White O'Morn Cottage

Love Story and Treasure Finds

While in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, last week I was delighted to see the Costello Memorial Chapel was open to the public. This tiny chapel is said to be the second smallest in the world and was built by a heartbroken husband for his lost love. They are laid to rest side by side under glass. Their crumbling coffins are fascinating to look at. I have taken photos of the whole story on the plaques outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also in Carrick-on-Shannon is this stark reminder of how things used to be if you were born poor in Ireland. The very last resort for poor families was the workhouse. This brass plaque is set into the pavement of the main street and points the way to the workhouse. Once there, the mother and child represented here would have been separated into different buildings. So Sad....

 

 

Thrifted Treasure Finds

I found some lovely old items on my thrifting trawls lately. Below is the antique brass bellows I was lucky enough to find in Enniskillen. Displayed on the cottage mantlepiece

 

below is a tiny tin with willow pattern crockery and sleepy cat. Inside it has a jigsaw puzzle.

 

A beautiful book full of wonderful illustrations and poems

 
 

Below is the old sewing box given to me by my friend, Nuala. It was her late aunt's and was filled with loads of vintage sewing notions and a huge collection of embroidery threads. Thanks Nuala!

 

Next is a cute little Bo peep bell. shoe pin cushion, ceramic thread box and a tin box of old dressmakers pins.  Underneath them you can see the two fabric covered journals.

 
 
I did some crafting too. I had waited ages to get my sewing machine fixed and so I bought some plain towels and decorated them with vintage lace trims.

 

 

 

Now they look great displayed in the bathroom window

 

I tried my hand at making some hats from what I had to hand in my extensive stash. No matter how much I use it seems to get no smaller! Is your "Stash" like that?

Made from cardboard and fabric scraps are these quirky hats...

 

 

Lolita Headpiece

Goth Fascinator featuring a real watch!





 

Now more thrifted finds.

Pretty little bottle filled with old buttons.

 

Some gorgeous old Irish lace hankies and some old wedding illustrations to display them with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 1920's book on wild flowers, also with illustrations. I have been using it to identify some of the wild flowers that grow around the cottage.

 

 

 

I will leave you with this picture I call....Sleeping with the enemy!

Holly and Pants get cosy on the spare bed

  




 

Glenview Folk Museum Visit

You know how I love all things vintage...well, last week I had my fill when I went to visit the Glenview Folk Museum in Ballinamore, countly Leitrim.

This is a private collection of over 7,000 artifacts large and small. We were shown around by the lovely owner Mr Kennedy and it was such a treat. He very kindly let me take photos which is unusual in such places and also told us to bring in the dogs as it was too hot in the car for them.

Here are some of the photos I took.

Look Colleen!!! the telephone exchange on the left came from Strokestown, your home place. It was probably there when you folks were.

 
BELOW a 1936 car

 
below: a spinning wheel, baby's pram, and beside it is a wooden rocking cradle

 
below: on the left is a very old range with the cast iron cooking pots and pine dresser with crockery

 

 

 

Below: in the chemist's shop

 
below: the grocery shop

 

 

The old pub

 
 Free beer tomorrow!

 
Great old signs

 
two milk churns painted up and an old water pump. Each village would have had one of these in the main street.

 

A pretty thatched cottage on the grounds that can be rented by tourists

 

BACK HOME....

When I got home I painted my picket fence emerald green and the roses look so lovely against it at the moment. Oooh look at the top right hand side...my own green milk churn. I must put some flowers in it.

 

 

 

 

This weekend  we will be working at a huge charity fete where I will find lots of lovely treasure that I will share with you all. Wish me luck!...Pam

St Patrick's Well .....make a wish

I found a truly beautiful spot in Lovely Leitrim last week and had to share it with you. It is called St Patrick's Well. It was a glorious summer day and it was looking it's best....well....all around it was looking well but the WELL itself does not look too well if you know what I mean.

I'll show you in pictures... Here is the entrance to it. Looking good so far. The Irish name is printed over the English and is pronounced: (tubbar nave pawd-rig)

Next is a grotto with a statue of St Patrick looking very well.

but that's not the well.

This is not the well either and I was not able to find out what it was exactly but it looks ok - nice and rustic. It is near the well.

Then there is a wonderful hand crafted large cross with a shamrock engraved on it and it is really lovely. It is also near the well.

and a close up of the shamrock.

We're almost there. At the well people say a prayer or make a wish and hang a piece of fabric on the tree nearby. It was fascinating to see what some people left. One left a lovely handmade walking stick, and another left a tape measure, another left a rosary beads while I also saw socks, hair elastics, plastic bags and all manner of fabric scraps. I left two strands of wool.

 

The tree they hang things from is quite a majestic sight. Here is the moss covered bough that hangs over the well (we are getting real close now)

...and here is the WELL itself. Oh dear, I think the council could have made a better cover for it to fit in with all the beauty around it but the water is fresh spring water and tastes so refreshing. Oh well (no pun intended)

The man in blue is leaning on the actual well. The other man is collecting the water and filling water bottles with it. You just dip in and take what you want.

I must say it is a totally tranquil spot and I could sit for hours just unwinding there.  

Wildflower Window

After that visit I came home all tranquil and relaxed and quite unable to do any work so I went out and collected some wildflowers from the ditches. I think they are exquisite in the cottage window with the late evening sun shining through.  

The Prettiest Hardware Shop in the World???

I popped into PJ Reynold's in Ballinamore to get some paint for my picket fence (which is now emerald green) and happened to look up and thought "This has got to be the prettiest hardware store ever" It is situated in an old church. Have a look and see if you agree....

In my next post I will be showing you all the MANY vintage treasures I have found lately so do drop in for a look-see. Bye for now! 

  

 

Dublin City Soul Festival

My son, Steve, was playing with his band, Murder Plan, at the Dublin City Soul Festival in Temple Bar tonight.  We arrived just in time to miss them! However I heard they were awsome (doesn't surprise this chick)

The pic shows Steve with Paul.  Steve is the only one of our sons to take up music like Paul.

Below is Marie, Steve, Paul and Stephanie, the singer with Murder Plan

Dublin, of course, has many famous musical sons and daughters and some of them are featured at The Wall of Fame in Temple Bar - below: Window sized photos of Irish rockers U2, Rory Gallagher, Sinead O'Connor, Luke Kelly (Dubliners) Christy Moore, Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzie) and Van Morrison

Temple bar is THE cool place to be in Dublin and is akin to the Left Bank in Paris. It has a great buzz to it with colourful pubs and unusual street muscians

Below a Karma street sign reminds all that what goes around comes around!

Flags of many nations flying in Temple Bar which is abuzz with young people and tourists on a beautiful summer evening in Dublin's Temple Bar.

I love the original old cobbled streets of Temple Bar. 

One of the unusual musicians I was telling you about.......

Above this busker seems to be playing a skirting board but I can tell you it has a wonderful sound and he plays it really well. 

While I was in the city centre I took lots of pictures for you. Below is the main street of Dublin O'Connell Street showing the Spire

Below The Auld Dub Pub. A Dub is a Dubliner and auld is old. Here is my auld Dub - Paul

Colour everywhere.

An old door cleverly used as an advertisement for a pub/restaurant

 One of my favourite buildings in Dublin. It always reminds me of a Disneyland fairytale castle...It is actually the where I give blood, the headquarters of the Blood Bank!

Below is the River Liffey which runs through the centre of Dublin. Gorgeous lamps on the bridge.

For generations young dating Dubliners have been meeting under Clery's clock.  " I'll meet you under the clock" is almost a catchphrase at this stage. It is also on O'Connell Street.

Just down the road from Clery's is the Lir clock. It has a wonderful set of statues atop which depicts the mythical story
 of the Children of Lir who were turned into swans for 900 years.
 

and further down O'Connell Street....the young Dubliners who were successful at the dating game met under this clock and went into "The Happy Ring House" as it is called - McDowells, to buy the happy ring!

Lots of beautiful Georgian doors painted in bright colours.

Another lovely house front, this time a typical B&B in city centre with original wrought iron railings and flower boxes

So I hope you enjoyed your tour of Dublin with me this lovely Friday evening. I wish you all a great weekend. Pam
 

Lakeside Break...Gone Fishin'

We finally got to spend some time up at the cottage last weekend. The weather was glorious which is unusual so we brought Mam with us to give her a little break away from the city. Here she is relaxing by Garadice lake, it was so peaceful. We will bring our fishing gear next time.

More lake pics

 

 I got a present of some money and spent it all on craft books. I will have to live to be one hundred to make all the lovely things in them. Below is a "Green" one with some great ideas for recycling stuff.

Below is the satin flower I made from the lining of a gift box. A Before & After picture of it.
before.......and after

And a long dress for me made from a duvet cover!

close up of the yoyos, I used old buttons and a broken necklace to decorate them

And I made one for a baby too.

and another one

 

Next one was taken in Carrick-on-Shannon. It shows Angie in front of the smallest church in Ireland. Angie is saying "Do I look big in front of this?"

and here she is attempting a breaking and entering of an old abandoned schoolhouse near Ballinamore
Angie found these fabulous 30's or forties knitting patterns for me in her MIL's house. I love the hairstyles....

...and look at these male models. Both are SMOKING! Would not happen today.

Angie and Ed threw a barbie on the deck of the Old Schoolhouse and we ate ourselves silly. Look at all that food!

It must have smelled really good as we heard a loud rustling noise and a horse and two donkeys invaded the garden. They just burst through the hedge in the background of the picture.
 

 

  

The cottage garden was very overgrown and neglected so I am putting up this old pic of it to remind me what it will be like when I put a few hours of elbow grease into it.

This is one side of it today mid way through my tidy up. Oh how I love to potter in the garden on a sunny day!

I never tire of looking at and taking pictures of the view from the cottage. It looks so wonderful with the gorse in full bloom.....

With that I'll say goodbye for now. Have a lovely weekend! Pam

 

Oh Happy Day!

At last it has arrived...Paul had his last treatment last Tues and his last tracer scan today. He is finished his cancer treatment. It often felt like this day would never come. It was delayed by ten days due to his radioactive iodine treatment was coming from Holland and could not be flown in due to the volcano and all flights in Europe were grounded.

He looks the worse for the wear, bloated and puffed eyes but that will settle

 But that's all behind us now and we can get on with our lives. Thank you all so much who left messages of support over the last year and to all those who gave practical help...you know who you are. THANK YOU!

Red Hatted Bloggers Report.

Well we managed to have a real blast in the Old Schoolhouse, Leitrim when Kimme came to visit. As you can see we all donned our red hats and kicked up our heels for the evening. We talked, laughed and cried ....a good ol' girly night!
From left to right is Kimme Irish Cottage Dreams, Pam White O'Morn Cottage, Angie the Old Schoolhouse, and Katie Mon Petit Chatau, (Zinda took the pic)

After "meeting" Kimme two years ago in Blogland we finally got to meet her and she is even sweeter than we guessed. Welcome back anytime girl! (She is a red hatter in training..being the youngest - but is showing much promise)

And wouldn't you know? She got stranded here for a week due to the aformentioned volcano. She was well looked after by Lizbiz, a blogger in Ballinamore. Strangely enough she was not heard complaining about it. She did miss her lovely husband and daughter though.

The Knitting and Stitching Show

The following day Zinda drove us to Belfast for the Knitting and Stitching Show and boy were we crafters in our element! We all got gorgeous stuff for our stashes. More of that to come.

Next we are planning a thrifting trawl in Belfast as we found out it has ...wait for it....48 charity shops! It will be a two or three dayer visit.

Crafting Bits and Bobs

I have been kept busy making goodies from the stash I bought at the Sttitching Show.and here they are...A little preemie hat. I have this listed as a PIF giveaway on Etsy.com

 

And now here is a baby bib made from some Kath Kidston fabric. I trimmed it with satin bias binding and made a yoyo for it.

 

 

and some cute little newborn felt shoes. I so love making these little beauties.
 
 

On that note ...I got the May editiion of Sew Hip and must say it really is a great magazine. I found at least four items I can easily make from it. Here is the first of them. .....yup, a pair of baby shoes!

 

 

and here is the finished pair I made.

 

and a close up

 

They were easy to do and I am going to make some more with the gorgeous fat quarters I got at the show. The white is felt and the pink is from the stitching show haul.

First Garment I Ever Made!

A while ago Eibhlin Ni Sheambrai gave me some fabric and sewing supplies, I finally got abound to making something from them and here it is Eibhlin. I promised a before and after.
It is the first garment I have ever made and am so pleased with it.
Now all I need is a grandchild to wear it!

  

Well, flushed with success I then went on to have a go at my first Pillowcase dress. 

here is a before and after of that one. It was SO easy!

 
  

Also this week I treated myself to a steam press. You know the ones you lay out the item and pull down the top and it steams it just like in a professional cleaners. It has made ironing a pleasue and it gets done in a fraction of the time.  Look at what a great job it makes of these vintage napkins.

 

 

So, that's my update for now. I hope you all have a fabulous May Day!

 

The Mad Hatter ....Making Mad Hats!

I am busy as a blue arsed fly getting ready for the trip to Ballinamore at the weekend with Liz, Kimme, Angie, Zinda and Katy.

We are having a Red Hatter's Tea Party and will be wearing red hats and purple clothes. Photos will of course be taken and duly shown to y'all.

Seems red hats are hard to come by at short notice so I got busy making a few...well, some are more fascinators than hats as I don't know how to make hats (or fascinators) - but that never stopped me before.

also I got a lovely pressie from my son Chris of a display head to show off my jewellery and stuff. Here is a pic of her wearing my own red hat. Isn't she pretty? 

Thanks Chris..Here is a pic of Chris,...isn't he handsome?

So here is a preview of the lovely hats I have done so far...first is Liz of Lizbiz blog. Hers has a feather quill on it as she is a great writer/blogger

 

Then we have Kimme's concoction... with roses as she is a rose of Texas -get it?

 

Next is Angie's gorgeous chapau has little flutterbies as she has a hubby who is a pest controllor!

 

Zinda's will have crochet hooks and knitting needles featured as she has magic hands with those kind of things and Katy's will have pearls as she makes gorgeous jewellery! Themed hats.

And of course ....mine has a bit of everything. I have not heard of "less is more" LOL!

 

Oh, did I mention??? There is a prize for the biggest hat.    
 

Vintage Fairs Ireland...It's All About Vintage

Hi all. Just heard of a fabulous vintage fair that will be held in Dun Laoghaireon 18th April.

Being run by Vintage Ireland and was a MEGA  success last year. For the best in Irish Vintage...be there!
More details ?.... click on link below.

www.VintageIreland.eu

Vertigo Vintage

One of the exhibitors on the day will be one of my favourites for fab vintage...Vertigo Vintage and here is just one of the fabulous gowns she will have for sale on the day. Isn't this DIVINE????!!!!

So romantic and feminine. This is a forties wedding or ball gown in palest pink. As you can see it is a small size. Exquisitely made in Nottingham.

Vintage Bedtime Reading

Speaking of Nottingham here is my latest find: a Nottingham lace bookmark and a vintage romantic novel.  Now, romantic fiction is not my fav kind of read but I like to keep this on the bedside and dip into it for a few pages when I can't sleep.

I love to lounge in my vintage long nylon nightgowns pretending to be an oldstyle movie star! 

Fairytale Nightgown by Schiaparelli

Oh and that reminds me,  I sold my fifties Schiaparelli peignoir and nightgown set. I hated to see it go but it had gotten too small for me (didn't know that nylon could shrink did ya'? LOL!)

So it had to go to someone who would make good use of it.  Vintage should be worn not just looked at. Here is a photo of it:

 

  

 

 
 
 

And a photo of the designer Elsa Schiaparelli

For more of my vintage stuff I have included the links below - sorry, no more Schiaparelli's left!

http://vintageretrolingerie.com and http://suchprettyoldthings.com

Vintage Tins
And even more vintage goodies. I got all excited when the postman brought me a box that had a German postmark. It was from Kimme of course, and when I began to open it it showed some gorgeous old tins (you know how much I love to collect these)

Not only that but they were jam packed with goodies. Kimme really knows what floats my boat!

Here they are....

The gorgeous red one is from America, the green and cream one is a 1900's German made. I am using it to store my collection of vintage crochet hooks. Also two delightful vintage tablecloths, some chocolate (Kimme, do you not know I'm allergic to choco? - it brings me out in big hips :-)

Also the traditional pack of jelly frogs for my froglovin' hubby....AND a book called "The Free Range Knitter" Wonderful stories about and by knitters. I have this in the cottage to browse by the fire. I love it. Thanks so much Kimme. You are a star!
 

 

 

Kimme's A Comin'!!!!! = Fun, Shopping, Giggles Galore

Mega excitement here in White O'Morn Cottage. I have just heard that my bestest blog friend, Kimme, of Irish Cottage Dreams is coming to visit!

Kimme and I have never met but are firm friends since meeting on the blogs two whole years ago! We have never actually met even though she has stayed in my cottage twice and we send pressies  back and forth. I feel like I've known her for years.

Not only that but we will be meeting up with two more Irish based bloggers and having a HOOLEY in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim! (Party capital of

Ireland ;-)

This blog party will be.... Meself (White O'Morn Cottage) Lizbiz (Lizbiz Blog) Kimme (Irish Cottage Dreams) and Angie (The Old Schoolhouse) ..Angie doubles as my sis -bless 'er.

The craic will be ninety. We will be joined by Zinda (lives in Dublin, but has a house in Leitrim) and Katy (from England, lives in Leitrim but has a house in France she get's around that one)

OOOhhh, maybe we should have a Red Hatter themed night? Yes, red hats and purple clothes. Get organised girls.

Angie and I live in Dublin, Kimme is American but lives in Germany and Liz is Australian but lives in Leitrim. It'll be like the United Nations!

If we get the chance we will do a thrifting trawl in Dublin before departing for the idyllic countryside of county Leitrim. Thrift shopping with them? That should be good (four red hatted bargain hunters in the same charity shop?) Ah sufferin' heart....Skin and hair will be flyin'!

 

Above: left to right: Kimme, Pam, Angie and Liz.

Now - Kimme, be warned...look below to see what can happen to visitors (foreigners) who dare to come visit (invade) us. ...You have been warned.

 

Line Dancing Fun in Carlow

Below is a photo of my German friend, Angelika. She is a fellow linedancer who travels to other countries for a good night's dancing. She is known to travel from her home in Hamburg to Sweden and drive home again same night! She went to Amsterdam for a line dance Christmas party and drove back again...and she came to Carlow, Ireland a couple of weeks ago for The Memphis Swingers megaweekend...our club's bi-annual weekend away.

Photo shows our teacher, Joan O'Gorman as she ceremoniously stripped Angelika of her German citizenship and adopted her as one of our own...her new name is ....Molly Eileen O'Fishcher. That'll teach her!  Kimme, you will have to get an Irish name too. I'll work on it.

See those tricolour boxers? Well on the back they have a large pair of buttocks inscribed with the immortal words "Póg mo hón" (Irish for Kiss my arse) and in her right hand she is holding a small frying pan that cooks your fried eggs in the shape of a shamrock while in her left is a huge inflatable hammer. Cool.

She is making a speech in Gaelic that I wrote and coached her on and that's me, close by, to prompt her if she goes wrong (she didn't) Cailín maith, Molly! Is tusa go híonntach (Good girl, Molly! You are terrific) See? I'm bi-lingual, just one of my many talents :-)

 

Pompom Magic from The Stitch End

 I just have to share with you my latest fab find. It is an easy pompom maker and it really is....It makes 'em nice and round and fluffy too and can do them in four sizes. I bought this on Etsy.com from The Stitch End and she does gorgeous ribbon too and is very friendly. I can't remember what the price was but it was very little and well worth it. Here is a pic of it.  Treat yourself to one of these...tell her Pam sent you. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheStitchEnd

Happy St Patrick's Day! Giveaways

 

An Angel Sings "She Moved Through the Fair"

Now ...a real treat for you. This link is your passport to hear the voice of an angel. Chloe Coyle, winner of The All Ireland Talent Show...(our X Factor) Chloe is only 13 years old. Also check out her rendition of Ave Maria and be moved to tears...Amazing talent.

 

 

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Happy St Patrick's Day to you all. To help celebrate I have listed lots of PIF listings in my Etsy Shop. PIF listings are "Pay It Forward" and you only need to pay for the postage & listing 20c. I will be adding more during the day.  Have a great day! :-)...Pam

Spring Dreams

Above is a great new site where you can browse online shops in virtual streets. I just LOVE it. Check it out..

http://www.theonlineshoppingtown.co.uk/user/home

Oh how I long to get down to the cottage for a break. As you may know we had a burst pipe that did a lot of damage and so we have not been able to visit until it is all sorted. I have made some new cushions for the new sofa bed we bought for the living room. We only have one bedroom there so it is handy to have a pull out bed for visitors. (above pic was taken last summer)

Below pic shows Pants, the cat snuggling up on the new sofa to get near the open fire. Also shown is my messy crafting storage area. (Note to self...SELF..tidy up) Oh, and do you see the round rose tin? Well, I found that on Etsy and it is from the thirties. Love it...I don't know what I will store in it yet but I'll find something.

I have been trying to get a good photo of Pants but she is all black and....well she has the strangest eyes.....LOL! She moved just as I was taking a photo in low light.

 
 
 

I made the cushions from a chenille bedspread and a flannelette cot sheet. I think these are my favourite colours at the moment.

and here is the before photo of them. Yeah, After first and then Before!

I had lots left so I made a few to sell and give as presents.

This is how the living room window looked before the deluge and will do again.

And this little fairy will be joining the rest of them soon..

I am very busy in work at the moment as it is coming up to submission of portfolios deadline (no exams in our centre, we do applied certs with p/folios built up over the year)

However, I still find time to craft and have so enjoyed making these baby garlands and hats.

And more cute shamrock shoes.

Speaking of beautiful green things here is a sweet little doily I will be using for St Patrick's Day decor. Unusual colour for a doily and that makes it special to me.

Can't get enough of beautiful linens so here is another favourite of mine. It is a linen bread/roll basket.

 

Anyway, I'm hoping to get down to the cottage this coming weekend and put it to rights. I'll leave you with one of my favourite photos taken there. It is of the smaller window in the living room.

I love these deep windows as they are great to display fav items. The little jug on legs was my grandmothers and the wooden sign was given to me by my sis. Teeda, years before when I was only dreaming of having a pretty little cottage one day. It says "Welcome to the Cottage"

Have a lovely weekend.



 

 

Getting Ready for St Paddy's Day and saying "I LOVE YOU"

 I have been AWOL for a while as I have been making all sorts of green things for St Patrick's Day which is fast approaching.

I made some hats and shoes for leprechauns ...yup, leprechauns or babies, you know ...little people. Very little people.

Here's the hat

Ahhh...just testing ye'. Those are obviously the shoes. Cute or wha? Being modelled by my grandchild.

(actually its just a doll because on the grandchild front I have given up and settled for a feckin' doll... SONS! - you have a lot to answer for!!! ...go forth and multiply for goodness sake)

Ah-hem...now here is the hat.

And the inevitable St Patrick's day badge. I love making these, so easy and perfect for those crafters who have no patience as they work up so fast.

The importance of saying..... "I LOVE YOU"

On a more serious note. I have just done something I have not done for years, decades, maybe I never did it before...at least not because of a song. A book - yes, a film, definitely yes, but a song ...NO..

 But I have just cried listening to a song written and performed by Gilbert O' Sullivan on our Late Late Show (the longest running chat show in the world). Do you remember him?  A big hit in Ireland and Great Britain in the seventies.

Well he just performed a BEAUTIFUL  song he wrote ...about an OUTRAGE????

Is it possible to write such a thing???

YES, and Gilbert did, and I am going to buy his new album because of it.

It has verses that question again and again, how can it be justified by THEM... when ... that  upon  finding  themselves trapped in the buildings,  those wonderful people all (all who could) called their loved ones and all they could say was " I love you"

Such a moving song and I am still gobsmacked that someone could write such a beautiful song about something that should have no beauty associated with it - but does,  because they, who when it came to the most important moment in their lives,  had only one thing to say,  and it was " I LOVE YOU" 

Here is the link to it on youtube Sound is a bit wobbly but you'll love it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-LV36UwiWk 

 

 Have a lovely weekend and tell those you love that you do.
 

 

 

Teddy Bears All in a Row

I just got a great book on crochet for beginners in the local library. Unlike most books for beginners this one has some really lovely projects that don't look easy but are. I made this lovely wall hanging for a nursery. Really cute teddies and pompoms. I have a second one on the way in pink...pink teddies - gotta love 'em!

Books, books, books - how I love books. I got a Kindle Reader for Christmas and it is great for reading in bed. I love to read about true crime and am reading one on the Susan Polk case at the moment. Strange stuff for sure.

and more books.

I bought Paul a book about friendship for St Valentine's Day.  The text and illustrations are beautiful....

 

From books to boxes..well, tins really. I got this beauty in Amsterdam last November at a street market. It is my all time favourite, being very old and chippy, rusty and with a great detailed graphic.

It is highly decorated on all sides and once had a key. I wonder what treasures were kept in here? A real bargain at 5 Euro.

Of course not all my tins are as old as that. Here is my favourite modern one. It held cheese biscuits and I love the way it has a mouse in relief on top and even a little mouse hole on side!

Another fabourite is  this Chinese or Japanese one ( it has characters on bottom but I can't tell whice language it is)

 It had been plated but someone tried to clean it and left it with a wonderful copper patina. This has little legs and a heavy hinged lid. I keep sewing needles in it. A charity shop find.

Another chippy one with some lovely boats on I also found in Amsterdam for 2 Euro.

and on the side:

And the tiniest one of all is this handmde wooden hinged one with inlaid design on top. Ebay find this one.

I keep my pin backs in it (nothing else is small enough to fit in)

No matter how many I collect I never seem to run out of things to store in them!

I hope you all have a faboulous weekend...cheers Pam
 

 

 

 

 

Treasure Galore and Girly Weekend Giggles

I have been trying to leave comments on some of your blogs but Typepad is giving me the runaround and wont let me without me signing in and then it wont accept my password...AAARRRRGGGGGHHHH

Oh well, I have some lovely pics to share with you. Last weekend I went to Leitrim to spend a girly weekend with Angie, Zinda, Martina and Katie. - the Girls ( I use the term loosley!) We had a very late night  - three hours sleep is a very late night, right? and then....you wont beleive this but we went shopping for ...wait for it....12 hours! Yes, 10 am to 10pm. We went to Enniskillen just over the border in Northern Ireland. The shops close at 5.30pm but Zinda, who was driving, brought us all to ASDA and they shopped until closing time there! I didn't, I bought some wool and needles and made a baby's hat while waiting for them. I was shopped out at 5.30.

Now, shopping in Asda might seem odd to you who have Asdas on your doorstep but we don't have them in the south so it was a real treat and they found some great bargains in all departments.

Here's my first lovely pic. We were having breakfast in Angies house, The Old Schoolhouse and I just snapped these pictures of the wall along the table.  The light was just right and it really speaks of the peace and quiet that is to be had in this lovley old house.

 

And some close ups of the details including this lovely old Irish proverb.

 

and this...

 

And in the living room I spotted this little rainbow dancing on the ceiling between the beams. Maybe this house is at the end of the rainbow!
 

Cool Finds:

I love these old prints dating from the 60's of guardian angels and babies and such (there I go again...babies, babies)

  

Delightful goldtone locket that has the teenyweeniest cross stitch rose on it. The stitches are minute!

 A close up of them.
Who has the patience to stitch like this? (not to mention the eyesight) the locket is only an inch wide and the cross stitch is only 5mm.

I have a gut feeling that this is actually gold ....mmm, if it is then I have found a real treasure. It has a definite stamp but I can't read it...can you? Here is a close up of it.

There it is on the centre hinge. Maybe it is only a mark in the metal but I like to believe it is gold. Does anyone know a way to find out if something is gold?
 

Next is an old dressing table set.

 

Beautiful emerald green hand crocheted doily

 

And also for St Patrick's Day this wonderful shamrock tablecloth.  I really want to keep this but as I keep telling myself "You can't keep everything...sell the shaggin' thing!" (OK, I will but if it has not gone by Patty's Day I'm using it for my corned beef and cabbage dinner!)

I actually have a pale blue one very like this but wont ever sell that as it belonged to my great-grandaunt and she got it as a wedding present 80-ish years ago. It is as fresh and new as the day she got it as a young bride. It is one  of my treasures but I use it daily and wash it and iron it and it still comes up like new. They don't make them like that any more. I don't believe in saving good stuff for "best" ...today is special enough to use your best.

 

And then we have this exquisite drawn threadwork table topper. I am always amazed when I look closely at the hand work on these old linens. See the white embroidery? So perfect I thought it was machined at first but it is not.

 

here is a close up of it and the thread work and embroidery.

 

Now this item came as part of a collection and one of the other ones has an ornate cross on it so it was probably an alter cloth work by hand by the nuns. I can't get enough of old Irish linens. 

Speaking of old linens here is what I made from the old chenille candlewick patches I got on Ebay....a cute raggy cushion. 
  

 

What else did I make last week? Oh yes, I made these fishnet gauntlets for my niece, Jessie as she is always doing stuff for us. 

 

That's all I made (as I was busy partying up in Leitrim for most of it)

And now for the bad news.... We had a really bad spell of weather last month. Untold temperatures of minus 16 and our water pipes burst up at the cottage. Loads of damage but somehow I just can't get het up about it. We can't stay there until it is fixed but what the hell...I am always saying " Your healt is your wealth" 

Well, on that bright note I'll leave you for now. I am going to try to comment on your blogs again. But, if you need a good bellylaugh just read on.... this is the funniest Email I have received in a long time...

 

THIS IS FUNNY!!

 

Can you imagine the nun sitting at her desk grading these papers, all the while trying to keep a straight face and  maintain her composure! 

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. 

KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE . NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS. 

3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.

4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.

5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH. 

6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES. 

7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS ... 

8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 

9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APP! LE. 

10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY. 

11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.

14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

15. WHEN MARY HEARD SH! E WAS TH E MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA. 

16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER. 

17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.

18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD. 

19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.

20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE. 

21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS. 

22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.

24. ST... PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE. 

25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Arrivals in My World

Ooooh I have been a bad blogger of late. I have not been posting as I have been very busy with ...well...things.

I produced lots.  I produced this.

Nice eh?

NO!    Not the baby (I'm well gone the time ladies and gentlemen!) no no - the blanket for Gawd's sake!

My crafting mojo has beeen in full swing. I am now working on a pink one for the young girl next door who has just had a baby girl. What a little dote she is....Photo to follow. I have a major graw on me for a grandchild - I'd like either a boy or a child 'cos I'm not fussy...I'm desperate. :-)

Speaking  of white...and I was.

We drove home last Sunday in freezing fog. I had heard of this but had neve seen it before. It was quite eerie really but also quite beautiful. Here are some of the photos I took on the rocky road to Dub-il-lin- Whack -fal dal- dee -ey! (Sorry, that's a song and I broke into it (breaking and entering methinks)) Well, I'm guilty of something and it's not being in tune.

 

The trees were bedecked with lace by Mother Nature.

Before we set off for home we heard on the radio that the freezing fog was over all of the midlands (the area we had to travel through) 

It was a beautiful day in Leitrim so we went up our mountain to see 'cos we can see for miles from there. This is the beautiful view I captured. If you look to the mid right you can actually see the freezing fog ...it is the white "low hanging cloud" that is seen there.

/

Three counties can be seen here on a clear day. This is the obstructed view - believe it or not! I will take one for you on a clear day. I need to take three as it is panoramic and I need to string them toghether to get the full effect.

 

Separated at Birth???

NO. Separated by a generation though. We never saw the resemblence before but when I saw this pic of my niece, Pam (Little Pam) ( Aw S**T ....that makes me Big Pam!)

Anyway when I saw this pic on her Facebook I could only see my Ma - on her wedding day. Can you see the azz-em-blenz?

 Ma at 23

...and Pam at 23! 

MMM...hard to believe that there is a whole daughter between them.  Anyway, Little Pam is coming over here for a visit on Feb 4th and the whole clan are heading for  The Old Schoolhouse for a HUMDINGER of a shindig - thanks to Angie & Ed (the best host and hostess in the West!) Many a photo to come of that hooley.

Hey, Stewart! There will be a welcome in the highlands for ye' Whooohooo!

I should point out at this point that that is NOT Stewart with Pam in photo ('cos if it is he has some serious cleavage going on) No, that's Pam's pal.

Now - on the thrifting front things have been lean but I did find these lovelies....

a gorgeous romantic candle....AAAhhh....

One yoyo (Euro) who would be without a bit of romance?

Also made these fab little felt shoes from an old reproduced 1948 pattern.

And this crochet choker...

Gotta go now as I'm off for a girlie weekend and there will be precious little time for crafting I'd say. Love to all....Pam

  
 

 
 

 

 

 

Ruffled Rusty Wrist Warmers! ......Crafting and Thrifting Treasures

Ooooohh, try saying that fast! I have just finished crocheting and listing these wrist warmers on Etsy and Misi. I love to undertake these small projects as they crochet up so fast. I have only just learned to crochet but am getting quite good at it (even if I say so myself!)

I do love learning to crochet and tried my hand at a white longer sexier pair with a softer ruffle....

My favourite pastimes are crafting and thrifting and I got my fill of both this past week.

Yesterday I went thrifting with sister Angie and found some lovely Irish linens. Here are some of them. The rest I will list when I have given them a good hot wash to take out some stains.

Very large red Irish linen napkins...Amazing rich shade of red. I love these and think they would be wonderful for Christmas. I have listed them though as I know I can't keep EVERYTHING  I find.

More Irish linen napkins. This time a set of fifties rose design against a lime green background...

OOOOOhhhhh I love the funky rose on this one.

Another olive green find. 60's dangling earrings. ....very Mary Quant!

 

More strong colours...This is a spiral scarf I made and SOLD!!! this week. I also made a matching hat and the woman bought that too. I'll have to make more now of course. I have lots of this wool which is a vintage French Mohair and pure delight to work with or wear.

 
I like the way these arm warmers can be worn hooked over the fingers or loose at the wrist.

This shows the great book I got the pattern from "Positively Crochet"
It's from my local library but I may have to buy this one as it has some easy lovely patterns.  

Next is a hand crafted brooch or pin I was given at Christmas. I really want to find out how it was made as I would like to make some to sell.

Strong rich colours caught my eye everywhere I went and I also bought this set of  woven wool and Irish linen napkins and placemats.

Next I found a sweet little Hobbie Holly or Amish wooden doll. She has no face but is as cute as a button with her long legged bloomers!

OK - enough of the strong winter colours. Here are some pastel chenille patchwork squares I bought to make some fluffy raggy cushions....These were kinda expensive but I reason that if I sell a couple of the resulting cushions pillows I can make my money back...right? Well, that's what I tell myself anyway.

 

 

Fairytale Winter Wedding in Wicklow

Just back from Wicklow where we attended our nephew, Luke's wedding to his fiance, Aimee. Now to say it was cold would be underestimating it. It was the coldest spell in forty years!

The view from the Woodenbridge Hotel. Brrrrrrrrrr! Aspen in Ireland.

The Woodenbridge Hotel nestled in the Wicklow mountains. Opened in 1924 and full of vintage charm.

 

These are the icicles in the ditch outside the hotel.

Yes, I know, snow does not impress ye' who live with lots of it but we do not usually get snow of any kind....Well the country almost came to a halt and some people are virtually stranded in their homes. The secondary roads are treacherous so there was lots of worry about people getting down to county Wicklow for the wedding.

Paul and I were bringing Nana, so we headed out the day before and stayed in a lovely hotel, The Woodenbridge Hotel in Avoca. 

Well somehow - most people made it and a great day was had by all. Here are the lovely couple.....

Elegance in motion...Aimee glides up the aisle as her dad beams proudly.....and scattered on the floor are pink rose petals.

Second from left is my nephew, Sam and third from left Danny his brother.

There is no doubt that we have beautiful brides here......

 

 

The VERY happy couple! Luke is wearing Willa's tie.

Below - in pink is the flowergirl, Aimee's sister and Luke holds the Ring Fairy! yes, this little one brought up the rings on her wand at the church.

Oh - and I don't have any pics yet but the church was amazingly decorated with ivy, baby's breath and hundreds of candles by my niece, celebrated Irish designer, Sally Sweetman, Luke's sister. Quite beautiful. I'll get some pics of it later. Very talented designer and decorator our Sally!

The beautiful wedding cake was decorated with handmade sugar roses and their initials by the bridesmaid. Just look at the fine details of this wonderful confection.
 

  

I love the cute little bird. This was the design on the invitations and the bridesmaid copied it for the cake. How talented are our bridesmaids! More of little birds later.

Here she is next to Aimee. The bridesmaids wore pewter coloured draping dresses made by a friend of the bride. How talented...etc.

GORGEOUS YOUNG IRISH MEN AVAILABLE (contact me for ph. no's  ---(at a price ;-))

We sure have handsome young men here in Ireland. Some of these are single and up for grabs!
 Come on over and grab yourself a bachelor! No, not the one in the middle - he is spoken for.

More handsome men....The groomsmen with auntie Angie, Daniel left and Sam on right. Brothers of the groom

Talking about handsome men ...here is Paul looking very dapper in his grey suit and, and, and...yes, his DrWho Scarf!

which is long enough for three it seems. Left is Angie and right is my sister and mother of the groom, Catherine.

Here is Paul again proving what I have always said...The sun shines out of ...... his shoulder?!

Pic also shows left to right. Ed, Angie's husband, Sam, brother of groom and Martin, father of groom.

Sistahs are doin' it for each other.

"Can you see to put in my earring?"  "No, I haven't got my glasses but I'll try"

"Oh wait a minute, she is going to foc-us...POSE!

 Mother of the groom with her sister (and mine) Angie.

(Hey girls - I can Photoshop yis for a price!) (oh, and you left your cup of vodka on the windowsill behind yis' :-)

...and as Nana puts her best foot forward in the ice and snow...Angie pretends to be carrying her walking stick but I know she is using it to keep her feet under her. And will ye' look at Dr Who? Helping Nana (by holding on to her zimmer frame) yeah, right.

 Along the journey I snapped some nice photos for you ...this is a fairytale type gatelodge house in Avoca.

and in Redcross village is this original 1920's shopfront.

As we were driving along I took this picture of the sunset declaring " Oh what a beautifully coloured sunset". ...to which Paul said dryly "You are taking that picture through a tinted window" Smirk, smirk.

Serves  me right for accusing him of scuttin' (hitching a lift) on an old lady's zimmerframe. LOL

 

 

Now for a strange tale.....As I told you we brought my mother, Nana, down a day early to the hotel. That evening we had a nice meal and were toasting our toes at a blazing fire and saying how Willa would be sorely missed at the wedding. At that we pulled up a spare seat for him and invited him to join us in spirit for a nightcap. We put his tie on the seat as you can see in the photo and chatted with him as if he was there.

 

Mam was saying how strange things had happened in her house that convinced her that he was around her at all times.

Now, I am the world's biggest sceptic ("Ooooh, I'm an athiest - thank God!") bieng my fav. quote) ...but jokingly l said to Willa " If you are at the wedding will ye' give us a sign?"

The next day as we waited at the same fire to go to the marquee for the meal Paul said "Will you just look at that! A robin"

And so there was... he hopped around the furniture as I tried to snap a photo.

 

 

Here is the last shot I got of him. I love this photo.
 

He seemed to disappear but we were told that he was now in the bar. Yeah, that was Willa all right. I wonder if he sneaked a sip of anyone's Guinness. I just had time to snap this picture before we had to leave for the meal. It shows the little robin singing in the bar.

Well, I hope you enjoyed your mini trip to county Wicklow. I sure did. See you soon...Pam



 

 

 

 

 

Crafting LIke Mad

Ohhh, I have spent a lovely week off work and just relaxing and crafting to my heart's content.

 I have also stocked my two new sites Etsy.com and Misi.co.uk. You can check out my Irish vintage and handmade items on them. Links on right....

This is a snood or cowel I crocheted to sell. I so enjoyed making it I want to make one to keep! How can I make my fortune if I want to keep everything I make?

And this is my latest creation...a boudoir corsage. Yes, I invented such a thing...after all why just wear a corsage on your daytime clothes?

While the snood scarf above is very affordable the following luxury scarf is not.... It is the most expensive item I have for sale.... A vintage Hermes silk twill scarf from 1965. ...Just $299! More pics of it on Etsy.com see sidebar 

...and now for the least expensive item...my 2" handmade pin brooches of miniature knitting. 
I LOVE making these and wear one myself. 

This is something that is not for sale. I made it for my nephew, Luke who is getting married to the lovely Aimee next Sat. 9th Jan in Avoca, Wicklow. Luke was so very fond of my dad that he is going to wear one of his ties at his wedding. I made this shadow box and included some wood shavings and my dad's old wooden rule. I labeled it "WIlla's Rule"I then added the words that my Da used to always say to us..." The man who never made a mistake - never made anything!"

 

I'll bring you some photos of the lovely young couple next week.

 

I almost forgot to say......Happy New Year to you all!

I am so loking forward to this new year and have great hopes for a great one (It has to be better than last year, which was my worst ever)

Still we all survived........ onwards and upwards!

 

Now, I want to say hello and welcome to a new blogger, my friend in USA, Mimi.

Welcome to Blogworld Mimi!  Give her a browse at Zoo Notes and Monkeys Update

Chrstmas Report Updated...more photos added

Well, I have survived the big day and boy - did we have a good one! I am SO thrilled with the beautiful presents I was given by my family. Some of the goodies....

Beautiful lap blanket made for me by my sister in law, Clare. thanks Clare. She gave me the pattern for it and I have started one in pale green and cream myself.

Nana (my mam) came over for dinner on 26th and put the lap blanket to good use. She road tested it for me and it passed muster!

 

Hand crafted placemats from my sister, Catherine (also some gorgeous fabrics from Laura Ashley) thanks Catherine.

And here is a knitting bag I made from the fabric my sis, Teeda  in Canada sent me.... Thanks Teeda.

more pics of my newly crafted knitting bag...showing the nifty inside pockets for your knittin' notions.

 

 

Christmas table topper kit from Catherine.

Oh, and here is a teatowel I made for her (and forgot to give her)

 

Gorgeous Art Deco tin box from Angie (among other lovely things - we did sister bags this year - a bag of assorted goodies rather than one big one)  Love it.

Thanks Angie


 

Yes, THAT book. I love it! and a sweet sewing basket from my sis in law Barbara. Thanks Babs. Here is a partially made teddy from the Sew Pretty Homestyle book. Easy peasy. He just needs another arm and leg and a good stuffing. I have also started the sleeping masks from it. V. easy too.

Oh, and I got a Kindle Reader from Paul. It is fabulous. A pair of dancing shoes from son, Chris. (Not arrived yet, coming from Ebay) Thanks Chris.

Stephen gave me an Audry Hepburn box set and some downloaded true crime books for the Kindle reader from Amazon. Thanks Steve.

Yes, I was making pressies too. Here is Paul in his Dr Who scarf I made for him. I didn't get it done until the 26th! It is about 12 feet long. And no, he is not a long suffering husband wearing my creation for the sake of peace...he ASKED me to knit it for him.

 

Same scarf showing its full length...

 
 

I did over imbibe the Vino Callapso though and woke up on the next day with the ten drummers having a jam in my skull and a tongue like Ghandi's flip flop... Ah sufferin' heart!

My mam came over to have dinner with us and so did Anna, my lodger. Anna very kindly did a formal photo portrait of Mam and me. I'll be showing that too of course very soon. She asked if we wanted her to "Photoshop" it (to enhance our natural beauty) We said in unison "Yeah, go on -  photoshop us to death!"

Below: The lads queue up for dinner. (Boy, can they put it away!)

 I look forward to seeing all of your Christmas goodies on your blogs soon. Love Pam

Merry Christmas!

    It's Christmas Eve and I'm feeling ever so festive and looking forward to having a lovely family Christmas. Here are a few yuletide pics I took around the house today. Merry Christmas to you all!This is the wreath I made for my Da for Christmas.My baby, Jamie, is spending this Christmas in Amsterdam so this ceramic bauble is on the tree to remind me of him (as if I needed it!)Now here is a bit of camera shake for ye'!

Another handmade wreath

This bauble is to represent Pretty.
More handcrafted decs

A very old bird (No! NOT ME!)
Still shaking the camera ( I think there is sumzing rongg wi' de camera
The man himself

this is our 30th year to have this little angel on the top of the tree. Lots more years left in her yet!

Merry Christmas ya'll!

Willa - A Year Ago Today

Willa - that is the nickname we gave my Da years ago. It stuck. It is exactly a year ago today since Willa slipped quietly away from us. The year has flown in and we feel his absence sorely on this day. Merry Christmas Da,

 where ever you are. 

 

 

Also Merry Christmas to Daisy and aunty Lilly and Pretty,  Peace to you all.

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

 

A Christmas Story - An Extraordinary Act of Kindness!

I have not been able to bring myself to blog for a while due to feeling so low after the loss of my little dog, Pretty.

But it's Christmas and I have had the privilage of  being on the receiving end of an extraordinary act of kindness......the Christmas Spirit is alive and well. Read on to have your heart warmed in this magical season.

When I came back from having Pretty put to sleep I met a former student of mine. Stephen Brady, a lovely young man that I have always had a soft spot for. He could tell how badly we felt the loss of her. Well, today he knocked on my door with a present.

It was a beautiful, tiny, but life sized Yorkie dog asleep in a basket. No, not a real one - but she actually....breathes (and snores gently if you put your ear up to her!)

 I find it so comforting to watch her tummy rise and fall and I can't believe someone went to the trouble to give her to me. She will "sleep" at the end of our bed where there has been a big gap and I have put Pretty's collar and disc on her. Here is a picture of 2Pretty (Too Pretty)

And my Pretty1 (Pretty One) in the same restful pose....

Yes, I did get a photo of Stephen (aka Santa)

THANK YOU Stephen Brady. You are a gentleman and a gentle man. and you have restored my faith in human kindness.

Merry Christmas to you all.

 
 
 

Tribute to the Two Best Little Dogs in the World

 

Here is a little poem I wrote for my much loved and much missed dogs, Tiny and Pretty.....

A Dog's Job

The work of dogs...

is to cause smiles

give endless welcomes

to keep you fit

to listen without comment

to lick tears before they reach your chin

The work of dogs is...

to cherish old bones

chase flies

and chew slippers

The work of dogs is to...

be on the wrong side of any closed door

break wind (silently) when you have company

and look adorable while doing so!

....The final job for a dog is

to quietly steal away

taking a piece of your broken heart with them.

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

Pretty Prezzies

On a lighter note I was thrilled to open a lovely present from my good friend, Kimme, of Irishcottagedreams

 

Thanks so much, Kimme, I will be making two of the projects from this lovely book - the pot holders and the tissue pouch over the holidays.

 
Oooohhh.... how I love the 1950's table square! It is divine and just SO ME! You know my taste so well.

Sorry, the edibles were gone before  I could take a picture! Guess who? Choccy and frog gobblin' hubby that's who!

 

Thank you very much. It really made my day today and I have gotten all Christmassy now! Merry Christmas Kimme and Co.

 

Lucky Shamrock Pin

 I have just finished my first crochet shamrock brooch and put it for sale on my website and on Etsy.com (link on right hand side, bloglists)

$3.99 including postage.  

 

 

The work of dogs...

is to cause smiles

give endless welcomes

to keep you fit

to listen without comment

to lick tears before they reach your chin

The work of dogs is...

to cherish old bones

chase flies

and chew slippers

The work of dogs is to...

be on the wrong side of any closed door

break wind (silently) when you have company

and look adorable while doing so!

....The final job for a dog is

to quietly steal away

taking a piece of your broken heart with them.

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

Pretty Prezzies

On a lighter note I was thrilled to open a lovely present from my good friend, Kimme, of Irishcottagedreams

 

Thanks so much, Kimme, I will be making two of the projects from this lovely book - the pot holders and the tissue pouch over the holidays.

 
Oooohhh.... how I love the 1950's table square! It is divine and just SO ME! You know my taste so well.

Sorry, the edibles were gone before  I could take a picture! Guess who? Choccy and frog gobblin' hubby that's who!

 

Thank you very much. It really made my day today and I have gotten all Christmassy now! Merry Christmas Kimme and Co.

 

Lucky Shamrock Pin

 I have just finished my first crochet shamrock brooch and put it for sale on my website and on Etsy.com (link on right hand side, bloglists)

$3.99 including postage.  

 

 

Fabric Repurposing Project = Shopping Tote!

I love t0 repurpose things, such fun to make something from something else and give it a new lease of life.

To that end here is my latest repurposed craft item.

I had some books of large fabric samples from a furnishing shop. Very heavy good quality fabric. I decided to make some unique shopping totes that would be eco-friendly, hard wearing, washable and look good too.

Before: the fabrics:

...and after: The first of my new shopping totes.

 

I made five of them and put them up for grabs on our freecycle site www.jumbletown.ieand within two hours they were gone! So I did my bit for the planet. One fabric bag can replace many thousands of plastic shopping bags in its lifetime.

What else have I made in these last few weeks?

Well I covered another box with the blue CK fabric in my stash. I think it goes really well with the vintage wallpaper covered ones and all of them trimmed with Kimme's vintage lace.

Below: This is where I store my crafting supplies. I wish I had a whole room to myself...ah, someday. For now I have a bookshelf.

Also here you can see my black flocked display hand that doubles up  for holding my collection of embroidery hoops.

Collection?

Two?

That's not a collection....Ebay here I come!

 

What else have I made that I have not shown you yet....oh, yeah, this lavendar heart sachet made from some Crimpelene fabric. Do you remember Crimpelene? Everything was made from it for a while.

 

And I have finished my blue scarf. I LOVE how it turned out and wear it a lot. I added a broken vintage beaded ring in the centre to finish it off. My mam saw it and wanted one so I started one for her using Aran pure Irish wool, for her birthdaynext weekend. Pattern for this is available on Berreco website and is called Rose and is VERY easy to knit.

 

And a simple cushion also from CK fabric.

What are these pretty things?

 

 

They are two small jars I use to store some old buttons. Doilies make pretty lid covers for an ordinary jar.

Still on the subject of repurposing....I can't throw out a pretty box. I have a bit of a box obsession. But how could you throw out this beauty?

 

What came in a box like this?

Well - these did....they are lovely too ...and a nice usable box as a bonus!

 

 

Now here is a tin box I found in a charity shop recently. It is not vintage or even attractive but because "Crawford" was my maiden name I was drawn to this large biscuit tin.

I lifted it up and it was heavy...with rattling thingies inside. I dared not hope so I asked "Does this contain buttons by any chance?"

"Yes" she said

"Four euro for the lot - I just want to shift it - no one sews on buttons anymore" 

 I bought it there and then without even looking. When I got it home I was delighted to find.... it was bursting with oodles of vintage buttons all sorted into colours. Button motherlode! I need never buy another vintage button again...but do you think that will stop me? Naw. Noh ar all!

 

Here they are in their jars...actually I ran out of jars and had to use some glasses. They look so pretty lined up there on top of my bookshelf/craft area.

 

 

Have you got a box obsession? A button obsession? I don't believe I am alone in this.

Keeping Busy in Amsterdam

Well after the awful loss of my little dog, Pretty, I had to find a way to keep myself busy and not be moping about. It was a bit fortunate that we were booked to go to visit our son, Jamie, in Amsterdam two days later. It did keep us occupied. Here are some of the photos I took on our trip.

This is Jamie with his lovely English girlfriend, Toni...a happy couple.

Below: Paul found a doggy friend to cuddle. This is Molly who belongs to the lovely Shalina (Jamie's boss) Shalina would not be photo'd but Molly did! Thanks so much Shalina for all your hospitality and help during our trip (and keeping an eye on my baby for me)

 

Smokey's Coffeeshop

Next is a photo of Jamie and Paul taken in one of those coffeeshops that sell dope and such and it's legal. I was gobsmacked! We had to see it for ourselves of course.

Then - much to Jay's embarrassment we insisted on doing a tour of the Red Light District. It was the fasted tour ever. I think we saw one lane of it. Jamie almost ran us through it. Also gobsmacking! I think Paul went crossyeyd!

 It was a bit sad seeing all those beautiful young women on display like shop mannaquins. I was too uncomfortable to take photos of them and anyway it is not allowed - not the done thing - and their minders are known to grab a camera and delete pictures.  The red lights you can see in the lane on left of picture each has a window with a woman for sale in it. Very strange thing to see.

Despite these things I have to say that Amsterdam felt like a very safe city to be out and about in on a weekend night. Full of buzz and good humour  and no sense of menace and danger that I feel in most big cities. Jamie says he has not seen one fistfight in the nine months he has been there.   The police are very polite but have a zero tolerance approach to troublemakers and will come down hard on any unruly behaviour (also they don't have to spend any time  dealing with dope dealers or prostitutes as most forces do)

 

Strange Buildings in Amsterdam...

Below is the hotel where Jamie works. It is the Liberty Hotel and is the building on the left with the green canopy. Next to it is the narrowest house in the world. Yes, the black door is the building - it is a door wide! The redbrick building is the building next door to it. A young couple live in it. Obviously NOT  claustraphobics!

 

 

...and Feeling Seasick on Land!

Now for more amazing buildings. I thought it was my eyes at first but no, a lot of the buildings are tilting at odd angles. Look at this hotel (on the right with the blue hotel sign)..would you like to stay in this?

 

Of course some of them tilt FORWARD which is also very alarming.

 

It seems they are built on sand and that's why they shift. I have not heard of any of them falling so I guess that's ok but it sure feels strange to see it. Jay says the builders never heard of  spirit levels!
 

I did go to a flea market but it was late in the day and most of the good stuff was gone but I did manage to find two lovely old tins and an old candle snuffer. Will post pics next time.

Since I came home I have set up my ETSY Shop (again keeping my mind busy) Click on the  link or the on the top of my sidebar on the right if you fancy a browse. Bye for now!

 

 

Sad News, Pretty Roses, Babies and Cottages

It is with a heavy heart that I have to write the sad news that my wonderful little dog, Pretty had to be put to sleep yesterday. Bye Bye Pretty, we'll miss you very much.

But life goes on and I had this post already done so I share it here with you.

One of my favourite boxes in my considerable collection of boxes, is this stationery box from the 50's. It still has some of the original writing sheets in it.  How gorgeous are the roses on this? 

 

 

 

And on this?

 

 

Also Lovely to Look At.

I caught my son, Chris,  heading out the door for a night out. All dressed up and looking gorgeous so I had to grab my camera and snap!

"Ah, hurry up Ma - I have a hot date waiting"

 

I can remember when he was all dressed up in this little bonnet! Ahhhhh!, (he is going to kill me for this)

I made it for his christening. I can't believe I used to be able to do this stitch. It looks complicated to me now. 

 

And speaking of beautiful babies (Yes, you were Chris!)

 I came across this piece of vintage ephemera to share with you.

I love the graphics on the back of cherubs playing with photographic chemicals?!!!

 

 

 Cottage Cross Stitch Collection Gets Going!
 
I have decided to have a go at cross stitch after my recent thrifting find of a large cottage

and then the lovely Twiggypeassticks sent me this little cottage beauty..

 I will be framing this and keeping it. Very pretty. Thanks Twiggy.
 

All That Glitters is...Gorgeous!

There is a bit of a magpie in me and I know I am not alone.  I bought this bag of goodies recently. Yummy bits and bobs of vintage costume jewellery. Some of it wearable or saleable on Etsy and some of it broken and just begging to be used for craft.

 

Here is my new red hat (every woman of a certain age should have a red hat) This is a wool beret like the one worn by Mary Kate Dannagher in the film The Quiet Man.

I could not leave well enough alone so I made a little felt and button decoration for it (will add pic soon) I then decided it would be perfect to display my vintage hat pin collection. It sits in my hallway on my styrofoam model head.

 

and a close up...

 

Another, broken seed beaded ring was perfect to finish off the knitted scarf with the rosette disk I showed you in an earlier post. I love how this scarf turned out and it is so cosy on these cold mornings. Pattern is called Rose and is on the Berroco website.

 
 

Big Bottle of Bubbly Bath!

After finishing this bottle of my favourite pink wine I was admiring the lovely bottle and thinking "What could I repurpose this lovely shaped bottle for?" Then it came to me....and this is what I made from it.

I filled it with pink bubble bath, added a few drops of rose essential oil, a handmade tag, some vintage trims, pins and beads.

The label I saved when I received some lovely crafting supplies from Southern Patina on Etsy.  I punched a hole each side and threaded some vintage trim and tied it at the back. Under the name it says "Handmade Pretties"

 

Sugar beads and some pink beads speared on a heart long pin in the cork. These should be enough to warn any potential imbibers that this not a regualar bottle of wine!

 

Even the back got a new look.

 

 

Hours of lovely soaking  to be had from this bath wine!

 

 

Five Surprising Things you did not know About Me! SHOCK HORROR!

I have NOT been tagged to tell five things you did not know about me. But who can wait to be tagged? Not lil' ol' me for sure. So - here are five little known facts 'bout this ol' rock chick that you would not have guessed in a million years!

1.    I have a 22" waist. ......

yes, I AM SO skinny..,.....Yes, (deep inside this 32" waist resides a  22" waist) It has not seen the light of day since 1973 but hey!  10 inches ...that's only 5 inches each side. Not far from daylight right?

......................................................................................................................

2 . I was ARRESTED on the CHAMPS ELYSEÉ, PARIS in 1972 for.......Busking!

Yes, that Champs Elysee in that Paris.

 I enjoyed evey minute of it. Yes, it was my finest hour. I can't even sing or play an instrument but Paul can and was and I was guilty of collecting the spondoolicks in the hat! WHEEEE! We both got arrested along with a man walkin' his dog without a lead and brought to the police station for an hour. Then we were released and told to get out of town.! Wheeeee! I'm a criminal! I Love this story and have been dining out on it for years!

I'd love to do this again before I die. One or both I don't mind. I am going to Amsterdam soon and might chance it there. Sure if we don't get arrested we might make a few bob right? Watch this space. Interpol take note!

...................................................................................................................

3. I can't drive. Well, I CAN drive but don't as I developed a phobia re driving over the years and bought a bike instead. That's a bit boring right? Well this is not....Some drivers often come VERY close to me when I am cycling to work. It makes me nervous and I tend to wobble as they pass and would have been killed sooner or later but I came up with the perfect solution...

 

No not this lovely bike...read on

It goes like this..........When I hear a car coming up behind me I deliberately WOBBLE dangerously all over the place. This has the effect of frightening the bejeepers out of the driver upcoming and they give me a wide berth. Clever or wha? Survival of the wittiest!

....................................................................................................................

4. I am a teacher  - but I left school at age 14  ....and I did so without a qualification of any kind or even a backward glance. I hated every minute I spent in school and now I'm the feckin' teacher! Ah, sufferin' heart!

 I still don't have a qualification (not even the Juinior Cert (done at age 15 here)  No, I just have 12 years of experience in actually DOING IT (Adult Ed, is the back door to becoming a teacher)  At work I have the opportunity and  the funding to do a degree in teaching but hey! I am too busy working and living to do it so I duck and dive and just keep on teaching!

 I am da teacha'! Whoooo! (under the radar - don't tell the Dept. of Ed - anyway I have a criminal record in France so probably don't qualify on any level)

........................................................................................................................

 

5 I am an All Ireland Dancing Champion.

I have a medal for LINE Dancing. I won it in 19-hundred and splash!

Yes, I can and do throw a few shapes on the dance floor.

 (I was six before I found out I was NOT a ballet dancer.) No one told me otherwise before that - and therefore I truly believed I was. I did not know that one had to learn. Really. I actually believed I could just do it and did it or thought I was doing it. I was born to dance and so I did dance until someone "enlightened" me and then I lost the ability to be a dancer for years- a bit sad really)

 

But talent WILL out I did come to learn to dance and eventually won a national medal for it as part of my club group of line dancers, The Memphis Swingers,  a few years ago. (I can STILL ballet dance - don't care what anyone says...and Riverdance and Flamenco dance , Morris dance etc whooo!)

I am da' dancah!

So do you want to divulge 5 little known facts about you? Consider yourself tagged so!

For Better or For Worse ...The Better Days and the Worst Days

This is not all a cheerful happy post so if you can't deal with it leave now.... if you can, or are so nosy you can't resist..... scroll down

 

 

Hi, glad you came down this far....are you  ready to join me in a good ol' snivel? Yes?

Scroll on down so.

No? then you had better not.

Still scrolling?


You've been warned!

.....scroll on down so.

 

 

This is a photo of my mam and dad on their wedding day taken in No. 72 Glentow Rd, Whitehall, Dublin 1952. (Her family home) 

I have just noticed that they have willow patten crockery on their table! I have it in my cottage. Gotta love willow pattern. I do -  and always have.

Anyway, this shows them on their wedding day in 1952, the photo shows that they had a wedding breakfast of  ..and I know ,'cos I asked her, sausages,black pudding and rashers and sliced bread. You can see them right in front of them as they are cutting the cake.

I love this photo. Here is a close up of their hands as they cut the cake and started on the journey that is  marriage.

 

the photo above is the "For Better" and the photo below is  "...or for worse"

Only scroll down if you can deal with it.

 

 

Here is a photo taken the day my lovely Da died.

 23rd Dec. 2008.

Yes, last Christmas.

So reminiscent of the photo above....

 

this photo was displayed on his coffin at his funeral the day after Christmas.

In Feb. of this year, while I was still grieving for me Da, my husband, and rock, was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid.

He has just come through the treatment for his cancer. We are still a bit raw and reeling from it. His prognosis is good and we are so happy with that.

Here is a photo taken of us on our wedding day in 1979 in Raheny Church, Dublin. This is our "For Better" photo.

 

scroll down only if you can handle our "for worse" photo.....

 

 

 
 

 

 

Yes, I put it way down so you had to want to see it. 

Bear in mind he is over all of this and has a really good prognosis....

Scroll down if you want to share our  

".....for worse ......in sickness and in health"

Sure you want to see this?

Scroll down so.

 

Taken after the second of his three operations,

But it all has a happy ending, at least for us...'cos here we are on the day he was released from hospital.

No need for scrolling as this is a nice happy photo. 

 

'Nuff said.
 
 

 

I love the sound of SZZZZZZZZZZnoring.

Am I the only person in this world who LIKES the sound of snoring?

I am a chronic sufferer of insomnia. Wish I COULD snore a lot more.

The rest of my family sleep soundly and prove it by SNORING  loudly.

The hubby does it,

 ....the sons do it.

..... (they are SO  going to kill me for taking these pics but will have to actually READ my blog to find out Ha!)

 Even the shaggin' dogs do it!

 (The cat purrs...= feline version of snoring. Leave it to cats to be awkward)

But I love it all.

Yep,

I love it. The sound of snoring. I love it.

My darling husband snores in my ear.

AHHH, how jealous I am. His head hits the pillow ....like a finger hits a light switch, ...and off he goes (bad cess to 'im).....off to the Land of Nod.

I love the sound of him snoring away happily until.....he stops!...yeah, he stops both snoring and/or breathing! He has episodes of sleep apnea....

Wha's that? I hear you say...

Well, it is when people temporarily suspend snoring  and/or breathing for AGES  ....and give free heart attacks to the insomniacs in the bed beside them!

Then - just as you are about to give them the KISS of LIFE they take in a Big One and settle down again.

Is it any wonder I can't sleep?

Brings to mind the song: "Every breath you take - every move you make"...etc.

But I can sit downstairs wiith a cup of hot milk listening to them all snoring away in harmony and think to myself..."They are all home safe...at peace....sleeping like babies...All's well in my world"