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.
I think I invented breakfast potatoes!
I suppose this all started with Domestic Science at school…
And to Canada again!
Then began the unforgettable journey up through the Inner Passage to Alaska…
Probably the best garden in the world…
Bill and I spent the whole day wandering the gardens and turning corners to discover yet another glorious view
A visit to a Shaker village
It was a wonderful surprise to visit the Hancock Shaker Village in Massachusetts
A day at Thyme & The Country Brocante
My husband Bill does not get the term ‘brocante’ and is often speechless when I arrive home with my treasures!
The Great British Sampler Weekend
I got chance to talk to dozens of the guests and signed books and flirted all day long
When Dave came to visit
Dave has travelled from Suffolk to help me in the garden for a few days – I am not certain why
Four Days in Berlin
In 2016 I returned and found it a very different and even more fascinating place
And a bat came to visit…
At first, I thought that a bird had found its way into the house, but it was not a bird.
Play house or face the garden?
What it is to have the wisdom of grown-up children!
About visiting India
We somehow felt more part of the event rather than as observers
Sitting still & watching
After fighting my computer, I took myself to the courtyard with a glass of wine and just sat
Bread with a difference
The breads were marked with pretty patterns, and I thought it would be fun to try this at home.
Textiles in Uzbekistan
All these places were full of fabrics and embroideries that simply blew my mind.
The blacksmiths of Bukhara
This is about the blacksmiths, the storks and the scissors
Fabulous plants – stitched and real!
I was reminded of the last time we met at the museum for coffee and cake, during an exhibition of glorious stumpwork embroidery
Quite a day out!
We just had to get out of the house for the day…
A day full of twiggery!
I have to tell you about a day course I attended last week.
Hunting for stuff & chair wrangling
I intended to hunt for old flowerpots and I came away with a chair.
Quite a year in the garden
It seemed easier to have more slate and pebbles than lawn, but I was quite wrong.
A Snowdrop Walk
It was a glorious day and I have never seen such a carpet of snowdrops.
A Dyeing Garden in Holland
We spent a full day at Floriade, a once-in-a-decade garden festival.
Looking back to the festivities
I know that I am somewhat late to send you New Year blessings, but I will all the same.
Now, about my owl…
Earlier this year and I was surprised to meet Helena, The Surrey Stuffer.
A funny little corner…
There it was, just the thing I needed – The Tree of Life in rusty metal.
Why Pinks Barn?
Our barn and attached cottage were converted to a more useable space and became a well-known restaurant called Pinks here in the Cotswolds.
New home, new baby…
My grandson Felix has just become a big brother and is very proud of the fact.
Stitching our way around Holland
I thought that the Netherlands were simply lovely – so calm, clean and quite magical.
Gorgeous linen threads
I spent a wonderful evening with Tanja and was completely spell bound by the charts and threads.
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