all happiness to Kate and Will.....

"I am a draper mad with love, I love you more than all the flannelette and calico, candlewick, dimity, crash and merino, tussore, cretonne, crepon, muslin, poplin, ticking and twill in the Whole Cloth of the world. I have come to take you away to my emporium on the hill, where the change hums on wires. Throw away your little bedsocks and your Welsh wool knitted jacket... I will warm the sheets like an electric toaster, I will lie by your side like the Sunday roast...."

"and all the bells of the tills of the town shall ring for our wedding...."

Dylan Thomas

We wish you all a handmade and....

Love for textiles...

.....indulged on a recent trip to the 'World of Ikea'..... yum yum! we dream of Ikea in Cumbria, and all visits must be announced so that friends may request items of contrabrand to be smuggled back into the county.... just fell for this delicious book, essential to life...more of a way to be than merely a book, filled with visions of lovely fabrics on arty pages....

"a real dream life should be full of love and laughter, tenderness and sunshine, homemade food and plenty of textiles"



lovely fabric to tempt and lead astray....



more temptation from one of the makers at the recent SELVEDGE spring fair, sadly only viewed from a distance,(NB must put in the diary for a mega outing to Londinium next year....) but thanks to the wonders of t'internet we now have in our possession a delicious wee piece by Emma Lamb...meet Miss Pearl....

she arrived exquisitely wrapped and it was like opening a birthday present...

had a nice time rummaging in Granny's bits and bobs again, here's a really well used very old needle case ...some huge needles, still threaded, it's rather poignant, like having unfinished pieces of handwork ...

pretty cases ...we really like the lacy one....open up to display rows of neat needles.... and an old tin full of thrifty treasures....tiny decorative paper packets of needles are so endearing...just waiting to be used in some stitched endeavor....

and then more treasures from the crafty era in  the 40's and 50's, wartime necessity and thrift meant everything that could be was made at home, hands were kept busy and it helped to while away the long winter evenings (before television came along with its instant entertainment)....you can't beat a good Radio 4 serial and bit of knitting or crochet, and a pot of tea ....

and here's how to do it, when I hunted through my beloved box of Granny's old patterns here are some delightful ladies showing off the pretty gloves and some fine hats...and all for thruppence (3 real old pennies!)

 

 and here's the pot of tea to help you in the making.....with my favorite mother-in-law-made tea cosy on Granny's tray with a recent thrifty purchase of some seventies china just cos I liked the pattern and the shape of the jug....ooh and some dainty butterfly cakes...sorry, back in half and hour.....

went across to the north-east to see my Pa and Big Sis and just had to browse the local charity shoppes - came home with treasures, a White Stuff skirt which I loved for the texture and pattern and it even fits me! Not one for cutting up methinks....

....love it when I bring home bargains and daughter snaffles 'em for some dummy dressing - these were a top dress and lacy cardi which have been well and truly 'Gok'd!! very Glam!

just love the rose fabric but the dare is will I wear the dress??

...and this one has a lovely vintagey feel, rather too small for anyone to wear but ripe for some re-purposing

and then to this week's makes - finished another shopper using some lovely soft dyed wool fabric and a leetle of the new fishy fabric, couldn't resist hanging it on the old bike in the garden, looks a treat...

 

.... new life given to a repurposed jumper ...now a delightful pale pink handbag with rose pink detachable corsage, very dainty for spring...

and here, passing the door are the ladies who provide the wool, truly textiles on legs!

off to London for a family visit now, must say au revoir to home, everything will be changed when we return as spring is really romping away now , and the weather is warm, dare I think even hot, and sunny... it's hard to go but it will be lovely to see far flung family... thanks to wonderful neighbours who look after the menagerie, bye girls, see you soon.....

reader, I washed those windows!

...a sunny day, warm enough to be out WITHOUT a coat or hat (wow!), equipped with cheerful yellow bucket of soapy water, a sponge and magic window wiper.... result: a sense of virtue AND lovely clean windows to look through at the garden and wonderful view beyond. Downstairs at least... upstairs involves much more paraphenalia, a long ladder and a husband...

The dyson too has had a much needed outing as the dustballs on the stairs were getting rather large....in danger of tripping over them, and no small crawling children around anymore to pick them up. Although very much a follower of the Quentin Crisp model of housework (the dirt doesn't get any worse after the first 3 years) a little tactical cleaning can create a sense of order which is rather pleasing. Plus the reward of a cuppa and a slice and a dash of Woman's Hour.... a nice lie down with the bottle of hsherry more like... 

No seriously, I quite like creating order in the house, just a shame it doesn't last long! Not much to show for your life's work, sometimes feel very Shirley Valetine - thanks goodness for friends, fabric, fun, and making delicious goodies! And going out to work... to a nice orderly desk!

Spring is really coming in apace now, tho the weather is mixed - cold,wet and blustery one day, then much milder and more pleasant the next, very confusing. Not quite time to wash all the woolies yet and mothball 'em.

Everything is coming back to life....



the sheer joy of daffodils



exuberant purple 'pompoms'




amazing yellow frillyness




lush greeness



vibrant clashing primulas





blue skies, rolling clouds and a stunning view


Gardening, it is true, especially after a long cold winter, is 'the Greatest Refreshment to the Spirits of Man' (Francis Bacon)...and Wo-man and Child. Just to be outdoors with your face in the sun.... and even better wth your hands on a trusty garden fork, weeds to be dug, plants to be cut back and tended, seeds to be sewn, earthworms appearing in the soil as you dig, birds that sing above your head and rustle in and out of the hedges....

 

and a friendly cat to oversee your labours.... mind you you never know what he's thinking! Maybe we should change the name of this publication to 'Basil's Blog' as he does seem to be a rather regular participant! 

I wish she'd stop digging and give me my tea





coltsfoots opening up in the sun

 



pulmonaria in full rich blue



 Flowers galore, both garden and wild flowers - ie.those that are meant to be there and those that are kindly donated by Mother Nature ...all are welcome tho' I could wish the Romans had kept ground elder to themselves

 

 

tiny brave celandines



honesty for free...

early sighting of the Easter bird

 



delicate cherry blossom defies cold winds






lovely logpile stacked by patient husband - hopefully now for next winter!

 



garlic greening up nicely - amazing!

 


Eggs glorious eggs, all shapes and sizes...

Daughter not well this week, did advanced lounging on the sofa with Level 6 DVD watching. Also some reading and just doing nothing (why can't I do that?).... then once feeling a bit better a little craftiness created this pretty wee bird



hanging around outside to see if it can find a friend...

 Found some lovely cards in our new gorgeous bookshop, love these deceptively simple prints by Jane Ormes and her sense of humour!

And not to forget all those wonderful mums out there.....I bought this for myself just in case!! Tho I did get some lovely pressies too, apparently I can't wait to watch St Trinians on DVD and I did get to eat most of the chocs. Thanks, I love being your MUM!

And a final thought, here's another gorgeous inspiring book, don't need to do it all, just start somewhere...