Missing in Action .. . . . .

To those who have missed my blogs, and those who have sent me messages.. Thank You.
My Computer (which is very old), had decided it does not like Blogging, and just hangs or seizes up completely after I read one or two blogs.

So, In a few weeks time I'll be looking for a new computer (aaaarrrrrr I hate change).

Meanwhile, Miss Soon-to-be-12 is here (Moloko to those who follow her blogs), and we are having a very nice holiday, but not getting any blogging done.

Transmission will resume again soon I hope.

a lovely surprise ...

A lovely parcel arrived in the mail for me this week and I can only say not only was I surprised at its arrival,(as I had completely forgotten about it), but the contents were so sweet and the accompanying letter and card absolutely lovely.

Some time ago I entered a give away, run by Sarah at thimbles and crumbles
at that time Sarah was making the sweetest brooches from vintage completed embroideries and making sweet lavender sachets from Unworked embroideries, with their simple, clear lines.  she also wraps things in pretty cotton, see the embroidery frame? it is now holding a ribbon with a picture frame attached, on my bedroom wall, and I feel sure my young grand daughter will lay claim to the 2 pretty hand made hair clips next week.

All the above were wrapped in some pretty white cotton, hand stamped with pink flowers.

I did feel rather special, and it came at just the right time, as I've had a couple of 'down' weeks lately, and not done much blogging.

Sarah has not been blogging either, she's had computer and Internet problems and changes in her life that take up lots of her time.  I hope we' ll see her back here again soon.

so, thank you Sarah.♥

Is my Tea Cosy? I'll say it is !

I read a cute post about having a Tea Cosy over at duchess declutters blog, so I followed the link to Enchanted Moments to show off my not so woolly Tea Cosy.

I have been married to an Englishman for over 30 years now, and one thing we do have at home it Tea, from a ceramic, (never metal) Teapot, with real Tea Leaves, 2-3 or even 4 times a day!!  We have always had tea cosies, fabric, woolly, knitted, crocheted, felt.. you name it.  However a year or so ago the then current Tea Pot broke and I went shopping for a new one.  I came across this darling at T2 shop. It's French, white ceramic, with a felt lined metal sleeve that fits over to keep your tea warm (and serves as a lid)   The tea leaves are in an infuser inside the pot.  Vic loves it, easy to use, and keeps the tea very warm for that much loved second-cup.

Ours is the larger size, but from memory they came in 3 different sizes.

I rarely make the Tea, that has been Vic's job since the week I met him.  He also used to make the Tea at work, and at home for his Mum and family since he was a little kid.  He drinks his milk, (in first), no sugar.  I have milk with one!

So, I'm linking up with Enchanted Moments to show off my very Cosy Teapot.

oh dear, what a laundry load

I mentioned some time ago, to an elderly neighbour that I liked old linen and crochet, embroidered doilies etc when we were chatting outside the newsagents.  She is moving to assisted living soon and when she saw me down the street on Monday called me over to say she had a bag of all her old crochet on her porch for me.  Most had been in the linen cupboard, untouched for years, and is quite grubby and in need of a good soak, but there don't appear to be any real stains, just years of dust and dirt.  Nothing looks torn or damaged either.  I was just so thrilled.

It is mostly ecru crochet, and mostly doilies with a couple of table cloths and a few motifs not made into anything in particular.

The embroidery is all doilies, mostly small ones.

So I need a tub of Nappy San, and a free day, and some Sunshine, and I'll have a suitcase full of lovely linens and crochet.  She said if I didn't take them, they would just go out with all the other rubbish her nieces didn't want.  I had a quick look thru what they'd left, nothing at all really, they even took the sheets and blankets for pet rugs, but couldn't think of anything they could use these ''useless lacy things'' for.
Aren't I lucky?

in the Pink this week . . .

I managed to pop into a few Op Shops this week between my busy to-ing and fro-ing.. and here's what I found.
PINK THINGS! ~ a great chenille quilt, with wavy lines pattern and a fringe around the edges. Not one but TWO single bed pink sheets in a very cute floral pattern.

a small length of navy blue lace edging and a lovely piece of gold, green and orange ribbon. And a gorgeous old tin from Belgium

when I opened it up, what was inside??

Just more wooden cotton reels.  I have a real stash of them know, not sure what I'll do with them but they do look cute.
I'll be linking up with Sophie and her Flea Market Finds again today, I have already had a sneak peek and there have been some exceptionally great items found this week.. must be all those people Spring Cleaning, and taking things to the Op Shops.

Op Shopping on Tour

always try to stop off in a town with an Op Shop if I can when we travel, but Vic's never too keen to 'do' so many stops so I was slightly curtailed.
However, i did manage quite a nice haul (funny I kept a bag in the back of the car and just added a thing or 2 here and there, surprised how they piled up).

First, a great orange circular table cloth, love the pattern. but as I don't have a round table, it will be on eBay soon.
Then in Goulburn Salvos, I saw a staff member emerge from the back room with not One but TWO genie bottles, OK, they are only in amber glass, not as desirable as green or blue, but I did like them and the price was right, so she didn't even have to find a place on the shelves for them!

talk about right place, right time.

Lots of sewing, knitting and doll books, of course, always good sellers on eBay, and a Pyrex cookery book, very water damaged but some nice illustrations of Pyrex dishes.

These two strips of embroidered linen were once shelf edging (probably on a Welsh Dresser or open pantry). one's a bit damaged and I really don't need them for anything, but I think I know an embroidery collector who will gladly add them to her stash !

.. and the little roses cotton crochet pot holder was just too cute to leave behind too.

So, hopefully now we are home, and Vic's into a routine, he's not in the best of health and doesn't look like improving either in the short term, I'll be back to Op Shopping in and around Melbourne again, with lots to show.

I need to get into a new eBay routine too, otherwise grand daughter won't be able to fit into her bedroom in the forthcoming school holidays.

I love showing my finds, and I know lots of you like looking.  If you want to see more fantastic finds for the week, pop over to Sophie's, where all the Op Shop-aholics hang out!

Home again ~~ been a great week away

Our week away to NSW to attend the State Antique Bottles and Collectables Show was great. We started off with a couple of days in Sydney visiting our darling grand daughter, our son and his partner. Always a good start to a holiday.  They are all well, and have lots of exciting things going on in their lives.

Then we were off to Penrith for the State Show, where the whole venue was packed with exhibitors and swap and sellers, with a wide variety of goods for sale. I only took a few photos, but I did rather like this tin

and I loved this 1930s Filing cabinet, with a little pull out shelf on the side to rest your files on while working at the cabinet

but I resisted all temptations, and did not add anything to my collections.

Vic and I entered 15 items from our collection in the Inkwell Category and took out first prize.  I was very pleased for him, especially as we had quite strong competition from a few other collectors.  There are rules as to what you can show, and how many items, judging is on rarity, variety, information, etc.  All competition entries are placed on tables around the hall and must stay in place for the two days the Show is open to the public.

The large bottle in the center is the Show Prize, not an ink bottle!

Then the weekend was over and it was time to drive home again.
On the way we stopped off for a coffee at Gundagai and I discovered The Niagara Cafe !  Established in 1902, and visited by Prime Minister Curtin in 1942, this large cafe has the original booth style tables and a wonderful long counter with black and gold decoration. I took a few photos to show you all

Amazing !

So, now I' ll try to catch up with some blog reading, and emails and get all the laundry finished and get back into the swing of things at home.
I do love a trip away, but also love to be home again.  2044 km driven in my new VW Golf, and I'm pretty happy with it too.