A Bits 'n' Bobs Week

Morning...

A day late with my diary update...we had a day out at the shops yesterday....the 2 of us shopping in town doesn't happen very often so it was a lovely change....then lunch at parents...all in all a lovely day :) so I thought I would make it a very lazy day and do my writing today instead...

On our shopping trip yesterday....I came across this biscuit barrel...and I just had to have it...a beautifully designed piece by Ashley Thomas....The Bakery...

 ...and the reverse side has the cutest little dog at the door....

It sits along all my other treasures perfectly and as it was biscuit week on the Great British Bake Off (one of my favs of course) we had Raspberry & White Chocolate Cookies...yummy!

My little moo cow milk jug perfectly holds two of the miniature roses from the rose bush my dear friend Yvonne got for me and its just flowering again for the second time this year...the pink of the rose perfectly picked up the pink in the biscuit barrel...a match made in heaven :)

The rest of the week has been like the title...a bits n bobs week...I have been dipping into different pieces of craft all week and I have to say the week went quickly...

Some of my little crafty parcels arrived from China so I was able to have a go at some jewellery making...I have done a wire craft class on one evening before and made a bangle which I was very pleased with...but actually making something from scratch, with thread and findings was a very new experience....so after a few views of videos on YouTube off I went....I love Turquoise and have wanted a bohemian style chunky necklace for some time...I have seen them on TV but have never been able to buy just what I wanted in my head....so the answer was to have a go myself...I bought the 'findings', stones and centre pendant all separately...with clumsy hands...and the need for my glasses (goodness some of the findings were so small!) this was the result....

 

 

...and I love it...it was just how I imagined it in my head...the combination of silver and turquoise...beautiful :)

 

I'm always putting my glasses down...I only need them to read or for very close work...so I also made a little holder for them so I know where they are....

 

They can hang contented around my neck and this way I don't feel so old as they seem a bit more trendy....ha ha...

I'm still collecting my white feathers for Xmas when out on my travels...the grey ones I gave a bit of spruce up....they haven't photographed that well...they look much brighter in the flesh...but I'm thinking maybe metallic paint would be better than paint pens...I will use these on a dream catcher when I get around to it :) ...

 

As for the garden this week...apart from my beautiful pink roses....there was a stunning creamy rose which was just as perfect....and the sweet peas....well they have been working over time...I've had around 4 really good bunches this week...so the house is still full of that heavenly fragrance...much to the annoyance of my Dad...he gave me the six plants he had left over...mine have flowered and flowered and Dads...well lets just say they are compost now :((

And now we get to my real passion...crochet...I'm still gently working on Patchwork Blanket...its nearly finished...I'm just doing the last of the joining seams and then just the border to go...and low and behold...I know what the border is going to be...yay...that will be a first!

 I'm loving the way the colours are 'popping' out now they are framed with the white...

From Pinterest this week...these bags are my favourite...made from embroidery on vintage tablecloths and napkins...such a clever idea...I see these vintage tablecloths all the time at the Antiques Fairs and they are always very reasonable...so next one I go to I will be picking some up...I think I could manage to make one of these bags....a great bit of recycling of vintage pieces that aren't perfect anymore :)

 

Photos taken from Pinterest

 

 I'm going to make a little plea now...I hate doing this but...I need more followers on the Facebook page of my blog...so I would be really grateful for a like and a share to get the numbers up...I promise I will not fill up your timeline with rubbish...I just post the link to my blog on there...the link can be found in the text under the next photo...thank you in anticipation :)

 



Facebook Page for Florrie May51 Diary blog

So to the vintage photo for this week....this is so true of me...and made me laugh out loud...

I am guilty of not always telling the whole truth about what I have stashed away...let alone the costs... :)

And my quote for this week is....

Have a great week...enjoy everything you do...most of all have fun....xxxxx

 

Patchwork Love

Morning...
 
Feeling bright and breezy today....the sun shone all day yesterday and it seems more of the same today...so far...yay! Its amazing how different you feel when the sun is out :o)
 
This week seems to have gone so fast...I'm in love with my patchwork blanket...so pretty and summery
 

 
This is the first half all joined across...I have been gently carrying on with the rest of the little squares...it has been so calming and therapeutic making these....as I promised myself I haven't rushed...I've just enjoyed the process....
 

 
only another 28 to do....I should finish those today...then the fun of putting them altogether and deciding on what border to do...and whilst I'm doing that...my mind will be drifting off to the next project...not sure what it will be yet....I'm thinking of....wait for it....NOT doing a blanket next!!!  With this one I have a nice little pile of 5 blankets so maybe I should sell those before I make another....but knowing me there will be another one on the go before long :o)
 
Hubby has been at work a lot this week so Puppy Dog and me have had to do with our own company...It was my Moms Birthday this week so...we all had lunch together on that day and yesterday we had a day trip home to enjoy the beautiful weather in my parents gorgeous garden....
 

 

 

Puppy Dog on patrol...keeping the pigeons at bay :o)

 

 

I promised to show you my Charity Shop finds...I love Charity Shops....I cant resist glass, pretty china things or pretty crockery...

 

 
Top left are six beautiful champagne coups...heavy lead crystal for £5!!!....top right a stunning little 1930-40's pressed glass little vase 49p!!!...bottom left the most gorgeous vintage jug...as soon as I saw this I was in love...a bit pricey I thought but I had to have it at £4....and lastly a lovely lead crystal preserve jar...it doesn't have a lid...but when we have scones and jam it doesn't last long enough to need a lid for £1...so all in all I was a very happy bunny :o)
 
These are photos of them in use...immediately :o)
 

 
 

 

I couldn't resist these amazing pink gerberas from the shops yesterday!

 

 

When we go on a our daily walks I am always picking up little treasures....wild flowers to press...seed pods (just because) and feathers...I love feathers...now here in England we don't have exotic birds so mainly the feathers to be found are white, grey or black...I now have quite a jam jar full...I had seen some pictures recently where someone had beautifully decorated feathers using pens...so I am going to give that a try and use them for a dream catcher...but I thought I would see if you could stamp them...and you can...

 

I thought these would be great for place settings...or as gift tags...so I'm on the look out for more and more white feathers to use as gift tags for Christmas :o)

While scouring Pinterest (I'm an avid Pinterest user ~ Florrie May Pinterest ) I found this photo of the prettiest tea cosy's and I had to share them with you....

Over the next few weeks I hope to making some jewellery...(yet another weakness of mine!!) I have excitedly ordered components...and as most of it comes from China (its cheaper and you get loads more)...and it takes a long time to arrive (the downside to ordering from China) I'm eagerly awaiting the little parcels to pop through the letter box :o)...so something else for me to look forward to making...

Well I was wondering what I was going to write about this week as it didn't seem as though I had done much and thought I wouldn't have much so say...but as many will testify I can rattle on about nothing for ages!!! Ha Ha

The vintage photo this week....is something I remember very, very well from my childhood....

...the Coal Man...I remember the weekly or fortnightly delivery...in the first house we lived in when I was very little we had a coal fire and a coal house off the kitchen...and now that we don't use coal anymore...how useful are those coal houses now for storage!!

Well I will leave you as Puppy Dog is giving me a not so gentle reminder (putting her nose under my arm and lifting it away from the keyboard) that it is time to go and play ball over the field...

Have a great day....and a great week...enjoy everything you do...xxx

 

 





 

A Gentle Quiet Week

Morning All,

Has everyone had a good week?

It has been a gentle...quiet week here...no drama's...its just plodded along lovely :)

This week has seen two celebrations....the first....puppy dogs 2nd Birthday...I cant quite believe she has been with us for 2 years!! Seems like only yesterday she turned my house upside down!!! Ha Ha

The second celebration....my parents Wedding Anniversary...wont tell you how many years....but when you see this weeks vintage photo...which is of me...you'll be able to see that I'M Vintage these days!!  I like to make my own cards if I get inspiration....I don't have loads of dies to make cuttings...but I do have my new stamps and pens..... :) so after a little bit of colouring in...and some gold stamping...this is the card I made....and they loved it....Mom has put it in a little frame...bless :)

My patchwork blanket is still very much a work in progress...I decided to just take my time...pick it when I felt like it...lately I have been racing through every project...but I'm enjoying doing it at a slower pace...and....I've got more housework done!

I've taken Hubby and myself in hand this week...we had news that another one of our friends had been unwell....and unfortunately we are getting to that age...so as from this week...we are taking supplements (spent a fortune!)...eating more healthy.... and I'm going to start doing my yoga again...we both need to lose some weight (ha ha don't hold your breath)...so we'll see how we fair over the next few weeks :) 

The Sweet Peas from the garden have come to a standstill this week...haven't been giving them time to produce more flowers...so had to buy flowers for the first time in ages...and oh how I love pink roses.....

 

....a bunch in the kitchen and one in the bathroom....so lovely :)

This is this weeks charity shop find....a Yankee Candle glass shade....£1.99 sits beautifully on my candle...bought for me by my dear friend Dot when I had my operation :)

I took a trip out to the big charity shop local to us yesterday and purchased more....but I'll show you that next week as I've not cleaned them up yet :)

So as you can see...a gentle...quiet week...not much happening at all....but all the ideas I have floating around I'm sure the following weeks will be a bit more crafty...I hope so anyway :)

This weeks vintage photo...is me :) on a day trip out and about...

 ....just love looking at old photos......

I will leave you with this weeks quote....

Have a lovely week all....make each day special and visit your "Happy Place" often :) xxxx

Sign found of Pinterest

 

Joyful Parcel

Morning All,

Well if this is Summer its a wash out! That's all I'm going to say on that subject as it really gets me down....we need some SUNSHINE!

This week I have finished my Hydrangea Blanket....I had decided to put a wide border on each end....so needed to make a separate border for the finishing end as all the pattern would have been the wrong way round if I had just carried on....I just had to stitch it on to the main blanket and I worked perfectly and you cant even see the join :))....(chuffed face)

Then the exciting bit of the week.....my new delivery of wool....you may call me sad...but as all yarn crafters will know...a wonderful, new delivery of woolly gorgeousness makes me very, very happy...I can drift away dreaming of all the new projects that will come out of this cardboard box! :)))

Having split the wool into separate piles....the top left is the new project I'm working on...more about that in a minute....top right is next in line but not sure what that's going to be yet (well I mean 'not sure which pattern blanket it will be' ha ha) and the Drops wool...well that is on sale till the end of July at WOOL WAREHOUSE so I had to try some and I loved these colours...so subtle and vintagey...these I have no idea about....they are just STASH :)))

This is my new blanket....Ive worked out im going to need at least 300 of these gorgeous little squares...and it is such a lovely thing to work on....they build up quite quickly...

I had been looking at some ideas on Pinterest and decided I wanted to do squares again...but different from before...then I remembered when I was shopping the other day I was very tempted by lovely little piles of fat quarter materials....why I don't know....as sewing is not my thing...but I thought I could manage a patchwork quilt...well in my head I thought I could do it...the only sewing I can manage is straight lines, cushions, bunting, I've even made curtains...but did I really want to dig the sewing machine out.....nah....so I decided to do a patchwork blanket with little granny squares and I'm loving it :)

The cushion on the chair in the photo is one of my creations...ha ha....it is some vintage material I bought whilst on holiday last year from a charity shop for £1 I loved it straightaway but as sewing is not my forte I wondered what on earth I would use it for...but I couldn't resist it and stashed it away in my craft cupboard until a couple of months ago...I found out an old cushion for the chair but didn't like the cover....then I remembered my piece of fabric...I have to hold my hands up at this point...I didn't make a cover...I just wrapped it around the cushion to see what it looked like...I liked it...Hubby didn't...in fact he hated it...but I told him I'd leave it there a bit and see if it grew on him and it did....but its still just wrapped around the old cushion...ooops!

As for none crafty things....the flowers from the garden are still performing beautifully...I currently have 3 little vases of sweet peas brightening up the place and this week I have a rose too...its only just coming in the bud but couldn't resist taking one :)

I purchased a little lavender scented candle...for 2 reasons....a) I thought it might help me drop off to sleep...b) the jar was so cute!  I'm happy to report that it has indeed helped me drift off the sleep a lot easier...so happy on both counts...and I needed it on Wednesday night...I looked at the Health Lottery results and we had 3 numbers...happy days a cheeky £20...then I looked at the two other numbers that would have given us a win of £100,000 we have number 7 and 35 and number 6 and 36 were drawn :(.....soooo close I could almost see a new house on the horizon but it wasn't to be...

Well I've rabbled on long enough now...here's this weeks vintage photo...well its a very special one...its of my Mom and Dad back in the day....its their wedding anniversary next week...so its in their honour :)

I just adore my moms skirt :)

This weeks quote.....

Have a lovely week all....enjoy whatever you are doing xxxx

Granny Square Heaven :)

Good Morning :) Hope you have all had a great weekend

Our weekend was spent in the garden putting up new fencing...our neighbours are away on holiday so we could make lots of noise....

This week has been a bit quiet on the crafting front...its been a week of catching up with my bestie, I just love going to her home...not only is it absolutely gorgeous she always has lovely food on the go...yummy...she is such an important part of my life...more family than friends...she is my Reiki Master so I always feel so much better after a visit...and she's always got just the right wise words...

I'm still working on my Hydrangea Blanket....but it is nearly finished...in fact I think it may be finished today! Hoorah...as my new order of wool should arrive tomorrow....yippee happy day!  I've ordered lots of stash from Wool Warehouse ...my go to website for lots of woolly loveliness :) they are soooo good, very reasonable prices, good selection and excellent service :) cant wait for my order to arrive...I have sort of decided what I'm going to do...but things my change....

My new book came this week...its fab I love it...so many squares, so little time ha ha

This is a selection of my favourites already....

There's a nice section on blanket designs too....

My inspiration comes from all sorts of places, but mainly from nature...but items, photos, pictures even carpets or wallpaper...for my new order of wool one has been a new notebook! Sometimes it's an idea to use a colour wheel...

It helps you decide on shades....

This shows you which colours compliment each other...but you might like to mix things up a bit...go colour crazy......:)

I use my swatch colours a lot too (there's a picture of that on the side of my blog and in an earlier post)

Sometimes I'll use this website and their colour combo tool.. Granny Square Colors ..you can get an idea of how the colours will look together...but sometimes you just have to go with the feeling you get...just enjoy immersing yourself in a colourful woolly wonderful time :)

Other things that have brightened my days this week....

The gorgeous Sweet Peas from the garden...they just keep giving and giving I have had so many little bunches of gorgeousness over the last few weeks this is yesterdays...

The charity shop finds of bits of glass bottles etc. have been put to good use...

I did do one little crafty make this week, I made some stitch markers...I had ordered some new stitch markers...just plain...then I remembered that I had some vintage charms...too delicate to use in robust projects but perfect for this...

They represent my favourite things...anything seaside and beachy...flowers and nature....old fashioned keys (I have a bit of an obsession with old keys) and crochet of course!

This picture popped up on my Facebook feed and I saved it straightaway...what I forgot to do was save the site is saw it on or who made them...but I was blown away by these...I think they are so beautiful...would love these hanging in window with sunlight catching them...(day dreaming now again now...ahhh)

This weeks vintage (well ish...) photo...

 

Ladies...you know this is so true........  :)))

 

 

I will leave you for now with this weeks little quote....

 

 

Have a lovely week...enjoy whatever you do xxx