
Monday, 5 October 2009
Sewing and Harvesting!

Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Springtime Capers and Ripping Yarns
Bank Holiday Weekend: an invigorating time spent with jolly good friends in Cornwall, lashings of ginger cake and bracing jolly japes on the beach.
Wholesome activities were interrupted briefly whilst I tore a calf muscle in a mad cap game of rounders on the sands. I could only hobble sideways afterwards as everyone else tittered at my predicament.
Husband practised his first aid bandaging skills so that my leg looked like a version of Pudsey Bear's bad ear. Nice try luv.
Still managed to enjoy plenty of Easter Sunday champagne and Puilly Fumee. They go well with Neurofen!
Watched a little black lamb born one afternoon - miracle of emerging life always moving.
Finished another Moon Patch for the monthly Lunar Quilt. This one signifies the signs of the Zodiac as I have been planting my seeds according to the biodynamic calendar this year. The moon in the middle is a nice piece of wild silk which has a shot of purple through it although this is impossible to photograph!
Have excuse to stitch for a change with leg elevated whenever possible. Hah!
MOON GARDENING & BIODYNAMICS
Humankind started farming in the Nile valley over 10,000 years ago. Our ancestors watched the rhythms of the heavens, and made connections between the patterns in the night-sky and the effects of the moon, planets, and stars on their bodies, the oceans, and on their gardens. Over the centuries as farming spread, they determined the best times to plant and harvest their crops, as well as for animal husbandry, beekeeping, and timber felling. This knowledge was handed down through the generations in oral and written tradition. With the development of chemical fertilisers in the 20th century, these principles were largely forgotten or ignored; Rudolf Steiner helped to revive and consolidate some of these Lunar Gardening traditions by developing his Biodynamic farming techniques.
Lunar Effects
The Moon reflects light and has a gravitational effect on the Earth. Steiner proposed that this affects plant growth. The Moon has a roughly elliptical orbit so the gravitational pull varies throughout its 28 day cycle. Root growth is improved when Moon moves further out causing a decreased pull on the Earth and vice versa - this force also causes the ocean tides.
- Planting of flower, fruit and vegetable seeds is best done 2 days before a new Moon because light and gravitational forces are more favourable in the seven days that follow.
- During the next seven days the Moon appears larger each night approaching a full Moon. The increased light stimulates foliage growth, but the gravitational pull increases so root growth is less favoured - young shoots thrive and the roots rest.
- For the seven days following the full Moon the light decreases slowing foliage growth, but so does the gravitational pull and the roots can develop. This is a good time to transplant seedlings as it gives the roots better conditions to flourish.
- In the last seven days of the lunar cycle the light continues to decrease, but the gravitational pull increases so both foliage and roots rest in the run up to the new Moon of the next lunar cycle.
Bleeding Heart awaited in the garden when we came home.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
The Pancake and The Moon (What a great title for a children's book that might make)....
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Moon Series (February) and Crows Quilt
February's full moon is tomorrow, February 9th. In the Moon Series 2009 I have depicted this here. It's a very special full moon as it is a partial eclipse and is on my son's 10th birthday both of which deserve a stitch or two (hundred)!
This was my first attempt at needle turn applique and a stab at couching on the candle flame.
I do so enjoy the rhythm of Kantha stitching and the pleated effect on the fabric which it produces. This piece uses linen, cotton and silk and my favourite Sashiko needle!
I have enjoyed the idea of a nine patch becoming a ten, just like Tom.
He isn't having a party as he is in the cast of Evita at the theatre at the moment so he's extremely busy and I am very proud of him.
My daughter is also shaping up and can be seen here with her friend dancing along to Yul Brynner in "The King and I" yesterday! So much better than "High School Musical"!
Whilst they were so gainfully employed I finally finished the blanket stitch on the "As The Crow Flies" quilt - all it need is to be pieced together.
I do like all this snow because I can stitch and stitch ....
Friday, 30 January 2009
Blue Chair
The reason behind this little piece is a challenge set by Suzanne at Heb Art which is simply a title a month - do what you will with it. See http://todaystitle.blogspot.com/
I have used a Lutrador background with watercolour paint and felt pen background, a cotton chair and cushion and a stamp for a picture hanging on the wall. The stamp and chair are appliqued on and sewn.
My chair is an imaginary comfy chair, rather kitch and overstuffed in a slightly "camp" room. Note the stamp has Little Britain "Ladies" on it. Why I have done a camp background ?- hmmmmm I just don't know - but the instructions were for the first thing that came in to our heads.
I have a cunning (and very silly idea) for the Moon on this... but you have to wait for that!!
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Moon Series, Tulles and Sheers
Here is a picture which shows the layers better, but I am waiting for some sun to come out. The picture is in an acrylic frame and can stand on the window sill to get the full effect of the sun shining through (some day soon please!). Here is the class in action - we are the Embroiderers' Guild.
...and here is my new Bernina (pride and joy) in action at 6.30 this morning because I couldn't wait to finish it!
This year I am collecting various patterns in photo and sketch for future use. This is a photo of our Victorian hall tiles which would be a patchworker's dream!
Here is the window of our front door. You don't need to go far for inspiration!
Then if you've got a moment click on this link to watch a heart warming video set to music by Tonya Davis with art by Andrea Dorfman :)
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Stitching The Moon
This moon is discharged with bleach on to woven turban cotton and linen on a muslin backing with running Kantha style stitching.
I read this fascinating book on holiday which started these cogs rolling - "The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold - a fiction set within the first 24 hours of a woman murdering her mother. It was distasteful and gruesome at first but became a compulsive read quite quickly.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Weaving and the Moon
“We sleep, but the loom of life never stops, and the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up in the morning.”
Henry Ward Beecher (Liberal US Congregational minister, 1813-1887).