Thursday 26 April 2012

Never too young for vintage!

A few months ago I purchased this wartime magazine from Milly & Dottie

As soon as I opened the magazine I just knew this had to be knitted for a certain little person!

It was knitted in King Cole - Haze - Shade Apple 458. 

Saturday 21 April 2012

New look blog!

I don't know about anybody else but I do not like this new look.  The box is smaller, and the fonts, link and photo buttons can only be half seen!

Well.......I discovered that...........if you
1) click on the box with the little arrow next to you blog name, between an orange box and view blog box

2) click on POSTS this will take you to a page where you can edit etc.

3) same page find the box in top right hand corner that says all labels, next to that is a box with an empty box with a symbol, next to that is a tiny elongated box click on it and find 'Old Blogger Interface' click on that and VOILA!!

Not sure how long you will be able to do this but while I can I will be using it!

Thursday 19 April 2012

~ The Hussif ~

Thank you for the lovely encouraging comments you all gave me after yesterdays post. As Dee says things happen for a reason and I beleive that! 

My very first pattern for a Hussif can be found here and here


"Hussif or Housewife" traditionally, a folding bag or roll taken by men going to war in 1914 - 1918.

The Hussif is useful way to keep all your sewing equipment in hand.

This Hussif holds large scissors, embroidery scissors, rotary cutters, pens, pencils, patterns as well as needles and buttons.

Wednesday 18 April 2012

This is me! Just me!

I lost my job last Tuesday, but I haven't cried about it, well not much!  I had the job for seven and half years.  I am  getting over the shock of actually not having a job, and the disappointment of redundancy! But, girding my loins, (lovely expression that!) I decided last Wednesday morning that this was going to be the first day of the rest of my life............. Well that is what I chanted as I went to meet a friend for coffee! 

I designed myself some cards.
(click on picture to make larger) 
I was once taught how to restring pearls, (they have to be restrung in a certain way if they do not have the knots between each pearl) and. I was also taught how to knot the thread between the pearls too.  I have been knitting and crocheting since I was about six and taught myself to read patterns at a very early age.  I concentrated on the knitting and crochet patterns that were owned by my grandmother, but to this day I am still unable to knit circular shawls and tableclothes.  I have been making clothes since I was sixteen.

I am going to take a giant step and concentrate on pattern designing. I have been using fabric, knitting, crocheting and cross stitching for the last fifteen years and have had some success from selling them at the big fairs such as Creative Stitches and Crafts4Crafters.  For the moment you will be able to find my creations here.   I will somethimes sell the sample but otherwise I will be selling just the patterns

Monday 16 April 2012

MY BIRTHDAY - yesterday!

It was my birthday yesterday - after the week I have had.........
I thought we would have a proper party!
with JELLY and CAKE
I invited my two favourite people with their mummy and daddy.
They really cheered me up. 
The reason I needed cheering-up was because the shop in which I loved working for seven and half years had been bought by someone else before just Christmas and on Tuesday they made me redundant! 

Saturday 14 April 2012

The Afternoon to Remember!

This weekend is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
She sank the night of the 14th April, the morning 15th April    

About thirty-five years ago we met Eva Hart.  She was about 77yrs old when we met her.  We sat opposite her at a wedding reception, now please pardon the pun, but to break the ice she said I was on the Titanic!  The whole table stopped talking and listened to this interesting lady, who finished by saying I never saw my father again!  She was just seven years when this real life adventure happened to her. 


A few years ago, I think about the ninetith anniversary
I heard this on the radio, something completely different!










Thursday 5 April 2012

Wonderful Weather and Weekend!

Back in January I thought we needed a break!  I went ahead and booked a weekend away not knowing that was going to have my hours cut at work.  Well I thought never mind we'll just eat less!  I booked the break at a B&B on the internet, I knew the area quite well having always holidayed in the area as a child and then in the early eighties my parents built a house in the South Hams area.  So Hartburtonford was the place, central to three places Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Totnes.  Hartburtonford is the only place to stop for petrol, bit small to get out to look around, but like all small villages it boasts a church and churchyard, pub and village shop.  Our break was the on one of the warmest weekends in March, also the real reason for booking the weekend away was so I could visit the Vintage Fair at Totnes.  I was going to have a table but then realised I really did not have enough things to sell. 


The B&B was right on the bend of the main busy main road, I then hoped I made the right choice!  But, the view from our room was absolutely beautiful, We did not hear any traffic even with the door and window open, and not only a room with a view we had a door that opened straight on the waters edge, but we did think Health and Safety took it a bit far by announcing it was a door 
by showing us that it was the exit.................

We arrived on Friday afternoon so we could get up early on Saturday to go to Totnes, so that evening we drove to Dartmouth, one of our favourite places!  It seemed quite strange being back after about twenty years but really nothing had changed at all! 

Even the Seagulls like to travel in style to Dartmouth!
On Saturday we breakfasted then we travelled to Narnia Totnes for the Fair and to look round the town, oh and yes I did go back into the charity shops in case you were wondering.........!  I knew I would!! 

On Sunday, the morning was very breezy we went to Slapton.  A long road that stretches as far as the eye can see.  Freshwater on one side of the road and seawater on the other.
About twenty or so years ago this tank was pulled from the sea.
Sunday afternoon we visited Coleton Fishacre a National Trust property now but was once owned by the  D'Oyly Carte Family

On Monday was trains!  There are two stream railways in Dartmouth.  Dartmouth to Paington and Totnes to Buckfastleigh.  We chose to go from Buckfastleigh to Totnes and then walk the cycle track into Totnes.  We actually only made it to the outskirts of the town and had lunch in China Blue then strolled back to the station.  In the afternoon we looked round the shops and had a cream tea at Dartington.

A relief picture of Dartmouth on a wall of a building in Dartmouth.

These Owls were with their owner greeting people at Totnes Station
This pair of Ducks swam past our room every evening, but the female just did not want her photo too!!
There are more pictures here