Even Vets In Their Onesies Do It!

Some of you know that my great-niece is in Vet school - at the moment she's working hard on her dissertation. Unthinkable in my day, she boards in a mixed house. The other day she grabbed these shots going through the living room of Ed, on of the other Vet students, knitting. This aroused such interest, that now they are all now knitting or learning to knit. Ed was taught to knit by his granny. Isn't that wonderful - that a grandson was taught to knit, that he bothered himself to learn, still remembers and can show others how a Teletubby does it?

Albert Edelfelt's The Boys’ Workhouse, Helsinki For Auction @ Sotheby's 23 May 2013

On 23 May 2013 Sotheby’s London will offer a celebrated work by Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt in its sale of 19th Century European Paintings, along with other important works by Scandinavian artists. Painted in 1885, The Boys’ Workhouse, Helsinki comes to auction for the first time in almost thirty years, with an estimate of £350,000-450,000 (€411,000-530,000). The painting, which combines the influences of Edelfelt’s years in France with his innate love of his homeland, will be on public view in Helsinki on Friday, 26 April at the Galerie Donner (Havsgatan 1, Helsinki, Finland) from 10am to 12.30pm. In attendance will be Adrian Biddell, Senior Director and Head of Sotheby’s 19th Century European Paintings Department, Claude Piening, Senior Director, 19th Century European Paintings, and Anna-Maija Bernard, appointed by Sotheby’s in 2012 as the company’s representative in Helsinki.

Free Draw - Norfolk Wherry Cross Stitch Kit

The Wherry was once a common sight on the Norfolk Broads - strange, ancient inland waterways that are now a tourist attraction. The large, shallow boats - around 50 feet long and 15 broad - made excellent cargo-carriers.

With the coming of railways and better roads for transportation of the goods, the wherries were converted into pleasure boats. Nowadays, they are seldom seen at all, having falling into disrepair over the many years. However, a number have been restored thanks to wherry enthusiasts and craft like the Albion, the wherry pictured in this kit, can still be seen. To see them gliding through the low flat Norfolk landscape is truly one of the loveliest sights I know.

Simply click on the flying angel below to enter and I'll announce a winner next week, 27 May 2013. Good Luck!

Lace-Makers of Bologna * Exhibition * 1 - 9 June 2014

The fabulous work of this incredible group of lovers of traditional needle-made lace will be on show again this year in the wonderful arcaded, ancient university city of Bologna, famous for its two great towers. The unmissable exhibition opens Saturday 1 June at 4.30pm and continues until 9 June each day from 10am - 12.30pm and 3.30pm - 7pm at the Oratorio dei Teatini, Basilica dei Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano, Strada Maggiore, 4 - 40125 Bologna.