Monday 19 November 2012

Storks and Scenery

One of the bonuses of being back in the UK is that we can nip down South to visit our boys whenever we like. Another bonus is that they might just happen to live near charming fabric shops like this one!

Of course it would have been rude to take a photo without making a purchase, so a few FQ's might just have found their way into my bag :)

Our trip wasn't all shopping themed though, we manage to fit in a riverside walk at Henley on Thames, scene of the renowned Henley Royal Regatta, too. (There was an excellent fabric warehouse there too but I will tell you all about it in a later post!).



In the lovely village of Wallingford in Oxfordshire we had fun poking around an antique and vintage arcade. We were amused to find that free cereal bowls that our boys collected when they were younger, and still use when they come home, were for sale on one of the stalls. Perhaps we should have a look through our cupboards to see if there are any hidden gems!

I came across these vintage needlecraft magazines at one of the stalls too.

The Good Needlework was tempting but it didn't seem to have the embroidery transfers listed with it so I thought better of it. My knitting skills are not up to attempting any of the patterns just yet.

I did though attempt the paper-pieced Stork pattern that my lovely, blogging friend Kristy drew up for me for this month's Star of Africa Bee block. Nicky, whose month this is, asked for blocks based upon fairytales or folk tales. The pattern was really straightforward, any mistakes are entirely down to me! You can check out more of  Kristy's fabulous patterns in her Craftsy store



As my stash is still hidden away at the back of the storage unit I had real trouble finding some black fabric for the wing. In the end I resorted to cutting a piece out of my son's shirt! I am hoping he doesn't read this blog :)

In Eastern Europe storks are considered very lucky and people go to great lengths to ensure that storks return to the same nests year after year.

We were always delighted in our drives through the Baltic States to spot stork nests, especially in the Springtime with hungry chicks peering over the top.  The nests were often surprisingly close to the roads, so stork-spotting was never that difficult.  There are apparently black storks in Latvia but they are much more elusive!

Nicky has also asked for a signature block made to resemble a book spine so that is next on the to-do list.

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend too.

Linking up to BOM's AwayMonday Link-up and  Sew Modern Monday

22 comments:

  1. There is no way I could walk past 'Darn It & Stitch' and not go in!!! The stork block is FABULOUS!!! You're probably safe re your son not reading your blog, but what about when he goes to wear his shirt... LOL!!! I think it's worth any reaction he has.

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  2. ohh!!!!! Oh, you made me laugh hard for real, cutting a piece of fabric from your son's shirt. It can be dangerous living with a quilter. lolol!! Very nice stork block there.

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  3. I could not have passed that shop either. What fun!

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  4. What a great outing. It's always nice to for an adventure to include fabric :)

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  5. What a cute store, and the block is adorable!

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  6. What a cute store front. I hand't been able to pass it up either. The stork block is fabulous. I really made me laught that you cut up your son's shirt. I hope he notices the whole before he goes out wearing it (lol).

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  7. You're making me homesick!! And the stork is lovely - there's a little village in the Alsace where we go wine tasting and there's a stork pair that nests on top of the church every year. I can never get over how large their nest is!

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  8. I really missed the storks when we lived in California, but now back in Germany I spotted some this year! Your block is fabulous!

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  9. Aww that shop is really cute. Excellent stork block as well!

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  10. Huh, all those years umpiring at Henley and no-one ever mentioned the fabric shop!

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  11. Ooh your stork block turned out fabulously! I especially like the pilfered shirt touch hehehe!

    I love seeing the travel photos you post - how sweet does that fabric shop look! I definitely would have had to stop in too!

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  12. oh please let me know next time you come south. especially if you want company i assume you went to lady sew and sew? thats only about 40 minutes from me!!!!!

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  13. Wow! What gorgeous gorgeous scenery! You live in such a beautiful place : )

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  14. Now I'm missing home! Loving the stork block :)

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    1. Amazing block - thank you so much! He is gorgeous! I met quite a few of his friends in Alsace at a breeding centre. Hope he brings me luck too!

      And what a great friend to come up with this intricate pattern!

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  15. Hey how did you get such lovely weather...? I love the photos.

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  16. That is a great shop name! And your stork is adorable!

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  17. What a lovely place to live. That's really a great block!

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  18. Love the cute store! Great pictures :)

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  19. The store just begs you to come in! Love that stork- amazing work --hey you gotta do what you gotta do--your son didn't really like that shirt right? haha

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  20. Your stork block is fab! And I love his upcycled wing! You certainly seem to find great shops wherever you go :)

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  21. Beautiful photos, and I love the stork block! I'm jealous about the awesome trip and cute little fabric stores you were able to visit.

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