To darn a mushroom.

“The verb 'to darn' is explained in my pocket 

dictionary as follows: 'To mend by imitating the texture

 of the stuff, with thread and needle.' But this

 definition does not correspond to the work accomplished

 by good Chinese housewives. When they mend a sock,

 they do not try 'to imitate the texture of the stuff'. 

Their art makes no attempt at concealment: 

it even takes a certain pride in revealing itself.” 

 Daniele Varé

Personally I agree with the above totally, I love to see a wonderful patterned darn in a different colour so that it may be seen.  Can you imagine those young ladies learning to darn 100 years or more ago. They would shake their heads at us loving this now.  frayed edges and visible stitches ... they would have to go lay down with smelling salts surely!

Well the reason I talk about this is that on one of my mushrooms on my sampler is going to have some rather lovely darning on it ... whimsical I know but I love the thought.  There will be French knots on another just for decoration you understand.  I am loving stitching this, although not much stitching went on over the weekend as we were out and about and  caught up with family as well.  Still it is a new week and I am hopeful to get some good stitching done this week.  

My mum is stable and her new GP is marvellous, it has given me confidence for being away from home with the whirlwind of vintage fairs coming up this Summer.  I know she is being well treated at her home and well taken care of medically .. its peace of mind for me and my sister.  We know she is in good, safe hands ... 

This also helps my working week when she is OK and I can pop in and see her but also do my work as well.  I have had to fight her corner for months and it is so nice just to be me again and to sit and stitch.  I can now sit and stitch when she is having a little nap as well.  She is settled and not now in pain so everything is calmer -- for now at least.

Today is a full day of stitching and I am really pleased about those kind of days it is creative and it also is such a calming and wonderful thing to be doing.  My mantra ....

All my scattering moments are taken up with my needle.  ~Ellen Birdseye Wheaton, 1851

It is so true you can think whilst stitching by hand and you can sit in the garden and take in the beauty

around you.  It's not like your mind wandering on a sewing machine where you can stitch your fingers to a piece of fabric!

In addition this week I have another day of design planned and hope that this Wednesday will be hot and sunny and I can go for a walk along the cliff top with my journal.  I would like to see all the wild flowers I spotted the other day when I drove past.  There is always something to pick up and bring home for inspiration and I could sit on a seat and look out to sea with my idea jotter ... Its a plan at least.

When I get back home I could then go in the garden with my design journal and sit and have a doodle.  As I said the other day journaling in the garden is really relaxing and also very fruitful.  My mind comes alive amongst the flowers and the wildlife.

Talking of wildlife who did I see again but the little wood pecker! I have not seen him since last year and I thought he had moved on to pastures new or indeed got lost and found us by mistake last year.  If the later is the case he has found us again and I am happy about it.  Small little thing and until I saw him last year I thought wood peckers were much larger but this little fella is compact and bijoux ..

My mother in law told me that they like coconut so I have some in my cupboard and hope to entice
him back again this week, if the bloomin' seagulls do not eat it all up first.  Its a free for all when they are in the garden and the pigeons try and strut their stuff as much as to say ' our garden, our coconut' then this huge seagull with a large sharp beak start charging towards them and they loose all bravery and let them have it. Mind you so would I, a baby one came into our garden the other week ... baby!? it was like an ostrich!  If it had not been for its stubbly brown feathers I would not have believed it I am sure of that.

Before I start my day I am going to get two stitchery work baskets ready as I still have some fabrics to put away so whilst doing that I can get out what is needed and get it ready for when I have finished the mushrooms.  I do not want to finish it I am in love with stitching it and in love with the whimsy of it... still all good things and all that!

On that note I will love and leave you for today.   I hope you all have a wonderful day and the sun is shinning down on you where ever you live. Really not sure what our weather will do today as it says we will have thunder storms today and its 21 degrees.... The elusive thunder that we have been warned about and that has never shown up is apparently on its way today .... will see if today they may be right.  You wonder don't you if the weather people are sat there in their tower and say so what shall we forecast for the Dorset coastline then.  Yes thunder OK.... then Oh Joe best change that quick its full sun now ...  Do they stand on a balcony high up with a wet finger in the air?

Have a wonderful day and as always Happy Stitching! XX