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.
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.
Looking forward
It was difficult to keep my spirits up until the other morning when we woke to a good covering of snow.
Really Grumpy Greenoff
I walked the garden and as I did, my mood improved and before I knew it, I was smiling.
Defrosting pots again this year?
During the turn out of the greenhouse I discovered dwarf narcissi, allium and a few tulip bulbs still in their packs.
The January economy drive
Here I am again with a smaller budget this month than I should have after all the festive excess
Sort of gardening
What is it about compost that makes go simply everywhere in spite of care being taken?
Today is the beginning of Christmas…
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.
The poppy field
I do not suppose that there is another common flower that has become such an emotional symbol as the poppy
Goodbye to an old friend…
When I needed to light the pilot light, I had to lie on the kitchen floor, unscrew the front plate and light the flame with a long match.
Inspiration in the bluebell woods
It is regular haunt of ours, not just in the bluebell season but all year around.
Jolly Nice Farm Shop
This farm shop is nothing like I have ever met before
Glorious gold-plated needles!
No one in the UK could sell me gold-plated needles, so I took it upon myself to find my own gold plater.
Visiting France & beginning our travels
I took quite a risk marrying this man – he had no passport, and did not see the need to travel anywhere…
My Catherine Archer Sampler
Catherine’s original sampler was worked over one thread of the fabric – equivalent to 45 stitches to the inch!
And down came the trellis
Over the last week, Bill and I have tidied up after the chaos. My reward was a visit to Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants.
Don’t you just love vintage linens?
I always talk about how long linen will last – remember there was embroidered linen in the tombs of the pharaohs.
Inspired by lakes & mountains
I suppose it was reading Heidi as a girl that started my fascination for mountains.
Love to be beside the seaside
Bill and I wandered around the shingle nearby and marveled at Jarman’s passion for growing things in such a hostile environment.
Dahlias, dahlias everywhere!
It didn’t take me long to realise that I had all the inspiration I could possibly need at home.
The excitement of an auction
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.
Becoming an author
I cannot describe the puffed-out chest and butterflies when my first book was published.
Surrounded by silks
And so it was that 1500 skeins of delicious silks arrived at my door and I began to plan what to do with them.
Buying my first antique sampler
“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 – vintage & modern
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.
The making of ‘The Thread Thief’
When I discovered the nest, I was thrilled and now always leave little bits of thread near or on the bird table.
Special linens for sale
“Oh, my word! The quality and the designs of the Italian linens was simply out of this world!”