Embroidery

Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on caps, hats, coats, blankets, dress shirts, denim, dresses, stockings, and golf shirts. Embroidery is available with a wide variety of thread or yarn colour.

Some on the basic techniques or stiches of the earliest embroidery are chain stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, and cross stitch. Those stiches remain the fundamental techniques of hand embroidery today.

Alex Fox

The Tree Cathedral

These are some photographs of the Tree Cathedral in Milton Keynes. This cathedral of trees is based on Norwich Cathedral and designed by landscape architect Neil Higson. The plan of the ‘building’ was shaped in earth and planted in 1986, with a range of different tree species used to establish the character of its component parts. Neil Higson describes its planting, ‘Tall evergreen trees form the central tower and spires of the west and east ends, and pines define the walls. The Nave is lined with Fastigate Hornbeam and tall growing Lime trees. Poplars occupy the north and south aisles, removed as slower growing species reach maturity. The choir is planted with Golden Ash and the chancel in Holm Oak. Flowering cherries and apples form foci in the chapels. The Transepts are simply treated but punctuated with small columnar evergreens at focal points. The Cloisters take the form of a large slightly sunken square lined with Hornbeam and the Chapter House is a conical mound, crowned with laurels, from the top of which the cathedral can be viewed....and colourful bulb planting interprets the effect of sun shining through the stained glass windows onto the grounds.'

Alex Fox

Exercises and Tai chi

Since the second lock down, residents of Camphill Milton Keynes have been doing exercises and Tai chi on the grass area. 

Exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. 

Tai chi, short for T'ai chi ch'üan or Tàijí quán, is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training, its health benefits and meditation.

Alex Fox

Halloween

Due to the second lockdown, residents of Camphill Milton Keynes celebrated Halloween in their own houses. The modern-day idea of Halloween as we know it obviously was not always what the celebration was like or about originally. The origin of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celts who ruled over Ireland, Britain and Northern France before being conquered by the Romans. The Celts were pagans and the beginning of November marks the festival Samhain for the Celts. Samhain – which is November in Irish, pronounced sow-in – was the festival that marked the end of summer and the harvest season. Halloween has its roots in the pagan traditions of the Celts, on Samhain they believed that this night marked the night that the door between this world and the next was open and spirits could pass through, distinctions between the living and the dead became blurred.

Alex Fox