The loo we couldn't find at first

Once we found our hotel in Lyon - which was trickier than you might expect, as the entrance was low key to say the least, we learnt we’d had a room upgrade as we checked in. That doesn’t happen to us so often, so it was quite exciting. As we were shown our room we took it all in our stride as we were shown around, but as soon as she was gone, we were exploring for ourselves, looking out of the window for the view, checking the snacks on the dressing table, the wardrobes with its towelling robes, and the bathroom. It’s just that one thing was missing. And that was the loo.

Seriously.

A huge bath, luxurious toiletries, fluffy towels, a fancy sink. But no loo.

There had to be one. And then in clicked.

It had to be off the mirrored entrance-way…

And so it was, opposite the wardrobe. The brass door knob in the picture above was the only clue we had. And neither of us were quite ready for what was behind that door.

Yes, our very own OTT hand-painted chateau-scene. If It’d have told you beforehand, I’m not sure you would have believed me, and seeing was believing.

It was totally bonkers, and totally made for my Loo Series posts - did they know? And what were the other room’s loos like?

In truth, it was a bit like a caravan loo, just quite a fancy one. But still bonkers.

Only in Lyon. Or is it?

Getting hooked on Rag Rugging with Ragged Life

This post contains items gifted from Ragged Life.

I don’t know about you, but I’d been seeing posts on social media about how during the lockdown we could learn a new skill, a new language or whatever and thought, huh, how, when, or why? Even though both MOH and I are fortunate to be able to work from home, somehow both of us are just as busy, and ‘spare’ free time is fleeting, so I dismissed the new skill thing. That is, until I was invited to join one of Ragged Life’s online classes.

Having never taken an online craft course, and thinking that Elspeth from Ragged Life must be up for a challenge, and being swayed by rag rugging as a sustainable craft, I was in.

When my craft kit arrived, I was curious about the tools, smitten with the fabric choices, intrigued by the design on the hessian and very quickly nose deep in the book of potential projects.

But it wasn’t long before I was set up in the spare bedroom for the online tutorial, and at this stage was very much “all the gear, but no idea” and hoping that both the technology and my brain worked.

I needn’t have worried though as Elspeth clearly has the patience of a saint, or I’m a model student (and yes, I know it’s not the latter). Soon though we were cutting strips of fabric, which we were assured that wonky was fine. And it was, because mine were very much on the wonk, or characterful as I’m calling them.

After using the guide to cut short lengths, it was time to use one of the tools and learn where and how to insert and space our rags.

And it was surprisingly easy. The blue material in my project uses the traditional method and the rag is pulled through the hessian. Later we’d progress to a method adopted by Elspeth and her mum - the orange fabric - which uses slightly thinner strips, and pulled through in a similar way, but with the fabric doubled. This gives a closer finish, which I preferred.

The final technique, for the central section used the latch tool, and is a much closer ‘loop’ and more often used in more picturesque designs. The latch tool itself sook some getting used to, but knowing the knack of pulling towards the previous stitch, rather than away from helped.

I finished about a quarter of this initial class, which also allowed plenty of time for chat, and checking that my work was progressing in the way it should. It was thankfully, and rag rugging is one of those mindful, but yet practical tasks, that really helps with all sorts of things.

I’ve now finished my project, and am really pleased with it. In fact I’ve already looked out what my next project might be, and one of my next online shops will be for more supplies.

It’s the hessian that I’ll be buying, as I’ve already said one of the reasons rag rugging initially appealed was because of its sustainability. I’m forever rescuing old clothes from the charity bags, to save to cut up and reuse. MOH humours me, but now and alongside patchwork and t-shirt yarn I have a real use for them, and once I’ve worked out what I’ll make next, there’ll be no stopping me.

Just be thankful we’re not wearing hessian, as otherwise I’m not sure you wouldn’t be rag rugged if you ventured too close. And if I’m stuck for inspiration then once again I’ll have my nose in Elspeth’s book.

So despite thinking I didn’t need to learn a new skill, I’m hooked on rag rugging and am perfectly happy with that. What about you, have you picked up a new skill, even if you didn’t think you had time, needed or wanted one?

* With thanks to Ragged Life for introducing me to a new craft, and providing the online tutorial and materials for the purposes of this review.

Paisley patterns in the Library

This weekend we’re not going to Devon. It’s how life is right now, but thankfully we have been to Devon many a time, and so instead I’m sharing some photos from a previous visit. This visit was from a visit in 2016, and while MOH and my SIL and her husband went for for a walk over the Moor, I opted for what turned out to be a more sensible trip to Killerton.

The plan was to meet in the pub for lunch, which still happened, though my morning was spent much more relaxed than theirs. I explored the house, spent time reading the books in the library - yes, the actual books, sitting on the actual chairs and actually pretending it was where I lived.

NOT A BAD SETTING

In fact I probably got a little too comfortable, but in my defence it was a great book, and there was no better setting for it. But what about the paisley?

I’ve never really given them much thought, well apart from avoiding them on Liberty fabrics as I grew up, not something I’m sure I’d do now. The origins of the motif, that is instantly recognisable, can be found in the ancient civilisation of Babylon under the rule of kings such as Nebuchadnezzar. Paisley, is of course a small Scottish textile town, and had I had more time I would have read the whole story of its connection with this instantly recognisable design.

I left realising that there’s much, much more to Paisley, and you just thought I was browsing books in the Library didn’t you?

I did finally manage to tear myself away, and I was hooked. There is of course plenty more to see, including a tour around the gardens, which I also love. While in the gardens, the skies grew black, I knew I was too far away from the house to make it back as it started spitting so sheltered under a large tree. The weather quickly passed and off I headed to the pub, only to sit there alone, for longer than I’d like.

They arrived eventually. They’d been caught in the rain, and got soaked through, so had headed back to get changed and then set out to meet me for lunch. The mobile signal is bad in Devon, but they’d not thought to call to change the venue to save their mileage, clearly soggy brains!