MarmaladeRose

Monday, 28 July 2008

Summers Here at Last, HOORAY!

HOORAY! Summer is here at last!

We've had a lovely weekend. Family that we haven't seen for nearly seven years came over from Germany to stay for a few days. The weather played ball too, blue sky, sunshine, warm and windless, perfect! But more of that later, they all went home yesterday so today was spent having a leisurely morning and then an afternoon picnic 10 minutes down the road.

We settled ourselves down here. A flask of tea, some bickies, a news paper, a little crocheting. What more could you ask for?

A little dip, maybe?

Tomorrow I'll take you to the Forbidden Corner

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

Kidston Therapy

I'm just having a short break, up in the attic room. I've been baking and washing bedding all day in preparation for guests arriving tomorrow. Yes I know it's a bit last minute, but that's the kinda girl I am! Always have been! Even as a schoolgirl, homework was always done the night before. I think I have some sort of internal time clock that lets me know just how much time is needed for each task and I must say it usually works out fine! I also think, when you have a dog, a cat and two teenage children, cleaning and tidying more than the day before is a complete waste of time, as it only has to be done again!

Well that's my theory anyway.

Changing the subject completely, here are some pretties from Cath Kidston. I was feeling the need for some retail therapy and living in the middle of nowhere, it's not possible to pop into the city and flash some cash! So I did it on the inter web instead. Aaah, just as satisfying! Here are some pretty, and I must say half price teatowels, lilac and lavendar soap, handcream and bath salts! The latter is destined to be a Christmas gift as I'm a showerer rather than a bather.

Completely changing the subject again, (see, I am in a tidying and sorting mood) I have received this Award from the lovely Carol at Katherines Dream!

The Brilliante Weblog Award which is given for "Brilliant Photos and Text" I must say I'm shocked and surprised, and just a little amazed, but in a nice way of course! Thank you very much Carol.
Now then, apparently this award comes with a rule. I am to pass this award on to 7 other deserving bloggers. Golly! What a responsibility! How can I choose only 7? There are soooo many lovely blogs out there. So.......... I'm not going to! There I said it! Gosh I feel really empowered and naughty! hehe!

Let me explain... I'm still quite new to blogging, and I enjoy it very much. For me it's something I can do in the privacy of my own home, not bothering anyone else. I can be who I want to be, do what I want to do, join in when I feel like it and stay away when I don't! For someone who has always toed the line, always done what was expected, always abide by the rules, always tried to please everyone else, blogging for me is totally self indulgent!

So although I really enjoy reading about other bloggers being tagged etc, I'm not sure I want to be tagged myself, the only way I can explain it, is its a bit like school homework, you may have enjoyed the lesson at school, but you don't necessarily want to be given homework to do! Do you know what I mean? I hope you don't think I'm a really bad person! I just feel this is the only place that I can have a degree of control in my little blog life. Its sooo lovely here! I hope you all still let me come and play?

Once again, thank you so much Carol the award is really appreciated!

love Fi x

Sunday, 20 July 2008

Dads Hardanger

You may remember back in May I posted some pictures of the lovely gifts I received for my birthday. One was some pretty hardanger shelf edging made by my dad. Well I asked him if he would make me another matching piece for my dresser in the kitchen and he's done just that, isn't it beautiful?

He was having a spot of trouble remembering how exactly he finished off the buttonhole stitch edge, so he sent it to me to finish off! I had no idea how fiddly it was! I'll be glad when its finished and on the shelf, can't say I'll be having another go after this. Anyway its not looking too bad so far, although I've still got to trim the excess fabric from around the edges of the stitches yet!

You watch it all unravel!

Friday, 18 July 2008

Apron Love

Aprons! Don't you just love them? I do.

These are my aprons hung on my pantry wall. Well its actually the utility room, but I've always wanted a pantry and since I have some shelves in there with my baking ingredients on, I feel justified in calling it a pantry!

On the left is my old homemade apron using Ikea fabric, the one in the centre is my favourite, a Greengate apron that wonderful man gave me for Christmas. Lastly on the right my latest aquisition from Gisella Graham.

My dads mum always wore a wrap over pinny. The only time I ever saw her without one, was at a family party once when she wore a dark navy dress with sparkly sequins around the neck. She was a rather large lady and unable to walk very far, and whenever we visited, she was always sat in her armchair, in her corner, with all that she needed within arms reach. There was a small table to her left and to her right she had a large tea trolley sort of table, that was only open at her side. What she kept in there was a huge mystery to us children, her handbag was kept under there and boxes of chocolates she'd received months before at Christmas, but other than that a total mystery. She never got up out of that chair, anyone who visited her went to the kitchen to make their own cup of tea and one for her too. Two of my aunties would bring her shopping and do her cleaning for her. So as a child I could never understand why she wore a pinny when she never did any house work or cooking! How did she expect to get dirty!

Maybe thats how I got my love of aprons, or maybe it's just because I'm a messy madam and need to wear one most of the time! Who knows!

Thursday, 10 July 2008

It's in the bag!

I was catching up with life over in the Attic24 household, as you do; and was thrilled to see that Lucy has started to crochet a beautiful stripey bag! Now as you know I love bags, especially the home made variety so I thought I would send over a little encouragement to Lucy, not that she needs any, just take a look at her lovely crochet blankets!

I thought you might like to see a couple of my crotchet bags. A little crochet stimulation if you like! They're not as colourful as yours Luce, or as stripey, but texturally a little different.

This one is made from old plastic carrier bags and has a lovely round shape when opened up.

Here is one made from garden twine with some fine mohairy wool added in to make subtle stripes.

This one was made from two old Lycra tops cut into strips and then knotted together, with all the knots left on the outside of the bag. I stretched the fabric as I crocheted, which made the end result quite firm.

Another made from fabric, this time a silky shimmer fabric, cut into one continuous long strip. With all the raw edges left, it has a lovely Boho shabby chic texture.

And finally, this one IS made out of wool, but then I felted it in the washing machine! This makes it look like a moulded piece of fabric, very strong and sturdy.

Well Lucy, I hope you enjoyed my little crochet bag tour. So, even if you one day run out of yarn (highly unlikely I know! lol ) you'll always be able to find something to crochet with!