Design Board Monday #27 - Easter Weekend Stitching

First of all.....I hope everyone is having a very Happy Easter....My Farmer and I are not able to spend it with any family members this year but I have enjoyed the time by doing some stitching projects and making this Easter Message to share with all my family & friends.

I mentioned in my last post, on Friday, that I had started a new crochet project so maybe it is time to share it.  I bought some chunky wool a couple of weeks ago with the intention of crocheting a snuggle blanket for myself this Winter.  When I got it home, I realised that I needed a bigger crochet hook than any I had in my collection.  No problem....next time I went into town, it would be on my shopping list........mmmm...now I did pick up a bigger hook and I also happened to walk past a display of yarns...and what do you know?....a couple of them jumped into my basket as well!

I have used them and started on a different pattern than I had planned for the first chunky wool (it's not as chunky) and I have also discovered something.....I am much more suited to crocheting in a continuous row by row rather than squares that get joined together.

I started this on Friday evening and just can't put it down, even though my arm aches and my fingers feel battered.....I have successfully changed colour and love how the pattern is coming along. HERE is the pattern that I am using. By the time I got to rows 7 & 8 I didn't need to see the pattern anymore as it is imprinted to my brain. I think this is certainly one I can manage to finish!

With the crochet being high on my agenda this week.....I have not done very much stitching. I finished block 4 of Flowerville and have started on Block 5.

What do you have to share for this week?

• Link will be open until Sunday 3.4.2016.
• Link anything that you are working on this week or over the past week....needle and thread is all it takes.
• Please add a link back to Bits 'n Bobs as part of your post (why not get the button code from the side bar to paste into your post). This will help your readers finding the Link Up if they want to participate as well.
• Please make the effort to visit other link users and leave them a comment. Leaving me a comment after linking up will help me know that you have been by and linked up. 
• Other Link Parties are more than welcome to link up too!

I am also linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching, Main Crush Monday & Monday Making...head on over and see who else is Linking there.

A Royal Collection

Last night I watched "The King's Speech" on tv while crocheting a new project. I just loved it and...well...who doesn't love Colin Firth?!

with a little bit of crimping I reckon I could of pulled off playing Colin's leading lady! No?

One scene in the film depicts the young Princesses, Elizabeth  and Margaret, with a collection of toy ponies and it got me thinking about my recent visit to Windsor Castle.

I have been lucky enough to visit Windsor Castle once or twice in my lifetime...the first time was many years ago and I may have been in my early teens. I remember viewing Queen Mary's Dolls House and being absolutely fascinated by it.  The second time I visited the castle was in August 2013 with my son Red, but we were on a time restricted bus tour and only went inside the State Rooms....which are spectacular btw!

I really wanted to see that Doll's House again so when Miss M and I were visiting London this year, I suggested we head to Windsor and take a tour through the Castle. No photography is allowed inside the castle exhibitions so I have had to borrow a few from the internet....I am also including an awesome link to a site that lets you virtually explore the Doll House for yourself.....Explore Queen Mary's Dollhouse

The Queen Mary who the Doll House was designed for is, of course, Queen Elizabeth's Grandmother and consort to King George V. The house was made for her in 1924 and since she was born in 1867, I am assuming it was for display purposes only. 

Here is what you see when you enter the exhibition....it is very dimly light so you have to adjust your eyesight before exploring.  The Dollhouse is encased in glass and you can only go one way around it and unable to go around for a second look (unless you enter again from the beginning). I so wanted to just stand and look at every little detail but, despite it being the 'slow season', there were other people waiting for their turn.  It is quite amazing and the detail is just mind blowing.

 The next part of the exhibition is a beautiful pair of dolls with the most enviable  wardrobe you have ever seen. The detail in the clothes, shoes, gloves and accessories are beautifully created. The dolls belonged to the Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret when they were young girls. I wonder though...did they ever get to play with them...or where they just for display too.

To see a more detailed blog post about these dolls, their clothes, accessories (a great photo is included of their shoes) and even a photo of the car that accompanied them.  The post is in English and it has obviously been translated (from French, I think) but it is very interesting. Click HERE

This is what the exhibition looks like at Windsor Castle....there is no credit line for who took these photo's....I guess they may not want anyone to know they disobeyed the rules.

A couple of things I learnt from the movie: a) A question which I have often wondered: Why was Prince Albert "Bertie" known as King George VI? It turns out 'Albert' was too Germanic and at the time England was on the verge of war with Germany so he took his deceased father's name...his family still called him Bertie.
Guy Pearce does a really good job at putting on an upper crust English Accent...a few times I had to wonder if it really was him!

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Design Board Monday #26 - Cooler Weather

There are quite a few signs this week that Autumn is here and Winter is on it's way:

1. The weather has cooled significantly,
2. The leaves on the Poplar tree in the front yard are turning yellow,
3. The Scarlet Robins have made an appearance,
4. Snuggly balls of yarn are turning up....everywhere I shop.

I was in Hobart during the week for a very important date....it was my birthday and my nearest and deartest took me to the movies to see Maggie Smith in "The Lady in the Van"....in Gold Class, no less! Afterwards, on our way back to the car, I wanted to drop into the 'Reject Shop' (for those not in the know, it is a $1 shop) to buy some more micro-fibre cloths to back some bibs. While there I noticed the gigantic balls of chunky yarn and without thinking too long, I grabbed a few different colours.

I really would of loved to start crocheting a blanket I have pinned, but alas, I didn't have the right size crochet needle! There is always something, isn't there? I also bought some cuddly soft balls of chenille baby yarn but trying it out, it's obvious I will have to use knitting needles for that project as the crochet stitches are too hard to see.

In the meantime, I will have to stick to my stitching! I have achieved quite a bit while watching "Vikings" S3.....I do have to keep stopping to read subtitles!

What do you have to share for this week?

• Link will be open until Sunday 27.3.2016.
• Link anything that you are working on this week or over the past week....needle and thread is all it takes.
• Please add a link back to Bits 'n Bobs as part of your post (why not get the button code from the side bar to paste into your post). This will help your readers finding the Link Up if they want to participate as well.
• Please make the effort to visit other link users and leave them a comment. Leaving me a comment after linking up will help me know that you have been by and linked up. 
• Other Link Parties are more than welcome to link up too!

Today I am linking up with Main Crush Monday, Monday Making and Stitchery Link Party....why not go and check these links out as well.

In Search of....Battle

Have I mentioned that this year marks the 950th anniversary since the Battle of Hastings by William the Conqueror? That was the primary reason I thought it would be a good chance to visit East Sussex.  Until I researched 1066 Country, I had no idea that the battle was not in a field just outside Hastings, instead, it is in a small town of Battle which is about 6 miles (almost 10km's) outside of Hastings. 

When William was victorious on the battlefield, he was requisitioned by the Pope, to build an Abbey on the site of the battle as a memorial to all the bloodshed.  It is thought that the high alter was placed on the very spot that King Harold fell. The small town of Battle grew around the Abbey and is in itself a lovely place to visit.

Not much is left from the original structure and the current gatehouse, that dominates the town, was built in the 14th century. The Abbey was closed while we were around but I was still determined to visit the battleground.....if possible. Our first exploration took us along the High Street while following the Abbey wall.

We found a town map a little further along the road just as it started to rain.  A quick look at the map showed it was quite a hike around the site of the Abbey to find the battlefield so we decided to pick another route the following morning....weather permitting!

And so, after spending the night in Battle, we woke up to a very frosty morning and set out to find the Battlefield. We headed towards a cross country path that leads to Pevensey and followed the path around the Abbey grounds.

The path was very muddy and slippery and probably only suited to gum boots but since we didn't have any, we trod very carefully. The lovely scenery and crisp, fresh air made it all worthwhile.

And then we came across this big open field and I estimated that we were approximately just above the knight's standard in the map above.......so this had to be the Hastings Battlefield!

Or not!....it looks right if I compare with the map above but if I compare our movements to Google Maps, it looks like we were way off course.....

Oh well! we had a lovely country walk, took some lovely photos and all in all our stay in Battle was very enjoyable....there are some lovely shops and places to eat....we also enjoyed our stay at The George Hotel, a 300 year old former coaching Inn, right on the High Street.

I took this photo straight out from our bedroom window.

Pottering Around

I am having a little bit of a "pottering around day" today. It is a public holiday here in Tasmania so I decided to tidy up my potting area....and then got into the zone and decided to 'move it' to a more suitable spot. Somewhere easier to store my pots, tools, bulbs, seeds and potting mix.

By the time I had sorted all this out, I came in and was amazed that it was after 2pm already...where does time go when you are having fun?!

On the sewing scene....I have bought some little velcro dots so I can make some more baby bibs for young PJ....I even got as far as cutting out the fabric but then got sidetracked on a blog that I was writing on Cath@Home. Here is the lil' man on his quilt I made him sporting the bib I already made. Believe me, he is so adorable with a sweet smile that lights up his face and creates dimples next to his mouth, but he is not my baby to share publicly so I have had to blur parts of it.

 Here are the other fabrics I am going to use.....and the velcro dots....I just had to fb him a message (which his mummy read out to him) with this picture to let him know I was onto it.

 

 I don't think I will be appliqueing on them like the fox one so they should be done in a day.
 

I have also been stitching my Flowerville Block

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Design Board Monday #25 - The Winner is....

Hello? Oh....I am supposed to announce a winner for the Link Up Giveaway!

8 people linked up and random number generator picked out #4....the second part of the selection was to make sure the participant had linked back to Monday Design Board and......yes, she did!

 

Kelli from Seriously...I think it needs Stitches is the winner of the Kath Kidston buttons and the Pretty Zippered Pouch kit. Well done Kelli, please email me your postal address and I will send off to you asap....cathquilts(at)gmail(dot)com

What do you have to share for this week?

•  Link will be open until Sunday 20.3.2016.
• Link anything that you are working on this week or over the past week....needle and thread is all it takes.
• Please add a link back to Bits 'n Bobs as part of your post (why not get the button code from the side bar to paste into your post). This will help your readers finding the Link Up if they want to participate as well.
• Please make the effort to visit other link users and leave them a comment. Leaving me a comment after linking up will help me know that you have been by and linked up. 
• Other Link Parties are more than welcome to link up too!

Move to the Country - East Sussex Edition

Christine sent me a comment saying that my post about the Mermaid Inn made her think of that show from the UK called "Move Escape to the Country". Tell me you know it? They find someone who wants to make a lifestyle change and live in the country then find them a few properties within (mostly) their budget and in consideration of other aspects on the wish list. I have a few of my own properties for you to look at and see if you want to Move to the Country!

First....in the lovely historic village of Robertsbridge. This lovely terraced row is situated off the High Street on Fair Lane and is in walking distance to schools, convenience store, two florists and Robertsbridge even has it's own train station.  Beware though, this village is so laid back, even the Boots Chemist closes up for an hour at lunch time! Nearby attractions include Bodiam Castle, Bede Forest and Battle Abbey.

 If this aspect is too quiet for you, and you prefer to be where the action is and twitching your front room curtains to peek out onto the High Street for some action....any action, then any of these lovely residences could be right up your.....er.....street.

 I love THAT yellow door and the great example of the use of bricks and Tudor (the herringbone pattern is real artistry) while that Tudor at the bottom would look fabulous in Summer when those climbing roses are blooming.


Second.....I'd like to show you my favourite property in Pevensey. It is on the High Street within a stones throw (not that you should throw stones!) of the Roman walls that encircle Pevensey Castle. Pevensey is a really lovely spot....you could walk your dogs on the common within the Roman Wall or walk to several quaint spots for a feed and/or a pint. The minute I spotted this house, I wanted to move in....so maybe I.....shouldn't...be...showing...you! There was a lovely big yard beside this house and I spied some lovely old trees and a huge greenhouse, or was it a potting shed....anyway, it was more than meets the eye. Just imagine it when that Wisteria vine is in bloom!

Just a little down the road and across the street, opposite the post office were these darling little Tudor cottages. The first one caught my eye because the walls were so irregular and the windows looked like they were about to pop out.  This is characteristic of original Tudor buildings as the timber frames were cut by hand rather than machinery. However it has made it this far and the only drawback I can find is remembering to duck when using the front door of the second cottage. There was also a huge walled garden between the two.

 If none of these tick your boxes then it's on to the Third option.  I have a few more from the cobbled streets of Rye to run past you. Who could resist the chance to live in picturesque Rye?

 This pretty little house, just opposite St Mary's Church is slightly set back from the lane and  has space to create a front garden. It already has a beautiful tree to add to the special feel of this home.

Further down the lane is this glorious stone terrace house. The windows are a very attractive diamond lead lighted lattice design and just look at that dormer window in the attic.

Right next door is this curious little house and although it has an interesting lead lighted front door, it is still one of those squat little Tudor doorways....mind your head!

This rickety little house on The Mint (so well known in the area, it doesn't need a 'st' or 'rd' or even Lane after it) has a rather unusual feature.....your very own rooftop garden.....yes that is more than moss growing up there....it is a patch of lawn.

I would love to know which of these were your favourite if you had a chance to "Move to The Country".

There is quite a selection of houses for you to pick and choose and I didn't even include most of the Tudor houses that I saw.....that is for another post with some historic facts included.

*This post is meant in jest and of course, none of these houses are for sale at the present.....as far as I know*
 

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