Clean, Clean, Clean

I am writing this in between washing walls, paintwork, dusting and washing and why because l woke up this morning with an itch l needed to scratch. l had looked round during the week and seen how over just a few weeks things had slipped. l have even washed the bathroom ceiling - but no one will notice when they get in they just expect it to be done the only chance l have of them noticing is if l throw something important out like the receipt that been sat there for 2 weeks and now has its own personal dust layer or if l move the furniture and they fall on there bums when sitting down or miss the bed and hit the floor.

l believe we should all have a break at some point so during one of my breaks l have bought this

l am going to use it to display the corsages l have at the a couple of upcoming craft fairs l am to do.
l'm going now as posting this piccy has reminded me l still need to paint some letters this afternoon.

Have a good weekend.

and l'm back in the room

Yes alls back to normal after a quite a break but life just got very hectic for a while but as with all bloggers the written word beckoned.

So my return contribution is to shout out about my purchased at UNIGLO they launched their next collection of my fav designer Orla Kiely and l managed to snap up some tunic's, tee and my staple item a few stoles. here's a clip

 

and these are some of the ones l treated myself to l cannot show you them all as DH will be looking.

 

 

 

 

 

Pop along and have a look you might pick a designer piece at a high street price.

Back soon Julie

 

Not in the Mood

l know its been  a couple of weeks since my last post but as my title says 'Not in the Mood' they weather is just sapping all my energy and things like housework are building up. On the plus side l have managed to list some cake stands and tea cup candles on my Etsy site but on the down l cannot stop buying tea sets so l am surrounded by boxes which l am running out of space to hide.
 You may wonder why l'm moving into tea and coffee sets well .....I've signed up to do the Macmillan Coffee Morning on the 28th September 2012 and wanted to do a Vintage Coffee Morning.
lve never done one before so it will be an experience l'm sure so l will keep you updated - any one else done one?

Glue Heaven

As l bogged a few weeks ago l wanted to have ago at using 'Mod Podge' well l have been.

Firstly when l looked at all the different types on sale l became a bit over awed and worried as to which on was right for my needs. l opted to try the Matte variety.

l am so impressed with it people have reviewed it as PVA watered down but l didn't feel this, in my opinion its a crafters dream.

l have started my dream by using it to cover a couple of note books and a diary in fabric. Here they are in various stages of 'make' the brown fabric is a 70's pillow case and as you will recognise the other is Cath Kidston fabric.

l actually coated the fabric on top and then sanded it back to a smooth finish which makes them more durable.
It is time consuming but l had 3 on the go at the same time to try and increase my production.
These will be joining me at my next fair unless l get too attached.

Unloved and Unused

We all seem to be in possession of mismatched vintage crockery we either inherited or bought because we liked the pattern and l'm no different- always looking  for that valuable piece to take to the Antiques Road Show - as with most people this is still to happen(l wish) So l have a stash, like my fabric of crockery never used just gathering dust and then l discovered the Vintage Tea which embraces everything shabby chic and the more miss matched the better and with that the home made 'Cake Stand'.

As always l thought l can do that and cheaper- l hate to pay when l think l can do something so l have and here they are l now have more stand that cakes! l will be listing more in my Etsy shop when l gather my plates together so if you are having a tea party and your short of a stand you know where to go.

                                                         

 

Have your Cake and Eat it

l've away to indulge in something else l enjoy, l have joined the http://clandestinecakeclub.co.uk/  where people Bake, eat and talk about Cake. Gather in secret locations, meet new people. it’s all about CAKE. Just my thing and l get to take a friend.

l am led to believe that people do similar things in secret locations and have pop up vintage teas http://www.vintageafternoonteas.co.uk/ where have these people been all my life and just when l have decided to join Slimming World and ditch Weight Watchers for a bit.

l would like to also share the beautiful pincushion l received as part of the swap organised by http://houseofpinheiro.blogspot.co.uk from humbugbuttonbeetle



and these were the items l sent to Lucy


A mason jar pin cushion and a 'bits and bobs' jar.

Bunting for Blighty

Well if like me you are fed up with all this weather then here's what l have been up to to brighten up my garden as it rains.

Bunting .... Bunting l hear you say well whats new about that?  to some of you l may be teaching my granny to suck eggs but I'm going to share my tips with you anyway.

Firstly l decided that fabric bunting was a waste of time for the British weather so l wanted water proof bunting. My inclination was towards Cath Kidston PVC fabric but at £22/m l was reluctant to have a 'try' so l managed to find some Cath Kidston esq PVC for £4.69/m with free delivery so well worth a 'try'

Next l cut the bunting shape from the floral PVC and roughly cut a back from the spotted PVC and sewed the two together back to back.

After this l  cut out the bunting using pinking shears which has given a nice effect and covers any imperfections in sewing.

And finally l will be adding a spotted header and attaching them with alternative patterns showing.

l think for the money and the effort it looks fab, l just need a break in the weather to hang it up:) 

Anyone for Tea?

Hope you all had a lovely Jubilee weekend it was just a shame about the weather.

All these street parties and cup cakes set me on a trail of have you still got.......

Firstly my Dads house .... have you still got the cake stand(notice the singular) that Mum had that held 3 plates- which bit the dust many years before? Not sure go and have a look. Which l did and came away with 4 vintage cake stands and a strawberry glass bowl!
Then DH have we still got the china from Auntie Tillys? Yes some in the loft and some easier to find in the sideboard. l have yet to venture in the loft.
these pictures show my hoard to date.

l have also ordered a diamond drill and cake stand fittings to make my own stands form the vast array of plates l have already.

To complete my tea party l have bought this vintage teapot just hope it gets here in one piece.

Not a bad haul for a wet weekend.

Another one bits the dust

Another of those must do jobs has now almost been completed.

l had been neglecting the craft room for some time and collecting 'bits' of fabric for the last year or so and l thought these people that organised there fabric were a bit anal if the truth be known - more time than they knew what to do with. l used to shove them in a drawer and routing through when l needed something, to be fair l normally couldn't find anything and bought more.
Well l'm now one of them! l have spent the last 2 days ironing my fabric and ironing my patchwork pieces and they now look like this.(These are a very small sample of my fabric pieces l assure you)

There is still much work to be done but l've got plenty of time.......

This is my craft table which l have now moved under the window much better light and l now have view of the comings and goings of our birds. Have l sat at it yet?'no' the weather has been to good.

And another plus is l have re launched my Etsy shop- its slow listing at the moment but l will gather pace as l have loads to sell. Have a look if you get chance you may be surprised or not.

Fashion Icon or Bag Lady

Charity Shop Clothing for the over 40’s can we get away with it?

This is a question which just recently has started to pray on my mind , the mind of a 40+ who thinks shes 30+.

All these writers of thrifting blogs seem to be late 20's early 30's where l would say they get away with a bit of vintage and charity shop clothing they seem to make it look cool. but what about us ladies of a certain age can we pull it off? Well l am trying not to be drawn to the M&S cardies and going for a more retro vibe(lve got the language).

 l'm trying to match Charity finds with good high street fashion labels where possible and that may be a vintage dress with designer shoes and handbag or a selection of brooches and beads to brighten up a classic outfit.

What do you do? or do you steer away from charity shopping as it carries a stigma?

l do also buy clothing from ebay as l find clothing cheaper than at vintage fairs most of the time so here's my latest purchase to be worn very soon.

But do l look hip or a bit like a bag lady and do l care? Do l look like my mum did first time round or have l made a style of my own? lots of questions but sadly no answers l'm just going to go with the flow until l see small children pointing in the street unable to believe what they are seeing.

 

This is not what l'm trying to achieve l want to be more like this

Cushion Corner

As promised yesterday here's a few pictures of the next lot of cushions l have managed to make -phew.
  They have both been made using the Cath Kidston Scarfs l embroidered the centre of the one with the flags on and the other l left plain but backed with the Cath Kidston Jubilee Fabric. 

l have also come a decision about relaunching my esty shop so watch out over the next few days for a bit of action.

Catch up.

It was a busy weekend with both our 25th Wedding Anniversary and DH 50th Birthday Celebrations so have spent the last couple of days just catching up with cleaning, washing and ironing and l managed to spend some time catching up with other peoples blogs. The only trouble is l come away with more ideas on things l can do.

l also seem to have become a bit of a Jubilee Freak and have finished a couple more cushions - Piccys tomorrow and just bought this cross stitch kit to do from here

and then if you too have the Jubilee bug have a look here there are some fab links and makes.

How the Mighty Fall - Hard

Friday was our schools day to celebrate the Queens Jubilee and as part of the celebrations the Deputy Lord Lieutenant was coming to plant the Jubilee tree which all schools had received from the Queen- not personally, one of her minions must have grown it. So much deliberation as too what to wear went on and l decided on a loose tunic and my brand new light weight trousers. Can you see whats coming - well looked fine, everything fitted ,no wardrobe malfunctions - if anything my handbag was a little on the heavy side. Now you may see whats coming , yes l fell over taking the children to school, in the playground first thing in the morning, l went down like a sack of spuds and l jumped up like a startled rabbit and all l wanted to do was cry. l have managed to knock my knee up and am hobbling round and everyone thinks l'm a wimp (just wait till it happens to them)but worse than that my brand new trousers now have scuff marks at both knees. l blame my handbag l must have been badly balanced.

Well it does have plus side being laid up l managed to finished my embroidery from the Cath Kidston craft evening. l have made mine in a cushion using some of the Jubilee fabric l already had. One of the girls l went with also finished hers so l made hers into a cushion as well, we had to finish them otherwise they would still be in the draw until the next Royal event. We both added embellishments to them just to make them a little different. Here's a picture of mine

As Promised

l said l would share some of Sundays carboot finds so here they are - quality rather than quantity

These were all 50p so l couldn't pass them up - a ring tray,2 retro plates and a small shelf

A bit dearer £5.00 but a beautiful bowel better than the picture shows

Then here we have a vintage PYE radio £1.50, a box of retro table mats £1.50 and a vanity case for £3.50

This case is going to be my next project as inspired by teawagon tales and the tutorial here .

l have added a few pictures of cases that have undergone the fabric treatment. Fingers crossed l don't stick myself to the case as normally me and glue end up in a sticky pickle.

Don't you just love them

Summary of the Night

This Cath Kidston workshop was the best to date- the embroidery was simple enough for beginners and can easily be completed - if l get time (watch this space) Please pop over to Mel At home with MelMel as she has done a fab write up of the event and taken some great pictures of the store. This was my first time of meeting  Mel and l managed to spot the right person this time l normally approach the totally wrong one., Mel was there with her sister and it was lovely to talk to like minded people. l tried to ditch my own friends but l needed a lift home.

Today is another big day 25 years married - l know l don't look old enough - l was a child bride - l wish and l got .....................................

He knows me so well and that's why we have lasted so long, well that and he had money when l met him - this has long gone.

I did get some other presents and flowers but thought you would all be most jealous of the bag.

And now l sussed out adding youtube clips here's our song with the spoken bit(this was very important and had to be included when the song was played

To Night To Night ....

No not a song from West Side Story but to make you jealous that l'm off with Cath Kidston(not in person) on one of her instore evenings.

In honour of this l thought l would show you my 'Stanley' who recently became a member of our household.

Why the picture is so rubbish l have no idea.

l will post my piccys from tonight asap - only if it turns out.

If this works it is the song 'tonight' from 'Westside Story' - enjoy

Open Gardens

This is the time of year when the NGS comes into full force with people from all walks of life open up their gardens to the public. l love a look round other peoples gardens which can vary from the tiny yard upto acres. Well the nearest one to me open today was one l had seen a number of times so l decided to have a year off this then gave me a free day and DH and l went off Car Booting(this will be another post) and on the way back we spotted a few cars parked and a small sign 'Stop l shouted Open Garden' l can sniff them out where ever we are. l was right it was a private garden open for charity. What makes this garden so much more special is its location - a cottage on its own on a main road surrounded by industrial units!
Once through the gate this is what you saw ........

 This is a small Loch Ness Monster complete with smoke coming from its mouth.

Love the summer house retreat

We even bought some plants and had a cup of tea with cake. This garden was about 3 miles from home and l didn't even know it was there.
I'm sure they will open again so watch out for Sycamore Cottage, Carrington Manchester well worth a visit.