Hello – I’m Alison, a very happy 50 something and I split my time between my house in Spain and travelling in the UK and beyond. I have retired in2021 from 35 years of teaching, a job that I have really loved, but am also a medieval re-enactor (my pic shows me some years ago in my finery at a banquet), a passionate stitcher and enthusiastic but amateur sewer, knitter and quilter!
I have 2 lovely children, Ellen who is 31 and Jacob who is 27. Ellen did a degree in History, Heritage and Archaeology and after 10 years working for the National Trust is now working as the Assistant Manager at Bassetlaw Foodbank. Jacob finished his degree studies at Middlesborough University doing Multimedia Journalism, spent two years learning Japanese and taking a TEFL course and an MA in TESOL and is now teaching English in Japan. We hope to go and visit him as soon as we are allowed to.
I love camping and am happiest in a field, preferably one with a view of mountains! I have also in the last few years discovered the joys of Steampunk and WW2 re-enactment so am really enjoying putting together costumes for those as well. I have also just passed my driving test and am putting together a little micro camper for future travels.
One of my other great passions is travel, I have so many places that I want to see and that is one of the reasons why I love reading blogs as well, the little glimpses into what life is like in other parts of the world. I love to visit cities in Europe and wander round museums and churches. I am looking forward to a happy retirement doing all of these things.
You can find out more about some these things on my pages or by using the categories on my sidebar. Please leave me a comment as well so I can get to know you.
Stitches of Time 
Hi Alison
Thanks for the comment on my blog. Great blog. Been read your ‘about me’ – you seem a very interesting person. I love mountains too.
I will look in again soon.
Happy knitting – that pile should keep you busy for a while.
TTFN
Thank you so much for stopping by – I have only just started the blog and it is lovely when people visit. Glad you have enjoyed reading it.
Hi Alison! Finally managed to have a look at your blog-and it’s looking great! Thank you for all your help and advice over the past few months at my placement! I hope you have a great summer,I will be roughing it in a tent also next Thursday for a few days at Download festival-ready to ROCK! haha! I am on facebook if you want to have a look at my work, under Gemma Luz.
Take care, Gem x
Thanks for visiting Gemma – good luck with next year and if you need anything just let me know.
Hi Alison
I cam across your website whilst looking for help on making my own Medieval Princess costume for our youth groups party of light at out church , this next sat 31st october !!
I have never used a sewing machine before and have just had a play this week and I think Im ok with it , ish !!
Well Im going to try make my own dress, I have this beautiful bed cover which we dont use anymore because its a double and we now have a king size , and I would love to use it !!
If your free , do you have any tips please !!!
Regards !!!
Lea, god bless x
Hi hun,
Great website, very inspirational am looking forward to Jan, Kerry, Lynn and me ok so far and am still working on Bev.
Keep up the brilliant work, oh and thanks for xmas pressies love ’em.
Hello Tracey Thanks for your comments – glad you like the site- we can go ahead with the Jan weekend even if Bev is not free as least Kerry can get a start on her stitching then. Glad that you liked your pressies. See you soon Alison x
Hi Alison,
I’d no idea you where into this, I thought it was strictly numbers.
Well that is so cool. You are obviously very diverse and creative!
Thanks for taking part at the pop up art event!
Jim
Hi Alison
I was a bit disappointed with my placement today. One of my classes is closing due to funding, so I thought I will look for something to take my mind off it. So, I stumbled onto your bolg and it’s very reach and inspiring. I love it. I think I will start my own blog along these line since I love knitting as well.
Happy stitching
Juliet
Hello Juliet
Lovely to hear from you – thanks for visiting and I am glad that you like the blog. I love reading everyone’s posts from all the blogs I visit and it is very good therapy! Sorry to hear about the class closing and yes I do think you should start your own blog as I’m sure people would love to see your knitting.
See you soon.
Thanks
Alison
Just stopped by while doing some research into Goldwork.
Lovely, interesting blog and beautiful stitching.
Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you very much Chris – have not done a lot of goldwork recently but have a project that I have been wanting to do to match my tudor rose – a pomengrante which was the symbol of Catherine of Aragon so I will have to move that to the top of the list I think – it would make a good winter project for those long evenings in front of the TV I think!
Alison
Alison,
My name is Alice, I am currently working on debveloping a medieval festival at Harewood House, Yorkshire in June next year and during my research I came across your blog. I wondered if you might be willing to allow me to pick your brains?
Hello Alice
Would be happy to help – you can either put comments here or e-mail me alison.gorf@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks
Alison
Dear Alice,
Its great to come across your blog and to get to know of Project Nepal. I personally would like to acknowledge your efforts and contributions in/for Nepal and her children.
We are a newly established organization working towards better communication skills of citizens of Nepal through linguistic approach. Since i read that you are involved in and running education support program in rural parts of the nation, just wanted to ask you if Nepal Scrabble Club programs can be one of self-development and learning modality your peer group can involve in. Kindly let us know. You can find the detail in our blog as well, however, a correspondence will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Ramesh
Nepal Scrabble Club
nepalscrabbleclub@gmail.com
love all your stitchwork
I do not know anything about historic costumes, but in Finland we have:
Airing national costumes1
Airing national costumes2
Do You have national costumes?
Have a good day!
Hello Sartenada, thanks for the links to the costume pictures, they look beautiful. We visited Norway a few years ago and loved the costumes there. Sadly we do not have any national costume in England, there is a Welsh and Scottish one but few people wear the Welsh one though Scottish tartan and kilts are worn for celebrations and weddings.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Hi Alison, I’m a very proud owner of one of your pouches that I bought at Yarndale last year. I hope your friend that sold it for you told you that it’s new home is on the Gold Coast in Queensland! I just love the colours and the Liberty. And would you believe it’s looking after one of my current projects – a gift from my niece of a Jenny of Elephantz/Tilda project.
I was wondering if you could help me as I’d like to make some pouches as gifts and could you recommend somewhere I could find the pattern. I did read you went to a course. Many thanks, Louise
Hello Louise, that is lovely to hear and what a coincidence that you have a Jenny project on the go. I do have a couple of tutorials that I use for the pouches – this one is for the one with plain zips http://www.jedicraftgirl.com/2013/06/my-favorite-zipper-pouch-tutorial.html and this is for the flower lace zips http://www.emkiedesigns.com/diy-a-decorative-and-functional-lace-zipper-pouch/. I did go on a course to make the open project bags but you can find the tutorial here as well https://www.fflib.org/sites/default/files/content/events/files/1hourbaskettutorial_aiid1511874.pdf
I just vary the sizes to make bigger or smaller ones, as long as you keep everything in proportion it is fine.
Thanks so much for leaving the comment,it is lovely to know where things end up.I really love making pouches and bags and I am so pleased that other people like them too.
Alison
Just discovered your blog whilst looking through Pintrest. I’m so pleased! We share quite similar interests, including being a Barbie girl ;)!
Love Medieval clothing, I made several items for my daughter’s wedding a few years ago, as well as a Steampunk outfit for her handfasting ceremony. Looking forward to seeing your completed outfit and reading your next blog.
Doria
Hello Doria, welcome to my blog and thank you so much for commenting. I am busy finishing off the skirt for the outfit at the moment and really looking forward to seeing all the other costumes, Steampunk is brilliant fun for that!
I just ran across your blog when searching the Steampunk Liechtenstein ladies. I enjoyed reading about your wonderful building trip in Nepal. Is the Scouts group you mention for adults? I’m an American living in Germany. I became involved in Venetian carnival costuming a few tears ago and am now working on Steampunk costumes. I’m hoping to make it to one of the fabulous Steampunk events in the UK
Hello Madonna
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment, it is lovely to meet new people. The group that went to Nepal were all group leaders so it was not an actual adult Scout group. I love doing Steampunk and glad that you enjoy it too. Lincoln is an amazing event if you can make it to that one.