Stitched up

I have been bitten. 

It all started when Lynn at Sea Angels posted about a wonderful day spent at Jessie Chorley's embroidered story book workshop. As you know off I went - a novice, non-sewing lamb to the seamstress.

And then it happened - the bite I mean.

 Ever since I started my piece (snort! I could think of other names for my effort but as we are in polite society I shall refrain from using them!) I have been swept away with a tide of fulfilment and joy! I may not be very good but there is something marvelous about sitting down on Sunday afternoon and picking up some sewing!

By Jessie Chorley

by Caroline Zoob

I have long admired Caroline Zoob's exquisite embroidery and viewed it as so amazing I could never possibly aspire to achieve anything so gorgeous. I used to squirrel my pennies and visit Housepoints just off Northcote Road back in the London days.

by Cal Patch

Then I started to realise that I love applique! Isn't this header by wonderful?

And during my Etsy travels I discovered Funkyjunky Art. 

I am a real sucker for lovewarn fabrics and old books and fabrics

 Of course I know that many of you were already more than switched on to all this stitchery pokery, yes I am thinking of the lovely Viv at Hen's Teeth! But I am a very slow starter!

I have been discovering a whole new hidden world.

         

Wonderful Liberty fabrics displayed in embroidery hoops, genius and the wonderful work of Rosemary Milner LOVE IT!

 So anyway, no more delaying tactics - I hear you 

"Come on Lane girl - show us what you did!"

 A few footnotes : 

The background fabric is the fabric from my roman blinds in the Old Lane.

The window fabric is the satin from the bodice of my wedding dress

 (off-cuts! No I didn't cut up my wedding dress!)

The chimney fabric is a scrap of daisy chain from our kitchen when I was a child

The bunting includes some remnants from Mr.Lane's old shirts

The lace belonged to Ganny (Mr.Lane's Granny.)

I wrote the words from the poem Take the Long Road, the long road home onto paper and used them as my template for the bunting. They will never be seen but I will know they are there.

You get the idea - it all means something to me. So no matter how wobbly and unsure those stitches I smile at each scrap of fabric and all that they contain.

Still got loads to do but you get the idea?

Sarah

xXx

Snowy Dawn

Roll up, roll up

Get your snow fix here

For your delectation and delight I bring you "Waking up to snow, Down the Lane"

Light Levels were too low really so forgive the wobby nature of these pics but I just had to get out there! Buster Boodle started barking at the snow at 5.50am!

Look at the ridiculous amount deposited on one of our garden benches!

Our rather sad barren winter garden has taken on a magical Narnian quality

Beloved crab apple tree looks more Christmassy than ever

The vegetable garden, shed and greenhouse look wonderful too

A day for staying by the fire and Making Christmassy things!

x

p.s I will, instead be trudging off to the shop to work! Luckily I can walk into the village from here x

p.p.s I wish you could have seen me in pjamas, winter coat, ugg boots and over excited chocolate lab giggling with delight in the snow at the crack of dawn! tee hee x