Fab Floral Finds!

We've just come home to find this gorgeous gladiolus flower! I thought I had moved the corms to a different part of the garden and since then they haven't done so well. But this was the one that got away (or stayed where it was!) :)

We've spent a lovely few days away in Devon with Chris' family.

Terrible weather but lots of wonderful crafting :)

I tried out silk painting for the first time. I really enjoyed it but didn't get on so well with the gutta (the waterproof outline) so I made a simple tie dye scarf. Here's a glimpse!

I still need to iron it under paper to seal the paint (and remove the creases!) I need lots more practice but it's definitely a craft I would like to try again.

Whilst away we managed to fit in a spot of shopping and found a couple of second hand/vintage shops along the way. I'm so pleased with a couple of gorgeous retro 70s duvet covers....here's a peek...

I love the colours.........

and I love the huge flowers!

Here they are freshly washed, hanging on the line.....

They'd brighten up anyone's day, wouldn't they?

I also took the opportunity to make a couple of patchwork blocks for my holiday quilt. I knew they would have to be simple blocks to cut and piece as I wouldn't have too much spare time.

So I chose to make the Neck Tie block....spotty tie with a checked shirt?!

And I also made the Whirlwind block as I'm sure there was a whirlwind outside our bedroom window for most of the holiday!

So now I have five blocks for my holiday quilt :) A few more to go yet but I'm so enjoying choosing and making the blocks!

I'd just like to say thank you to you for reading (and hopefully following) my blog. I love receiving your lovely comments :)

Maggie xx

Irish Folk Music and a Doggy Reunion

We've had a lovely weekend.

Last night, a pub nearby was celebrating St Patrick's Day with some live Irish Folk music.

The band playing was Horseplay with my very talented musical brother-in-law Bryan playing the fiddle.

By the time we'd finished our delicious pub supper (lasagne and chips - not very Irish I know!), the music was in full swing and my lovely sister Clare had arrived with a couple of pals.

Fabulous music, a cosy pub, a full tummy and good company - it couldn't get any better!

Not until song sheets were handed out and we could join in the singing - I especially loved Whiskey in the Jar!

Great fun and a wonderful atmosphere!

Earlier in the day, we had met up with some friends up on the common.

No ordinary friends....

These friends are the lovely people who had nurtured Spencer through his first 10 weeks of life.

The owners of the beautiful Evie, Spencer's Mum, and his gorgeous brother, Bear.

 So hence.... there was a reunion on the common!

Here's the brothers together!

Don't ask which is which....

Here are the boys with Mum Evie....

It was so wonderful to see them all together again :)

Spencer was so tired after playing with his brother, he slept for hours....

Quite good as when he's asleep, I can catch up on some crafting...

Last time I promised you I would show the apron I've been making.

Mildred (my mannekin) is modelling it very nicely.....

Much better than I can...

I love this cheery cherry fabric....

'What about the vintage treasures?' ... I hear you say.....

What about this very very retro 1970s bedspread!!!!.....

with its huge flowers...

The largest are about 8" wide!!

and it also has a fabulous white tassle trim....

Just what you'd expect on a 70s bedspread.....

A very different style but equally fabulous is this sunny vintage tablecloth.....

all embroidered by hand......

so pretty......

In my last post, I said I'd try to take some better photos of the cattle down my lane...

In this photo you can just see the little pony in the top left field and the Belted Galloways in the neighbouring field on the right.

And here's those Belted Galloways - I don't know about you but I think they're rather adorable :)

I just wish I could get a bit closer.....

Last but not least, a big thank you to Uta who has listed Spencer on her blog as one of her favourite things in March!

How lovely is that?!

You can read Uta's lovely crafty blog, Paper, Wool and Yarn here.

I'll be back soon with more handmade goodies (I am getting the urge to make a new quilt!) and some lovely vintage treasures!

And some more photos of Spencer of course ;)

Have a lovely week!

Maggie xx

Belted Galloways befriend Lonely Pony

Just a little catch up.

Hope you're having a good week :)

I'm being a bit slow with my wool-eater blanket but I've now finished the first half of the the 13th round......

And thanks to my crafty Mum, I made an apron yesterday in a pretty cherry fabric - I'll show you a photo next time....

You may remember in this post I talked about the lonely little pony that lives in the corner field......

Well... on a recent walk ....I was so pleased when we noticed he has some new neighbours in the next field.....

in the form of Belted Galloway cattle.....

Most of them are lying down here....

I'll try and get a closer photo next time.

On the way back, I'm sure the little pony was having a conversation with them over the fence ;)

In the vintage treasures department, I found this fab 1970s tureen.....

Very retro pattern .... Sumatra by Royal Doulton...

Even though I buy and sell glass, at Christmas I realised I didn't have any glasses to serve our damson gin or sherry...
Oh the shame!

We made do at the time but the other day I made up for it when I found these gorgeous liqueur glasses.....

All different colours with a lovely lustre finish....

aren't they pretty? ....

Just my kind of thing :)

I'll be back at the weekend with a couple of my other vintage treasures...

And who knows, I might have started a new wool-eater colour!

 It's been lovely catching up!

Maggie xx

Retro Crafts with Vintage Stitchcraft Magazine

 A couple of weeks ago, a local lady asked me if I crocheted baby shawls. I told her I hadn't as yet but would have a look for a pattern. I mentioned this to my Mum who is a very crafty lady. She suggested having a look through her box of Stitchcraft magazines for something suitable.

I don't whether any of you remember Stitchcraft but for those who don't, it was a monthly craft magazine with patterns for all the popular crafts - knitting, crochet, cross stitch, tapestry etc.

For me, Stitchcraft brings back loads of lovely childhood memories of sitting in front of the fire or out in the garden leafing though these fabulously crafty magazines.

Having three daughters, my Mum would always be sewing dresses and skirts and knitting cardigans and jumpers for my sisters and myself. When it came round to my turn to have something knitted, the box of Stitchcrafts would be fetched from the cupboard under the stairs and I would search through them looking for a pattern that took my fancy. My Mum would sit nearby commenting on my selections with 'yes that's ok, that's moss stitch', 'that looks far too complicated', 'mmm that's got cables but that's ok'  or 'looks too fiddly' 'what kind of wool is that then?' or 'no, that's crochet'. She prefers knitting to crochet.

My Mum had always had her copy delivered every month since the 1950s until the 1980s when it was discontinued and she has kept them all. When she came to stay last week, she brought a selection for me to browse through for a pattern for the baby shawl.

I chose a quiet moment one evening, made myself a cuppa and took a trip down memory lane. I loved looking through these nostalgic magazines, so much so that I thought I'd share some of the images with you.

I loved looking at the covers, some from the 1960s............

I loved looking at the ladies' fashions and all the hair dos.....

This lady in a bobble hat looks familar....could it be Lorraine Chase?

I love this dress... wish I was slim enough (and young enough) to wear it!

Mmm not sure about these two...

This pretty shawl is gorgeous - may have to make this..

From the February 1954 copy.. always so stylish..

From a 1963 copy...... 

I loved browsing the crafts for ideas........

Sweet chicken and chicks cosies - nice for Easter...

A poodle pen holder?!

An adorable knitted elephant..

And so many cute crochet and knits for babies and children...

And of course, the male models knits for men..;)

Yes I could see Chris in this ;)

And yes, yippee, I found a pattern for the baby shawl...

Another lovely project to add to the list :)

Well I hope you've enjoyed these little snippets from the past. I certainly have.

Gosh it's Friday tomorrow - nearly the weekend - have a lovely one :D

Maggie xx