Home and Away

Well it has been a busy week. Those of you that follow the blogs connected to me will note that Lizzie and me had a really good trip to France last weekend, the weather was amazing and it was the quietest crossing we have ever had.

 Lizzie writes a great blog and I enjoyed re-living it all again.

I thought we did really well as the street names are not always visible and Google does not allow for one way streets and market days !! I do love maps and had spent quite a long time pouring over the route so when we came back through town for the second time and arrived at a square that was familiar we were soon on track.

The French lunch hour ( or three) almost scuppered our plans when we arrived at the shop to collect our bags from Ticky to find monsieur had gone for lunch and was expected back at 3pm! what did we do before mobile phones??? a call to Tick who was in Derby in transit , she in turn phoned Jean Paul who promised to return early so we retired to the Creperie next door for a wonderful Gallett...you can't go to Brittany and not have a crepe, we decided to forgo the traditional cup of cider needing our wits about us for the next part of the day . 

We have acquired some really interesting bits and some lovely linen. I have one more sheet to iron.

Since being home I had a call to go and see some linen owned by a German lady, it was woven by her mother 60 years ago.It was table linen and curtains with crochet lace inserts and edging,beautiful quality..it must have taken hours and hours, I love the colour, slightly stone coloured.It has a slightly Arts and Crafts feel to it.

Ilminster Talent for Textiles

One for your Diary ...Caroline Bushell is hosting her regular Talent for Textile Fair at " The Old meeting House " Ilminster Wed April 1st 9.30 - 4pm. those of you that have been before know it is one not to be missed.
The venue is delightful and lends itself to the myriad of delights your local West country Textile dealers fill it with. Fashion and fabric , linen and lace and everything connected.
There is a lovely Gallery and a fantastic cafe with home cooked food. In fact everything to provide a wonderful day out. Bring your friends.... be you collector ,maker,embroiderer,or decorating your home
For invitations contact me textile@lindaclift.co.uk or phone Caroline 01404 45901

We are sailing..........

This will be Lizzie and me on Friday evening!!

We are off on a jaunt to France ,and I must say all the map planning has taxed my little brain as I am having trouble with my main PC and it has all my usual "stuff " on it and I can move things about and print maps etc. but from my laptop it is totally different and I have to get them to talk to each other ...phoooof

However on the plus side I have really got into Google Earth so can eventually download the route and maps and print them off with help from my technical support...when I can find him!

I was totally blown away when I found I could stand in the middle of the road outside my niece's house in New Zealand and turn 360 degrees on the spot and walk up the street.

Anyway we are off on a new route which is why I am being so particular. We were to meet a friend but she has gone on an impromptu holiday to Spain.

She has left some goodies for me to collect, but right in the middle Fougeres which I have been to with her but not driven the route myself and we are sailing to St Malo ....so it is going to be a challenge and a magical mystery tour with a couple of Emmaus to visit too.

The French lunch hour does not leave you much time to get lost! there is a lot of things we want to pack into our day.

The ship and another fantastic buffet and even the same cabin! awaits us at 6.30 pm for the return trip overnight,all part of Brittany Ferries amazing deals.

We are sooo looking forward to it and will let you know all about it when we get back

Old Scraps

Trifles and Trivia

As Bath Assembly Rooms Vintage Fashion and Textile Fair approaches I seem to get more and more in a muddle! I am busy putting "notions" and "fripperies " in little celophane envelopes, I think trifles and trivia about sums it up ! however I love the graphics on the old haberdashery cards and am sure one of you clever textile artists will come up with something super-clever to incorporate them into. So my small livingroom seems to be littered with bits. In the drawers in my studion on my haberdashery rummage I found sheets of old scraps and handmade papers, the trouble is one gets sidetracked.....will the car ever be loaded ????
I think they are lovely these are just a few of them
























I have also purchased the most delicious selection of French gold threads starting at £5.00 a reel























None of this is going to make my fortune so I had better keep digging!
See you there February Sunday 22nd 9am - 4 pm. And thank you Ashley Hall Fairs for allowing us to set up the afternoon before xx we can arrive and enjoy a coffee and croissant stress free.

I have become quite into my redwork and even boned up on the history a bit more. While I was nursing my streaming cold and sore throat I sat in front of the fire and embroidered...very very restful I have got quite lost in it , still a bit naive but then all good fun



















I have now gone back to my beloved mad chickens, will have to branch out a bit more on my subjects but as these are my own drawings it has to be something I can draw.

Following on from Parham last year I am doing this event at Petworth House, so some serious shopping is called for!
Any lovely quilts out there??

Ahead of the storm

Saturday Lizzy and myself drove up to London in my old Freida to stay the night with our lovely friend Sandra.
We were up at 4.45 am and after a quick cup of tea and a chat with Monty the cat we slipped out into the cold and drove up to Battersea Arts Center on Lavender Hill where we do Anita's Vintage Fashion Fair. We try to be early enough to get right outside the door where we can park all day even though it entails a nearly 2 hour wait sometimes before we get in the building.
Its fascinating how bit by bit the whole place comes to life in the early light as dealers arrive greet each other and unload dress rails and boxes out of a variety of transport.
It struck me how hardy we all are !!!It was like Siberia! I am a good northern lass and it took my breath away. Lizzy was wearing two coats...we are not short of warm stock!!
The door was 50% down but those that came were enthusiastic and serious, all in all considering we felt it was worthwhile.
As we packed up the snow was starting to fall and we left to make our best shot at getting out of town ahead of the storm, am I glad we did!!! Sandra sent the picture of her garden in New Malden above , both my children are unable to get to work and tonight I understand the M25 is closed! last night was about the fastest I have ever been able to go on the M25 so little traffic ,usually we are in slow moving traffic or at a stand still on that stretch from a3 to m3.
Good old Freida my huge18 year old Volvo estate sailed home in fine style...I love that car
It was a pretty sight this morning in Old Dorchester and sunny with flurries.
As dark falls it is getting heavier and bigger flakes.