Tag: textiles

It’s not just for me you understand……

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By that I mean  the large amount of fabric I am about to show you which was purchased at the Malvern Quilt Festival is destined to be used for lots of different gifts and sales items for my Xmas craft fairs so I do not in any way consider that I spent too much money, bought too much fabric or overindulged at all 🙂 I actually think I was very restrained as there was so much more I could have bought had I gone wild and just bought fabric with gay abandon rather than for the specific purposes I had on my list. In fact there was virtually no impulse buying at all apart from some very good bargains.

I am planning to make quilts as presents for the youngest family members this summer, play/cuddle quilts are what I had in mind made with two really lovely ranges from Makower. Firstly the very cute farm animals prints.

Makower farm fabric

Then the Makower pirate range – and I found some fab pirate and sea creature buttons to go on the quilt as well!

pirate fabric

pirate buttons

Both of these fabric sets were on my shopping list and we had already been round all the traders once without seeing them as I was looking for bolts of the fabric when we went round again and found them at the very helpful Cookes Quilting Supplies stall. I have looked on their website before but wanted to actually see the fabric and they were very good at searching out missing coordinating fabrics for me.

I also got some really nice new Xmas patterns for making ornies – look at all these lovelies – all from Goose Chase Quilting who I had not come across before.

Xmas fabric 3Xmas fabric 2

Xmas fabric 4

Along with some very cute Xmas buttons – there are little cookie cutters and gingerbread men in these packs! All these and previous pirate buttons are from Out of Africa suppliers.

Xmas buttons

Ellie also bought some lovely things – some flannel to make a lap quilt and jelly roll to make a duvet cover so she is going to have a busy summer sewing!

As well as the planned stuff there were a couple of impulse bargains –

These cute dinosaur labels £1 for 10 which I thought would make a lovely charity quilt for the hospice so I bought 3 packs.

dinosaur fabric

And a lovely Robert Kaufman fat quarter – I think this is called Holiday Flourish with some more of the fabric I have just used up in my throw.

Xmas fabric 1

I finished the border on the throw last weekend and made the spare panel and another set I cut out into  cushions covers, you can see them in the pictures below – now I have the batting I can put these together and I have also bought a darning foot for my machine so I will be trying out some free motion quilting on these!

Stained glass quilt with border

stained glass cushions

I took lots of pics of the wonderful quilts at the show so will have to sort out some of my favourite to post here later. I thought I would just leave you with a few shots of Malvern railway station – again like Hebden Bridge last week a lovely old station with some fantastic ironwork.

Malvern Station 1

Malvern Station 2

Malvern Station 3

Malvern Station 4

I will try to post again mid-week as we will be away all next weekend – we have a Bank Holiday re-enactment show at Ashby de La Zouche Castle  in Leicestershire so if you are in the area on Sunday or Monday do come along,  it would be lovely to see you.

I hope you all have a lovely week ahead and thanks as always for visiting.

Birthday and the Bard

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This weekend we went to visit Ellie in Worcester as it is her birthday this week. For her birthday treat she wants to visit London and do some more museum visting (goodie!) which we will do later in the year.On Saturday we took a little trip to Stratford-on-Avon so we could visit some of the Shakespeare houses.

For Ellie this was not only a day out but of course a field trip, she is doing a module on musuems at the moment and is very interested from a professional point of view about how things are displayed and how the information is presented. She is currently employed as a conservation assistant at a Tudor house owned by the National Trust in Worcester so was also very interested in how they were looking after the houses and was not impressed by the cobwebs and dust at one of them!

It was a bit dull and cold so apologies for not having nice sunny pics to show you. They also did not allow interior pics in Shakespeare’s house so have only got exterior pics to show you here.



Stratford 1
Primulas outside Shakespeare's house

 

Stratford 2
More arty pics from the garden

 

Stratford 3
Beautiful carvings on the Griffin Inn

 

There were also very few textiles, there were some bedhangings and clothes in the house – Shakespeares’s father was a glove maker so there was a room laid out as his workshop but most of the textiles were very utilitarian apart from some lovely painted linen wall hangings which were very impressive. I did find a lovely blackwork coif in one of the other displays – apologies as it is a bit dark!

Stratford 4
Seventeenth century coif with insect embroidery

We also went out for a meal with Ellie, my sister, nephew Sam, Jake and her friends. She really liked her birthday pressies which I hoped she would, I bought her Cath Kidston’s Stitch and Sew books, another craft /quilting book  Simple Sewn Gifts by Helen Phillips  and some pretty material and cup cake decorations and cases.

Simple Sewn Gifts
Look at those cute little patchwork hearts!

It is brilliant having a daughter who enjoys the same stuff as I do and I am looking forward to borrowing the books as well when she comes home in the summer! I can’t believe that she will be 20 this week (she can’t either!) she is so grown up now and very lovely!

Ellen b day 1
Ellie with her birthday cupcake fixings
Ellie b day 2
Can't fit that many candles on the cake so she had to make do with the words instead!

I have finished the red chunky wool hat so will get some pics of me modelling it – it has been so nice and warm here that hopefully it is going to straight into the drawer. I managed to get lots done to the garden last week and it is lovely and sunny again today, it is so nice to have an extra hour of daylight in the evenings now so I will have chance to do a bit more pottering later on. I am planning a trip to the garden centre this Sun (as it is Mother’s Day) to buy myself some pretty primulas and lillies for the empty pots.

I am working on a cross stitch exchange for Spring so won’t be able to show you that for a while but have also made a good start on my next Xmas ornie – am doing the JBW Xmas pudding – bit late with this one as it was supposed to be the March finish but better late than never!

JBW Plum pudding
It is stitched over one using a single thread so is coming along fast

Hope that you have all had a lovely week and thank you for visiting.

A quiltilicious week!

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I have been doing lots of quilty things this week. Yesterday was International Quilting Day so it is very fitting that lots of my week should have been spent doing these activities.

The  first thing that I completed was this block to give to one of the members of my quilt group. She is making a charity block quilt and last month gave me a piece of cat fabric which I then added to make a crazy patchwork block. I was pleased with the way this turned out in the end as I has to do the join with the dark turquoise triangle in it several times as I could not get the points right. I have done crazy patchwork before when I have made bags but never with so many different angles so it was a bit of a challenge. It has helped improved my machine work which I wanted to get better at.

cat block
You will recognise this fabric from my current quilt WIP - more of this later!

Yesterday I sent the whole day at the quilt group sewing day where I finally managed to get the rest of the pieces cut out and the whole of the top put together except for the borders which are cut. It was very helpful to have advice from the others as I am very spatially challenged so had a bit of difficulty working out which pieces to sew together first but got there in the end and I am very pleased with the end result. Consensus of opinion among the group was that it looks very nice as it is but I did still want to put the rabbit applique on then one of the group suggested making it double-sided with a fleecy backing and putting the rabbit on that side. I thought that was an excellent idea so am now going to source some pale pink fleece to do that.

Bunny Quilt 3
A bit crumpled but looking good

One of the women from the group Christine, runs her own quilting business – she has a long arm quilting machine and also sells fabric and runs workshops and she had brought her wares with her so I had to have a little indulge. I bought this very cute cat fabric and co-ordinates which I thought would be a good children’s quilt – probably be an Xmas pressie at the rate I am going though!

cat fabric 2

cat fabric 1
A close up of the pretty cats

I also bought two different white on white prints to use as contrasts and this cute vintage bunny print. I now have quite a lot of fat quarters and  feel the need to have a nice box to put them all in like  Crazy Mom  has rather than them be in random drawers all over the lounge as I lose track of what I have bought. I want have them all together so that I can see all the different colours which I hope will help me plan more effectively what I want to make.Will have to buy a box and get sorting!

Vintage bunny fabric
Vintage bunny fabric

Kerry and Tracey from my medieval group came for a sewing day today – we haven’t seen each other for a long time so it was great to have a catch up. I didn’t get much done but did sew up the JBW stocking but they both finished little ornaments , Tracey’s was a lavender filled one for her kitchen which made my conservatory smell really nice and Kerry made a lovely Xmas heart ornie for her tree. They bought loads of Xmas fabric stash when we went to Harrogate last Nov so are starting to use that up.

Tracey's heart
Tracey's heart
Kerry's heart
Kerry's heart

Also managed to make three knitting sessions this week which was bit of a miracle so am making very good progress with the red chunky wool hat. The weather was extremely good at the start and the end of the week – though dull and misty in the middle  – so I may finish it just in time for it to go into a drawer for next Winter but at least I will be prepared!

I have been out in the garden twice doing some tidying up after the long soggy cold season but thankfully there is less frost and snow damage than last year so it won’t take so long to get the garden restored. It does gladden my little heart to see all the signs of Spring, my clematis are looking very good so far and the rhododendron are just about to bloom. I have lost a couple of azaleas and a pireus due to frost but will probably just get some nice bright primulas or similar to put in pots as I have a lot of empty ones at present. I have all of next week off work in order to do lots of house stuff so hopefully the weather will be kind and I can get a lot done outside.

Then we are off to Worcester for next weekend to see Ellie as it is her birthday the week after and we have a little history field trip to Stratford-on-Avon planned. I am hoping to come back with some Shakespearean inspired textile pics for you.

I hope you have a lovely week ahead and thank you very much for visiting.

Cold everything but still a warm heart!

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Well in household news today the big story is the fact that my boiler has broken! Hopefully it should be fixed on Weds as the engineer came yesterday and will be back with a new part. Please keep your fingers crossed for me as it is a very old boiler and I am dreading having to replace it! It broke on Friday so I came home after a day out visiting students with very cold toes to no heating or hot water 😦

Luckily we have a spare heater that usually lives in the garage and a gas fire in the lounge so we have been wrapping up warm (hurrah for fleeces and wristwarmers)  and sitting in sleeping bags. It is a good job we are used to being outdoors and are hardy types but it takes me back to a few years ago when the kids were little and we didn’t have central heating ….. I have really got used to being able to come home and get up to a warm house!  It makes me really appreciate warmth. Thankfully Jake’s shower room has an electric shower in so we won’t smell!

I have actually been very cosy the last couple of evenings sitting in my thickest sleeping bag knitting away and have finished another pair of wristwamers, the moss sitch ones that I cast on last week from Creative Yarns . Here they are in all of their lovely pinkness!

Pink wristwarmers
Knitted in Sublime yarn again

Managed to get to my new Tuesday evening knitting group again this week (hurrah) and met even more lovely people and also managed to get into town to pop in to a new yarn shop in Huddersfield that my friend Lydia has opened up. The shop is called Spun  and as well as wool has fabric! I was bemoaning the lack of pretty fabric  for quilting the other day but look what she had. Lydia is also running workshops on all kinds of textile subjects – check out her website for details.

Spun fabric
I have forgotten the name of the brand but it is very pretty!

I did also buy some wool from her – the black is for a hat for Ellie that I cast on yesterday -she wants one like the lilac one I have just knitted for her friend ( I am resizing it this time as the last one was quite loose) and the lovely green is a treat for me – very luxurious Manos yarn that I am intending to make a hat and wristwarmers with.

Spun shop wool
The hat for me is a bit of a priority as I appear to have lost my Noro beret!

I am not doing very well with keeping hold of my accessories as I lost my lovely thick gloves before Xmas and have yet to find a suitable replacement pair – roll on Summer then I won’t need all these things.

My friend Judy (she of the egg cosies!) came round yesterday for a bit of a knit and natter – or in her case rag rug and natter. She went to one of Lydia’s recent workshops and is making this lovely cushion using the rag rugging technique with wool instead of rags.

Judy's hen
Isn't he cute!

The lack of heating has altered my plans for the weekend as it is too cold to be cutting out quilt fabric in the conservatory so I have decided to treat myself to an afternoon of catching up on blog visiting – that won’t be too much of a hardship!

I have quite a busy week ahead but am really looking forward to another weekend with no marking at the end of it ! Things are slowing down a bit at work so am looking forward to stepping up the craft time again!

I do hope you all have a lovely week and thanks again for visiting and for all your comments, that really does give me a very warm heart.

The art of boiling an egg – warning this post contains pictures of breakfast!

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One of the things I like best about the weekend is Sunday mornings – I like to get up late and have brunch which often does involve eggs. I have posted before about the joys of brunch inspired by a website  365 days of breakfast but today I decided that I would have a boiled egg – inspired by an Xmas pressie from my lovely friend Judy which I will show you a pic of later.

 And you know how they say about people who can’t cook ‘she can’t even boil an egg’ well I can cook, I think pretty well, but I had real trouble will the egg so will have to work on the egg boiling skills. It was still edible but had exploded (think I need to add salt to the water next time) and it was not cooked for long enough. So in the pic below there is a stand in egg model used as my real breakfast would not fit in the egg cup!

egg cosy
My Xmas pressie from Judy - an egg cosy

Interestingly the kids did not know what this was when I opened the pressie – I don’t think that we have ever had egg cosies though we have had boiled eggs. I remember having them as a kid and the egg cup that I am using is a genuine vintage one given to me by my mother as an Easter gift (it had chocolate egg in it) circa 1972. I have a pair (I think the other one belonged to my sister originally).

egg cup
How cute!

I don’t really have much vintage china but someone who really does like collecting it is Hen House – she has loads of vintage things in her houses.Go and have a visit!

I am having a very nice weekend – I have been doing quite a lot of work still as I have a lot of marking but have been also been doing some more  knitting and have cast on for another set of handwarmers. I have finished a set of the lilac ones for me – I haven’t taken a pic as they are identical to the last set. The pair I am knitting at the moment are called Moss Stitch Handwarmers – a freebie from Creative Yarns on Ravelry.

This is the progress so far –

Moss Stitch handwarmers
Knitted in Sublime again

The main body of this is knitted in Double Moss Stitch which I have not tried before but I really like. It gives a really good effect especially in the Sublime which is a joy to knit with as it has such great stich definition.

Moss stitch handwarmers 2
Double Moss Stitch - how pretty!

And not only was there lovely knitting last night but lovely knitting while watching the new series of the Tudors! How fab. Despite all the inaccuracies (Jonathon Rhys Meyers is still looking rather dashing and not at all obese ,gouty and plagued by problems with his abscess as he would have been at this stage in his life) I just enjoy it for the costumes and the atmosphere. My only complaint is I have yet to ever find any info about an exhibition of costumes used in the series and would love to go and see some close up – if anyone ever finds out about one please let me know.

If you have not seen it here is the trailer to tempt you – look at all the fab textiles in this! I have just learnt how to embed video into my posts which is very useful!

Well I am off to do a bit more work now then hopefully more knitting this evening – what a nice way to spend a day!

Thanks for visiting.

The art of fabric management

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I am a great believer in buying it when you see it. This is a philosophy that holds true for most of my purchases in life but especially for fabric. This week was of course the long-awaited Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show which I visited with three friends. I made a few (ahem!) purchases – mainly of Xmas fabric again – it is just this time of year, they are all out there and so lovely you just have to.

I think if you like it you should buy it and then you can later think about what you might do with it. I do buy some things with a project in mind – mainly my wool but most of my fabric is bought because I really like it and then later it finds its way into a project – such as my friend’s sewing box a couple of weeks ago.

These are this year’s purchases –

Harrogate shopping 1
Medieval style fabric fat quarters from Sue Schofield of Springwood House Designs

Did not find the Florentine fabric that I used for my friend’s sewing box but these are other fabrics from the same designer Robert Kaufman available from the lovely Sue at Springwood House Designs.

Here is a close up of the red – I can see this coming in handy for lots of projects.

Harrogate shopping 4
It is actually an Xmas fabric but I think it looks very medieval

Also bought some more lovely ribbons from Sue and other suppliers for my baubles and pine cones.

Harrogate shopping 6
Especially like the ones with the stars on at the outer edges of this pic

There were also a few bits of very traditional Xmas fabric bought – these will not be used this year but will be next.

Harrogate shopping 2
These were all from Exmoor Fabrics

 

Harrogate shopping 3
And these from many other lovely stalls

There were so many lovely things – next year I am definitely going to go for two days – one is not nearly enough as we only got to whizz round the exhibition bits where all the students’ work is and I love that.

Lovely daughter Ellie has been home for the weekend and she has been helping my get ready for my Xmas Craft Fair at Oakwell Hall  next weekend. I am very excited about this – my first real venture with my own designs!

Here are another batch of my tree ornies – I have been sewing the braid on these this evening.

More Xmas ornies
Xmas trees or festive hats for gnomes!

I have also made a new batch of Xmas fabric gift bags – thanks to Ellie for sewing on all the ties – but the light was too dim when we finished to take a pic of these so that will have to wait till later.

So a very lovely weekend and lots more lovely fabric to use!

Thanks for visiting.

Simple things

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I have been having a relatively quiet week enjoying the simple things in life as my back has still been a bit sore. Have enjoyed long soaks in a nice hot bubble bath and the relief of getting home after a day’s teaching to lie on the sofa with my knitting. My lovely students bought me a big bunch of flowers as a get well present – aren’t they kind?

Flowers
Especially welcome as they are so bright - a contrast to the dull weather

I have taken delivery of a new edition of one of my recent magazine subscriptions this week so I thought I would share this with you. The magazine is called Piecework  and it comes from the USA. I subscribed a few months ago as I liked the fact that the magazine is a blend of the history of all sorts of crafts and ideas for making new items.

Piecework magazine cover 1
The Nov/Dec issue

Each magazine contains articles and then a project and covers embroidery, knitting, crochet, weaving etc so is perfect for me. I probably won’t get around to making any of the projects anytime soon (due to life interrupting the serious business of playing with textiles!) but love reading them. My favourite from this issue was the article on one woman’s grandmother’s crocheted pillow edgings.

Piecework article 1
The work of Mary Rebecca Spagnola who died in 1944

As regular readers know I  love the social history behind textiles and this was a really interesting article with a crochet pattern to go with it – I wish I could crochet but even if I could I think this would be beyond me!

Piecework article 2
A crocheted fan edging for a pillow

Last edition was all about the links between literature and textiles and include an article on one of my favourite subjects. I have been re-watching Little House on the Prairie and reading lots about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her life after the books ended and there was an article about her daughter Rose Wilder Lane.

Piecework magazine 2
The literature issue

 

Piecework article 2
Rose Wilder Lane article

My friend Kath lent me two books about Rose’s childhood which I read on my recent holiday in Spain. She had a very similar upbringing to her mother in small rural communities but ended up becoming a journalist and travelling all over the world and writing about women’s needlework as well as travel and  industrial change. It was she who encouraged her mother to write all the Little House books. I find their stories fascinating as a record of how the roles of women changed so much in that era. I have one of Rose’s books on my wish list for Xmas – the ‘Women’s Day Book of American Needlework’  and if no-one buys it for me I will treat myself in Jan!

I am getting on well with my quilted Xmas wall hanging and my lace pattern scarf – no finishes to show you yet but they will be done soon! The lace scarf is a real labour of love as it has a 12 row pattern which takes lots of concentration but I am nearly there!

I do have a pic of the latest baby cardigan in Sublime with its recipient. Here is Anna – Mae with her parcel and wearing the cardigan – doesn’t she look lovely! I am so glad that it fits.

Anna Mae 2
She is now nearly 18 months old - isn't she adorable!

Well I am going to be very busy this week with work but am really looking forward to my trip to the Harrogate Knitting and Stiching Show at the end of the week – I have my shopping list and there may well be Xmas fabric on it (as well as lots of stuff to make lovely quilts after Xmas – have been browsing the Makower  site for ideas!)

Thanks for visiting.

Gift for a friend

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It is my lovely friend Taru’s birthday – she of the Marsden Jazz Festival and many other projects. I didn’t know what to get her and finally decided on a stitched gift. Taru doesn’t embroider but I reckon everyone has to mend at some point or another so thought I would make her a little box of sewing tools.

Top of the box
The beautiful fabric is called Florentine
Box side
I think there is only one linen colour but lots of lovely jewel like satin colours available for the box

The box comes from the Viking Loom in York and they have an online order service through their catalogue . The boxes come in linen or satin in various colours, sizes and shapes (including a heart shaped one) and have removable padded lids and lid inserts which you can cover with stitching or fabric. Another good source of containers for stitching gifts is Sew and So who sell the Framecraft metal and ceramic trinket boxes with padded lids that I have used in other projects.

For both lid and insert I cut an oval of fabric, stitched it securely to the lid inserts’  lining fabric and used double-sided tape to secure back to the box. This means that both top of lid and the insert can be used as pin cushions making them ideal stitching gifts. I picked up this fabric at the Harrogate event last year I think, was attracted by its medieval patterns and it has sat in my stash ever since waiting for a suitable project. At some point later,  I forget from where, (so much fabric buying happens in my life!)  I found the same print in a different colourway with just gold which is what I have used for the inside of the lid. The fabric is by a supplier called Robert Kaufman and I have just discovered that they have a website, that could be damaging to the purse! I can’t find this fabric listed but they may still sell it and they also have lots of free quilt patterns!

Box lid
The inside insert acts as a pincushion

Inside the box is a pair of scissors with a scissor keep attached and a needlebook. The scissors I got from the Harrogate event last year again – I usually buy several pairs when I go as they make excellent gifts and buying them in bulk at the shows you get a special price which makes them about a quarter of the cost.

Inside box
There is enough room left to add some cotton for basic repairs

For the scissor keep I did my usual design with a slight alteration to the braid – this particular braid really frays so rather than trying to sew it up to stop it fraying I left two long ends and made tassels which seemed to work better. The ‘T’  initial is from a Celtic alphabet set that I printed from the internet some time ago – sorry due to all the technical issues I have had with PCs recently (solved thanks to lovely daughter’s old laptop) I don’t have the details of where it came from.

Front of scissor keep
This was a very quick and easy stitch - done in Silk Mill thread on evenweave

I made the needlebook by using the two fabrics and putting  a piece of wadding in between so that you have a place to put the needles – I prefer that to putting flannel or felt in as you can see the lining fabric. The back of the scissor keep is the Florentine fabric again.

Back of keep and needlebook
The needlebook has ribbon ties
Inside needlebook
The needlebook lining

I really enjoyed making this and I hope she likes it – and all of this was from my stash – just shows the value of buying things you might need one day! 

Thanks for visiting.

Blue skies and bougainvillea

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Well I have just returned from a lovely week in Spain where there was lots and lots of the above. The whole country is looking very lovely with lots of greenery and of course lovely weather. We went cycling a few times, paddling in the sea (which was very warm and many of the beaches were crowded), out for some lovely meals and relaxed at the house.

My lovely Mum had arranged for a little present for me as she has had the front of my planting area tiled – doesn’t it look pretty! The cactuses have grown really well in the last couple of years. They are a bit of a job to weed though – thick gloves are needed!

Spain - house cactus
My lovely little house in the morning sun
The bougainvillea at the back of the patio is growing very well – a lovely place to eat breakfast in the mornings thinking how lucky I am to be outside in the warm in October.
Spain - bouganvillia 1
It has grown to twice the size it was in April

 We went to the beach quite a few times and there were the amazing sandcastle builders there again – this one had included real foliage for her trees.

Spain - sandcastle
Another wonderful creation on Guardamar beach

We went to Alicante one evening which gave me chance to visit my favourite fabric shop, Julian Lopez. It has the most amazing range including all the brocades and lace used for the festival costumes. And they had some fab Xmas quilting fabric so I just had to indulge myself!

Spain - fabric shop
Fabric heaven Spanish style
Spain - Xmas fabric
Perfect for another Xmas wall hanging

We had a very nice meal at a little restaurant overlooking the marina in Alicante and there was the most wonderful sunset – they were lots of brilliant ones all week but this was the best picture that I got.

Spain - Alicante sunset
And all the lovely big yachts as well

I had a couple of nice afternoons sitting on the terrace knitting – have made good progress with the scarf to go with the hat and wristwarmers set – the pattern is a lace one from a book I got from the Let’s Knit mag.

Spain - knitting
A more complicated lace pattern for me as this is a 12 row repeat

Not an awful lot has been going on since I arrived back as I have managed to put my back out while away so am in a lot of pain. However I have had an exchange ornie arrive from Australia so will take pics of that and post them and the pics of the one I sent soon.

Thank you for visiting.

Berkeley Castle event

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Just thought I would share some pics with you of the last re-enactment event we did at the gorgeous Berkeley Castle in South Glos. The weather was brilliant and we had a fab weekend as always – thanks to Plantagenet Events and all the people who made it possible. 

The boys all enjoyed themselves as usual – here they are marching on to the field – 

Berk 2 - muster
They sound very clanky - pity we don't have surround sound on this blog!

The battle had a new script with some pyrotechnics to start with where a load of carts in the middle of the battlefield were set on fire by burning arrows which gave a lovely (if smoky) start to the battle. 

Berk 3 - battle
With that, the cannons and the hand gunners there was lots to go boom!

None of the fighters from our group could make the event this time so Ellie and I were looking after our friend Andy from the Knights and Freemen group and any other thirsty boys we could see. 

Berkeley - Andy fighting -
Andy having a good fight - pic by Clive Emerson

On Sunday morning I had a little wander round to take pics – I love looking at tents of any kind, modern or medieval but the ones at the big events are just so lovely – the amount of time and effort people put into their kit and equipment is amazing. 

Berk 8 - tents
The medieval encampment below the castle

Below is a pic of one of my faves from the event – I don’t know the owner’s name to give him credit but what a wonderful tent – you can just see his armour on a stand inside the tent. 

Berk 5 - tent
Glamping 15th century style

Here is my friend Jamie’s tent – it takes about 3 hours to set this all up – no quick pitch festival tents here! 

Berk 7 - Jamie's tent
More glamping - complete with double bed and hangings

Here is Jamie in the tent and outside with friends Kat and Richard. Kat is the amazing costume maker who makes fantastic Medieval  and Tudor clothes and headdresses  – please visit her website Kats Hats. 

Berk 6 - Jamie
Jamie with his heraldry - handpainted by another talented friend
Berkeley pic - Kat et al
Jamie, his wife Andrea, Kat, Richard and their adorable daughter Izzy - pic by Allen Williams

Also had a quick look around the market – one of my favourite stalls was there belonging to Excalibur Artifacts – they sell all types of hand weaving equipment and had the most amazing selection of hand-woven braids. I  bought a loom a couple of years ago – just need to find more time in my life so that I can practise! 

Berk 1 - Excalibur
The braids on display outside the tent

I had  a lovely chat with Mike the owner – they do not have a web site but can be contacted on 01252 661533 and by e-mail at excaliburartifacts@ntlworld.com 

Hope you have enjoyed the little tour round the event – thanks for visiting and see you soon.