A Birthday Tribute

Today is our eldest daughters birthday, she has reached 30, 30 years old today.  I did think I would feel old having a daughter who is 30, but I have surprised myself I don't feel any different at all.  Any thoughts have all been truly focused on her and how she is feeling.  Victoria is a truly beautiful daughter both inside and out, a Mama herself now to our delightful Grandson Wilbur.

 

She came into the world fighting and  screaming and has continued to fight ever since for whatever injustice there is going on in the world.  She has achieved many things in her life including a Bachelor of Arts degree in  English Literature, then her Masters followed shortly after.  She has had some wonderful employment opportunities in Journalism, both at home and abroad.  She now runs her own company as a freelance writer, The Little Coywriting House.  If you were to ask her what she is most proud of she will always answer "giving birth to Wilbur".  A true Mama.

 

Happy Birthday Victoria, we are so sorry we can't be with you but we will see you at the weekend.  Have a wonderful day.

 

Horncastle Treasure

Got up this morning to rain, rain and more rain.  One of those really miserable days that was dark, overcast and unrelenting.  A car boot sale was therefore not on the agenda but we did need to get out of the house to blow a few cobwebs away and have a change of scenery.  So Horncastle it was, a perfect place to browse around on a rainy day, with the added bonus of lunch at the Café on the Bridge.

Horncastle is a market town in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, to the south of the Lincolnshire Wolds.  Many moons ago it was famous for its great Horse Fair, these days it is widely known as a centre for the antiques trade and dubbed "The Antiques Capital Of Lincolnshire".  As is normal for me I forgot to take the camera but take it from me it is quite a pretty place with some rather nice buildings.  We were actually looking for some chest of drawers for our guest bedroom but to no avail.  However I did manage to find a Singer tin, I think it is an old tool box.  It will make a welcome addition to my craft room.

My only other find was The Country Diary Book of Crafts, which is an absolute delight.  I have had this book before but it was in very poor condition so it was a dream to find it in perfect condition for just 50p.  A real treasure.

The water colours depicting each month are a sheer delight, along side patterns of crafts such as knitting, crochet, patchwork and quilting, dried flowers, lampshades, tatting, embroidery, tapestry, applique, dressmaking, rug making and toys.  The pictures shown are from the month of May and are exquisite.   The photographs do not do the book justice.

 

All in all, a very nice morning out with the added bonus of spending some lovely time with my dear Mum and a cream scone of course!

Vintage Pattern

This weeks pattern I am going to showcase is a Woman's Day Pattern, which also included the magazine cutting from May 1949.  It was a holiday find in a thrift store in the Mount Dora area, bought for a mere 50c.  It is a 7 piece mix-match pattern consisting of 2 skirts, 2 pairs of shorts, a bolero, a halter bodice and a blouse.

The magazine article is written by Margaret Parker Gary and is photographed in Bermuda by Leombruno-Bodi.  It is a 4 page spread which I find quite fascinating just to promote a pattern.  Imagine the costs of that sort of advertising campaign these days. 

 

I love the photographs, for me it sums up completely the essence of the era.  My particular favourite is the one shown at the arrival of the Pan American Clipper in Bermuda.

 

I don't think I will ever make anything from this pattern, but for me it is a great treasure and will be lovingly kept in my ever growing collection of vintage patterns.  I say this so often but I do wish patterns could talk, imagine the stories they would be able to tell.

 

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Yarn Along

This week I have been recovering from a rather nasty virus, that leaves you feeling exhausted so not much to show either on the yarn front or the reading front.

After weeks of looking at a rug that I had made for the nursery, I finally sat and weaved in the ends.  I had hoped the fairies would come along and do it for me but they are obviously busy elsewhere.

I backed it with a rug liner to stop the slipping.  I won't know how effective that is until one of the little people come to stay (I mean one of my Grandchildren not one of the fairies!)

 

I had started a blanket for a new arrival but was not happy with it so that has been pulled.

I then went on to a striped blanket, which I am a whole lot happier with.

It is a simple project that I can pop in my bag and take anywhere, so once I am feeling a whole lot  better it will be a project I do alongside something else.  I am looking for a baby shawl pattern but as yet have not found one that appeals, any suggestions?

 

What have you got on your needles?  Joining in  withGinny at Small Things

Rag Rugging

Thank you so much for your concern and your lovely get well messages.  That certainly was some virus that seems to be sweeping the area and knocking people down like nine pins.  I am still not 100% but over the worst I think.

I really haven't done very much at all.  I tried to catch up with some DVDs but kept falling asleep and reading was quite difficult due to watering eyes.  I have browsed a couple of books in preparation for the winter.  I usually try to start a new project something that I have never done before.

 

My intention is to have a go at rag rugging to create a rug for my craft room.  The book suggests to use fine-knit recycled woollens and cottons.  I always have a big clear out during the summer months so will put garments aside for this project and add to the pile from car boot sales.  I can but try and if all else fails revert to plan 2 a crochet rug.

 

Hope you all have a healthy week.

 

 

EXHAUSTED

I have been quite lucky this year and have gone all winter feeling quite well.  The better weather starts to arrive, then disappear.  My body can't cope with all the changes, one minute the heating is on then we are switching it off.  Today, we have a raging fire in the stove, I just can't get warm.  The bug has bitten I am going to submit to it, do nothing and catch up with DVDs.

That is how I feel - EXHAUSTED!

 

Hope you are feeling a whole lot better than me.

 

Vintage Pattern

My choice of vintage pattern for this week brings back many childhood memories and also memories of when my own children were little.   The pattern is for a Blue Peter sweater.  Blue Peter is a British BBC children's show running since 1958, the year that I was born.  Does that make me vintage?

It gives the pattern for both a small galleon for junior sizes and a larger galleon for adults.

 

Although it has a nautical title and theme tune it is not a nautical show it is in fact a magazine type show.  A show still running today.  I used to love the arts and crafts (the makes) element of the show and still laugh at the "here's one I made earlier" catchphrase holding up a perfect example of whatever was about to be made.  Another of my childhood memories of the show was of Lulu the elephant messing on the studio floor, standing on John Noakes foot and then pulling its keeper off.  That clip is still shown today and still makes me smile.  My favourite presenter was Valerie Singleton, she was always so good on the makes.

 

My own three children used to sit and watch it every week and would always want to get involved in the makes and the garden.  My eldest daughter did get involved with a campaign to save the stars from light pollution.  There is not a lot I don't know about making things from old washing up liquid bottles and toilet roll inners.  Happy memories.

 

I never did get a Blue Peter badge, did you?