Hay Time

With all the lovely weather we have had recently, the country side around here has been a hive of activity - getting the hay in. The farmers have been working so hard, in almost unbearable heat, and now most of the farms around us have their big black bales stacked up. Just a few photos to record all the activity.

When the girls were younger we always went to our friend A's farm to help gather in the small bales of hay. It was a real highlight of the summer. Lots of families came along, so there were loads of children and dogs running around, and everyone mucked in gathering the bales, taking them in to the barn and stacking them. Then having a lovely supper afterwards. It was really hard work, but so much fun and one of those activities the girls will always remember from their childhood. I found a few photos from back then.

This year, mainly big bales were made and only about 100 small bales -  but I was away so missed it. I was really disappointed, but  J went along to help and all was gathered in quite quickly - they still had the supper though!

Trio: A Textile Hub Exhibition

There is a new Exhibition on at the moment at Farfield Mill until the 11th August. The exhibition is called Trio, and shows the work of three talented textile artists from the north east. Mandy Pattullo, Jane Frazer and Ali Rhind show their work which makes use of traditional crafts, but with a contemporary twist. Below is just a selection of their work.

Many Pattullo works mainly with patch work, using old and precious fabrics to recreate new patchworked and embroidered wall hangings or collage. She will deconstruct old worn quilts and use them to make new pieces sometimes by over dying the material and by adding embroidery.

Purple Star by Mandy Pattullo (sorry about the glare reflecting on the glass)

In Tatters bu Mandy Pattullo

Mandy Pattullo - Winter Cow Parsley

Ali Rhind showed large pieces using the techniques of proggy rug making to produce quite stunning 3D sculptures, rugs and seat covers for furniture.

Citrus Chair by Ali Rhind

Totems by Ali Rhind

Detail of Totems

Blue John Cones by Ali Rhind

Jane Frazer is a multimedia textile artist and weaver, I liked the way she had used photography combined with weaving with her piece called First Impressions.

First Impressions by Jane Frazer

Detail of First Impressions

Wave by Jane Frazer

Mandy Pattullo has been artist in residence at Farfield Mill for a week, so it was really lovely to be able to talk with her about her work. It was also good to see a different selection of her work that she encouraged us to pick up and look at in more detail. I have been dipping in and out of Mandy's blog over the past couple of years so it was nice to actually meet her. If you are not aware of her work do take a look at her blog.

Mandy Pattullo - artist in residence

View from my window - June

I know, I'm a little late getting my pictures out this time. No excuses really, but have just been generally busy - the girls have both graduated from University this year (well done and congratulations to both!) and M has just moved to Bristol and C is moving to Oxford. Our house is now a depository of three years worth of belongings so we have lots of boxes to absorb somehow!! Exciting times for the girls though.

At the beginning of the June the bluebells were still just showing in the bluebell field above the wood. The cows are now out in the fields, the blackthorn bushes were in flower and the grass really looking lush.

By mid month the bluebells had faded but the buttercups and meadow flowers are beginning to show up well in the hay fields.

The real star of the show this month has been the buttercups. The meadows have been awash with buttercups as far as the eye can see. I love the way they dance in the breeze. Quite a few of the farms around us have taken their first cut for silage, but our immediate farms keep the fields for hay or haylage.

Just look at all that beautiful yellow! Reminds me of a quilt made by Elizabeth Brimleow  called 'Low Meadow'- see here

I also spied some deer in the fields, just cheekily grazing on the buttercups

Now the end of June, and although we have had some lovely sunny days this month, we are back to low cloud and drizzle. The English weather is so unpredictable, I think thats why I like living here!