Vintage popover, papercrafts and a recipe...

Last weekend when Mr E and I, grande size coffees in hand, drove from garage sale to garage sale in the early morning light, we were sorely disappointed.

 "Slim pickin's again" said Mr E after a 2 hour jaunt around town. 

But all was not lost. At our final stop, where we almost did not get out of the car to have a look-see, I found a vintage child's popover apron for $1.

Mr E gave me a quizzical look as I handed over my lonely coin but once I'd explained my plan to use it as pattern he was rather more understanding - well as understanding as a man who has no interest in sewing can be... 

Blossom on the other hand was VERY excited about my plan and drooled over the vintage find.

I measured it up against Cully May yesterday when they were here for lunch and it just needs to be about 2" shorter, so I've gathered some vintage style fabrics from my stash and hope to have a few made for her birthday on Friday...

Because Bloss shares my love of vintage and retro I've decided that a few crochet embellished pockets will add that something extra to the popover aprons.

We think these will be perfect for our tropical climate. Cully May can wear them over a t-shirt or blouse with a little pair of shorts or frilly bloomers.

If  this works out I may draw up the pattern outline for you?

Last Friday I drove north to visit my dear friend Rosie for a day of laughter, heart-to-heart sharing, good food and crafting.

It had been over six weeks since our last catch-up, far too long, so we had a lot to chat about. I love how easily the conversation always directs itself to home, family, baking, sewing and womanhood - all inspiring topics that we embrace.

In previous visits I've been drawn to Rosie's skill with papercraft, sighing with delight at the beautiful memory books she makes yet never seeing the 'how' of her hobby.

This was all to change last Friday. 

After morning tea I brought out my embroidery ready to stitch and Rosie gathered the bits and pieces for her latest papercraft project and set everything up opposite me on the large dining table. 

She made it look so easy and yet I knew it had taken years of experience to be so deft with every step of the process.

To say I was entranced is an understatement and you can be sure that not much stitching was done on my side of the table.

Rosie has a far more detailed post on her blog and I'd love you to hear about all the extras that are added to her memory books and read why she makes them.

Visit Rosie here.

After sharing my baking last week and earlier this week I've been swamped with requests for the Matrimony Slice recipe as well as the meaning behind the name.

The base and topping are the same recipe but between them is a luscious layer of thick jam...

You press half the base into the slice tray, then spread the jam before pressing the remaining half of the slice mixture over the top.

The base and top are representative of a husband and wife.

The jam in the middle is the love which binds them together.

Matrimony Slice is our family's favourite of all slice recipes and disappears rather quickly. In fact I'm baking more this afternoon.

If you'd like to make it I have prepared the recipe sheets for you in both retro and pastel bunting style...

...with a simple and sweet stitchery design on the last page so you can stitch while your treat is in the oven. 

It's even 'matrimony' inspired.

Download the retro recipe page here.

Download the pastel bunting recipe page here.

I have some popover aprons to sew, a matrimony slice and another loaf of bread to bake so I'd best sign off and let you get on with your own day.

We really like this yummy soy linseed loaf so I'll probably make that again...

Thanks for dropping by and journeying with me in this rather lovely, sometimes challenging, but always life giving gentle domestic life. Even though I work from home in my design business it's the working 'for' home that brings me the greatest satisfaction.

And I believe this is just as it should be. Dorothy was right when she said, "there's no place like home".

Your comments, thoughts, experiences shared and encouragements offered, water the seeds of my own growth as a wife, homemaker, woman, mother, nana and craftswoman. You bless me more than you realise and it's my desire to be that blessing to you too.

I hope today the fruits of your hand and heart overflow with goodness,

hugs

Rescuing vintage linens...

Yesterday Blossom asked if I wanted to visit a large op-shop around 20 minutes north of here as she was looking for cheap scrap fabric to use in mock-up baby and toddler patterns she'd been working on. Wise girl, keeping her good fabric for the real outfits she'd make when happy with the final design.

I was happy to tag along and we had so much fun browsing the store looking through their large displays of books, dvds, vintage linens, craft supplies, books, furniture, and sheets. 

Bloss found two beautiful queen size cotton percale sheets in perfect condition for a few dollars and these will give her plenty of fabric for the practice dresses and rompers she's working on at night when Cully May is asleep!

I found two knitted tea cosy books which thrilled me because last weekend I was combing the internet for just the 'right' tea cosy pattern and still hadn't come across one that I really felt inclined to knit, but now I have two books filled with choices. 

I also bought a lovely book on peasant embroidery which a lovely lady I got chatting to near the book aisle found for me...

She also pointed out a box of old linens, placed high on a shelf and labelled incorrectly so I doubt many people would have taken note of it.

It was filled with embroidered treasures, and all a token 50c each.

Every piece was stained and that's part of the pleasure of a doily's story for me...

...but the interesting thing was that apart from the four pieces in the photos above all the others I found were about 90% hand embroidered and never completed.

I studied the stitching and am quite sure they've all been embroidered by the same person, so I wondered why put in so much time and effort only to stop with about 10% of the design left to stitch? On one piece I'd not question this, but on so many?

Isn't the cat's face mean? I know that's just the design which is stamped on the linen, but I wish he was a little cheekier rather than 'angry'...

All of the doilies are Semco designs, pre-stamped on linen with pretty crochet cotton edging and I've decided to put them away until one day when I can complete each one, even if that's a decade from now. It just seemed a shame to leave them there 'undone'.

The stain on the peacock doily will need to be removed but I'll  go gently with that and try hand washing in pure soap first.

After all that excitement I'm afraid my body just refused to work properly today, something I'm still adjusting to since the brain trauma diagnosis last year. Fortunately I could still sit at the computer this morning and work on pattern writing and cleaning up April's photos and pattern sheets, but right now I'm going to brew a cuppa and finally put away all the threads I've used recently on my designs...

...and then I have a few episodes of Father Brown to catch up on while I stitch.

Have you found some vintage treasures recently too?

hugs

Vintage lace...

It's been a slow process but over time my collection of lace has been growing.

Some are antique and more than 100 years old. Others are vintage, closer to 50 or 60 years in age, and a few are just entering their third decade. 

I also have a small selection of newbies that were just too pretty to pass by when I saw them.

Whatever their age, the pretties mingled in my lace box are a delight to the eyes.

Occasionally I gift a yard or two in presents to friends and I also like to add bits and pieces to special projects like Bible or journal covers, bookmarks and cushions.

A small length of exquisite lace can add elegance and a delicate finish like nothing else.

This particular 100 year old lace is one I have kept for years, waiting for the perfect display...

...and here it is.

When I was sketching "Simple Things" the design began with a jam jar shaped vase wrapped in a pretty scarf, a spray of wildflowers spilling out. 

The vision in my mind of this very scene was from Nana's kitchen's table when I was a child, and it was by allowing my memories to travel back to those 1960's summer days that the idea of laying a piece of my precious lace along the bottom of the jar came to be.

It represented her 'best' tablecloth, cream crocheted lace, a tablecloth which Pop and I only saw displayed over the old formica kitchen table when Nana served a Sunday roast...

I'm going to carefully hand stitch the lace onto the stitchery before placing the completed design in a wooden picture frame.

Unlike Nana's cream lace tablecloth I shall keep this on display every day...a tribute to my childhood with her and Pop, and the simple things she did that made our little three-room flat a happy and loving home.

"Simple Things" is one of the new patterns inside the February 17th issue of The Stitchery Club.

Memberships for this month close at midnight on the 16th.

Go HERE to find out more.

Have you thought about adding lace to your stitcheries?

At the weekend I finished the "Beloved" stitchery pattern by Allie-Oops Designs as my Valentine's project for the home.

It turned out even lovelier than I'd hoped...

There's two other stitcheries waiting to be completed as new cushion covers but I must be patient and put my attention to pattern writing for the next couple of days.

Normally when I write the monthly Club patterns a good supply of chocolate is on hand to ease me through the hours of deciphering pages of notes, typing, photo formatting, redrawing pattern sheets and cross-checking threads, fabrics and sizes...but I'm being good and taking the super healthy path as my body needs me to stay on track nutrition wise after two months of galloping migraines.

So it's lots and lots of salads, raw foods, berry smoothies, water, and minimal sugar.

And to be honest, though my migraines have not changed (even the newest wonder drug isn't helping) I feel much better within myself, and I always do when I eat this way so why do I stray??? Oh yes, that's right, the sugar temptations.

So as much as I am able I shall stay the course and enjoy the benefits within my body, and at least for the time being avoid sugar in it's refined chocolate-y form.

NOTE: We think the brain trauma injury is why the migraines have increased in number and severity. It's just part of life as I know it now, but after 46 years of migraine I can take it.

May your day be joyful!

hugs

Making the most of today...

I bought these daisies two weeks ago today. 

The water has been changed only twice, yet they're still making me smile. I don't even mind the slight droop of a few petals. To me they are beautiful, happy, giving their all to life while they have it.

Quite often it's the little things that make the deepest impact on my heart.

Like these daisies doing their darndest to give the best from their short lives.

I'd like to think my life is about making people smile, blooming because I can, giving my all to each precious God-gifted day. Sometimes those desires are achieved, but other times I'm more of a weeping willow bent over the river of life unable to lift a branch, or not particularly inspired to do so.

The rhythm of life, eh? 

We have good days, we have slow days, we have challenging days, we have too-busy-to-breathe days. The key thing though, is that we HAVE days.

If we languish on the shore of weariness or complacency today, we can always rally and swim across to the other side tomorrow and lift our countenance. 

Every morning offers a choice. 

"Shall I be gloomy and self absorbed with woe today?"

OR

"Shall I give thanks because I have this day and make the very most of it's yet to be seen delights?"

Today Aisha arrives on the plane from Sydney with 5 month old Austin. 

Mr E has taken the day off work, and until that plane touches down late this afternoon we're taking it easy and simply enjoying the quiet hours at home alone. I know higher energy levels will be needed over the next four days and I'm going to be ready for them, because days with Aisha are few and far between so when she's here I don't want to be thinking about how much I'll miss her when she leaves. The days gifted to us are to be relished with pure and loving delight!

This mindset is a great improvement on how I viewed time with my children many years ago. Too many hours were wasted lamenting the 'end' and regretting the past, and not enough giving my all to what was before me in the here and now.

There are some ways I live in the past, though.

It's in memories of the joys from a childhood spent with Nana and Pop, their simple uncluttered lives and the things I remember them owning - like pretty china plates which Nan had had all her life, sturdy bakelite buttons sewn onto Pop's shirts and her aprons, flowers picked from her tiny front garden and displayed in water jugs on the battered kitchen table. 

Last Sunday Mr E and I wandered a local vintage market and I had my pocket money on hand in case I found some treasures from the past.

Do you give yourself pocket money? We've been doing this for 25 years. As a child I never had any, so getting pocket money each fortnight as an adult became a wonderful treat for Mr E and I.

At $1 a card, these bakelite buttons came home with me...

...and my big (beautiful) purchase was this $12 Royal Doulton cake plate.

Mr E truly does not 'get' why I love this sort of thing, but nevertheless he is happy they make me happy and never objects to wandering markets with me nor my choice of purchase.

I'm sure once I bake a cake and fill that plate with slices he'll appreciate it more. :-) 

I won't be blogging again until next Tuesday so I'll sign off today with these pics below.

This is another of my new patterns for the October issue of The Stitchery Club, "Sewing Tree"...

May your weekend be joyful, your Sabbath restful, and your heart refreshed in the days ahead.

Till next time,