Leaving Bath

Before leaving Bath, I had another look round, remembering when my son and daughter went to school there a long time ago - a scarily long time ago! It was interesting to see the fiddle-playing tightrope walker from Giffords Circus was there (see earlier post).

Sunny Bath

Weekend in Bath - very happy party celebrations on Saturday night after having spent the day exploring Bath after long absence, and going to wonderful Edwina Bridgeman exhibition. She reminds me of the fun of making moving toys, although these are static they have the same concept of using found materials and lateral thinking - one of my favourites was the couple sitting on a sofa that was an old open spectacles case with soft lining. There were lovely angels like flowers. I found it difficult to resist the temptation to go and raid skips....

Spring is sprung

Such a lovely sunny day the other day, got in the car and drove out to the Cotswolds. Ended up in a Cotswold village that begged me to wander round and enjoy the snowdrops. So I did. These seem to be huddling under a tree reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's tree.

Unable, however, to get away from Pride and Prejudice and a Certain Actor who came out of a lake, I was amused by the sign to the little walk that I chose! The sun took the chill out of the air and there was a definite hint of spring. At last.

I see that flying ducks on the wall (or in this case, roof) appear to be back in fashion down here.

Went home via the nostalgic sweetie shop in Burford.

Running rings round the Ashmolean

9th March. Great trip to the Ashmolean with some of my 'silver' (as in metal, not hair) group to be given a talk, in particular on the collection of rings (some 800 were given by C. D. E. Fortnum in 1897) and some posy rings from Dame Joan Evans. I hasten to add not all were on display! We also discussed a Malcolm Appleby bowl, which had been engraved with swan heads and necks, and a Michael Lloyd oak and apple vase in embossed and chased silver. The ring display was amazing, and we were taken into an 'inner sanctum' to put on rubber gloves - not for washing up, but so that we could handle some of the priceless rings - and were told about how the design of rings evolved over the centuries. It was so interesting I recommend a visit online to the Ashmolean site if you are unable to visit the museum in person.

A visit to The Lakes

Arrived in The Lake District, admired the views, and got
settled comfortably.....





A peep through the walls gave promise of hills beyond..


















The next day it was like spring, though several million layers
of clothing were needed. But well worth it.





So lovely and peaceful here, and although you might get the occasional visitor, they usually have to go away as there is no-one about.

The next day the snow arrived, and horses and sheep got very cold. As did we. But what's cold when you have perfection all around?

Sad to go - last view of the lines made by the drystone walls...

Autumn leaves in winter

Can't believe Stephen Goldsmith has done work on my bowl so quickly and it looks amazing in the photograph he sent - it is silver with rosegold plating - SO effective, just what I wanted but didn't think could be achieved.

Time for a trip to London

I have now completed my next silver bowl, and it is ready for me to take to London to be polished and gilded.

The bowl is in several sections (for polishing purposes)

and only the leaf section is to be gilded.