Seeing the avenue of trees in full autumn attire, albeit briefly before the wind left them bare, was a treat”
I’ve recently rediscovered the meaning of a ‘sense of place’. I’ve always reflected fondly on memories of better times. But since having less than robust health, ‘home’ has become more important than ever. And by that, I don’t mean the bricks and mortar of a house.
Home to me is about belonging, friendships and family experiences. One of my school friends recently reminded me of the importance of shared history and experience – particularly so if you’ve encountered loss. It’s true that losing close relatives over the years has made it all the more vital that I have people near to me, who I can reminisce with about my ‘old times’. These memories, plus the environment in which I grew up, are also a huge source of inspiration for the patterns I design.
No place like home
This nostalgia fuelled my desire to return to my home village, and to make the upheaval of the past few years a distant memory as we settle back in to a more simple life. I am enjoying seeing familiar faces, passing exchanges with friendly local people, and having a village community around us again. Being back home, I love having a chat with dear friends and relatives who can now just ‘pop in’ to see us instead of making a two-hour trek.
Of course, bricks and mortar also count – especially those that have been there my whole life, such as the house my dad built which was my home from the age of one, and the local village church which was the scene of many an occasion, from happy to heartbreaking. I also appreciate everything far more, having spent 10 years in Australia which is about as far away from rural Suffolk/Norfolk as you can get.
It’s strangely comforting being able to see the church from my studio window, with its sweeping avenue of trees. As it’s only a stone’s throw from our home, Jim and I took a wander up there recently to photograph some of the new Wattisham Tote Bag samples, the pattern for which will be published and in the Charlie’s Aunt shop early next year. It was very windy – or a ‘bit blowy’ as they understatedly say in Suffolk – so not everything went to plan. But seeing the avenue of trees in their autumn attire, albeit briefly before the wind left them bare, was a treat I will never tire of.
The new Wattisham Bags
My health and the subsequent move has delayed several of the patterns I’ve been working on but I have still been beavering away on the days when I get a second wind. I designed the Wattisham Bag some time ago and it has had various names since then, but I’ve settled on Wattisham in honour of the Suffolk airfield that was opened in April 1939. The Royal Air Force used it as one of its main bases of operation in the first years of the Second World War before it was rented by the USAF in 1942, and returned to the RAF after the war.
From my family point of view, my mother used to cycle to Wattisham, which was some 13 miles away, with her sister and their friends. Mum was around 10 years old (circa 1947) so was interested in plane spotting but her elder sister, she recalls, was rather more interested in the airmen stationed there!
Fast forward more than a half century and I returned to Wattisham to write a news feature on Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, which now runs a training facility from the airbase.
The link to the 1940s also appealed, given that it is my favourite period of fashion inspiration, and the family memories all seemed to make Wattisham a suitably appropriate name.
What the pattern will contain
The Wattisham Bag pattern will be part of our CA41 range and will have two views, the other of which I have already previewed on a recent blog and on the Charlie’s Aunt Facebook page. The idea is to give two retro-styled large, practical but stylish bags in one PDF with various styling options. They are both the same size and shape, both featuring pleats, but one is symmetrical and the other is styled asymmetrically. There is a choice of interior pockets. I must say I am really pleased with these bags and have already used one of them. They are the ideal size for throwing lots of things into after a trip to the local shop!
The Wattisham Bags will be available early next year – something to look forward to as we head into winter. For more information on anything in the blog, email emma@charliesaunt.com or keep up to date with new products via the Charlie’s Aunt Facebook page.
Happy winter sewing!
Emma xx
