My urban garden.

I can't believe this time last week temperatures where about 17° and I spent a lovely few hours with my boy at Winchcombe.

Today is heavy rain, strong winds and storm Freya.  But before the rain set in too much I took the chance to photograph some of beautiful spring flowers that have suddenly popped up in the garden.

I am by no means an expert, but I know my garden brings me so much joy.

Do you have a hobby you love? I'd love to hear about it.

Winchcombe on a sunny day in February.

To new reader's of my blog welcome, to returning viewer's, hi and lovely to see you again.

This weekend the weather here in the UK has been incredibly mild considering it's February, in parts of the country the temperatures have beaten all time records.

I live in the Cotswolds, (sadly not in a picture postcard town), but if I drive just fifteen minutes I am in the beautiful town of Winchcombe. 

The history behind the town is fascinating.

Winchcombe was one of the four Gloucestershire boroughs mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In the following centuries both town and abbey prospered, benefitting from the trade in wool from the surrounding farmland and, increasingly, from the economic benefits brought to the town by pilgrims. 

The nearby Sudeley Castle, was home to the young Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I) and to Henry VIII’s widow, Katherine Parr in the sixteenth century.

Myself and my four legged companion Indie went on a four mile walk around the outskirts of the town, taking in outer edge of Sudeley Castle which is open to the public on 4th March.

We walked past many picture perfect cottages.

My boy enjoyed the walk, but especially in sharing in my picnic!

Snowdrops are such a beautiful flowers that were seen scattered in hugh clusters on the banks in front of the houses.

I came across these small clumps of Daffodils just in the hedgerow in front of a house.  The yellow zingned out against the deep blue sky.

The catkins hanging from the Hazel tree look so delicate.

Their were so many sheep in the fields, such a great sight.

I love tihs view just over looking the town itself on the way up the hill.

Indie enjoyed a little paddle in the River Isbourne that runs through the town.

Designed by George Gilbert Scott) near St Peter’s church and the almshouses in Dent’s Terrace (1865

I hope you have enjoyed this picture diary.  Until next time.

The Victorian Arts & Crafts

I have recently been catching up on a programme very dear to my heart.

It was first prodcast in January this year on BBC 2.  But thanks to the ability of being able to watch programmes on catch up I have been able to watch this programme at my leisure.

So let me introduce you to it.  The Victorian House Of Arts and Crafts-series-1-episode-1

In this landmark living history series, a late 1800s Victorian arts and crafts commune in the Welsh hills has been painstakingly brought back to life as a group of 21st-century crafters move in to experience the highs and lows of living and working together as a creative commune. Over their month-long stay they are set to renovate four of the key rooms in the house. 

In the first episode Anita Rani is joined by internationally renowned potter Keith Brymer Jones and arts and crafts expert and dealer Patch Rogers, as the six crafters are faced with the challenge of breathing life back into the Victorian parlour. Using original Victorian tools and techniques, they create arts and crafts objects including a Sussex chair, CR Ashbee bowl and William Morris-inspired wallpaper - all from scratch and all in a week. 

All the while, they are also eating, working and living within the philosophies first outlined by the likes of John Ruskin and William Morris. Will their 1890s communal life help them to better understand the depth and scale of the Arts and Crafts movement, both as a power for artistic and social change? Will the arts and crafts life make them better crafters and reconnect them creatively to what they love? 

The setting for the programme is Wyndcliffe Court in St Arvans, Monmouthshire.  First built in 1922 and built by Eric Francis.

I wanted whilst writing this blog not only to research more about the Arts & Crafts, but find out more about the six crafters that took part.

Thanks to Making a Mark I have found all six crafters.

Bryony Knox

Bryony's craft is silver smithing and you can view her studio here with beautiful imagary.

During the first week Bryony produced a stunning hand finished silver hand bowl in the style of Charles Robert Ashbee

The second artist is Abdollah Nafisi.

Abdollah's skill set is woodwork.  During the programme he reproduced Sussex Chair from scratch which was designed by William Morris

Ilsa Parry skill set is design practitioner, with advanced specialist knowledge of 3D design, art direction and product commercialisation.  During her time at the house she designed wall paper to be hung in the dining room inspired by William Morris.

Stephen Winstanley key skill is as a potter.

Niamh Wimperis is an incredibly talented embroider and she produced a beautiful bed throw.

The final artist is Rod Hughes who's "day job" is sword making! But when you watch the programme he can turn his hand to most crafts. 

My interest in Arts & Crafts stems from the fact that during my final year of my degree I studied William Morris and visited Kelmscott Manor in Lechlade which was fascinating.  

I wanted to use William Morris's work as an inspiration to interior design.  

 

This was my final dissertation with the sketch and inspiration in the journal.

 

This is an extract from my design idea sketchbook with inspiration from my trip to the house and some of William Morris's wallpaper.

 

 

This was my final cushion design, with an outer layer of knitwear and inside was a silk covered cushion that could be used aswell for an alternative.

 

I am still designing knitwear and my portfolio of work can be seen here.

 

At present I am working on mainly sock designs and neck accessories. 

 

 

These are examples of some of my designs.

 

I do hope you get a chance to watch the programme and would love to hear what you think of it here.

 

 

 

Observing

Here in the UK we are having a cold spell.

However in comparison to Chicago in USA who are currently at temperatures of -27 BBC weather our weather is positively tropical!

Each day instead of cycling I now walk the 1.5 miles to and from work.  Today was such a lovely day for a walk.

Doesn't frost make everything just look so much prettier, even on these quickly taken pictures with my camera.

I have also been enjoying the amazing programme that is BBC Winterwatch.  The presenters make the show so informative and fun.

This year they are based in Cairngorms, Scotland.  What a stunning part of the country.

In the two episodes so far they have covered some fascinating subjects involving research that is being carried out, showing live cameras in and around there local area and other documentaries they have filmed over the last few months.

If possible I HIGHLY recommend having a watch.

p.s. if you enjoy reading my blog please do leave a comment I would love to hear from you.

UPDATE 1.2.19

We had an overnight treat of snowflakes.

Fairy Dust Cowl new design.

Welcome to any new reader's and hi to any returning ones.

I can not believe it is almost the end of January 2019, where does time go!

I hope you are all well and either enjoying the chill of winter or maybe the extreme heat on the opposite side of the globe to me in Australia.

Have you any new year "accomplishments" your hoping to achieve?

For me my plan is to read alot more novels, do my best to design more knitwear.  Plus I am on a personal mission to lose weight and get alot fitter.

The first book I have managed to finish was such an inspiring book by Bear Grylls called Mud, Sweat, and Tears. A fascinating insight into a man I have such admiration for.

Regarding my mission to get fitter, this has involved signing up with a personal trainer for a five week course.

Please note the trainer is an ex Marine!! To give you some idea of how he likes to push you.   For me this is great, as I am changing my mindset slowly, from one of "I wish I could do that", to one of "I can do it".

Determination, self motivation and belief are very valuable. At times it is easy to slid backwards, but I believe each day is a new one that if you just try little steps big things can come of it.

So before I bid you farewell from this post I wanted to share my latest knitting design, which is a cowl perfect for almost all year round.  Fairy Dust Cowl.

My Urban garden

For me there are certain things I get great pleasure from, one of them is my garden.

I live on the edge of Cheltenham in a housing estate. I love my home, not so keen on being overlooked from every view by houses, but it's home.

Over the nearly 17 year's I have lived here I have always loved the garden and wanted to share just a few of the pictures I have taken of my plants over the last month.

If you have an Instagram page, then you can find me at Lovemygarden8

Until next time, have a great weekend.

Birmingham in September

This month my OH turned 50, so to celebrate we popped on the train for 45 minute journey to stay in Birmingham.

Thanks to advance planning and Booking.com we got a great deal on an amazing Hotel right in the centre called Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The Hotel has an impressive 24 floors one of which is the Presidential Suite which comprises of  140-square-metre suite—the hotel’s largest—offers a spacious lounge with baby grand piano!!, bedroom with king bed, work desk, and kitchenette with a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, and 10-person dining table. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the city from the hotel’s top floor. Soak in the whirlpool tub or relax in the steam room; visitors can use a separate powder room. For one night the cost is over £2,000 a night!!!!

Our room was on the 15th floor and had amazing views over the very much "under construction" city, but with the floor to ceiling windows you could see for miles. 

Within the Hotel we had use of the Spa facilities and on both days enjoyed using the lovely pool and sauna.

Birmingham itself is undergoing Hugh amount of construction due to events such as the 2022 Commonwealth games being hosted here.

They are also investing billions in Project HS2 which will mean that travel between London and Birmingham will take less than an hour.

Almost opposite the Hotel is The Library of Birmingham designed by Mecanoo a team of architect's based in The Netherlands.

The Library in itself is stunning both architecturally inside and out, but also houses over 400,000 books available to the public along with Shakespeare's collective works.

So if your ever nearby and fancy a trip, I highly recommend stopping and taking a look at this city.