A weekend in Suffolk

I've been a little quiet of late simply because there was much dyeing of thread and felt;  gathering of quilts and workshop materials.   Stocking up of the Emporium.    A couple of workshops locally, and then off to Suffolk.

I had been invited to give a talk on Saturday and a workshop on Sunday at the Quilters' Guild Regional Day.  The other guest quilter was Alicia Merrett, so I was in good company.

   

It was a great weekend.  The meeting took place in Lavenham, a famous wool town with old beamed houses, not much of a straight line in any of them.  All, of course, painted in Suffolk pink, cream, blue and ochre to name but a few colours.  Alicia and I managed a walk through the village at the end of the day.  

We stayed in Long Melford, and it is indeed long, over two miles in fact!    More beamed house in stunning colours, and peeps over the brick wall as we passed Melford Hall.

The whole weekend was fab.   Very well organised by Helen Vivian and her team of helpers, a big thank you.  There was lots of cake, which has to be a good thing!  Quilters are lovely!

My talk was well received, and I certainly enjoyed Alicia's talk.   She took us through the various journeys which lead up to her present day work.   Fascinating.

I had fifteen ladies for my workshop on Indian Stitchery.  No pictures, too busy working.

I was especially pleased to be invited to Suffolk, I was brought up in Aldeburgh.  It felt good to be back under Big Skies and the country side where Spring was breaking out; wild flowers, bright green leaves on trees and hedges and many fields turned bright yellow with mustard flowers.

I managed a little side trip when I arrived on Friday afternoon.   I discovered that two of my relatives lived in Woolpit  both mentioned in the 1841 Census,  Maurice Moore was born in 1786 and William Last born 1841.   William was a watchmaker and gunsmith.   I found his house!  How amazing!   It's right next door to The Bull Inn, perfect for a little refreshment at the end of the day!

I shall have to return later this summer to do a little more investigation, and revisit Lavenham and Long Melford.

So, all is now packed away.   It's warm outside.  I feel the need to put on my gardening hat!

some pictures of Woolpit    it is possible to walk from the church through The Street

in under ten minutes   it is a very small but beautiful village

1. typical houses     2. the village sign- is the village named after wolves?  The Green Children are legendary and many a story has been bases around them   3. Plaster decoration, herringbone brickwork on the side of a house   4.  the Museum