the last picnic and little about quilting

Yes, on Friday we had the last picnic of the summer with the grandchildren; 

it will be back to school for them on Wednesday. 

It was a perfect day for it and yet again we chose to drive to Barrington Court (NT), because it is just such a nice place for it; there is a large grass picnic area near the car park and the shop, and of course there is the large space in the front of the main house, opened to picnicking and great for children to play too. 

This Tudor manor house is empty of any furniture, and so it is safe to children to explore by themselves.

When NT got the house back from whoever was temporarily leasing it a while back, they decided not to furnish it, so the full beauty of the building could be appreciated. It also lend itself from time to time to various fairs and exhibitions, and as a set for various film and TV productions.

Walking around one probably notices things which otherwise could be missed, like these beautiful wood carvings.

In the "Long Gallery" on the top floor is a ghostly moving projection on a glass, a beautiful white owl; you feel that he is flying straight at you.

 Every time I come here I try to take pictures, but it is very difficult with a normal camera.

  

I enjoy walking through the Arts and Crafts Garden, originally designed by Gertrude Jekyll, to see the changes from my last visit.

It has been a good summer for the kitchen garden,

and seasonal changes of flower borders.

The old stables are now occupied by various crafts people, and of course I can't miss a quick visit to the Barrington Patchwork shop, be it just to buy more pearl cotton threads no 16, 

to add to my stash of no's 12 & 16 for hand quilting.

Which brings me to the subject of quilting.

It seems that more hand quilters are now using various threads instead of the traditional quilting thread to finish their quilts with.

I was an embroiderer before I was a quilter, so it was an inspiration when I met (years ago!) Nikki Tinkler at one of the shows. She was the first person I came across who was using various threads and embroidery stitches for quilting, and I immediately bought her book.

Of course this might be viewed as unorthodox by some traditionalists, so it is interesting to read Nikki's introduction to her book.

I have since used various threads and embroidery stitches on my quilts, and it works for me,

although I have now settled for pearl cottons, which I use most often, hence my stash.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

book bag

It is hot, hot; the hottest day of the year....... the promised rain on Tuesday night didn't happen, just some spectacular lightning.

Even I have retreated indoors today;  any shade outside just doesn't do it any more.

Even the computer is straggling 

So I am doing little reading and catching up with some missed TV.

Yesterday I finished a book bag - a birthday present for our DD, 

just big enough to pop a paperback in.

Of course, it can be anything she wants it to be, but I used a template from the "Indian Book Bag", 

a workshop I did with Tiggy Rawling of "I Rather be in India" some years ago.

And yes, I did find my linen threads! 😀 (see my previous post)

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019

summer embroidery

It is this time of year when I embroider most, I find it so much more enjoyable to do outside in the summer light.

This is a cushion kit by Nancy Nicholson, which I bought a couple years ago. All her kits come in their own canvas bag, decorated with a bonus design on the outside, which you can also embroider.

I did that right at the beginning. 

There is still lots to do here.

Today I managed to find (in the depth of my room) "Heartsong", 

a design by Rosalie Quinlan, which I bought ages ago. 

The pattern comes with two design options (one being Christmas), and two sizes; the smaller sizes have  iron-on transfers included, the larger can be traced on to the fabric.

 I don't really feel like Christmas, so I am making the "summer" version.

Which colour should I go for?

In the end I went for the pinks.

Yesterday we happened to be on the Somerset Levels, 

so we made a brief visit to Barrington Court (NT),

to see how the gardens are doing in this heat.

Like everywhere in this part of England, it is very dry here and desperate for some rain, but still there is lots of colour around.

In the old stable block are several small shops;

while DH was browsing in the secondhand book shop,

I "popped in" to the Barrington Patchwork shop.

Unusually I did not buy any fabric this time,

but I did come away with a selection of 

pearl cotton No16 (to add to my stash),

which I like to use for some colourful quilting.

I always buy some when I am this way, as this is the only shop in my area (that I am aware of),
which stocks it.

The lavender in our front garden is loving this weather.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2019