Hungry for Hungary

Quick quick quick!
I need a sewing post ..I'm slipping down the 'Big list of Sewing blogs' and no wonder. I've been chunnering on about all sorts of non sewing stuff for a few posts and I really can't blame you for getting bored, distracted, not reading.....

So I thought I'd do another ' blast from the past'
My Hungarian embroidery project from my City and Guilds days.
Here it is.
I chose Hungarian embroidery and I didn't realize why at the time. It seemed to be 'in me' to be interested in Hungary.



I investigated Hungarian costume and made a book that was long and narrow,I wanted it to look like the long embroidered ribbons in Hungarian costume like these.


So here it is.
Pre PC days so a lot of work.
Colouring, drawing, stencil, print..


I hand stitched it in the Magyar Rose style.


Hand embroidery for the most part so why is some of it machine embroidered?
I will enlighten you later.

At the bottom of every page I illustrated it with something from Hungary.


I used lots of books for resources.
Remember, no internet then.


Fortunately Chorley is twinned with Szekesfehervar so there were brochures to chop up.

But look a little more closely.

Whats that little round impression on the corner of the pages?


This woman's embroidery is a bit more pierced than it should be.


The beautiful braid I made for the binding is considerably shorter than it oughter ..be.


I'll tell you.
This was thirteen years ago.
Regular readers my be able to work out who was a puppy thirteen years ago.
Willow.
Our dear darling departed doggy ate my Hungarian embroidery project!
THAT is why the hand embroidered cover had to be hastily re constructed with machine embroidery, and the braid trimmed to neaten it, and the little round holes?
Puppy teeth.
By the way, you may be interested in My other blog to see dog related thoughts update.

Now here's why I think I was immediately drawn to the Hungarian option.
When I was 12 I discovered this book.


And this.


Kate Seredy was an artist and illustrator born in Hungary and moved to the USA later.
These books are stories of her Hungarian Plains childhood and captivated me from the word go.

The beautiful illustrations depict the deep memories and character of her homeland.

They do 'contain attitudes prevalent at the time' so are slightly non-PC but they were written in the 1940s so I can accommodate that.

I was in love with the rural community she grew up in.
Men in national dress...so noble somehow.

Of course women were a bit hamstrung!

But the warmth and affection of her drawings and descriptions tugged at my adolescent heartstrings.
I remember with some embarassment, the last day before the school library closed for the summer, sitting in the library until way after everyone else had gone home so I could finish the book before having to hand it back for the 6 weeks holiday.
I sat there so long my bladder gave out and there was a puddle on the library floor.
Thats the first time I've admitted that to anyone!
And I finished the book.

I read everything of hers I could find.

Later she moved to the USA and these two books reflect that phase of her life.

The one on the left is set on an American farm.

Talking of America.
****HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!! ****



So I think thats why I had Hungary in my heart.

Now another Hungarian connection.
I was tagged by Corryna , a Hungarian textile artist,a few days ago
I have to tell you 7 facts about myself.
Well you just got one I didn't intend.

I have one other that I have thought long and hard about sharing becasue its a very personal thing.
Here it is.

Since I was 13 I have had Primary Lymphoedema in my legs and feet.One day I went out and my feet swelled up.
I hate it .
I hate how my feet look and photographs of beautifully painted toenails all over blogs don't help.
But, my feet work, I can walk so if its all I have to contend with then I can accept and live with it.
I only mention it because about 10 years ago I discovered the lymphoedema service at my local hospice.
It changed my life.
I still have it, but its now managed, and although its a horrible ugly condition I feel a lot better about it and about myself since I discovered the service, and I just want to encourage people to seek treatment if they have the condition, and if the service is available in their area.
I know I am a bit overweight now but my legs were just as bad when I was 7 stone. Of course in this weather, wearing 'compression hose' is essential but very very hot.

I did a '7 fact' post quite some time ago so you can read it here.
I don't usually do it but I have discovered some new blogs lately so I am going to tag some other bloggers who can ignore it if they want. There are lots more in my list at the side but I can't do you all.
Here goes:

1. Chris from the Shady Grove, just look st her teeny weeny patchwork jewellery. Its exquisite.
2. Cat at The Raggy Rat who is such an artist.
3. Kirsten from Fleur de Boheme vintage fabulousness
4. Judy Martin from Judy's blog . Fabulous artwork.
5. The Wild Somerset Child who writes and blogs about her beautiful house and garden.
6. Joanna May and her fairy illustration blog.
7. Chris Gray who has just blogged a fabulous collection of work for her exhibition.

Phew.
I don't usually pass tags on but its only fair to give a bit of publicity to a few other blogs.


If you want to join in, link back to me, write 7 facts about yourself that we wouldn't know from your blog and then tag 7 more bloggers.

And finally...
Here's what you do when its pouring down and you don't really want to go out.


Sit here for hours.

Roobarb and Gaydon

Look who just came through my letter box..well not actually through the letterbox but you know what I mean.
Its Roobarb!
He's here and I am delighted with him and feel guilty having won the giveaway so easily.

He's just reclining against a packet of biscuits recovering from the trauma of having gone to bed in Soggibottom and woken up in Lancashire.
He looks a little wistful if not traumatised by being woken up with many hugs .


Thank you so much Michelle.
I am sorry he won't have as beautiful a garden here to romp in but I'll show him your blog from time to time so he knows what you're up to.
I can't tell you how much I admire the work you did to create him.
How are your wrists?
I get aches and pains just using my laptop scroll pad.

I thought I'd show you this beauty.

I had two aunts who worked at the Melamine factory years ago so we acquired quite a bit of it, including this never used cake stand.

Its even still in the box.
I think the name would be different today!
I've put this on the well known auction site.
De cluttering..but its hard to part with.

I used to hate the stuff.
When we went on picnics as children just think how handy the unbreakable Gaydon mugs were for drinking tea from the flask.
But not for me.
I refused to put a plastic cup near my lips.
Especially one that was cherry red or olive green inside and out. There was just something about the way the liquid condensed on the plastic that made me cringe.
Even at such a tender age I insisted my mum had to pack a china cup for me.
Sorry Mum.

What a week.

Hello

What a week.
I have just returned from Woolfest with Margaret who drove, and am sitting reflecting on the past week.
It corresponds with this week last year when I didn't get to Woolfest so I have done better this year. And yes the 'big clean' has been done again.
Plus a major paint job on the kitchen. (Why do these things always get done in a rush ?)
But more later.
So, there I was, cleaning washing ironing vacuuming shopping ironing ironing ironing and there was a knock on the door, and the postman handed me a hoooge parcel from Daisie Davies
She said she had something for me and we couldn't manage a meet up because I was so busy so she very kindly sent it.

I couldn't imagine what it could be in this massive package...but look....can you read it?
Harris Tweed !
Its a thing of beauty, a solid wooden hanger with an engraved brass plate.

Just imagine my tweets hanging from that when I do a craft fair.
Thank you so much dear Daisie, I know you've had a sad week. It so kind of you.

Later that same day.........


My Fellpaintings arrived. This is a terrible photo but I can assure you it is a beautiful painting and I love it and its companion.

Sometime midweek I learnt that I had won this little chap in Michelle's giveaway which she ended early having received only 4 comments. I told her to try again but she very generously insisted I should have him so I'm very excited.

So onto Thursday.(.oh I nearly forgot our romantic evening out on Wednesday taking the old fridge to the tip followed by a supermarket shop, then on Thursday morning taking my elderly neighbour for her podiatry appointment)

On Thursday at 4 pm our first guests of the week arrived.
Our tutor for The Embroidery 2000 workshop on Friday, Carol Naylor and her husband.
This is a small sample of her work. I treated myself .


We had an enjoyable evening together, a meal and a walk, and plenty of wine, and the following day our group workshop in the studio on the bank of the river with a gorgeous garden, where we sat for lunch.

We all made lots of noise with our sewing machines and Carol was so generous with her techniques and materials.

Mine's the little wobbly one on the back row .

Friday afternoon, home, bit of ironing, change beds, quick clean round in prepapration for our next guest who I had never met before, a folk musician who wrote one of my favourite songs.
My husband brought him from the Traditions festival and I met him this morning briefly before I rushed out to Woolfest.

What a great day.
The first person I met was the lovely and talented Jenny Pepper.
The weather was just a bit sultry and I think I was fairly purple most of the day.



But other people were other colours!

I watched a young woman shear 4 young female sheep and one big ram in about 20 minutes.


The fleece was snowy white and beautiful and can you believe it could be bought for £3?


I spent a little bit more than £3!
I bought some lovely dyed silk tops from Oliver Twists.




I had intended to but large amounts of merino tops but I always buy less than I want .
I think I'm intimidated by the volume of it.



I got the colours I need for my next project.
I also met a lot of friends, sold a lot of brooches (Kandj I can't reply to you,I don't recognise the name,terrible memory,but thank you!)and saw a lot of beautiful things.
But, I have decided, that just because you can make something from wool, doesn't mean you necessarily should.
Cheers.

Woolly Weekend ahead

Well, the pictureless post sorts the sheep from the goats!
Thank you those who read and followed the links and enjoyed them and those who then commented.
I succumbed and actually bought something on ETSY! I am one of those annoying people at craft fairs who sells but keeps her hands in her pockets.
It was not always so but I am no longer earning a crust in the classroom so I have to be realistic.
I apply the same stingy attitude to etsy but I just HAD to have a Fellpainting. It hasn't arrived yet but I know a lot of you who visited the site will appreciate how excited I am.

I've had a lovely weekend of walkies with this little sweetie. My son-and-his-ex-girlfriends- shared-dog, Denny..named after Sandie Denny of Fairport Convention.



She doesn't sit still for long so its hard to get a good picture.
She is far cleverer than Willow was, far more obedient but still.....she isn't Willow who was beautiful but it has to be said, fairly thick. The Bimbo of the dog world.
When the above son was little he heard the word 'Bimbo' and asked me what it meant.
I said it usually applied to someone who was beautiful but not very clever.
He said 'Oh well you're not a bimbo because you're clever and you're.......er......er....'


I promised a photo of my goodies from Helen of Cocoa and Blankets. I'm sorry, I was so excited that its all blurred. Just look at these yummy things she sent me. Shimmering blurry colour!



I spent a couple of days on my sewing machine making some brooches to send to Woolfest.
I heard an annoying squeak so I decided to unscrew the flywheel to find out where it was squeaking.
How hard can it be?
Two hours later, having tried every combination of the three components I could imagine, I was on the phone to Bambers in Manchester with my screwdriver in my hand and my machine on its end while he talked me through re-assembling it.

Just in time to get more brooches made.


These are Woolfest Specific!
They are going on the International Feltmakers Association stand.



I wish I'd thought of it sooner.
Just imagine..

tops!
I Love EWE!
fleece!
card!
spin!
dye!
weave!
fibre!

B*******!

See you there Saturday?

Three Artists and some threads.

Sorry there are no pictures. Click the links for visual delights, and just think of the megabytes I'm saving!


Its been an interesting week in the mailbox department.
First of all we received a couple of copies of this book.
My husband conserved a number of the paintings before they were photographed for the book.
As his unofficial PA I enjoyed long chats with the author on the phone as well the artists daughter in law, and son and owners of some of the paintings.
All were delightful , friendly and generous and it was a shame we couldn't attend the launch of the book a couple of weeks ago due to other commitments.
On Womens Hour this last week the Author and Winifreds daughter in law were interviewed and it drove me to google Winifred Nicholson .
As well as the usual search results I found this blog, Adventures in a Painted landscape.
This 'Fell Painter' has a collection of beautiful works that truly evoke the landscape in which she lives. I live about 60 miles away from this area and when I visit I often wish I could capture the hills and the skies in stitch but I don't have the skills. She does however. She goes out and paints on the fells and then blogs about it, and mine was the only comment.
She deserves more attention.
PLEASE do visit the blog, enjoy the skies and experience the atmosphere of the Cumbrian Landscape.

My next postal delight was a package of threads from Helen of Cocoa and Blankets
Amazing gorgeousness, and more generosity than I can possibly repay.
Beautiful silky treasures.
Photo tomorrow when its light again.

A different kind of post was this one. I'm sure you will recognize the subject of the portrait! It made me cry.
I have been friends with Carol since long before my online days. I met a relative of hers in England when I was doing my first exhibition and I sent her a sketch book. We have been penpals, now blogging friends, ever since.

In the 'Mail out' department ..I have had a few etsy and folksy sales.

My son who moved home for a couple of weeks has shared custody of the dog he and his former Girlfriend had.
This has been his week so she and I have had many long walks.
She's not Willow but she's very sweet and I've enjoyed her company.

Blast from the Past I

I had quite a few inquiries about my blank sketch books.
I have one or two left and have just listed this one on etsy. I am only listing them one at a time as I have another craft fair imminent and don't want to have them sitting there doing nothing.
(SOLD, new one listed now;


OOOPS! SOLD NEW ONE ..will list a third now.
Only three left after this.!)



The weekend at Art and garden was, as ever, delightful.



My stall was a bit different to last years. Maybe I didn't have quite as much stuff but I still did quite well. I have one or two little sketch books left and might list them one at a time on etsy. an you see the taller red one peeping out on the bottom row? That will be first.
Even if I didn't sell anything I would probably still go, just to be able to sit in such a gorgeous place, chatting to such wonderful people, catching up with old friends and meeting new.
If you live near and didn't come then shame on you!
You missed a lovely time and place.


The weather was absolutely perfect.
I did meet a fellow blogger but I am reluctant to link to her because she has a picture of me on her blog.
Go on then its only fair. Its Lyn at Everyday Life.
She is a friend of Shan who is very beautiful but refused to be photographed! Come on Shan, click that blogger button!
I am wearing a voluminous cotton shirt and wish I had patted it flat before the picture.
But lets face it, it wouldn't have made that much difference.
Some, but not a lot.

I thought I would show a some of my past triumphs in the next few posts.
I am a great fan of hand stitch and used it for my very first City and Guilds piece in 1993.
You can click the pictures for details.

This piece is my interpretation of a little hollow in a rock wall on st Martins Isles of Scilly.

We went in June the first time and the walls were covered with Hottentot figs and Rock Pennywort.

I was cleaning today in preparation for our visitors in two weeks and I took this off the wall to dust it and was quite delighted with it.
I hadn't really looked at it for years.

I used Picasa to blog these pictures on advice from Julie and because I'm panicking about my 'using 34%' of my space. I don't think I did it right because I still notched up another few MBs.
I usually go to the blogger compose box, upload pictures in 5s(and thats when the numbers appear at the bottom) and then do the writing.
How do you blog?


Update: Gretel from The middle of Nowhere has explained all to me. My pictures are too big so for a try out I have added a new one that has been re sized. Its the top one.
Thank you! thank you! thank you!
xxxxxxx

Now we are six

Tired though you must be of seeing my latest creations I now present two more blocks to make the whole up to six.
Several people have remarked on the fact that they look like Protozoa, which if I remember my school Biology, are single cell organisms.
Yes.
I like that idea, but they started with 'retro' in mind.
Maybe they should be called 'Retrozoa'.





Or for exhibition purposes and so I don't have to go teaching, 'Will sell Separately'.

However I don't think I could sell them.
I find it very hard to part with things.
I clung to the bumper of the car which took these long buried treasures to the tip.
Buried under a pile of junk in the garage that is. Or was.
We still have plenty more bikes in there to be parted from.



Much sewing has been done this week for Art and Garden tomorrow and Sunday. I am taking the entire contents of my etsy shop and praying for fine weather.


Maybe when its over, I can get on with a bit of housework .
But if you look closely at the picture you will see that there are other pressing jobs outside.

By the way, what happens to your blog when you use up all your 1024 megabytes?
I hope bits don't disappear.
I like my first few posts, its a lovely diary of last year. Especially this one.
Two of the dogs in the last picture have gone to pastures new.