Fylingdales

Old St Stephens, where my exhibition opens on Friday, is in the parish of Fylingdales. There is a terrific silent film about Fylingdales at the Yorkshire Film Archive Online www.yfaonline.com. It is an elegiac film made in 1955 by an unknown amateur but I hope it will make you want to visit. Type "Fylingdales" into SEARCH. The whole site is addictive with many rare films of times gone by, folk customs and traditions.

Photo Shoot

Drove down to Old St Stephens today to meet the press and have a practice run for the exhibition. The church looked just beautiful in the sunlight. This is an unashamedly romantic installation in a romantic and atmospheric special space Great fun moving the maiden's dress and garlands around the church and lovely to hear Deb paying the organ from above. Please come and see it on August Bank Holiday weekend !

Remember Me

Janey Levitt

As part of my exhibition "Remember Me" which starts next Saturday August27th at Old St Stephens Church Robin Hoods Bay I have recreated Janey Levitt's garland. Janey was the last maiden for whom a garland was made, in 1859. For years her funereal memento mori was hung in the church but it disappeared during a period of garland conservation in the 1980s. Luckily Peter Brears had examined the garland closely and was able to come up with diagrams and notes as to its construction. I have followed these instructions carefully, using the correct measurements, stitch details and colours wherever possible.

I can't wait to see it hanging in the church!

Glandford Shell Museum

Home to Norfolk and a trip to revisit The Shell Museum at Glandford (www.shellmuseum.org.uk). This is a really special little museum which was purpose built by Sir Alfred Jodrell and is home to a quirky collection of donated objects as well as shells and shell related objects. If you are visiting the North Norfolk coast and are interested in cabinets of curiosities then check it out. It is small and very quiet as visitors become totally absorbed in the displays.

Good for Gardeners

I visited the most delightful place today full of tempting gardening accessories and plants. The Capable Gardener is run by Philippa Hodkinson who is a professional National Trust gardener and is responsible for the up keep of the Gertrude Jekyll walled garden at Lindisfarne Castle. Not only was she stocking locally grown hardy annuals and perennial plants but had a little shed stocking a range of covetable gardening bits and bobs which were displayed to perfection. The Capable Gardener is at Kirkharle Courtyard ( www.kirkharlecourtyard.co.uk ) which is close to Wallington.

Minsterley Maidens Garlands

More on these on my Memento Mori blog at mandypattullo.blogspot.com