HOWDID YOUFIND A PARTNER?
Grand illusions in stencilling
THE term, trompe loeil, means to deceive the eye and this is certainly true of some of the designs contained in a new book* on this specialised form of stencilling.
The over-used ivy and clematis designs often seen in DIY shops are not found here, for the ivy now tumbles over a balustrade as part of a mural, apples in a border look almost edible and keys hang from nails in the wall – so real you could almost unhook them.
Old cabinets are turned into objects of intrigue as stencilled pearls hang out of drawers, and books nestle behind glass doors that are, in fact, a single, side-opening wooden door concealing all kinds of paraphernalia that you wouldnt necessarily want on display.
Progressive projects demonstrate all the techniques that can be used to create realistic depth and form, and clever tricks are revealed such as the painting of shadows in situ away from the natural light source in the room, to add to the illusion.
I urge you to buy this book and try out some of the ideas – your visitors will be amazed. MP
* Trompe loeil using stencils by Lynda Mills, Search Press, £7.95. Credit card orders: free- phone (0800-146860).
Pop goes the teasel…
THE English teasel has gone pop, ending an unusual niche agricultural tradition. For generations farmers in the West Country have grown teasels for a specialised industrial process. The heads, which are covered in tiny hooks or burrs, have been used for finishing quality cloths such as mohair. When mounted in frames in a machine and combed over the fabric they raise the nap giving a smooth look.
But the balance sheet has finally caught up with the teasel. Britains only teasel merchant, Edmund Taylor of Huddersfield, has stopped using the home-grown plants because they have become too expensive.
"We were down to four farmers growing them in Somerset," said the firms Tim Ledger. "They would plant an acre or less as a cash crop, but it became uneconomic for us. They were wanting more money and the plants were at the mercy of the weather. Rain could ruin them. We now import all our teasels from Spain where they are much cheaper."
Vast quantities of teasels were used when the textile industry was at its height. Only a fraction are now needed but they are still numbered in millions. English teasels were a superior product. It was a 16-month cycle from seed and the harsher climate made the plants tougher. They lasted longer than foreign imports.
Efforts have been made to replace the teasel, with wire for instance. Nothing has yet been invented to keep us as well groomed.
Tom Montgomery
HOWDID YOUFIND A PARTNER?
It is an issue we have tackled countless times over the years in Farmlife but suddenly, despite all the trials and tribulations farming has to face at present, the way a farmer finds a wife has caught wider media attention.
Country Living magazine has launched a nationwide search for eligible single country men and women to help them find their ideal partners.
How the magazine expects to do a better job than the many introduction agencies already offering this service – albeit at a price – remains to be seen.
Certainly, meeting new people can be difficult in rural areas especially if you are tied to a demanding job such as farming. Advertising does work. Joining organisations from Country Link to the Country Landowners Associations will also bring new contacts but not everyone wants to join a "club". So how do people meet their life partners.
Tell us your experiences. Does love or loneliness go hand and hand with farming?
Write to Farmlife partners, Farmers Weekly, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS. We require senders to give a name and address, but will withhold these from publication on request.