Making Dorset Buttons at Parham House

It is always a wonderful treat to watch skilled needlewomen at work. This lady was tutoring me today on making Dorset buttons. It is completely addictive. Books on making Dorset buttons can be ordered from the Dorchester Museum.

Parham House - 2 day Workshop in the Great Hall - WOW

It is one of those bad luck days. There is a to be a wonderful 2 day workshop in the fabulous Great Hall at Parham House on 29th and 30th June - and I am booked to be at the other end of the country! But there is no need for you to miss out. The course to demonstrate needlework skills of the 17th century will be taught by Owen and Nicola of the Royal School of Needlework. The cost for 2 days - including 2 buffet lunches with wine is £130 plus £20 for the kit. If you are interested contact me right away before tomorrow or Parham House direct.

A busy day

I have been getting ready for the needlework event at Parham House tomorrow and Monday. I love Parham House and the early needlework collection collected by the keen needlewomen, the Hon. Mrs Clive Pearson and her mother, Lady Brabourne. Their collection embraces an unparalleled group of Suart embroidered pictures, textile furnishings and samplers. In addition to this 17th century collection are works from the later centuries up to the present day. I shall look forward to telling you all about my two days there and hope to have some lovely sights to share with you. In the meantime, gaze with delight on what is probably the loveliest long gallery in England. I am so excited, I shall hardly sleep!

A Lakeland Resting Place

There is no need to place flowers on the grave of Grace Spence since it nestles deep upon a bank of bluebells. This is the graveyard sometimes visited by Beatrix Potter. Though not a Quaker herself, she took consolation in sometimes attending meetings in the small but dignified Friends' Meeting House which overlooks the high fells and is surrounded by her beloved Herdwick sheep - the sheep that roam far and wide but always know their way home. At this time of year it is surrounded by bouncing lambs. Here is a download for you, so you can see for yourself. Richard had to rescue one caught in a tumbled wire fence while I ran to and fro trying to find someone who knew the farmer. Even at this young age they are sturdy and Richard had a struggle on his hands, for all his kind words.

Grace was the sister of Rachel and Sarah Spence and all stitched samplers at Ackworth School. To stitch their sampler is in someway to spend time with the girls, tracing a map of their early life when they had no idea what lay ahead. Though similar in their repertoire of motifs, each sampler is distinctly individual - just as the girls must have been. You can discover more about the stunning Spence sisters on Sarah Spence's 1806 Ackworth Sampler.