some stitching, trees and beasts

My good friend Steph and I went to Ramster House and Gardens on Friday to view the embroidery and textile exhibition they have there every other year. We went for the first time in 2019 and of course they couldn't hold it last year so we were very glad it was on again this year. As well as lots of interesting bits of stitchery to see, we also thought we'd take a brief walk around the garden this time and were rewarded with some very fine trees and interesting creatures.

As with my last visit, I found that it was hard to take photos of the works I was most inspired by because of the amount of reflections. The beautiful 17th Century Hall where the exhibition takes place has a lot of lovely low windows which bring in natural light. This of course bounces about off the glass behind which most of the embroideries are framed. A distraction both when taking pictures and when viewing the stitchery close up. However, here are a couple which I did manage to capture despite the reflections.

Maggie Grey's Oranges Are the Only Fruit, inspired by an Italian Fresco

A lovely use of breakdown printing by Jane Mckeown - Rain puddles 

Isobel Moore's Secret Garden

these delightfully delicate landscape embroideries on eco dyed fabrics by Helen Followfield 

and Golden Tree by Jane Cobbett

After a refreshing lunch in their tearooms, we then ventured into the gardens where we found

130 year old Japanese maples, planted when the garden was first laid out in 1890

children at play beneath the trees, frozen in time - a delightful sculpture by Christine Charlesworth called Oranges and Lemons

cranes pondering the reflections in the lake

a kingfisher poised in the mossy banks

some glorious oaks spreading their branches to the sky. They presumably remain from the original oak woodland which predated the garden

woven stag and deer in the glade

a very imposing Wellingtonia - I found myself pondering about the life that must be supported underneath its soft, fibrous bark skin

and this very fine family of boar, sculpted from a fallen tree on the estate

All in all an extremely enjoyable day out which fed both body and soul. I hope yo have had an enjoyable weekend?