Thank you!

I really do not know how to thank everyone who, so kindly left a message or e mailed directly their kind words of support with regard to us losing our dearly loved dog Rosie. I can't say that the last two weeks have been easy, but reading so many words of kindness has been such a help...thank you so very much. Each comment has been read and so very much appreciated.

'How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world' .~William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

Below is a picture of our ten year old Bichon ~ Daisy ~ she has been totally lost without Rosie. We have given her lots of time and attention though and because she has 'poodle' fur, Daisy has to go to the 'poodle parlour' every now and again. This is a before...
DAISY

This is the after....I much prefer the 'before' Daisy, but her tight curls have to have attention otherwise they get felted. She is so soft at the moment and must be cuddled constantly. (The groomer always ties a bow on the doggies' collars when they have been groomed). Daisy you are one big powder puff girl!
I~O~
Holly has been to Paris for a few days with a College trip, which has thankfully cheered her a little. The sweet child thought of her old Mum, whilst in Paris and found 'Laduree' and purchased these stunning macaroons for me. The box is good enough to eat too. A blissfully beautiful and kind gift, I'm sure you will agree.

~O~

Onto all things handmade...I have been very busy over the last few days and have made...

an embellished envelope. The stamps applied to this vintage envelope are so softly coloured, just beautiful. The inside of the envelope is a faded, blue zig zag pattern, so I took the back of the envelope off and used little pieces as the base of the collage.

Lots of texture...

Then onto a needlecase, with a silk screen printed bird. Front...

Back..

Opened out...

Oh, this has just sold. x

I have also made three little mixed media collages held within small vintage tins.

Forgive me for stating the obvious here but...

Inside...

Front...

This little darling tin has sold but it is so cute I thought I would show you. It held corn caps...nice!

Tin open...

Tin closed...

This is another Panatella slim cigar tin.

Opened out...

Closed...

When I visited France last year, I purchased a few very old tea towels or should I say Torchon. They have that washed worn feel of the softest cotton. The one towel has the most stunning, delicate darning, so I turned it into a Dorothy Bag, as one does!

Here we go,

Front...
Back...
Opened out...
Darned area....
Close up...
~O~

I wanted to draw your attention to some of the fabulous Fairs, where I will be having a stand.

A week on Saturday, Rag Fair stroudinternationaltextiles at Stroud. If you like bargains of the vintage haberdashery and sewing kind, this is your Fair.

I look forward so much to all the Fairs I have booked, particularly the Fair that seems to have started the trend of vintage/handmade fairs, the creme de la creme vintageandhandmade

1st May at Chipping Sodbury. But before then, I will be attending the lovely homespun fair at Portscatho, Cornwall, April 5th. Please see my sidebar for more details.

Once again, how can I thank you? I don't know what I would do without my bloggy friends.

Thanks for stopping by. x

Our dearest girl...

Hello,
forgive me ..... but, I wasn't under any illusions that it would hurt when Rosie passed away, but I have been knocked sideways at the depth of sadness we as a family feel. Rosie passed away last Saturday night, thankfully peacefully. We were able to stroke and talk to her after she had had a stroke and be with her as she slipped away from us. She became part of our family Christmas 1995 and we have been in receipt of fifteen years of absolute love and total devotion. We are heartbroken. Will there be a time soon please, that I can think of her and not cry? To all you lovely friends, please give your sweet family pets an extra hug today and a huge hug from me. xRosie enjoying a walk in bluebell woods last April.

~O~

Onto much happer subjects....I was cheered today by Posty bringing me my part of a swop.... the lovely and exceptionally talented becky of vintage fairy tales sent me the most wonderful package, containing a flower made with gorgeous vintage textiles. Becky made the flower when attending a workshop in France with Julie Arkell. Not only did I receive this, but also the most fabulous medal for valour, which I shall wear next week on my cardi with pride. If you don't know Becky's work, please take a look at her blog. A lovely and talented lady and my friend. I shall be sending Becky one of my new necklaces and another little thing. Thank you so much Becky. ~O~

Despite having a thousand better things to do, I have been making or should I say pithering with this bird cage all of last evening and most of today! I have finally finished it and what a fiddle faddle is was too, but I am happy with it and I do love a bird cage. It bought Miss Flight to mind and I did leave the door open for little birdy to fly.

Just a short little post today. Thank you to everyone that visited my last post and to all who left a comment...so sorry if I didn't thank you personally.

Thanks for stopping by.x

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

Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in a sigh......

I don't know about you but I have a house full of stuff! It is getting just everso slightly past a joke and I have decided to try and sell a few things on. The loft is packed to dangerous proportions! There is Quentin Crisp dust depth, on the stuff, as there is too much stuff to dust. I have to admit too, that there is an awful lot of stuff, I don't 'see' any longer and I think I should move a few things on. For example ~
This is the front cover of a vintage children's book that I had forgotten I owned. Isn't the illustration lovely? Going to pop it on ebay soon....On my eBay at the moment, is this old costume doll I purchased in Vienna last December. Lovely, lovely doll but she has to find a new crib...I am so down with the..... erm, .....erm young people's language!

I never have any success with ebay. Whenever I want something, I always seem to be outbid and whenever I sell anything, zippo, zilch, not a sniff of a bid!

The postage is always a stress too. I always seem to pay too much if buying... so in the words of my fav and much missed D.J. old Terry Wogan.....'Is it me?' (Chris Evan's doing a fine job though...'The Candy Man' has been going round my brain all day). (BBC Radio 2)

Dolly sold :-)

Onto the launch of a very special website, built by my little sister .....YAH!!!!!! She is a brilliant paper cut artist and transforms tatty, old vintage books into these works of art and all sorts of other beauties. Go take a look if you can, she would be so pleased! deckled-edged Go Sis go! YAH!!!!!!

Then onto yours truly ~ Here are a couple of pieces I have been working on over the last few days. The envelopes that these have been worked on, are very special. Dated 1946 with beautiful text...everything here, buttons, fabrics, photos etc. are original and rare. Both are over in Etsyland.

And finally, my mate, the wonderful mimiloveforever and I decided to do a swoparoonie! I just told Karen that I love Budgies and left her with a free reign and look what she came up with! She has included everything I love here, Pinocchio, chucks, Jessie's diets from the Fast Show. If you can, pop over and read her post about our swop...it's a scream! Also, remember, if you have a fav pet that could do with the Mimilove treatment, she works to commission. Oh yes she does.

Thank you Karen, I really love my big Jessie x

Thanks so much for stopping by. x

hey, hey, you, you.......

Hello,thank you so much to everyone that took the time to comment on my last post. I have read each and every comment and really enjoyed all of your new year resolutions or not as the case may be! I'm sorry if I have not replied with a thank you to each of you.

So, as there were quite a few comments, I thought I would UP the 'giveaway' from one measly little brooch to three measly little brooches :-)All the names went into one's studio pottery bowl! They were stirred and mixed and I stood with my trusty camera poised as Holly, with her eyes closed picked three names.....

So.... dear Carolyn of Love Stitching Red, lovely Emma of Silverpebble and fabulous Rebecka of Vintage Fairy Tales, please let me have your addresses!

Thank you everyone once again for joining in the fun, it has been really great.

Onto 'the makes' of this week....I have been mostly making needlecases. The one below has a silk screen printed birdy as the focal design and reverse ... a wire heart.

This is what the needlecase looks like opened up....

Then another needlecase, where I used a paper ephemera collage and copied onto cotton. The colours are so soft and muted and the birds....so pretty. The lace adds some great texture.

On the back...wire again, lots of lace, embroidery and of course, loads of buttons.

The inside is the same for both needlecases, don't you just love a bit of Liberty????

As you can see I have started to use fine wire in my work, lordy I love it. So I have also been mostly making Valentine cards. When I get bit by the bug, it's all or nothing here you know. So everything is being wired to an inch of it's life here!

I'm sure all you bloggers who don't reside in the UK must be a bit tired of us Brits going on about the snow! It has certainly been a shock here to have so much for so long. Sorry, but here is another snow picture. This is my garden studio, where I slip and slide to at every given moment...thankfully it's not too far from the house.

Thank you all once again for stopping by. x