The Weald and Downland Living Museum is a bit of a trek from Dorset, a few miles north of Chichester in the South Downs National Park. But it made a great stopping off point on a trip to Kent. It’s an open air museum, where they have rescued old houses, cottages and other rural buildings…
DetailsFeed the Birds – it’s not tuppence a bag anymore. But it’s well worth it. There have been some feeders hanging in an apple tree in the garden for years. Mixed seed, fat balls and peanuts have attracted many birds. Lots and lots of sparrows, plus a few blue tits and great tits. There are…
DetailsSpinning and Weaving – it’s been a winter of learning new skills. These are such fundamental textiles crafts. It’s a wonder that it took so long to discover them round these parts. Part of this is learning a whole new vocabulary. And the words are so evocative. There are maidens and the mother-of-all, a footman and even…
DetailsWeaving looms! A pair of them. Well it was bound to happen. It just completes the trinity of weaving, dyeing and spinning (having tried and tested, if not yet mastered the first two). Such are the dangers of ebay browsing! The first is a small vintage loom that sits in it’s own wooden box with…
DetailsThis will be the year of the spinning wheel. Here’s how it’s come about…. Just before Christmas there was a spinning wheel at the local auction. It appeared to be in good condition, if a little dusty. The fact that 2 bobbins were tied onto the frame with string (plus the one with a little…
DetailsA winter project – this year it’s a crochet blanket. This is a must to beat the winter blues and to stave off in advance any inclination towards S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder). Think about it now, before Christmas. Find your project, something ambitious and labour intensive for preference. Buy your materials now (or put them on your Christmas…
DetailsSamplers – real proper, really old ones – are a marvel to behold. Montacute House in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset is the home of the Goodhart Collection – one man’s gathering of 17th and 18th century needlework gems. Needing a breath of fresh air on Boxing Day it was a treat to discover that Montacute House was…
DetailsBagels are delicious and not as hard to make as you might think. Bread making has been going on around here for a few years now, not a single loaf comes from the shops. Plain everyday loaves are baked regularly and but every now and then it’s good to ring the changes and a challenge…
DetailsUsing a drop spindle to turn fibre into yarn is the most ancient form of spinning. What began as pulling, twisting and winding stuff around a stick evolved, adding a weight (in the form of a whorl) and a hook or notch greatly increased efficiency in yarn production up until the invention of the spinning…
DetailsEccles cakes aren’t really cakes, they are small currant filled pastries naked after Eccles, the town in Greater Manchester. Like all regional dishes their origins are unknown but were sold commercially in the town as Eccles cakes from the end of the 18th century. They are sweet and comforting, perfect for fresher autumnal days and…
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