Another Textile Jaunt

Well, perhaps not strictly a 'textile' jaunt, as no actual cloth was involved. However, there is a link - bear with me!

One of the great things I've found since starting to blog, is the connection I've made with other bloggers. Often it's just a case of regular reciprocal commenting on each other's blogs, which may be merely a sentence or two, or a more robust joining in the debate. Sometimes you find you really click with someone; you discover you have things in common beyond fabric, and 'off-blog' communications happen. Now, I'm not suggesting that because someone comments on your blog they become your 'next new-best-friend', however it is a great way to make that initial conatct with someone with whom you have interests in common.

One such blogger is Cathy at Potter Jotter. She and I have been chatting for a while now 'off-blog' and I asked if we could meet up in order for me to write up a Textile Jaunt about her. The (fairly tenuous) textile connection is that Cathy adds patchwork decoration to many of her pottery pieces. I had already checked out her website and had my eye on her stem vases.

Yesterday I cheered myself up immensley despite the pouring rain by driving across county to Cathy's home and feasted my eyes on her pots. It was a very relaxed meeting, we hit it off from the start (is it becos we is Northerners??) .

                                           Cathy emptying her kiln in the garage

We started by inspecting the kiln, which looked like a large spin dryer to me - Cathy is desperate for a larger one as her business is rapidly outgrowing this one.Then we came back into the 'pottery' which is actually the ex-study; Cathy does not 'throw' her pots, but creates them by the 'slab' method, hence she has no need of a wheel and buckets of damp clay , she can keep the whole process at a small domestic level. As she says, she has a life! As well as selling direct to the public via her website, Cathy has contracts with several National Trust shops and Anglesey Abbey, and several outlets in Norwich. I was able to photograph some items which were waiting collection.

          I particularly loved this large plaque with its quote from The Ancient Mariner

         I love this so much here are some close ups. Those polished pebbles are actually clay!

A group of ladies in the village have initiated a Sunflower Project and asked Cathy whether she could come up with sunflower related items. Of course she could.

Oh, and talking of sunflowers, Cathy was able to give me some really easy solutions to getting the image for my own Sunshine Award onto my blog - result, eh?

                               A few of Cathy's dishes incorporating patchwork blocks

                           A special commission - it's ok, the recipient doesn't read my blog!

                                                    My favourites, the stem vases

My lack of photographic expertise lets me down here somewhat, but I hope these shots give you an idea of Cathy's work. I love it! Paradoxically, Cathy admits she knows next to nothing about patchwork and quilting, though she dreams of one day having time to sit down and stitch one for herself. Wait til retirement, Cathy, bags of time then - NOT!

The time sped past but eventually I had to leave, in order to get home in time for Mollie practice....see what I mean about time, and not having any! However I 'll be back next month in order to pick up a couple of small packages......I'll tell you all about it then. Thanks so much for having me over, Cathy, great to actually meet you, and pleased we both 'passed the test'! Hope you've all enjoyed this Jaunt, see you next time.

Open Studios Two

I've been abroad with my camera again!

                                                                 Thank you Cathy.

 I have been awarded a Sunshine Blog Award by Cathy, from Potter Jotter, who really appreciated seeing my poorly toe in glorious technicolour! I now have to 'do my bit' which comprises telling you things you didn't know about me....hmmm not sure about that!!! And then nominating five other blogs which have brought sunshine into my life.

Well now. Here goes.

1) Despite now loving to stitch, as a schoolgirl I HATED anything to do with needlework. I was the Worst Girl in the Class, I really was, from the huckaback running stitch sampler we did in primary, then the shoe bag, to the apron and skirt in High School. I used to deliberately 'lose' my sewing on many occasions. 

2) I was a Girl Guide and loved it. When we came to live in Norfolk I was roped in to help with a local Brownie Pack and subsequently Guides, eventually I started the 4th Reffley Guide Company, which is still going strong, run by the daughter of a great Guiding friend of mine who reached much loftier heights than I ever did! Great fun, great memories!

3)As well as needlework, I was very very bad at maths, French, and Latin at school.Oh, and physics.

4) I was pretty good at English, Spanish, art and hockey. All other things were in between!

5) I hate getting started on housework. Especially ironing. (Unless it's quilting fabric!)


6) I have been known to appear in public dressed as a French Tart, with my face blacked up.This is often accompanied by dancing and folk music and visits to pubs.


There, I think that is more than enough! Now to whittle down my favourite logs to just five...oh dear that's a bit hard.So very difficult to whittle it down.


Claire at mynorfolklife
Gill at  dosierosie
Victoria at  tangledsweetpea
Annie at  knitsofacto
Elizabeth at welshhillsagain

There are so many more I love to read but had to pick just five, for their writing and colourful posts. I hope the links work, but you can find them in my blogroll if not.

Right, so, I have been off to visit another Open Studio, that of another Stitchin' Bitcher...oh dear that sounds awful, doesn't it? She's really not! A few clues:

                                Perhaps this will give the game away?

                                          You've seen this before....in preparation.

                                                               sign up for a great course!

Of course, it's Yvonne, you guessed when you saw Arfa, didn't you? And don't just take my word for it how talented this woman is.......her work has been included in several publications, including this one:

Not only does Yvonne make and teach rag rugs, she is also a silver smith, and makes silver rings and brooches, and bracelets and necklaces with semi-precious stones.

                                                  Love these articulated avian brooches.

Yvonne 'does' Open Studios each year, and also exhibits with West Norfolk Artists annually. Oh, and she quilts. In fact, Yvonne is an unofficial member of the 'slow cloth' sisterhood. I know for a fact she has a quilt she has been working on for over ten years...........I think she took one of my workshops to get on with it. Hmmmmm! Soon to be appearing on her own blog/website. I'll keep you posted.

Now, come on. Enough is enough. Drought? Ok, we needed the rain. But it is like bloomin' Siberia out there! I went out to do a 'from the back door' shot and was nearly blown off my feet. The plants are horizontal.

                          Sorry, could hardly get them to keep still long enough for a shot!

                                   And look, how long do you think these will survive?

My poor giant poppies, just two of them brave enough - or foolish enough - to unfurl themselves in this wind. They appear upright, but you can see from the foliage, and the sage flowers behind how the wind is tossing them about.

                 Rosemary, lovage, mint and some yet-to-blossom flowers, all windswept.

I'm now off to meditate on the wonders of nature  - not. Then a warming cuppa, I think. I hope you are all finding ways of warming and cheering yourselves up in this unseasonal weather. And you lot in warmer climes....THIS is why the British talk about the weather so much, we have so much of it to talk about! Bye for now.