Wonderful Break

I am back from my wonderful break in sunny Florida and feeling quite well and relaxed.  I haven't done anything different on my return from any other long haul flight but as yet I don't seem to be suffering the usual jet lag problems, fingers crossed.  I won't bore you with all my holiday snaps just a few crafty highlights and a few foodie delights.

My first morning I had breakfast at the Boma Restaurant in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. it was a feast for all your senses.

 

It had to be done, you can't go to Disney and not have that Mickey Mouse waffle!

The Boardwalk Bakery was divine.  Of course we had to sample the goodies.  Yes they did taste as good as they looked.

 

                           

Afternoon tea at a wonderful English Tea room at Mount Dora, it was delightful and even had the tea cosy which made me smile.   But enough of food, I think you get the idea I am keeping away from the scales for a few weeks.

 

 What an amazing talent!  Words can not describe the beauty of this mans work.  I wish I had a suitcase big enough to bring it all back.  A wonderful experience to stand and watch at the Flea Market at Renningers Mount Dora. I did pick up a couple of things there but I will save them for another post.

 

We visited the Osceola County History Museum, what a delight a definite feast for the eyes.

 











 The Mount Dora Spring Show was another crafters and collectables delight.  Stall after stall filled with adorable goodies.

 

The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival was spectacular but photography was not allowed.

 

I will finish with the mouse himself........



 

Does it get any better than that?  It was the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival celebrating all things Spring.  Yet another experience for all the senses.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.               











 







Brooch Swap

I have arrived home safely from a wonderful holiday in Florida to a bleak misty morning in Lincolnshire.  However, a parcel has brightened my day containing a beautiful brooch and card from Ailsa at nettc.blogspot.co.uk/ as part of a Spring Brooch Swap organised by Jo at joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk/.

Both the card and the brooch are beautiful.  I wear a lot of cardigans throughout the year in various thickness's so it will be wonderful to embellish a plain cardigan and make it something very special.  Thank you very much Ailsa, it was a gift very much appreciated.

 

Unfortunately the photography skills do not match the wonderful skills gone into making the brooch, it looks so much better in the flesh.  Thanks too to Jo who organized the swap, such a wonderful idea.





 





The Luck of the Irish

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my work in progress in my last post.  I am afraid that they will remain as WIPs for some time to come as my wonderful husband has booked us a holiday.  We have had quite the whirlwind week, he booked the holiday last Tuesday and we fly out to Florida tomorrow for 2 weeks.  We have been busy with ESTAs, international driving licences and Disney restaurant bookings.  Exciting times.

I will leave you with this, a vintage postcard depicting the luck of the Irish in celebration of St Patrick's Day.

Mickey Mouse here I come!!!!!!





Crochet Works in Progress

I  must apologize for not showing you the completed wedding wreaths, my daughter hasn't seen them yet so it would be unfair to do the big reveal without her approval.  In the meantime you can see the components put together in preparation.

 

I have completed another 12 squares for the blanket, so  very much still a work in progress.

Slow progress I know but I got side tracked with another project I have started, a bedroom rug using chunky wool doubled and a size 10mm hook.  Not quite finished but very impressive, I really do like it.  Another stripe is needed and then once again the fairies to come and weave in the ends, so near to completion yet so far away.  Where are those fairies when you need them......????

 I have also decorated some hand towels to complete the new look.  I need to back the rug so it doesn't slip on the wooden floor, any suggestions with what?

Joining in with the CAL with Chrissie at chrissiecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ and Marianne at ladybirddiaries.blogspot.co.uk/.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has on there hook.











































Vintage Pattern (Afternoon Tea)

 What is better than a nice pot of tea.  With the onset of teabags and such busy lives we have nowadays, tea is made in the cup.  I much prefer a pot (with scones, jam and cream of course), pull up a chair and join me.  My vintage pattern of choice today is for a Tea Cosy and Tray Cloth, perfect for presenting the afternoon tea.  It is  Pearsall's Leaflet No 408, to be crocheted in Pearsall's "Phasian" Crochet Rayon.  Original price 3d.



 It is suggested you choose the lining to match your china or the colour scheme of your room.

In the same vain I am showcasing a Bachelor's Tea Cosy and Tea Pot Holder pattern worked in Strutt's Candlewick cotton.  The original price of leaflet no 2005 6d.



 Both of these patterns a snip at 30p each from a local charity shop.

Spring is in the air although not officially until the equinox on the 20th, so I have been busy making an Easter wreath.





 I love the little blue bells on the rabbits feet that jingle when you open the door and the colour of those pansies are divine.  A refreshing way to spend an hour or so.

Have a great day.

Arrival of Spring

Spring has arrived and so did this beautiful bowl of crocus.  A gift in the post from my grandsons little friend who I had made a dance bag for.

A total surprise but one so totally appreciated.  Now that spring is in the air, with that comes the spring cleaning and sorting.  I have a basket full of fabric that needs to be folded properly and sorted into colours for easy access, a job I have put off for weeks.

 

Today is the day - watch this space.

 

I have made another little bag to hold some gifts for a baby girl due shortly.  A polka dot outer, with Peter Rabbit pocket and lovely checked lining.  Finished off with a heart ribbon and maybe a heart button, I can't decide.

 

Hope you have a wonderful week.





Fabric Pots

I stumbled across a blog earlier in the week with a tutorial on making fabric pots which included the dimensions for making the pattern.  It linked to another site who I believe gave her the pattern.  The site is rabbithouselane.blogspot.co.uk/ and the post was Mon 17th Feb.

They are such a simple, delightful make, so thank you very much.  However they are so cute they could easily start to take over.

  One very quickly became two:



Two became three:

You got it, three became four:

I used interfacing, so that they would stand proud but it was suggested to use PVC, what a great idea.

 

They are great little pots that multiply very quickly and are ideal for storing those little bits.











 

Have fun with them, I certainly am.  Have a great day.