This is a block I originally made for a charity quilt on a forum, but that never came to fruition from lack of member interest. I invested heavily in time on this, probably about 30 hours' sewing overall, as it is hand embroidered, and now it is going to be the centrepiece of a wallhanging for my home. The Creative Living forum I also belong to here in the UK has a block swop in progress, and I chose to have an applique challenge - View from a Cottage Window - for mine, so I have several to add to the wallhanging.
The blue vase is one I inherited from my late m-in-law. The embroidered Hollyhocks are amongst my favourite Cottage Garden flowers. The hill in the background is one near Bridport in Dorset, and I believe the pine trees were planted on the top to give a landmark to shipping.
This is a picture (originally a book illustration I think) of a Water Mill which reminds me very much of Sturminster Mill in Dorset, where I was last weekend (compare with Monday's posting, which has photos of it). I'm not sure if it is Stur. Mill, as there isn't a door where I know a door to be, but in every other way it is the same and evokes happy memories of when I first learned to make bread and used to buy my bread flour at the Mill. The frame is beautiful too - oak - and probably an Edwardian frame, so about 100 years old now.
