WHAT A NICE BIRTHDAY!!!

Yes! Its that time of year again when I just try to think of all the good years - just wish in a way they hadn't gone by so quickly!

But really - I have had a lovely morning with loved ones and nice thoughtful gifts!

And! great excitement - my Inspirational Summer Swap arrived all the way from Cleary in Florida.

As you can see its a beautiful little quilt of the amazingly cheerful colours, with a delightful embroidered little strawberry motif in the centre.

Quite the hand of fate that it should arrive on my birthday!

Thankyou so much Cleary - I love it!

Just a bit of crafty stuff - I thought you might like to see this. I bought this little daybed for peanuts at a carboot sale a while ago ( it was in a real state of disrepair - so sad!), any way I kind of recovered it, using all the oddments of vintage fabric I had - I wanted to make it all jazzy and full of life!
(sorry this picture is rubbish!)




Its been stored in the summer house for a while, but I have had a bit of a change around in the sitting room and made some room for it. Its great for storage too - I can get loads of fabric and whatnot in the base - Not that that is an excuse to buy more fabric, I am supposed to be being good!!





This was another exciting freebie this weekend! A friend of Hubby P's (another Shedhead) suggested he - Hubby P would need a cupboard for his shed, and off they went to look at old cupboards the chap had - its a Man thing. I thought nothing of it , until he arrived with this beautiful 40s sideboard - its a piece of utility furniture, so finely made with brass and pearl like handles ( I think they may be Bakelite).
And you know what! - it was just the right size and shape to sit next to my sewing machine, and hold all my sewing stuff -too ungainly for his shed!!! - not really a manly, sheddy kind of cupboard at all - shame!



Of course he agreed with me - it really was too nice to cover in old engine oil and paint, and he kindly handed it over. A true test of enduring Love! never mind all this red roses stuff!

It looks really well net to my sewing machine and it means all the unsightly stuff -half finished projects, and scruffy plastic bags of stuff you cant bear to throw out - are hidden away!

I even managed to save the old vintage lining paper - is that a step too far -too sad!!

Anyway going to do some more Birthday type stuff now!

Ta Ta for now xxx

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL T SHIRTS!

Just a Quick post to show you these - quick cheap and cheerful T shirts I have been making whilst watching 'Spring Watch'!

I found these T shirts in my craft cupboard ( I think they were left overs from when I use to do Family Art and Craft -T shirt painting, workshops), anyway I just made them a bit more interesting by applique-ing a Desperate Dan - for the Dads and a Denis the Menace on the child's T shirt.

Bit of a scary Denis I suppose!

Again a little Denis on 'Dads' bottom!

And a big hungry Dan on the front of 'Dads' T shirt - who ate all the pies?!!!!

I have just put them on Ebay - they wont fit anyone here, hopefully someone will enjoy them!

Ta Ta for now!

BITS AND BOBS! CATCHING UP!

Here is the little lampshade finished!

I did find the only drawback with using the buttons - there was a lot of gaps - nasty shade showing, so I filled these with some very PINK beads. I did have some photos of the shade with the lamp switched on, at night, but I trusted them to Hubby P who wanted to use the camera - and goodness knows where he has put them!

I think the effect is pretty 'full on' , but its different and pretty in its own way!

I must admit it was not wholly my idea - I saw a picture in a mag - it looked good I shamelessly copied it!

Just a couple of pics of the bag I made for the Summer Inspirational Swap! I sent it to Cleary , all the way to Florida. She has it now so you can see the pics!

I used a lovely little Vintage crocheted dollie, with summery flowers, and did some hand embroidery to compliment the wonderful crochet work.

Vintage finds at Sundays Carboot sale!
I thought this 50s style little mat set irresistible - especially at 50p!
The little floral pictures are just beautiful.


This is my Cutleaf Elder tree (Nigra - black foliage), just flowering its little socks off, and the flowers are a beautiful pink colour.



It grows up the side of my Summer house.
Hopefully now Hubby P has his shed, he can move all his car parts, which are stored in the summer house, into it - and I can have my Summer house back. Its great for escaping the house and people - just to relax and have a read, or snooze!



Update on the salad window boxes!
They are doing great, we pick from them for dinner every night. I think HubbyP is a little tired of the green stuff - but I tell him its doing him the world of good!!
And it tastes just great - so different to the tired shop bought stuff.




A little update for the 'Shedists' amongst you!
This is the Freecycle shed we got last week, its needed some bits of repair here and there, but its looking good. Just needs the roof on, and he can start filling it!





Ta Ta for now!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

I've been Tagged by Indigo Blue! - what do I do! - not done this before, here goes!!!

Rules first.
Answer 6 questions about yourself.
Then Tag 6 people and post their names, go to their blog and post a comment to ask them to visit here, and read the rules, and take part - if they would like/have the time!
Let the person who tagged you know then they can read the answers!

What was I doing 10yrs ago?

We were in the throws of trying to make our little cottage habitable. I was working with women and children who had experienced Domestic abuse, quite a stressful job but very fullfilling, I loved it.

5 things on todays 'to do' list!

* Washing and more washing.
* Change the beds - really exciting life I lead.
* Go to visit the Physio.
* Wash and press some nice new(to me) vintage hankies and tablecloths I found at the carboot(that reminds me I need some starch from the shop!
8 Make some elderflower champagne (pick the flowers and start it off in the fermenting barrels - the elderflowers are glorious!)

Things I would do if I was a Billionaire!

God forbid! - where's the fun in that! I would think it would be sooooo stressful - just give it to the kids proberably.

Places I have lived.

Lancashire
Lake District
Anglesey

6 People that I would like to know more about.

Suzy Sews
Warm Woollen Mittens
Anna Hat Junkie
Pipany
CieAngel's Haven
Blissed out.


Of to Physio now - wish me luck!

'THE HAT'! HAS ARRIVED!!!!!

Yes! Yes!! Its arrived all the way from America!

Well ? What do you think? I am thrilled with it - the very thing for 'Glamorous' Gardening!

Photo is not too good -well its hard taking a pic of yourself! No one around - all at work, and I did want to show you Anna's (hatjunkie.blogspot.com/) wonderful hat.

Button, buttons and more buttons!

I had friends to visit over the weekend - Ladysnail aka (theimaginationofladysnail.blogspot.com/) and Inspector Marmalade aka ( inspector-marmalade.blogspot.com ) -take a look - up and coming illustrators! Anyway 'fiendish' button enthusiasts!!! So we got to talking and looking at my buttons - well what else on a Sunday afternoon!

This led (as it often does ) to me wondering how I could better display my buttons. For a while I have been unhappy with a tatty old lamp/lampshade that I have on the table, and I remembered seeing a magazine article and picture describing the following - so I am in the process of - having a go!!

Its a simple enough thing to do, just stick um on with PVA!








I will let you know how it turns out - its got to be prettier than the original tatty old shade!


POPPIES!! BEAUTIFUL POPPIES!!!!







Just thought I would share these with you, they are such a wonderful scarlet 'splash'! in the garden.
Makes a Girl happy just to see them!! - of course its raining now and spoiling them!









Remember the little Golly Tea towels? I made one up over the weekend. Isn't he a cheery little chap! So very easy to do, almost crafty instant gratification.









He is sat/stood next to my 'find' of the weekend, a little hand pleated/sewn cushion. Its made of a brushed nylon (I know it sounds awful - but truly its not!) in a kind of blend of pinks and reds - bit like that seaside rock you used to be able to get.

Lets hope the rain stops soon, and we can get back out in the garden!


Ta Ta for now!

WHAT A LOVELY START TO THE DAY!!

I just had to share with you this lovely surprise I received this morning!

An exciting little package from Jennie at Falling Down The Rabbit Hole. Its soooo nice when you get something for YOU! - you know what I mean!

On closer inspection - after wrenching off the packaging in haste, this little chap emerged, he is just so delightful, and so wonderfully made! Thank you so much Jennie X

He tells me he likes the outdoors, so we shall have many an outing - he is small enough to ride in my handbag!

Thank you also for the groovy buttons and chocolate - guess what I had for breakfast!

Little bear smells wonderfully of Lavender - my favorite, how did you know!

Anyway hes not just little bear, hes called Flakey ( he is just the colour of a Cadburys Flake - and most Blokes can be kinda flakey!) - Why does it aways come down to chocolate or cakes with us! I swear we do subconsciously - its inbred in us!!

Flakey is going to sit by my sewing machine, all ready for the chance of an outing!

This is the GRIM bit!

Our old shed is in complete fall down mode - its been like this for ages, bu new ones are a fortune! I mean its not like its something important like an antique hand sewn quilt, sewing chests, or even news shoes - it only holds tools and Pauls 'vintage car' spares! So no he had to wait until I found him one within budget ( ha ha - what budget!). Anyway someone on Freecycle kindly offered us one. Well you would have thought we had won the Lottery!

What is it with Men and Sheds!

So now we are in full 'Pulling everything down with a BIG crowbar mode' - what a mess!

Hopefully this new shed will be up and sorted soon - and why does all the mess 'walk' into the house!!!

I was thrilled to find this Nursing chair at Carboot yesterday! Its almost a complete match to my 1940s suite.

Ta'ra for now!

A 'BITS AND PIECES' WEEKEND!!

Hope you all had a good weekend!

I just had to show you this!!*** such an exciting find!!**** and for just £1!

I had spotted the green metal soap dish (£1) and picked up thinking it kinda matched one that holds my 'Sunlight soap' on the kitchen window sill. The lady who's stall it was pointed out this WONDERFUL - tatty green painted shaving mirror, the mirror in tact and everything.!

I was so thrilled!!! -I know its so sad!

Anyway here it is on my kitchen window sill - for now! Just a bit creepy catching yourself in the mirror whilst washing up!

These are so pretty, I know you will appreciate them. They are Foil work pictures, and in such good condition - just flung in an oddments box! How they didn't get broken!

Pretty, pretty bonnet ed, crinoline-d young lady, picking flowers or fruit from a tree.

And pretty colourful parrots!

They are so pretty, but I just can't keep every thing so I have put them on Ebay, the rationing goes - if they don't sell they are JUST SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITH ME!

Now just a little peek at my Inspirational Summer Swap - don't look Cleary!!

Yes its green with summery flowers, that's all I am saying! Its finished so I will be sending it off - all the way to America soon!

See I haven't spent all my time in the garden - well it does go dark eventually!

ETSY!!!!!

I have been busy putting bits and pieces in my Etsy shop

(VickysVintage.etsy.com)

The reasoning being that if I am to keep buying like a mad thing, I have to try and MAKE! some money! Otherwise the sums wont work out!

This is just a little Native American Fantasy Dream Brooch/Corsage.

And a little Faerie Glade Toadstool Brooch/Corsage.

The photos are not too good, I am going to have some instruction from Rich (son) with this fancy camera! Not sure it will do much good - me and technology don't mix too well!

Hope everyone Else's Etsy is picking up, all we can do is stick with it, and mention Etsy to all your friends - mine are tired of hearing of the wonderful world of Etsy!!

Ta Ta for now XX