Rather late posting this update of the garden in October with still so many plants putting out the odd perfect flower… but actually they are mostly still going strong in mid-November even after a couple of frosty mornings. We’ve got lots of lovely spring bulbs to plant over the next few weeks.
Incredible to be invited to be an exhibitor at Oxford Ceramic Fair in the company of such amazing ceramicists. Sadly I didn’t get any photos of them because I was so busy and so were they…so many people!! My stand was in the dining hall with the cafe, Ceramic Review/Craft Potters Association, Top Pots, Cromartie Kilns.
A bit of a catch up with my posts – this was a lovely Sunday visit to Coolings Garden Centre, Pratt’s Bottom, Kent to see Kent Potter’s Annual Exhibition…. and to buy bulbs, have lunch and cake. A lot of chatting so I only got round about half the exhibition! Lovely to talk with Jane Gibson I love her pebble-like pieces. Great to meet up with Ant Kelly again, she brought along her biscuit themed range and teeny houses made from clay oddments – had to buy one for my daughter’s collection of little houses on her mantlepiece. Also had a long conversation with Beverley Mack – she gave me some invaluable information about Oxford Ceramics Fair…. in fact a lot of conversations with the makers were about doing craft fairs.
The garden is ‘greening up’ after the hot dry summer but also showing signs of autumn. Right now we are enjoying quite a few figs even though it’s still quite a small plant in a big pot. Starting to think about what we might grow next year.
I really look forward to seeing Margaret Higginson’s work every year – this year I even got to have a chat with her! In past years she has shown beautiful stone and wood sculptures in her studio, but this year there was work made from a deconstructed piano and frottage drawing (a new word for me it means rubbings). Instagram @margarethigginson https://www.margarethigginson.com/
Cash Aspeek should be famous! Her work always stops you in your tracks. The huge ‘bed’ photo is part of ongoing work deconstructing her parents 1960’s mattress, which was full of the most incredible range of quality materials. The work comprises of beautiful sets of photographs, sculptures and instalations. The second 2 photos are more recent works with egg boxes. Instagram @cashaspeek https://cashaspeek.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
Other favourites from the day included Laurence Noga and Rebecca Harper – Instagram @laurence.noga @rebeccaharperartist
I love the vintage aesthetic of the Ticking cotton stripe, calico, twill and cords – which bring to mind nurses uniforms of the early twentieth century.
They are made from offcuts of fabric leftover from making pottery aprons and toiles which I store in a big box until inspiration takes me!
https://inthemakingaprons.bigcartel.com/category/first-aid-bags-boro-collection
With autumn harvesting well under way I’ve made two new colour Garden Harvest Belts, ‘Chestnut Brown’ and ‘Teal’. I wear my ochre one all year round so I don’t loose my secateurs under a bush somewhere!
inthemakingaprons.bigcartel.com/category/gardeners-tool-belts
Just in time for late summer harvesting!
I’ve been working on this design for over a year testing it out in my own garden – worn all year-round, for an hour or two’s work in the potting shed, late summer harvesting, digging over and tidying up in the winter. The cross back straps come into their own when the pouch is full of veg, they spread the weight evenly across the shoulders (not the neck). The shorter length is great for manoeuvrability whether crouching down weeding or clambering about in the borders there’s no bulky fabric in the way.
No27 Gardeners Harvest Apron. Cotton Canvas
Punishingly hot and dry again this month, sadly lost a few plants, but still a few flowers and veg to enjoy….and rain over the last three days has perked things up no end!
Collecting up cougettes wearing a sample version of new gardening harvest pouch aprons coming very soon. Had loads of courgettes this year normally the slugs and snails get them first, I think the heat has kept them away.
Most of the flowers are in the shadier side return, the erigeron (daisy-like flowers) which were rescued from our south facing windowsills on the front of the house have revived nicely. Rocket (rucola) grows wild in our back garden all down the left side, the late summer yellow flowers are lovely and bees are very fond of them too.
Visited THE MILL GARDEN in Warwick earlier this month. Beautiful cottage style garden alongside the castle walls with the river with lily pads and castle ruins at the bottom end. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.mill.garden/
I can’t remember the last time it rained, it’s been a couple of months. The grass is largely dead and it’s been a struggle to keep everything watered and alive in our garden which already has very dry soil…well dust really! Having said that there’s still been so much to enjoy.
