Little red......

Early this morning I was greeted with a lovely little red squirrel running across the garden path.
By the time I had grabbed the camera he was away up the oak tree.
Usually they jump from tree to tree searching for autumnal food, but this time he decided to come back down....

Obviously as I am not a proper wildlife photographer with a zoom lens...he is a little difficult to see and so blooming fast too...

However, if you click on the photo it should enlarge sufficiently to see that he is quite a handsome chap.

Dark ginger with a lovely black tail....

Probably a young squirrel as he looks to be in fine condition...

Off and away across the boulders....

And round the side of the house to another oak tree in the front garden......

We are lucky to live in an area that still has a population of reds (albeit small) and I feel privileged to have them so close to the house, however the threat of the greys is still there, competing for food and carrying a virus that is deadly to the little reds. 

Just this Spring there were increased sightings of grey squirrels in the vicinity, probably young males in search of new territory.

This prompted our local red squirrel protection society to issue humane traps which I took delivery of having spotted a big grey running along our fence.

However, the only thing I have caught so far is a belligerent hedgehog who refused to uncurl...I had to shake it out in the finish!

Hope you have a glorious weekend...from  lovely, sunny Northumberland...

 

Bye for now,

Julie x

Worth getting up for.....

A small Victorian box with the original paper lining.....

A selection of  frayed edge, embroidered mats in varying shades of red......

A very large serving spoon.....

A drawstring cotton bag with an attached lead seal which once held tobacco.

The front gives the details of the tobacco company....Hartley and Son, Vaalbank, Transvaal, with the added instructions "To report to us if you find the lead seal has been tampered with"

Health and Safety would certainly approve of that one.

Unlike the reverse, which is an endorsement of the Hartley Tobacco....

A well known medical practitioner writes :-

"I have met lots of men who swear by your Tobacco and I myself, a Medical Practitioner, after a sufficiently long personal trial of it, have recommended it widely to my patients"

How we have moved on from 100 years ago.....unlike today's cigarette packets with their blunt message...smoking kills!

Finally, a lovely turkey red and white country quilt with simple, hand stitched quilting.....

And an almost hidden repair...... which I didn't see until I started taking the photos.

So..... all worth getting up for at 4am on a Sunday with an hour and a half drive to Cumbria in the horrible dark?

I know, I must be mad.!


Enjoy your week,
Julie x

Patches, pictures, pots and boots.....

A star patchwork cushion cover, a 1940's embroidered cottage garden picture, a large Emma Bridgewater serving bowl and 6 tiny, hand painted plates provide a bit of colour this morning.

The bowl is from the E B Collectors Club collection with pretty sponged hearts on the inside and also around the outside....lovely for salad or pasta.

These little French plates have a sweet, naive quality with their quick brushstrokes of blue and red..... 1920's with a printed mark...Atelier Primevera.

A typical 1940's embroidered picture on fine linen of a garden with a terrace and steps leading to a lily pond. The flowers are all done in different stitches.

And a patchwork cushion cover, beautifully made with diamonds pieces creating a star pattern.


At the other end of the colour scale and in the muted corner is this quirky, 1940's embroidered picture of girl, waggling her finger and the words......

Oh no John...NO!

The mount and linen are quite foxed, but I still think it is a great piece.

A pair of the tiniest little child's Jodphur boots, well worn, but oh so cute....I can just see a little one on a Shetland pony.... Thelwell style.....

And another patchwork cushion cover  from the same hand I would think...this time, hexagons in muted colours

The inside of these cushions are quite a work of art.....

For someone to be able to cut out and sew these scraps of fabric into a pattern is admirable and gets my approval every time, whether it is vintage or modern patchwork.....I just wouldn't have the patience.

Enjoy the rest of the week...I am getting ready for Rheged on Sunday....pricing, packing...the usual preparation before a Fair. Boring....I much prefer the set up and display!

Back soon,
Julie x

Out of my comfort zone.....

Out of my comfort zone completely with this bright yellow, (the photos don't capture the lurid quality....)  "in your face" fabric panel of fruit sitting on long stemmed, pinky red vases.....

Hand printed on a heavy weight cotton....the end showing work in progress

Another piece of printed fabric, this time with a brown window pattern background and stylised jugs....

The reverse has numbers and writing,

Not being au fait with this type of fabric at all, I am at a bit of a loss for date....is it 50's, 60's or 70's perhaps?
Is it screen printed or block printed?
And should it happen to be a rare piece of Henry Moore or Lucienne Day how would I know?
Any advice would be very welcome.

Something I do like however, is this signed artists proof print of a cat with kittens in a basket.....

In its original oak frame, signed Clifford Webb ..."Family Life" 2/30

Unusual for me as I am most definitely a dog person....cats make me sneeze.... but I do think it is a charming subject and I love the soft colours.

Hope you all have a comfortable weekend,
Julie x

Textile treats....

I managed to acquire some lovely old textiles recently....this pretty, floral chintz bag with loop handle.....

Old press stud fasteners keep it firmly closed....

Opened reveals a faded, green chintz interior.....

With super duper poppers!

Two long lengths ( over 7 metres ) of charming, 19th century French bed drapes.....

With a hand sewn frill to the bottom....that is going to take me ages to iron.

Gorgeous pillowcases with huge initials JP that I think will have to be secretly pressed into service in a Cloth Shed bedroom....

And finally....a large piece of unused black and white mattress ticking and a large feather filled cushion made from old Toile....

I love these pictorial fabrics with their tale to tell, however, I am not sure whether the boy is trying to move the donkey and cow along with the big stick or throw it for the dog to "fetch"....

Have a lovely week,
Back soon,
Julie x