These pieces were so much happiness to make. The oak needed some wrestling at first, it is such a hard wood, but I loved working with the possibilities for shaping a bigger piece. I experimented with various chisels to cut under and form simple lines. Elation! Such good work. Our homemade candlesticks will look quite elegant, I should think. I must wait til I reach my father’s woodshop in Canada in June, to make bases for these candlesticks.

I’m awfully sorry to say that I must save up all my stories of boat-building, cheesemaking, plant-dyeing wool and upholstering chairs, for June and the summer beyond it. Now I must give my attention to packing up the old cottage, our beloved English home, and sending it off in a boat for a new life on the west coast of Canada. I’m full of sorrow and joy about this! I’ll be making photographs of my last adventures here, and tweeting, if you’d like to follow my last days in England. Please do page through appleturnover’s spring archives and look for me here again in the very first week of June.

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Just a flat shape to grip, a sharp edge to mark fabric with, a pure substance that harms neither the cloth nor the tailor. I have great respect for the ecology of a product that leaves nothing to throw away when it’s done. Even a broken piece remains useful. I love to use this chalk for measuring and marking in quilting and dressmaking. And isn’t it a pretty object?

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read more tried & trues.

After the dull winter, those purple stalks are seriously thrilling! It’s sculptural leafiness is very pretty too, I’d plant it amongst flowers in a cottage garden.

I love to cook sprouting broccoli simply, as I do kale, just tossing in a bit of butter, with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of sea salt when it comes out of the pan. Fresh from the garden it is tender and rich. Absolutely worth the wait. If you remember that you’re waiting. When I’m settled in Canada I’d love to plant some of this, it is my sort of vegetable.

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read more stories from the kitchen garden.