy. Hand dyed velvet or French knots in a chenille thread – or velvet stitch perhaps, if I was feeling very patient.

Do normal people …

think ‘It’s a hot day with no wind so I'll take some paper out into the garden and spray it with old cold coffee?’

Wensleydale seems to think it is perfectly normal, but then he’s been married to me for 38 years this month, so his judgement may be unreliable.

The paper turned out very well. It is destined to become the pages of a book. Surprised?

In the afternoon we did something a bit more normal, judging by the number of people there.

We went to Mottisfont Abbey.  

We’ve been a couple of times before, but only to go round the house. It has a good collection of 20th century art and some trompe I'oeil  wall paintings by Rex Whistler. But we usually go just before Christmas when the house is specially decorated, so we have only seen a little bit of the gardens, like this Impressionist bridge.

There are some enormous trout in the river, which respond well to bread – provided the ducks don’t get it first.

 

 

 

Today we didn’t go into the house [apart from the café] but concentrated on the gardens.

We were a little too late to see the old fashioned roses in their full glory but there were still plenty of flowers to look at, and smell. The sun really brought out the perfume.

 

I love the shape of the honeysuckle [top left]. It reminds me of this – on a book which, coincidentally, I found in the second hand bookshop next to the cafe. [I forgot to mention the bookshop.]

 

 

 

We also met an ent.  Here are his feet.

 

 

 

And here’s the rest of him, seen from the walled garden.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not saying what I think this bit looks like – but this may be in danger of becoming an X-rated blog…

 

 

 

 

And here, for  today's’ texture photo, is his skin. He was a sweet chestnut ent. I am not familiar with ents – er – sweet chestnuts - so don’t know if this sort of bark is typical – but isn’t it great? Smocking, I think, or twisted cords.

Do normal people wander round trees taking close ups of bark and envisioning them as embroidery? I got some funny looks and they didn’t know what I was thinking …