Ups and Downs

I couldn't resist this little book when I saw it at Tynemouth Station flea market. I loved the colour and design of the cover. To be honest I had forgotten all about it until I was looking for a prop to use as a backdrop.  It made me think of how life is full of ups and downs.

 

The Story of a Newspaper Boy

 

Recently I have been feeling rather lost creatively. I feel as if I need a new direction but not sure which way to go.  I have lots of family photographs and letters and would like to create a sketchbook using some of them as a starting point.  My work is always created organically so I will have no final outcome in mind.  

 

As I walked to my Zumba class this morning I was thinking about how nice it would be to do some simple stitching.  I was running a little bit late but passed the RSPCA charity shop in Whitley Bay.  I did not really have time but something drew me in...  A very serendipitous visit it turned out to be....

 



 

As I was examining this a volunteer came over and went into great detail about how old it was, what it was used for, and gave me a demonstration of how it worked. 

 

 

 

 

I was given India Flint's Eco Colour book as a Christmas gift, I have looked through it a few times but haven't read it properly. One or two of my facebook friends, have been producing some amazing work using eco dyeing and printing.  My friend Marilyn Stephens is one and has been absorbed in it  for a while and has sent me a beautiful piece of her work.   I have been meaning to try eco dyeing but you do have to have a steamer - and there it was at a cost of £4 waiting for me in the RSPCA!  I do think most things happen for a reason, so here we are, a lovely old steamer with two valves to alter the amount of steam and a spout to top it up when the water runs dry.  Mr T thinks we should keep it as our steamer and relegate our modern version for bundling.  So it appears that the decision has been made for me by the purchase of the lovely old steamer.

 

I have been meaning to work with natural fabrics and stitch for a while so the two may marry together. Whilst searching for some linen I came across a little collection of natural dyeing that I had sampled whilst in the Highlands.  These were created using blackberries, I do love the shade it created. 





 

 

 

So, I have definitely have some new techniques to try over the next few weeks.  Watch this space...... until next time, hope you are all well and looking forward to warmer sunnier days. Jaynex

Yorkshire Tales

 

A few days relaxing in the Yorkshire Dales last weekend was just the ticket.  We stayed in a tiny cottage in the village of Bainbridge.  The weather forecast was not favourable but the rain stayed away and the sun came out on Saturday.  We pottered around all the little villages in the area, stopping for a cuppa here and there and buying some gorgeous treats from the lovely Askrigg Village Kitchen (Mr T loves the caramel shortcake). We were very surprised when the bakery was featured on Countryfile on Sunday evening.  One of our outings took us to Bedale where I spotted this amazing clematis standing outside a florist's shop.

 

I took a small selection of making bits and bobs and enjoyed sitting in the cottage sewing.  Show and tell coming up! 

 

 Pale blue and chocolate linen & lace brooch

 

 

 natural linen with a smoke mother of pearl button

 

 

 Shades of Ochre kilt pin - lace and linen embellished with hand embroidery

 

 

 Tiny hexi brooch

 

 

Broderie anglaise, lace and linen kilt pin - pale blue with an accent of chocolate

 

We always visit Farfield Mill near Sedbergh when we are in the Dales.  Four floors of inspiration await you in this vibrant arts and heritage centre.  Housed in a restored Victorian woollen mill on the edge of Cumbria and Yorkshire - now the leading venue for textile arts in the North West. An exhibition by the British Tapestry Group entitled Metamorphosis was fascinating, as was a lace making demonstration.  The lady had over 135 pairs of lace bobbins on her knee to create a piece four inches in diameter.  I was fascinated to watch her create such an intricate piece of lace, the skill required simply to keep track of the pattern and bobbins is unbelievable.  It will take her over six weeks to complete the work.  The thread was Egyptian cotton and so fine it was hard to see it.  There were some exquisite example of antique hand made lace.  A meander around Sedbergh's many bookshops was the perfect end to our short break.

 

 

Until next time.....  hope you are all well. Jayne

 



 

I love to go a wanderin'

A couple of weeks ago I had an appointment on the Quayside in Newcastle.  It was a beautiful cold crisp day but the sun was shining so I decided to have a meander around Newcastle and worked my way down Grey Street snapping away with my camera phone as I went....

 The Grade 1 Theatre Royal

 

 Victorian Grade 11 listed - now Portofino's Restaurant

 

 amazing architectural details

 

 even the drainpipes are beautiful...

 

Dean Street

 



 

 

 a jumble of images. I kept turning around and taking pictures behind me!

 

 funny how the details pass you by until you look really closely

 

giant meccano



the iconic Tyne Bridge

 

Millenium Bridge in the distance and The Sage, Gateshead glistening in the sunshine

 

I walked back the way I came and just thought to myself how many incredible buildings there are in Newcastle City Centre, lots of inspiration to be had for a creative soul.

 

I have been very busy of late and have neglected my blogging but I am going to try really hard to post more frequently.  Until next time wondering what inspires you..... Jayne

New Beginnings..... 2014

As 2013 draws to a close I am in a reflective mood.  The last year has seen so many changes in the Hewison household.  The highlight of the year has been the arrival of our first grandchild Thomas.

tiny precious boy

 

I wish all my lovely, blogging, facebook, Etsy friends, home and abroad a wonderful 2014. I have enjoyed all of our chit chats, thank you all for taking the time to comment.

 

Lots of exciting things on the horizon this year, so much to look forward to, Mr. T and I are quickly heading towards another milestone birthday!!

 

Until next time.... Jayne

 



 





Christmas Greetings.......

Just a very short post to wish all of my lovely blogging friends a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and Happy 2014.  Thank you for taking the time to chat and comment on my blog, I really do love reading them.  Until next time, I leave you with a lovely image of a contemporary robin made by my friend Gill Ellis Wilds

Playing catch up....

I have been so busy with all manner of things that my usual preparations for Christmas have been put on the back burner.  As a person who puts decorations up on the last Sunday in November, I have finally completed the task this afternoon.  We have a lot of sorting out to do in the New Year.  We have a lot of excess things with Mr T returning from living and working in the Highlands.

View from the cottage window Kyle of Sutherland

 

I love decorating our home for Christmas. The tree has had to reside in the kitchen just for this year as there is just nowhere to put it in our back sitting room.  We have a wood burning stove in the front room so it is impossible to put a tree in there. 

 

 pixies, reindeer and robins

 

I am so lucky to have such creative friends who are kind enough to give me gorgeous gifts which now live in our kitchen normally, but adorn the tree at Christmastime.





cheeky robin with rusty dingly dangly legs

 

grey dove with hand decorated metal heart

 

ruby red dotty 'love' star all by Gill Ellis Wilds

 

 

fairisle woolly Santa

 

Needle felted redheaded Angel

 

needle felted Santa Claus all by Gill Pinkney Felt



 

 I do love a bauble!

 

simple berry twig on the railway sleeper mantelpiece

 

Mr T and I are looking forward to our first Christmas as grandparents, little Thomas is nearly eight months old.  Time passes so quickly, I had a little weep to myself this afternoon when I was sorting the boxes to go back up into the loft.  I found all of Emily's Christmas cards to, and from us.  Some she had made herself at nursery and school.  The one that tipped me over the edge was the one that said "mummy I love you too much"!  Happy memories, don't know why it upset me. 

 

If you look very closely in the last picture behind the lantern, a tiny wax corsage is peeping out.  It is my mother's wedding day flowers - edelweiss I believe.  Whilst clearing my mother's house I came across it.

 

Before I go, I wish all of my lovely blogging friends a very Happy Christmastime.  Thank you to each and every one of you who make my day by leaving a comment.  I enjoy reading your blogs so much too.  Until next time......  Jayne x

 

 

Christmas is coming......

Autumn brings such gorgeous days to go walking on the beach, we are so lucky to live five minutes away from the stunning Tynemouth long sands.

St. George's Church steeple in the distance

 

Things have been really busy in the Hewison household the last few weeks so I must apologise once again for neglecting my blog.  Preparations are in full swing for the Kirkley Hall Christmas Fair next Saturday and Sunday.  Gill P and I will be sharing a stand so it is always lovely to have company.  We have both been busy developing new work, some things work out and some things don't.  The kilt pins I have been making seem to be very popular so I have bought some lovely old swan bill pins to make teeny tiny ones..

 

Betty modelling her French vintage dyed nightgown and duck egg kilt pin

 

 

My little collection of vintage labels have been utilised to create another couple of pins...  I know I have more but having searched the house from top to bottom they are still missing.  I am sure when I least expect it they will turn up!

 

vintage labels and buttons

 

the finished article...

 

I was very lucky last Sunday at the flea market, a lovely elderly gent was selling some beautiful linen and crochet doileys.  I couldn't make my mind up which to buy as they were all gorgeous so he let me have all 37 for a really good price, well, it would have been rude not to buy them!

 

 

 

The red and green dye pots have been in full swing dyeing manila tags.  A mini production line has been assembled on our kitchen table...

 

rich ruby red

 

Crowns, Snowflakes and Merry Christmas

 

So, all in all, I am quite organised (oh no now I have said it, I am sure something will go drastically wrong!) so it just leaves me to sort out what I am going to take, how I am going to display my work and lots of packaging (hopefully I will need it!!!).  Until next time..... Jayne.  I would love to hear what you have all been up to in my absence.