A new Make and Do book, this time not from my childhood. But it would have been right up my alley when I was about 9.
I think this caterpillar pencil case looks like a great idea. Just a little inanimate (for an inanimate object!). Could do with some perking up.
I've never come across a coal glove before. Is it as traditional as a stocking?
But I'm stumped by the reins for a baby doll!
Some great finds 'put aside' by my favourite rummage sale lady. She knows my taste!
The step-by-step cookery book is also a winner for some very homely cooking (though with rather too much offal for me!) and great Cornish Ware on the cover.
And some fantastic advertising. Who is Ethel Brice?*
*Edited to add: just worked it out - she's the author of the book!
It's been Cauliflower Cheese and Tuna Mornay Week this week, while Mr J has been otherwise engaged.
Too dark now take a pic of the Tuna Mornay tonight. I might take one of the remains in the morning. I've made enough to sink a ship!
grandmother gooseJoining in the whacky 'how they googled me up'. Here is a selection of the keywords used to get to my blog:
design your own netball uniform
brownie smoking badge (yes!)
tunisian orange cake (the most popular keywords)
how to make my house look nice n cosy (I get heaps of 'cosy' - sorry to disappoint)
hyena costume pattern (OK...?)
patternity (I was being cute with the title - I don't think my searcher was)
I took off my top (nice)
What's the news?
I'm watching the first season of Dexter. I think Michael C Hall is my new celebrity crush in a weird kind of way.
And I'm reading a book. (I know!) Actually, I've just finished reading a book. I have to start somewhere having not read anything for about a year. Also I've joined Good Reads which is a huge resource of information, reviews and general book chat. But I have to get into the practice of reading. My first book was Sushi For Beginners (chic/lit, rom/com): unchallenging and a bit of fun.
At the moment I'm reading The Gobbler by Adrian Edmondson. Also not very challenging but easy to get into and engaging: a soulless TV actor (think Hugh Grant) playing Richard III (think Black Adder) whose real life is a trainwreck. So far, so funny.
Grandmother Goose came from my grandmother. It hangs on the back of my door. I'm not sure if she made it. She was a great dressmaker and this looks a little like a school sewing project. So maybe one of my aunts did.
Isn't the internet the most amazing place? For me it has created connections in lots of places and so much creative inspiration.
I love Betty Jo Designs and when I saw this lino…
…at my friend's house just before its demolition, I grabbed a couple of pieces and sent them to Liz aka Betty Jo Designs.
And Suzi Sparrows is the result! Liz used some lino in the wing of the Suzi Sparrow brooch and sent it to me!
I absolutely love the brooch and put it on and wore it straight away. I will show the brooch to my friend. Now he'll now why I was so excited about the lino; he's an artist so will understand.
Note to self: Must learn to use this camera properly! It took nearly 20 shots to get a photo in focus. In the end, I took off my top and took the photo lying flat on the bed!
Come Home, Vol 7 2007 ISBN 9784391624090 I know there's nothing new in blogland about Japanese books but here's a little selection just received from YesAsia (which, by the way, is far too easy, convenient and beguiling!). Free postage, by the way.
I really like the fabric canopy hanging from the ceiling and this little smock dress.
children's rooms 'Stockholm', Jeu de PaumeI'm completely captivated by this moppet with her apparently self-cut (or maybe mum-cut) fringe.
I'm also quite fascinated by Nordic-land interiors and kid style.
Rooms for Nordic Kids ISBN 4767805813
I've had so many wonderful comments for my first blog anniversary, actually quite overwhelming!
I'm so glad to say that the winner of my giveaway is... Levin (and Emily) . Yay! Levin, I've sent you an email.
Thanks everyone for playing.
The scissors and pinking shears are completely unrelated, just part of my vintage sewing collection.
On the left are Henry Boker's Pinking Shears 'Made in British Zone Germany'. The large dressmaking scissors are made in the USA. The large pinking shears are Italian and branded 'Prodotto Ninci Comète 1948'. (I should get J to do some amateur translating for me.)
Dearest J brought home a Golden Book for me that he'd salvaged from lost-and-found. He thought it had been there long enough and knew I'd been thrilled to have it.
I am particularly fond of the final illustration.
Because I'm very fond of bed.
A good op-shop day: a large linen teatowel, a linen tablecloth, two gingham tablecloths and a fantastic tartan, woollen picnic rug.
Oh, and some marbles.
For J.
Just for fun.
Blue gingham apron, unironed
Orange flower apron
Clothes line photos are the best. I remember every time I do it but forget in between and then think (again) 'clothes line photos are the best!'.
I just can't stop looking at this fabric. It's one of five cafe curtains, op-shopped, of course. There is so much happening in the pattern that there is something to look at every time. They are thermal backed and in pristine condition. I reckon they'd be great as a bag. And if I was a skirt person!
I picked up a few secondhand children's books and this Hansel & Grettel (with a double-T) is my pick. The story wigs me out but the illustrations are great. It's published by Benwig Books (Slough: I wonder if they know The Office?) but there isn't a publication date.
In the text above, there is a very odd 'The' with the rest of the sentence hanging over onto the next page. Nothing bugs me more in text and seems really weird in a book.
Back home again with dad... what were you thinking, Father!?!
I received a fab bundle of fabric from Claire's giveaway plus this great postcard above (Tamago 2000); this is a fav fabric from the bundle.
And in the post box a bundle from Repot Depot.
All bargin bin purchases
I keep telling myself
And Mr J
It was such a good buy
And they're so lovely
And he knows it makes me happy
I wrote another nice long post at work. Of course I forgot to email it home. God forbid I should post it on the blog at work. I was schmoozing Mr IT to suss out if he’s checked my internet usages lately. I think he’s bogged down by the crazy children we work for who are oh-so techo that they don’t think anyone over 25 reads their My Space posts nor that their internet usage is monitored, tracked, recorded and disciplined! I think I’m the least of his worries. But now the moment has passed, the impetus is lost…
I’ll show a picture of this rocking tablecloth I found* this week instead: 100% rayon (important). Made in West Germany (exotic). Vinnies. Perfect!
*If you're in Adelaide go to the Prospect Road Vinnies. It's tiny but it's the neatest, cleanest, most perfect op-shop. Everything is neatly tagged and no matter what, I always seem to find something.
A visit to Hancock's of Paducah and a trawl through the bargain bin resulted in these fabulous fabrics.
I went a bit wacky for Dick & Jane (there's a whole lot more on back order)
Nothing better than a bit of See Jane run. See Dick run. Run, run, run.
