In a Vase on Monday - The joy of Spring

One of the joys of Spring in my eyes are daffodils.  Today's small arrangement is made up of small daffodils from the garden.

I think these are Tete a Tete, probably bought years ago in flower at this time of year, and then put in the garden in the hope that they would come up again.

When I went close up to the two or three little clumps, I found one stem with three flowers, one stem with two, and the rest with just single blooms.  A few leaves and my latest little blue vase...

I love daffodils and my bookmark has been floating about since I finished my current book yesterday..and it begged to be put next to the real thing.  This is a J and J Cash woven silk bookmark with lovely daffodils all along.  I love the woven pictures by J & J Cash, and often buy pretty Bookmarks to give as presents.  I have just this one, although I do now have a few woven silk pictures, and from time to time write about them on this blog.  This daffodil book mark is one of my little 'precious' things which bring a smile whenever I look at it.  Its one of those little precious things that if misplaced just has to be found....

When I was thinking of what to write along with the daffodils today, I thought to quote from one of Wordsworth's Poems, from the famous one...they my eye fell on a book of poetry: Selected Poems by William Blake,  that I must have acquired and then put on the shelf and forgotten about...just like the pots of tete a tete that I planted in the garden...and the book fell open with this from Earth's Answer to Songs of Experience:

Does Spring hide its joy

When buds and blossoms grow?

If you would like to enjoy more buds and blossoms, why not go to Cathy's page, where you can read about her vase this week, and link into many other pretty arrangements.

Its been an Angie Lewin birthday

I love Angie Lewin's designs and often buy her cards, so I was really delighted with my birthday present.  Six mugs...I don't mind if my coffee is really hot and I have to wait, I just take in the fabulous details of the design.  They were not easy to find and the ladies at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park were really helpful and were very good packers.

I also had bought myself a birthday present and guess what....

 As my dearly beloved made a fuss of me all day, with treats, and meals etc all done for me, I had a little time to get out my paints, and pens, and did a little doodling, inspired by the fabulous pictures in Plants and Places.  I've dated them in my book, so in years to come, I'll remember my birthday and lovely presents.

Today Penny came over with a couple of tickets to Warwick Castle so with many thanks to her we shall be visiting there soon.  The last time we visited Warwick Castle was on another birthday years ago, before we ever moved to Kenilworth.

From my son and family, a delightful woven silk picture from J & J Cash, perfect for the season.

J & J Cash Lapin

My little Grand daughter loves rabbits, and yes she soon learnt the French name at her French Play Group.  I was delighted to find this picture which I hope in years to come will remind her of her early days...

Sad goodbye to J and J Cash Ltd

Just heard the news that J & J Cash have gone into receivership. 


I am so sorry to hear this. 


Since writing up about the silk pictures in December 2008 which I have bought and enjoyed I have had many people visit my blog: over 13000 on this topic alone.

J & J Cash and Serendipity

On the day Lizzie and I ventured out to Coventry, we were somehow funnelled into the market. Being new to Coventry I have yet to get my bearings, but was pleased to show off the exotic fruit and veg available. Before we could get to that part of the market, Lizzie was drawn to a Vintage bric a brac shop. After less than 5 minutes, we both were drawn to a picture of a Cardinal by J & J Cash. I had already shown Lizzie my Cash pictures back home and one of the purposes of our visit to Coventry was to go and see the ribbons and pictures at the Herbert Museum.

Lizzie is an excellent shopper and she soon picked out the best of the two similar Cardinal silk pictures. The amazing thing was that the last picture she had taken in Mauritius in Aunty Phyllis's garden was of a cardinal, which she called up on her camera to show me there in the market. In the Cash woven silk picture, the cardinal is shown perched on a branch of honey suckle, and we wondered whether honeysuckle exists in any of the normal Cardinal habitats, or whether the juxtaposition is a figment of some English designer's imagination.

Using her excellent talent for bartering, a reduced price of £8.00 was agreed. Lizzie was triumphant and we could not think of a better present for her to take back to Aunty Phyllis. Our mother had had some lovely very large woven Chinese silk pictures which granny Teckkam had given her many years ago, which we returned so that Aunty Phyllis's two daughters can enjoy their heritage. Maybe it is because of those beautiful Chinese silk pictures which hung on my mother's walls, that I am now drawn to these. However I think my enjoyment is based on the appreciation of the skill of the designers and craftsmen and women who made these. When in Italy I have often noted how they are so proud of their silk weavers.....its about time we do the same for the Coventry Silk Weavers.

Woven silk pictures from J and J Cash Ltd

A few weeks ago whilst in Coventry, I happened to drop in on The Herbert Museum. The large ground floor exhibition area had just been refurbished and it was the first day of its relaunch.
Here I spent a couple of hours marvelling at the collection of ribbons and woven artifacts dating from the 18Th Century, and was intrigued to find out that Coventry was the centre of woven silk ribbons for over a century. My interest in woven items has been growing over the last couple of years, and in Venice this year I was amazed at the woven silks and ribbons which they used in period dresses.

I mentioned the Ribbon Exhibition at the WI craft group, and several of my friends there were able to tell me more about the items that Cash produced.
I was disappointed that the shop at the Herbert did not have any of Cash's items for sale. It is very strange that where they have a wonderful exhibition, there are not items for sale. Where there is a local item of such excellent quality, I feel it ought to be really showcased and that people around must be really proud. I think we must support British Made items of such quality, and enjoy them and ensure that such companies continue to prosper.

This is the start of my collection of woven silk pictures. The first in middle is that of a Peregrine Falcon. I picked this up at a bring and buy coffee morning. The next two, I bought as second hand items from a Furniture Shop in Kenilworth. The detail is superb: the fluffy white feather on the robin's breast look as if the wind is blowing them about, and the designer has managed to capture the stillness of the moment on the Kingfisher woven picture. I'm hoping to receive Cash's book marks as birthday presents in the future, well I dropped a big hint to Mr S, hope he was listening.


Cash is still in business and produces name tapes and items such as bookmarks and greeting cards. This past weekend I was delighted to find some at the Coventry Transport Museum. Veronica and I marvelled at the current collection. The design, details and the colours are really beautiful. I picked up two booklets: Silken Weave, A History of Ribbon Making in Coventry from 1770 to 1860, and Still Weaving - J and J Cash Ltd of Coventry. These two booklets are excellent sources on the history of a craft and the effect that the industry has had on the character and development of a City.