Exciting new Morris Tour!

Well here it is - Helen of Whitecroft Tours has done it again! An exciting new tour for August 2014:

"Decorative Needlework with May Morris" 

This tour it is not completely William Morris but more on discovering more about his 'just as talented' daughter May.

Some of you already know I am quite besotted with May's work as well, and currently I am also enjoying reading the biography (which is several volumes), that she wrote about her father (in my spare time!). May was responsible for a lot of the designs that came out of the Morris and Co. workshop and we have several unique designs of hers in the textile collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia. May was an extremely skilled embroiderer and eventually became an advisor to the Royal School of Needlework. Her father also appointed her as head of the embroidery department when she was only 23. I just love her free form stitches where she really 'paints' the design in simple silk stitches of chain stitch and darning stitch....something even I could do - I think!

That is enough of my ranting....what is the tour about? 

It is not on Helen's website just yet - she is leaving it open to followers of my blog first.....how special is that - but you only have a week before it goes to the website.

Here is just a little snippet.......I do know we will be staying here for 12 days.....

We will be attending a Workshop at the Royal School of Needlework - WOW and a tutor who specialises in all things May (and William ) Morris.........sigh......

Visiting Windsor and Sudeley Castles to view textile treasures....

Champagne at Buckingham Palace.......

Highclere Castle (or you might know it as Downton Abbey!!)......

One night we are having dinner in this very room (but I am not telling where!)....

A private viewing of May's drawings at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.......

And if that isn't enough....we are spending a day in Birmingham at the Festival of Quilts....

Of course we visit Kelmscott Manor where May lived for many years after her father died......

We have a day on our own at the newly refurbished William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow.....

And I will finally get to see this......

here at Standen.....

But there is so much more I could share - I think this is about two thirds of the tour ......for now all I can say is put your name down fast! You can contact Helen at the Whitecroft Tours website where she can send you a very detailed itinerary. If you have been on either of the 2012 William Morris tours you will notice a slight price rise but when you see the schedule you will see why.....it is a little longer to fit it all in...and everything is also included - all workshops, entry fees, meals - even with wine! And always extra little treasures from Helen who is the biggest treasure of all!

And don't forget we are putting on a second William Morris tour in September/October this year. This will be the last chance for an "All William Morris" tour.

Proud to be an Australian

Today is our 'National Day' so it is time to reflect and remember how lucky we are in this great country of ours. Now this little clip is not our National Anthem but I wish it was! It was written by the late and very talented Peter Allen.......

If only Peter could know how much we all love his lyrics despite the fact that it was used by Qantas for a commercial - Peter Allen deserves all the kudos.

We are indeed a great country.......(photos from Wikipedia)

 The Sturt Desert Pea is our Sate emblem......

 The Pavlova dessert is very typically Australian and it will be consumed in large quantities today! It was reputed to have been made when the Russian dancer Anna Pavlova toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1920's ........but Australia likes to claim its' discovery for herself!!

 And this week we are celebrating the incredible Tour Down Under and I am so proud it is in our home town and is the best run bike tour in the world...of course!! But the riders say that - not just me J

Happy Australia Day to all my fellow aussies ........  and tonight I will be revealing an incredible new tour planned for next year - it is simply amazing!! Stay tuned

More Morris to swoon over!

I know I should be working at this very moment.......I am in the middle of drawing and painting (hopefully a new range of fabrics if Jason Yenter approves!!).........but one does have to take a break every now and then.......

The best things

There is a saying that 'the best things in life are free' . I went searching for more on the web and wiki answers had this to say......The best things in life are your health, your love, your freedom, your intelligence, your friends - you cannot buy any of those because they are all free.
How true is that but for many this is not so - there is devastation and loss here in Australia at the moment with all the bush fires. There are also personal friends who are sick and friends going through a tough time......so it is with this in mind I am going to share some of our little pleasures this past week.....and they are not taken for granted....

Last weekend we had a drive to the Barossa Valley - our famous South Australian wine region. 

A visit to see Heather at the Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage is a must. Every year a special gift comes for me from Heather for Christmas and it is always something William Morris (and the post actually delivers!!) This year I received the most divine scarf......So a personal thank you to Heather was in order.........

Heather's roses never disappoint and there is wine tasting of her very own wines in the attached gallery as well.......

(Sorry Heather - I got you!)

The gardens in Angaston were blooming and it was a 'not so hot day' to enjoy it all.....

We were surprised so many shops were closed on a weekend but there is always the Abbey for all things vintage.......

Such lovely old classic homes to enjoy too......

Of course our time with Beau is always very special. The hot days are an excuse to play in the water (love those bathing nappies!!)

And he loves Poppa's cap.......

We also live close to a wine region - our other large winemaking district - McLaren Vale. We are so lucky as we have the beach and the vineyards just 5 minutes each way from home. So today we took Beau to one of the wineries for a picnic and to feed the ducks..........

After the first bit of trepidation it was time to chase them.........

And then we got chased by the geese!!

Isn't this what the 'simple pleasures in life' is all about?...with a bit of William Morris thrown in occasionally! I hope life's pleasures are many for you.........