We spent the last few days in Somerset, just over the border with Dorset, at Cricket St Thomas. (Another wonderful Warner hotel). Despite a worrying start, (the decorators seemed to be painting the rest of the corridor, and the pool wasn’t open) we had a wonderful couple of days. The room had a fantastic four poster bed, and a large spa bath. We could actually see ring tailed limas from our bedroom window.
We both needed the break, Clive was feeling stressed at work, and I was feeling quite tired. The weather was freezing, but the sun shone bright, Autumn had arrived! We spent a very pleasant afternoon walking the fabulous gardens, with a secret walkway behind a fountain. There was also a zoo, with a cheetah, leopard, deer and monkeys.
After our long walk we had tea in the beautiful house, and felt very special, surrounded by a wonderful oak panelled walls and leather chesterfields.
On the way to the hotel, we stopped at the Craft Centre in Broadwindsor. I just love Becca’s Quilt Emporium. There are so many fabulous fabrics to choose from, that you feel inspired just looking round.
Luckily she mentioned she was holding a workshop on the Friday, which suited me as we were checking out early that day. I booked up straight away.
I was a little disappointed when I arrived on the Friday morning, as the weather was still bitterly cold, and the workroom only had a small heater. The heater was unplugged when the kettle went on or the iron was used, so it did not seem to get warm enough for me to take off my coat and hat!
Despite this, I managed to gather some wonderful fabrics and started work on a Christmas tree cushion. And after completing the trees and the backing, I left early in order to complete the project at home. It worked beautifully with the velvet I bought at the WI auction! I simply love the result.
Workshop at Becca
I sat down in front of the television watching the programme Books on sky
while gently stitching round my little trees. I had forgotten how wonderful hand stitching is, so relaxing, compared to racing along on a sewing machine. I just love the winter cosy nights of stitching as the wind and rain rattle the windowpanes!
