More sunshine .... before the rain

Managed a leisurely stroll with DH at Croome on Monday afternoon, making the most of the lovely weather ... lots of teasles for the wild birds to enjoy

The Sun has got his hat on ....

What a fabulous day today.  So good in fact that I braved riding to Diglis Bridge in Worcester and back via Callow End, even negotiating the horrible junction and traffic in Powick. Really enjoyed it and did the 21 mile round trip at my own speed, taking in the views and the history.

Never spotted this before when I have ridden over the bridge near Powick ....

Nor seen these fellows at Diglis Bridge, even though I have been over it 2 or 3 times ....

This is the view from the bridge where I turned round to set off back to Malvern ....

The view of the bridge from my bike

.... and I saw lots of these on my ride, not much for them to eat, no wonder they have got hay!

Bare Bones

I have a fascination with the skulls of dead birds and keep finding various 'bodies' in the garden.  This little wren was so beautiful that I left it under a plantpot for some time until all that was left were some tiny, tiny bones.

Spot the wishbone in the picture above ....

The leg bones seem pretty obvious amongst these and some claws too.

More Fun

Have been printing sheds and beetles over the past few weeks ...

An ordinary collagraph print

A viscosity printed version of the same print

A collagraph print with Gum Arabic transferred beetles on top

What are friends for?

I am so lucky to have some lovely friends and over the past two days have had chance to catch up with several of them at the Stitch show at the NEC.

I loved this piece of work on the Embroiderers' Guild stand. Amanda Wright is one of my favourite textile artists and I particularly like her work when it includes sparrows in the composition.

Triangles on my Mind

I thought I had finished piecing this quilt the other day, only to discover there was a row missing so I have been busy stitching another line of triangles.  All now completed and ready for the next stage.  I am also using up the triangles that were left to make a smaller, cot size, quilt.  I must be mad, but at least I can practice some quilting designs on it before starting this larger one.

Another Job Done!!

At long last finished the second pumps bag. Not as exciting as the previous ones I have done but it will do the job. Had to take the hanging loop off and re-stitch it as I had one side twisted.  All the triangles I have been stitching for the current quilt I am working on must have improved my patience as I almost left it as it was.

It Snowed ....

Gathered up a bucket of snow and did some snow dyeing ...

A first for me and not sure what I was doing really so had to phone a friend for advice.

Looked colourful on the washing line after a 60 degree wash using synthrapol

 Results once dried and ironed were much paler

Grumpy Birds

We still have lots of Fieldfares in the back garden.  I gathered up a bucket full of crab apples on Friday, but this one was determined to help himself very close to the rear patio door.

Also appear to have foxes in the garden which was a huge surprise.  I thought they had disappeared but noticed there had been lots of activity in the snow when I got up around 3 am. Wish I had checked the footprints then, as they appeared to have been playing on the rear lawn.  By the time I got up properly and ventured out I had difficulty seeing them as there had been more snow.

Fieldfare Bonanza

Over the past two days we have had a flock of fieldfares in the garden.  They have discovered the hoard of crab apples that have remained uneaten earlier in the year. Yesterday there were around 20-30 birds and now there must be nearer 50.  They must have passed on the message I think.