New venue for WOW Cycle Rides

We knew Christmas was almost upon us when we started our ride last Saturday from the Alfrick & Lusley Community Shop and Café. There was this delightful knitted Nativity scene in the shop.

At first glance I thought the shepherds were next to bottles of wine, but on a second look I see it is only balsamic and cider vinegar.

There were 7 of us at the beginning of the ride but by the time we got back for coffee and cake we were down to six of us.  Perhaps no energy after too much Christmas partying? Our trusty leader Rachel took the photo.  The curly haired Sheena was our other leader.  They are all volunteers and always make sure we have a lovely and safe ride.

Cycling Madness

Last Sunday was the Women on Wheels Fancy Dress Ride which was followed by coffee and cake at St Peter's Garden Centre.  There were 17 ladies, mainly in fancy dress, with three of the ride leaders dressed as French Hens.

Poor Mary on the recumbent bike ended up with a bit of a probem when we all had to ride along the white line through a huge puddle that covered both sides of the carriageway we were riding on. She took it all in good faith.

Muddy Walk

A lovely day for a walk but it was so wet and muddy.  I have never had so much mud on my trousers!! Avid photographers were on the oriental bridge trying to spot the resident otter.

Back to Bag Making

Months ago I promised to make a larger bag for one of the ladies I cycle with through Women on Wheels (WOW).  She wanted to be able to get her sandwich box in it.  After eventually managing to locate some more cycle fabric from Bombay Stores and the padded lining that Empress Mills sell I have got round to completing it. I even managed to add a pocket on the inside with a button and buttonhole to stop things falling out of it.

Playtime again

The last solo printing session before Christmas so decided to try out some thermofax screens I had borrowed from one of my stitchy friends.  They were based on lace and I combined them with a bought honey bee screen I already had and a barbed wire screen created from one of my drawings. Initially I worked into my sketchbook.

Next I used some decoularant through the screen onto some black discharge fabric.

Finally I printed onto some fabric.

Which reminds me I need to heat seal it with an iron.

Autumn Leaves

Spent a few hours at Westonbirt today dodging the rain.  A lot of the leaves have fallen and others are still to change colour.  I remembered there were some engraved metal words somewhere and managed to find them eventually ….

Also these rusted metal leaves adorn the top of them

You never know who you are going to find in the woods ...

I am still here ....just

I do not know where the time goes …. still cycling as much as I can fit in between the wet weather, which is occasionally rewarded with lovely views towards the Malvern Hills like this.

Also finished and delivered a quilt that I made as a present for the lovely lady who got me cycling who has recently got married.

Making some progress with printing at the moment too ….

Exhausting Cycle

Nine of us set off from a layby on the A38 for a 35 mile Intermediate Ride on Saturday.  The pace was fast and the wind was extremely blowy.  Everything was going just fine until an hour into the ride one of the riders got a puncture - a large thorn through her tyre! Much hilarity and lots of help in changing the wheel and we set off again.  We had a stop for refreshments at Hillers Garden Centre before setting off on the return journey.  The wind had become even stronger and we were then riding into head on into it.  It has to be the hardest Intermediate Ride I have done so far and I started to lag behind towards the end.  As always the rest of the riders encouraged me to keep going and always have everyone's safety and health as their first consideration.

Looks like a meeting of minds to resolve the problem

Time Flies ....

I have not disappeared but have not really been having lots of fun either. I have had to drive up to Yorkshire twice recently to sort out family stuff.  I did however fit in a visit to Clive's Fruit Farm at Upton to buy a bag of apples and discovered they had a new flock of guinea fowl.  They looked to be quite young and had not fully developed their gorgeous spotty feathers.

Also got DH to go to Spetchley Park Gardens one sunny weekend as they had a sculpture trail and he needed to get some exercise following his knee replacement some months ago. Really liked the above plaque. There were four of them in total.  The others depicted asparagus, strawberries and apples, all local produce to us of course.

Another of the pieces of work on display at Spetchley.

More Days Out

DH and I went to Berrington Hall at the weekend and walked around the wood and lake. At least the weather stayed dry.  We also recently went to Dudmaston Hall for the first time and I spotted these lovely pebbles.  Great inspiration for a design I think.

New Bike

This Friday I took delivery of a new bike.  It is a proper road bike and I am sure I am going to find riding it and getting used to the gears and brakes rather challenging.

Textile Study Group 2019

Had a lovely few days with at the Textile Study Group with Gwen Hedley. These were three of the pebbles I picked from a huge box available to be used as inspiration.  The theme for our particular group of 16 avid textile people was "Under Wraps" and we looked at various ways of wrapping objects which included the use of sticky dissolvable fabric to stabalise stitches.

It was a lovely venue this year, located at Hillscourt Hotel near Birmingham, which had air conditioned rooms to work in and lovely food. Believe the group are returning there next year.

Packwood House

Another day out this week.  DH can no longer have any physio for his knee so we need to get out and about to ensure he gets some walking in. Had to pop round by Redditch Hospital first to return his crutches (no longer needed). This provided the ideal opportunity to visit the house and gardens at Packwood.

We were not disappointed and I am sure we will visit again soon. The borders are planted so that they provide year round interest.

There is lots to see including a fabulous vegetable garden

Hanbury Hall Revisited

As DH is in need of more exercise since having his knee replacement we spent the morning yesterday in the sunshine enjoying the fabulous gardens at Hanbury Hall. We were not disappointed.

Also managed to locate the Ice House at long last ….

Confetti Fields

Last Saturday morning I did a 20 miles ride with Women on Wheels (WOW) before ending up at the Confetti Flower Fields near to Pershore. What a treat it all was.

We had to stop at the top of a long hill for everyone to catch up, to drink lots of water and to have the usual group photo taken. Then we rode off to the new Clive's farm shop and café at Cropthorne.

We were not disappointed.  The staff refreshed us on arrival with iced water, followed by yummy sandwiches, coffee and tea and some even had cake.  Then those who wished went off to see the Confetti Flower Fields which were just down the road.

Nikki (one of the ride leaders) and I amongst the Larkspur field.

Cup & Ring Ilkley

For some time I have had a fascination with the Cup and Ring carvings on rocks all over not only this country but other parts of the world so it was an absolute treat to visit The Panorama Rocks whilst visiting a friend recently in Ilkley.

The light made them quite difficult to see. I now need to concentrate on creating some artwork from which to produce prints or textiles.

Lots of Outings

Last Saturday after an excursion to Hereford to pick up some early broad beans from DH's niece's allotment we went for a walk at the National Trust Weir Garden.  Lovely sunny day and we were not disappointed.

There was also an exhibition by a local college …

Spot the collection of bird's nests

Not all cycling

I have been making a another quilt, which has taken up quite a lot of my time.  Now ready for quilting, but also using up all the spare bits to make another quilt. The picture above is before I added another white border to the outer edge.

Managed to fit in several cycle rides too.  This was Bredon Hill Loop on Saturday and we are outside Pirton Church and almost back to the start at Croome Park. A total ride of 27 miles. We had quite a laugh on our journey as we had to stop so that one of the cyclists could buy some free range eggs at a roadside gate. Has to be a first!

I am looking so happy as I have just come up a short hill coming out of Pershore.

Wednesday's Fitness Ride saw us do a nice slow climb up the Malverns to one of the Wells.