Post Comment Love 31 July - 2 August

Hello there, welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a relaxed, friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any blog post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked, comment and share some of that love.

Please don’t link up posts which are older as they may be removed, and if you see older posts are linked then please don’t feel that it’s necessary to comment on those. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here we’re pleased you’ve joined us.

We’re back from a few days in Suffolk where we picked up this adorable ‘bikey’ robot, which MOH was really taken with and so it came home with us. ‘Bikey’ because the head is an old style bicycle light which was even more appropriate as MOH had taken part in the annual Dunwich Dynamo cycle ride from East London to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast.

It was the first time he’d done this since we moved here - and clearly this was more of a logistical nightmare than when we lived in South London, but it worked. It’s quite a way too - a bit more than a hundred miles and takes place overnight, so given his recent health scare it was another target (albeit a mostly bonkers one) for him in his recovery. He did it, enjoyed it and has already told me when next year’s date is, so safe to say he’s getting back to his previous health and fitness. Phew.

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Taking 'wall' inspiration from Powis Castle

In this final post in the series from our visit to Powis Castle I’m sharing how the terraces and walls have inspired me, and how I’m hoping to repeat (in the loosest sense) what I saw here at home. We have the original farmyard wall as the back boundary of our garden, and it’s one that’s full of character that I want to make the most of, to enhance but not to cover entirely.

I have two climbing roses, my pink Gertrude Jekyll and the cream Claire Austin and my long term plan has been to grow these up the wall, so whenever we visit a walled garden I’m always looking out for how they grow plants along their walls. It’s no surprise that most use a tensioned wire, but it’s always good to check the fixings and distances used. I mean, these guys are professional gardeners and there’s plenty I can learn from them.

What I noticed, and liked, at Powis was how they were growing their apple trees. Instead of espalier plants, where branches are trained horizontally these were tall and thin, and growing three in a group gave impact in much the same way as grouping things in threes.

Though of course I won’t quite have that much height and I definitely won’t have a castle in the distance!

It’s likely though that I will have tensioned wires similar to this, which pleases me greatly.

Though my ceanothus are much more unruly than these, and it isn’t a plant that I’ll even be attempting to grow in such a way.

And if I’m lucky, I’ll also get a robin (or other small garden bird - our regulars are wrens and wagtails) to enjoy it just as much as I’m sure I will.

Anne Kelly's textile collage covered objects

These are definitely in the more is more category, and also it’s true that the more you look the more you see - and they are fascinating for both of those reasons. I saw these pieces in Anne Kelly’s ‘Object Series’ at the Harrogate Knit & Stitch show and I was mesmerised.

PART OF THE OBJECT SERIES, ANNE KELLY - KNIT & STITCH SHOW HARROGATE 2025

PART OF THE OBJECT SERIES, ANNE KELLY

The blurb explaining these pieces was one of the best I’ve seen. It simply said:

I like to cover objects with textile collage and see them take on a new character and meaning.

SOME OF THE 'COVERED OBJECTS' BY, ANNE KELLY - KNIT & STITCH SHOW, HARROGATE 2025

SOME OF THE 'COVERED OBJECTS' BY ANNE KELLY

It’s simply explained, but so accurate, as they do.

FAMILY CASE, ANNE KELLY - KNIT & STITCH SHOW, HARROGATE 2025

FAMILY CASE, ANNE KELLY

I was particularly taken with the ‘Peacock Sewing Basket’ as I have many photos from different angles, so I know I was. I think my fascination was also because it’s totally transformed one of those ubiquitous woven plastic work boxes that I now quite often see in charity shops, but back in the day they were The Thing to have!

PEACOCK SEWING BASKET, ANNE KELLY - KNIT & STITCH SHOW HARROGATE 2025

PEACOCK SEWING BASKET, ANNE KELLY

PEACOCK SEWING BASKET, ANNE KELLY - KNIT & STITCH SHOW HARROGATE 2025

PEACOCK SEWING BASKET, ANNE KELLY

The peacock embroidery is pretty eye-catchingly special too isn’t it?

And there was more exquisite gorgeousness and more covered boxes in this enclosed display cabinet. Just as well as it was enclosed as I think these are just screaming out to be touched, or stroked, in admiration.

COVERED BOXES, ANNE KELLY

There were also some mixed media textile collages on display, and I’m including a couple of these here too. This one was inspired by a picnic stop in France enroute to a class she was teaching.

PICNIC STOP LIMOGES, ANNE KELLY - KNIT & STITCH SHOW, HARROGATE 2025

PICNIC STOP LIMOGES, ANNE KELLY

This second one depicts her artist friends ‘at home with their collections and garden’ - so literal but also so interesting.

J&K AT HOME, ANNE KELLY