D.U.M.B.O

It is so cold, wet and windy here in London, that I have decided to perk myself up by looking back at part of our trip to New York this summer. One day we walked the full length of 'The Highline' and discovered this cooling water feature, perfect on a warm summer's day as our feet were tired from pounding the streets!

One of the highlights of this trip was visiting the offices of Etsy situated in downtown Brooklyn in a place called Dumbo - Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. A group of us were invited to their weekly workers lunch, quite a big affair as I think there are over two hundred people working there! It took us a while to get in as everyone was at a meeting, luckily the lovely receptionist above heard us knocking at the door and came to our rescue!

We ate our lunch in a cosy relaxing room decked out with handcrafted good galore behind these curtains (picture above). Everyone was really friendly and happy to talk about Etsy and their work. After lunch we were taken on a tour which included the open plan offices, meeting rooms, film - makers office, telephone booth.....every space big and tiny seemed to have some activity going on it, finally we were taken up to the 'Etsy Labs' where members can use the art and craft facilities.

The lab is equipped with letterpress 

and screen printing machines,

materials and equipment to inspire and excite...

And look at this lovely sewing machine and display of threads!

 They also have a photobooth machine in the lab for members to use, together with a basket full of dressing up regalia to play with. What fun! Here we are - there were actually five of us crammed into that tiny space!

Thanks for inviting us over Tara!

New York, New York!!!

Just back from a week long visit to New York. As always we packed in loads of sight seeing, art exhibitions and caught up with friends. The main reason for the trip was for the other half's show at the Sohotel Art Space which as always was fabulous - well done that man! I will be posting more photos of our adventures in the very near future as I gradually get back into my routine, which is going to involve more walking! We walked across two bridges this visit, the Williamsburgh and the Manhattan added to the Brooklyn Bridge we moseyed across a few years back. Wherever I go on my travels I always try to seek out haberdashery/ wool shops. This time I made a beeline for a shop called Purl Soho which satisfied all of my fabric and wool stroking tendencies as well as bombarding my eyes with a multitude of gorgeous colours and prints - ahhh bliss! I think I better go and lie down now, feeling woosey.......

Happy in Hastings!

Our summer holiday finally came to an end at the weekend. Me and the other half spent an afternoon in Hastings looking at shops old and new. I always like to pop into 'Made In Hastings' where I couldn't resist taking a photo of this cute kitten on a tambourine by artist Claire Fletcher. I also bought a lovely pair of soft and warm socks in preparation for cooler days in my studio!

We'd been looking forward to a very special treat of lunch at 'Hendy's Home Store' and we were not in the least bit disappointed! We both tucked into this delicious sea bass cooked by supremo chef Alastair Hendy. The whole experience was delightful - from wandering through the home store which is full of useful but pleasing to the eye utilitarian household items all arranged beautifully in a setting that takes you back to another time to sharing delicious freshly cooked food .....tucked away at the back of the shop. We're hoping to go back in winter time when they'll have open peat burning fires!

And much later that evening our youngest daughter cooked  - a scrumptious Thai green curry for us! (we had to have a small plates because we were still full from our lunch!). What a great day!

On Offer Today

On offer from a door step near you!

Lost in Challock

We trundled around Kent in search of a certain village church. After a few wrong turns and false trails we managed to find it, well hidden but worth the effort. Inside were 3 murals from the last century that my other half was very interested in. While he looked at those I searched out the embroideries and found some tapestry kneelers including the above - meeow!!!!!

Up in the Garret

We're in Rye once again for a summer break. I've found a quiet spot up in the attic where I've set up my sewing machine. I'm working on a log cabin quilt for this very room, so I'm in the ideal place!

Picnic Time

After weeks of endless rain we are now experiencing lovely hot sunny days - hooray! We had a tasty picnic and played games (duck duck goose and grandmas keys) at Kew Gardens with the daughters and some friends. We walked through the tree tops on the 'Tree Walk' and looked at the fabulous paintings of Marianne North. 

Stone The Crows!

I was a little bit concerned when I saw this saluting mouse on the way to Winchelsea Summer Fair, for a second I thought it was a nazi salute, but on reading a nearby notice discovered that there were other 'scarecrows' dotted around the village to look out for - must be a tradition around these parts!

Wool Whaddaya Know!

I picked up these lovely old balls of wool today, to be added to the collection!

Spring Is In The Air!

Last weekend we visited Great Dixter Gardens in East Sussex, we caught the end of the lovely snowdrops display and walked around the fabulous topiary - check out those peacocks!

I've started planting seeds as you can see above, thought I'd try them in toilet rolls (I knew they'd come in handy for something useful!). Hopefully they'll grow into nasturtiums, my other half's favourite flower - I will keep you posted!

Stomp!

This is what holidays are for - washing quilts barefoot with your daughter in a bathtub!!!!

Here's Looking at You Doll!

Went to a great place called Compton Verney today it has an amazing art collection including a fantastic folk art section where I found this little doll.

Rockin Robins

Saw loads of lovely tapestry kneelers at Blanchland Abbey including this Christmas 1986 special.

August Bank Holiday Finds Part 2

Here's the trimming I promised to show you.....

August Bank Holiday Finds

No new work to show as yet, have been busy at Ryantown HQ. We had a day trip down to the coast a while back on the way there we popped in to a car boot sale, I found this great jigsaw puzzle that me and the other half are working on at the minute, this little plate and a roll of Norwegian trimming (will add trimming picture later). We had the girls and their boyfriends in tow - check out Maria and Gus's pebble collection gathered from the beach at Bexhill.

Cyprus Holiday Snaps

Here Bear And Everywhere!

We visited the American Museum of Natural History for the first time ( a great way to spend a rainy day, thanks for the tip Barbs!). The dioramas were amazing, I particularly loved the Alaska brown bear above - wow! Look at that heart shaped face.

High Life on the High Line

Last spring when we were in New York a project was underway building a city park with a difference, a park built on a disused elevated train line, called the High Line We returned this week to find it open - it's great, full of local grasses and plants with loads of sympathetically designed seating with an incredible viewing deck overlooking one of the main streets running through the Meat Packing District.

Autumn in New York

Walking through a very wet Central Park yesterday, saw these lovely leaves on a footpath.

Holiday Hobby

While me and the other half were away on holiday we developed a fascination with the 'help yourself' signs you often see in the countryside and in small villages during the summer. We saw fruit, flowers, veg and all sorts of things for the taking and door step sales with honesty jars set aside if the occupants were out. Here are a few from our new collection..........