Tag: #london

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Poppies at the Tower of London 2014


Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.
Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 88,246 ceramic poppies have slowly filled the Tower’s famous moat over the summer, the last poppy being planted on the 11th November 2014 as part of the Armistice Remembrance Day. Each poppy representing a British and Commonwealth military fatality during WW1.

I visited on a day when the sun was shining. It was a sight to behold seeing a glinting sea of red. The expanse of the installation is breathtaking and quite moving when one thinks of its significance.

Dismantling of the display will start after Armistice.  A portion of the installation will tour the UK and later go on display at London’s Imperial War Museum. Each poppy has been sold off to raise funds for Service and Military Charities.
Here are some of the images from the Tower of London.

 

 

Each poppy sits on a metal stake, placed firmly in the soft earth
The Wave Display
A glinting Sea of Red

 

 

The second of two Weeping displays

 

One of the two Weeping displays

 

Poppies laid on the ground

 

 

Volunteers laying the last few poppies
Here are some panoramic shots I took.
I wanted to remember the expanse of the display and the huge crowds of people.

 

 

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The Knitting and Stitching Show 2014, Alexandra Palace, London – Part 3 – WW1 Remembered

At textile exhibitions, I find there are generally one or two pieces of work that I find myself drawn to. It might be it’s construction, colour, techniques incorporated, or textures created that lure me in.

The following piece was so stunning. I was going to include it in one of my previous posts, but it is so unique, it needs a post all of its own to be appreciated fully.
This is a piece in memory of the fallen in WW1…. which was a running theme at the Show this Centenary year.
Created by Susan Canfield called “Time held me Green and Dying”  from textile group Between the Lines: East Anglia Stitch Textiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Selvedge Winter Fair 2014

The Christmas shopping has started! Over the years, I’ve found the Selvedge Winter Fair at the Chelsea Old Town Hall is the perfect place for finding all sorts of unique gifts and unusual stocking fillers all available under one roof.

This year the Fair was a month earlier than last year and the weather was on our side. The Kings Road was bathed in sunshine. It was wonderful to be sitting outside, having coffee and cake and watching the world go by.

The Fair was buzzing with creativity; lots of colourful textiles, vintage and handmade pieces.
So much to see! This year I combined the trip with a day out in London with my husband. I wasn’t sure how it would work out (you know, finding out how much I spend!) but he positively encouraged me to buy all the goodies I liked. He knows how much I adore displaying handmade goodies in my sewing room.

Here are some photos from the day from the sunny rooms of the Chelsea Old Town Hall.

 

The lovely Viv from Hens Teeth
Grace from A Threadbear Productions with her menagerie of friends
The Chelsea Old Town Hall has such beautiful interiors
Walking back to the tube in the afternoon sunshine of a crisp Autumn day.
The end to a perfect day in London.