Sparkly Fell Elf
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sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Sparkly Fell Elf
@sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
140 followers 51 following 6.3K posts
Fond of fabulous frocks and all things glamorous
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sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Outside the castle was magical lights in a woodland walk.

Inside the castle was this... tableau? Installation? Still life?
A room in Sizergh Castle with a large and very old tapestry hanging on the wall, serving as a backdrop to the objects in front of it. Which are: A big chest or similar bit of old wooden furniture draped with dark blue satin. What looks like two old fur coats have been flung on top of this. Behind it, on a plinth draped in red cloth, is a stuffed swan. Scattered amongst all this are various objéts d'art, fruit, plants, large feathers and a stuffed parrot perched on each of the plant urns that flank the scene. All of this is sat on a really lovely old rug in rich colours. The whole of it looks like a weird still life set up for an old master. The colours are rich and beautiful but it's somewhat macabre
December 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
There were these handsome critters too
A large hare built of wire and covered in a translucent material with light shining from inside so the whole thing is lit up in the darkness of the woods A huge owl built in the same way as the hare in the previous picture. It's perched on a tree branch Three corvids (ravens, crows, rooks - I can't tell them apart!). Like the owl and the hare they are translucent and lit from inside. They are sitting on the branches of a tree in a diagonal line. One is on an upper branch to the right, and two are facing each other on a lower one to the left
December 8, 2025 at 9:58 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Do Garmin do fabric straps because the one it came with has done this to me
My wrist showing sore, itchy, flaky patches from the Garmin watch strap
December 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Went to a pretty lights gig at Sizergh Castle this evening. Mulled wine at the end!
An ornamental pond in the grounds of Sizergh Castle lit up by coloured lights and large model dragonflies which changed hue at intervals Models of colourful kingfishers hung amongst the woodland, lit of from the inside The front of Sizergh Hall flanked by two massive, lit up Chrustmas trees
December 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
They didn't try. And I'm very happy with that.

It does underpin my head scratching when asked what music do I like. I mean, how do you describe 274 genres in a sentence or two? (Eclectic is what I settle on, but people are none the wiser)
"Taste like yours can't be defined. But let's try anyway. You listened to 274 genres" (They actually didn't try to define my taste at all, but they did play "You're Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" bu Jackie Wilson, which is an all time favourite mood-lifter. So that was nice...
December 4, 2025 at 1:07 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
My most used words are quite pointless words 😆

I can't believe my most used word is "find", followed by "those".

But at least "lovely" and "hope" nake a decent appearance
Word cloud visualization for 2025 showing your 50 most-used words, sized by frequency. Top 10: "find" (189×), "those" (165×), "done" (134×), "lovely" (117×), "week" (117×), "sounds" (115×), "watch" (114×), "hope" (112×), "cold" (97×), "without" (96×) (from Anisota's Annual Bluesky Harvest)
December 4, 2025 at 12:07 AM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Tess's white ensemble was to die for. I have never wanted an outfit so much since I first set eyes on Gene Tierney in Leave Her To Heaven slinking around in this. This still cannot be improved on but Tess's outfit is a v good runner up. And she looked amazing in it.
Gene Tierney wearing the most sophisticated, glamorous playsuit ever designed. The trouser legs are so full you'd swear it was a floor length gown. The top has a neckline that covers the collar bone but has a genius cutout, embroidered in gold thread, depicting the character's initials. The sleeves are draped and full length, gathered into a tight cuff (accessorised by a gold cuff bracelet on each arem). It drapes and skims, with the waist caught in with a simple tie. It is clothes design at itmost elevated. Seemingly simple, but the it, tailoring and subtle details.say otherwise. This may be equalled but it will never be topped. (In the photo she's by a tree and holding a couple of long stemmed red roses but quite frankly they're irrelevant to anything. The roses are not in the film and it's nothing to do with the outfit or the design. Photographer just thought they added some colour I guess).
November 30, 2025 at 6:47 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Late afternoon walk from Hartington to Beresford Dale in the Peak District
Sun slipping behind a hill near Hartington, Derbyshire Reflective glow of the last of the sun on fields near Hartington. The fields are edged with drystone walls and a stone barn catches the golden light on the sky line Moon rising above a small, pointed hill near Hartington
November 29, 2025 at 12:41 AM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Made a hat:

(Read alt text for all the details)
Dark amethyst crocheted hat with knitted fisherman rib brim. The crochet stitches are varied, featuring ridges and bobbles which give it a lot lovely texture. A fluffy off-white bobbles sits a-top it. Yarn: Handpainted Blue Face Leicester Donegal Tweed (4ply sock yarn used double). Bought in a charity selling crafty/yarny/fabric bits of bobs in a bundle costing £2.50 (yarn was still in the hank, completely unused) Pattern: https://ravel.me/sugar-and-spice-slouch-hat (I have varied it very slightly in the body and did a knitted ribbed brim rather than a crochet front/back post faux rib)
November 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Went to Kendal.Mouuntain Festival today. Most people excited because Ben Fogle was milling around in shorts (it was 3°).

But I was way more excited and starstruck to see this legend at the bar (where I was scoring free mulled wine from a former colleague who was working there)
Queen Sewing Bee 2020, Clare Bradley, standing in fro nt of a sewing mannequin with a tape measure around her neck. She is wearing a purple linen top with a vintage 1930s/40s feel
November 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Today's winter task:

Test all the pens and see if they work
A round table filled with a wide and random assortment of pens, felt tips, markers and highlighters. They have been tested on a scrap of paper in the foreground and are now grouped together in types. Very colourful!
November 18, 2025 at 2:16 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Cloud inversion and first dusting of snow on the fells in S Lakeland
View of a cloud inversion over Lake Windermere with the first dusting of snow on Wetherlam seen in the distance above the cloud
November 18, 2025 at 12:54 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Sunset at work just now. We were fetching bedding, mattresses and seat cushions from the land pods inside the building. Whilst we were doing so aw our friend Basil, the feral but quite brave fox, came to supervise and make sure we were doing right from a safe distance
Peachy orange sky above Old Man of Coniston and Wetherlam, with glimpses of Lake Windermere in the foreground
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
It's basically how crap we are at correctly judging people's characters, no matter how clever or psychologically astute we are and how we ignore doubts and red flags about people because basically we are programed to believe people are mainly honest. (More in Alt text)
Red front cover of the paperback edition of Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. It illustrates how we get hoodwinked, even if we think we are good judges of character with thrilling tales of espionage and double agents and less thrilling tales of how world leaders got taken in by a dictator in the 1930s (the big mistake was meeting him face to face) . There is also accounts of experiments and research into our inherently trusting nature. Basically a deep dive on how Alan Carr was able to win Sleb Traitors so easily (but not using that as an example because the book was written before Traitors was conceived)
November 12, 2025 at 9:49 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Today I counted crockery, cutlery, pots and pans. Then I was door person and bar person for our music night. After the official gig and all but staff had gone home the various bands and musicians (inc our manager) got together and jammed. It was incredible (video file too big to post)

That's my job
A trio of musicians (2 male on guitar, one woman on a drum box- though she also played guitar and violin) sitting and playing in the lounge of a youth hostel framed by fairy lights
November 6, 2025 at 12:10 AM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Found in Lost Property when we were clearing it out - any ideas of it's purpose/function?
Mystery object which is a wooden T-bar on a wood base, with string coming down from each end of the cross bar. At the end of the string there are two metal hoops. On the stalk of the T there is a metal hook on either side. It is possible for the hoops to hook onto these. But why? Same as the previous photo but the hoops are seen attached onto the hooks. Answers on a postcard
November 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Today I had to help at another site. When I returned to the Mothership I collected a colleague to go on a booze cruise in Booths. After that we got busy making pies and sides. We stuffed ourselves like it was Christmas then played pass the parcel and played with the prizes.

Thats my job
Two pies. A very large square one containg chicken, leek and mushroom amd decorated in pastry with the words "Windy 2025). The other is a smaller round pie containing sweet potato, red pepper and red lentils with coriander. It's simply decorated with pastry leaves
November 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
This was posted by askylitocean.bsky.social but quote posts and replies disabled so I couldn't interact.

I just want to know who the artist is because I love it. The style is beautiful and I'd love to see more of their work
Unknown artist (I want to know who it is!): woman sat on wooden chair in front of a window knitting. She wears a long dark dress that could be from any era. A fox is sitting on her lap. There are various objects on the window sill and a footstool in front of her, including a teapot and large mug of tea, a ball of yarn and some candles on the windowsill, and a pile of folded knitted items (blankets? Jumpers?) with a pumpkin perched aloft on the footstool. The colour palette is brown with red, orange and yellow accents. Cosy and autumnal. There's something otherworldly and a bit magical about it. It's just lovely
October 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
🧶 Made some hats at the weekend to sell at work to raise money for our Breaks for Children programme.

One sold already 🥰
A selection of homemade, crocheted stripey hats in bright colours, nestling in a display basket
October 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Morning from a small hill in the Lake District.
Here's what greeted me when I got to work just before 7am
Dawn: pinky purple skies above green fields with dry stone walls, the Lakedale fells in the background. In the foreground there's a line of fluttering prayer flags
October 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
This is mine - quite different!
A knit Pro crochet hook with a mauve plastic handle with "3.5mm" stamped on it in black (it also says "E/4" which I believe are sizes in US and othe countries, but unlike the hook I'm not a pro, so I can't be sure)
October 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
*whispers back* its ok, I'd omly heard of her in the context of being a guest judge previously on Strictly until Wicked last year. Now I think of her as woman who needs her finger held support and comfort
The tiny, bony fingers of Ariana Grande holding the long, skinny forefinger (with very long spiky green-painted fingernail) of Cynthia Erivo. The rest of Cynthia's hand is resting on the arm of her chair. It's as bizarre as it sounds
October 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Can you make me get with my reading shawl? I always struggle with attention and focus and commitment when things get bigger and bigger. I'm about a third of the way depth-wise, but of course, in terms of what's left to crochet, I'm only a tiny bit on my way. It's interminable.

(This is the pattern)
Back of a shawl on a dressmakers dummy. The shawl is half a hexagon so that the back has a straight edge and comes all the way down the back. The one shown is in shades of pink and purple in a varifated yarn. I am using a solid mossy green colour, which is lovely, but I wish I'd used something like this yarn to hold my interest
October 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
Mary Fedden is the artist. Her still lives were all about colour (and often pattern and texture of the textiles and pots) and positioning of the components ans she didn't seem to worry that in real life her things woukd slide off the table. The discovery of her work was a life-enhancing experience
A still life by Mary Fedden. A white plate of fruit, a white vase and a small white lemon-shaoed object are on a maroon surface. The plate has a wavy pattern on the edge. All the fruit has a lot of space between each other so that it stands out on the white plate. In the vase is a purple thistle or artichoke flower. The wall/background is a bright mid blue which sets off the redness of the apple on the plate. Between the maroon surface and blue wall is what looks like a piece of rucked fabric of yellow stripey swirls on a white background. The objects on the surface, especially the plate of fruit, are drawn so they look vertical on the page and thus would slide down in real life. And this is why I love Mary Fedden's work!
October 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
sparklyfellelf.bsky.social
I want this:
September 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM