Stitch Fest by the Sea

 

So last Saturday I had such a fun day as I took a train down to Weston Super Mare which I have not visited in many years.

The organiser's of Stitchfest started back in 2016 at Totnes is now in it's 9th year.  They have gone from strength to strength and for the first time, organised a much needed event in the area in a great venue and called it Stitch Fest by the Sea.  I could not have been happier, as I say only a short train ride for me and I got to visit my old college town to a wander around after the show.

There were a total of 42 exhibitors there, some of whom I had seen at other shows I have been to over the year's but also new exhibitors I had not had the pleasure to meet before.

The first of those was Second City Yarns . I was busy just admiring the rainbow colours on her stand.

When I heard her explaining to a potential customer about this wall of yarn I was fascinated.  

Jo started her business after attending a dye workshop by RiverKnits back in 2022 after 20 years working as a quality control employee full time.

Her first ever colourway that she created was  Kimichi inspired by the Kimichi Music School in Birmingham.

She shared the colourway with friends and received very positive feedback so she continued to use inspiration from her home town of Birmingham as some fascinating inspiration.

 

 Creating a colour palette for the four seasons inspired by the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.org.uk

 

Another colourway is inspired by an area in Birmingham which is predominately known as the Gay Village where there are many gay bars and clubs.

The final area of her stands was an equally great and unusual inspiration for yarn dyeing.  

But it was the Number 11 Bus that travels around different areas of Birmingham.  With the names of the yarns being called after different stops on the route and the colours transitioning from light to dark as the day goes from morning to evening.

  

 

 

 

I then moved around to Fabazaar's stand.  The company's ethos is to work with companies predominantly in Nepal, India and Thailand, supporting local craftsmen and women.

Their online shop has a huge selection of items from clothing to giftware.

When speaking to Bronwen she explained how she works with the craftspeople in their respective countries and placing orders and suggesting ideas for designs that they may not have been used to making.

One of the products that was available to buy was both nettle fibre in its wound state, to scarves, and the boloro that she was wearing which just looked exquisite.  She also recommended I watch a video called The Nettle Dress.  

The fibre used on Bronwen's stand is from Nettle fibres from the mountains in Nepal, which are made from the Himalayan Giant Nettle, which is also known as Allo.  

Incredibly, the plant grows at altitudes above 1500 metres.  It can take up to 4 days to reach the area where the plant is found. The fibre is often spun on the way to market, some 3 to 4 days' walk to market.  The plant is among the longest in the world!

The fibre has been extracted and used by Gurung, Magar, Rai and Sherpa people to make socks, bags, jackets and fishing nets.  It can take up to one week to make a sack on a backstrap loom 

Recently, the Sankhuwasabha people from Nepal have started to create textiles which include knitwear, combining the nettle with local wool and silk to diversify their opportunities to sell.

 

 

The next vendor I met was Zuzana, such a happy soul.  Her business is called Travawool.  

All the products are dyed using unwanted clothes to make project bags, which are embroidered with plant decoration, the thread having been dyed with natural dyes.  The yarn sold is also dyed again with natural dyes from plants either collected from her allotment or on local walks.

I purchased these mini laceweight skeins which are a blend of baby alpaca, silk and cashmere, so I shall have to create something very special with them.

 

 

The last stand I went to was Faye Perriam-Reed.  This was Faye's second in-person exhibition and it is so great to see knitwear designers' work displayed with the pattern and the knitted product in person.

Faye has incredible knowledge having worked in the industry since 2013, working with many prestigious designs alongside her role with The Knitter Magazine.  Her own design aesthetic is elegant knitwear working with lace, twisted cables and textures.  

 

Back in 2014 Faye Tech edited my Tarporley scarf and Ellora scarf both commissioned by Jeni owner of Fyberspates so it was lovely to finally meet her in person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cerney House Open Gardens

I discovered Cerney House Gardens back in 2022.  

It is one of my favourite local gardens to visit as it is just a twenty-minute drive from home, and it's like being transported to such a tranquil place.

Originally built in 1675, it has changed hands six times.  From Sir Thomas Rich, to Thomas Tindall in 1765.  Then 1806 John Hooper Holder, a friend of Jane Austen, followed by the Croome family 1814.  1953 De Courcy family owned it, before it's current owners since 1983 being the Angus family. 

Today there are six families living at the house, made up of which has three two-bedroom apartments.  The middle floor has seven bedrooms and the ground floor a mix of reception rooms and a large kitchen where they make the delicious cakes that they sell at The Bothy.   

When I visited, I did not realise they were also open as part of the National Garden Scheme, which raises thousands of pounds for charity.

The garden is made up of different area's.  From a medicinal herb garden, Rose walk, vegetables, scented garden and woodland area.  So there is something for everyone.
 

I visited in the afternoon and sat and waited for a shower to pass through.  I am so glad I did, as I saw the raindrops of the petals and leaves of the flowers looked so lovely.

I can honestly say, that for me personally, in what was my tenth visit, I think this was the best the garden had looked.

There were so many different flowers in bloom, and Rose's. 

It's a shame you can't "smell" the flowers, as honestly this Rose was just perfect, not just from the flower, but the perfume.

I loved this area with the ground cover of various flowers that just look so perfect with the subtle colours against the green leaves.

Isn't this Rose just stunning, I have not seen one like it before and again with the water droplets on it, I think it makes it even more special.

There was also an abundance of butterflies and insects, which is so good to see.

I'm afraid I won't be auditioning for Gardener's World to be able to name all the flowers, but I do still love to take pictures and share them with you.

I also found the perfect spot for some crochet and people and nature watching.

I shall definitely be back as the garden is open 7 days a week except Christmas Day, which is amazing.

You can buy an annual pass as a single person for £20, or a couple £35, or a day ticket is £7.  So I think this is great value for money.

Trip to the Forest of Dean

 

 

 

So I live in quite a central location in England, so it is easy to access places.

 

One of the places I have not visited for many years is Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean. 

 

It has been used for filming many things, from Doctor Who, Jack the Giant Slayer, Star Wars and recently The Secret Garden.

 

Dotted around the woods, there were interesting facts such as

• Roman forts used nails forged in the Forest of Dean
• To extract the iron, iron ore was heated to 1150 degrees by burning charcoal made from trees
• Iron Ore was mined in the area by the Romans and the local people before them
• Iron is magnetic, but hematite (the iron ore found in the Forest of Dean) is not
• In 1849, 3000 Roman coins from 3rd century AD were found in these woods

It was a very overcast day, so the images do look rather "flat", but I think it still depicts the variety of trees, roots and moss that are in the Forest.

I do always enjoy looking up when in amongst tall trees, sometimes they just seem to go on and on.

I did like this branch, which had many other small branches growing from it that looked like an American skyline!

Whilst walking around met this lady who is incredibly solo travelling from Australia around not only the UK but also some of Europe.

I found that incredibly brave as she was only 25 to be solo travelling!  But what an adventure. 

After the woods, before heading home, I stopped off at Mallards Pike.  A walk I used to do many times in a former life, when I used to own dogs.

The weather forecast was a bit amiss as there were showers, but nothing that standing under a tree to shelter wouldn't solve for a few minutes. 

So if you're ever in need of a "tree" fix, head over to the Forest of Dean, you will certainly get it there!

Tynesfield National Trust - The Gardens

 

I was kindly invited by my two friends to join them on a walk to Tyntesfield National Trust recently.

The journey is nice and straight forward from home, literally getting on at junction 11 of the M5 and off at junction 19 and Tynesfield is then a short 15 minute drive from there.

 

My friends own there cute dog Molly the minature Schnauzer.  A very much loved and well travelled dog as they two own a campervan so head off on many adventures with Molly.

 

I shall be posting this blog in two parts as I felt the gardens themselves deserved it's own post and a seperate one for the house, which has a very fascinating story to it.

 

 

The gardens were in glourious full flower.  

 

The Rose Garden which was originally by William and Blanche Gibbs in 1860 the owners then of the property and it's grounds.

 

The garden had some glourious flowers and colour combinations of plants next to each other.

 

 

In the summer pink American pillar roses grow in a cascade from the arbour. This heritage variety dates from the mid-19th century.

 

The upper level forms a terrace built to enjoy the far-reaching views of the Mendip hills and Bristol Channel beyond. 

 

When I have previously visited I had not been down to the Kitchen garden area.

 

Goodness what a fascinating treat it was.  The area is bigger than any kitchen garden I had ever visited before.  My friend did make a very valid point though, that the location of the garden was a long way from the house, so the staff would have certainly got some excercise if they needed to get produce. 

 

Another vegetable I remeber seeing Monty harvesting when he was going around his own garden were Elephant garlic, which by all accounts can be stored for long periods, but you need to keep the roots intacked.

 

I have not seen tomatoes grown in individual containers which each variety having it's own raised bed.  

 

By planting Marigolds with tomatoes because they act as a natural pest deterrent and attract beneficial insects. 

 

Marigolds, particularly French Marigolds, release a strong scent that repels various tomato pests like whiteflies, aphids, and nematodes. Additionally, the bright colors of marigolds attract pollinators like bees, which are beneficial for tomato plants 

 

I loved the very delicate edging to this flower.

 

 

 

When I watched Monty Don on Gardener's World recently he had bought a Pelagonium "Lemon Kiss".  

 

He said the nursery who sold the plant recommended pinching off some of the leaves and putting it in the sugar that you would use if you were baking a cake as the lemon flavour would transfer to the plant and when he did a taste test it did!!  

 

So I am going to look out for this plant, not necessarily for baking but when you rubbed the leaves they had the most beautiful fresh lemon smell! 

There were so many varieties of vegetables growing in the garden.

Some was already starting to go over and I was surprised that they did not have any of the produce on sale.

There was a huge abundance of cherries, apricots, rubharb, lettuce just so much all looking so tasty. 

 

 

I loved that they showed the origianl Head Gardener's "office", how I would so love to have an office like this! 

 

When I am near retirement (which is not for a few year's yet!) I shall definately look into voluteering at a National Trust gardens if a position becomes available.  

 

For me being outdoors in nature is my favourite place to be. 

I treated myself to a glourious smelling bar of soap for home aswell!