Le Mirroir des Modes

When I was at a troc a few weeks ago I found these old magazines.

I think they are great and the fashions inside are such fun.

The swimming costumes would certainly help keep the sun away from skins that then wanted to be pale.

I will be using some of the illustrations in my work in the future.

A treasure of a quilt.

Today is a holiday in France for the Feast of the Ascension.

In one of the villages nearby there is always a troc and normally the weather is glorious and so it was today.

We bought quite a few good things but the prize has to be the wonderful quilt.

Many of the pieces are Liberty fabrics, the man I bought it from got it when he went to buy an old bed from a house and the quilt was with it.

Now it is home at Kerjacob and I look forward to seeing it on our bed in the winter when it will keep us warm and I'll be able to look at all the different patterns.

As you can imagine I'm delighted with my find.

New collage - work in progress.

I am working, when I can resist the sun shine and working in the garden, on a collage for a French friend of mine.

She has bought a few pieces of my work and some time ago asked me if I would do a collage with a photograph of her two lovely grandchildren.

Lena and Felix both love music and both play so I'm using bits of music in the collage.

Hopefully in a week or so my friend will see the commissioned piece .

Slowly I'm making progress, I know she's so wanting to see it but I want to be able to give it to her all finished, mounted and its special frame.

First raspberries - gorgeous !

We have harvested the first of the raspberries - they are the best yet.

I've also been gardening, couldn't resist cutting some of the leek flowers.

I always leave some to go to seed as I love the flower heads just before they flower and when they do.

The cow parsley along the lanes are a favourite too and look good with the architectural verbena.

This afternoon I'm getting on with a collage - the sun's gone in so its more easy to stay inside !

Vintage textile fair and toile de jouy.

Two weeks ago I went to the first vintage textile fair in this area of Brittany.

It was a delight to find so many people who like me love vintage textiles.

There were a lot of things related to Breton costumes, the culture here is very strong and Breton dancing and music is enjoyed by many young and old.

I just loved the hangers with the faces - I think if they were made again today they would be wanted by so many.

I came away with a few treasures which I'll be using in my work.

I found some smallish old pieces of toile de jouy - just love them.

I was delighted to find this linen braid and I shall use it when I make some more bags.

The red and white damask napkin will stay just as it is and be added to my others. Some with red embroidered with red monograms.

Lunch in the sunshine and work in the vegetable garden.

As we have had sunshine for weeks and weeks I've been able to make real progress in our 'potager' - vegetable garden.

So far I've planted garlic, red onions, white onions, shallots, potatoes, broad beans two types of lettuce and four types of runner beans.

Today I will be planting more potatoes and courgettes.

Its hard work but enjoyable and I love seeing the rows growing and the pattern that they make.

Being an artist I've put the rows in different directions so when they're all growing really well they should look really good, different forms, textures and colours.

Each lunch time we sit outside and eat in the wonderful warm sunshine with a little pot of flowers and think that we have such a wonderful place to live.

1920's bedspread.

When I was England I had the chance to go to the little historic market town of Leek in Derbyshire.

Every Saturday they have a market in the lovely old market hall and outside in the market square are antique and bric a brac stalls.

I always manage to find some thing I like.

I spotted three 1920 / 1930's printed bedspreads and just knew one of them would look just right on our bed in the summer.

So it came home to Kerjacob with me and it fits well in every way.

In very old country houses like ours it's not easy to find things that have the right scale and simplicity to work.

The teddies are ones that I've had for some years now and I love them all.

The beautiful flower woman with her flower child in her arm is one that Mr P bought me some years ago for an anniversary present.

I love her too.