Sunday 28 July 2013

"well, my bags are packed......"



Yes, it's that time of year again - I'm off to the Burwell Bash later today. My instruments are all ready - including the lost shoulder - rest so I can breath again! Here's one instrument which won't be coming with me - not this year anyway.


Yes, the dulcimer will remain hanging on the wall for the time being, I've had no time to do more than try out a few chords and right-hand strum rhythms so it will just be excess baggage. This is my 7th (or is it my 8th?) Burwell and I have slowly and painfully learned not to take too much stuff - keep it simple!

The weather promises to be mixed, but that never seems to matter at Burwell, and many of us believe it exists in its own little time-and-space zone, so the outside weather doesn't apply. Here in West Norfolk it is very overcast and very very warm this morning, despite the rain we had last night the heavy oppressive feeling hasn't gone so perhaps another storm is in the pipeline.

Yesterday was lovely though, despite prognostications to the reverse; hot as anything here, and Jim, who was at the Holkham Game Fair all day said it was even hotter there - I know what it's like to be marooned in the middle of a large field on a blisteringly hot day! At least they had some shade. I was in the garden all afternoon.


                                                                  Mandatory floral shot.


This beautifully coloured hollyhock is a stray, left over from goodness knows when, we haven't had hollyhocks in the garden for years. In fact there would have been a couple more had Jim not been so quick to weed out these mysteriously huge-leaved plants which arrived from no-where! Hopefully it will set lots of seed.

I'd like to say I was weeding and tidying, and doing all that green-fingered kinda stuff - but I wasn't.


After perusing the paper, and filling in most of the cross-word - sorry, Jim! ........


I settled down in the comfy wicker chair, with a good dollop of sun-protection cream all over me ......


....and set to work with this pile of delicious loveliness. Aren't those cottons beautiful? I have collected them over a few years from various quilt shows and the Knitting and Stitching Show. My absolute favourites are from Jean Oliver who hand-dyes her cotton and trades under Oliver Twists, I'm sure many of you have come across them. And they are such a nice firm as well, you never see them get hot under the collar at shows, unlike some other people I could name. (but shan't!) My problem is these days you don't seem to be able to find their variegated medium soft cotton thread, it is lovely to work with. All they seem to have on the website are the textured bundles of "one -offs" and "two-offs" which I don't want. I've contacted Rainbow Silks and Caroline says they don't stock anything else, and their own website doesn't have them either. So if you are off to a show this summer and see Oliver Twist, ask them to put their medium soft cottons back on sale!!

Anyway, this is what I was stitching. I finished the pin-cushion.




I'm quite chuffed with it, actually, it was such a nice little thing to work on and quick to make up. More of these in my head for later execution!

I also got onto the embroidery of the new cushion, it was a little warm at times, stitching away at this large piece of felted blanket, but well worth it.


For most of my wool applique I use a simple straight stitch, as I don't like the heavy effect that all-over blanket stitch gives. However, for the 'grassy edge' here, I thought I would use it in order to give the scallops a hard edge, and I really like it. I particularly like the variegated perle cotton I've used here.



I used perle no. 5 for the french knots, it has a slightly shinier look compared to the softer medium cotton.


So there you have it, a lovely afternoon of stitching and browsing the papers. I should, of course, have been doing my ironing in preparation for packing but hey, I've got all morning today ......

I'm not taking my lap-top with me, so I won't be blogging from Burwell, but I will be taking lots of photographs and I'll tell you all about it next time. So for now, have a good week ...ooooh school holidays, you lucky people.... and I will catch up with you next week.

24 comments:

  1. Have a great time in Burwell, we (just Little Miss & I) are off to Worstead Festival today & I wondered if you'd be there- obviously not!
    I love the pin cushion it reminds me of the things my Grandma used to make, very similar to that, I still have the needle case she made from appliqued felt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jay, oh, I must look up the Worsted Festival - it sounds good.

      Sometimes I just want to make something small and relatively quick, this just fitted the bill! Enjoy your day away from the testosterone! Lx

      Delete
  2. Dearest Lynne
    Have a wonderful time in Burwell, sounds magical! As for those cottons, what eye candy, I especially love the yellows and mustard colours. You are so clever with your embroidery and felt makes, I adore that pin cushion, I can almost imagine it being found by a great grand-daughter in 100 years time still beautiful with a history of pin keeping and hands using it, of it's own. I think you need to give us all a master class in your craft, I love it xox Penny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Penny, yes, it is magical. I love it, not only for the music, but because i get to meet up with my "other family" just once a year!

      Stitching with felt is SO EASY because no hems, everyone can do it! But thank you for your lovely comment! Lx

      Delete
  3. Have a great time. Just checked out the site and am very envious! If only I played an instrument.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dc, well, my first Burwell I could scarcely play my fiddle (and some would say I've not progressed very far, either!!) they cater for all levels. it's just SUCH fun. And exhausting - I get almost no sleep - not so good at my age, I keep promising myself I won't stay up to silly 0'clock each morning, but it never works out!

      Delete
  4. Well I was a bit concerned there that you were leaving your shoulder at home - of course once I decided to finish reading the sentence it all made sense! The pincushion is gorgeous - well done. Enjoy the Bash x Jane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jane! Yes, I don't use my shoulder rest most of the time (us folkies, y'know!) but it does actually help, and I should use it - especially at Burwell! I certainly will enjoy myself. And glad you like the pin-cushion.

      Delete
  5. hope you don't mind me popping over from hettie brown's!! i read your comment on her page and couldn't resist a look at your blog - i think we are of similar ages as well as sharing the same name!!!! - i love the pin cushion - how sweet - funnily enough i actually bought some felt last week with an idea to make some flowers for cards - hope you have a good time away playing and hearing lots of good music
    lynne anderson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Lynne, thanks for popping by - always good to meet another Namesake especially one spelled CORRECTLY!!

      Do have a go with the felt, so rewarding and soothing to stitch. I note you don't have a blog? Perhaps you could start one up and show us what you make!

      I will certainly have a good time, I'm sure. You can check back in the archive to the end of August last year there are quite a few Burwell photos on the blog post.

      Delete
    2. oh lynne i have printed off "how to begin a blog" and it sits on my desk ,,,, not sure how anyone would find me or why they would want to either!!!! like you i am off for a few days break this week so i really will try to make my felt flowers when i get back - as for showing what i make i don't think i would ever have the confidence to do that!!!! you are all true artist's - i'm just making a few cards which i sell at car boots for 50p!!! there is a world of difference xx

      Delete
  6. I love your pin cushion so much, you are clever... hope you have a lovely trip xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sophie, and I am just doing last minute checking /packing before I set off. The Burwell BAsh facebook page is ALIVE with folks chipping in their final arrangements, we are all getting a tad hysterical about meeting up! And that goes for the guys as well! Lx

      Delete
  7. Fantastic little pin cushion....just perfect, have a great time and I hope the sun shines! :) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ada, I did, and it did! (Most of the time!) Lx

      Delete
  8. Have a good time at Burwell, I have only been once. We used to go to Worstead every year,it is only a short hop from Buxton. The pincushion is lovely, I keep eyeing my old Laura Ashley one that I made years ago and thinking it needs replacing. I do have a Cathedral Window pincushion that I won but have not ben able to stab it yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Pam, that little pincushion is getting a lot of attention for its size! have a go - they are so small, easily completed. Lx

      Delete
  9. Have a wonderful time at the Burwell Bash... I know you will. The threads look amazing all together in the tray and you put them to such good use, creative, and useful too. Speak to you when we are both back home.... I'm in Brighton enjoying 2 of my grandees at the moment.
    Jo x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jo - just back - severe sleep deprivation! Will be posting shortly. and yes, speak soon. Lx

      Delete
  10. Enjoy your trip and have fun. I love the pin cushion. Incidentally we are coming up to Norfolk at the end of next week in our campervan for a couple of days whilst my daughter and family are on the Broads - at Ludham.
    Patricia x

    ReplyDelete
  11. I did post a reply a few days ago but it doesn't appear to be here. Just to say I hope you had a great time whilst you were away. We are coming up to Ludham in the campervan at the end of next week. Are you near there? Have a great weekend.
    Patricia x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patricia, sorry, have been away from laptop all week so didn't see your comment to publish it. Thanks for both of them!

      Hmmm Ludham....it sounds as if I should know where that is... but I am scratching my head! We are in West Norfolk not fr from Kings Lynn, or nearish to Sandringham.

      Oh hang on..... Jim thinks Ludham is near South Walsham way - no, we are totally over the other side of the county! Have a good time - I hope the weather holds for you. Lx

      Delete
  12. Guess it's too late to say have a good time, so I'll say I hope it was a blast!

    Lovely stitching Lynne :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Annie! And I am just about to start writing the Burwell Blog-Post, so you will be able to see for yourself! Wish I knew how to put a video on the blog .....Lx

      Delete

I'd love you to comment, maybe join in the conversation - I always try and reply if I can.Anonymous spammers take note: you will not be published. Genuine posters having difficulty will be accepted. Thanks so much for visiting!