Thursday 28 February 2013

Spring Dressing

I love rearranging my kitchen dresser.

 
Springtime deserves a new arrangement.

 
This is how it looked before.


 
I love mixing new things - my Cath Kidston Christmas presents - with charity shopped vintage china.

 
Postcards and tins.

 
Hope you find something you like.



 
 
Love, Liz

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Knitting Pattern Posers

I love old knitting patterns - especially the poses and expressions of the models.

 
How very haughty!

 
Interesting couples.  Some are just so funny.

 
Threesomes?!

 
 
I'll leave you to add your own caption to this one!
 
Love, Liz

Monday 25 February 2013

Table Transformation

I've had my hall table for ages and, to be honest, it was just a dumping ground for keys, mobile phones, gloves etc - nothing very special.  But it has, as you can see, been transformed - all thanks to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

 
I'd read that you could use this paint straight away without previously preparing the item you were going to paint.  Of course, I thought it was, perhaps, too good to be true!  But - it is true - I just got the paintbrush out and started.

 
Before painting.
The paint went on like a dream, and you can water it down if it starts to get a bit thick.  There's no nasty smell and you can wash your brush in soapy water once you have finished.

 
After allowing the paint to dry (which doesn't take long), I gave the table a rub down with Annie Sloan Soft Wax, which again is so easy to use.  This gives a protective finish to the table.

 
Then the good part - deciding what to put on the table!

 
I got my paint from Iconic Home in Troon - a lovely little shop and well worth a visit if you are in the area.

 
My next challenge is my dining table and six chairs!  Phew, I'm going to be busy!

Love, Liz

This is not a sponsored post - I just love the product and wanted to tell you about it - makes life so much easier for those of us who love painted furniture! 

Sunday 24 February 2013

A Royal Lady 1938

I found this booklet in among some old magazines.  Its from 1938 and has lots of pictures of the then Queen Elizabeth and her daughters.  It was given out with the magazine Woman and Home.

 
 
Some of the pictures are just so sweet.

 
 
Lovely images of a bygone time.


Looks as if you could cross the Atlantic in this pram!


Love, Liz

Saturday 23 February 2013

Raspberry Vodka

In October, while many good folk were making their home made Christmas cakes and preserves from autumnal bounty, I was making ... well ... raspberry vodka!  No, I wasn't making the actual vodka myself, just the raspberry flavoured bit!

 
Add fresh raspberries and sugar to vodka (quantities available online).  Shake every day till the sugar has dissolved, then leave in a cool dark place for a couple of months (if you have the willpower).  As you can see, it goes the most fantastic shade of red.

 
I sieved the mixture and poured into lovely little bottles to give as little gifts at New Year, but at home I have a little tot with some of the raspberries left in - delicious!
You can make it at any time of year and I think it would also be nice mixed with soda as a summer drink.  Mine never lasts that long!


 
Happy weekend ..... hic!

Love, Liz

Thursday 21 February 2013

Halfpenny Earrings

My son got me these gorgeous earrings for my birthday (which was ages ago) and I've been meaning to show them off.  (Edited to say that lots of hints were dropped and website pointed out - my son is very thoughtful, but sometimes men just need a little help. don't you think?!)

 
They are by Louise Pringle who makes the most beautiful and unusual jewellery from vintage watches, charms and other bits and pieces.  Check out her website here.

 
I love anything to do with ships and the sea, so these are ideal for me.  They are made from old halfpennies with the wonderful image of a sailing ship.  Attached are little anchors. 
 

But what makes them even more special is that, purely by coincidence, one of the halfpennies is from twelve years before I was born while the other is dated twelve years after I was born!!

 
How amazing is that - its just as if they were made for me! 

Love, Liz

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Museums and Memories

I love Museum shops - you can get the most amazing reproduction vintage bits and bobs!

 
I got some great things at the People's Palace, Glasgow.  Fabulous vintage advertising postcards and tins.  Love this tea caddy.  The Cath Kidston mug was part of my gorgeous Christmas present from my son and daughter in law.
 
 

As for the museum itself ... well ... I know museums are trying really hard to attract youngsters by providing lots of "hands on" activities.  But I feel that somewhere along the way they have lost a lot of the atmosphere I can remember from when I was young.  To my young mind museums were full of fascinating and wonderful things that sent me back home to my encyclopaedias and the local branch library to find out more about them.
I can still remember the muffled silence and the smell of polish and age of our local museum as I wandered around totally in awe of everything I could see, and at the same time excited by what I would discover in the next display case. 


My recent visit to the People's Palace was spoiled by lots of unruly children (where were their parents/carers?) pushing in front of me when I was trying to look at exhibits, shouting to their friends and running around.  A friend and I sat to watch and listen to a video clip of the history of the local prison which was totally spoiled by kids running in and out of the little room trying to climb the door of the mock prison cell to shout too their friends on the other side.  I won't be back there for a very long time!

 
Anyway, enough of the rant!  My favourite part of the visit was the exhibit about the "steamie" or public washhouse, where women went to do their washing. 
 
 
 
When I saw this pram, it reminded me of a photograph of my brother (what a chubby little boy he was!)and I in a similar pram.  I actually remember the colour of that little basket I'm holding - it was yellow, I loved it and took it everywhere with me, and my Dad used to sing that song "A Tisket a Tasket" to me.

Love, Liz

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Crochet Neapolitan Baby Blanket

I loved crocheting this little baby blanket.

 
When I showed you the colours previously, many remarked that it looked like Neapolitan ice cream.  I used to love that when I was little.  I remember it came in a long slab and it was such a treat to get three flavours - vanilla, raspberry and chocolate - instead of just the usual vanilla.  It seemed so exotic in those days - whereas now you can have ice cream in just about any flavour you wish!

 
I'm very pleased with how this turned out.  Had a moment of panic near the end when I realised that I didn't have much of the main creamy white colour left!  I was so scared I was going to run out for the last square.  Phew, so glad there was enough!  Has that ever happened to you?

 
New dilemma - what colour combo for the next one??????


 Joining with Lakota at Faith Hope & Charity Shopping for TaDa! Tuesday.
 
Love, Liz

Monday 18 February 2013

Vintage Greenock Mending

I came across a fabulous bundle of old sewing and mending bits and pieces in a local charity shop.  Here are a couple of my favourites -

 
Greenock mending find yarn in wool and nylon - anything associated with my home town is a great find as far as I'm concerned!

 
Love this - snug bras!  Look at the materials listed - cotton, rayon, rubber and steel!  Just as well the little fixing is there or it could be totally misconstrued!

 
Isn't this Duldarn gal totally fab!  Got to darn those stockings!

 
There was also this lovely little vintage zipped needle case.


And last, but not least, an instructions booklet for a Singer electric motor sewing machine.

 
Love, Liz