On valentines day we packed a bag (well, several in my case, including one containing crochet) and set off to spend the weekend in historic stratford on avon (checking the flood warnings first but all seemed ok there).......
.......on the way we visited the university of birmingham where my husband was a student many moons ago........we enjoyed seeing the beautiful old buildings and having a wander round the campus....it was quite a trip down memory lane for both of us.................by the time we arrived at stratford it was very stormy and rainy, but saturday morning was not
quite so bad and we enjoyed the day exploring.........
...........above is the house where william shakespeare was born.....we have been before but it was interesting to see it again after many years...........i liked seeing the kitchen.......i love domestic details from the past, and the old stairs, floors and tiny windows................
..............on sunday it was sunny with a bright blue sky and we visited anne hathaways cottage which was her family home before she married shakespeare, and is a really pretty romantic place......the cottage windows with shafts of sunlight coming in and the sweet flowery cutains were so evocative.......the curtain in this picture was patched and mended which i liked a lot......in the summer this garden is famous for its wonderful flowers, but now it is waiting for the spring to come, with the tips of bulbs just peeping through...............there were lots and lots of snowdrops already.........
...............home again now and this is an old sampler design of mine from the 1990s, when i sometimes used to create new/old reproduction style samplers for books, kits and magazines............i later re stitched this one in brighter colours on white linen and then made it into a cushion..............
.............i love sampler cushions and the effect of the stitchery when used on something 3D......
..............the verse and motifs are from old samplers...............
............this week i am stitching tulips for a magazine commission, inspired by botanical prints......
..............this was my present from stratford.......we found a gorgeous shop called *the arter* filled with original art and handmade treasures.......it was a heart skipping moment when i saw this little design by claire brierley........the spool, the little house and the heart with text....well, it just had to come home with me.........
...............haberdashery is one of my favourite things....old and new i love it and am fascinated by it......whenever i can i like to incorporate it into my design work and here is a whole project inspired by it in this months crafts beautiful..............
..........there is a card, a useful storage pocket, a spool cross stitched pin cushion and a little pin keep to make in this project............love the design of the magazine pages too.............
................when we arrived home i found my fabric had arrived at last so i can now put my latest quilt together which i am delighted about :)..........this week is half term so i will be spending some time with my sweet little grandchildren........just off to make them some chocolate crispy cakes now.......
.................thank you, lovely readers, for popping in here to see me, i love your visits and your kind comments very much............wishing you a happy crafty week..............back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxx
