White O'Morn Cottage

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

 

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.



 

 

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.

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!

 

 

Vintage Motherlode! ...from Postman Pat.

 

My postman loves me. Yes, he does.

I shop on Ebay and so.... he is assured a secure job until his retiermient :-)

(Recession me arse!  Stick with me - all will be well)

I love my postman too. He brings me goodies on a regular basis. It feels like he is bringing me pressies and I am gushingly grateful to him every time. We have a great relationship ...me and my postman (he brings bills too but they are for Paul).

He only ever sees me in my pj's with bad bed head hair...you know the style? (Yeah, the one that looks like a gorilla broke into your bedroom at night and swung you around in circles for a while. That one. Interesting to say the least.)

But my postman? Does he care? Not a bit. He loves me. I love him. Simple.

Postman Pat.

 Yup, his name is Pat. (But sure this is Ireland and most men are called Pat or a variation of same)

I'm a woman and I'm nearly called Pat meself...if it wasn't for the M at the end of Pa...I'd be Pat wouldn't I?.

 Even some Americans of my aquaintence (you know who you are!) are named Pat, Patrick, Padraig Padhraic, Phairic or Paddy. Great ol' name. Gotta love it.

Anyway, I digress. Postman Pat brought me a treasure trove of vintage sewing notions this morning...all contained in a fab vintage tin from the 40's.

MOTHERLODE!

I bought a vintage tin on Ebay 'cos I am in my vintage tin phase.

 

Gorgeous tin. Sweetpeas flowers raised on lid and the word "Workbasket" engraved on it. Lovely.

I love it and I have not even opened it yet.

No one bid against me and so...£6 on Ebay? Good value? YES, Love it already!

 I knew it contained some sewing notions but I had fallen for the tin and the notions were to be  a bonus.

Rusted clasp...very hard to open....

 

I love rust I must say. Wouldn't you love to be the one to prise open this rusty clasp to reveal what lies behind?

BONUS! Yeah. yup, yes, it was burstin' with treasure from 1930/40's - gillions of them.

 

 

This tin was a toffee tin by Blue Bird Toffee and it has a lovely graphic of a little boy inside the lid. Some lady kept all her sewing notions in this for decades. It contained EVERYTHING  one could want.

Close ups of the precious items.

 

Mending yarn? Love it! Here is a small sample of the 19 cards!

 

 

St George Pansy Quality Bias Binding? I have been looking for this for years!

 

Knitter's ribbon? Never heard of it - did you? I'm a knitter. I did not know I needed ribbon. But now I have some.

 

Wooden Spools? Love 'em. Here are a FEW of them.

 Like vintage buttons? yes? Here is a SAMPLE of my new collection.

Below: is a pack of hooks and eyes...labelled "War Tme Pack- Extra Japanned Finish" Lovin' heart!.... 

 

 Above: Sounds brave and durable. Let's look at the other side...

It says "By appointment to her majesty  - The Queen & Queen Mary"

 

I just knit a cardi for myself and I need a hook and eye and I will be using one of Queen Mary's for it. (Well, if it is good enough for Queen Mary it is good enough or this lol' ol' rock chick!)

Do you need to repair your HOSE?  ....or need to make your mark with some 60 year old tailor's chalk? Here it is ...I got it. 

 

BELOW:

What is this?

Well, it is a close up of a pin cushion. Hmmm. But some wonderful lady many years ago went to the trouble of handmaking this. Crosstitch? knitted? Woven/ tapestry?  I don't know. But I do know that it will be given a new lease of life by me - as I will stick it with my pins and USE it. She made it to be used and so it will be.  Neat, careful, perfect work for a simple pincushion. It has been in an attic for many decades and now it gets its time in the sun.

 

Love this piece of vintage sewing notions....

 

Above: When did you last darn your silk hosiery? Well, next time...if you need shade 30? ....I'm yer' man...erh...I mean woman.

KIMME!!  Stop, desist, don't do it anymore.... I have found the darning mushroom of my dreams - so you are off the hook (She was looking all over Germany for one of these for me)

Vintage darning mushroom. Mine ...all mine...and found in the magic box of goodies...here it is ... I will use this. I have just started to knit socks and having spent hours knitting these I don't intend to throw them out just because they have developed a little hole at heel.

 

So - what was the most amazing item in the box?

These were..... Old crochet hooks. So tiny  - they are for mending silk stockings. How tiny do they have to be? I have included a normal ballpoint pen to give you an idea of scale.

 

 

Here is a pic of a the tip of the ball point pen for comparrison...

 

In this day and age...would you have the patience to repair your hose with this tiny instrument?

Well I hope you enjoyed the tour of my new old tin. I had a miniature china cabinet and made a display of these items. Love it.

With the doors open

 

and with the doors closed.

 

Finally...need a laugh? click on youtube  link below so.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcPMKD8GFkI

 

 

 

 

 

 

My First Socks!!! 1st Cardigan and 1st Buttons on Bow Brooch

Some time ago you will remember that Kimme of Irish Cottage Dreams challenged me to a sock knit off. I had not made them before but am so glad I tried as I am very happy with the result and even went on to make a pair for Paul...cosies for his tosies!

And here they are......(drum roll) Tadaaaaaaaa!

The inaugural SOCKS!

 

Don't believe me? They look too good? ...and you think I might have put up a pic from a pattern. No way! Oh ye of little faith. Here I am modelling mine.

 

I must get a pic of Paul modelling his too. Will add it later.

Many thanks to Ivy and Lace Cottage's Marilyn who gave me  great help when I got a bit lost on these. I was about to sign myself into a home for the bewildered.

Thanks also to Kimme too for the challenge as I would never have got around to it otherwise. Now you have to show me yours Kimme! 
 

Why stop at socks? I got very adventurous and had a go at a cardi for myself. It is made from Braemore 50% wool, very thick yarn and knitted up really quickly. I love it even though it is a bit too big for me...just means I have a licence to eat methinks! 

 

Then I had to make a wooly flower pin for it from my "One Hundred Flowers to Knit and Crochet" I love that book.  This is crocheted and is called Lazy Daisy (reminds me of a fried egg ) Very easy even for a rookie crocheter like me.

 

I am now working on a gorgeous scarf from a pattern from the  Berroco range of patterns (as was the cardi) - Nimbus the cardigan is called and Rose for the scarf. Mine is a lovely blue Tweed Aran yarn... Google Berroco Knitting Patterns to find them. They have a fabulous range of patterns and all divided into skill levels and many are free. Mine are both from the easy level.

 

This  is what I am aiming for...

 

Gorgeous? Yes,....yes, I am aiming to be as gorgeous as her!.....to have a scarf like that, hair like that, a figure like that.....Oh well, I'll settle for the scarf. Here is a close up of the detail.

 

So easy to make as it is just rib but you knit into the back of the knit stitch to give it the twisted look.

Not only knitting but I have also been inspired by Twiggy's recent gift - a  gorgeous felted/buttoned brooch/pin. Here it is.

So I put my own spin on her design and came up with what I like to call "Buttons on Bow Brooch"

It looks great on that white sweater above pinned at a jaunty angle along the side of the crew neck (no, not worn in the middle like a feckin' clown!) Thanks for the idea Twiggy! You can nick mine now!

Ahhhh, you spotted the Cath Kidston fabric behind the brooch right?

Last night I made the neatest knitting bag (I don't mean cool or nice) but NEAT as in tidy and well made...I am never satisfied with my sewing attempts  always finding I have made a silly little mistake - until now. I am getting better. The nearest to perfect as I have ever done.

It is a Christmas pressie for a knitting friend of mine.

KIMME! CLOSE YER' EYES AND DON'T OPEN THEM UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

Of course I had to show it here and now 'cos I can't hold me water!

 But don't worry as Kimme will still get a surprise when she looks inside........(I am keeping that secret)

I am also working on a gorgeous little project for Angie of the Old Schoolhouse. We are sisters as you know and this year all us sisters are doing the sister bag pressie. That is lots of little presents of goodies that we know will go down a treat and so much fun opening all of them. Sure it's just like Christmas...Oh yeah, it will be Christmas!

Back to the NEAT knitting bag. I put in a long pocket for spare needles outside and a smaller pocket inside for knitting notions.

 

I decided to add my own shop label "Such Pretty Old Things" to decorate the pretty old blue ribbon at top of pocket as seen in this pic.

Close up of the inside lining and notions pocket  -and my neat stitching.

 

Do you see the lovely blue ribbon trim? Well, it is 50 to 60 years old. It came all packed up in its original pack with old label and I agonisied as to whether I should use it or not. 

 In the end I decided that Kimme is worth it! ...so I took a photo of it as I opened it. I'm so glad I did use it. There was exactly the right amount in the right shade. Here it is just after I opened it up.  "Pikaby Knitters Ribbon" I kept the pretty labels of course. I often have that dilema with vintage sewing notions because it seems a shame to use them but seems a shame not to too!

 

What else now...oh yes, I have been on Ebay, doing my bit to end the recession by shopping for Ireland.

I bought these lovely darning mushrooms from Oxfam on Ebay. I was surprised to find that Oxfam sell on Ebay.  So not only did I do my bit for the economy but I surported one of my favourite charities too!  They turned out to be much bigger than I had thought (who has time to read the whole description? Just spend, spend, spend)

I will keep and use the smaller one but I just have to paint the bigger one red with white spots for the cottage window to go with all of Paul's fairies and frogs that live there!

 

 

Sure what kind of a sock would you be darning with one that big?

Thanks for visiting and have a lovely weekend!

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

Vintage Sewing Lucky Dip Surprises & Irish Stew Recipe

I love a lucky dip and when I saw this little plastic bag in the British Cancer Charity Shop in Enniskillen, for 50p I knew I should have it without even looking inside.

When I got it home I had so much fun looking through it. Were the contents worth the 50p? Ooooh, yes.....

As you can see it had some handmade doilies and ribbon....

and this strange little kit for hanging your clothes up to dry indoors?

That's a great idea...but...will these tiny pegs hold up a wet sock? Methinks not!

 

There were several spools of lace making cotton, iron on binding....

and two truly beautiful hand crafted doilies - one in cream and one in emerald green...but the real treasure was this vintage,engraved, fine crochet hook.

 

I just love it and use it for picking up any dropped stitches when I am knitting (yes, I drop the odd one...(I blame the stew aformentioned)

 

So pretty.

 

I will treasure this little item and keep it close to hand in my knitting basket. It's both beautiful and practical. I wonder if it was a special gift for the lady who made the lovely lace items?

I have been on Ebay again and found this old needle compact. Such a beauty and again very practical. Why use drab, new packs of needles when you can enjoy using one like this?

 

 

 

Then I found these two in Virginia, Cavan on my way to Ballinamore. A lovely old decorative spoon and some sweet buttons.  It reminds me of the song..."Just a spoonful of buttons make....."(buttons  -huh?)

 

and a close up. Hmmm...these are just begging to be crafted into something SWEET! Let me work on it and I'll get back to you.

 

That put me in a frilly frou frou mood and so I piled my frilliest cushions on to the bed. The peachy roses one on the extreme left, I made - and the rest were presents and finds and the one at front right is a nightie case.

 

 

Remember in an earlier post I said I was going to copy this customised chandy?

Well I did it last weekend and I'm very happy with how it turned out. I may add some more to it and even fix some of the matching saucers around the stem. Like many of my projects it's a work in progress!

 

 

Also in the kitchen I have added the old 1940's cooker I collected from Carrick-on-Shannon. I found it on our freecycle site Jumbletown and the lady who gave it to me told me it belonged to her aunt who lived in Ballinamore. So it is coming home!

The old lady is still alive but getting on in years and had to move and was adamant that she did not want her cooker dumped and was sure someone would love it. It was in daily use until a few weeks ago. Her niece told her she would try to find a good home for it but did not think she would find a new owner.

Well!.... Mrs Reilly of Aughawillan, Ballinamore...your much loved cooker has found a new home in my kitchen and is wonderful. It makes a great Irish Stew!

 

...and here it is. Delicious!

As we say here: "Sure there's eatin' and drinkin' on it!"

Irish Stew Recipe:

Lamb or Mutton: gillions = loads!

Spuds: (whole potatoes) 2 each-ish

Onions & carrots: (chunky chopped)

Fresh parsley and thyme :(lash them in on their stalks and remove before serving)

Soup mix :(= dried barley, lentils, split peas mix)

Stock cubes: (chicken and/or veg)

Salt and pepper: (a whiff of each)

Water: (fill yer' pot if there's any room left)

Boil up until meat is tender and serve with crusty bread. DEADLY!

(I don't know the quantities - just use lots of 'em and make enough for the next day as something happens to it overnight and it tastes even better the next day. It's true! (I think it ferments into alcohol or something)

(update: day 3...I have jussss had wha' iz left and I tink it has moo-tated inna sUmm-ing illegal! Wheee!)

Day 4? Don't even go there! ...... We're talkim'  'bout nuke soup!

 

Serve it up on old Willow pattern mismatched crockery for a really old fashioned Irish meal.

Well, bye for now ...enjoy your stew!...Pam

 

A Special Tribute to a Unique and Free Spirit... Daisy Bell Lee

  Today we said  a bittersweet goodbye to a legend in our family.

Well, she was not related to me at all, but still - I loved Daisy Lee. She was the nearest I had ever had to a mother-in- law. She was Angie's MIL and a wonderful one at that. I borrowed her now and again.

I always remember she came to visit me in hospital after I had had my third (in a row) son.

"Now don't be worrying...I did not have  my girl until I had six sons first!" said she. .....Ah sufferin' heart Daisy!

She is unique in this world as the only person who ever has typed The Bible in both Latin and Gaelge (our native Irish Language) 

(this is the actual Celtic carriage with the Irish typeface that she used) Isn't it beautiful?

She gave this typewriter to Angie and Ed as she knew they would treasure it. She also typed this up and left it in the typewriter.

She had special carriages  she could change on her manual typewriter to do this.  Her vintage typewriter was brought into the church today for her service. Angie and Ed keep this special momento at home where it has pride of place.  This is a picture of it in the "Wildflower Window" (as imortalised by  prize winning Irish writer John McGahern in his  bestseller: "Memoir") How appropriate it should come to rest here.

She also typed up the theses of many of our bishops and cardinals and literary talents of Ireland ie: Benedict Kiely ("a perfect gentleman"...according to Daisy) and the wonderful Brendan Behan (Ah...hem!) 

When our great writer (but rough diamond) Brendan Behan came into the office, her boss used to send her on an errand 'cos Brendan used profane language and her boss did not want Daisy to hear it!  Well, she was just a young lady at the time...

 Above: Daisy and her fiance (and future husband): Joe Lee. They got engaged that day.

 

Well, today I saw - not just her children, but her four DIL's and one SIL in floods of tears at her passing.  'Nuff said?

Daisy was also a talented crafter, cook and a wise old woman who could and did relate to all generations. 

A fiesty old bird  too......Two years ago she was driving home and was going through green traffic lights when she was side blasted by a getaway car after a bank robbery. The Gardaí (Irish police) were shocked to see that such a "frail" old lady of 85 was the victim in this incident. But sure, Daisy comforted them all of course!

Last year she got a letter in the post from the Gardaí stating "Daisy Bell Lee....You have been awarded two penalty points on your driver's licence for speeding...")

She was delighted!  She could not wait to tell all her friends! Done for speeding at 86!  She got 2 for doing 70 in a 50  at 86!  A Red Hatter if ever there was one.

Well, Daisy love ....your nimble fingers have come to rest and I'm sure the author of The Book is looking after you now.

Bye bye Daisy...Slán abhaile.  Grá ...Pam

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

 

 

 

Speaking of Pearls....

 

I can't resist a nice string of pearls especially when they have a beautiful clasp. These were found in my local charity shop.

Below the lovely front of the clasp with its baguette diamonte stone...

 

...and the lovely back of the clasp.

 

Box Makeover

On the crafting front I have done a complete makeover on the shoe boxes that I was using to store my ribbon. They were so ugly sitting in full view on  my shelves. Here is the Before pic: Ugly? Right?

 

...taadaaaa! After:

 

Fingers Flynn on the Job!

I found the wallpaper when I was investigating a derelict cottage near me. It is by Kildare Wallpapers and dates from about the 1950's. Little sprays of roses with lace and trellis pattern. It goes really well with the old lace I added to the lids. (Kimme, it was the two story house you were looking at - do you remember it?)

I can just hear Angie saying ..."You found it while investigating...?" "Nicked it while breaking and entering....Fingers Flynn you were at it again!"

Guilty as charged, I am known as "Fingers Flynn" for not being able to pass a derelict house that has an open door. I must do a post about all the little treasures I have filch...er, nick..er stol....eh..."rescued" from oblivion during my undercover missions.

Now admit it....wouldn't it have been a shame not to bring that piece of vintage wallpaper home? It is so beautifully faded and dusty and look at the box on top. Its paper was on the outside of the roll exposed to the light and the trellis part of itsdesign has faded away to nothing. My fingers were all dusty after working on this...Dusty Fingers Flynn! LOL!

Back to the boxes. There was a seam on the lid of the larger one so I used some of my brocade trim to cover it and then added some of the vintage lace that Kimme got me earlier this year. Pretty?

Free CK?

More freecycle treasure this week. On my favourite sites for giving and taking this week www.jumbletown.ie  I managed to give away all the junk from my garden shed and made room for my new bicycle in there. It feels good to have a clear out (and makes room for more "stuff" that you just got to have)

 It worked the other way too for me. I answered an ad that said " Large bag of fabric cut offs, suitable for quilting /crafting"

 MMMMmmmm... sounded good to me and so I answered it. I was not the first requester and did not expect it but the giver chose me and I picked it up the next day. There was no photo with the ad so I did not know what to expect but I sure did not expect it to have any YOU KNOW WHO in there ...yes, CK was among the lovely fabrics in it. (Paul is reading over my shoulder and saying "Calvin Klien does fabric?")

Now there's an unexpected treat for lil' ol' me! Well they say ...what goes around comes around. So I will be crafting for Ireland all next week. See you then...Pam

Crafting, Shaggy Ship Makeover and Pants in Drawers

That blasted cat needs a new name....quick!  Whoever heard of calling a cat Pants anyway?

Paul was heard shouting "Pants  - Down Now!" which brought a smile to the whole neighbourhood and a delicate pink blush to my cheeks! (the last bit is not true actually, 'cos after the mental pause one cannot blush no matter how embarrassed. ....If I think of any more good things about it I will let you know...but don't hold yer breath!)

Here is a pic of Pants in drawers - get it?.... Pants, drawers?

 

No? Well, we'll carry on so.

Oooh I have been a busy lady on the crafting front lately (the upside of insomnia) (if I think of any more I'll let you know but don't hold yer breath)

This is a knitting bag I made for myself. My machine did the embroidery for me. The fabric was left over from the quilt I made earlier this year.

I added this little crochet angel Angie gave me. I want to learn how to make them as I think it is lovely.

 

I forgot to line it and then had a go at doing so after the fact. Not the usual way of doing things but it worked. The lining came from my stash which never seems to get any smaller now matter how much I use. Like the story of the loaves and fishes..."the loads and stitches"

 

I finished my union jack cushion...here it is on my bed with a 1950's exquistely hand embroidered cushion cover and 60's quilted bedspread by Diana Cowper (the forunner to CK and LA) It looks just pale pink but up close it has delicate roses, satin piping and lace trim - divine! How could I have insomnia in a lovely bed like this!!!  

Ohhh , I think I am getting sleepy looking at this restful bedroom of mine. Pic below shows my thrifted lamp and hand made table square with one of the bedside lockers we had commisioned to be made from vintage salvaged wood. I painted the flowers on the drawer myself. The colour of the feature wall behind is called Adare Dusk. Yawn. A very restful colour....Yawn.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 No! it was not a nap just a false alarm!

Speaking of stashes: some of my goodies...buttons..gotta love buttons.

 

 

Also for the bedroom I made these cushions for the wicker chair. I am thinking of painting it white. The crosstitch roses and striped cushions I thrifted lately. Looks very shappy shack... shaggy ship....shabby shi... Oh sh...you know what I mean!

 

For my next project I am going to do this... I got this idea and photo from another blog. So sorry I can't remember the name. Hope she does not mind me using it here.

 

I already have a blue light fitting and I will look for blue china cups to match the cottage kitchen or I might use the gorgeous ones Kimme sourced for me when I challenged her to find me some treasure last year. Here's the light fitting...

 

and here are Kimme's cups..on the right of the shelves in this picture (which I unashamedly nicked from Twiggypeasticks blog as I know she wont mind) It was easier for me to get it from her's because I don't remember which post I put my one in.

 

..and a close up of one of Kimme's cups. They are all different, but  similar to each other.

 

Back to the bedroom (I am obsessed with the bedroom now) I could never get a valance for my (Dublin) bed as it is so high. It was one of my big spending splurges and was handmade in Killarney. It is called "The Gleneagle" I love it (just can't seem to get any sleep in it at the moment!)

However I solved this (valance) problem by using some lovely embroidered chiffon fabric from my stash to make a tacked on valance. First a close up of it.

 

and this one shows it in place...great for hiding allsorts under the bed!

 

 

I saw this and thought of you!

When Angie was in Warsaw recently she brought home these prints and bookmarks. She said the print in middle reminded her of my wildflower meadow (euphemism for field of weeds at the front of the cottage) ...and so it does!

 

 

BREAKING NEWS! My son, Chris, has agreed that "Pants" is not such a good name for his cat. It is now called "Knickers" Ah sufferin' heart!

Night night now - I'm off for another try at sleeping. Wish me luck!

Crafty Vintage Finds, Foreign Chocs and Flick Chick Film

Today I thrifted, crafted, lolled and scoffed a few scoops of fine wine. Needless to say it was a lovely relaxing day...Aaaaahhhh. Don't you just love a day like that?

Find of the day was this set of ...An old tin of embroidery threads, needles, instruction book and hoops. Whooohoo ...embroidery motherlode!

All you could need to create a gorgeous craft. And I will.

 

Some lovely vintage sewing patterns. I got more than this but only kept the easiest ones. The more complicated, (looks like you'd need to be a tailor to do them) I freecycled to someone else.

 

On the sewing front I have finally made myself a union jack cushion. (well, here it is shown as a WIP.) Will update with finished item.

I'm so jealous of you Americans and British who both have  interesting, adaptable and craftable flags (ours is a tricolour, green white and orange so - not a lot of scope there but I haven't given up yet! watch this space)

 

I am going to make one of these for a lovely young couple: Katy and Darren Meakin of Aughawillan, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim...'cos they:

•  are English

•  live in Ireland

• and have a holiday home in France

• And have two doty little lads  - and are are well deserving of my crafting efforts.

Perfect for them...updates will follow of course. Katy and Darren...one union jack cushion comin' your way!

...and a close up of the lovely fabrics. Both bought in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. I have lots more of the pink gingham one. It is a dream to work with.

 

I have just finished this using the same fabric. It is a laundry bag (duh! as if you hadn't guessed)

I love how it turned out...and I did the word LAUNDRY using the embroidery threads. I haven't done any of this since I was a teenager. Loved doing it. I have a great creative mojo going on at the moment.

 

Below: I made the floral one on the left and thrifted the striped one on the right (one yoyo or 1 Euro)

 I think the striped one will go so well with the pink gingham union jack one in the cottage bedroom. The back of the floral one is done in the pink gingham and I am going to try to do a real buttonhole on my machine for it. I'm getting very brave with the ol' sewing machine these days. "Ain't no stoppin me now"

 

This must be national cushion week as I have gone all pillow mad! These two blue beauties below were found in a CS shop, brand new, pure handmade silk, and  - wait for it .........only €2 each. Whaaaaa!

Perfect shade of duck egg blue for the cottage living room. Can't have enough cushions in da' house.

My son, Chris, was in Belgium for the weekend and brought me home a HUGE bar of chocolate with a doty vintage graphic on the wrapper. YummmMMMMMMM ....Should I eat it or just tape it to my hips?

 

And what goes better with an overdose of chocolate? Well.....an old B&W romantic chick flick  of course...that's what!

 This one, The Enchanted Cottage comes highly recommended by me and scores highly as a three tissue weepie.

Treat youself to this flick made in 1945. Tells the tale of a plain woman and a scarred airman who decide to have a marriage of convenience, move into an enchanted cottage.....and - Sorry....Hmm hmm NO! - not telling anymore!

 

Perfect end to a perfect day! Have a nice weekend...Pam