Monday 12 March 2012

Scratching Around


A gift lovely from Kathryn 
because it reminds me
of my childhood.


It now gives shelter to my daily scratchings
and all they might require.


They will live in here rolled around a smooth stick from the ocean
at least until the day I can no longer close the lid.
Then a new home will be found.


As you know I love the wrong side of things
but today this scruffiness disappeared under a backing
because I want to write on the back.
Perhaps noting special days
or quotes from people wiser than me
or perhaps just some poetry.


After the snows at the beginning of the week
I stitched a row of yummy russet apples
my favourite
only available at this time of year.
Then a row of rocks surrounded by circles of retreating ice.
Well that's the idea anyway!
Sunday was no day of rest for us.
We dragged trees and branches
and piled them high
ready for a bonfire or for shredding.
That last scratching could be a pile of twigs
n'est ce pas! 

32 comments:

  1. Indeed it could. Won't it be lovely to look back on your stitched diary at the end of the year!

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    1. The more it grows the more interesting it gets. But I find that's always the case with stitching.

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  2. Your daily scratching are such a wonderful idea. Lovely work.

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  3. Great place to keep your stitching and quite appropriately natural.
    xx, Carol

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    1. Brings back memories every time I undo those wicker clasps.

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  4. Very inspiring way to contain a current project! I especially like the retreating ice circles...

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    1. I'm reckoning if it's got a special home, I'll be inspired to keep on going!

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  5. i think we all had secret little shoe boxes where we hid our treasures when we were little. nice to be able to do the same when a little older. stitching journal: wonderful way to remember your days. cheers

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    1. Hi Ani....yes, very conscious of 'memory' for some reason at the moment.

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  6. I love that your "sratching cloth" is like a rolled up scroll of days... nice apples and I love the rocks with retreating ice, works for me!

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  7. What a wonderful nest for your cloths. I love the apples and rocks. I'm sure stitching your very own words will be quite wonderful.

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  8. i have a similar little square basket that was my grandmothers. i love that little catch all under the lid and how it was created.

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  9. These are really fabulous, Penny. What is the fabric you are working on? It looks nice and juicy. REALLY beautiful and what a cool record! Have you missed many days of scratchings?it seems loke not.

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    1. So far have a strip of my dyed cotton and currently it is a small piece of natural dyed linen.
      Nope haven't missed any days. In fact sometimes I get so carried away I do more than one a day!

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  10. I love boxes and love the things I get to store in boxes. How lovely this one is.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by! Oh, yes, I collect boxes...have them in every size and shape!

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  11. penny, this is one wonderful basket i'd love to open and explore!

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    1. Do you think they still make those little wicker cases somewhere?

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  12. Your work, presented in a basket, wrapped around a gift from the sea...ah, such poetry.

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    1. Nancy.... it's fun to play with words and make them pretty!

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  13. Sweet apples...and i love your barren branches

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    1. Some of them were huge....it was hard work!

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  14. I'm loving your daily scratchings and their new little home! How long will you be keeping it up? What will you do when it outgrows it's box? Buy a steamer trunk?? LOL! Seriously though, I envy your dedication to this project. I know it probably started out as a simple sample, but like anything else you do, ends up as something else entirely.

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    1. AM....I'm aiming for at least to the end of the year.
      How I would love an old steamer trunk. But I do have a larger painted box waiting in the sidelines.

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  15. Hi, Penny. Your stitching is lovely and I find your format to be fascinating. So many possibilities. It will interesting to see how the "scratchings" develop.
    best, nadia

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  16. I have always been fascinated by those wicker baskets, I remember seeing them in Great Britain with everything for a posh picnic! Your embroidery is more and more interesting, as you say, and I love the way you roll them around a wooden pole.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment, your thoughts are most welcome.