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.
A visit to Cyprus
In late 2021 Bill and I took a group of stitchers to Northern Cyprus for a stitching retreat.
I am trying to be better at roses!
I have some lovely roses, but have made sure you cannot see the blackspot and other nasties that plague me
Pharaohs in Turin?
This is apparently the finest collection of Egyptian material outside Cairo
My garden has woken up!
This time of year, I always feel a sense of panic in case I have planted too early, too late, the wrong things, the right things in the wrong place and so on.
About Being an Author
I am relying on my belief that in the end we do tend to get what we deserve
Loving Lavender
I think that I have enjoyed making things from lavender all my life
Bits & Bobs from Pinks Barn
We celebrated in advance with dinner and a visit to the Watermill Theatre, near Newbury
Loving Hardanger embroidery
The elements of Hardanger embroidery just seem to fit my mindset and I simply love the effect achieved with very few stitches.
At last! Time in the greenhouse
Earlier today I had a trip out to the greenhouse and look, I have some baby sweet peas!
Out in the fresh air
One bright, but cold day last week I think I had the symptoms of cabin fever, so Bill dragged me out for a walk.
A surprise in Marrakech
He discovered another garden for me to see and it was glorious.
The muddle was awful, but it was worth it
I have pockets full of picture hooks, a hammer and pliers!
A visit to the docks!
We sat in a lovely Greek restaurant overlooking the water and watched the lights come on as the remarkable old buildings lit up.
Visiting the city of Antonio Gaudi
I did not know anything about this extraordinary man beforehand and was simply thrilled to discover his work
Behind the scenes
Isn’t it amazing to see the huge set-up needed to photograph such small objects?
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