Post 351

This fine example of cutwork belonged to Eli Chorbadjiska, Nelly's piano teacher. It is part of a set, all worked by hand. Cutwork (punto tagliato) originated in Italy around the 14th or 15th century. These are mostly buttonhole stitch, really evenly and neatly worked. There is a little bit of stem stitch, back stitch and satin stitch dots on the shapes, which cleverly represent a pond with fish and plants in it.

Working a whole set of these is a major undertaking - hundreds of hours work. 

I finished reading this 1959 Michael Innes book, recently re-issued by Agora Books and provided for review by Net Galley. It is a frivolous crime fiction read which doesn't take itself very seriously -  boys' own adventure meets Lewis Carroll and Sherlock Holmes with elements of locked room and mistaken identity. It's fun once you suspend your disbelief and come along for the ride.

I progressed my Owl Service at Sit'nStitch. It appears below.

I got home in time to water the plants, fill up the water bowl and put some seed out for Black Tips. He arrived while I was there and waited while I put out seed, but baulked at hanging around while I had the hose going. 

He was back as soon as I'd hung up the hose and stepped inside.         He tolerated me taking photos through the open door while he ate, making crunching noises as he bit the seeds.

I was hungry tonight, so cut up a potato and put it in the oven with one of Herbert Adams' slow cooked beef with cracked pepper and shiraz pies out of the freezer. A bit of salad and glass of bubbles - all good.

I've done a bit of unpicking on this one. I'm working it out as I go - in terms of colour, and, to some extent, design.There's likely to be more unpicking before I'm finished. I'm glad I enlarged this motif when I put it on the linen.

I'm getting a little better at capturing birds coming home to roost at sunset. So far I've managed pairs. One day I'll be in time to capture a flock.

For now, it's time for me to roost too.