Today has been a beautiful day so I wandered around the garden and tried to make a rainbow:
This morning DH and I went for a mooch around our local town of Horncastle. We haven't been there for a while and were delighted to find it seemed to be thriving, full of people, some new and interesting shops and today, being Saturday, there was also a market plus some craft stalls. Horncastle is known for the many antique shops there and so we had a look in a few, not for anything in particular but just to see if anything caught our eye. In a junk rather than antique shop my eye was caught by an unused preserving pan, ideal for dyeing as the aluminium will add a bit to the mordant and I won't mix my dyeing pans up with the cooking pans! I also found a linen shirt/jacket that fitted nicely and was crying out to come home with me. Al bought two cut glass whisky tumblers, made by Royal Doulton and a snip at £5. Those times would have made it a successful mooch, plus the delicious lunch we had in the local Italian restaurant, but I also found this:
Sorry for the poor photograph, I was trying to avoid a reflection of me (and didn't succeed completely).
It's a watercolour and dated '38, 1938 I assume, and was labelled as "Oriental Village Scene". The bamboo forest in the background is so reminiscent of the land surrounding the farm in Fujino where I stayed with my Indigo Sisters on the Japanese Textile Study Tour and the detail in the painting is delightful. I don't know where in the "Orient" the village is, neither did the seller obviously, nor do I mind. It was a case of having to take it home (and it wasn't very expensive). The frame is rather lovely too, a bit of damage and it's rather grubby but that all adds to the charm in my opinion. The painting is currently hanging in my sewing room, awaiting a more perfect spot but at least I can admire it where it is.
A little stitching now while DH cooks dinner (aren't I lucky?), I am making another prayer flag for another special birthday coming up. I hope you're all having a lovely weekend too.
What a lovely day you had! Great picture of a Japanese farm house.
ReplyDeleteYes your have indeed made a rainbow Lis. Your garden must look beautiful at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThe little picture definitely looks like Fujino! I love it and the lady is wearing indigo dyed clothing....
ReplyDeleteLove the rainbow, and what great bargains! Well done!
ReplyDeleteSweet little painting to go with your rainbow of flowers.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure you had today. Such a wonderful rainbow and memories if Fujino to boot. It looks so much like the shed at the back of Bryan's farmhouse. What a special find. You are indeed a lucky girl.
ReplyDeleteLucky you getting some good "finds" and your garden must be lovely with all those flowers.
ReplyDeletemy kind of shopping! great finds, the picture is a treasure. the rainbow in the garden is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe garden views are lovely, and the bargain finds were lucky!
ReplyDeleteThe picture is just lovely :)
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