Some early spring pickings are making their way into the house. And I made these needlebooks the other day. I used pieces of old embroidered linen that had seen better days. The pages are wool felt of various colours, and the books tie with brown cords.
I'm happy to have found a way to use the linen pieces that were not being appreciated at the bottom of a basket.
My friend Jenny sent me a set of vintage postcards that included these: Peasants of Corfu (above) and The Market of Corfu (below).
I love the colours and the warmth. A small glimpse of another time and place.
I was lucky enough to see a preview of this fabulous film: Gardening With Soul, which is out for general release from September 12. It focuses on the life and work of Sister Loyola, chief gardener at Wellington's Home of Compassion in Island Bay, compost expert and kindness dispenser.
Gardening with Soul is a film by Jess Feast, produced by Vicky Pope and with music by David Long. The hand-lettering that marks the chapters of the film is by Shayna Quinn. There's a FB page so you can keep up with screening dates, etc.
We follow Sister Loyola through the seasons and learn about her life. She turned 90 while the film was being made, and still digs and moves earth like a pro. Watering can and spade in hand, she imparts her unique take on life, spirituality, and seedlings and shows that love is everywhere.
We often think of nuns as being people who sequester themselves from the world but this lady is living proof of the nun as impassioned community worker. It's also inspired me to plant some silverbeet.
And, to find more ways to shine kindness.
Coffee, sunshine, my favourite cup with tansy print from Helen.
Broom flowers in a jar.
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Happy Friday! A giant pine tree fell down near our house, so today's pattern is pine-inspired.
Now it's a bit less freezing outside, I have resumed my very-fast-night-walks. (I refuse to 'run' unless I'm being chased but I do enjoy very fast walking for exercise.) And I go at night because that's when I have time. Anyway, I have been cranking 80s Kate Bush on the ipod for a while now and to mix things up, I've found Volcano Choir makes great fast-walking music. I love this song especially.
Have a great weekend.
These plants (mustard flowers?) are growing along the road where we walk home from school. I love their outrageous yellowness. So I embroidered them, marching around on this stripy linen.
I came across this today. Doesn't it look like the most amazing place to lie down and escape your normal life? I think so, anyway.
Do you want to be a writer? I liked this link: Writers with writing advice written on their hands. But of course.
When I was in Nelson recently I bought some dried lavender from the farmer's market. These little sachets are rather relaxing to make: both the small embroidery worked on linen scraps, and filling them with dried flowers. Lavendery goodness.
I am thinking about starting a knitting project to see me through the last dark and cool nights of winter. I want to make this: Felicia's Big-Hearted Cowl. There's even a free pattern!
A Sunday morning, complete with this beautiful Wilco song:
Something sad keeps on moving,
so I wander around, I fell in love with the burden, holding me down…
A branch of yellow broom stolen from the roadside, which is fragrant and a shock of yellow,
plus toast with lemon honey, made using this trusty recipe, the radio on and the glass doors opened out to the garden.
I hope you had a lovely weekend.
A yellow zig-zag pattern for today. This one was sketched in pencil then painted over in yellow and grey. I like the idea of the wonky geometric- something that we're used to seeing presented neatly and in a professional sort of way, but made slightly chaotic.
How has your week been, readers? Mine has involved quite a bit of work of the typing variety, and some embroidery (will show you next week) as well as some music-making (the kids). I've also been (very slowly, mind) reading this book of short stories.
Here are some curious, alternative places to visit on this Friday evening:
– to a museum to visit the original Winnie-the-Pooh (and friends)
– an abandoned house in the woods taken over by wild animals
– visit a Mongolian baby with reindeer
– I'm not sure where this is– maybe you know? I'd like to go there, regardless.
– I used to make quite a few of my own clothes. Haven't done so much of that lately, but it would be good to get back into it. I have fabrics waiting. I think about this simple green dress quite often. It got lost somewhere during our last house move. I wonder where it lives now? You can find details on the pattern, etc here.
– These patchwork bags were made from an old, falling-apart quilt that I was sent anonymously. That was an amazing gesture. Thank you, if you're reading this.
– And for a while there I really loved making cushions from old and unusual pieces of fabric that I found on my travels. I really love this dahlia (?) print fabric. There's something about that pink and gold colour, side by side.
I hope you're having a good week. See you tomorrow.
tiny happy 