Making fabric and a visit.

Yesterday I was determined to finish the waterwheel  blocks for the frogs quilt. I wasn't happy with some of the seams so I unpicked most of them and resewed them  I finally got them finished and looking almost presentable. Sometimes making a block is so easy and at other times nothing seems to go right. 

I was going to make the next two blocks but there were so many pieces needed that I put the pattern away and pulled out some of my scraps. I wanted to make some fabric from the scraps. To be precise to make some 9 inch  blocks to use up the scraps and then to add sashing around each block before sewing them together into a  quilt top.

It was fun to start making these blocks but it's trickier than I thought. I'll hopefully have time to work on this tomorrow.

I had been checking through my fabric stash and found some red corduroy. I bought this some time ago with the intension of making a skirt. I found my favourite skirt pattern and got it cut out. I may even have time tomorrow to get it sewn together. The pattern requires a zip to be inserted but other than that it's just straight seams.

On Wednesday John and I visited Osterley House, a National Trust property.  The view of the front as we walked from the car park alongside the lake.

We arrived a little before the house opened but that was no problem as we both wanted a coffee and a pastry . We sat in the sun to enjoy our coffee and then we did a walk around the formal garden. This is the view of the back of the house from the meadow.

The formal gardens are off to the left of the house.  At the left corner of the house there was a fabulous area full of daisies. It bought back memories of making daisy chains as a child and also teaching my children how to make them

Before we entered the formal garden area we passed this huge oriental plane tree.

The gardeners were in the process of moving these lemon trees out of the building behind.

                     

I'm not sure what this plant is but it is  beautiful.

This giant milk thistle was fun. The area was in the process of being redesigned. These were bught into the UK as ornamental plants.

There were a lot of poppies around the area.

The main flower garden is being turned into an orchard. They no longer use the cut flowers in the house.

The house currently has an exhibition running until November 1st.  The main exhibition is 'Journeys - Global Textiles from the Karun Thakar Collection.This exhibition showcases over 70 intricately embroidered wedding shawls, baghs, and phulkaris from undivided Punjab. He has been an avid collector since childhood. His collection is internationally recognised for focussing on antique textiles and dress. It has examples from India, Japanese folk textiles, Afghanistan costume, West and North African textiles and weaving.

There were shawls in most of the open rooms. Some of the statues on display served as mannikins.  I've just picked my favourites to show you but I've also included a few things from the house. Most of the shawls will have been embroidered by women and young girls. 

I liked this mosaic table top . The pieces are so small

Some of the shawls had more embroidery than others. It's a good job I wasn't doing the embroidery as it would still be waiting to be finished.

Here's a closer look at the stitching.

I liked the animals and birds on this one.

This beautifully embroidered sofa or settee was at one end of the long gallery with a second facing it from the other end.

Here is a close up. The family who built and owned the house were said to be the third richest in the country. 

I liked the simplicity of the pattern on this shawl.

The stitching was impressive and so even.

This shawl was fun.

There were several  items in glass cases in the long gallery including this delicate ivory boat. Trying to get photos was difficult because of the lighting.

An embroidered cushion on the settee at the other end of the long gallery. The snail is fun.

I'm not sure if this is a bird or a mythical beast. Whatever it is the stitching was really good.

A tapestry chair covering.

This room was very dark to preserve the tapestry. They were made in  Paris and the tapestries covered all the walls.

I was told that this is one very expensive bed. It certainly looks impressive. There was a lot of stitched items in the room including the bed coverings 

and the drapes.

With all the intricate stitching I was vey interested to hear that the owner insisted that his daughters first embroidery had to be in the room. Unfortunately I can't remember how old she was when she made it. I love it when parents insist on having their children's work on display. It's also about family. We have art done by my father and brother and embroidery / cross stitch completed by my mother and me on the walls in our house. Here is the daughter's embroidery.

As you can see some of the fabric is not in the best shape. This is from the top part of the bed.

I liked this shawl but it would have taken a lot of time to make.

I meant to take a photo of the wrong side of the fabric to show you that it looked as beautiful as the right side.

We enjoyed the exhibition and the walk round th house and garden.  When we left Osterly we headed for Kew Garden as we wanted to see the Henry Moore sculptures that are currently on display there, but more of that another day.

This morning I did a little work on my dolls house, no photos at the moment but it's slowly all coming together. I'm about to make a late lunch and then do some more sewing. I hope you day is going well.

Take care

Lyndsey