Through our Hands......

The latest, very good, edition of "Through our Hands" is here

I am looking forward to attending a workshop by Viv Sliwka (Hens Teeth) at Sew Not Strawberry Jam  at the end of next month.

Vegetable prep......

                      I just bought myself a spiral vegetable cutter ,

 

 If I had seen this video first I could have saved my money. :-) Do watch right till the end,  Amazing!

 Thanks to Curiosities de Titam

Laundry day......

"'Twas on a Monday morning that I beheld my darling......a washing of her linen O",so goes the old song because for generations Monday was Wash Day. There is a very good piece here which will jog memories, I remember one of these, a copper.

 

 How fortunate are we to have machines to do it for is and so now instead of slaving over the "dolly tub" we have time for other activities. One of our favourites is to go to the cinema because before 12 on a Monday it is half price for OAP's and because we like going to the cinema. Not every week you understand but recently there have been quite a few films which appealed. We call it  "Doing the Washing". Yesterday it was"  Shaun the Sheep-the Movie".  What a delight, cleverly made to appeal to children and to adults.  I wanted a freeze frame to admire the details of the sets. Loved it. Next on our list is "The Second Best Marigold Hotel", hoping it is as good as the first one.

Knowing I was going to see Shaun, in John Lewis  on Friday, I was delighted to find  that Coates in conjuction with Rowan Wools had produced a pattern so I was able to make this to present to my friend.

Much as I hate doing the same thing twice, I think I may have to make one for me.

 This is progress on my bundle where the string has started to bleed.

Living with Art.......

I answered an invitation from Seth Apter to show how we surround ourselves with our own work of works of art, I also had to send him a few words to describe why I like to be surrounded by art.  As I have said before, I maybe artistic but I do not call myself an artist.  My contribution is here,I sent two photographs and Seth chose this one. 
The basket in the doorway is full of unfinished projects!
Most of the things on the walls of my home have been made by me, the exceptions are two Van Gogh sketches of people working in the fields which we bought when we lived in Brussels, many years ago, a print of Klimpt's "The Kiss" which my son bought for me and a watercolour of a favourite view of Morecambe Bay which my nephew painted for me. 
These are the other photographs I took of my (very narrow) hall way and my workroom.

Many of the hearts are gifts from special friends.

I thought I had posted this (I think I write blogposts in my head but never actually post them). Tempted by
Carolyn Saxby and as I am trying to kick start myself,  I put together a bundle to weather in the garden, I did this a few years back and thought it would be interesting to try agin.

I can report that since I took this the red cotton string,  I used somewhere inside, has started to bleed through.

Ardingly.......

The first visit this year, and I really hope not the last, to Ardingly Antiques and Collectors Fair.  It was a glorious pre-spring day. The kind of day that, when the children were little, we would have a "picnic"lunch on the back doorstep.(Too cold to sit out but enough warmth in the sun to enjoy it).

 It was made extra exciting this time when we spotted them filming an episode of Bargain Hunt, if you watch this you will recognise Charles Henson and Charlie Ross. We decided we would be perfect for the show!

These are my finds.

The leather case hold knitting needles. Good weather, nice people, good day.

Lastly, the bulb for this was a Christmas present to DH.