Saturday 28 December 2019

Time to stitch

Isn't it great to take a deep breath and realise that the hustle and bustle is over!  I decided to take a trip to my local needlework shop today and top up on supplies before the great Scottish New Year extravaganza!  Next Wednesday and Thursday are holidays here in Scotland and the whole country just about comes to a standstill!


Anyway, hubby and I are having a very quiet time and so I wanted to make sure I had enough thread for a couple of new stitching projects I have in mind. Also got these gorgeous scissors from there earlier this year - aren't they cute?  They also come in pink, blue and purple.


I love visiting Sandra in my LNS (local needlework shop) - Hearts and Stitches.  She's so lovely and friendly.  If you are ever going to be visiting Greenock they you must go in and say hello.  She sells lots of other stitching related bits and pieces as well as yarn and cross stitch kits.  Knitting, crochet and cross stitch will see me into 2020.  Can't think of anything I'd rather do!

Christmas Thoughts
I don't know about you, but for me, expectations very often exceed reality and that was certainly the case this year.  To be honest I was too tired on Christmas Day to really enjoy it.  Preparing the house and meals for family who were staying for a few days, cooking the turkey and trimmings and hoping that everyone would enjoy it really sapped my energy.  Getting old!  Next year Christmas Day will be very quiet with no bustle and no high expectations or worry about anyone else except hubby and I.  Is that selfish?

Love, Liz

Monday 23 December 2019

Vintage pink tea cosy

I've been busy knitting - guess what - yes, tea cosies!



First of all this lovely pink and purple one - looks great with my vintage Pink Vogue bone china.



Then I opted for a cosy in various shades of green with a bright green pom pom.


Fits in well with this lovely green holly cake tin.


Hope you like them!

Love, Liz

Thursday 19 December 2019

It won't be long ... yeah!

Not actually talking about Christmas this time, but about the BeatlesIt won't be long was a song by them on the album (or LP as we called them) With the Beatles (1963).


I've had that song in my head all day, so decided to look out my old Beatles newspaper from about 1965 when they had toured the US for the first time.  Some great photographs in this.

Meeting Princess Margaret
The front and back pages are missing because I think there were probably posters of the band on them and of course I would have had them on my wall!!!!


Beatlemania - remember that?!  All the screaming and fainting!


Going to have to go and play some Beatles music now - just can't get that song out of my head.  If you want to hear it - click here.


Hope you've enjoyed this wee bit of nostalgia and perhaps it has brought back some great memories as it did for me.

Love, Liz

Tuesday 17 December 2019

Puffing Santa!

Ok, so this little Santa guy is not traditional - he looks a bit grumpy and he's smoking a pipe!  But I think he's cute just the same.  I have had this ornament for years although I can't remember where I got him.  I'm actually amazed that's he's still in one piece.  No matter where he perches, he always falls off (probably a bit too fond of a wee dram)!  Anyway, think he looks cute among all these other bits and pieces decorating my Christmas tiered tray.


The knitted Snowmen I've had for years, and they just look so cute in here.


The other ornaments I just found in the "Christmas tree decorations the kids used to put on the tree box" which hasn't been opened for ages because since they've left home, I've opted for a wee bit of a posher tree with just white and silver ornaments.  (Ohhh ... get you, Liz!?)



No matter what - I think the tiered tray looks quite cute and brightens up my kitchen.



Now I just have to keep Puffing Santa away from the whisky!

Love, Liz

Sunday 15 December 2019

Scrappy Santas

Do you remember paper scraps, or mottos as we called them here in Greenock?  Well, I found some Christmas scraps which I bought a few years ago intending to make them into ... well ... something crafty!



I love the vivid colours of these Santas.  These images are so nostalgic to me this is what Santa really looks like!


When I was a girl (yes, I can remember the "olden days") we used to keep scraps in books and swap them with friends.  You can read my previous blog post on scraps and see some I actually kept all these years here.  Or put the word scraps in the "Search this blog" section on the right column of this page.  Similar paper scraps are still made by Mamelok in England.  They have some marvellous Christmas nostalgic items - please go and check out their site.  It is wonderful!  (I'm not being paid to say that.)


Here are some other old world Santas - aren't they just beautiful?



Love the toys and bits and pieces they are carrying.


Ah well, not long now till Santa starts his travels.

Love, Liz

Wednesday 11 December 2019

Afternoon tea at Ardgowan

Afternoon tea at a stately home?  What more could someone like me who loves all things historic and vintage hope for.  Add in some great company celebrating a wonderful event (Golden Wedding) and you have my perfect day!


I was lucky enough to be invited to an afternoon tea at the gorgeous Ardgowan House near Inverkip to celebrate the Golden Wedding of two of my lovely friends.

This is a photo of an old print in the hallway of the house. Slightly different from how house looks now. Best view of house from River Clyde.
Driving up to the "big house" was like something out of the credits to Downtown Abbey.  I was so starstruck that I totally forgot to take photos!  Arriving at the house itself I was almost blown away - it is so gorgeous!  At one point my husband asked me why I was whispering!!!  I will admit to being a bit overcome.  I suppose it was a bit like meeting your favourite actor or singer - although in this case it was a bricks and mortar house.


Let me explain.  Ardgowan House is the home of the Shaw Stewart family.  The present house was built in 1790s.  The Stewarts have lived here since the land was given to a illegitimate son of King Robert III in 1406.  The Shaw Stewarts are synonymous with Greenock, and indeed most of Inverclyde.  Many streets in Greenock are named after various family members and the lands they once owned - Sir Michael Street, Shaw Street, West Stewart Street, Carnock Street, Ardgowan Street.  So as someone who loves local history this visit was a bit of a dream come true.  I've written some little bits and pieces about the family in my local history blog The Greenockian.


As I said, I was so excited that I forgot to take photos on arrival, and by the time I remembered it was already getting dark.  Ardgowan House has a fabulous website where you can read all about the history of the Shaw Stewart family as well as see lots of photographs of the house itself.  If you think that the house looks familiar then you might recognise it from the TV drama "Ordeal by Innocence" which was shown on British TV last Christmas.


The House has hosted many weddings.  I can't think of a more romantic setting! You can book and have afternoon tea and a tour of the house, which is well worth doing.  We actually got a tour by Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart himself.  Unfortunately by then it was getting really dark so my photographs are not so good.


Can you tell - I had a fabulous afternoon celebrating my wonderful friends 50 years of marriage.  Great company and gorgeous surroundings.  What more could you ask for?

Love, Liz

Monday 9 December 2019

Festive Tea Cosy

Here's my latest knitted tea cosy.  I used Christmas colours for this festive knit.


Think it turned out ok. 


The white yarn has a bit of sparkle.


My teapot - Blanche - isn't too happy at being decked out in the tea cosy equivalent of a Christmas jumper!  Never mind.  Now for a cuppa!

Love, Liz


Thursday 5 December 2019

Jackie Dating Guide 1969

What a different world it was back then!  Reading through this little booklet which came free with Jackie magazine in 1969 reminded me of the angst of those young teenage years when many hours were spend with friends discussing how to get a boyfriend.



I found this in a box of old books I had stored away at the back of a cupboard.  I suppose I kept this because it would have been the "dating bible" of its day!  My friends and I devoured each edition of Jackie magazine, plastering our bedroom walls with pictures of the latest heartthrob from Jackie.


Cathy and Claire were the agony aunts who answered all the teenage problem letters.  That page was a must read!


The little booklet is so sweet now - and actually quite sensible in many ways.  But then that's the opinion of an oldie - wonder what today's teenagers would make of it????!!!!!



Did you read the Jackie?

Love, Liz