Bailiwick buttons

This winter I wanted to replace the buttons on my new coat,

but these were going to be special buttons, they were going to be Bailiwick buttons!

 

First I should probably explain what a Bailiwick is. 

In the Chanel Islands it is an area governed by a Bailiff,

you have the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey and

in the last 800 years the two have never over lapped. The Bailiwick of Guernsey consists of

Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Lihou, Burhou, Jethou and Brecqhou. Simple!

 

First I thought I was commission some cut out of metal, but understandably because of the complexity of our coast line, this turned out to be a very expensive option.

 So I resorted to what I know best.

Embroidery

One button for each of the main four islands, stitched in green on a silk linen mix.

Self cover buttons were definitely the way to go, but because of the amount of detail I wanted to include, I went for the largest button available with a 4cm diameter.

I drew the outline of each island free hand in biro,

you can see the edge markings on the picture below 

Then when they were all stretched, I washed them with Vanish which removed all trace of the biro and had the other good side effect of tightening the fabric over the button.

There were problems ahead, but am really pleased which the finished button, part 2 coming soon!

One of my most satisfying commissions so far ;-)

I had a lovely commission earlier this summer, for a wedding present for my clients niece.  We worked together on the design trying to get in as many subtle clues abut their life and loves

 Emily and Phil are very out doorsy people, so fleeces were the order of the day,

 and his red plane had to be doing a fly by!

They are also from Yorkshire and Lancashire, so we have red and white roses in the undergrowth 

And they love spending time with her Aunt in Sark, so the island features on the horizon

So very pleased with how it turned out, you know what it is like when things just click, well this was one of those.  And from what I understand, they are pleased with it too!

Sark part two

Right time for part two!

Imogen and Bailey proudly led us up to their new house

 It is beautiful, a gorgeous mix of classic and modern, but even more, this is the view Jill has from her kitchen window, out over the camp site towards France, stunning. 
I don't think I would ever get anything done!

 But the whole reason for the trip was to see Immie in 'Oliver'

and I was very proud that she was wearing a Victorian dress that I had made her,

 for playing Catherine, the daughter of the undertaker.

difficult to take pictures during the show as I didn't want to disturb with the flash.

But it was a brilliant performance with fabulous singing, even more impressive when you consider there are only about 700 people living in Sark.

Bailey up a tree!

Sunday was still beautiful weather, so we decided to head out for a big walk, much needed after all the wine the night before!!!

 Imogen and her dog Ziggie

 Myself, Jill, Immie and Bailey on the cliff path above the harbour

What a stunning day and stunning island

Imogen and I spent alot of the walk collecting wild flowers, thrift, daisies and violets,
and her plait seemed the ideal place to display them.

There are an awful lot of horses in the island, the majority used for the carriages,

 Jill is some times a carriage driver and

 you can see her daughter is very comfortable and relaxed around these huge beautiful animals

And also it seems very comfortable with steers (young bulls!) 

Then it was time to head home, but we did have time to potter round the beautiful old harbour

this is where most of the local fishing boats are based

The tunnel, which is the only land way you can get to this secluded spot

A motor cruiser bombing it back Jersey (the island you can see on the horizon)

before we got on to the Sark boat and headed back in the other direction to Guernsey.

Thank you to all the Gills for a fantastic weekend

a weekend in Sark; part one

This weekend, we have gone over to Sark with Bailey, to catch up with his family, and see is sister Imogen in the island am dram production of Oliver. 

And wearing a dress I made for her, so I have a vested interest!!

 And what a beautiful day to sail.

  Leaving St Peter Port with the reassuring sight of the Lifeboat

 and the ambulance boat 'Flying Christine'

 The light house at the entrance of the harbour with Castle Cornet on the left.

 the ethereal late afternoon light

The Wave Piercer arriving from Poole, I always think it looks like a James Bond Stealth Boat!

The castle on Breqhou, very controversial, its self and its owners!  A bit rough at this point so impossible to get a straight horizon! 

 On the horizon you can see Herm and Jethou to its left.

 Arriving at the tiny Maseline harbour

Sark is unique as cars are baned, its all tractors, bicycles and horse and carriages.  The island is a tall plateau of rock with steep climbs up the cliffs to get to the top, but once you are there its pretty flat.  So when you land you can either climb Harbour Hill and

 maybe have a restorative pint in the the Bel Air at the top!

Or you can take the delightfully named Toast Rack which is towed up the hill by a tractor, for the bargain price of £1.00, definitely worth it!

crossing paths with the other islands

Guernsey is the largest island in our bailiwick, there is also Alderney, Sark, Herm, Lihou, Jethou, Burhou and Brecqhou.  It is fun living in an archipelago, but it also sometimes puts a different twist on things!

This morning I needed to get a delivery of my cards over to Herm, so had to get down to the harbour in time to get them on the Travel Trident before it left for the lunch time sailing.

This is the harbour that Trident is heading to (Sark is in the background).  I do hope they have a good tourist season this year, which will give me the chance to go over in person to re stock, though to me fair I never need a reason to go there, its stunning.

Then this evening our household is increasing to three as Bailey will be back.  He is a young man (13)  from Sark, its a small island with a population of about 600 and has a good primary school, but they pretty much all leave and board for secondary school.  When I was at school the boys college had a boarding house, but

that has now closed, so either they go to boarding schools in UK or are put up with 'term time carers' in Guernsey.  And that is where Chris and I step in. We have had Bailey with us know for nearly two years, and it has been great fun, my French and Latin have improved (through helping with homework) but I still don't understand algebra, I leave that to Chris!  I have know his family for nearly twenty years, and as we live near the school and had the space it seemed the natural to offer.  Baileys sister Immie (who is my god daughter) has now passed her enterance exam to the girls school, so everything will change again in September as there will then be four!!!!!

Wish us all luck xxxxx