Saturday 21 September 2013

Great Times


Well now, I'm aware I'm a tad late with this post, and so much has been happening I don't know where to begin and as for choosing which photographs to include..... anyway, I shall just dive in. Here you see Colin, one of the Ouse Washes Mollys musicians, and Bryan's back, one of the dancers who plays a few instruments himself. We danced out last Monday night at the Ship Inn  at Brandon Creek, with the Coton Morris side. We danced outside the pub....





I gave my camera to a Coton Morris man at this point and he did warn me he was pants at taking pictures...... anyway, here's one of us musicians as we always get left out!!


You can just make out my hat and coat of many colours. Well, coat of a few stray bits of fabric!




And we danced inside the pub, then we had a bit of a session which was lovely. I packed my fiddle and my melodeon - I'll need a bigger car soon, or get myself a Roadie!




                                                                      Step Dancer

             
                                                                   Nicky on clarinet


                                      Bryan on mandolin and Elin on fiddle.

Last Wednesday - second in the month - was Stitch and Bitch which was lovely as some of us haven't seen others of us (!) for a while what with the holidays and such. I finally finished my wool/felt Bird and Flowers cushion cover.


And yes, they are pins which you see at the bottom, simply because this photo was taken before it was completed and I forgot to do one after I finished! But it is, honestly!

 And in the evening it was the Very First Kitchen Table Session round at our house. Nine of us sat round our table with a mixture of instruments and a brilliant time was had. It was a tight squeeze at times, so Jim has sorted out a space for us round the corner at our local pub. Next month, however, as I'm in Wales, the session will be at Rob and Marj's. We've been talking about this for quite a while and finally just got on and DID it. This Wednesday saw me zipping up the A47 - again - to Dereham for Folk Club at the King's Head, which is always a good night.

Today has been a REALLY lovely one. Jim took mum's shopping and did all the Saturday Morning stuff for me so that I could go to Norwich  - that A47 again! - to visit this :


 I went principally to see Amanda - Amanda Colville of Mangle Prints who you will have read about here before. I bought one of her beautiful prints but it's for a gift so I won't show it yet. And of course I bought too many cards! Then I went for coffee at a lovely little place called The Bicycle Shop, all old wood, pews and saggy cushions and great coffee. The sun shone in and Vivaldi was playing, a gentle whiff of incense and peace - it was wonderful.

After which I popped across the road to a very interesting little place which called to me:


Go on, you'd have crossed the road too, wouldn't you? And don't worry about the Closing Down bit....


             Gorgeous things to buy, and fabric, and oil-cloth, and cards, and prints, and..........


a big room at the back where the Proprietor, Kay Spalding, holds all kinds of workshops: printing, felt-making, knitting and crochet, sewing and textiles, silver jewellery-making....... what an amazing place!


Kay specialises in locally sourced vintage ad hand-crafted gifts and jewellery as well as running the workshops. Next month she closes the shop HOWEVER, after a short break she will be re-opening at new premises nearer to home, in Park Lane, in January. Nearer the time I will let you know the full address and you can pop along yourselves!

And hey, Go Me! I have finished another pincushion! Just so you don't think I have gone Off The Boil!




I'm quite chuffed with it actually. What d'you think? Soooo quick and easy peasy and fun to do.



So here are the three of them in all their glory - on a tray with Morning Glory! Ha! Set up or what! (It wasn't actually, it's only just struck me, but there you are, serendipity strikes again. I'm rambling.)



Definitely time for me to pack in! If you have lasted this long, well done for sticking with it! I must try and write more frequent, shorter posts, but then, I said this before and it never happens. Hope you all have a happy, sunny Sunday, looks like the weather is going to be kind again. Bye for now!

24 comments:

  1. hey sounds like you had a wonderful day today - the shop looks brilliant - i love shops like that but don't seem to have the spare money these days to be able to afford much!!! well done on finishing the cushion - it is beautiful and the pin cushions aren't bad either!!! xx

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    1. Thanks Lynne, it has been a LOVELY day! And you know, as long as I come away with a few cards when I visit shops like this, I am usually quite happy. I don't send them, of course, I have a LOT of cards!!Lx

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  2. Looks like you have been having good fun Lynne. That shop is where my bloggy friend planet Penny does her felting workshop, it looks amazing just like your pin cushions Lynne. I am in love with the flowery one, you really are talented and need to start selling your wares . Gorgeous cushion too, enjoy the rest of your weekend xox Penny

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    1. Hi Penny, thank you, I did start out with the intention of doing craft fairs but to be honest the two I did were so poorly attended everyone did so badly it has put me off!
      Yes, I saw Planet Penny does her felting workshops there - actually - I wouldn't mind teaching a few workshops myself, I have done plenty in the past but let it slide. Oh well, you never know! Yes, today is another lovley day, glorious sunshine. Let's enjoy it while it lasts!

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  3. Lynne, your blog posts ALMOST make me want to take up the needle...
    Seriously, though, I love your bird and flowers cushion cover!

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    1. Go on Jayne - you know you want to!! (and many years ago I would have run shrieking from the room sooner than stitch, believe me!) Lx

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  4. Hello Lynne, Your life is so interesting, you do enjoy each and every moment. I just love visiting and seeing what you are up too. Your pin cushions and your pillow cushion are marvelous, I love all the colors and the little tiny french knot flowers that you place all around. You have an incredible talent for bringing delight-fulness to everything to do. Of course of all your wonderful creations, your colorful hat is by far my very favorite.
    I would love to be a bee in your bonnet and tag along with you wherever you went, because everyone's life should be filled with music, smiles, good friends, and merriment. I do believe that if you where not a human, you would be a delightful fluttering butterfly. Dear friend, you are the essences of beautiful :) I'm so happy that I found you in this big old place called cyber space.
    Have a cheery and marvelous week.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    1. Ha Connie, you do cheer me up! Butterfly is right, I can't settle on one thing for too long, but meditation is helping me with focus and clarity these days. Lovely to hear from you. Lxx

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  5. Enough cards to open your own shop? Pin cushions are delightful. The music and dancing look a lot of fun.Been busy in the kitchen with jam making. Should keep me entertained for a few days. Also bought my winter container plants. Hope to get them potted on today when the sun gets out of bed. Fantastic spider's webs everywhere this morning.

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    1. It's been a great couple of weeks, Dc, busy but fun packed. Yes, I read your 'abundance' blog post, and you have shamed me into going out today and picking a bag full of blackberries. We have eaten a fair few with our lunch today and Jim want's a crumble tomorrow with the last of the gifted cooking apples.

      Yes, I drove to Blakeney this morning early on and the mist was wonderful with the sun just peeping through - driving home in full sunshine was so blissful - yes, even being in the car.Lx

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  6. I'm sat writing this in my shorts, it's sooo hot! Love your stitching and I love the fact that you've found something fun.....you always look like you have a fab time with your mates singing and dancing! Love it! :) x

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    1. Hello Ada, you are right, I have been blackberrying and the backs of my legs (in leggings) were BLISTERINGLY hot, had I been in shorts I think it would have been 3rd degree burns! but I'm not complaining. SO pleased we have had a decent summer and a bit left over this year! Lx

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  7. Well now Lynne I'm exhausted - dancing, music, shopping, printing, stitching - all absolutely glorious fun. And those pincushions are beautiful - as is the cushion of course! Now excuse me whilst I go for a lie down! Jane x

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    1. hahaha! Jane that's how I feel sometimes! But the stitching is gently meditative I think and the music lifts the spirits so all in all and on balance all this activity is good for me , I think! Lxx

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  8. What I'd give to go and visit that shop, it looks like Pandora's box and full of lots of loveliness. You have been busy with your music and dancing and I love those pincushions they are so pretty.
    Patricia x

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    1. It really is a lovely shop. I don't know what her new premises will be like but I expect it will be equally as pretty and scrumptious! Yes, it's been a hectic couple of weeks! Lx

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  9. Lynne, you are a one woman wonder! Where do you find the energy!! Love, love, LOVE the finished cushion ... it's absolutely fabulous :)

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    1. Hi Annie, thanks for popping by. I think I may have overdone things this year ...signed up to a few too many things. But then ...along they come and I can't resist! Lx

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  10. Hi Lynne, wonderful to see all that music and dancing, I left my border side last year but am joining a new side this autumn hooray. I'd like to get the hang of Step dancing, is that a local tradition? I do a one hour workshop at our local festival each year, it's not enough!! Wonderful pincushions, makes me want to get the felt and needles out, I expect I'll be back into stitching when my journalling mania has worn off. And do I remember you dabbling in printing a while ago, oh yes, woman after my own heart, even I feel slightly tired reading all that stuff in one go. Off you flit and enjoy every bit of it.

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    1. Hi Nina, yes, remember you mentioning you were 'changing sides'! Hope you have fun with them. Step dancing is very traditional in East Anglia, and also among the gypsy families who come here to work on the land.Obviously it isn't done in 'modern situations' but it still lingers at festivals and fairs. Do you think there is name for people like us who can only concentrate on one enthusiasm at a time, but move rapidly on? Lxx

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  11. Oh my .... I'm late commenting .... at the end of the line ;-)
    Love the (wobbly) pictures of your music / dance
    Oooooooooooooooo ... those very mysterious eyes !!!!!!!

    Such fun shops to visit, and I lóve Amanda's prints !

    Your pincushions are gorgeous, Lynne

    (I'm always delighted when I see your comments ;-) ...)

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    1. Ha! Els! You just sneaked in on time! Lovely to hear from you, and I will reply to your email in the morning! Night night! Lx

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  12. Hy Lynne!
    Love your pincushions and other things you make with felt.
    I like how you combine felt, threads, colors and the designs.
    Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Hello Carmiña, how lovely to have a visit from you! And thanks for your comment too.

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