Life at pink's barn
Jane's JottingsWelcome to my everyday treasures…
The dictionary would have it that ‘jottings’ are brief notes, very possibly
thoughts and ideas that need to be written down before they escape. That’s
exactly what you will find here with notes on my travels, the things I’m
making, what I’m up to in the garden and even the odd recipe.
The most beautiful village in England?
Arlington Row is one of England’s most iconic and photographed sites – it even appears on the inside cover of UK passports!
Loving William Morris
I became fascinated by Mr Morris when I fell in love with the Liberty store in London.
Today I went to Witney Antiques
Rebecca finds very unusual and rare pieces of embroidery. She has, at the moment, an embroidered duck egg.
To Russia on our first cruise
It was a small and comfortable ship which was to navigate canals, rivers and inland lakes and to take us to Moscow.
A Visit to Madeira
The island is famous for the flowers and the botanical gardens, all of which we enjoyed but we were there, of course, for the embroidery.
Should I be inside or outside?
I am torn between creating new things to stitch, sorting out my work room and working in the garden.
My new potting corner
It was time for a change of plan. Instead of different plants, I decided I would create a practical area that is pretty too.
Heavens! Isn’t it a good year for roses?
David Austin roses are available from many garden centres but going to visit the real thing is something else.
Visiting Thyme in Southrop
I think this lovely estate is a local secret – I visited last month for the first time, and I have lived within five miles for over 40 years!
A day of foraging for treasures
Jenny and I have such similar taste and love playing house when there is time to do it and my budget allows
How going on a journey has become such a treat again!
During the summer of 2019, Bill and I treated ourselves to a trip to the Isle of Wight, just for the day!
Almost 40 years in Fairford
After all these years we have almost moved from blow-ins to locals
My Sampler Study Boxes
I have collected samplers for over 30 years and we are surrounded by them in our main drawing room
Inspired by Darning Samplers
I was contacted by a lovely lady from Holland who told me that my sampler looked familiar…
I dreamt of visiting Colonial Williamsburg
In effect, the area is a theme park but like no other I have ever seen.
Jacquard weaving in Perugia
We were invited to meet Marta Cucchia, a fourth-generation weaver and one of the last in Italy
Outside at last!
The greenhouse was bursting at the seams and my seedlings where desperate to get out into real soil
I blame Claude Monet…
The dark blue and yellow scheme rattled around in my head until I knew it had to be done
A visit for my birthday
After having to curtail the treats for my 70th birthday last year, I was determined to do something special
What to do for our Birthday Weekend?
I am finding it difficult to believe that my ‘Finder of Treasures’ venture is a year old
I borrowed a husband!
Please do not think that I am in any way dissatisfied with the one I have got, but one does need to play to one’s strengths – and Bill is not a gardener!
A Taste of Japan
We had a marvellous time although we managed to get a bit lost in the big cities but without fail were rescued by kind Japanese people
The beginning of Herb Corner & more…
Since discovering the joys of growing dahlias after a course with Sarah Raven over three years ago, I do not have a big enough garden!
Easter at Pinks Barn
I really like Easter – perhaps even more than Christmas!
About a Berkshire Pixie
I thought I knew most things about him but the day after our anniversary I asked Bill about the origins of ‘The Berkshire Pixie’
Hellebore Heaven
I am sure you realise that I like a rather muddly garden and the Hellebore fits in perfectly with this approach.
A special connection
I’m sure a little Victorian girl could never have dreamed that her work would be held in such high regard and inspire so many projects today.
A very special anniversary
I was incensed and said, “I will start a Guild for people who count!” Within the week I had taken advice and started planning.
Knotty Solutions
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!
A taste of South America
This simply perfect little shop was amidst all the usual expensive, mass produced, designer label arcades.
Creating my new Scissor Stacks
I opened the boxes and five enormous industrial bobbins presented themselves. I had simply no idea what to do with them.
A real chatelaine
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.