Making Up for the Slight

Having "demeaned" my lovely Bibs friend in my last post (she knows I'm joking!) I have made her this garden bag, topped with the upcycled handle.  It's big enough to put all sorts of bits and bobs in, including Cassie-cat if she's naughty!

 Remember the plates from the Antique and Home Show? ...

 ... here they are again.  Lots more work on this pot to do, but it's coming on.

 While in the garden I took a couple more pics, including this pretty wall display ...

 ... and these mojitos in kit form.  Well, mint anyway.  It's really blooming this year.

 A bowl of yummy raspberries and redcurrants from the bushes ...

 ... are now hiding under crumble, to be cooked for our tea.  Mmmmmmmm!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and have a great week xxx

Drought? What Drought?

... she said as the rain cascaded down.  

Jasmine and I were in the park when the first raindrops fell but arrived home reasonably dry.  Five minutes later we were watching the back garden sail away in the flood.  On Wednesday, Bibbitybob and I were caught in a hailstorm of biblical proportions.  

I guess none of this is enough for the poor old farmers, though and it's such a shame that crops may be ruined by a real water shortage.  I wish much rain centred over their fields and lovely sunny rays over me!

Here's the previously-mentioned cushion, washed and restuffed, on my workroom chair.  Haven't tried it out yet for comfort: far too busy to sit down...

 Speaking of the lovely Bibs, I was appalled when she threw away an old handle from her wonderful enamel tub purchase at the Antique and Home Show!  It went from the ground to my holdall and thence to my workroom.  I stripped the broken cane wrapping, painted and distressed the worn handle and bound the sides with pretty fabric.  Now I need to think of something to attach it to.  Still can't believe you let something useful go, my dear, but thank you! :) 

Arthur Swallow Antique and Home Show

What a fab day!  My lovely friend, Bibbitybob, and I pottered off to the Arthur Swallow Antique and Home Show at the Lincolnshire Showground this morning.  As we walked through the gates we nearly wet ourselves with excitement at the ENORMOUS array of stalls, tents and generally treasure-strewn grass!  Every other sound we made was "Ooooooooooo!"

This lovely table and chairs had no chance of getting in B's little car and anyway I couldn't afford it!

 There were tons of fantastic old suitcases which would have housed my stashes beautifully if I could have bought them all.  It was too hard to choose just one - so I didn't buy any.

 The furniture below would create the most wonderful shabby chic freestanding kitchen. 

 Couldn't resist this pic of a weary stall resident!  I also would have loved that little tiny chair for Jasmine.  She would be a real princess, sitting on its French Blue velvet seat.

 And now to my actual purchases.  This lovely cushion is entirely embroidered in tapestry wool and will look great on my workroom chair after a gentle wash.

 Two very cheap plates, one broken before purchase.  Doesn't matter because I got them to make a rather fabulous mosaic.  The only thing is I haven't yet decided what to "mosaic" on ...

 A lovely bundle of lace and ribbon for £1

 I couldn't resist this printer's cabinet which was £15 and which I bargained down to a tenner.  Every drawer has a complete (but jumbled up) set of different size and style letters.   

 It's going to be a labour of love to sort them all out!

 I love things with French words written on.  This fairly modern, but attractively vintage-styled box of photo albums is a treat.

 Don't know whether to put family photos in, as per box title, or small papery craft bits and pieces. What would you use it for?

Do go over to B's blog to look at her purchases and lots more lovely photos

Craft Porn!

I would like to share with you a few of my recent naughty books and magazines...

Prints Charming

 This is such a gorgeous, bright printy book, rather retro and Marimekko but with the authors' very personal style.  There is also a cheeky pocket at the back with full size patterns in!

The French-Inspired Home

 

 I admitted a blog or so ago that I just had to purchase this book and behold! - yesterday it was on my doorstep like an abandoned baby, waiting for me to love it. (I do!)

Selvedge

 My two-monthly treat.  Not a cheap magazine but such lovely quality and fascinating photographs and articles.  This example is a piece about Orla Keily

Rowan Summer Knitting and Crochet Patterns

So into knitting at the moment.  Temptation overcame me and I bought this lovely pattern book at my last Knit and Knatter session at A Good Yarn.  Can't wait to start something new, even though I haven't finished my other piece yet!

I just don't know where to start with all this luscious porn, but I'm going to have to wait as, fingers crossed, I have an exciting day tomorrow ... !

Blog Award and My Lovely Day

Hello Butterfly,  I am nominating you for my

Award!

Do please take a look at 

Fashion, Vintage, Jewellery and Cupcakes

A lovely mix of all the above and who could resist someone with a partner called "Mr Fabulous"?

Butterfly, I believe the rules are that you now have to pass on the Award to someone new to blogging or with less than 100 followers, who has a blog you really enjoy.  You also have to list seven facts about yourself.  I look forward to reading them.

Now my lovely day.  It was so blueskysunny yesterday that Jasmine and I went down to the beach for a steam train ride.  She would have looked prettier on this pic if she had swallowed the piece of banana instead of showing it to the camera!

 This is the little train's engine.  It's a beautiful piece of engineering and makes a very loud HOOT when you're in the next carriage. There are two covered carriages and an array of open ones for people who like to get very windswept ears!

 Jasmine poised ready for leaving the station and studying the gravel for no particular reason.

 I would love one of these lamps in my garden!

Just a tree but I liked the pic.  Think I'll play around with the photo and see what I can create.

 This is an expanse of the beach further down from the most popular resort area.  It's quite bleak but much more interesting and natural. 

 In the afternoon, after we had corn on the cob, cheese and apples for lunch we visited the local park, just a couple of streets away.  How come children don't see danger where it is and nannies see danger everywhere it isn't?  

 

... and down safely!

I also unearthed my favourite summer dress from the loft.  I have had this dress for over twenty years and still it comes out bright and blooming as ever. Face hidden, however, as the sun shows the wrinkles up too much! 

 

Happy sunny day!

Sites of Frenchified Loveliness

My last post made me think of my lovely hol to Chateau Dumas, so I thought I would pass on a couple of websites regarding things I discovered at the textile course there.

Sewing notions don't come any prettier than Sajou.   Everything they sell is a tiny masterpiece of French vintage art and style.  Scroll down the home page a little and have a squint through the catalogue on the right.  Even the little thread cards and needle cases are amazing, and these are just examples of many sets.  

The second website is French General.  You wise old birds out there will probably already know this one but it's soooo pretty.  An American site, but with all the Gallic flair and charm  full of sewing stuff, jewellery, oddments and great inspiration.   

I think the lovely book, The French-Inspired Home by Kaari Meng, the owner of the company, is the bible of stylish Frenchness.  I kept meaning to buy it and, having just looked it up on Amazon for a good photo, somehow accidentally on purpose ordered it ... oops! :)

Have a lovely day, everyone! x