A REAL 'COUNTRY LIVING' DAY! AND KITCHEN WINDOW NOSINESS!!

Ever have one of those days when you think quite possibly you have stepped into 'Country Living Magazine' style living. When ladies spend all their days either creating wonderful crafts/food/gardens and happy healthy families - never an ironing basket/mountain to be seen?

Well I had one today -didn't even put the washing machine on!

I finally made time to repair and paint my garden seat - summer is nearly upon us folks!

And played about with throw and spare cushions 'a la' Country Living! Last years cushions were so grubby after the dog had run off up the garden with them, I put them in the dustbin!

I must find some more interesting ones at the car boot sale - a girl cant have too many cushions!

Yes! these cushions definitely look too Bedroom-y! if you know what I mean.

Here's a little photo of the Toadstool panel thingy I started last week.

As you can see its turned into a little cushion, with the help of a bit of sexy pink silk! I put a little rose petal scented sachet in there too.

I even had time to make some biscuits - found a great blog (if you are into Green/thrifty stuff )

Greenlaces.blogspot.com/ - take a look, great recipe. I found this really easy

basic biscuit recipe, just had to try it! So easy - I cant do with fiddly complicated recipes. I put peanut butter in the mix - yummy! I tell you Domestic Goddess or What - today!

Now for the germ of an idea!

As I stood at my kitchen sink - Yet Again! I was idly wondering how many hours we must spend stood in this very spot. We must spend more hours looking at the view from the kitchen window than any other!

So I took a photo of my window view, and thought it would be interesting to see what other bloggers saw as they did their daily chores. Would it give an insight into others thoughts and ideas? I know my mind turns to idle creative thought whilst I do something as mundane as washing up! Perhaps it will be interesting - or are we just nosey!

Do you want to take up the Kitchen Window Challenge?

Window view - my little Summer House at the top of the garden, the garden is just comming to life, all those fresh green colours. Lovely

CATCHING UP!! A LOTS BEEN HAPPENING!

I have been Tagged!! My first - so here goes :-

I have been tagged by the lovely April ~ Cake makes the World a better place.blogspot.com/ ~

Rules

1). Name and URL of person who tagged you.

2). post the Rules.

3). Write 7 things about yourself.

4).Name 7 favorite blogs.

5). Send email to 7 blogs to say that they have been Tagged.

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Seven things about myself? Are there so many things that could interest anyone?

1) I was born and raised in Lancashire (I'm Lancashire Lass!) and grew up roaming the sometimes bleak, but beautiful moors.

2) After school I studied Agriculture - Yes! I can milk a cow, birth a lamb!

3) We grew up as I said on the 'wild moors', I can remember bring very young, when we had

to carry water from a well, we didn't have electricity until I was 12yrs old. It has had a

profound effect - my upbringing has given me a certain 'Make do and Mend' mentality!

4) I treasure my skills ~ Sewing, Baking,Gardening and all the other little domestic things we

do everyday,these skills were taught to me by my Grandmothers and Mother who I no

longer have, but the memories are there to treasure.

5) I am a 'Big Girl' always have been, so have developed a dress style which I feel comfy in

which involves a lot of homemade and revamped clothes.

6) I hate 'shopping' - for things like food and especially anything that involves going into

places like Argos!

7) I wear Chanel No5.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seven favorite blogs - that's a hard one, there are so many!

Twiggy pea sticks

Nostalgia at the Stone House

Posy

Sykesssillysite

Cakes Make the World a Better Place

Sea Angels

Lucy Locket Recycled her Pocket

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Look to your Emails to see if you have been Tagged!!!!

Look what Else! I am looking forward to a little something from Josie at Sykesssillysite - I won her Pay It Forward. It must be my turn to do a little for you nice, lovely yummy people who keep reading my waffle! So if you would like to leave a comment on this blog, I will draw names out of a hat, and the winners will receive some nice goodies!! Every girl so likes getting nice little parcels!!

I will make the draw a week from today ~ 9th April!

Just a bit about sewing machines!

This is my little beauty! I have had so many comments and emails about my sewing machine I thought I would post some photos. This is the machine I use for all my sewing, as I said earlier, we had no electricity as a child, so I learned to sew on treadle machine. Dad bought me an electric Singer for my 18th, and I made Wedding and Bridesmaid dresses on it. I still have it - it works just fine 27 years on! But the treadle - Oh - I suppose it is all about memories, the gentle whirr, the easy control, the beautiful engineering - and with care it will sew anything!

The one in the picture above I found at a carboot sale, the man selling it had been taught to sew on it by his Grandmother -how he could sell it I don't know! (Men - a breed apart!). I took it home for £7 and gave it some TLC, and she serves me well. Curiously I don't have a name for her. She is a Singer made in 1926 - just imagine the tales she could tell, what she must have seen and made!

The other little machine on the windowsill is another rescue from a carboot (sold or skip'ed that was the option). She is a hand operated machine made in 1891 - imagine being over 100 yrs old and still working just fine! I actually do have others - but I have to keep them out of sight, Hubby hasn't twigged to the scale of this addiction!




This is just a little 'find' I uncovered at the weekend. Not a very good photo I'm afraid - the camera flash reflected off the black silk. It is an adorable little purse 20's I think, black pleated silk with a diamante clasp, it still has its original bevel edged mirror inside. I thought I would keep my vintage earrings in it - on display so I can look at it everyday - is that sad?

And Now Its Raining - Again!!

The day started wonderfully well! I received this beautifully wrapped gift from Twiggypeasticks! Almost too pretty to open! So exciting! And a lollipop too!

Carefully opened, the goodies revealed! A sweet little cushion with little heart shaped trim - I shall use it as a pin cushion, so that I can keep it on my sewing table to remind me of sweet friends. And of course to the 'button addict'- the buttons were to swoon over!

Thank you so much Twiggy -You Made My Day!

Look how sweet my little cushion looks on my sewing table!



I thought you might like to see my latest little find - I don't expect you to be too thrilled if you are not a sewing fiend! But if you are you can imagine my delight in finding this felt (50p/piece) in such vibrant, pretty colours - I nearly snatched the ladies hand off!
Of course Hubby makes the usual remark of 'What are you going to do with all that?' - silly question! Must be something wonderful to make from it, just like the hoards of other materials I have - stacked everywhere!




I had seen a nice painting on Etsy of Toadstools - No - I resisted buying it! Anyway the toadstools were in similar colours to my felt, so I thought I would have a go at Toadstools - this is the panel sort of half done, I thought I would add some simple embroidery to jazz it up a bit.




I will have to do something with the panel - not sure yet - maybe a small cushion or a little bag - Will keep you posted. Felt is so easy - it doesn't fray!

I started yesterday painting the conservatory (with wood preservative stuff) - it was so warm yesterday the stain stuff was steaming as I put it on the wood! - I had to wear my sun specks! So I got up today all Gung Ho -ready to gloss the window frames - and of course we are back to winter and lashings of rain! I have done a bit - between the showers - I know I shouldn't in the rain, but I do so want to get it out the way then I can play in the garden (I've spent sooo much on plants and summer bulbs (Ebay - you can buy anything!), I dare not tell how much - its a bit embarrassing! - My One Weakness!




Yes! I painted around the pots - typically female thing to do! Who has time to fiddle about taking things down, no one can see behind!



Even Uncas the dog is fed up with the rain!

Flowers and Friperies from the Home Front

These delightful little flowers always cheer my garden at this time of year, they come as the

Daffs are fading, but before the Forget-me-nots and Tulips!

They are Welsh Three Cornered Leeks - initially I had them in my herb garden, but as with the

way of things, they have spread throughout the garden!

As you can see they are a very fresh pretty white bell shape, bit like a Bluebell. They can be used as are chives, but they have a more Leek-y taste, just a few in a salad is nice.

As you can see they they don't grow very tall - ideal as a edging to herb beds and whatnot. They grow like wildfire, from the smallest cutting - they come from small bulbs.

If anyone would like a little slip/cutting (a little bit of Wales) just email me with your address and I will put you a slip in the post - they should travel ok.

I do like to have a bit of the unusual in my garden ~ a challenge to see if it will grow!

I thought I would introduce you to Clara (Clara Bow), I made her from an old dressmakers

dummy, binding her with old cotton sheeting, and covering her with scraps of vintage fabric.

I wanted a 'proper' display dummy - but just hadn't the money for the ones I liked, so in good

old Blue Peter style! - I made my own!

She even has a Vintage Fur stole to keep her warm - the Fur was my Mothers (when it was PC to have such things) I remember when I was very young, my Godfather bringing this Fur from New York! I remember thinking it was a wonderful thing - that he must be very rich!
Of course Mother had little opportunity to wear it ( her not being a fashionable starlet! - just an ordinary hardworking Mother of three!) so it stayed wrapped up in the back of the cupboard!
At least now it gets an airing, and looks the part along with my other treasures!


I started taking these photos to get some good shots of recently found goodies to put on Ebay - its so easy to get carried away!
This little vintage outfit I found on Sunday - Its What? Flower power meets Gypsy? I thought it very pretty - very tiny size 10 ( I should think I could just about get one leg in it!). Hopefully it will delight someone and find a new home.
It upsets me to think a lot of the Carbooters - especially the House clearance people just put what has not sold in the rubbish skip! Needless to say this is why I end up with so much stuff!




This is a pretty enough Apron, but what interested me was its larger size! Being bigger I am always on the lookout for larger things - just because we are bigger doesn't mean we don't like pretty things!

Again a pretty Apron, reminds me of what Grannie use to wear. I liked the Blue - often flowery

/Rosy prints are all pink in colour.

This is quite Retro - a bit different, I have had this for a while, but I have that many I have to let some go every now and again!

This seemed a bit French Cafe to me!

Have a Good Day!

Award ~ Technology mastered at last!

At last! I have managed the technology - to put the Award up here on my very own Blog! The Award being an Art Y Pico award given by Twigy at http://Twiggypeasticks.blogspot.com/- thanks for that, I am so thrilled! So, to paraphrase the info on Twiggys blog - hope you don't mind hun......
The definition of "Arte y Pico" (Art & More) is an award that is given to bloggers who share their art and creativity making their contribution to the blogger world.
Now I have to :
1)Pass it on to 5 more bloggers who deserve this award for creativity, design and interesting materials as well as their contribution to blogland.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) To show these rules.

And my award winners are....

Sea Angels

Sykes silly site

Alice the Pixie Alien

Nostalgia at the Stone house

Lucy Locket Recycled her Pocket

**CONGRATULATIONS! **

An Award! How wonderful! and Pretty Easter Crafting!

How wonderful!! An Award -for Me!

The Darling Twiggypeasticks has Awarded me the Art+Y+Pico Award - I must Thank her Sooooo much - I am thrilled!

More of this once I have mastered the 'putting it on my blog' bit. I am sure it is easy once you know what to do! Any advice most welcome!

Had an awful day (stressful) with trip to the Drs with son No3 - it resulted with him being admitted to hospital, and you know how long winded these admissions can be, endless questions ( I know they need the information) -but its so tiring!

We've left him there- its surprising how much braver he is with the pretty nurses! ( he is 22 but still like a 7yr old with his Mum!)

Anyway on to something more interesting and fun - glad I did these yesterday ready for Easter it looks like I will be tied up at the hospital for a day or two. These are my chocolate Easter Bunnies. I took lots of photos - I like to look at lots of photos, especially when people are crafting - it gives me ideas and inspiration!

And I think, sometimes enviously - 'where did she get that fabulous trim' or whatnot!

Little Bunnies out of the mould, resting on a beautiful hand embroidered tray cloth that Hubby found this week in a Charity shop - I have him well trained!

I wrapped the Bunnies in some clear cellophane and tied with a bow.

And here are the little cheery bags I made earlier in the week, filled with Choccy eggs and chicks!

All the goodies on the table, mostly found at carboot sales and charity shops - and squirreled away to add fun and frolics to fabulous fripperies!

An Easter Basket for my little nieces - the nice choccy gifts wrapped in vintage paper bags and

tied with a bow!

Just a little couple of pics of the bag I was making last week - using the vintage 'Beano' comic

characters.

I made it quite large, with long handles so that it can be used as a 'shoulder bag'. I thought it might appeal to students to carry their work, or any other of us who hark back to those comfortable days of curling up with a good Comic!

'Desperate Dan' on one side, interior lined with 'Comic' fabric and little pocket, for phone/purse.

And 'Denis the Menace' on the other!

Bag 'body' is made form a vintage dark grey woollen blanket, and trimmed with red braid and one or two vintage buttons! just for fun!

I would like to offer this bag for sale here - to others who appreciate the different and quirky! It would be nice to see it go to a nice friendly home. For sale for £20 inc post and packaging in the UK (please contact me for postage to other destinations)

Please feel free to contact me for more information. Anglesey_Allsorts@hotmail.com

Treasure from deepest Anglesey!

What a pretty little collection of goodies, I am so thrilled with this little lot! I found these little treasures on Sunday at our local Carboot sale. It was freezing and a bit damp, so I was expecting to have a quick look around, pick up some bird seed and head home. But surprise, surprise people had made the effort, and with their vans cleverly positioned to shield the worst off the wind - lots of interesting boxes to trawl through!

Oh - and what goodies, a couple of vintage tins which are surprisingly clean and rust free - amazing colours which came through when I washed them.

The little picture of the Lady is an extremely proficient piece of work combining appliqued vintage felt (amazing colours) and embroidery. A lovely piece just needs a nice vintage frame! Although I might put her on Ebay for someone else to cherish - she doesn't seem to 'fit' anywhere here -I have been round and round the house propping her up here and there. Maybe this is not her journeys end!

I was painstakingly looking through a heap of fabric and doilies when the stallholder (she was rather cold and tired!) said 'just take them all for a £1' - what can a girl do! - I came away with a bag full. Some are a bit ' run of the mill' but there are some really nice fine cotton ones too. Looking for projects to use up mountains of doilies now!

I thought this was a beautiful thing, I don't know how old it is - it must be 60s - it has a domed glass front with the black print on it, it is backed with hardboard, and fastened together with brass fittings and hook to hang it with. I particularly like our faerie folk so this really appealed to me, I will hang it in the conservatory with the other faerie things.

So pretty - how can people bear to part with them! There again not everyone is so obsessed with 'old dingy stuff' - as is often implied by some of my family!

This pretty bunch smell as nice as they look! There is such a nice little old man who stands every Sunday no matter the weather, he sells bird food, plants and great bunches of pretty flowers for next to nothing - no excuse for a girl not to spoil herself!