Jane Austins House.

While I am here in Winchester I really wanted to visit Jane Austins House.
It is in Chawton, Hampshire not too far for a morning out.
I spent a pleasant half hour driving on quiet roads and beautiful countryside to get there and Oh,what a treat!!

First a walk around the garden, we are having beautiful sunny weather with temperatures around 23C so I sat awhile as Jane would have done and admired the flowers.

I found this lovely lady all colour co ordinated with the border as she picked out the weeds. She told me that all the plants are left to self seed to give this joyous array.

I was intriged by the Dye Plant Garden and the fact that they Jane and her sister dyed there linens to give them a longer life.

What a pretty house it is....

This is the kitchen, it smelled of Lavender and Herbs...

I made a lavender bag and wrote with a quill...

Here is the table where Jane did her writing using the light from the window..

also in the parlour is a dining table with this embroidered quote from Jane, how right she is.

Upstairs is the very small room she shared with her sister, there father bought them each one of these beds from a company in Basingstoke. It did look a cosy place to sleep...

all there toilet needs were performed in this tiny space, just a cupboard in the room really.

 and finally, the coverlet made by Jane and her Mother this is what really came to see, it is truly exquisite, I love the colours and all the different fabrics.

the border has hundreds of tiny diamonds really stunning.

What a lovely day out, I wish you all could have been with me, but at least with the power of the internet you can share my visit, hope you enjoyed it too.

xox Angela.

Quilts and bears.

I've been busy with the blocks for my '9 of Hearts quilt'and have decided to use the quilt as you go method. I'm working in rows of three blocks and will join them all together to complete the quilt.
I often use this way of quilting as it makes each piece so easy to handle and I can vary the backing fabric.

Here is my appliqued heart. I used a printed nine patch for the background. I really enjoyed needleturning this, something I haven't done for a while. As I quilt I'm going to add more embellishements, no ideas yet, it will just 'evolve'.

I love this wonderful red against the brown linen look fabric. you can just see a peek of the backing, it a plaid homespun.


I hope to get lots of work done on this over the next two weeks. I'm off to Winchester to run my friends Bed and Breakfast while she has a holiday. I hope to show you lots of this beautiful city while I'm there.

Lets not forget the bears!!

                    This is 'Lottie' a patchwork bear with a heart of gold....

   and this is 'Arthur' who is made of wool and is a little worn and frayed.
                  (sorry for blurry pic... camera wobble)

I'm off now to do a little more research on my family tree, something I've always wanted to do. So far I have found Russian and Irish connections, exciting eh!!

Have a great week. xox Angela.

9 Of Hearts.

At last I'm able to post again. I've changed my internet provider and hit a few problems. it's all sorted now so I'm back.


I've made several versions of my '9 of Hearts' Quilt, each one different. Some have been sold so I only have two left in my collection.

This little one was made around 2003 and still is one of my favourites.

Each heart has been cut differently and needleturned before using embroidery stitches to embellish.

This one is larger and hangs in my bedroom. Each heart is embroidered and a little quote has been sewn around each one.

I had enough scraps of fabric to make this sort of 'crazy' heart which is in a frame, simple piecing and  lots of stitching .

I've decided to revisit '9 of Hearts' using this beautiful French General fabric by Moda.

It's been sitting patiently waiting to be sewn and now I have the inspiration.

Keep watching my progress.

xox Angela.

At last a finished quilt and new dolls.

It's finished at last, I left Ediths quilt hanging on her cot before I left London.

I stitched and stitched to be able to complete it.

I decided it would be nice with a curved border and added a label on the back.

I need to add the time she was born and her birth weight when I next visit.

These are two Raggedies that I made for each of my Grandaughters.

One had to be washed and her hair felted but I rather like her new look.!!..

Beau, the cat, had to be included too.

Back home and I'm working on some new Prim dolls.

The first is 'Lavender'

She works in the lavender fields and so smells divine.

She has a checked homespun dress and a woollen shawl.

She  is rag stuffed and always carries a Lavender bag.

She makes and sells pretty scented doll bowl fillers.

All my quilting friends need a Guardian Angel.

She is the keeper of lost pins and needles and can sooth those sore fingers.

She can help you get the smallest stitches and the neatest points.

                           Who wouldn't love to have her near!!


 She sits on her own little four patch quilt in faded colours and has her little mouse for company.

I have used a pattern from My Primitive Saltbox. Thank you so much to a wonderful designer.


We have lots of April showers here at the moment so it's nice to keep dry and keep stitching**!!!***.


Have a great week,
xox Angela.

Beautiful threads and Spiders silk.

I'm in London for two weeks looking after my son's cat while he is on holiday in Canada with his wife and daughters.


Yesterday I visited the Handweavers Studio in Finsbury Park.

Shelves full of beautiful threads, cotton, rayon, wool, silk, it's a needlewomans dream.

Today I went out in search of inspiration.
A few stops on the tube and I'm in Knightsbridge heading towards the Victoria and Albert museum.

First things first, a cup of coffee in this amazing cafe.

This fabulous room is a feast for the eyes. I love the contemporary lighting amongst the Victorian splendor.

Next to the glass galleries to research a Bohemian glass vase that I have owned for many years.

Again the mix of modern and traditional is very clever.

This is the gallery above the main exhibit.

I have always enjoyed visiting the textile galleries alas they are being moved to another part of London so I had to settle for the Theatrical costumes.

The work on this piece is wonderful but difficult to capture on my camera.

Finally, the thing I really went to see,

A golden cloak made from the silk of the female Golden Orb spider. Having seen this on TV I wanted to see it for myself.

This is part of the design drawing.

Part of a large shawl,

and a close up of the fringe.

It is truly awe insiring and a work of art.

I'm back home with the cat who was pleased to see me and I'm settling down to do a little hand stitching.

Happy Easter,

xox Angela.

A new mouse.

I've been playing with the mice again and created 'Ida May', she loves to quilt although she's a little short sighted. Here she is after spending her day at the local quilters get together. She's ready to put her feet up and enjoy  a cup of tea and a piece of chocolate cake!!

This gal is a prototype, there are things to change next time I make her. She can only get better.

I have a few wool needlekeep kits left after my teaching trip to London.

They are for sale on Etsy, just click the link on my side bar if you would like one.

Have a good weekend.

xox Angela.

The Quilted Yurt.

I'm just back from teaching at Stitch and Craft in London a little tired but full of ideas for my next projects.

I wanted to show you this wonderful creation. I loved it!!
Made by Linzi Upton you can read about her here.

Inside is huge,
a couple of vintage chairs
a rug,
a picture
and the dining table
to make cosy
and just like home.

the roof has wonderful bands of colour...

Couldn't you just be happy spending time here!!!!

Hope all is well with you all, I'm busy catching up with all your posts.

xox Angela.