Skeleton Key

I found this beautiful seed in the garden whilst picking up some of the hundreds of acorns that are bouncing onto the lawn at the moment propelled by the wind, birds and squirrels.  The plan is to draw it and perhaps make a stitched example too.

Small World

I am always amazed how serendipitous things appear to be at times.  The photos I took of the railings and gate at Malvern Link Railway Station appear to be linked to this article from the 'Nostalgia' page of the local newspaper.  Having only moved here in the last couple of years I had no idea of their origin.

More excitement yesterday.  Two jolly chaps from The Environment Agency were doing a Crayfish Survey in our stream and managed to find a real whopper.  He had, unfortunately, at some time sustained some damage to one of his claws, but was still very lively and managed to nip one of them with his other claw.  It is nice to know that someone cares about the wildlife round here as the crayfish are a rare and endangered species.  The builders on the housing estate behind us do not seem to have the same concerns about the wildlife and countryside having created lots of muddy water one day last week when they were working on the site.  Not good for the poor old brown trout who inhabit the stream too.

On another note I noticed on Sunday that two grey squirrels are building a dray in one of the trees, so that is bad news.  It has been fairly quiet on the squirrel front up till now and the bird food I put out has been left alone due to the glut of hazelnuts and acorns.

Early on Monday morning we heard a fox barking at the front of the house.  It sounded like it was in the front garden, but it was more likely to have been on the road.  It was too dark to see.  I was a bit concerned about Sox, but he was waiting patiently at the front door when I went downstairs to let  him in.

Still not much stitching as I have been stripping skirting boards and architraves in the hall downstairs all weekend.  I certainly know how to have a good time!!  Popped to Ledbury this morning to the excellent exhibition at The Weavers Gallery by The Wednesday Group and managed to find time for some French Onion soup for my lunch at Chez Pascale.

Autumn Rolls In

The weather has turned chilly; H-Art has sadly finished; my bookbinding class is looming and I am getting excited about starting a new term; all our visitors have been and gone so it is back to  more decorating and finishing rooms and curtains (again) .....

I have managed to finish stitching and dyeing the piece of wool viscose felt I have been playing with and need to get stitch and beads added to it ready for my next travelling journal handover next week.  Also got some ideas in the planning stage for the Yorkshire Travelling Journal with samples prepared.

Whilst at Malvern Link railway station this morning saying goodbye to a dear friend who has been visiting for a few days I spotted a nice gate and some railings. Lots of inspiration here.

T

You must recognise this letter .... it is from a litter bin.

I am having a lazy day today.  My best friend has gone home and I have got a couple of days before another good friend arrives for a visit (Yippee ... more H-Art visiting for me).

I am contemplating the two Travelling Journals I need to get on with, apart from a visit to the dentist for a check up and waiting in for the builder man to call and discuss when he is going to finish the patio.

I have managed to find my wool viscose felt at long last, have drawn a design and now need to sit down and do some stitching prior to washing and dyeing the piece.  I have been trying to calculate the possible shrinkage and have plumped for 20%.  Could be a small sample if I have got it very wrong.

H-Art - Wickton Creative

Very difficult to find, but worth the effort and the potholes, The Wickton Creative is located near to Stoke Prior.  Lots of work on display in a wonderful setting.  Lovely sculpture by Will Carr and a good selection of rag rugging work, paintings and prints.

You can sit on the decking veranda and enjou a view over the garden and watch the hornets buzzing in and out of a hole in this building where I assume they have built a nest.

U

This odd 'U' has been extracted from a large plaque within the porch of Malvern Priory which displays the old clappers from its bells.  All the letters are made from studs.

V

Today's letter is from an advertisement board for a coffee shop in Ledbury.  We found it when we were out and about visiting H-Art venues.  The Weavers Gallery in Church Street have some interesting work, including dolls, on display by Stella Downing.

Stitch Doodling

I found lots of sewing needles all over the place when sorting out some bits and pieces recently so placed them all into a couple of pieces of dark blue felt as a temporary home.  I have been meaning to make a cover for them ever since and, as I do not need much of an excuse not to get on with the floor length curtains I am currently making, over the past few days I have been stitching into some linen as an aside.  I have also been trying to use up some old silk threads, bet you know the kind, those that are wound round scrolls of paper.

It is not finished yet, but I have discovered Wheatear Stitch (somewhat like Fly Stitch and Detached Chain combined).  Anyway this is work in progress ....

W

Today's letter has been taken from a gravestone in front of Malvern Priory.  I have fiddled with it in Photoshop, removing part of another letter that was visible and then adding a gradient over the top.