I found something relaxing to make last night. I had intended to work on the Peter Rabbit x-stitch, but all the threads were in my big box upstairs, so I reached for this instead and had fun cutting out and starting to sew Mrs Cat's dress. I am sure Rosie will love her.
The instructions say to do a chain stitch across the pocket, to make it look woven. In the afternoon I did a 3 more blocks for the new quilt for my bed.
It requires 40 blocks, and then will make up quickly as these in rows with plain long rows in between. I think I have enough navy Strawberry Thief for the plain rows.
Now, back to St George's church at Brinsop . . .
There was a nice piscina just inside the door, which was used for booklets about the Wordsworth Connection.
A beautifully sculpted memorial to William Dansey of Brinsop Court.
Something else in a window aperture . . .
There were quite a few photographs by way of illustration of the page from Kilvert's Diary. I just took snaps of a few.
St Faith, with the grid on which she was put to death. There's a cheerful thought . . .
Apologies for the lack of clarity in some pages - my phone camera is not the best. That poor boy, seeing his beloved dog hanging lifeless from the tree . . . You think they might have shot him instead, and hastened his death. (The dog that is, not the child!)
In my teens, once I started work, I bought a little paperback diary of Dorothy Wordsworth. Sadly, it was in the downsizing cull before we moved here.
However, having perused THIS book, on display in the church, I came home and found the cheapest copy online and treated myself . . .
Have a good week all.
Mrs Cat is gorgeous, I am very sure she will be treasured for years to come. xx
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying sewing her. May unpick the flower heads though as I am not happy with those. Being a perfectionist . . .
DeleteI did, and gave them yellow centres too.
DeleteThat was indeed a sad tale about the dog, the dove less so but dramatic nevertheless. The Wordsworth did indeed get around on their walking tours but I suppose that if you didn't take to horseback, walking was one other option.
ReplyDeleteI think people just walked in those days. Not everyone kept a horse and it was just the accepted way of getting about over shorter distances (e.g. not like going to a big city from the depths of the countryside). Kilvert would happily walk 20 miles or more a day.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteMany years ago now, Friends of ours owned the Kilvert Gallery at Clyro and so these many references to Francis Kilvert brought back many happy memories of fun times spent with them. Kilvert was indeed a remarkable chronicler of life in the Welsh March and one can glean so much information about Nature, architecture and people of the times.
The stained glass windows look particularly fine in the church. Like you, we love to try and spot the attributes of saints to identify them. St. Catherine and her wheel is a particular favourite but all rather gruesome.
Ah, I remember going in there to satisfy my curiosity as to what the house was like inside! I have read his diaries over and over and it is like stepping back in time.
DeleteI had a bit of help on the Saints in this church, and how did I miss the window of St Francis of Assisi surrounded by birds?
I love the way they found photos to illustrate the diary page but the story of the hung dog is a bit gruesome.
ReplyDeleteI do like it when churches have information boards inside with more about the history , helps to understand the past.
Yes, when I go back (and I SHALL), I will take photos of them all, and the windows and carvings I missed!
DeleteThe little felted cat is so sweet and I always think your quilting is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wealth of information about that church, lovely to read, creepy paintings on the wall though!
Alison in Devon x
Well, a busy day today and I've only done one block but I'll get there in the end. It was a very interesting little church. The Doom paintings in several other churches I've been to are really horrid with people being pitched into the flames of hell by little demons.
DeleteThank you for a very interesting post. I’m a Kilvert fan and really appreciated those photos relating to the text. Charmaine
ReplyDeleteI have much older posts on Kilvert and Kilvert-country. I will try and resurrect some over the winter (if I remember!)
DeleteI have to wonder how many more churches are there that Kilvert visited that are not listed on the Clerics trail that I completed on. I’m not even sure if the Kilverty society listed them
ReplyDeleteI guess a fair few. Did you go to the little chapel/church up the lane and across a field behind the Rhydspence in? You need to get the key from a bungalow nearby. Not done that one yet. It was one of his favourite places to preach apparently.
DeleteI can tell by your writing that the love and enthusiasm you have for needlecraft is the same I hold for my drawing and illustrations. Being creative is the best cure for any issue (it is for me).
ReplyDeleteChurches are full of history and knowledge as they traditionally kept all the local records, usually its the oldest building in the area too. As a lover of local history I find them to be full of wonder.
I love to be creative. Have had difficulties whilst nursing Keith and since his death, but long winter evenings are a good time to pick up the needle again. Note - I even did a drawing for a Thank You card for my friends. Must Do More!
DeleteI love that kit you are making.
ReplyDeleteInteresting connections with the church and literature.
God bless.
I shall start on Mrs Cat's face tonight.
DeleteYes, I was quite amazed at how much history that quiet little church had to offer.
Wow, what a beautiful church and they are clearly and rightly proud of the Wordsworth connection. How lovely to see photographs of the people mentioned in Kilvert’s diary.
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask if you had read Dorothy’s journals. We had (probably still have) a two volume set in the bookshop -not cheap because they are nicely bound and in good condition, early 20th century I think. I often used to dip into them during odd quiet moments. They were on the same shelf as various editions of Kilvert’s diary which I found creepy. I know you appreciate him and I agree his records of church and domestic life in the Marches are invaluable but there is something about his personality that comes across in his writing that prickles me!
Thank you and others for kind understanding. No words can describe how I feel about it. It is the worst time.
I have four hedge cutters here today, one’s a young lad of 16 and I’ve just given him a spade for him to dig out the three dead box balls from under the pergola. The ground is soft from the rain so he might enjoy the challenge - or he might need a pick axe! Otherwise it’s a day of endless tea, bacon sandwiches and flapjacks. I always feed outdoor workers well!
And like you I started a sewing project at the weekend. As an early birthday present I bought myself an Ehrman cushion kit. Mindless tent stitch and seeing the colours emerge and blend together will be soothing. It’s a gorgeous richly coloured design by Raymond Honeyman and will be made into a cushion for my pink linen chair, muchly faded as it’s 33 years old and was made in Sussex!
The Rood screen book looks interesting. I went to church on Sunday to St Richard’s in Burton Park (the big house was a school in the 20th century and was converted into very fancy apartments and all the ancillary buildings converted into houses in the 1990s) but the little church is a delight and the walk through the woods from Burton mill pond is a delight. The path is firm all year as the owner before the school arrived post- WWII had this track tarmaced in order to have an alternative driveway for his Rolls Royce up to the house. I’m guessing his chauffeur would pick him up from Fittleworth station and it would be really lovely drive. My imagination knows no bounds! Oh yes, the little church still has its Rood screen - a rare survivor in Sussex. Sarah x
You are in my thoughts daily, as I know how it feels to see the love of ones life weakening and getting closer to death. I am pleased that other folk who read my blog have reached out to you.
ReplyDeleteThe Raymond Honeyman cushion cover sounds gorgeous. I'm with you on the mindless stitching - I feel the same way when making paper pieced hexies . . .
I am looking forward to my book. It will lengthen considerably the list of churches I want to visit though!
Like you I have had my hedge cut today - just one chap, who has done a grand job - though it took him several hours. He's done the Autumn tidy of the orchard and bottom triangle too, and I was delighted to find a well grown Copper Beech sapling in the orchard. I'd not noticed that when it was surrounded in waste high grass!
I've just looked up St Richard's Church in Burton Park. What a darling church - so much character. A delight indeed.
Mrs Cat is darling! I love small kits like that to have on hand. And your quilt looks like it will be beautiful.
ReplyDelete