Poppies and some scraps

I've been away for a couple of weeks in London. The main purpose of my visit, apart from visiting my family (of course), was to see these ...

... ceramic poppies at the Tower of London.

 A poppy has been 'planted' for each British man and woman who lost their lives in the first world war. They spill out of the top of the wall and they spread around three sides of the tower in what would originally have been the moat, because that is where the men gathered before marching off to fight.
It is a very moving sight, to think of so many lives lost in a war that was supposed to end all wars. Sometimes it seems that we've learned nothing at all in the past hundred years!!
 

Stitching whilst I was away was quite minimal, as you might imagine, but I did work on these little patches. 

 They're all made up of pieces of vintage lace stitched onto scraps of old men's shirting fabric.

Lots of bullion knots, french knots, buttonhole bars and wrapped threads.

 I love this piece which says 'home'! It came from the edge of a tablecloth which had obviously been worked to welcome someone home after a sea voyage as there were ships along with the words 'Welcome home' worked into the crochet border.

Not entirely sure yet what they're destined for ...

... maybe a patchwork piece, or a bag, or a cushion ...

 ... or maybe they'll end up inside another fabric book? Ideas on a postcard please

This last piece was a pocket from an old shirt of mine which I embellished with lots of knots.