live and learn

This weeks el cheapo find was this Rimini Blue pot. The candle holders were from op shop find last year. It was not until this very moment when I googled blue and italian that I knew the name of this particular style of pottery. I just called it the blue Italian stuff, as its just marked Italy on the bottom with some numbers. Fascinating. Vivere e imparare. I googled that too.

Pyrex and pav

Have had a lucky bowl finding spree in the last couple of weeks. I need these bowls, just in case. (Just in case I get the urge to cook...four things at once, ha ha as if).



No, really. I justified these purchases in my head as I bought them over and over again. "That would be good to whip the egg white for the pav in", I thought to myself, "well I've got one may as well get another", I muttered, "ooh Ive never seen that design before" I exclaimed ,"aahhh a little one to match the big one" I cooed. Before I knew it, voila, a collection.

doin' stuff

The sewing machine hasn't been singing my song lately so I thought I would start on these Christmas balls. I bought the clear balls at Spotlight last year or the year before. Its all a blur. I remember they were v. cheap. So yesterday I started drawing with the Pebeo pen. I've never used this before. Quite satisfying, albeit my hand is a bit of a wobble, which I will put down to adding to the charm of the desired finish.
The 'inspiration'(aka rip-off) for the design is from the tea towel underneath. The only o.s find for this week, some weeks are like that.

north south east west

Here is my tat update for the week.
First, the Adelaide finds. Like I said we did not find much, but what I got Im happy with. This picture, from bottom to top. A large panel of curtain, a school case, a moth eaten cardigan that I will nurture back into good condition, a tablecloth and an utterly craptastic 'card craft' box.(I love these card craft creations, I have a large basket that I will show one day.) I reckon we travelled to every compass point in Adelaide, peeing like puppies along the way.



Below is this weeks finds in Sydney.
Pretty fabric and lab bottles. I would like to think that I will 'decant' as Martha Stewart says and does, but quite frankly, like frig. I will leave that to my imagination.



Now to find room and reason for all this!

the end of October already

I went good there for a while at the beginning of October posting everyday , alas, running out of puff. I sort of run out of things to do and say. Not to worry.
My latest hit. Polished cotton and three metres of lurrvve.



I have one skirt half finished and one dress cut out, sitting on my dining room table, and I'm off to Adelaide for while. I guess it will be still waiting for me when I get back.

today

Today we went in to the Powerhouse Museum to see the Diana exhibition. I have a soft spot for Diana. I got this tea towel a couple of years ago but don't use it, I just have it for no reason.



We then went into Chinatown for Yumcha for which I don't have a soft spot for. Blech.
A fun day on the whole.

there a mystery

When I googled the initials on these towels I cannot imagine, if in fact what the search brings up has anything to do with them, or how they ended up in my local area. Mystery linen towels.

mushrooms

Pipped at the post again by my fabric nemesis. She left me these six pieces of delightful little tidbits. Bless her.



TSK brown indeed.

enough already

I very nearly stalked someone yesterday. I was 'shopping' when I spied a woman walking around with an armload of brightly coloured fabric. She had obviously gotten to the remnant table just minutes before me and gotten her excitable haul.
I followed her to the counter, this is when the thoughts of stalking entered my mind, just in time to see her fill her green recycling bag full of yummy material and a graphic flower tablecloth to boot.
I was going to strike up a conversation with her but then thought the better of it. She might have thought I was some crazed fabric addicted beatch. Had that happen before, maybe I scare them off with the dripping saliva.
She was gracious enough to leave me this though.



Cannot complain.

walking foot

Its amazing how a little gadget will give me hope for the future. I bought a walking foot and I can already feel/see less frustration and hesitancy for quilting projects down the track. I gave it a test run last night on the bag, though it looks like a cushion. Its a bacu. Anyway it works a treat.





A planned still life of a couple of os finds today.

PACK UP YOU TROUBLES

Thanks for all the comments on the quilt, I'm very appreciative. So yes I am self defecating, no wait that's not the right word, self depreciating.. that's better and as I improve with quilting I will most probably look back in a few years and think Hmmm not as bad as I thought.
My other ufos still remain in their static state so I will show this weekends find. I was in bed Friday night reading this months Inside Out, when this caught my eye. That looks good I thought to myself, I'll keep that in mind.



I found this on Saturday morning at a garage sale. The labels are just wonderful. Its a bit tattered and battered but useful as storage as the magazine article said it was. Now I have to convince the naysayers in this house.

A NEW DAY

There is a skirt cut out laying over my chair, a top that has been half sewn on one pile, a quilt to be binded on another pile, a dress to be refashioned on top of the table,and some threads that were going to be friendship bracelets under the table in the bin(all those little knots made me nuts). I will start again this weekend to finish.

DUCK OFF OR ON

This couldn't languish in its packet any longer. I am more than certain than I will actually never make this up into what it is originally meant for (a pillow or stuffed toy?)
So bathroom wall decor it is. I would use the word art but that sends my household into hoots of snickers and jibes. "Oh! I don't know if I should shower or sew first". Common... place remarks like that.
Water of the proverbial.

WHEN I CAN SMELL JASMINE

I know its spring.

THE QUILT WHISPERER

This was found last week. Its actually a doona cover that has been mostly handmade, some machine made. The hexagon shapes have been laid on top the red fabric all delicately stitched.

I sit and and make up stories about the person(s) sewing this. I can see three distinct styles and threads. I see the reason why it was abandoned. Maybe the ink stain on the back from the grandchild was the last straw, maybe the final wash showed the threadbaredness of it.
It was hard to part with, twenty years maybe more but she bit the bullet.




A few repairs needed and good as gold.

ALOOMINUM

A 195o's caravan from the fair. So small, not my idea of a good holiday, I must say. It would be just like staying home. Even the interior reminded me somewhat of my home, in particular the aluminium pots. 'Look mum'! Steph said and then walked away shaking her head and giggling. For indeed inside was a dripping pot.



These have been popping up everywhere on my rounds. I got a cake tin as well. I will not use them for foodstuffs though. I think I read a connection about Alzheimer's and aluminum. Now what was I saying.



End part two of 195os fair talk.

AS IS

Haberdashery. Magical word. As is drapery.
Add Manchester

FITS

Earlier in the year we went to an antique & collectibles come tat fair. I saw a pair of these at one of the stands and instantly fell in love with them. The seller was asking an exorbitant amount so I turned on my heels saying to myself and all that cared to listen hes dreaming, hes having a laugh,daylight bleedin' robbery mutter mutter mutter. The Mr. said he could make me a pair. To cut a long story short, I wont even go there.
So there we were at the fifties fair and look what should be there but my pair of glove art at a price that was not only reasonable but one that I didn't give a second thought to. I like it when things like this happen.

OWL BE BACK

In the spring.

KEEP HANGING ON

I am going to start willing the universe to find a pattern or book on how these are made.
There must be one out there somewhere.
I think they are quite special creations of craft.