More about the first May bank holiday weekend

I promised more so here it is. I know its late but school has been so hectic with coursework deadlines and exam revision classes.

More of the morris dancing with Green Dragon morris

Until they were so exhausted:

Then followed several trips back to this wonderful shop to buy fabric and more fabric and still more fabric……

The following day we traipsed down to the castle:

Where we watched a band The Singing Loins, that does punk type music:

We travelled back to Suffolk on the Sunday evening and on Monday we were at the Museum of East Anglian life in Stowmarket for yet more morris dancing.

We had with us all of Harry’s children and grandson, Charlie:

And grandson, Samuel:

-the green on his face is the face paint that Green Dragon morris use on their faces. Below is the two boys trying their hand at border morris sticking:

and then Samuel with his grandad

When a woman in the crowd heard me talking to Samuel about his grandad dancing, she was really impressed and asked if I had really said  ‘grandad’

The museum had various displays that caught my eye:

The school room

The shop

The Kitchen

The bedroom

Another shop

Another photo of the bedroom – look at that quilt

Then finally the afternoon finished with dancing around the may pole:

A Busy Weekend

Saturday began with a walk down Rochester High Street where I had to stop at this shop:

Unfortunately it wasn’t open at that point but I got talking to a woman who also stopped to look in the window. She was telling me all about her stack of fabrics. We left both resolved to return to the shop later in the day.

Then it was further down the High Street to watch Harry and his morris side dance:

More later………………

My new CK type fabric bag

Yesterday I decided to make myself a new bag. I had some CK type fabric to use for the outside and I used a green pillowcase for the fabric for the lining. I got the instuctions from a tutorial on the Shabbychic forum.

Then I made a Organising roll which holds all your items such as brush, purse , phone etc

I’m so pleased with myself.

My conservatory

My conservatory faces south and so can get very hot in the summer. When we first moved here in 2001 I put fabric over the ceiling but over time its got very dirty and faded. Thought  it would fall apart if washed. So I threw it and started to look out for some more fabric. I needed approx 12 metres and eventually I got some for only £10.15 on ebay. Here is the result:

My tarot card

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery – when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

April swap from Mary

Today I have received my April swap from Mary [Poppins]. It’s absolutely fantastic . It all came wrapped in some lovely fabric, ribbon and with little tags with messages on. Really sorry about the photo but I had my camera set on the wrong setting.

I opened them all and took this photo still with camera on the wrong setting. I had a fabric bucket, pins, little needlecraft set, lavender smelling heart ,thimble, chocs[which I'm afraid I have already eaten - yummy they were too!!], tea towel, dusters, hm card, two Easter hanging ornaments and last but not least a wonderful lamb that I have decided to call Mary after Mary Poppins.

Here is a much better photo of Mary

And a clearer photo of all the other goodies minus the chocs.

Thank you so much Mary. I have been well and truly spoilt.

Being creative

One activity that I find relaxes me is being creative. This can involve sewing, card making, cooking and sometimes even producing resources for school.

Here are some cards I made recently:

And a note pad board I made for having in the caravan:

Sainsburys brighten up my cleaning

I found these cleaning cloths in Sainsburys and they do seem to make cleaning a  little less of a chore.

Aren’t they smashing?

I’m back again

I have been working really hard lately so have had little time for blogging. But today, however, I’m at home with a really bad cold and throat so thought I’d spend some time catching up.

Have found this brilliant site  http://www.oldandinteresting.com/default.aspx

which is fascinating. Here are some previews:

Rag rugs, mats & carpets

Covering floors with woven, hooked, braided, prodded, or crocheted strips of cloth

Sometimes it’s hard to be precise about the history and origins of simple domestic crafts and equipment. Writers weren’t usually interested in recording the details of everyday housekeeping and low-status domestic crafts until the 19th century. Even then we have limited descriptions of rag rug making before about 1900.

Many different cultures have found ways of recycling old bits of cloth into beautiful rugs, clothing and other items, but we know very little about the craft before 1800. Outside Asia the earliest rag floor coverings were probably woven from strips of cloth somewhere in Northern Europe, quite likely on a loom in Scandinavia where rug-making traditions are very strong. Even when we hear about old rugs, we have to remember it could be a bed-rug or coverlet. It’s unclear when people started to think of them primarily as floor-mats, but dictionary citations suggest it was during the 19th century.

Until the mid-20th century Reckitt’s blue-bags were well-known in many countries, sold as penny cubes to be wrapped in flannel or muslin, or sold ready bagged. It had various names over the years: Reckitt’s Blue, Bag Blue, Paris Blue, Crown Blue, Laundry Blue, Dolly Bags. The main ingredients were synthetic ultramarine and baking soda, and the original “squares” weighed an ounce.

Reckitt’s had been in the blue and starch business in Hull even before they started importing French ultramarine in the 1850s to make the new blue rinse additive at their English HQ. They built up a major international brand, with various lesser rivals, notably Mrs. Stewart’s liquid bluing in the US, and Dolly Blue in the UK.

Reckitt’s wanted people to know their blue was used in the royal laundries, and Victorian advertising in the UK carried a recommendation from the Prince of Wales’ laundress.

Buy Reckitt’s Paris Blue in squares and beware of imitations

I have been laundress to the Prince of Wales for several years, and I consider Reckitt’s Paris blue is the best I ever used, and is undoubtedly greatly superior to the old-fashioned thumb or dark blue.
Eliza Elder, April 12th, 1873

Price one penny the ounce
To be had of all respectable Grocers, Oilmen, and Druggists

Our weekend away

This weekend we went away in the new caravan. We had a great time and I certainly didn’t want to return home.

The camp site viewed from the caravan.

The scenery, viewed from the other side of the van

The caravan

Harry having his morning coffee!