A stitch in Extra Time
There’s nothing so inviting as a long stretch of lining paper to get people doodling – and so we spent a happy morning at Manor Farm, chatting about the children’s visit last week and jotting down some of the stories they’d shared.
Shelly joined us this week and was keen to find out what message the residents would send to the children, to help them flourish in the game of life.
‘Be faithful to your friends’, ‘Be kind’, ‘Enjoy life’ were just a few of the recommendations.
Over at the school, the children hoped that the residents were ‘happy’ to have met them – although they were concerned that the visit might have been a bit tiring for them.
What was evident was how much the children enjoyed themselves and thow eager they are to go back again.
They, too, had several metres of lining paper to decorate with details of stories they’d heard, after which Shelly introduced them to the idea of embroidering their fabric pictures.
Attaching the fabric to the hoops, splitting the coloured yarn and threading needles, not to mention tying teeny weeny knots in the cotton, presented few problems, and the children were soon busily engrossed in their sewing.
So much so, in fact, that when it came time to pack up, several children complained that they didn’t want to stop … but then, the sun was shining outside, parents were waiting at the school gates … they quickly got over their reluctance to clear up and anyway, we can carry on next week.
An idyllic pastoral scene
There's nothing like a long strip of lining paper for jotting down favourite moments and thoughts
Watching her brothers play football
I amazed myself
Dave says "Enjoy life"
They were very nice children, easy to work with
They go out dancing after they win a match
Always ready for a good yarn
Everyone engrossed in their stitching
Happy
Maybe Georgina's mother played football for the Co-op Ladies
Adding features to his footballer
Championship football
Adding embroidered details to his picture of the Lowestoft Town Supporters Club crest
They usually have beards
Stitching her rainbow picture
Stitching the pitch
A veritable thatch of black hair stitched into the picture
Roof, building, road and lamplight
I'll have a pink one - that's my nature
‘I think they [the residents] felt exhausted as all we did was chat.’
‘It can't be time to go home yet, I don't want to stop.’
‘I can't wait to go back to Manor Farm, because I want to find out more about Ken's horse.’
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