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.....