White O'Morn Cottage

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