Friday 12 February 2010

Where troubles melt like lemon drops...

Hello, long time no see!I wanted to tell you about a postcard, below, which was kindly given to me by my sister in law. As you know, one of my passions is collecting vintage ephemera with it's beautiful handwriting, text and stamps. So I was very fortunate to be given this postcard dated 1933. When I read it, I couldn't really believe what I was reading.
Here goes ... "My dear daughter, just a card to wish you many happy returns of the day and I hope you will live to see many more, from Mum and Dad. xxxx".
Addressed to : Miss E. Wright, Victoria Ward, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington W2!!!!!!
Well her Mother certainly sounded optimistic!!! :-( I can only hope Miss E. Wright was a Nurse on that particular ward.
~O~
I also wanted to tell you about two wonderful ladies and the swops we have exchanged.
You may know dreamsintertwined Heidi is an avid collector of all things vintage, a good deal of which is for sale in her Etsy shop and also makes wonderful collage. Look what I was lucky enough to be sent by Heidi. All manner of ephemera, fabrics and wallpaper. She also kindly included a piece of her own work. So many lovely things that she chose especially for me. Poor Heidi hasn't received my end of the bargain yet, but I'm getting there. Thank you so much H.
Now, onto Julie juliewhitmorepottery If you don't know Julie's work, well, you are in for a treat. Without doubt, Julie has the most special gift. Her gentle, sweet, beautiful faience pottery is sublime. How fortunate am I to have such generous and kind friends.
I sent Julie a needlecase and an embellished sketchbook.

A plate, lino print cards and divine necklace with a painted Bumble Bee focal bead. Thank you so much Julie.
With Julie's help, inspiration struck and I have made these textile pendants.


The blues, pinks and greens of the beads just help to set the pendants off. I have enjoyed making them so much.
I have also been making Dorothy Bags, (tenuous connection with post title), from vintage french dense weave linen.
Again, I have really enjoyed making these too and it is great to have a usable piece made from such lovely old linen. All of which are in my Etsy shopBack
~O~
I just wanted to mention that I have recently joined Etsymidlanders A great yahoo group, all working hard to promote Midland Etsians. Please take a look at the blog, if you get a mo.
~O~
Finally, I would just like to send you to a heartwarming post. Victoria of thesillyboodilly .... a few months ago, Victoria lost her beloved Mo, but now Ellie Mae has come to stay. Make sure you have a tissue at the ready girls.
~O~
Well, once again thank you so much for visiting and for all the kind and generous comments. x

37 comments:

andrea creates said...

Love the plate and the necklace-very pretty!
What a neat postcard,I love old ephemera too.It would be interesting to find the history of it.

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Hello, missed you! Somewhere over the rainblow ... I was away and now catching up again! Your bags and pendants are goregous as always. Love your vintage ephemera received in your swap and the ceramics too. Lovely!

In a couple of weeks I will have a little something to send you ;o). Things are hectic this end ... I'm away again next week ... but after that watch out for postie!

Bye for now
Carolyn ♥

ps. Just letting everyone know I'm having a giveaway on my blog ... ends on Valentine's Day!

Jo said...

Oh gosh, so much gorgeousness for only a single post... lol! Absolutely adore your necklaces and another of your bags... sooo very cute and with your special touch of 'magic'!
Thanks for mentioning the Etsymidlander's group.. will pop over now and have a look. Not sure that Crewe would count as the Midlands though... hey ho!
Hugs xxx

Victoria said...

Oh Viv, you are so sweet... thank you!

I adore your darling pendants and the Dorothy Bag is truly lovely! (The Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie of all time). Congrats on all the wonderful vintage goodies... the postcard is a treasure, and I too hope that dear Miss E. Wright was a nurse and not a patient!

xo Vic and Ellie Mae

silverpebble said...

Hello there - welcome back Viv. I'm so excited to see your necklaces and oh! Your little bags, they are absolutely ....pardon me I must excuse myself, I have a severe case of the wanties.

BTW, I just blogged your gorgeous brooch as part of a post about Spring. I wear often and it has been much admired. Thankyou again.

Sharon Lovejoy said...

All lovely and really enjoyed seeing your new necklaces.

Julie is inspiring and her work is so full of life.

Sending Valentine wishes of joy,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Micki Wilde said...

Wow, such a lot in that post!!
That postcard is fabulous, what a find!!
I love the plate you received in the swap, so pretty!
Your necklaces are absolutely delightful!!

Now i'm off to see the midlands group, as i'm in Leicestershire, I should fit in ;)

Micki x

Annie said...

Hi Viv,
I love your necklaces they are really pretty. I was reading some old birthday cards a few days ago and found one from a little girl to her sister aged six. She had written exactly the same message 'I hope you live to see many more'. I found it quite shocking when I read it so it was really strange when I read your post. It's great to see you have joined etsy midlanders. I haven't been very active with etsy lately and need to start doing my bit for the group.
Ann x

Anonymous said...

Hi Viv, good to read a new post from you, finally. I really love your art of embroidery and the necklaces will certainly have a good run. They are absolutely unique. That postcard is so special. Everytime I come to read or see something from a long time ago, I have to imagine the story behind it.
Hope to see you and your work soon, at least at one of the next fairs, Gertie x

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Hi Viv, your necklaces are lovely (really like them all) and the plate from Julie - beautiful! Lucky you. And then there's the bag, what a busy bee you are. Have a lovely weekend, Lesley

VintageWantsNotNeeds said...

Hi Viv
I am a fellow Team Midlanders girl. Have been with them for nearly tw years now but have been lying low due to recently moving house just before /christmas and being frazzled with that.
Welcome to the team.
Like you I cannot get enough of ephemera. I have boxes and boxes of it and just love old postcards.
Loving the necklaces and your little bags are to die for.
Debbie

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Viv, The necklaces are a delight, and so are you
xx
julie

Jennifer said...

Very pretty necklaces and bag, they are beautiful.

GUNTer said...

Just found your blog through Juliewitmore Pottery.
Love your stuff - i so neeeeeeed one of your needle books. Will keep my eyes peeled on your Etsy shop. You do great stuff!

GardenOfDaisies said...

What beautiful gifts you received in your swap! And your beaded/stitched pendants are really wonderful! Love them!

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Hello Lovely,

I love those new Dorothy bags, great name too! That postcard makes me so sad though~ let's hope there was a happy ending.
Wishing you a lovely Valentine's weekend, hope you have fun. I'm off to follow some of your links to other exciting worlds......

Sarah x

A time to dance said...

Once again you have produced things which make me drool. You are so clever, i must do a post soon but everything has been mad what with the computer and pete loesing his job. Hope you are well love H

RosesRadishesandRubbish said...

Dear Viv, As usual, I really enjoyed your post....I LOVE the little bags you are making..really magical and the necklaces are too,too sweet. Oh, to have a swop friend like Julie Whitmore. I love her pottery so much and they remind me of a "fairy tale come to life." I am soo sorry I am such an awful swop partner I hope to get everything packaged this weekend. A lot of family issues here, but I think things are getting back to "semi-normal." xxxoooo Amy

Kerrie Slade said...

Hi Viv! Thanks for giving the Etsy Midlanders a mention - it's a great group.

Your little bags and textile pendants are just adorable!

Kerrie :0)

salty pebble said...

I love the many post catds ive collected over the years- mainly for the beauty of the hand writing and sweet words written to love one's, friends and families- i buy alot of them from a lovely old gentlemen at the Tavistock market...he has so many and all his own collections- you have a lovely one there and i hope the daughter recovered ;0)xx
i love your arty pendants- such beautiful creations...and i did my first swap this feb and was so delighted in the sheer kindness of the blogging community ;0)
your stitching/needle craft is such a wonderful talent! ;0)xxxx

lilylovekin said...

I love your plate and the new necklaces you have made -I see the inspiration from Julie in them. Your work is lovely and makes me smile.

BadPenny said...

simply adore your work and it looks wonderful on a pendant.

That post card was a hoot !

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Hi Viv, there's an award for you - on my blog!

Alexandra said...

What lovely gifts, and i love your bags and necklaces, hope you are having a lovely weekend xx

Clare said...

You lucky lady Viv! What wonderful gifts..can't wait to see what you do with some of them!

inmykitchen said...

My daughter has just celebrated a birthday. I hope she keeps her cards for someone to see one day.

Take heart I think the girl in question lived to enjoy many birthdays, otherwise who would have kept the card?

Jo

Amelia said...

always such lovely and inspirational items and images!

Amelia.x

Margaret said...

Hi Viv, I love your posts when you do make it back, so full of news and super cool stuff. The little necklaces are beautiul and so unique, the get well card made me smile, it really makes you wonder! Mx

PepperPi Pals said...

Hi there :)

I love your blog and I have awarded you with The Sunshine Blog Award!

Click here for details:
http://pepperpi.blogspot.com/2010/02/sunshine-blog-award.html

Kindest wishes
Clair

Twiglet said...

Those little pendants ar ereally lovely - what a clever idea and so skillfully done! OPop over and join in our blog shop giveaway and see what we have been busy with.
http://sisterscraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Jackie said...

look at all these comments..you don't need mine but here it is anyway..lovely lovely work Viv. The Dorothy bag....but I wanted to say that I am delighted with Victoria's news. She was so supportive to me when I lost Willow and will know how you are feeling.
x

oldflowers4me said...

oh sweet heaven -you are one lucky girl..i so love julies works but i love her necklaces best ,oh and her tea cups...singing and skipping jo

Unknown said...

What gorgeous swop packages you have been sharing.
Vintage treasures and handmade loveliness!
I love your drawstring pouch too, kat x

Cathy said...

Just been catching up with all the blog posts I have missed. What a cornucopia of loveliness you have received. So many talented people. I shall enjoy browsing the links with a cup of tea.

Patty said...

Oh I love that necklace! That postcard too; it's always so exciting to find vintage things, it's a little window to the past.

Jenipher Lyn said...

all of your work is absolutely beautiful!! You are so talented!! :D

Four Seasons in a Life said...

Dear Viv,

How very fortunate to be given the postcard. Apart that it is artistic ephemeral material, there is also great social historic value attached to it.

Thank you for sharing,
Egmont