Norfolk Windmill - the next stop down Briarside Lane

We have come to the next stop on our journey down Briarside Lane! This month we are excited to bring you the Norfolk Windmill.

Norfolk Windmill by Jules Woolford

On a clear, cold early morning in late autumn, the salt marsh is waking to the sound of birdsong. The reeds have turned from bright gold to a tarnished hue. We can hear the sails of the old windmill creak and grind. Many of the struts are lost and broken, but still the windmill turns.

Suddenly, a movement catches our attention; to our right, a barn owl flies home from its nightly hunt. It glides, ghost like, across the winding river. We stand, transfixed, watching this feathered beauty pass across the cycle of the great sails. A single beam of sunlight pierces the cloud above. For just a moment, the worn, old bricks glow and the giant windmill gleams, standing proudly against the soft colors of the autumn marshland.

The Back Story:

Jules is fascinated by windmills. Her favorite can be seen on a hike that crosses the salt marsh at *Cley, an eastern seaside hamlet located in the county of Norfolk. Walking this way for the first time, Jules had an amazing experience. As the majestic windmill came into view, the white shape of a barn owl flew across the footpath in front of her, a ghostly silhouette beneath the sails of the mill. It was an instance of pure magic and one she has never forgotten.

For those who know of the beautifully renovated Cley Mill, don’t be confused. The Norfolk Windmill remains untouched, harking back to an older, more romantic time!

* Pronounced Kly

Here is Jules original watercolor piece. Isn't it beautiful? I must say that I am having so much fun creating wool and embroidery versions of her incredible work.

Just like Bumblebee Cottage, there is a FREE embroidery version of this design.

We have a National Nonwovens wool blend kit available for this block.

and we also have the Briarside Lane Valdani perle cotton collection, which includes all the colors we will be stitching with on this adventure.

The e-Pattern, Wool kit and Valdani kit are all available in the SHOP. So hop on over!

Please feel free to post your creativity on The Raspberry Rabbits Facebook Page. It's been so much fun seeing what everybunny has been inspired to create! Be sure to visit the Briarside Lane tab at the top of the blog for more inspiration.

We hope you have enjoyed your visit to the Norfolk Windmill. Our next stop down Briarside Lane will be March 1st when we debut the third block of our journey. Until then, hoppy stitching!

Hugs,
Michelle, Jules and the Bunnies