Devonhouse Recollections

A FAMILY MILESTONE

2012-01-16T12:54:00.000+11:30

Last week I attended a 40 year reunion for a class I taught in my earliest years on Norfolk Island. Such events always make you reflect on how quickly the years have passed. But I was not quite prepared for the comment from one former pupil who had lived away from the island since leaving school, and had returned for the occasion,

"I didn't think you would still be with us" she told me bluntly/ Well that makes you feel OLD! And so does having the first of your offspring turn 40!!!!

Miriam, who is the only one of our five kids to live away from Norfolk Island, was very keen to have a big island style celebration for this special occasion. Fortunately her birthday is just a couple of weeks after Christmas, so it was a great time to have a party while she and the girls were over on their Christmas visit, and everyone was still in a holiday mood!

Above is a picture of Miriam with Sarah and Emily, and the love of her life Tony, who was on his first visit to Norfolk Island. In the background is our son John, preparing for a big Fish Fry, which was to be part of the catering and festivities.

In fact, everyone pitched in to help get ready and make sure it was a great occasion.

The girls and their friends blew up hundreds of balloons to make this grand arch.

Charles and his offsiders put fairy lights through the trees.

Miriam wanted a Tropical Island theme, and everyone came dressed for the part.

Charles even found a Mother Hubbard dress that was made for Kim by friends when they were in Vanuatu.

We put citronella flares and lanterns all about in case the mozzies gatecrashed the party.

There were welcoming jelly shots as people arrived.

And we killed the fatted pig - two in fact, generously provided by Peter from Simon's Water, and competently carved by Jamie.

There were loads of other dishes too...

John's Tahitian fish was popular - every last morsel was eaten! But apart from that, there was enough food left over for every single guest to take home a big doggy bag. But everyone was so full, they could not be persuaded to do that!

The guys always like to congregate around the fish fry, just as they do for a barbecue.

It really was a feast - and that was before we started on the sweets and the cake!

Then it was time to bring on the dancing girls!

I have no idea how they managed to persude the usually reticent Peter to join in - too many jelly shots, perhaps?

Darls was a great DJ,.

The kids all took to the "dance floor" and had an amazing time.

Miriam enjoyed catching up with rellies and friends...

And we even managed a family photo or two - although it took a bit of effort. I think this is the first time in the history of our family we have been able to get the kids to more or less co-operate! They musy be getting more mature!

Tina took lots of photos for us, and I am looking forward to seeing hers!

Later in the evening, the KAVA bar was in action - set up by Charles, with Ernie doing the ceremonial honours.

The next day it was just a lovely memory - and leftovers!!!

CHRISTMAS AT SOUL GALLERY

2011-12-30T11:08:00.001+11:30

Soul Gallery is a co-operative venture showcasing and selling a wide range of beautiful arts and crafts, all designed, created and produced right here on Norfolk Island. "Soul" opened a few months ago, and since that time, the range of creations has increased considerably. It is a wonderful opportunity for both locals and visitors to obtain items that have a distinct and authentic Norfolk flavour.

Here, standing outside Soul Gallery, are Louise and my niece Tina, who are two of the original members of the co-operative, and who both work very hard to ensure that things run smoothly and successfully.

There is a large range of items available - paintings, prints and photos, cards, weaving, textiles, jewellery, clothing, toys, carvings... and much more. Tina does some beautiful decorative painting, and her marine studies are really striking.

Lou produces stunning photos which are put onto cards or canvas.

Although I am not a member of the co-operative, I was invited to put items into the Gallery. I have really enjoyed the feedback, as well as the "pocket money" which enables me to purchase more supplies for my creative endeavours. The low table below holds some of my creations - felted apples, eyeglass cases, market bags,and hanging above-amulet purses. Draped over the chair are knitted shawls made by my sister in Sydney. Who would have thought we would both have things on display in the same place at this stage of our lives???

I managed to produce a number of special items just for Christmas, including Christmas stockings in a range of sizes and fabric gift tags.

Many of the things I made were hung on a Christmas tree, including little decorative bags, felt hearts, mini-stockings and doves, and more Victorian-style Christmas tags.

Unfortunately I did not seem to have my camera on the right setting when I took these pictures - it refuses to do ALL my thinking for me - and these pictures are a bit fuzzy.

The small stockings, in a more classic and romantic style, proved very popular, but most of the more modern and funky ones remained unsold. I must remember next year that there is no need to depart from my instinctive and natural choice of materials and style.

These are the amulet purses, hanging among Tina's floral swags.They are made of silk, with silk ribbon embroidery. I loved making these.

A basket of my felted wool apple pincushions. These are a steady seller, and I try to keep a good supply on hand.

Some of my other Crazy Patchwork bags and spectacle cases.

Suzanne, another member of the Co-operative, makes these lovely little peg doll angels, Polynesian style.

There was a little Norfolk Pine Christmas tree decorated with Suzanne's creations and ornaments.

If you are on Norfolk, do visit Soul Gallery. You will be delighted by what you discover there!

CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPING

2011-12-28T11:14:00.001+11:30

We had a most womderful gift of rain this Christmas. Several inches, in fact. Everyone on Norfolk gave thanks!!

We had several friends and family around for a big buffett on Boxing Day, and afterwards, the skies cleared a little. The children were in high spirits, and the mud and puddles looked so enticing. How could we say NO??

Nate and Jasper looked like a couple of woodland elves - or are they water nymphs?

While we are unfettered by clothing, how about riding the bike?

Let's get rid of these wet things!

Now we will go inside - they are ready for Round 2 of Present unwrapping!

This is the life!

The older kids had been enjoying the puddles too, but were feeling a little more inhibited, and wrapped towels around themselves once inside.

But once they began to enjoy their gifts, the wrappings slipped away.

3D glasses are all I need to wear.

Actually, getting about like this is fun!! But I am unaware of the fact that this picture will be trotted out at my 21st!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

2011-12-10T10:20:00.000+11:30

I have probably told you before that Christmas stockings and bags are my favourite sewing projects. So when Celia asked me to make stockings for her two youngest grandchildren I was only too happy to oblige. The six older grandchildren had stockings made for them by Louise M some years ago, so these two needed to be a similar size and shape. They are a little larger than I usually make them, and generous enough to hold plenty of presents!!

The first one was for Jacqui and David's little girl Amber, who is two (I think?) For this one I used some Debbie Mumm motifs that I have had for some years - just waiting for the perfect project. These were embellished with buttons and beads, and I used a doiley for the toe and heel.

The second one is for Holly, who is Simon and Louise's youngest. For this one I used crazy patchwork, with embroidery, lace, buttons and beads.

You cannot get a better name than "Holly" for Christmas, can you?

Sorry, this last picture is a bit fuzzy...

LET'S GO FLY A KITE

2011-12-01T12:17:00.001+11:30

Our Community Arts Society recently held a Kite Making workshop.The venue was the creative arts area up at the school, in the building that is still known as "The Bean Shed."

It was great fun for young and old.

Visiting tutors were on hand to help out.

I did not know that coloured garbage bags like these were available!

The design was a simple one and easily achievable.

Some of them were tested outside in the school grounds.

This little fellow was going to be sorry he had slept through it all!

The next wekend, I had a phone call from Charles: "Mum, come down to Kingston and see all the kites flying!"

What a wonderful sight!

Now all this reminded me of a time about 35 years ago. A somewhat eccentric acquaintance of Bernie's and Mick's from their New Guinea Days came to stay. His name was Don Marsh, but he insisted the children call him "Donald Duck." While he was here he spent a great deal of time with the kids, drawing pictures and taking them off on adventures. He was surprised that Miriam and Charles could walk so far, as they only 3 and 4 years old at the time.

One day he decided to make a kite. We got hold of some fine bamboo and some newspaper (which was, I might add, a reasonably rare commodity on the island then.)
I was kept busy making four and hot water paste. This was the result. It was enormous!

I recall the day it was flown. Bernie and I were at Rawson Hall, where there was a class being held for horseriders. Bernie was in the class, and all the horses were lined up in a row. All of a sudden, they all got very jumpy. We saw this enormous kite coming into the grounds, held aloft by "Donald Duck" , with Miriam trailing behind holding the tail. They flew the kite at the rear of the Rawson Hall grounds, disconcerting the horses considerably. It crashed and was damaged beyond repair on its first flight - but everyone was still happy!

2011-11-12T11:47:00.000+11:30

The QuiltNorfolk ladies have been at it again. They organised another very successful "Quilt Getaway" on Norfolk Island. Quilters came from both Australia and New Zealand to enjoy a variety of quilting workshops, as well as experiencing all the other delights that Norfolk Island has to offer.

Although I was unable to take part, I was able to visit a couple of the workshop sessions out at the Parish Centre.

On the Monday and Tuesday, there was a workshop using Jelly Rolls, with a visiting tutor from Tauranga in New Zealand.

On the Wednesday and Friday, the same tutor guided the participants in making a "Kaleidoscope" quilt.

There was a lot of "playing and working" going on, interspersed by the need to make important decisions about "what goes with what.."

Everyone admired the results, and they were all so different!

On the Thursday, there was an exhibition in Maria's Restaurant at the Hillcrest Hotel, and lots of Norfolkers took the opportunity to come and look...

I really liked this "shabby chic" quilt below. In fact, as I stood there admiring it, a number of people came up and said that they had lots of doileys like that at home, which they never used. I thought if I stayed there long enough asking them to think of me before they discarded them, I might acquire quite a collection!!! But hopefully many were inspired enough to make use of them in a similar way!

I really must find out more about this Cathedral Window variation!

A lovely leafy quilt in zingy colours.

This one was made by our local headmaster's wife......I have always loved scrap quilts using simple squares and resolved to get out my soft florals again.

Even the menfolk enjoyed the display.

Believe it or not, this in-progress kaleidoscope quilt started out with a print of hydrangeas.

I was often tempted when I saw the pattern for this Cat quilt advertised. It was lovely to see the finished result. It won the Viewers' Choice award.

I hope the QuiltNorfolk committee was pleased with this year's event, and that they are busy planning the next one!

HALLOWE'EN HO - HUM

2011-11-02T14:04:00.000+11:30

As regular followers of this blog will know, Hallowe'en has been a BIG EVENT at Devon for the past few years. I never encouraged my kids to go trick or treating when they were young, and I was a little disconcerted when Kim and Charles put out the welcome and invitation signs at our cattle stop. But I need not have worried. It was great to have the kids come, and feel welcomed. And each year, Kim and Charles and the helpers from Charles' shed put on a bigger and better entertainment for the kids. One year it was a VERY haunted house, then there was the Haunted Wood. Last year we had the incredible Haunted Maze, which took about a fortnight to erect!!!

This year, however, they decided to have a break, let others do the entertaining, and to take 4 year old William Trick or Treating.....

Here are the two scary pirates...

Joined by the Wicked Devil Lady!

See - this is what we look like...are we scary enough??

Nate is not into Hallowe'en yet, and it was decided he would stay with us.

We expected we would still get a lot of callers, and these were the first - and, I am sorry to say, the last. I had stocked up on lots of lollies. but when I started to hand them out, one kid said "Is that all?" and most forgot to say thank you - and some of them had not even bothered to dress up, altho' those who had looked great, as you can see!!! I guess they were a bit nervous too, but I felt a little cheesed off, and Nate was tired and crying...... Actually, I had had a long tiring day...

So I turned off the lights at the front of the house, drew the curtains and sang Nate peacefully to sleep .

I am sure we will be ready for a better Hallowe'en next year, and William did enjoy his trick or treating (even though he does not really care for lollies.)
Meanwhile Kim and Charles are planning a BIG Christmas light Show for December, and everyone will descend on Devon again, which will be nice.

GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL

2011-10-24T11:01:00.000+11:30

Now Norfolk Island is hundreds of miles from anywhere. It is the ultimate in "getting away from it all." And that is how we like it. We do not feel in the least bit isolated. Everyone else is isolated from us!!

Nevertheless, on those occasions when we feel we are building up a bit of stress around us, we do need our own version of "getting away from it all" and we head out to "Captain Cook"

"Captain Cook", which is short for "Captain Cook's Monument", is a beautiful clifftop location at the NNE of our island. It is about as far as you can go on this island, albeit no more than ten minutes' drive away from almost anywhere here. It is the place where a monument was placed back in the fifties, because it was thought it was the nearest point to where Captain Cook landed back in 1774.

It is a most scenic spot, with glorious coastal views in all directions.

The monument is at the end of what must be one of the world's most beautiful Bridle tracks - used more for walking than riding nowadays.

In recent years, Parks and Wildlife have managed the area, and have greatly beautified the area and enhanced the visitor experience.

Cattle have been kept out, and there have been massive plantings of natives and endemic species.

There are beautiful boardwalks and viewing platforms, with interpretive signs.

Sometimes you are lucky enough to see turtles in these crystal clear waters below. And on more than one occasion I have seen pods of whales passing by in the season.

This sign shows where it is believed Cook and his crew landed, near a place called "The Cord." The Cord is a popular fishing spot, but only for those adventurous enough to negotiate the cliff climb.

The scene changes dramatically through the day, depending on the position of the sun.

Even the upgraded and beautifully maintained toilets add to the visitor experience!

All in all, it is a beautiful place to just sit and feel the peace and ambience.

The more energetic are able to explore the tracks, to see the views from different angles, and experience the rainforest atmosphere and the birdlife.

This picture below takes me back to the early seventies, when access to Captain Cook was little more than a more-or-less driveable track. In 1974, when the Queen was to visit for our Captain Cook Bicentenary, the joke that buzzed around the island was that they were planning to tarseal the Captain Cook road so that they could take her Majesty out there. At that time, we had many roads which had not been tarsealed, and the very idea of tarsealing this one was quite laughable.
But look at it today!
There is even some kerbing and guttering, something that very few other Norfolk roads enjoy.

Now just a few days after our last visit to "Captain Cook" we went to a function/dinner at "Bedrock", a private property just along the cliff, slightly to the north of the Cord and Cook's supposed landing place.

This is the view from the south...

And here is the same stunning view from "Bedrock."

We count our blessings every day , and say thank you to the good Lord that we live on such a stunningly beautiful island!

SHOWTIME

2011-10-15T11:54:00.001+11:30

Last Monday was one of Norfolk's best annual events - our Agricultural and Horticultural Society's Show!
The island has been somewhat dispirited of late for political and financial reasons.
But as you will see, everyone came out sparkling on Show Day, to demonstrate what a clever and creative community we are, and what a strong spirit of participation we enjoy.
I will mostly just show you some of the pics - I wish I could include more!!

The Equestrian and Equitation (look it up) events had actually been taking place all weekend, but on the actual day we showcase the kids. Both horses and kids were beautifully groomed for the occasion. Our visiting judge, who has many years of experience all over Australia, reckoned our kids were tops in both skill and attitude!

This is the only livestock that came to the Show (apart from the horses and chooks) - most are judged on the properties. Not only did this blackfaced lamb prove a great attraction for the kids, but his cage was great for climbing!

The old Lions Club merry-go-round got its annual airing...

And our much valued community volunteers were all present....Fire, Volunteer Rescue and St John's Ambulance. Well done guys!!

There were plenty of attractions for the kids and kids at heart - showbags, Fairy Floss

And the big inflatable Slippery Slide...

The chooks are always popular.

Here is one of the handsome cockerels, for which our island is well known...

And some very pretty pairs of hens...

We had some entertainment on the verandah just before the Official Opening. That is our local G.P. on the bagpipes!

The displays in the hall were just wonderful. I usually judge the Needlework, but took a break this year. Barb, who replaced me, had an unenviably difficult job, Who said that knitting was a lost art?

Lovely tapestries and cross stitch.....

And a number of very lovely quilts. You want to give them all prizes!

It has not been a good season for fruits, but you would not know it from these displays! They are all locally grown.

Lovely collections of flowers

Our island pies never disappoint. Norfolk cooks take great pride in these.

Beautiful plum puddings...

A group of nurses from the hospital combined to produce some great entries, including these stunning cakes.

There were plenty of great handcrafts, including this cow, who is a mascot for "QuiltNorfolk."

Look at this stunning fruit and vegetable sculpture!

These are some of the children's entries in the sandposy section.

I always love these clever floral displays.

What a wonderful display of local produce!

This won the prize for the biggest yam.

The photography did not disappoint. Norfolk not only has some great photographers, but also has some very photogenic people living here...

Our beautiful island hibiscus make great photographic subjects.

As does our stunning scenery.

The Dog Obedience Session is always very popular...

A couple of days after the Show, the Committee and Friends always gather together for a special Show Dinner. There are the inevitable post-mortems, but they are always totally positive. We all agree that it is very satisfying and rewarding to be able to showcase our beautiful island and the skills of our people!

GIFTS FROM HOME AND ABROAD

2011-10-06T14:16:00.000+11:30

Just this last week, I have found myself apologising to three separate people for things that I have forgotten, overlooked, or been late for because of my absent mindedness. That is the thing about getting older. You may not have the oomph and energy for sins of "commission" (those things I ought not to have done") but the sins of omission start to multiply in a frightening way!

Still, hopefully I am forgiven by those whom I have neglected, and perhaps I can look forward to the time when I am not even aware of my failings, and kid myself I have a pure and clear conscience! But I hope to stay on good terms with all around me!

Meanwhile, I have constant reminders of people's kindness.

Holly, in Western Australia, sent me a lovely package via her daughter Candy, who was here visiting her brother Steve and sister-in-law Sandy.

Now Holly has been an inspiration to me (and thousands of others) long before I met her in person. When we did finally meet, the encounter is one I credit for liberating my creative muse, and daring to try all sorts of new things and techniques.

Holly has been "into" her own version of "scrumbling" in recent years, and here is the bag she sent me.

Candy tells me that if you sit looking idle for five minutes, Holly will give you some yarn and knitting needles, and you will be ordered to knot a triangle. These are joined together using shadecloth for a backing, and they are then embellished with all sorts of wonderful braids, ribbons, beads, buttons etc.

Here are some little embroidered felt balls, that lend themselves to all sorts of purposes. It was Holly who first taught me to handfelt, and I really bless her for it.

A dear little camel, decorative, but also useful as a pincushion. The twisted cords remind me of Holly's late husband John. I have these visions of him producing miles and miles of twisted cords for Holly, using an electric drill and lengths of wool obtained from carpet manufacturers. Greater love hath no man!

Holly does not waste anything. Old cards provide covers for "letter books" and old calenders and magazines are sewn into useful bags and holders.

Around the same time, I experienced another example of generosity. From time to time, when I feel like indulging myself, I will pop into a local store that sells table linens from Asia. I may buy a doiley or two that I can "de-construct" to provide embellishments for my bags etc. On this occasion, I found a battenburg lace doiley/traycloth that was marked down because of a fault in the stitching. I said it did not matter because I would be cutting it apart anyway.
As I left the store, the owner, Karina, came running after me with a package. It was a whole tablecloth and six doilies, that were shopsoiled.

Look at all the lovely battenburg lace I got from it!

This is a tissue box cover I deconstructed.....

And a placemat, that yielded some lovely curvy shapes.

As you can see, I may not have left this little island for six years, but that has not stopped me adding to my stash faster than I can use it!

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS

2011-09-29T16:44:00.000+11:30

On Thursdsay evenng last week, we gathered at Mahana for a special celebration for the 60th wedding anniversary of Norma (Bernie's sister) and Ormond,

Because the original wedding reception had taken place at this lovely home all those years ago, it was important to take more pictures on the steps where the original ones had been taken.

Mahana belonged to Bernie and Norma's Auntie Edie and her husband Wilf Randall. It now belongs to Sue, Norma's daughter) and Basil (Edie and Wilf's son.) Sue and Basil are second cousins.

Only one member of the original party is missing - that is Ruth who was ill in hospital. I missed getting a picture of Maud, who had helped with the catering for 300 people at the wedding back in 1951.

And here is the happy couple, still very fit and living an active life.

And here are most of Norma and Orm's descendants, several of whom came back to the island for the occasion.

I could not resist this shot of the photographers, especially as it shows Mahana's beautiful grounds.

After he photographs, we went on to "Hilli's" restaurant, where we were greeted with a fglass of bubbly.

Here are the three siblings - Bernie, Norma and Lennie. Sadly Mick died four years ago.

And here Norma and Orm's lovely grandson Pete shows them some of his pictures of the occasion.

It was a diamond night!!!

Now below is a picture of many of the family and friends was they prepared to travel to Norfolk Island for the wedding all those years ago. That is the bride and groom in the centre. At that time, much of the family were living off the island, but it was important to "go home" for their special day.

HIGH TEA

2011-09-21T09:40:00.000+11:30

It was time for Tina's annual Hgh Tea, and I offered Devon as a venue, as my sister Sally would be here (she is Tina's mum.)

Kim got busy early in the morning with the decorating. She had a great inspiration to use all the old copper pots, which got a long overdue polish up for the occasion.

Out came the lace tablecloths (of which I have far too many), and I arranged Phillip Island Hibisus and Nandina around the pots.

The frosted fruits came out for an airing....

Even the barbecue was decorated.

Had to put a few of my felt apples out on display.

Out came the pretty china

And also a fresh lime-ade - but the girls mostly preferred to let their hair down with the bubbly!

Everyone brought something, and the food was quite incredible!

A few babysitting arrangements had fallen through, so we had babies and kids joining in the fun. They had a real ball, and were so well-behaved.

This is Nate's technique for carrying his food about while he is crawling!

Oops! Someone forgot to put the blower away.

The kids took their food and drink to their picnic blanket.

The tea trolley held a few little gifts.

The children gravitated to the woodland, where they devised some wonderful make-believe games.

Here, Liam is fanning the king and queen!

The invitation had said 2 - 5, but it was such a beautiful afternoon that no one wanted to go home, even when it started to get just a little chilly.

So out came Tina's collection of shawls and wraps, mostly knitted by her Mum.

It was a lovely memorable occasion.

And by the way, it was Tina's birthday. And we also celebrated the special days of the other September girls - Sally and Sienna.

SEE HOW THEY GROW

2011-09-09T14:58:00.000+11:30

We are so fortunate to live right next to ur grandsons, William and Nathaniel, usually known as Liam and Nate. Actually Nate is more often called "Chubba" nowadays, and I suspect that nickname will stick!

Last Saturday we minded the boys for a few hours while their Mum had her hair done and packed for their trip to NZ the next day. We decided to turn our bedroom into a playroom for the afternoon, and they both had great fun with the wooden and the Lego blocks.

Nate thinks his big brother is just wonderful, and loves to join in with him.

It is a bit frustrating for Liam when all his constructions come tumbling to the ground when his brothewr helps, but he is very good-natured about it.

Nate has a wonderful sense of humour and also has a very good nature.

He entertains himself so well, and has the natural curiosity of a one year old.

Liam also has a great sense of fun...

But he has some serious and thoughtful moments too!

The time really goes quickly when we mind the boys - they are so easy to get along with.

This week their Nanny and Poppy in New Zealand are enjoying their company in the flesh - but I am sure they will enjoy these pictures too.

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER

2011-08-27T12:51:00.001+11:30

The name of my blog is "Devonhouse Recollections", but it occurs to me that I have not been doing much recollecting lately. So I thought I would return to the house where I was born. As I was thinking about it, a poem kept going through my mind. At first I thought I was imagining it, but when I googled it, I found there is indeed a poem, written by Thomas Hood, which begins with

"I remember, I remenber

The housewhere I was born....

I have reproduced the first two stanzas at the end of this posting.

There is no doubt that the house where you spend your early childhood lays a great role in shaping your view of the world. My first home was 63 Sutherland Avenue, Welling, KENT, ENGLAND.

I lived there for the first seven years of my life.

This picture of the house was taken many years after we sold it and left, to move to Australia. It was taken by my sister when she paid a visit back to England some 35-40 years ago. On the street there is a wall where we once had a privet hedge, and I notice there is an extra set of front doors, as is now common in England to stop the cold air going into the hallway.
The bow window downstairs was our sitting room.It was not often used. I remember my grandfather lying in state there after his death, and I can remember us using it at Christmas time. At Election time. we actually rented it out to the local committee of one of the political parties!!!
The bow window upstairs was my parents' bedroom. The smaller window was the "box room" which my sister was later to adopt as her own, probably to get away from her pesky little sister, who continued to sleep in the larger bedroom to the rear, next to the bathroom at the top of the stairs. In British houses of this era (1930's) the stairwell is usually adjacent to the outside wall, providing an air pocket that insulates the other rooms.
Downstairs, behind the sitting room was our living room, where I recall spending most of our time, and next to it, behind the stairs was the kitchen. My only memory of that room was listening to "Mrs Dales' Diary" - a long running BBC serial - while my mother was preparing dinner.

My great niece Alyssa sent me a CD of some of my mother's old photos. Among them was this very faded old one of the living room.
I can remember that wallpaper frieze being pasted up. It was in the autumn colours popular at that time. I think the walls had just been treated with kalsomine. My parents had been doing some re-decorating. I have clear memories of the mantel clock and radio, and I am sure that picture above the radio is of my sister as a bridesmaid for our cousin's wedding. Everytime I looked at it, I felt very jealous that she had been given the opportunity to dress up in frilly pink satin!
Some books were kept in this corner too, including an old fashioned Home Health book, which had photgraph pictures of children just dressed in their knickers. I used to pore over that book.

Next to this shelf was the fireplace. Probably at the same time as the other decorating took place, the mantel and the surrounds were re-varnished by my mother. I was given the task of making "woodgrain" marks in the wet varnish, using an old comb. I also have memories of having my bath in a tin tub in front of that fire, when the cold weather, and my somewhat chronic bronchitis, made my parents reluctant to take me upstairs at night. And toast never tasted so good as it did when it was made on a long fork on the flmes of this coal fire.

I was born in this house. Here I am on that day in the arms of my paternal grandmother, with my grandfather, and my mother's sister Rose, who had travelled to our place to assist my mother.

The other person is my sister Sally, nearly five at the time. She declares to this day that the smile has only been forced for the camera, because when she was told there was a surprise for her, she had hoped it would be a puppy, not a baby sister!

The group is on the patio just outside the French doors leading from our living room. Behind them is a peach tree. That also sticks in my memory, because my father did himself some injury when he tried to remove it one time.

This next pic is of my father next to his mother.

And here is where I googled an overhead picture of that house last year!

Now this picture was not taken in our back garden, but that of an uncle and aunt who lived in Folkestone. My sister and I are on the far right, wearing the wrap-around plaits my mother used to love. I show it because behind us is a bomb shelter very much like the one in our garden, a stark reminder of the War which had only finished about 4 years before. We lived quite close to London. and my father was a member of the Home Guard. The bomb shelter was used on a numberof occasions!

The next two pictures were taken an official photographer, a Mr Winkle, who had his studio in the street behind us.

I can clearly remember the dresses we wore for this one. My mother had made them from a beautiful gold satin, and we felt like princesses, especially with our curls produced by having our hair wrapped up in rags the night before!

There are very few candid home-produced shots, But here is one of my sister and me in the garden. My sister is wearing the blazer and beret of the Chislehurst Grammar School, to which she had just graduated.

And here is one of me wearing a bonnet that my mother had made for me - and more wringlet curls! There are such lovely memories of summer days in that garden. Behind me is a lilac tree which I was allowed to call my own. My sister had an apple tree. There were gooseberries and blackcurrant bushes and a vegetable patch. We could see clearly over the fence on one side where the Bishton girls lived. On the other side lived my friend Heather, but I had to go to her front door if I wanted to see her.

The outings I remember best were those we made to the local swimming pool. As you can see, it was quite an elaborate complex, even in the 1940's.

We also lived near a rather large park, Danson Park, which had an old Manor House on it. We used to love the pond. One time, Trevor, the son of one of my mother's girlfriends on the Isle of Sheppey, came to stay with us, and we went to the pond in the pick to fish for tadpoles.

Once again note the homemade clothes, and the coat with the big hem to allow for growing.

I show this last photo because it was taken not long after we said goodbye to that house. We were migrating to Australia. While our parents completed the packing I was sent to Sheerness to stay with aunts, and then my mother and sister came to collect us to go and spend our last night at Plumstead with a great-uncle, before boarding the S.S. Mooltan at Tilbury.

One aunt is missing from this photo. Rose worked at a cafe in the town and could not get away. But I have a clear memory of her hand waving to us through the steam blowing out of the kitchen window as the coach passed by the cafe.

I Remember, I remember

by Thomas Hood

I remember, I remember

The house where I was born,

The little window where the sun

Came peeping in at morn;

He never came a wink too soon

Nor brought too long a day;

But now, I often wish the night

Had borne my breath away.

I remember, I remember

The roses red and white,

The violets and the lily cups--

Those flowers made of light!

The lilacs where the robin built,

And where my brother set

The laburnum on his birthday,--

The tree is living yet!

AUGUST CREATIONS

2011-08-12T11:24:00.000+11:30

I apologise to my friends in Bloggerland that I have not posted as regularly as I should just lately. But I have not really been shirking. I have managed a ferw beautiful hours at my sewing machine, plus more doing some gentle handstitching.

Here are some of my recent "creations."

First, the tags. Everyone in the Art/Craft world seems to have been making tags lately. Actually I cannot quite see the point of them, but they are just a good size for an artistic mini-creation, and I suppose they can claim to be functional to some extent - that is, if someone chooses to actually use them as a bag tag or perhaps a small hanging decoration.

I have a couple of CD's of Victorian Christmas pictures - perhaps they would make great decorations/gifts at Christmas time!

Funnily enough, when Kim saw them, she asked if I would do a custom made one for Charles. It seems that when he went to NZ recently, he managed to pick up the wrong bag at Auckland airport - in spite of the fact that his bag was a bright fluoroescent pink one!

I had just finished a project on the sewing machine one day when I was hit with sudden impulsive inspiration to make a romantic bag. I grabbed some pretty rose fabric and some lace, and this was what I ended up with. I had a few technical problems, but was quite pleased with the result. I can iron out some of the problems with the next one. Meanwhile I think I will hang this in the spare bedroom. You just cannot go past roses and lace!

For some time I have been thinking about making some amulet purses, but have not yet decided about the design, Anyway, this one was my first little experiment. I quite enjoyed getting my silk ribbons out. I have not played with them for a while.

Finally, here is a batch of needlebooks - works in progress.

This is the only one I have finished, and I found it very satisfying. Another chance to use my growing collection of fabric prints!

I just love the colour tones in this one - not quite neutral!

Any project looks great with a printed word or two!

Finally, I am finding a use for some of the zillions of containers I seem to have lying around. The little cardboard ones really lend themselves to a bit of romantic embellishment.

GETTING CREATIVE ON TUESDAYS

2011-07-28T15:49:00.000+11:30

When Annette left for Australia recently, she left behind lots of goodies for the Craft group. Here is Lorraine going through some of the bags......

And here is what she brought one week later, a table mat made from some of the skinniest scraps!

Loraine is definitely our most prolific and productive members. In just one week she produced this piece from some 2" squares I had given her a week before.

And this wonderful top was also made in double quick time from more of Annette's scraps!

We all admired it, and wished we had some of Lorraine's focus and energy.

For two weeks, former group member End came to visit us, while holidaying on the island and visiting her son. Enid says she does not do a great deal of sewing anymore, but she enjoyed browsing through our stack of Craft magazines and chatting with us.

Agnes had a chance to go through some of my ENORMOUS collection of stranded threads, finding the right colours for an embroidery project.

Here is the longstitch that Shirley is currently working on.

Joy has been making these wonderful "bedrunners" for a year or two now. This lady has the most wonderful colour sense - the brighter and richer the better!

Connie has just re-joined the group after many years absence. It is so good to have her back!

Helen, Agnes and Shirley compare notes.

Joy and Enid both engrossed!

Believe it or note I am also working on an embroidered linen tablecloth which I "acquired" recently. It is not really my thing, but I will persevere...check back on this one in a couple of years!

Andrea sometimes finds her ricepaper decoupage a bit tedious - so she has relieved the boredom and posed for the camera by wearing it as a hat.

Andrea always does the washing up of the coffee cups - and if any of us try to help, we are told to get out of her kitchen!

Helen and Andrea share a special moment.

This is a lovely Craft group. We have been meeting for about 17 years, and our Tuesday "time-out" is very important to us. Acceptance and support and encouragement are so important to all of us.

NATE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

2011-07-27T15:14:00.000+11:30

It was our younger grandson Nathaniel's (Nate) first birthday earlier this month, and this is the only picture that Blogger will let me upload today.

Up in the top right corner you can see the knitted wool jumper I gave him, while Nate takes more interest in the wrapping paper!.

I asked a friend Betty to knit this for me many months ago, when we really had no idea how big Nate would be at 12 months. It only just fits him! I hope Blogger will now let me upload a picture of him wearing it!

Hurray, I have managed another picture. I am not going to risk the frustration of trying to post another one today - I will perhaps add more pictures when Blogger has got over its hissy fit.

I think you will agree he is a great little fellow, very easy going and always smiling. In fact he definitely has his Dad's sense of humour! And the jumper looks great. Granny's choice of colours.

Betty left the island not long afyter she finished the jumper, so I am going to have to find her address so she can see it on Nate!

FINALLY FINISHED

2011-07-25T12:00:00.001+11:30

The other day, I went looking for a quilt top I had made some years ago, thinking I might make an effort to turn it into a proper quilt. I did not find it, but I did come across a number of other UFO's (unfinished objects) and WISPS (works in slow progress.) Among them were a couple of crazypatch squares that I had intended for some cushion covers for the lounge.

So off I went to some of my upholstery fabric stash (I am gradually working through it). In two up's I had two new cushions. Made me wonder why I had left it so long!

The centrepiece for each of the cushions is a silk print that I made from photos of the front of Devon House.

I also found a leftover square from my fruit and vegetable CQ quilt, so that became a cushion too, using some leftover fabric from the upholstery fabric in our window seat.

It complements the quilt really well.

We tend to be a bit on the "safe" side when it comes to decorating, and our paint finishes are extremely neutral for the most part. So I am glad I can add this colour to the home through my creative crafts!!!

DON'S PARTY - SIX DECADES ON

2011-07-20T15:23:00.001+11:30

I will have to apologise for the quality of the photos in this posting. I really don't know what all those numbers on the dials of my digital camera mean, and I really ought to find out how to get the best out of my camera. The booklet that came with it was definitely not very user friendly.
But it was a great party!!! I mean Don's 60th! Held last Saturday night at his wonderful "shed."

We all had to come dressed as a queen or princess - but a king or prince would do at a stretch.

I made gold crowns for Bernie and myself and decorated them with plastic jewels that I have had lying around for yonks.

Connie's tiara was repeated everywhere - the Toy shop had a big supply, obviously. Sorry the pic is so fuzzy - she looked great in the red velvet dress!

Les's dress really showed off his figure!

While a jewel encrusted toilet seat really fitted the Tudor style for Gaelene.

Mudgi borrowed Peter's Pearly King outfit.

We all brought food to put on the table, to go with the fish and chips that were being cooked outside.

Clare looked truly royal.

Don's cake was in the shape of a guitar - very appropriate for this very musical fellow!

After the meal there was some impromptu entertainment

It was all too much for Princess Mauatua, who is being watched over by big sister Princess Mikaela.

We have known Don for a long time. I first met him when he was 18, but Bernie has known Don and his family for much longer than that. He is a great friend, the best-natured person you could ever hope to meet.

TAPA CLOTH

2011-07-10T16:55:00.001+11:30

The other day, Bernie and I went down to Kingston to have some morning tea in the REO cafe, which is situated in the Royal Engineers' Cottage in the Penal Settlement area.

While there we took the opportunity to view the exhibition pf artwork on Tapa cloth by Meralda Warren from Pitcairn Island. Meralda is a proud and energetic Pitcairn Islander who has devoted much of her life to promoting and preserving the culture and the skills of her people and her island. She has been an inspiration to many Norfolk Islanders and has encouraged them to value their traditional culture and skills.

Meralda has worked with traditional woodcarving, and has produced a Pitcairn Island cookery book. In recent years, however, she has felt a strong responsibility to revive and teach the art of making tapa cloth.

There was a time when tapa cloth was the main form of textile in Polynesia, and was made for both bedding and clothing. Tapa is made by pounding the bark from trees such as the Pacific mulberry. It is a slow and tedious process.

The practice of making the cloth was discouraged for a period of time by the missionaries, but Meralda has decided to revive it and teach it. At the same time she is taking it to new levels by making artwork using inks/dyes that she has produced from local plants, and even from smoke.

Meralda's pictures tell the traditional stories of Pitcairn Island, including the unique beginnings of the community after the Mutiny on the Bounty.

Included in the exhibition were some tapa pictures that have been made by some of the younger generation on Pitcairn Island, under Meralda's guidance.

This information gives some background to Meralda's work.

We really enjoyed our morning at the REO cafe, in this beautiful little Georgian buiding with its very special architectural features.

When I came home I scrolled through some of my photos and found this one, given to me by our friend Pauline, of Meralda giving Mauatua (Pauline's daughter) some early lessons in beating out the cloth. This picture was taken in Tahiti.

And here is a piece of tapa cloth made by Pauline using bark from the Pacific Banyan.

AN ARTISTIC COMMUNITY

2011-07-01T10:04:00.001+11:30

The other evening, we had our annual Community Arts Exhibition. This is usually held in the Supper room of our Rawson Hall. It is rather a drab venue, but it really comes to life with all the wonderful exhibits. It is a very central spot, right in the middle of town, and just a few metres from our Post Office, where the locals go to collect their mail most days.

This year the feature artist was Tihoti (George) Barff, and some of his art work can be seen on the wall behind. Beside George is Celia, our Community Arts President, and Bianca, our Administrator's wife, who opened the Show.

Those present at the opening were enthralled as Tihoti spoke about the importance of having a Dream, that being the theme of the Exhibition this year.

Tihoti is a Tattoo artist, and many people here actually wear his art on their bodies. But his wall art is also quite beautiful! I am sorry this picture is a little over-exposed.

One of the exhibits, done by Helen, was a fascinating and clever collage made using mostly Norfolk Island postage stamps, with a map or two. Unfortunately it was not for sale - I would have been very tempted.

This display of hats by Wayne are destined to be prizes in the Archery competitions being held here on the island next week. What a wonderful Norfolk Island momento for the lucky winners!

These very beautiful butterfly photos were produced by my niece Cristina.

A seascape chair complete with hi-his (periwinkles). They look so real, I would hesitate to sit on the chair!

I just love blue and white pottery. This tile mat was the first item to attract a red sticker.

More paintings, and a Norfolk Island quilt.

This was another of my favourite exhibits - a fluffy tern chick.

Some exquisite woodwork from "Beef"(John B.)

I alweays try to put in some little textile pieces to add to the variety of the displays. These are Clara's treasures, which I wrote about in another post. I displayed the story, which I thought would be interesting for folk.

I also put in 6 of the swing purses I have been making recently.

And my two "Angel bags."

Times are a bit tough here on Norfolk Island just now, and not a lot was sold this year. But the show certainly created a great deal of pleasure for our locals and visitors!

FAMILY UPDATES

2011-06-23T14:58:00.001+11:30

I had a few pictures in my camera that I thought I had better download and show you "for the record"!!

Mind you, these are specially designed for the New Zealand members of the family, who just don't get to see the progress of the little ones nearly enough. But I hope everyone else will enjoy them too.

This is a rather dark one of our latest baby "Ruby" who is nine months old now and probably fully grown. Here she is sharing a bed with Digby. But if you though that meant they were friends, you are completely wrong. Digby continues to ignore her existence!

And here is Cloud, our "grandcat", whom we have been minding. Cloud is somewhat psychologically "challenged", probably as a result of having been run over several times, as well as experiencing a number of other mishaps. While her owners were away she lived on the table outside the back door, and would spend almost the whole day looking through the window to the inside. Mind you, she could come in through the catdoor right next to her, but chose not to.

At night she insisted on sleeping on top of our microwave.

And here is William, who comes to us every Friday afternoon, when we pick him up from his Montessori school. He has some Nutrigrain, a few stories, and then he usually goes off to sleep. He is still suffering the effects of glandular fever, poor little man.

But he always has a smile for us, and he never complains!

And here is his younger brother Nathaniel, who is discovering the pleasures of food!

Now he is crawling he can find all sorts of toys for himself, including the cat food dishes...

And the cat door!

The family went off to Rarotonga for a couple of weeks

Here they are at the airport on the day they left.

Nate has some fun with Grandad. He has a wicked sense of humour just like his father.

And here are a couple more pictures of Ruby. She is probably fully grown now, but is still not much more than one and a half kilos!

PATCHWORK IN PARADISE

2011-06-19T14:38:00.000+11:30

Our QuiltNorfolk ladies have been busy again, organising yet another Patchwork retreat to Norfolk Island . This time, the week was to be more "low key" and instead of different workshops, they stayed in one place as a group, either working on their own projects, or making their way through a sampler quilt that had been designed by the QuiltNorfolk Team.

There were a total of 27 ladies this time, all from Australia. A tutor was brought in from New Zealand, the very talented Debbie Williams. Debbie had brought along some of her wonderful pieces to display and inspire! Below is Debbie's entry in last year's Hoffman challenge. It is amazing, but believe it or not, it was disqualified because it did not fulfil all the strict and unusual criteria!!

This is a bargello style bag made by Debbie. It has been treated with a sealing medium, ensuring it would stand up to a great deal of wear and tear!

Debbie's quilting stitches are definitely the smallest and neatest that I have EVER seen!

Below is a picture of the Norfolk Island sampler quilt. All the particpants were given a folder of instructions for each of the blocks and the techniques used in them. They then worked at their own pace, with Debbie and the QuiltNorfolk team on hand to assist and advise.

Rowena designed this block of a Norfolk plaited hat, which uses seminole techniques.

Norfolk Island's green parrot, and a branch of our lovely red guavas features prominently.

The Chapel Rose Window was the centrepiece. Barbara made a wonderful job of this one, with some beautiful and unusual buttons providing some of the detail!

You cannot pick out the ocean in the background of this picture - but it is definitely "ironing with a view". The venue for the workshops was Maria's Restaurant at the Hillcrest Hotel.

This picture was taken later on the Friday afternoon, when many of the ladies had started to pack up. But there were a few so engrossed in what they were doing, they found it hard to leave!

As I said, some participants worked on their own projects. I really loved this one - that is definitely the loveliest form of cross stitch I have seen!

At the last retreat, participants brought along squares of fabric in beige and aqua. The QuiltNorfolk team turned them into this wonderful mascot, christened "Tintoela." (That is a Norfolk word meaning "sweetheart.")

Some more of Debbie's lovely work.

Well done QuiltNorfolk.
The next event will be 22nd-29th October of this year. You can make enquiries and bookings online.
quiltnorfolk.com

GOODBYE TO A FRIEND

2011-06-18T14:06:00.000+11:30

This past week I said goodbye to my friend Annette.

Annette is a Norfolk Islander who has lived most of her life away from the island. However a few years ago she decided to move back here to where her home and roots are, as did her lovely mum Audrey. However, partly because things have not quite worked out as she had hoped, and partly because she is a very adventurous soul, always looking for new horizons and projects where she can use her skills, she has decided to go back to Australia. And from there, who knows where...but some time up on a remote island in the north of Vanuatu is a distinct possibility!

Annette is a person of enormous faith in God, and she is certainly taking a step of faith just now. She has, in fact, over the past few weeks, given away a large part of her worldly goods, including most of her precious books and craft supplies. Many of us have benefitted, but most of us agree that she shall receive most of it back if she does decide to come home again.

I was not sure about a parting gift for Annette. I knew it would need to be small and light and useful enough to find a space in those few possessions she was going to take with her. I decided on a needlebook.

For the needlebook, I actually used a few bits and pieces that Annette had passed on to me during her clean-outs, including some red wool crepe, a piece of crochet work, and a battenburg lace edging from a scone holder.

To make it really personal, I made a fabric print of a Picasso painting of a mother breastfeeding her baby. I knew this would appeal, because Annette is a Lactation consultant.

We have other reminders of Annette's loving and skillful hands, including this rug that she made for me to give to William for his birthday. She specially included a red heart in the centre to symbolise a mother's love.

As you can see, William loves it!

Annette has been a real mainstay of our Tuesday Craft group. We have so much enjoyed her fresh-from-the-oven cakes and pies made with freshly stoneground flour, and unusual, but tasty and nourishing additions of various fruit and vegetables!

Goodbye dear friend - for now. May God go with you!

STILL MORE LITTLE BAGS

2011-06-09T10:47:00.001+11:30

In a recent posting I showed some bags I had been working on. They were originally intended for holding things like specs and mobile phones, but ended up rather too large. So I set to work on a Mark II model, and decided to use some rather lovely old Sanderson upholstery linen samples. They teamed beautifully with the lace and pearl buttons.

An yes - they are perfect for spectacles, but I am not sure about phones. I do not have a mobile phone to test it out just now. Bernie has one, but is away from the house this morning.

They are also just right for pens! I hadn't thought of that.

But they not quite tall enough for remote controls. I wonder why these are not made in smaller sizes nowadays. Probably because we are always losing them, and having them smaller would make them even more elusive and hard to find under cushions etc.!!

Funnily enough, I had no sooner finished congratulating myself on having "used up" some of this Sanderson fabric than my friend Annette, who is cleaning out prior to moving, brought round heaps more for me!

Now these little numbers were quick and easy to make. I have made 13, but I will have to "test the market" before I make any more.

Meanwhile I have finished 2 more of the other bags. I am really enjoying doing these!

Peggy in New Zealand is going to send me some CD's with heaps more copyright free images for printing on fabric. Boy, am I going to have fun!

THE BAGLADY IS AT IT AGAIN

2011-06-02T10:17:00.000+11:30

I never get tired of making little bags. I seem to be well-known for them!!

I have been having such fun lately playing with bright silks, hand-dyed laces, little Victorian prints, beads, buttons and braids! For the backs I have used some hand-dyed velvet. I have had these boxes of crushed velvet scraps, in pale green and pink, for about 20 years. It had taken this long for them to inspire me ! Just a little bit of blue dye, and pink becomes mauve, and green becomes teal! A little yellow dye transforms pale green into a wonderful lime, and pink into a lovely terra cotta! And I cannot believe I have actually been enjoying a flirt with orange, not usually my favourite hue!!

My intention was to produce some little bags that could be hung decoratively, and serve as holders for things like specs, mobile phones etc. They have turned out too big for that, and modern mobiles are so small, they would get lost at the bottom of the bags!

Nevertheless, they could perhaps hold other treasures like special hankies, passports, combs, jewellery.

Or maybe they could even be taken out in the evening!

Why do I keep making bags? Is it because I like things to be functional as well as decorative? Perhaps it is because a bag seems more substantial and hangs better than a little wall hanging.

I feel I have continued breaking new ground with these bags. I have definitely explored colour combinations that I would once have lacked the courage to to use. And I have been able to use other items like braids, ribbons and motifs that have been waiting for ages to make an appearance on my creations!

And currently I am working on another batch of bags that are small enough to hold specs or mobiles!

SWEET VIOLETS

2011-05-23T09:48:00.001+11:30

From time to time I find myself thinking about a particular subject, and tracing all the associations back through my life. This week I found myself doing that with violets. It all started when we were cleaning out one of the sheds down the back - but more of that later!!

Violet was my mother's middle name, so I suppose the word came up fairly frequently in a teasing sense in our home. I think she would rather have been called "Rose" like her younger sister! I wonder why Violet has always been treated in a more comical fashion than Rose - they are both beautiful flowers! I had a cat called Violet a few years back, and I must confess I chose the name more as a joke. She was rather an ugly and misshapen creature- but she had the most beautiful nature. She disappeared quite suddenly one day, and I still feel a deep sadness and lack of closure about her disappearance.

Now when I was about six, back in England, my mother told me one morning that I would not be going to school. Instead, she and I were going for a picnic. We packed some food, and caught a bus somewhere - I think it was a place called Sidcup. We picnicked in what I remember as a woodland park area. When it was time to come home, we waited for the bus outside a shop. In the window, there was a pot of violets. I asked my mother if I could buy them for her. We returned home with our violets and Mum planted them in a little garden area outside the French doors at the rear of our house.

Whever we picked a bunch of violets we used to put them in a little glass vase like the one below.

I still have a vase this size and shape, and would never consider putting anything but violets in it!

When we migrated to Australia, we lived for a time with about 20 other families in a migrant hostel in Kyeemagh, right where the Sydney International Air Terminal is now. The children at the hostel decided to stage a concert for the grown-ups. I offered to go on the program and sing a song I had learned at school called "Peeping Violets." My mother made me an outfit from mauve and purple crepe paper. I was seven or eight at the time.

I don't know if we had any accompaniment, but when it was my turn to sing, I must have started on too high a note, and halfway through the song I couldn't get my voice high enough to finish! I ran off in great embarrassment.

However, practising that song must have imprinted it on my mind, because I still sing it to myself from time to time. Many years later, when Bernie's great-aunt died, I was delighted to find that song in a book that was among her great collection of music!

I still have a little patch of violets in a corner of the garden, and am always delighted when they come into bloom in spring.
I had a fling with African Violets for a few years, and used to propagate them for friends and for Church Fetes. However they lack the whimsical delicacy of the woodland violets, and I now only have one pot, which has defied my neglect over the years.

A few years ago I purchased a beautiful fabric featuring violets, and have loved using it in various ways.

There is another special memory associated with violets, dating back to my late teens. I was in the city (Sydney) one Saturday morning, and passed the flower sellers in Martin Place. I suppose it at a time when I had a little bit of disposable income for the first time in my life, and I purchased a little bunch of violets "just because.." I was actually on my way to a meeting in another suburb, and I needed to ask the owner of the house where we met to put my violets in water for me. Why do I recall all this? Well, it was that afternoon that I met my first boyfriend!

This brings me back to the shed cleaning last week. I had been searching for that "Peeping Violets' music for a couple of years, because I just could not remember some of the words anymore.
At the back of the shed we found a collection of song and music books that I used to use for teaching, including Sunday school and scripture. There were these lovely old Carey Bonner books, one of which had my "Violets" song.

I felt I had been reunited with an old friend!

And here are the words of my "Peeping Violets" song, which was written by Cecily Pike, with the music described as an "Air from the German":

(Children)Violets from the hedgerow peeping

Are you very shy?
(Flowers) Yes, we're very shy

(Children) Close beneath the leaves you're keeping

Won't you tell us why?

(Flowers) We are only tiny flowers

So to hide we try

Violets dear, we're glad we found you

Do you love us too?

Yes, we love you too.

You make sweetness all around you,

Can we be like you?

Always try to think of others

That is all we do.

NEW TRICKS

2011-05-04T13:48:00.001+11:30

They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, but I am determined to prove them wrong.

I have been trying out some techniques that I really have not used since I was about five years of age. I can remember sitting in our classroom in our Little Danson Park school back in England during "activity time." I loved to choose the sewing activity. We were provided with a basket of felt pieces, big darning needles, wool, and - I suppose - there were scissors, which must have been reasonably sharp to cut the rather thick felt. We were allowed to make what we liked, with what were probably rather coarse stitches. There was no worry about neat seams!

Well, I have to tell you that I am once again embarking on a journey where I will embrace raw edges!!

I have not worked with raw edges since my first real sewing lesson, in Year 3, where creativity went out the window, and neat stitches and tidy seams became the order of the day. I will confess that I was not so very good at sewing in the practical areas in Primary schools, and used to make up for it by "swatting" up the theory of things like the 5 main groups of fibres, and terms like warp and weft.
It really is a wonder that I eventually learned to love fabrics and threads, and made them my chosen form of creative expression after an early love affair with painting.
Now I am definitely not an anal person, but I do believe that my creations should show good workmanship and stand up to wear and tear. Leaving raw edges exposed does not come easily to me, but I have told myself that it really doesn't matter if the raw edges are at the back or the front of a piece - they still have to stand up to wear and tear!
For my first foray into this new freedom, I have been producung some collaged cards.

Now I know why pre-schoolers have such fun gluing on bits and pieces of "this and that" in random fashion. This first effort was such fun - although the only actual glue I used was the doublesided tape to adhere the collage to the card. I decided to use black thread in my sewing machine. No point in trying to disguise the stitching - you may as well go the whole hog and make the stitching honestly obvious.

I was recently given quantities of embroiderers' linen, which made an ideal background. I fringed the pieces. Come to think of it, fringeing was the nearest thing we ever came to raw edges in our formal sewing lessons!

Then I went to town with bits and pieces of all sorts of things - vintage images printed out on the computer, scraps and snippets of interesting fabrics and silk paper, buttons, braids, silk fibres, and - of course - bits of lace

The first one I made had a big red heart

And I knew I was going to be tempted tp put a big red heart into all my future efforts - a temptation I only partially resisted. What's wrong with big red hearts, anyway??

I had a supply of suitable cards on hand, purchased at a good price from a Jumble sale stall two or three years ago, from someone whose cardmaking phase had passed.

Now I probably have enough "bits and pieces of this and that" to enable me to ptoduce several thousand of these cards without running out of anything except cardstock.

I suppose it is because cards are somewhat ephemeral in their nature that gave me courage to to get rough and raw with them. But hopefully some of the recipients would like them enough to keep them out of the garbage bin for a little while, anyway.

I have yet to "test the market" with this style. But meanwhile I have plans to try out the raw edges on a little fabric book, where I can just take sheer delight in the fabrics and threads and embellishments themselves, without having to worry about tucking all the hanging bits out of the way!!

SET IN STONE

2011-04-28T10:41:00.002+11:30

The Melanesian Chapel of St Barnabas, on Norfolk Island, is probably one of the most beautiful and most visited historic buildings in all the islands of the South Pacific. Visitors to Norfolk Island are often surprised to find a little church in this remote place with an inspiring beauty and charm that is usually found in great cathedrals.

St Barnabas' Chapel was built between 1875 and 1880. The Chapel was built as a memorial to Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, who had been appointed by Bishop George Augustus Selwyn as the first Bishop of Melanesia. The Melanesian Mission had first been located at St Johns' in Auckland, and students were brought there from the islands to train to take the Christian message back to their people. The climate in New Zealand proved unsuitable, and the Mission headquarters was moved to Norfolk Island in 1866.
It was in 1871 that the much loved Bishop Patteson was martyred at Nukapu in the Solomons, when he was mistaken for a "blackbirder' who had come to take young boys away to sugar plantations in Australia and Fiji. His death actually served as a catalyst to bring about an end to this "slave trade". However, there was also great sadness and mourning throughout the Christian world at the loss of this fine man, still in his early forties.
It was decided to build a chapel to his memory. Many of Patteson's colleagues and family back in England decided to subscribe to a fund build a fitting memorial, fulfilling a vision that the Bishop himself had witten about of "... beautiful Gothic Chapel, rich inside with marble and stained glass, and carved stalls and encaustic tiles and brass screen work...It may come some day, and most probably, long after I am dead and gone."
The building was designed by Sir Graham Jackson, a well-known British architect, and the work was carried out under the supervision of Dr Robert Codrington, who was the manager of the Mission set up on Norfolk Island.

The building was to be of stone, which supported a soaring timber framework for the steep roof. For the main walls of the building, they used blocks of limestone which were quarried from the west side of Emily Bay on the south side of the island, and dragged the fiive kilometres to the Chapel site using bullock drays.
However, for the interior, particularly in the Chancel area, Codrington decided to lay alternate courses of local limestone and the lighter and more mellow Oamaru stone which was imported from the South Island of New Zealand, arriving in 1878. At the time, Codrington noted in a letter home how ironic it was that it was actually cheaper to bring that Oamaru stone by steamer all the way from New Zealand than it was to purchase the local stone!

The Chapel was consecrated on 7th December 1880, with great celebrations and festivities, which were enjoyed by up to fifty visitors mostly from New Zealand.
St Barnabas' Chapel was handed over for use by the Church of England on Norfolk Island in 1920, when the Melanesian Mission moved its headquarters to the Solomons.
It is a much treasured building, not only by the parishioners but the whole island, who take great pride in this beautiful icon.
It is, however, a mammoth task to maintain and preserve this valuable building. To this end, the church established a branch organisation called the "Friends of St Barnabas'" some years ago. the idea was that "The Friends" would devote their efforts to raising funds and carrying out necessary restoration projects, thus allowing the Church council itself to focus on ministry matters.
The restoration work is constant and ongoing, and this picture here shows the work that is currently being carried out on the timber work surrounding the William Morris Rose window, stripping back to the raw timber and repairing and replacing any rotting areas.

Recently, The Friends of St Barnabas decided it was time to tackle restoration work on the Oamaru stone, which was crumbling somewhat in the Sanctuary area. The problem was not new. In fact, back in 1930, Henry Drummond wrote in a report that the stone was deteriorating and although attempts had been made to arrest the problem, they had not been successful. It would appear that the main problem was the proximity of the locally quarried limestone, which contained salt and which reacted with the sandstone.

The Friends of St Barnabas attempted to contact someone who knew about Oamaru Stone, and fortuitously Bill Dooley himself, the owner and manager of Dooley Masonry in Oamaru, would soon be honeymooning on Norfolk Island, and would be able to inspect the problem itself.

Bill arranged to send replacement stone to Norfolk Island, and at first he hoped to instruct some local tradesmen to actually carry out the work. However, this did not eventuate, and two or three years later, in March of 2011, Bill and his wife returned themselves with two of their workers, and carried out the task.

I should point out that the deterioration in the stone was not particularly unsightly, nor was it hazardous. The main problem was the stone dust that the church cleaners had to deal with each week! Moreover, it was advisable to deal with it before it did present more severe problems.

This dust came from the restoration process - much worse than the weekly deposits the church cleaners encountered, but it is very white and really shows up.

Bill Dooley and his team got stuck into the job, and soon had it all looking as good as new, Along the way they discovered other problems needing attention, such as dampness and drainage, which they were able to point out to "The Friends" and the Parish Council.

As well as the salt problem, Bill felt that the instability may have been partly caused by the direction in which the Oamaru stone was laid. He said that it should always be positioned facing the same vertical direction in which it had been quarried.

There used to be wall hangings in this sanctuary area, which were removed and laundered before the work was carried out. However, they proved to be in such bad condition, it was decided not to put them back.
Now everyone commented on how lovely it looked without them. You can now see the beauty of the stonework, and the sanctuary area was so light and airy! These beautiful windows, the work of Sir Edward Burne-Jones, seem to greatly enhanced.

Keeping our precious "Father Willis" organ in good condition and tune is another important responsibility we have as caretakers of this lovely church.

Things were in a bit of disarray while the work was being carried out, but Bill and the boys soon had it looking better than ever. In fact, Bill, obviously a man of great practical skills, even showed us how to fix this old vacuum cleaner that has been out of commission for some time! I should add that Mr Dooley has, on his own admission, reached his four score years, so we were very blessed to benefit from his enormous skills and expertise.

Bill also has quite a sense of humour, and I could not resist photographing the labels on the crate that had brought the stone from New Zealand.

I think you will agree that our Chapel of St Barnabas is a very special building, set in magnificent grounds, and well worth the effort of keeping it in a beautiful condition for present and future generations to enjoy. Last year we replaced the roof at a cost of around $200 000, and in the near future we will need to attend to the Devonshire marble floor, which has many loose tiles. Currently, a thorough stripping and re-painting of all the exterior timber is being carried out.

You will note from the picture above that St Barnabas' is built in the "school chapel" style, with seats facing each other across a central aisle. Most important is that the Chapel is a house of worship to this day, and as we express our faith and God's love in this place, we are mindful of that much-loved Bishop, of the faithful Mission workers, of the Melanesian students who gathered here, and of all those who have gone before us who have been inspired by this very lovely place.
An Afterthought

I have just remembered this little Oamaru stone vase, given to us by friends a few years ago. I note on the base of this vase it says it has been "silicone treated". Now I must admit I have sometimes wondered about the wisdom of replacing sandstone with the same thing, which may continue to react with the adjacent limestone. I think this is the answer, and I do recall Bill Dooley talking about "silicone" when we discussed the project with him!

BAGS AND MORE BAGS

2011-04-27T10:39:00.001+11:30

One of the more satisfying projects I have undertaken recently are these little bags. I call this pair my "angel bags". I made them during a time when I needed a burst of colour, and was feeling a little bolder about it all than usual - may that feeling last!!!

I had also been re-discovering some of my lace supplies - and adding to them - so they were brought into the picture too. I have been dyeing a lot of my laces and ribbons lately, and the results can be quite inspiring. I cannot locate picures for the laces just now - will show you at a later posting.

Meanwhile, I finally tackled a half-complete project that has been lying around for some months.

I think it was early October that I started these little zippered purses. I was initially inspired by some sample pieces of linen upholstery fabric that I was given by Natalie - mainly stripes and checks in classic muted colours. They just cried out to be combined with some lace and ribbons and buttons etc. So I overcame my fear of zippers to produce a set of little purses. I used some silk prints that were in my stash, many of them had come from dear Peggy of Kaliko Kottage.

Now part of the way through producing these purses, I got sick - nothing serious but I felt awful. And even when I was better, I somehow could not face these purses without remembering that sick feeling! It was only in recent days that I finally felt I could work with them again and put the finishing touches to them.

I am really pleased with the results - but I will have to tell you that most of them are actually rejects!
For instance, the top one was sewn with the zipper at the bottom! I have decided to keep that for myself and keep my passport in it.

Others still have a little hole in the back where the sample pieces of fabric had been attached to the binder. I really thought I had cut around those holes. They are not really noticeable, but I do like my creations to be properly finished - so those will probably be given to friends with an apology and explanation.

They were not the ony mistakes. One of them was sewn with the zipper upside down, so the toggle was inside the purse. But that was corrected with some unpicking.

I have loads of little bits of rose prints which seem to go really well with the stripes and checks.

I have a big bag of broderie anglaise lace pieces. They went right out of vogue for a while, and I was tempted to ditch them or give them away. But I am glad I didn't. I am learning that if you hang onto something long enough, it will eventually come into its own again. Too often I have needed something about two weeks after I have got rid of it!

Not sure if I want to tackle zippers again for a while - altho' I do have quite a stash of them. Perhaps I should get some hints about using them from some good seamstresses (which I am not!)

Now I am itching to get back to my bright silks and dyed laces.

TEATIME DOILEYS

2011-04-15T16:50:00.000+11:30

I think I may have mentioned that I have quite a large collection of crocheted doileys. Many I have rescued from Op shops, garage sales and secondhand stores. Others I have been given. Some came down to Bernie from his great-aunts, who were wonderful needleworkers.

Among these doilleys are some that were made for a special purpose, such as these little jug and sugar bowl

covers, with an edge that has been weighted with beads, and a little stand-up cup or pot in the middle.

While I was doing some cleaning and sorting the other day, I had an unexpected bonus. I was going through a big stripey bag of containers. I tend to collect containers....Pretty little boxes and tins that I thought would be useful for holding stuff - except that the quantity of containers was starting to outgrow the amout of stuff I could put into them or the shelf space to hold them!! Lately I have been regularly tripping over this stripey bag in my sewing room, and a ruthless culling was called for!
I actually got to the very bottom of the stripey bag, when I felt a little plastic bag in the bottom corner. I felt its contents and was puzzled. When I opened it, there was this dear little doiley cover, with a crocheted cup and saucer.

Now I actually remember buying this. It was about 11 years ago in a little Craft/gift shop in Napier in New Zealand. When I got home to Norfolk Island, I realised I did not have it, and thought I must have mistakenly thrown the bag into the rubbish, or perhaps left it in the hotel room. I was delighted after all this time to find I had it after all!

This lovely little one above was among the great-aunts' things. It is really quite exquisite.

And this one was given to me by a friend a few years ago.

Who knows what else I will come across while I am dealing with this Autumn spring cleaning bug!

CLEANING OUT

2011-04-13T13:47:00.001+11:30

It may not be Spring, but there is some "spring cleaning" going on. The weather is mild and balmy, and the humidity has gone for a while. The slightly cooler days are conducive to tasks like cleaning out the old laundry.

Our "old laundry", so named because this was where Bernie's mum did her washing when she lived here all those years ago. (We have the luxury of a laundry inside the house.) It is one of the rooms in a two room shed just behind our house, and over the years has always been a convenient dumping ground for "stuff." Too convenient, in fact, and I had to admit it had reached the stage where some of the stuff needed to be liberated.

There was old sports equipment for a start, like this golf trolley and a rather depleted bag of rusty old clubs. The concrete tubs you can see behind are definitely staying. They don't make them like that any more! are just so handy when there are big items to be cleaned up.

The small suitcase you can see contains masses of plastic cutlery - of the sort of quality they made about thirty years ago. Stronger than some of the modern metal stuff, I reckon. Cannot part with that, either! Besides, it actually belongs to a local organisation that is still functioniong, but which long ago forgot they owned this stuff, and is quite unlikely to ever need to use it, We are all too old to cater for big numbers any more like we used to.

The croquet set is staying too - although it has only been taken out once or twice in the last decade!

Now, it is quite a few years since we kept peacocks, but I am still a bit sentimental about these lingering reminders. I think they will stay there and await a day when I feel a little more ruthless!

These old shoe cleaning brushes got a reprieve too. There are more than a dozen of them, and they are beautiful quality - but sadly, are rarely used anymore!

But I did turf out loads of junk - really and truly! I gradually piled it onto the patio, and from there Bernie sorted it and put into the back of the pick up truck ready to go to the Waste Management Centre. There were piles of old magazines, including loads of Craft, Gardening, and House and Garden types. I felt so virtuous in resisting the temptation to thumb through them!

However, most of these books and old household items will wait for another day when I feel motivated.

Among the junk was a whole suitcase of fabrics. They were all in remarkably good condition, but just so dated!! I cannot believe I was ever inspired by this insipid lot! They will go to the Remnant box at the Op shop. I am sure the ginghams, at least, will appeal to someone. Fancy, I have finally matured enough to be able to part with them!

Inside a little plastic bag, I found these pieces from a fabric that was produced a couple of decades ago, featuring iconic Aussie grocery labels. I no longer find them the least bit appealing, but feel I should save them for some future generation looking for heirloom treasures!

Anyway, I can finally see enough floor space in the old laundry to actually sweep the floor, and I am off to do that now!

SENIOR CITS GO BACK TO SCHOOL

2011-04-06T10:34:00.001+11:30

Last Wednesday was the day for Rotary's Annual Bus Trip round the island. Now Norfolk Island is not very big - only 5 kms by 8 - and you would think everyone had seen everything there was to see. But each year we come up with something different!

Our first stop was at Dave's Market Gardens in Mission Road. Most of us had always wondered what was "behind the hedges" at the Souths, who have been supplying the island with things like lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber and other fresh veges for many many years.

Dave was keen to show us his recently established pineapple plantation.
Starting with just a handful of suckers that he obtained from friends and neighbours, Dave and Bronwen have established a very healthy plantation which, in a year or two, will mean we have lovely pineapples available to us for much of the year!

In the background, you can just see the massive bank of solar panels which provide power for running the farm.

Tomatoes have been a little scarce lately, and these ones looked so mouth watering!

Everyone is really starting to enjoy themself!

Back on the road, for a mini-tour. Bernie is our tour guide for the afternoon.

We stop at the Chapel, where Tim and Aubrey are busy sanding back the timber round the beautiful William Morris Rose Window, in preparation for re-painting.

Bernie, with tongue in cheek, tells us that we have been singing so well on the bus that we will stop there and have a short service!!!

We never get tired of the lovely Norfolk Island scenery.

We drive through the old penal settlement area along the seafront at Kingston...

And along Quality Row....

Finally, at 3 o'clock. when we know that school is out, we arrive at the school library and technology centre. Everyone comments on how much the school has grown and changed since they were kids. The grounds are just beautiful.

A bank of chairs has been set up for us in the school library

Headmaster Neil welcomes us, and is keen to show us some of the new technology. This is the computer that was donateded by Rotary for Norfolk Island's Living Library, a project that was commenced in the last couple of years.

Librarian Trish explains the workings of the Living Library, using the Interactive Smartboard. There is definitely no talking in class here - we are all fascinated, gobsmacked, in fact!

It doesn't matter where you are, you can access most of the content of the Living Library at
www.livinglibrary.edu.nf

You can almost see the heads shaking in amazement as we leave. Many people say they have valuable historic material at home that they would love to make available to be recorded on the site. This was a real win-win occasion!

Finally we head out to Rainbow's End for afternoon tea in one of the Endeavour Lodge units. The weather has been warm and mild, and the view is stunning. In fact, many long time residents say they have actually never seen this particular view before!!

I wonder what new places we will visit next year?

In this picture, in the second back seat on the left, you can just pick out Tony, who brought his ukelele along,. and kept us entertained with a sing-a-long all afternoon. This really added to the great spirit and camaraderie of the occasion. Norfolkers really know how to have fun!

BIRTHDAY BOY

2011-03-28T11:43:00.007+11:30

Thursday was William's 4th birthday.

When asked how he would like to celebrate his special day, he said that he would like to have dinner at Granny and Grandad's - and he would like to have chicken, turkey and prawns to eat! Now he is pulling a bit of a face in this picture, because being so much the centre of attention was getting just a bit much for him at this stage. When asked what he wished for when he blew out his candles, he said he had wished that no one was there! That is honesty for you !
He had the "honour" of sitting at the head of the table with Grandad.

But I think you will agree he had a great time anyway!

Jindaporn at the Bakery had made a very special puppy dog cake

Four candles to blow out!

The musical candle got lots of attention, and had to perform the happy birthday song many times over.

A card and present from his much-loved Auntie Marie, who is an important part of close family occasions.

And a book from Granny and Grandad.

I think the Builder's kit came from Nanny and Poppy in New Zealand! But by this time he was getting a bit sleepy.

This big spoonful of jelly all went into his mouth at one time!

Trying on his new boots!

Baby Nate enjoyed the party, even if Liam had mixed feelings about all the fuss!

Yesterday was his party day with his friends. Kim and Charles had set up a waterslide down at Kingston! Now I think this sort of party was more William's style!

What a beautiful setting and what a glorious autumn day!

William must have slid down and climbed back up that hill hundreds of times!

Even Baby Nate had a turn!

There was a big pile of gifts, but everyone was just too busy having fun on the slide to open them just yet!

Even the food sat there until they needed an energy boost!

The water tank had to be refilled a few times.

Birthday Cake time finally distracted most of the children from the water slide.

The little ones had fun with a basket of musical toys that Tina found in her car.

The adults all had a lovely relaxing time under the gazebos

Baby Nate, who can now sit up quite steadily, had a ball with the toys when the others returned to the slide.

and he enjoyed cousin Jasper's company.

They did not really need any party games - and Liam definitely did not care for the adaptation that his Dad made to "Pin the Tail on the Monkey'!

But he had really enjoyed his party, and his Mum got a special thank you hug.

VAL'S GIFTS

2011-03-24T10:38:00.000+11:30

Val, together with her husband, visits Norfolk Island a couple of times a year, and has recently had her 30 something visit here. The last visit was pretty special, because she celebrated her big 80, and lots of the family, including her sister, came over to join in the celebrations.

Now Val is a very clever lady with her hands, and has worked with a number of crafts over the years. She is also a very generous person, with both her skills, her time, and her resources.

The last two or three times she has been to Norfolk Island, Val has come along to our Tuesday Craft group. We love having visitors - but they don't stay visitors; they are regarded as part-time mebers, and we love to welcome them back on their return visits.

The other day, Bernie came back from the Post Office with two parcels. One was expected - some fabric I had ordered from the U.S. The other one was a bit of a mystery, until I opened it and found a treasure box of lovely things - the sorts of things that needleworkers love to have, to add to the variety of their stash. It took me a ferw minutes to realise who it had come from!

There were laces, braids, ribbons, beads, applique motifs and lots more. I will spend a few more days just running my fingers through it all before I put it away in the appropriate boxes!

Thank you so much Val. The world of needleworkers is such a friendly and sharing community, isn't it!

CLARA'S TREASURES

2011-03-16T12:36:00.000+11:30

A couple of postings ago I wrote about great-uncle Gilly and his wife Clara. I never met Clara. She died just a short time after I arrived on Norfolk Island. But funnily enough, I have great affection for my husband's forbears, because, after all, they have all played a part in shaping his own life and the person he is today. I feel I have a particularly strong link and bond with some of the women in his family, particularly those who did needlework.

Now, I am not sure if Clara was a person of any particular skills in that area. However, when I married Bernie, he gave me this length of crochet work that had been worked by Clara. It was among hers and Gilly's things when the old couple died. Clara died 45 years ago, and the piece was probably made many years before that. I have never known what to do with it. I think you will agree that in some ways it resembles a length of bandage - and the roll measured at least 4 metres. I have often wondered what Clara intended it to be. I suspect that she was taught the crochet pattern by her sisters-in-law (who were fine needlewomen), and she just kept on repeating it to give her hands something to do!

Over the years I have brought it out from time to time, and considered possibilities for it. At one time I thought of setting it between panels of fabric to make a tablecloth or a quilt, but there really wasn't enough of it to make a feature of it that way. Another time I thought I could use it as a decorative shelf edging, but it really is a bit plain for that.

Then a couple of weeks ago, I was browsing through some textile blogs, and something really set my train of creative thought zooming. I would cut it into shorter lengths to make some pretty little bags. And I would call them "Clara's treasures" because "Treasure" was Gilly's affectionate nicknmae for her.

This is the first one I made. It still needs a handle. The crocheted medallion was made by Clara's sister-in-law Charlotte. The faux pearls are fairly old, as are the buttons.

Then I started to get bolder, and decided to bring out the dye. The old cotton crochet thread takes up the dye just brilliantly. You can see I have threaded ribbons through some of the open lattice. This one still needs lining as well as a hamdle!

This will be the next one. A little amulet purse. Not necesarily by choice. You see, when I was setting the "seamist" colour dye in the microwave, I left the piece to zap just a few seconds too long, and a couple of patches on the side scorched a little, and needed to be cut off!

I think both Clara and Gilly would be pleased. Maybe "Treasure" herself wondered what on earth she could make out of this length of crochet work!!

Below is another reminder we have of Clara and Gilly. It is a beautiful old chaise longue that Bernie actually bought from Gilly a year or two before he died. It badly needs recovering in a more attractive colour, but "old gold" was really "in" when we had it reupholstered a few years back.

I hope to do about half a dozen little bags, using a variety of embellishments.