Beatrix Potter meets William Morris

Ever since I was talked into writing my fourth book Stitching with Beatrix Potter (by Helen of Whitecroft Tours!) I have continued my search for evidence of Beatrix actually meeting William Morris in person! I am yet to prove it and also wonder if Beatrix's father Rupert Potter met him being a good friend of John Everett Millais. Rupert took up photography in the 1860's and took background and portrait photos for Millais so one can surmise that perhaps they did meet through that art circle of the time. Beatrix was thirty when Morris died and was obviously an admirer of his designs having the daisy wallpaper in her bedroom at Hilltop. It is lovely to read of Beatrix Potter news of today and some weeks back I received these wonderful photos from Lynne Moriarty, the Australian Liaison officer for the Beatrix Potter Society. Lynne also happens to be a quilter and is seen here on the day she delivered a presentation to a quilt group including sharing images of the reproduction quilt I donated to Hilltop. I love that Lynne is dressed in a herdwick wool jacket, skirt and hat...I am sure Beatrix would be impressed!......

 And I couldn't let her do this without donating some of my books as we spread our love of William, Beatrix and quilting! Thankyou Lynne for sharing your news and photos x Speaking of 'Morris meeting Beatrix' I received news from Helen in the UK to say she has been able to secure a couple more hotel rooms on our 2020 Tour so contact her if you are interested. During this past week I have been following the re-enactment of the journey along the Thames from Hammersmith to Kelmscott that William Morris took in 1880 and 1881. A group of 27 members of the William Morris Society took this journey and you can read all about it here at this link. I have fond memories of both Hammersmith and Kelmscott and it will be lovely to return next year. Our fingers are crossed that Kelmscott Manor will be reopened for our tour following the refurbishment......

Today we received some wonderful photos from friends in Canada of thick snow which must have been hard to take as they had just returned from two weeks of sun in Barbados! Here at home we have almost had snow. It has been a long and according to Larry coldest winter ever! On sunday we had a maximum of 7C and found this in the garden....... 

 Not quite snow but I did see photos on the internet of children managing to build little snowmen from the ice!

But every now and then there are peeks of Autumn around the corner and before we know it we will be complaining about the heat.....

Earlier this week Larry and I ventured less than an hour south of home continuing our dream of 'escaping to the country'! Despite the sunny skies it was very cold but what a lovely location to pass the hours away.......

 and imagine having this right on your doorstep......

 I had never heard of Cittaslow but you can read on the link that it was founded 20 years ago in Italy and promotes a slower pace of life in towns.....we kind of like that and especially that where we were in Goolwa they can claim to be the very first town outside Europe to join this movement......

Of course being an extra 45 minutes from the little people in our lives might affect visits but they are growing so fast and we do look forward to a slower pace in our lives. Maisie is quite the young lady seen here visiting her favourite make-up store!....

 Beau and Wade have a very special bond and it is nice when we are looking after them both at once......

 A dear friend celebrated her 70th birthday last weekend and the cake was certainly a bright and happy contrast to the chill and rain outside.......

 The birthday girl was very happy with the bag I made her.......

 And a couple more were orders that traveled via friends to the country.......

 I had news last week that I need to have surgery on my wrist so I think making these bags in the future might definitely be on hold as it involves a cast for 4 weeks and inactivity for almost 3 months!  So for now I am wearing my wrist brace while snuggled up under the pile of charity quilts as I hand stitch the bindings....bliss! I hope you have a place of bliss too......