Clare Wilkes
@clareewilkes.bsky.social
Enthusiastic about sustainability, science and sewing, and bell ringing too
She/her
Occasional blogger: periodically.blog
She/her
Occasional blogger: periodically.blog
That's the hanging sleeve stitched to the back of my quilt for display at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in a few weeks' - hoping I've followed the instructions correctly! #quilting
July 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
That's the hanging sleeve stitched to the back of my quilt for display at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in a few weeks' - hoping I've followed the instructions correctly! #quilting
Another banner... this is to advertise mending workshops a couple of us are running at work and illustrates that mending can be visible or invisible. As always nothing new used - base cloth is a doll's cot blanket my Gran made, letters are from scraps. Machine and hand sewn
#mending #visiblemending
#mending #visiblemending
June 20, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Another banner... this is to advertise mending workshops a couple of us are running at work and illustrates that mending can be visible or invisible. As always nothing new used - base cloth is a doll's cot blanket my Gran made, letters are from scraps. Machine and hand sewn
#mending #visiblemending
#mending #visiblemending
Today is 200 years since Faraday's discovery of benzene! I made these hexies for a maths community quilt (with the maths being in the bond lengths of single and double bonds and the aromatic structure). I don't believe ever got made, so it's nice to have an opportunity to post a picture of them! 🐡
June 17, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Today is 200 years since Faraday's discovery of benzene! I made these hexies for a maths community quilt (with the maths being in the bond lengths of single and double bonds and the aromatic structure). I don't believe ever got made, so it's nice to have an opportunity to post a picture of them! 🐡
May's temperatures (at last). Another warm month - warmer than the last two years as you can see from the orange colours, though chillier nights (more purple) - I'm guessing that's because of the clear skies and lack of rain. #temperatureembroidery
#sciart
#sciart
June 16, 2025 at 7:10 AM
May's temperatures (at last). Another warm month - warmer than the last two years as you can see from the orange colours, though chillier nights (more purple) - I'm guessing that's because of the clear skies and lack of rain. #temperatureembroidery
#sciart
#sciart
My second banner. Posting for Cambridge Pride today, and in support of all those affected by the Supreme Court ruling.
No new materials used - just leftovers and an old pillowcase.
No new materials used - just leftovers and an old pillowcase.
June 14, 2025 at 9:45 PM
My second banner. Posting for Cambridge Pride today, and in support of all those affected by the Supreme Court ruling.
No new materials used - just leftovers and an old pillowcase.
No new materials used - just leftovers and an old pillowcase.
🐡 Today is World Oceans Day. The take-home message from Attenborough's Ocean film is that if we protect at least 30% of the oceans, esp. by banning bottom trawling, marine wildlife and fish stocks will recover in a much wider area - it's not too late just yet! Please share this banner and...
June 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
🐡 Today is World Oceans Day. The take-home message from Attenborough's Ocean film is that if we protect at least 30% of the oceans, esp. by banning bottom trawling, marine wildlife and fish stocks will recover in a much wider area - it's not too late just yet! Please share this banner and...
A rainbow over Glen Coe last Friday
June 1, 2025 at 1:49 PM
A rainbow over Glen Coe last Friday
Found this little snow bunting singing away on top of Ben Nevis last week
June 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Found this little snow bunting singing away on top of Ben Nevis last week
That was a good stash-buster! Some of these will be on sale on Parker's Piece this Tuesday as part of Hills Rd VI Form social action week, in aid of Mind, and others will be sold by Winter Comfort at Cambridge Pride in June.
May 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
That was a good stash-buster! Some of these will be on sale on Parker's Piece this Tuesday as part of Hills Rd VI Form social action week, in aid of Mind, and others will be sold by Winter Comfort at Cambridge Pride in June.
Lovely to visit my old primary school in Suffolk for its 150th. A reminder of all the needlework we did, and the dreaded nature diaries; we had to record sthg every morning & I clearly remember making up a one-legged robin in desperation 🤣. But we did leave with a good awareness of the natural world
May 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Lovely to visit my old primary school in Suffolk for its 150th. A reminder of all the needlework we did, and the dreaded nature diaries; we had to record sthg every morning & I clearly remember making up a one-legged robin in desperation 🤣. But we did leave with a good awareness of the natural world
I was fortunate to see David Attenborough's new film Ocean yesterday. It's hard-hitting but ultimately hopeful, IF governments act together to protect our oceans. Pls email our gov to urge their action act.for-the-ocean.org/act/protect-... (and see the film on a big screen - sea life is amazing!)
May 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I was fortunate to see David Attenborough's new film Ocean yesterday. It's hard-hitting but ultimately hopeful, IF governments act together to protect our oceans. Pls email our gov to urge their action act.for-the-ocean.org/act/protect-... (and see the film on a big screen - sea life is amazing!)
A warmer April than we've had for some years: temps reaching 25°C today and three periods topping 20°. Night time temps stayed cool on account of clear skies. Less yellow and orange in '24 and esp '23 shows they were both cooler, with the start of April '22 (scarf) being distinctly nippy (blue) 🐡
April 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A warmer April than we've had for some years: temps reaching 25°C today and three periods topping 20°. Night time temps stayed cool on account of clear skies. Less yellow and orange in '24 and esp '23 shows they were both cooler, with the start of April '22 (scarf) being distinctly nippy (blue) 🐡
It's been a busy fortnight, co-organising a conference, running a sewing workshop, not to mention finding myself on stage with Ed Sheeran (more on that later!) But here are March temp highs and lows. As you can see from the citrine yellow it was an unusually warm March with two spells >18°C... 1/5
April 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
It's been a busy fortnight, co-organising a conference, running a sewing workshop, not to mention finding myself on stage with Ed Sheeran (more on that later!) But here are March temp highs and lows. As you can see from the citrine yellow it was an unusually warm March with two spells >18°C... 1/5
If you would like to make your own little piece of pollen patchwork, then come to my workshop tomorrow and Sunday, in the Phoenix Room on New Museums Site in Cambridge, UK.
English paper piecing for those with a bit of sewing experience, and felt for beginners.
#sciart #bee #pollen #embroidery
English paper piecing for those with a bit of sewing experience, and felt for beginners.
#sciart #bee #pollen #embroidery
March 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
If you would like to make your own little piece of pollen patchwork, then come to my workshop tomorrow and Sunday, in the Phoenix Room on New Museums Site in Cambridge, UK.
English paper piecing for those with a bit of sewing experience, and felt for beginners.
#sciart #bee #pollen #embroidery
English paper piecing for those with a bit of sewing experience, and felt for beginners.
#sciart #bee #pollen #embroidery
And it's finished! Just in time for my @camunifestivals workshop this weekend
The quilt shows twelve lovely flowers that you might find in your garden or in the wild, each surrounded by the colour of its pollen. Who'd have thought there were so many different pollen colours!
#sciart #bee #embroidery
The quilt shows twelve lovely flowers that you might find in your garden or in the wild, each surrounded by the colour of its pollen. Who'd have thought there were so many different pollen colours!
#sciart #bee #embroidery
March 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
And it's finished! Just in time for my @camunifestivals workshop this weekend
The quilt shows twelve lovely flowers that you might find in your garden or in the wild, each surrounded by the colour of its pollen. Who'd have thought there were so many different pollen colours!
#sciart #bee #embroidery
The quilt shows twelve lovely flowers that you might find in your garden or in the wild, each surrounded by the colour of its pollen. Who'd have thought there were so many different pollen colours!
#sciart #bee #embroidery
I've spent today edging my pollen quilt ready to show at next weekend's drop-in workshop at the Cambridge Festival.
The quilt is completely hand-stitched so it seemed appropriate to use my lovely old 1914 Singer hand machine for the binding.
#sciart
The quilt is completely hand-stitched so it seemed appropriate to use my lovely old 1914 Singer hand machine for the binding.
#sciart
March 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I've spent today edging my pollen quilt ready to show at next weekend's drop-in workshop at the Cambridge Festival.
The quilt is completely hand-stitched so it seemed appropriate to use my lovely old 1914 Singer hand machine for the binding.
#sciart
The quilt is completely hand-stitched so it seemed appropriate to use my lovely old 1914 Singer hand machine for the binding.
#sciart
This year two of my flowers have already bloomed and gone. Crocuses with their saffron-orange pollen, and snowdrops with their surprisingly red pollen
March 15, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This year two of my flowers have already bloomed and gone. Crocuses with their saffron-orange pollen, and snowdrops with their surprisingly red pollen
A much chillier February than the last two years with much of it staying below 6°C (dark purple) and several frosty nights (lilacs).
A hint of Spring towards the end of the month with the first day of 2025 that went above 16°C (light green), and we finished with some glorious sunshine.
#sciart
A hint of Spring towards the end of the month with the first day of 2025 that went above 16°C (light green), and we finished with some glorious sunshine.
#sciart
March 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A much chillier February than the last two years with much of it staying below 6°C (dark purple) and several frosty nights (lilacs).
A hint of Spring towards the end of the month with the first day of 2025 that went above 16°C (light green), and we finished with some glorious sunshine.
#sciart
A hint of Spring towards the end of the month with the first day of 2025 that went above 16°C (light green), and we finished with some glorious sunshine.
#sciart
Have you ever wondered how beekeepers know which flowers their bees are visiting?
Would you like to try your hand at English paper piecing?
The two questions aren't entirely unrelated (and I'm frantically trying to get the quilt quilted in time!!) #sciart
www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/polle...
Would you like to try your hand at English paper piecing?
The two questions aren't entirely unrelated (and I'm frantically trying to get the quilt quilted in time!!) #sciart
www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/polle...
February 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Have you ever wondered how beekeepers know which flowers their bees are visiting?
Would you like to try your hand at English paper piecing?
The two questions aren't entirely unrelated (and I'm frantically trying to get the quilt quilted in time!!) #sciart
www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/polle...
Would you like to try your hand at English paper piecing?
The two questions aren't entirely unrelated (and I'm frantically trying to get the quilt quilted in time!!) #sciart
www.festival.cam.ac.uk/events/polle...
A lovely afternoon yesterday discovering the treasures in @whipplemuseum.bsky.social Amazing to see John Kendrew’s myoglobin model among many things, & good to see that the role of technicians in research is acknowledged (I fear there was another name on the Kendrew model but I failed to take note)
February 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
A lovely afternoon yesterday discovering the treasures in @whipplemuseum.bsky.social Amazing to see John Kendrew’s myoglobin model among many things, & good to see that the role of technicians in research is acknowledged (I fear there was another name on the Kendrew model but I failed to take note)
And here are 2023 and 2024 in cross stitch. The question is how many years to carry on for - is it a lifelong activity??
February 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
And here are 2023 and 2024 in cross stitch. The question is how many years to carry on for - is it a lifelong activity??
This is the scarf that started it all. I used sock yarn (Coop Knits Socks Yeah!) so it didn’t get unwearably long, and I wear it on the coldest days. As well as the searing temperatures if the summer we finished the year with a really cold snap. It was certainly a momentous year to do it.
February 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
This is the scarf that started it all. I used sock yarn (Coop Knits Socks Yeah!) so it didn’t get unwearably long, and I wear it on the coldest days. As well as the searing temperatures if the summer we finished the year with a really cold snap. It was certainly a momentous year to do it.
Here is the temperature scale. I started out in 2022 with a scarf for temperature highs, and planned for temperatures up to 33°C. When June came I had to find three more colours to get up to a white-hot 40°C.
February 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Here is the temperature scale. I started out in 2022 with a scarf for temperature highs, and planned for temperatures up to 33°C. When June came I had to find three more colours to get up to a white-hot 40°C.