Wednesday 30 January 2013

Very Precious

I'm going to take you back a few years now and show you something very, very precious to me.


This is my first son's shawl given to him by his Grandmother.

My Mother got a friend to knit it for me - it was a traditional thing here in Greenock, and there were a few women who were well known for their shawl knitting.  Once you knew a baby was expected the question would be "Who's knitting your shawl?"

It really is quite a delicate, specialised skill - look at the lovely delicate cable round the edge.  I think this was knit in 2 ply wool.  Traditionally it would be worn and admired at the baby's christening.  I'll pass it on ........ one day.

Here he is with the shawl, about 2 and a half months old - such a happy baby!
 Love, Liz

Sunday 27 January 2013

Scrappy Dogs and Cats

This box of paper scraps certainly brings back memories.  All of these are my own from when I was a little girl in the 60s.  I'm so glad I kept them.

This Yardley soap box was used for a variety of bits and pieces before it became the home of these lovelies.  If you look carefully you can see that I've written Bunty on it somewhere - so it probably housed my Bunty comic dressing up paper dolls and clothes - remember them?  It also contained my threads once upon a time too. 

But today I'm going to show you some scrappy dogs and cats.

Isn't he a handsome fellow?




 This poor cat looks as if it has been in a real scrap - part of its ear is missing!


Oh well, enough cuteness for one day.


Love, Liz

Welcome to all my new followers!

Saturday 26 January 2013

Pretty Vintage Linen

Got this pretty vintage linen set in a local charity shop.

The embroidered flowers are still lovely and vivid.

Goes well with this vintage floral china.

A sight to gladden my heart!
Have a wonderful weekend.

Love, Liz

Friday 25 January 2013

Reply to an Invitation - Burns Style

Its the Bard's birthday - Robert Burns was born on this day in 1759.  Many Scots, all over the world, traditionally celebrate tonight by attending a Burns Supper.  As usual they will eat haggis, drink whisky and listen to poetry written by Burns.


Although I'm a Scot, living in Scotland, I usually avoid these because I actually don't like either haggis or whisky!  (If this ends up being my last blog post, then you'll know that these remarks have been taken as the spouting of treason and I'm incarcerated in Edinburgh Castle dungeon - if it has one!)

Anyway, I much prefer Burns' lesser known poems, especially the ones with a bit of humour.  So I thought I'd share this one with you:-

Reply to an Invitation

Sir.
Yours this moment I unseal,
And faith!  I'm gay and hearty,
To tell the truth and shame the Deil,                                           devil
I am as fou as Bartie.                                                                     drunk

But Foorsday, Sir, my promise leal,                                               Thursday; true
Expect me o' your partie,
If on a beastie I can speel                                                             climb
Or hurl in a cartie.                                                                           trundle
                  Yours, - Robert Burns

What a fabulous reply!
I've already blogged about Burns and the Greenock connection - you can read about it here.


Enjoy what's left of your Friday.

Love, Liz

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Music & An Enormous Turnip!

Found some wonderful Ladybird books to add to my collection.

The Story of Music has some wonderful illustrations - how sweet is this little drummer boy!

How can she hear the music on the radio if she is doing the hoovering and I think that coffee is getting cold!  Sit down Missus and put your feet up!


I remember reading the story of The Enormous Turnip to my boys when they were little.



Happy days!



Love, Liz

Tuesday 22 January 2013

First Charity Shop Bargain of 2013

At long last - my first charity shop find of 2013! 


I really thought I was jinxed and that I'd not find any beauties this year.  Then along came this gorgeous Ridgway Colclough vintage plate.

It is a very unusual colour - a sort of greyish violet with a little gold edging.

Not bad for 50p!

Since the beginning of the year I have been amazed by the prices the local charity shops have been charging, its as if they made a pact to raise their prices in the new year!  Wonder who their new clientele will be if they continue this way?
Don't worry - I'll still be out there sniffing out the bargains!

Love, Liz

I'm an Op Shop Show Off, so I'm joining up with Max at Blackbird Has Spoken.  Come on over and see what other bloggers have found this week.

Sunday 20 January 2013

Get A Grip!

Gosh, these look like almost industrial strength suspenders!  Some more adverts from the Needlecraft magazine of about 1900.



And, if F Cecil Russell's cure for corpulence didn't work, then I suppose its back to the corset!


Such a lot of underwear - and doesn't look that comfortable, either!


Enjoy what's left of your Sunday.

Love, Liz

Saturday 19 January 2013

Crochet & Pretty Nostalgic

I absolutely love working with these colours, as I am crocheting one square, I'm already thinking of my colour combinations for the next.  Just had to show you my progress.  Over the holidays I wasn't really in the mood for crafting, so its great to get back to something which I am enjoying so much!


Did any of you notice?


Shortbread & Ginger blog is in there on page 60 of Issue 5 of
Pretty Nostalgic
magazine along with some other subscribers.  How exciting!

A while ago I blogged about how dissatisfied I was with magazines on offer and wished there was one that really tapped into the vintage scene.  Then Pretty Nostalgic appeared and it does just that - and lots more beside! 

Issue 5 is a marvellous mix - with articles on the WI, vintage cameras, Totnes vintage shops,  and  lots more.  The photography and art work are great and the main emphasis is on British goods and places.  It really is a fantastic magazine, and I'm not just saying that because I'm in this issue!

Have you notices that many magazines today contain short articles which mostly describe unattainable homes and ubiquitous consumables which may be of interest to some, but to those of us who love vintage seem a bit too ordinary?  Well, you won't find things like that in Pretty Nostalgic - vintage fashion, books, lifestyles and cooking are the order of the day.  Just brilliant!!!!

Love, Liz

Wednesday 16 January 2013

My Vintage China

I adore my collection of vintage china.  There, I've said it!


I was getting a bit worried for a while that my collection was actually a bit silly - after all, why was I collecting these bits and pieces?  I mentioned it to a friend and she asked if looking at them made me happy - I answered that of course it did and I loved having such beautiful things out on display.  She said that if they made me happy on a daily basis, then why should I feel guilty and/or silly about collecting them!


I decided there and then that I was going to treasure them even more.


So excuse this rather self-indulgent post as I show off some of my gorgeous mix and match vintage china!


Look at those patterns and the lovely handles.

Do you sometimes feel a bit guilty about what you collect?

Love, Liz

Thursday 10 January 2013

Forth Rail Bridge Biscuit Tin and a Bit of Tat ...ting!

I decided to have a wee look inside the Forth Rail Bridge tin which I found inside Pandora's ... Breadbin.  The tin itself is lovely, but needs a bit of tlc.  It once contained biscuits from Beatties Biscuits of Glasgow.



Love the tartan and white heather around the sides.



Opened up ....


Lots of works in progress - not sure what this is, but I'm sure some of you lovely ladies will be able to enlighten me - is this tatting or crochet?  Seems to be raised on one side.


Think that this may have been an attempt at this pattern.  Love the colour!



Look how tiny this crochet hook is!



Don't these ladies look lovely?



What a joy this gift has been.


Love, Liz