Life at pink's barn

By 2am my stitching had French knots in abundance – the knots were either on the back of the fabric, halfway down the thread or had disappeared!

I opened the boxes and five enormous industrial bobbins presented themselves. I had simply no idea what to do with them.

I do feel when I hold this exquisite piece of antiquity that there must have been a powerful woman wearing it once upon a time.

It was difficult to keep my spirits up until the other morning when we woke to a good covering of snow.

In the past I have suggested that we could have a rather sophisticated tree with some sort of colour coordination. To say this has been met with derision is no exaggeration.

Catherine’s original sampler was worked over one thread of the fabric – equivalent to 45 stitches to the inch!

Over the last week, Bill and I have tidied up after the chaos. My reward was a visit to Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants.

I always talk about how long linen will last – remember there was embroidered linen in the tombs of the pharaohs.

I joined the bidding trying to look like I did this all the time until the auctioneer pointed out that I was attempting to bid against myself.

I cannot describe the puffed-out chest and butterflies when my first book was published.

“This would be a special purchase for me, my first genuine antique sampler and I happily agreed that it could be instead of an eternity ring.”

Silk winders are now very collectable, particularly the mother-of-pearl varieties. The most famous and sought-after are come from Palais Royal sewing boxes.

When I discovered the nest, I was thrilled and now always leave little bits of thread near or on the bird table.

“We live in a conservation area and there are some very specific rules about this sort of thing.”

“Just in case you think I have taken up gambling, let me reassure you. I am talking about Kate Bowles, bookmaker extraordinaire!”

“After my recent success with the kitchen sideboard, I was fired up to have another go.”