glass painting

The girls used a glass painting kit, to paint flowers.

We used the paintings to decorate a vase.

BRODSWORTH HALL IN TIME OF WAR

During the Summer months a series of events were staged telling the story of Brodsworth Hall during the second world war.

'A succession of army units came to Brodsworth during the war, many of which were part of the larger 1 corps, Home forces, whose headquarters was at nearby Hickleton Hall. Brodsworth was first used as the headquarters of the 44th Home Counties Infantry Division, commanded by General Percival. The division was responsible for the defence against a potential German invasion of an area stretching to the coast.'

 The gardens were filled with army tents and vehicles.

 

 An american soldier,

 and his posessions.

Pear Day, Cannon Hall, Barnsley

 I've been wanting to go to the annual Pear Day at Cannon Hall for years. 

We always somehow manage to forget it or be away on the day.

 

 But this year we managed it!

 The historic walled garden adjacent to the main hall dates from the 1760s. 

The annual Pear day celebrates the pear trees, 

which were established there in the early eighteenth century.

 

 However, they had given out all the free samples of pears

 and completely sold out of pears too.

There looked to be plenty still on the trees, but those were not yet ripe!

Although the pears were gone, there were lots of other things to do...

We had a very interesting chat with a bee keeper.

 Had a walk around the walled gardens.

Rosanna and I went into this old greenhouse, not normally open to the public. The greenhouse is home to the 200 year old Cannon Hall vine, which was grown from a seed brought back by John Spencer-Stanhope from the continent in 1802. A cutting of the vine was exported to Australia, cultivated, I was told by the gardener that its descendants produce today's fine Australian wines.

 We enjoyed the sunshine.

Inside the hall there were Victorian cookery demonstrations,

 on the old range.

 A quick glance into the pantry.

 Eating sugar mice in the servants dining room.

We were really surprised by the size of this room. 

Compared to Downton Abbey, Cannon Hall is tiny. 

But Downton's servants hall appears much smaller than the room above!

Upstairs, Reuben and Geoff had gone off to listen to excerpts from the operas. 

The girls and I got there just as it finished!

Up one more flight of stairs to try on the 'Downton Abbey clothes'.

 Carson

 Anna

And finally I got to dress my little boy into a sailor suit!

Word Garlands

 

 When I was I child I didn't enjoy going into the Imperial Market in Rotherham. In the middle of the building was an antiques stall, presided over by an old stern looking lady with jet black hair and her scarey looking dolls.

 But that terror has gone now, so come inside!

 The old antique shop is still there.

 

 But now it's a vintage craft centre -The Button Tin.

Everywhere you look there are amazing decorations.

 We went to a workshop to make 'Word Garlands'.

 

 To make a word garland, first chose a story.

Then write down three words from the story onto strips of paper.

 

 Chose some material.

Using the paper strip as a template, cut out a fabric strip.

 Write on one of your chosen words onto the strip of fabric.

 Can you guess which story Reuben's words came from?

 Repeat the process with co-ordinating fabric.

 Jemima chose a spotty-pink-strawberry theme.

Once you have made and written on the three strips of fabric,
embroider over the words.

Finally cut out some more strips of fabric, 

to hang between the words and complete the garland.

Ribbon can also be cut to length and used similarly to fill out the garland.

Gemma from the button tin finished off the garlands for us

by sewing the pieces together.

 The finished Gruffalo garland.

 Rosanna's Sleeping Beauty garland.

 For this we used a mixture of fabric and ribbon strips.

Our word birds are also on display.

If you like these ideas, you might also like story in a jar.