WOYWW 528

MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED RED ROSE....

I've had a lovely few days - yep. it's been busy again but with lovely things like visiting both of my brothers and seeing family. Back to the grindstone this week!

This is the evidence of trying to do too many things at once! You'd think I'd learn, wouldn't you?! The ever present barn dance bunting is still being made a few metres at a time. I'm into a rhythm with that now - it's quite Zen doing it because it requires no thought whatsoever. The coloured flags have already been sorted out so it's simply a case of picking a few up and zig-zagging them onto the tape. 
The clear box at the back holds a multitude of sins...zips, elastic. pom pom makers etc etc - it's extremely useful but a bit of a mess. I've been making glasses cases out of the new doggy fabric and am making another couple. The cardboard templates are for an idea of something to make for the RNLI craft stall at the Raft Race on the 27th July.

I do like this fabric very much - I'd like to put a black with white spot lining in but don't have any. A trip out is in order possibly ;-)  These have sold well down at the harbour cafe.

My brother and SiL took G and I to visit Brockhampton House in Worcestershire. It's a small timbered manor house with an incredibly long history. It was a really marvellous place, very warm and welcoming in feel, very different to some stately homes. The front was covered in the most glorious red roses and also house martin nests. It was fun watching the parents swooping in with beaks full of bugs and hearing the chirpy cheeps of the babies in the nests!


One of those buildings where you can feel the weight of history.

It had a moat and a small gatehouse, which was used as a chicken coop by the last tenant in the 50s!! There were huge dragonflies and moorhen chicks, so pretty.

And some more crafting in the house:

Samplers always get me - feeling that connection down the years with another girl. This isn't the earliest I've seen but it was in amazing condition. I think young Alice caught the woodland animals perfectly. don't you? It made me smile especially the squirrels' tails!!

Have a great week xxxxxx




26 comments:

Sarah Brennan said...

What a beautiful house you visited Jan. It is similar to Little Morton Hall which is quite close to us. I love to look at samplers too, the squirrels' tails are indeed funny (and before indoor plumbing too lol). Happy WOYWW. Sarah #2

Claire said...

Gorgeous house, and I love the sampler - I used to do so much cross-stitch, traditional samplers were a big favourite!
Happy WOYWW :)
Claire no. 4

Helen said...

What a beautiful house to visit - love the sampler. the glasses case looks great - but yes, black and white dots would be perfect...off you trot then! don't spend too much......Helen #6

Lynn Holland said...

I’ve got a few old samplers around the house, I love the history of them too. I’ve also got one specially made for me when I was 50. It’s got our house in it, mr lovely cyber green be beetle, our dog at the time, me and Philip and other bits and pieces. It’s very special.
Lynn xx 10

Annie said...

Love thew look of that house and, like you, samplers really do it for me.....Oh the tales it could tell if it could only talk.
Hugs,
Annie x #12

Lillianb said...

Lovely yjer fabric a stunning red, What a lovely house love to visit that and the sampler it a sample of what has been and still is, i love crass stitch,

Happy WOYWDW

Lilian b# 14

Diana Taylor said...

What a stunning place to visit - it looks like it would have lots of secrets and interesting stories. I love the sampler too - they are usually quite faded but that one is remarkably colourful, it's easy to forget they don't start off with a shabby chic vintage look!
I love the specs case, it looks spectacular in that fabric - see what I did there!!
Hope you have a great week,
Hugs, Diana xx #18

Sue said...

Hi Jan, Not surprised those glasses cases sell well, as the fabric is lovely.

That house is beautiful. I love places with a lot of history. Love the sampler as well. I wonder what kind of life Alice had.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #9

Neet said...

I can well imagine those specs cases with the spotty fabric inside them - really eye catching as they are but with black and white - POW!
Lovely trip to see the family and what a chocolate box house that is. Looks so pretty with its roses and the waterlilies. A beautiful day out I imagine. Here's to many more.
Hugs, Neet 1 xx-

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

"a few metres at a time"? Gosh, how long is that bunting going to be? Looks very homespun and cheerful, just like the glasses case - and perfectly crafted as usual! I've just looked up Brockhampton House and sent the link to my husband suggesting that we should visit it in the holidays. Looks like just the place we like exploring! I'll look out for that sampler when we visit it! Happy summer! zsuzsa #23

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jan, the glasses case is lovely - great doggy fabric. And, yes, it would look particularly effective with black spotty lining - the trip out is almost a necessity! How privileged must you feel to use a gatehouse, no matter how small, as a chicken coop!!! Alice's sampler is beautiful and, squirrel tails apart, I do love her depiction of bees swarming round the hive. Hugs, Elizabeth x #24

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Beautiful house however, the House Martins are lovely but not if you work Nights. My parents had a big problem with them years ago as my father worked a night shift and the noise coming from the Eaves of the house was unbelievable. Loving the dog fabric, gorgeous. Wishing you a lovely creative week and a happy woyww, Angela x13x

Shoshi said...

Oh Jan, how I always enjoy your posts! This one was lovely as always. Brockhampton looks just the sort of place my hubby and I would love to visit! As for samplers, I agree 100%. There's something about the reality of the stitches, which were actually done by a real person all that time ago, that gives much more of a sense of history and continuity than other things. I got the same feeling viewing the Bayeux Tapestry on our honeymoon. Pictures of it just don't carry the same magic. I could imagine the ladies in their tall mediaeval headdresses stitching away and gossipping amongst themselves while they did it! I love samplers, and have made several, for special occasions (a christening, a wedding, and my parents' ruby wedding - and one of my longest-lasting UFOs - a Hebrew alphabet sampler!). I agree with you about the squirrels' tails, and I also love the bees swarming around the little hive. It is quite charming. Amazing standard for a 7-yr-old, too. Little girls all had to make their obligatory sampler, and for many it was one of the worst ordeals of childhood, but somehow I think Alice enjoyed hers - it's lively and fun.

Just how many metres of bunting have you got to make?!! Sounds like a real labour of love to me. Sweet glasses case and great for a dog-lover!

Thank you for your visit and for your very kind words about my watercolour doodles! I must admit I'm not a great fan of Tim Holtz's crazy birds either. I am glad I can draw simple shapes, because it saves a fortune in stamps!!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #7

Dorlene Durham said...

Your photos are always so beautiful. I enjoy seeing your posts. Back to reality and the every day activities...but it's a good thing.

Dorlene #29

shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan, fab visit there, I think we may have been there once. Love the sampler, and yes, those tails are funny. Eyes have cleared enough to be able to type now,lol. Love & hugs to everyone, Hugs, Shaz #16 X

Twiglet said...

We had a lovely day at Brockhampton last summer - it really feels like a true step back in time doesn't it. That is a fab sampler - as you say - the little creatures are perfect - it has kept it's colour so well. You are doing so well with your little makes - the specs cases are brilliant - mine is in daily use. xx Jo

Mandy said...

What a wonderful red fabric that is!!!! Makes me greedy! And I can so relate to your multi-plan and multi-activity desk...same here always. But how great you have such a wonderful place for it :-)

Stacy Sheldon said...

OOh such a cool place to visit Jan, Love the across the pond perspective shot and that sampler :) ~Stacy #30

StampinCarol said...

What a beautiful house and property! The moat brings up thoughts of castles. Love the sampler, so nicely preserved. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
Carol N #25

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Beautiful House set in such a picturesque scene, it's good to have family time it can be just the tonic we need. Wonderful preserved sampler from a 9 year old, how wonderful. Sorry i'm late, had an unexpected visitor when I returned home & I appear to have been booked in for some dog sitting over the weekend..
Happy WoywW Hugs & Thank you for your early visit yesterday Tracey #8

Glenda said...

What a lovely place you got to visit and then there is the amazing sampler. I went through a phase of samplers myself and still love looking at them! Happy WOYWW
Glenda #21

Heather M said...

Hi Jan, Your desk is always a hive of activity! Love the doggy fabric, really cheerful, and yes it would look great with a black spotty fabric. The sampler is lovely - very neat for a 9 year old. I love looking around historical buildings. I chuckled a bit when we were in Canada and visited a museum - some of the stuff wasn't even a hundred years old, and a lot of the stuff was younger than I am! So I'm an antique! Have a lovely week, hugs Heather xx #11

Rita said...

Fabulous desk Jan. Love the bright colours your using just now. Hugs Rita xxx

Caro said...

What a beautiful house! Love the fabric in your latest case. Hope the raft race is fun. Have a great week. With love & God Bless, Caro x (#14)

Marit said...

Such a lovely post Jan, that house is incredible, i always love those old English houses with gardens... and the embroidery piece (I don't know the English word for it...) and I agree, the squirrel's tail is the best! Thanks for your visit earlier, I am again a bit late with my visit this week but hey, at least it IS still in this week ;) Hope you have a lovely weekend, hug from Holland. Marit #20

Kyla said...

ooh love the glasses case and fabulous sampler and house visit too

kyla

WOYWW 769

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