Wanderings to Howick -Give-Away

Wednesday was spent wandering around the midlands, in particular the town of Howick, a rural farming area. It was a most magical day, but I will write more about that soon. Here is a picture of the famous "Howick Falls".
In the meantime, I have three sets of lovely postcards of the old Howick to give away. Each set has six postcards of scenes and buildings from around 1850 of Howick in those days. All you have to do is leave a comment to this post, make sure you leave your email so I can contact you if your name is drawn. Drawing will take place on 1st August.
You can view the postcards at
Wednesday's Wanderings

OLd Locks

I love locks and keys, from great big skeleton ones to tiny delicate keys. Locks and keys conjure up all sorts of stories in my mind, what lay beyond the doors they opened. I have a small collection and am always on the look out for any interesting bits. I try to use the locks and keys in my decorating, hanging them on cupboard doors. While tiding up a few shelves in my office I re-discovered one of my favourite locks still in its box. Made in holland, this lock is heavy and would have been used on one of those old huge doors of some museum, well that's the picture I have in mind.

Shower for the Garden

I love unusual items in my garden and home. I have an old solid metal roller, and mini roller, some old forks and spades, galvanized watering cans and old tin baths, an old push type lawn mower and hope to get a few more to add. My new feature in my garden is an old shower now used to hang a basket of flowers.

Our Jessie -Every picture tells a Story

Jessie has come a long way since we first saw her at the dog pound some six years ago, just a little terrified scrap of a thing. She has such character, is always into everything, adores everyone especially when our children come home.
Here is her story in pictures captured by my daughter Jayne.

I wonder if I can squeeze in here!
And of course, when asked what she was doing there, she implored,
"Well they kept me a space!"


Here she shares a joke with the ladies of my club!

First listings

I have listed my first few items from my Wednesday Wanderings.
Click on the link above to view.

Rescued Bunny

Before and
After
A few days ago I rescued this ceramic bunny from the dump. He was missing an ear and had been painted various shades of brown and a large patch of white. I made him a new ear out of terracotta clay and I finally restored him to a somewhat acceptable colour. He now looks contented on my shelf amoungst the other bunnies.

Cape Robins

Every day, a couple of times a day, the little Cape Robins come knocking at our kitchen window for their "cheese". This has being going on now for a number of years, mother and father robins have come along, bringing their new fledglings to show them the ropes, and they inturn have brought their young ones. They now answer to our whistle,and in minutes are at the window and if we are late in calling them ,they soon let us know. Its a particually busy time in winter with one family of robins after the other calling for fuel food. I have tried to take pictures but none have been sucessful yet so thought I would share with you a beautiful antique card from my collection.

Wednesday's Wanderings

I decided to open another blog for items I have for sale or have created under Whimsical Prims and Scallywag Bears. I have called this blog Wednesday's Wanderings as this is my day of the week to hunt for treasures, great finds to keep or share with someone else looking for such pieces.

Aged Fraktur Bird Box

Aged Box, stands 4" tall and 3" in diameter. I have painted, sanded, and aged this box to give it a time worn look. I added a Fraktur style bird which I did in watercolours and then sealed the entire box. Inside, sitting on a natural coir nest, are three aged splatter painted "mock" eggs.
For sale: email for details.

Hats and Scarves

I got some new knitted hats and scaves in for the shoppe today and who better to model them than four ladies from my club. these are chunky, beautifully knitted, fully lined hats and scarves and just the thing to keep you warm in our chilly winter weather.

For Wendy Van Zyl.

Thank you for always showing an interest in what I make and do.
You are a true friend!
Enjoy your day!

Happy 4th July

Wishing all my friends a Happy 4th July!
have a wonderful day and stay safe!

A tisket, A tasket, a little basket!

I love baskets, all shapes and sizes but in particular the unusual or older ones. Hubby often asks why I need another basket when I have so many, well my answer is cause all my baskets are full!
I was amazed to see so many for sale on ebay and at quite reasonable prices too, now if I only lived close enough to buy them, that would be heaven. Unfortunately the postage would probably be way more than the basket iteself, so I have to content myself to looking around locally. Here is a small part of my collection, I will show you the wire ones I have in another post.

Oh my, oh my!

I am sooo thrilled. Today I was given this beautiful old stool from my son's in-laws. I just love it! The grain, the joints, the little bits of metal repair, it has sooo much character and tells such stories. It reminds me of the little milkmaid stools we used as children on our farm. Each morning we would dress hurriedly, and run down to the barn to milk our cow, oh i can just see it all now. thank you so much Linda and Alan.

Garden Path

Photograph taken at "Hogsback" by J. Cansfield 2007


"Once upon a time, I know not where,
I know not when. A dream may be,
Out of a pine wood, unaware,
I stepped upon a quiet lea."
Gustav Falke