Faery Inspiration.

I went out yesterday to buy fabric for my G. Niece's dress, we had decided on purple, found a pretty fabric in the second shop I visited.

The above is also the first photo of my newest machine, my beloved Janome MC 9000 is showing it's age and needs a new screen which has faded so much that the only way to view it is standing up, looking down from a slight angle. The touch screen constantly goes out of alignment as well. I will see about getting it repaired, do love that machine. The Singer replaces my old (24 years) Brother Opus that entered doorstop status late last year.

While I was out I called into a little shop called Inner Forest at Penrith, with the intention of only browsing - really! I took a deep breath as I entered, savouring the heady aroma and atomsphere that engulfed my senses. A plan was formed while I wandered around, the need for Faery Magic in my sewing/crafting room, I want the room to feel magical and be a joy to be in. I discussed it with the shopkeeper and she made some suggestions, she repeated sage several times. Right under the window the room is an old laundry sink that I once planted herbs in, when they started dying off I just left then as being in the wrong spot. They rarely get watered, the rain only hits the front 10 cm of soil. But the Sage and Rosemary have been the only survivors, they are going really well.

The lady showed me some plant resins, which I had already been drawn to and some lovely Citrine pieces, suggesting where to put them in the room for inspiration and abundance.

The room is very cluttered and messy, am constantly rejigging the layout. Swapped a chest of drawers and a table around and think Iam happy with the layout.

I started cleaning the corner I sew in, starting with the window. I've been living here for 12 years and made a discovery - the window lifts out of its track. I struggle with cleaning the outside of the window because the flyscreens are difficult to get out without damage. I was also able to get 12 years of gunk out of the the tracks. The resins are in a shell and along with the Citrine now are on the window sill.

I also fixed the too narrow curtains, by adding the offcuts from shortening them to the sides, now there are no side gaps when they are closed. When the corner was fixed up I set to sewing the dress, even got the overlocker out as there is room to set it up now.

The rest of the room still needs work but it's a real start, this week I will go through my fabric stash and clear a lot of it out. Will take it to the Church for the craft ladies to use.

Favourite things.

While I was reading after breakfast this morning I thought about how neglected and unloved a lot of my house looked. Decided to make a start with the dresser in my dining room, first I looked over it to see if there was anything I didn't love on it and decided that most of the items were definitely loved.





My Old Country Roses Tea Cup set, a gift from my Mum for either my 18th or 21st Birthday, my Grandmother's lolly Jar. After Nanna passed away I was lucky enough (or was it fast enough?) to get a few coveted items, this jar I noticed a few weeks later sitting in Mum's kitchen after she washed it. I asked if I could have it, was told no that she liked it. I replied that she already had one, was told no she didn't, this went back and forth a couple of times. Until Mum in esparation said that she and Dad had bought it for my Grandmother not long after they married and in fact she had bought 3, one for her mother, one for Dad's mother and one for....... that's when she exclaimed "Where's mine?!!" remembering she always kept it on display but it was no longer there. I found it in a cupboard where she had put it away for safe keeping away after a close call with a toddling Grandchild.



The jug, tray and lace edged cloth also came from my Grandmother. The Windmill plate was a housewarming gift from Nanna when I invited her over for morning tea not long after I moved in here. She made me promise to look after it. Just after her death conversation got around to the fact that Nanna had noticed that items of hers were disappearing, she thought they had been broken or taken by others. Mum mentioned the Windmill Plate was one of those items, I told her I had it and had recieved it as a gift. We realised that Nanna's memory had been pretty shot and she didn't remember giving the items away, we now know where several of the items are. The lace cloth is handmade, either by Nanna's Grandmother or Aunt.



These glasses are so special to me, they are the first things I ever won. I was maybe 4 years old and won these at a school fete, they came in a basket shaped like a 3 leaf clover (long gone). Orginally 6 glasses one got broken long ago. When Dad used to make Rhubarb Wine we were allowed to have little in these little glasses on special occasions.
Turned wooden items made by my husband, photos of the most special people in my life, my 2 children - now 19 and 16.


Pretty teacup, vintage scale which I am not sure where it came from. May have bought it. The sweet little teddy who's name is Byron was originally made by me from a free internet pattern. I was so pleased with him and he has buttons holding his arms and legs on. The buttons came from a worn out favourite jacket. I remember the day I finished him I went over to my parent's place and was visiting with my Grandmother who was telling me about a day trip she had been on with a friend that day. She started telling me about the cutest little bear she had seen that was sitting in a teacup and how she wanted to buy one but wasn't able to afford it. I stopped our conversation saying I'd be right back and ran home (I live behind my parents, so not a long run) and grabbed Byron for her. She was so delighted with him and displayed him in a teacup. I only found him today after wondering where he was, I had thought he'd been put in with my Christmas bears and packed away but hadn't found him last Christmas. I found him stuffed into the bowl above which had been put in a cupboard. So happy to have him back.




Unfortunately the website, www.teddybearshug.com no longer exists but I was able to search for it with the Wayback Machine, heading back to 2006 where I was able to access the pattern.

Socks

Finished the second pair of socks from the book tonight, the fit is much better. The pattern was pretty much identical to the first, apart from the length. Being used to elasticated thin socks they don't quite feel right on, think some knitting elastic in the band will help for next time.
I have set a little table up along side of a tub chair I bought at a garage sale a few years back, it's now my favourite place to eat breakfast and get some reading done each morning. Below is some of the books I want to get through, finished Save yesterday and started Stainless today. The orange book is The Land of the Painted Caves by Jean Auel, the latest book in the Earth's Children series, am halfway through that. Above it is White Magic by Lucy Cavendish again partway through. The ratty book on top of it is The Five Peppers and how they Grew, probably my favourite childhood book, I've decided to read it again. Under Stainless is How to be Comfy, I am sure I have Spotless around here somewhere too. The little blue book is called Meeting Fairies, I too am partway through it, I feel guided to only read it outdoors and have not been able to get out enough lately. I've tried reading it inside but the words are so blurry but are very clear outside. Went to Spotlight yesterday with my husband in tow, can't remember the last time he came into there with me - probably was when I worked at another branch and he got a temporary job there as well, quite a few years back. Found a good use for him while I took a quick look around, he stood on the line at the cutting counter, until he got bored and tried ringing me to come back - he didn't realise I was behind him. Bought 4 metres of purple velveteen for my Redingote, was supposed to start cutting it out today but didn't get to it.

Yesterday my Mum came over wanting to know if she had lent me a bag, she was a little upset it was lost so I offered to help her look. She said the last time she had it was when she went away a few weekends ago and it contained her fabrics and unfinished quilts, I was feeling bad for her. Questioned whether it might have been left behind, she was sure she put it in the car and that she would have been called. Again she made emphasis on what was packed in the bag, I asked if someone had the bag if they would know it was hers by recognising the quilts -- that's when she told me that all the fabric and quilts were in her sewing room. At that point I got a little frustrated, I've no idea why :S. As I passed the rarely used downstairs bathroom I asked if anyone had checked the shower, heading in and pulling the door open. That's when we all broke down in hysterics, because there was a pile of things stacked in the shower, under a coat was the illusive and empty bag, apparently they where hidden there when they moved rooms around.

Spring Autumn Cleaning - Entry

First comes the walk of shame but I've only got one shot of it, somehow a glitch got to the images and this was the best of a bad lot. The area was cluttered, had husband's soccer gear and my scrapbooking bag (going to give it to niece I don't use it). Hadn't been swept in ages, everything was dusty and in disarray.


With only about 20 minutes work here is the tada, it looks so much better now. Is not completely done, have only dusted table tops, cleared out clutter and quickly swept floor. I also would like to paint the wall behind the sewing machine.


The framed pictures are just cards that my mother made for my husband, I liked them muchly so put them in cheap frames. All the pictures are waiting for hanging as soon as I decide on a paint colour and do the painting they will go up. The Geisha was a 21st gift from my Mother In Law.
This quilt was made by Mum and really needs to be hung for full enjoyment.

Still have to wash walls, remove any webs, vacuum teddy collection above mirror, wash curtains, clean windows and sills. I may also put new curtains up.

My dream entry way would include a closet for coats, shoes and bags but we don't have that option here.

The entry is mostly filled with some of my favourite things - vintage sewing machines, my kids hand made teddies.