slow week

It has been slow stitching week. Although the fabrics are all over my sewing room, 

I don't feel I am getting anywhere right now. Which is not actually true, I am still building houses in the block 5 of Yoko Saito's Mystery Quilt and this block has most houses yet. That is the reason for so many fabrics out, as I am constantly looking for that right piece for a wall, a roof or a door.

I have been enjoying this project, but I also look forward to the finish. In the next issue of the Quiltmania magazine I will find out how to put all these blocks together.

It will nice to get on with something new. Not that I have not been doing other things in the meantime, you know me, I can't stick with one thing only. But the mess in my room does not inspire.

It was a welcome sight to see the new crewel threads from Renaissance Dyeing arrive in the post last week.

Beautifully soft 100% lambswool from Yorkshire, hand dyed in France, using natural dyes, they are a pleasure to hold. I can't wait to start some embroidery with them.

Our autumn has not turn out as good as we wished for, mostly wet and murky, with a sunny day now and then.

I leave you with some pictures from our very wet and muddy forest walk at the end of last week.

playground for forest fairies?

spooky horse riders?

Have a good stitching week!

autumn at Stourhead

Walks in the grounds of Stourhead are nice at any time of year, but autumn is more special, with the beauty of changing colours.

visitors for the winter

back in May I took this picture of a swan sitting on the nest in the middle of the lake

and this is the result; the whole family came close to have their pictures taken

enjoy your weekend!

apple cushion

You might remember the lovely Stof "apple" fabric I bought last month, which is from their "Party in Paradise" range. I did not really know what I wanted to do with it, so I played with some ideas for a while and the result is this "Apple Cushion".

The shades of Kona Cotton Solids matched perfectly with the shades in the apple design.

Last week I just popped in a fabric shop to get a small piece of green fabric for the Fernhill project.

I came out with more then I planned. They had just taken a delivery of this beautiful Christmas linen fabric, also by Stof. I have no idea (yet) what I am going to make, but I just could not walk out of the shop without it. Could you?

Killerton

Just north of Exeter is Killerton, one of the largest National Trust properties, not in the size of the house, but the size of the estate - 6,400 acres.

It was given to the National Trust by Sir Richard Acland in 1942.

 Following our visit to the craft fair in Exeter, while still in Devon, 

we decided to visit Killerton house, and have a late lunch there. 

Killerton is not a large house by National Trust standards, 

but has beautiful gardens and huge grounds for long walks.

Near the house is this magnificent chestnut tree, planted about the time of building of the house in 1778-1779. Just look at all the shapes, a real fairy-tale tree! 

There is the usual collection of period furniture and furnishing inside, but what I came to see is the collection of beautiful dresses, mostly from early 20th century, but also some from 18th century. I took as many pictures as I could, but most of the collection is behind the glass, so there is some reflection.

Just a quick peak into the laundry room, there just happened to be a large group of children, exploring the house on their school outing.

Did you ever wonder how they managed to dry all that washing "below the stairs"? A set of wooden frames which can be pulled in and out, heated by a large wood stove from below.Who needs a tumble dryer?