Destash swap

This is the first time I have joined in the destash swap on Folksy which was kindly organized by hjdcrafts, I did not have to wait long before my swaps from BlissKnits (Sharon)arrived , what a lot of lovely goodies (see below) as you can see by the picture quite a mixture of fabrics and beads and even some seeds, Poppy's and best of all some Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) will love trying to get these to germinate, will let you know how I get on with these in a later blog,

Now back to my goodies, I have given you a few pictures below so that you can see what I have turned my fabric into.

1st up is the Navy blue voile fabric which I cut into the correct length and width then rolled all hems and her it is turned into a lovely blue evening wrap

2nd was a piece or lilac voile which I cut and rolled the hems again and made a neck scarf

3rd was 3 balls of Green colour wool with slight silver flecks in, this I just done a stocking stitch on a big pair or needles, I think it turned out quite nice seeing as I have not knitted for years because arthritis plays me up if I do knitting for to long, enjoyed doing this



4th was 2 doorstops out of blue check fabric one is a jumbo one for a heavy door and the other is smaller

I must have a think to see what I can come up with on the other fabric and all the beads, thank you again to BlissKnits (Sharon)for all these lovely goodies.......

Charity shop finds

I just love a bargain and yesterday I spent going around the charity shops in our town of Ventnor and found some little gems, well they are gems to me as I just love old china and can't resist a bargain, I mainly collect Spode old italian and Spode Blue pacific (1970) but if I see a bargain I buy it.

This set below I found in RSPCA shop going for a song at £2.00 the set, there is no makers name under the cups just a number 3835 ,they are a very fine china with a leaf pattern in gold, very pretty and I think coffee cups because of there size

This little set below was also in the RSPCA and was only £1.50 for the 6 cups and saucers, they are marked underneath Crown Staffordshire fine bone china no pattern name but I am sure I will find out soon


This set I found in another charity shop and paid 50 p for the 2 sets,the mark underneath on the cups is Duchess bone china England, pattern Ascot, the saucers are marked Royal Albert bone china made in England, pattern is called Val Dor I don't think they are a set because they are by different makers but they are a good match and will suit what I am going to do with them.

Very bad week

I don't know if any one gets bad weeks like I have just had and the weeks not ended yet. Its very lonely working by yourself you have to be very disciplined to work 8 to 5 on your own, I don't think I should have got out of bed this week everything I have touched has gone wrong, 1st thing was Sat I went to get my prescription and chemist was shut, big notice on window closed because chemist was off sick,went to collect again Monday and they had lost it so had to go around surgery and get another and take to chemist again, by this time I had lost my Monday working, Tuesday my upholstery materials I ordered last week came with 2 wrong things so had to pack them up and take to post office, had to put upholstering friends chairs on hold, tried to go onto do some sewing but buy then had lost the plot, (Wed)tried to make soap and can't get it to trace, the only thing that worked today was my strawberry cream sponge (made in lunch hour) I think I will just turn over in bed tomorrow and have a good sleep:)

I am now going to look around Folksy to see what nice things I can find to put on here tomorrow

My work space

Today Friday is my day looking after my grandson (4 years old) and because it was pouring with rain and we could not get into the garden we made some cakes and cleaned up my workroom , it was so much fun sorting through button boxes and draws and finding things I had lost or put in a safe place never to be found till now, he went home with his mum with pockets full of goodies or jewels as he called them, the workroom is today tidy enough to take a picture to share with you, this is as tidy as it will ever get, tomorrow it will be a mess again, its a converted garage and the car now sits in the drive, I spend at least 4 to 8 hours a day here doing what I do best sewing, my industrial overlocker is my best friend and has been my pride and joy for the last 10 years, worked hard to buy this but it has paid for itself over again, before that I had a domestic one, for my flat sewing I have an old industrial brother machine and for my embroidery a Husqvarna Designer 1, this one is a luxury my mother purchased for me for my ** birthday .

Thank you

Xavier

for making nanny's wet rainy day so full of fun.

One nice clean workroom

SPOTS BEFORE THE EYED

I have a passion for anything spotted at the moment so have been looking around on Folksy to see what lovelies I can find with spots on and here are a few.

Spotted Star Button Thumb tacks / Push Pins

by

Hollie Lollie

****************************************************************************

Amigurumi hand crochet lady bird

by

CROCHET WITH LOVE 4 YOU

*************************************************************************

Spotted Bear

by
AllThingsFabric

***************************************************************************
Vintage Button Coin Purse

By

Natalie Farrell

*************************************************************************

A PASSION FOR FASHION

I also have a great passion for the fashions of the past and thought I would share a few of my pictures of fashions and advertizing of the mid 1930s and 1940s, this was a very interesting period for me as I was born around the mid 1940s and just love the fashion then and still do.

1936 Knitted suit

1941 Knitted short sleeved cardigan

Under wear 1940's


Oxo advert from 1941

Just love this on as it is so apt for the times and just think oxo is still around after all these years

Gardening

Gardening

Today has been a lovely day spent in the garden, its hectic here in my garden, it takes over my life this time of year, have had lots of weeding to do and potting on my seedlings and getting my runner beans going (bit late this year) not sure where I am going to put them yet as hubby has taken the very big pots I usually use and planted his potatoes in them, will have to think about buying some more or its into the ground with them, I hope there are a few of you who are like me and just love gardening, I grow most of my own shrubs and plants and like growing different plants that are quite rare, I get quite excited when I manage to germinate something that is hard, this year its Mandevilla (Diplodenia), Exchorda The Bride, Spider Lily, and Hibiscus, the latter is not that hard but still a challenge, Mandevilla was hard but I managed to get 12 to germinate which was good going, its a rare white one and seeing as the seeds are hard to get off parent plant (mine gave lots last year) I'm over excited, just hope they don't die on me .

My Spider lily

My garden

Finished restoration on old Bradbury sewing machine

Well its good news and a bit of bad news on the restoration of an Old Bradbury sewing machine, I managed to strip it down O.K. only to find that a cog on the side wheel had broken (bad news) so was making wheel slip. had to find someone to make me a new one as they are no longer made, my husbands brother is an engineer so asked him what could be done, he said he would make me one, (good news) all I had to do was send him the broken part to copy, my worry was would it get lost in the post so had to register it but that did not stop me worrying till its return, received part back last week, (clever old thing my brother-in-law) very excited about getting this machine back up and running as i don't have this machine in my collection,another machine (see below) saved from the tip, how could anyone through away such a wonderful piece of engineering.

Uncleaned and in a sorry state

Cleaned and fit for my collection

Crafting

Been very busy these last few weeks in the workroom making a few commission's for customers and cot cover for new addition in family but still found time to make a few fabric flowers out of some lovely high liquid shine organza, have listed them in my shop, thought someone could make use of them by adding them a craft item like hair slides or hat, the uses for them is endless.

This one I would like to share with you all its the finished cot cover I made for my great great grand daughter,(not sure I like the great great bit but I'm sure I will get used to it). I quilted this after I made it to give it a nice finish, made by putting a polyester wadding in between a lining and main Bee printed fabric, then edging with red border,then quilting in flower pattern, very please with the outcome so was my granddaughter.

New restoration project coming up soon Old Bedford chain sewing machine

Found in a barn by my son very dirty and rusty, will take me a long time this one as need to soak all parts in oil, a bit of a waiting game this one, there are no broken parts though and all bits are present, this one is going to be well worth the trouble though as I don't have one of these in my collection.

Holiday

Holidays

I spent my holiday in my garden, 4 days of weeding and keeping up with the seedlings which are growing at a very fast rate with all this lovely weather, hope every one enjoyed the holiday as much as I did.

I met this little fella in my garden today, he even waited for me to go inside and get my camera, not a very good picture but then they are so quick your lucky to get them at all.

As we progressed down to the garden centre this afternoon to buy plants we met 2 very strange gentlemen, fantastic works of art

Flowerpot men

Pale Pink 6 Layer 50's 60's style petticoat

Have now finished my commision for a 50's 60's style vintage petticoat and have a picture of it above. now on to another commission one which is black and red and will have 4 layers.

My folksy finds

I found this while searching around folksy today a lovely tiara and some very beautiful pieces of jewellery by Jezabel*Charms you can find this item here

http://www.folksy.com/items/27353-Titania-Steampunk-Filigree-Headpiece-Tiara?shop=yes