A Prim on a Whim

Christmas has arrived!

2011-10-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

Yes its that time of year when shops start to display their Christmas goodies.Have a look at all the wonderful items at Marcella-Mia, Hillcrest.

Flowers around the Garden

2011-09-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

It that beautiful time of year again when the garden is just bursting with colour.
Here is a collage to share with you of some of the wonderful flowers in our garden.

Bric 'n Brac Sale

2011-08-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

The next Bric 'N Brac sale at Marcella-Mia, Hillcrest is this saturday 13th august. The first one last month was a sell out so make sure you pop in early (starts 10am) to get the best bargains.
Treasures for crafters, collectors, those who like to make something new out of old things, or just tht elusive item you have been searching for! Crazy sale with crazy prices!

Moment of Madness Sale

2011-07-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

It's 41 today!

2011-01-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that hubby and I celebrate our 41st anniversay today! Well we actually have known each other for 46 years - Most times it seems like we have been together forever, I can't imagine life without hubby, but at other times it seems like we met just the other day, memories are still so clear in my mind.
To all those out there celebrating their special day today, have a wonderful day!

New Year

2011-01-01T05:24:00.000-08:00

Wishing all a wonderful 2011, hope all your dreams come true!

Hubby and I have been busy with a new bookshelf, something we have needed to do for a while now to house the many new books. so we needed to move the old bookshelf to accomodate the new and in doing so all the books had to be taken out. It has been a wonderful activity, rediscovering some of the books and treasures tucked in between.
One of the items was a piece of wrapping paper of nursery rhymes with animals, kept for scanning one day to turn into the many crafting ideas that are constantly drifting around in my mind. Unfortuanately the paper has become quite soiled but I did manage to scan in parts of it.
Here are three pictures for you to enjoy, Little Miss Muffet, My Pretty Maid and Sing a Song of Sixpence. I hope to scan more in later. These images were done by Molly Brett.

My Little Spaces

2010-12-30T00:48:00.000-08:00

As my home is full of various collections and hand-me-down furniture, (too sentimental to part with), my little spaces of special pieces are dotted around wherever I can fit them.
Here is a collection of vintage pieces in the softest of blue and pink colours. I just love the gentleness of the busts, it brings to mind, days of when time just lingered on. I love old jewellery too, what stories these pieces could tell!
Enjoy!

Christmas Time

2010-12-27T16:20:00.001-08:00

Wishing all a merry xmas and a wonderful 2011.

Bag it or Box it

2010-11-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Come along to our Bag it and Box it demos at Marcella-Mia, gift shop.

decorated tables

2010-09-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

Here are two pictures of our decorated high tea tables before the food and guest arrive.
It was a wondeful event and hopefully will lead to many more.
more pictures soon.

High Tea at Cafe Mia

2010-09-15T20:01:00.000-07:00

Today we will be hosting our first High Tea at Cafe Mia, the little coffee shop in Marcella-Mia's gift and home decor shop. It is a privately booked party but we hope this will be the first of many to come.
Here is today's menu

High Tea Menu

An assortment of dainty sandwiches
Honey mustard Ham
Parsley egg Mayo
Cucumber & cheese

Petit Sausage Rolls

Coconut & Almond Tartlets
Meringue nests with Lemon Curd
Walnut & Hazelnut Balls
Petit Fours

Petit Pain au chocolate
Chocolate dipped strawberries

Teas:
Five Rose, Earl Grey, Peppermint, Rooibos
Iced Lemon Tea.

Between hubby, my friend Ruth and myself we have made everything.

The theme is pink roses and as an added extra we had to make a special Black Forest Cake.

Tea will be served in Royal Albert's "Cottage Garden" and Paragon's "Fragrance"

Warm Winter Wishes

2010-07-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

Warm Winter Wishes with "What Matters" is our theme for our first I Heart Market on Saturday 7th August. My daughter and I are busy making items for our stall and hopefully these will bring you warm winter wishes. Its been a very mild winter this year but generally August can be our coldest month, but what ever the weather, we hope you will visit our stall -we look forward to meeting you.

Finally its- "What Matters"

2010-06-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Home Sweet Home
Well my daughter and I have racked our brains for the past few days trying to come up with a name for our joint venture at the I Heart Marke t and its amazing how things just came together.
I have made my creations under Whimsical Prims and my daughter is Tesori Piccoli (Little Treasures) and together we are "What Matters". We have also decided on our theme for august but at the moment "mum's" the word. Once we get a few items completed I will put pictures up.
I can't wait for my daughter to get back home, its been 16 long years she has been away and it will be sooooo good to have her back. Little Max, our first grandson is growing daily and skype is a wonderful way to watch his progress. Now all hubby and I need is for our son, DIL and little Max to come back home and we would be the happiest folks around!!

I Heart Market

2010-06-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ooh, I'm excited to be joining the I Heart Market in August. Have had my thinking cap on working on a fresh new theme for this event which takes place on the first Saturday of every month. My daughter will be joining me so that's an added excitement in itself.

What Matters Tea Party

2010-06-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Well Wednesday 16th is drawing nearer and I am working non stop to get things finished for the International food and Craft market at Shongweni. Its and all day event starting at 12 noon and ending at 9.pm. My theme is a play on Alice in Wonderland,and is called "Fun & Funky at the What Matters Tea Party". the colours are basically black, white and shades in between with pinks and reds thrown in. Here is a collage of a few completed items and some of the tea cosies were posted in an earlier post.

Every picture tell the story.

2010-06-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

As promised here are some pictures of my Fun & Funky at the What Matters Tea Party for 16th June. The mad hatters tea cosy is my own design and am thrilled with how they turned out. There are also hatters egg cosies. As well as the hatter designs I will have strawberry and cup-cake cosies both for teapots and egg cups as well. The main colours are black and white, silvers and greys with a touch of pinks and reds.

The rest of the pictures are scenes around my shop, have opened a little Cafe Mia corner as well which has become a busy area for regulars to drop in and have coffee or a light lunch.

I'm still here!

2010-06-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a looong time since I posted, but I'm still here and enjoying the hectic life of becoming a grandparent for the first time, running my shop, enjoying my hubby and home and four legged friends, meeting with our 13 year old club and everything else life drops on us unexpectedly.

I'm busy working on my theme for our one off International Food and Craft market at Shongweni Farmer's Market. My theme is a play on Alice & Wonderland and you are all welcome to view our stand, "Fun and Funky at the What Matters Tea Party" on the 16th June. We would love to see you.

I will post some pictures soon. Until then take care and enjoy each day.

Heart Garland

2010-01-30T20:20:00.000-08:00

I have been playing around with paper again and made these heart garlands. They would look great over a doorway, window or around a frame or mirror. You could also attach to the inside of a card so the garland would pop out when card is opened.
Fun and easy to make.
Fold your strip of paper like a fan, concertena style. Trace your heart shape on top fold, cut out around your drawn line, but make sure you do not cut on both sides of heart for about 1cm near top of heart so that all folds are still attached. Enjoy!

From that .........to this.

2010-01-26T16:23:00.000-08:00

I love turning something one would normally discard into an item that is useful again.
I found this beautiful antique cup at a junk sale and knew straight away what I was going to do with it. Its been sitting around on my to-do shelf for a while, waiting for the right fabric. I have just revamped my kitchen which included new curtains. These curtains were too long so I trim off the ends. Yes you guessed it, the fabric was perfect for my antique cup. I made the missing handle from a piece of old wire off some silk flowers and now I have another pincushion to add to my growing collection!

Valentine

2010-01-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

I have been busy preparing for my valentine promotion at my shoppe, Marcella-Mia.
Here are some of the little tags that are completed, still lots more to do.
Mt theme is olde worlde red and pretty pink and will include lots of hearts and roses.

Enamel Ware

2010-01-17T02:45:00.000-08:00

I love enamelware,preferably the old stuff but any will do! I have quite a collection now and as I am spring cleaning the kitchen, I thought I would share with you a few of my kettles and dishes.

New pictures -On Wings of Song - Inspirational Gifts

2010-01-15T16:06:00.000-08:00

This year I decided to make an inspirational gift for each of my club members. This is the first one and it reads,
"with a song in your heart,
you'll soar to new heights"
I made this out of vintage pink ribbon and glass glitter, just have to complete the tag.
I have finally completed this, the tag is double sided with more encouraging words and inside the scrolled wings are more words.

In the Pink -mini teacup pincushion

2010-01-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

I have a collection of slightly chipped or broken teacups and saucers too pretty to just throw away.
Today I turned a pretty mini teacup/saucer into a "in the pink" pincushion. The pretty button roses are quite old ones with a lovely luster to them. I knew I would find a use for them one day. I love doing these and have quite a few already, now I can't wait to start the next which will be "Blue, blue, your heart is true". Will show you when its done.

New Years Spring Clean

2010-01-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

errrrr. ........... should I say summer clean. It's been sweltering hot here with all the rain we have had! Anyhow its that time of year when I always feel the need to "sort things out" - that is move things from one place to another. First it was the spare bedroom which now became the dinningroom with the old blues from the kitchen and the kitchen got a facelift with the reds from the lounge. Well its a long story and not quite finished yet but a least a start has been made.
Then my office which was a bedroom came into it and somehow every room in the house got involved and in between all of this the craft stuff needed sorting so buttons and ribbons have now been done. mmmmmmmmmmmm the year will end before I'm done!

Oh what a beautiful morning!

2010-01-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

It makes me want to break out in song. It really is a most lovely morning with the little night rain making everything sparkle like magical diamonds. The bright early morning sun has turned the green into an almost luminous hue, highlighting the moss from all the rain we have had.
The flowers are out in abundance, absorbing the early rays of sunlight.
Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy while we walk around our garden.

Happy New Year.

2009-12-31T20:15:00.000-08:00

Wishing all a wonderful 2010.

"Today accept the challenges
and the possibilites of the year that lies ahead"
Helen Steiner Rice

Thank you Jayne for my lovely book!

Blue Skies & Bottlebrush

2009-12-06T02:52:00.000-08:00

After five consequetive days of rain, the sun shone today. What a warm welcome to sunday and I couldn't wait to get outside and walk around the garden. The bottlebrush trees are in bloom, enticing the beautiful sunbirds and bees. The weavers are out in full force, the robins and kurrican thrush taking turns to bathe in the the bird bowls. Yes it a warm fuzzy feeling walking around today!

Sshhhh........ don't tell !

2009-11-25T18:36:00.000-08:00

Each year my club have a christmas luncheon on the last saturday in November. Its a bring and share luncheon and much merriment is had. Santa also visits us and brings along his sack of goodies ( all handmade by each member). Each gift is dated with the year and this year I decided to make a table ornament instead of one for the tree. I've called it, "I'll take this one". I have needle felted the snowman , added snow and mica flakes, a rusty sleigh pulled by a flocked deer.
I can't wait to see what everyone has made!

Returning Robins

2009-11-22T00:31:00.000-08:00

Last spring, the cape robins built their nest in my wreath I made for my front door.
This spring they returned and two babies are growing rapidly. Here are pictures to show you how they have filled the nest with hardly any room for mum.

Christmas Time

2009-11-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas has arrived at Marcella-Mia's. Pop over to see some pictures taken from around my shoppe.

Roses.

2009-11-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

These beautiful roses all come from one bush, Double Delight. After cutting the blooms, I was still left with another eight on the bush. I am so excited and happy with my rose bush as it the first time in many years that I have been successful in growing these. The perfume from this beauty is wonderful as well - a real double delight!!

Nature's Glory.

2009-11-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

Despite the severe fire that raged through our property this year, nature has a way of dealing with the damage. Trees have started to show new green leaves again, grass has sprung up in bare patches, and wild flowers appear magically once more.
While walking the dogs through our bottom untamed acre I came across some new wild flowers.
These delicate lily-type pale yellow beauties looked so fragile amongst the burnt undergrowth.
I can't wait to see what nature brings each morning on my rounds.

and the winner is......................

2009-11-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Sue from Collector of Crafts, your Happy Harvest give-away is on it's way to you.
Thank you too to those who left comments, sorry you couldn't all be winners.

Harvest Give-Away

2009-10-27T22:18:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Whimsical Prim Give-Away and what better than a box full of goodies.
All you have to do to go into the Harvest Give-Away is leave a comment to this post. You have three days to do so -closing date for the draw is midnight Sat 31st October.
The lucky winner will be announced on Sunday 1st November.
This lovely box is from Primitives by Kathy and inside are goodies made by Whimsical Prims.

Autumn in Summer

2009-10-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

I love how this flowering cherry tree has its autumn colouring in spring/summer.
All the new leaves are first a beautiful coppery colour and finally turn dark green. It just stands out amongst all the other trees and shrubs in the garden with their new shades of green leaves.

Clocks

2009-10-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Both hubby and I love clocks and the older the better. We have quite a collection, the oldest is a cuckoo clock bought on our first anniversary. The poor thing really battles sometimes to sing to twelve and has to be helped along. One gets so use to the different chimes, but my favourite are the Westminster chimes. As well as clocks we have a collection of watches including fob watches. I love the intricate patterns on many of these. I will have to show you a few one day but for now here is a lovely metal clock.

New events

2009-10-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Read all about our new events at Marcella~Mia. Our latest event is a coffee tasting morning.

Decadent Delights

2009-10-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

If you ever travel through the Natal midlands, you have to stop at the Belgium Chocolate and coffee shoppe. What delightful treats and their chocolate cake served with a berry compote is pure decadence. Just looking at the picture gets my taste buds drooling again.

A Meandering Day

2009-10-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today was a meandering day. My daughter arrived last wednesday for my opening of Marcella~Mia and today we took time off to spend meandering through the midlands, one of our favourite pastimes. It was a cool day but bright with the signs of spring. New green leaves and flowers were bursting out everywhere, it really was most picturesque.
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

A cute friend we met along the way.
Old wagons with many stories to tell in their final resting place under some trees.

The angels took flight!

2009-10-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

It was a day to remember with the opening of my shop, Marcella~Mia. Customers streamed in from 7am and many items sold out, including these beautiful angels.
Thank you to all those who could attend and those who sent well wishes and flowers.
You can view more pictures at Marcella~Mia blog.

A New beginning

2009-09-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well its great excitement all round as Thursday 1st October draws closer - the official opening of my new store front shop, Marcella~Mia. You can read all about it on my new blog, Marcella~Mia.

Gone to Soon!

2009-09-02T15:28:00.001-07:00

This title reminds me of that beautiful song by Michael Jackson. Its so true, I can't believe August had come and gone! I had good intentions of posting on my blog, at least once.
Well spring has arrived and perhaps I will be inspired once again to blog. Winter seem to have taken all the stuffing out of me.
I had my son and daughter-in-law visitng for a month. They did a fair bit of travelling the country side and took some spectacular photos.
A close-up of a giraffe and zebra at Tala and lion at Shamwari.
My daughter and DIL on one of their many walks along the beautiful beaches in the Eastern Cape and a lovely rock pool seen along the way.

Friendship Pins

2009-07-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

Last year our club swapped friendship pins.

Each member was given a pin with seven rings. We added our name tag to the end of the pin and gave our empty pin to a member. We then each added a chain to one ring with beads,charms and trinkets and a tiny disk with our name. These were then passed onto the next member to add their bit until the pins were fill and returned to the original person. In all we got three friendship pins each filled with love, charm and friendship and a wonderful reminder to the great frienships we have developed over the past 12 years.

The old and the new!

2009-07-11T08:34:00.001-07:00

Every picture tells a story. These little carts pulled by small donkeys are a common site around Grahamstown. You could choose to ride in the old or new version of a taxi to take you around to the different shows throughout the town if you were too tired to walk.

Fields of pineapples growing on the farm where we spent two nights while meandering around the areas from Port Alfred, Bathurst and Grahamstown.

Holiday

2009-07-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a wonderful 9 days spent with my daughter in the Eastern Cape.

What a beautiful coastal area, unspoilt beaches for miles and miles, rock pools to explore, wide open sand to walk, rivers mouths with small clutches of homes built right to the edge. East London where my daughter lives has so many quaint coffee shops and crafty country stores to explore. The Grahamstown Festival was alive, with shows, buskers and stalls but the journey to Grahmstown was the most spectacular with the natural vegetation of red hot pokers in all their splendour. I will write more soon on some of the quaint parts we visited.

In Memory of Mum

2009-05-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

Its almost a year since the passing of my mum, I can't believe how time has flown. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her and I so miss all her little mannerisms. Mum was the life and soul of every gathering, family or friends. She knew of all her loved ones whereabouts and worried about all. Mum was like a true mother hen, clucking and fussing about her brood.

Having run her shop for the past year, trying to wind up things has been an emotional roller coaster ride. Her shop had been her passion for the last 30 years, one I hope to continue for more years to come.

We love you mum, you will always be with us!

Spring is in the Air -New stuff on Etsy

2009-04-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

I have so neglected my Etsy shop, time just seems to run away. So today I made a point of going through my stuff and found some items to list that bring a feeling of Spring to mind.

Take a look if you feel so inclined, just to enjoy!

Collecting Collections

2009-03-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

How many of you out there collect different things? It's said that having more than two of similar items starts a collection. Well then I am surrounded by my collections of all sorts and so I decided to share with you some of the things I collect.

Today its shoes, not the ones you wear but miniatures and shoe trees.

Here are a few miniatures shoes which I may eventually turn into pin cushion or something similar and an enamel jug of shoe trees. Oh by the way I collect enamelware too, will have to show that later.

Winner of March Madness

2009-03-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

time has come to pick the winners of my March Madness 4 week give-away.

I used a random number generator and this is what came up;

Week one -Trivet and tags ..............winner is Sue of

Collector of Crafts

Week two -Drawstring Bag with eggs and tag ...................winner is Karen of

My Colonial Home

Week three- Head bands and rose posies ..................winner is Bettina of

Glass Dragon Bears

Week four - Vintage Aged bunny ..........winner is Patti of

Wild Berry Primitives

Congratulations to all the winners, your give-away will be posted airmail on Monday. Please just drop me an email when you receive it so I know it hasn't gone astray.

Thank you to all who left a comment, wish you could have all been winners. There will be many more give-aways on A Prim on a Whim this year so if you haven't already added me to your favourite list, make sure you visit often.

Two days left............

2009-03-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

Only two days left to enter my March Madness give-aways.

There are four weeks of give-aways for you to enter. Enter one or all, its up to you, just leave a comment to the one you want to enter, (don't forget to make sure your email is availble for me to let you know if you have won.) Thank you to all those who have entered so far.

Have fun!

4th and final March Madness give-away

2009-03-21T17:10:00.000-07:00

It's hippity-hoppity into my 4th and final weekly March Madness give-away.

This week you could be the winner of one of my aged bunnies. I dyed the calico in a paintwash then sewed my "vintage style" bunny. Next he was given my aging process, then little embroidered features and finally a vintage organza ribbon was wrapped around his neck in a pretty bow. Bunny -hop would look great propped up amongst your Eastery displays.

If you would like to be in the draw for one of my simple "vintage" bunnies, just leave a comment (make sure I have your email) and you could be the lucky winner.

March Madness -3rd Give-Away

2009-03-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

Its the 3rd weekly give-away in my March Madness Month.

This week its something for all those who love miniatures - two handmade rose hairbands and two rose posies, all made in silk ribbons and wire. These are perfect to embellish a miniature bear or doll (will fit a 3inch-4inch) or use in your scrapping. Perfect for a spring or Eastery look.

Just leave a comment to this post, make sure I can get your email and your name goes into the draw. Click on picture for a close-up view.

March Madness -2nd Give-away

2009-03-07T22:48:00.001-08:00

Yes its Sunday and it time for my second give-away.

This week its a little drawstring Easter bag, embellished with a fabric egg, sprinkled in mica flakes. Inside you will find four fabric covered cardstock eggs, all aged and sprinkled with mica and an aged Easter tag, all handmade by me.

So leave a comment to this post, together with your email, and your name will go into the lucky draw.

March Madness -Give-Away

2009-03-01T00:12:00.000-08:00

Yes it my March Madness, a month when I love to do something different from the other months of the year for my loyal customers and friends ----------soooooooooooo join in the fun for my weekly March Madness give-aways. That's four different give-aways for March Madness.

The first starts today, Sunday 1st March. Every sunday throughout March, I will put up the new give-away. You can enter all or the ones you want, just leave a comment each week for each give-away. On sunday 29th, the March Madness give-aways will close, the four names will be drawn, one name for each weekly give-away and the four lucky winners will be notified on monday 30th. Remember to leave your email so I can contact you if your name is drawn. Your give-away will then be airmail posted to you anywhere in the world.

If you leave a comment to this post, together with you email, your name will go into this week's give-away draw for the month of March ending on Sunday 29th.

Well after all of that what is this week's give-away.
Here it is!
A hand appliqued and quilted trivet or pot holder (can be used as either) and two "vintage" bunny tags with a fabric back for you to write your message.

Summer Time

2009-02-24T05:24:00.000-08:00

It sure is summer here -birds are singing, flowers are blooming, butterflies are fluttering, and I am getting ready for Easter. Easter falls in our early Autumn but Easter display colours tend to be summery or spring-like, pastel eggs and bunnies hopping everywhere, green grass and fluffy chicks. So I have decided to make things for my Easter Open House (date still to be finalised) in both gentle colours and others in more earthy shades.
Above is a lovely summery-spring basket, decoupaged in colourful pansies and decorated with 3D pansies, butterflies and bows, a perfect small basket to gather those easter eggs.

Eggstra Surprise!

2009-02-20T17:44:00.000-08:00

What's it all about! Well follow my blog and find out more on 1st March!

Eggs are hatching!

2009-02-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

Sue, my very talented friend, who is a constant inspiration to me has just made these beautiful eggs. Soft gentle colours in lovely wool, appliqued and embellished, who can resist.

Waste not, Want not...............

2009-02-10T16:24:00.000-08:00

The old saying, "Waste not, want not," couldn't be more true in making this pincushion heart.

I had been saving all my scraps of fabric from my recent sewing activities, I just can't bear to throw any away and knew I would come up with an idea to use them up. Well here is my 'waste not, want not' pincushion heart, made entirely from scraps of fabric, a combination of wool, cotton and ticking, sewn together in a crazy patchwork style and stuffed with more scraps of fabric. Two buttons and a bit of ribbon finishes it off.It was fun to make, oh so easy and I love the weight the fabric stuffing gives to the heart.

Isn't it great!

2009-02-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

Sue, my friend, created this gorgeous vintage-look tea cosy from fabric we bought the other day. Isn't it great and what a neat idea with the outside pockets to hold serviettes/spoons/or other bitty pieces. This tea cosy will be for sale at Granny's Cottage Shoppe Valentine open house on Thursday 12th.

No, no, no she cried..........

2009-02-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

You can't possibly want more fabric. Well that's what I told myself on my recent "just looking" trip with my friend, Sue. What happened?? I couldn't resist and came home with a bagfull of fabric, wonderul textures and colours that conjured up all sorts of things to make. Of course it didn't stop there, i had to add meters of ribbon and it was just as well we ran out of time, (or was it money LOL) otherwise who knows what would have been next.

I love these trips with my friends, who are so wickedly inspirational, it makes for a most satisfying day.

February -a month of love

2009-02-02T17:46:00.000-08:00

Yes its February already and yes the air is filled with love. February being Valentine month, certainly puts the world into the mood - adverts a-plenty, movies, shop displays and so on.

One can't help but feel that love is in the air.

I am busy preparing for my Valentine open house on Thursday 12th Feb. and Saturday 14th.

It will be the first open house at Granny's Cottage Shoppe and there is still much preparation to do with rooms for bedroom, bathroom, lounge, dinning and kitchen displays and the outside garden to sort out. I can see it all taking shape, even though its slow progress but am happy and sure my mum would have been too. This was mum's home, hence the name Granny's Cottage Shoppe. I hope to get lots of pictures up soon but for now if you haven't already visited my Granny's Cottage shoppe blog, just click on the link to take you there.

Valentine give-away -Love bug ............

2009-01-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

Love Bug Needle Keeper.

Everyone's a winner in my valentive give-away.

Would you like the pattern and instructions on how to make my love bug needle keeper?

All you have to do is leave a comment to this post together with your email and I will email you back the full pattern and instructions. This is an easy pattern but makes a great gift for your loved ones who enjoy sewing or someone who just needs a place to keep those extra needles.

This Valentine give-away will run until Saturday 14th February.

Myrtle tree

2009-01-28T10:15:00.000-08:00

I love the Australian myrtle tree, the fruit and flowers are so attractive. These trees grow to a fair size but can be kept as a hedge or topiary as I have done here in the picture. I have two of these in lovely old large pots. The fruit is slightly bitter to taste but can be made into a lovely jam. The pompom flowers are great for displaying in a large vase.

Do you ever..............

2009-01-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

get the feeling that you just need to create a particular piece -- you know that feeling that won't go away until you do it! Well while working on my valentine theme, "Love is filled with summer sweetness", a theme of hearts and summer ripened strawberries, I just got the urge to create a cushion, using mixed media. I had a basic idea of what I wanted to create, but not the final vision until I was paging through a magazine and saw this strawberry cheesecake. I knew straight away that it had to be in my cushion and so "Pleasure in Progress" was created. I had such fun putting this together.

Have a Break

2009-01-19T18:44:00.000-08:00

This year I had decided to make all my gifts for friends and family, from the gift itself to the wrapping and cards. I know its an ambitious thought especially as the year wears on, but I am going to try my hardest to keep it up.

Here is my first gift, its for a friend who loves anything small, adores cats and loves the natural back to basic, earthy look.

The gift is four tiny hand made pottery dishes, ideal as individual butter/sauce/relish/pate dishes. For the wrapping, I took a piece of old hessian and roughly sewed it with old jute to make a sack, gathering up the top to tie. the card is made from plaid cotton fabric on the front and dark check tapestry on the back. I broke a small frame in half, and aged it with burnt umber oil paint. (the broken frame went with the saying.) I cut "Have a whale of a break" out from a magazine, and added this around the frame. (My dear friend 's life is always so hectic) Inside I put a picture of a sleeping cat and added the words "Eight more lives". I finished off the front with two vintage press studs and burnt umber here and there to age.

At the back of the card I added a gift voucher from my shoppe.

I have so enjoyed putting this together, now to start on the next one!

Granny's Cottage Shoppe

2009-01-16T20:41:00.000-08:00

Will have an Valentine Open House on Thursday 12th February.

Pop over to my other blog, Granny's Cottage Shoppe to read more about it..

Garden corners

2009-01-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

Its been a while since I posted, computor was down but all back to normal now!

Today I spent a wonderful time with a friend who is a keen and expert gardener. I so wanted to do up the area around my Granny's Cottage Shoppe but didn't know what to do, so ~Judy and I spent a morning scouring the nurseries for just the right plants.

We came home with a truck full of glorious colours and spent most of the afternoon preparing pots and planting. Still lots of work to do but at least a start was made.

Here are two corners, my quiet corner and my colourful trough. All my pot planters have been standing empty for over 30 years and have matured just perfectly with moss and natural ageing, the look I so love!

Meandering

2008-12-31T17:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and the best for 2009!

My daughter, Jayne, a friend Judy and I spent the last day of 2008 meandering through our midlands, gentle valleys and rolling hills with beautiful places and shops to see and delightful spots to replenish the body.

Above is a photo of Culamoya Chimes, a magical place to fill the mind and soul with its beauty and sounds.

If you would like to enjoy with us some of the lovely places we visited here is the link to our meandering.

Thirty Two years back...............

2008-12-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my daughter and I went off to our marine world, USharka Land, at the beach front.

It was a beautiful day full of memories. We were both very emotional at the Dolphin show as Gambit , a 36 year old dolphin was the first to entertain us. This very same dolphin, together with his late partner, Purdey, took my daughter around the pool in a boat as a treat for her 4th birthday, 32 years ago. It was just so emotional to see this beautiful creature as we had both not been to the show again since that day. To add to this wonderful day, one could have a photo taken with the dolphins and I asked, after telling the organizers our story if we could have Gambit out but they were apologetic and said it would be the younger dolphins. Anyhow my daughter went along to be photographed and low and behold it was Gambit who came out. My daughter just burst into tears. Gambit is now a proud grandfather and father of five.

Dreams Do Come True

2008-12-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

"If you can dream it, you can do it."

Walt Disney

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning."

Gloria Steinem

"Nothing happens unless first a dream."

Carl Sandburg

I am always dreaming of things - things to do, things to create, things to acquire, things to say.

My mind is a constant buzz of ideas, I know many of the things I dream of will never come true, but many do and so I dream on.

Here is a little sampler I created a while back and would like to share with you. Done in basic stitches, add a star charm, its easy to make up, frame and give to a friend as a gift.

Berry Smoothie -Christmas Morn

2008-12-24T23:30:00.000-08:00

This is how we started our Christmas morning, with a berry smoothie served in tall long glasses.

I love smoothies and make them up nearly every day.

I never follow recipes, normally made up of whatever fruit I have at hand, but thought I would share how I made this one.

In the blender jug throw in

a handful of fresh or frozen blackberries

a handful of strawberries

half a papaya,

two bananas

a cup of clear apple juice

six or so ice cubes and little cold water.

blend until well mixed and pour into tall glasses. .... mmmm .... delicious.

Here is our Christmas menu:

Hot smoked salmon with lemon dressing served with rocket and shredded beets

Roast honey and mustard gammon

Roast cranberry/port glazed chicken with cranberry stuffing

Mixed platter of roasted veggies - sweet potatoes, butternut, red, yellow and red sweet peppers, mushrooms, baby marrows, french beans and julienne carrots in fresh rosemary and olive oil.

Hot Christmas Pudding with brandy sauce

Lemon swirl cheesecake

All served with a good wine.

Merry Christmas everyone and the winner ..............

2008-12-24T20:01:00.001-08:00

of my Great Christmas Give-Away is ..............Heather from WillowLakeScents. Heather I need your postal address.

Thank you everyone for entering my give-away, I loved reading your comments.

I will have many more give-aways in 2009 so come back for a visit again.

Snowing in the heat.

2008-12-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lea from Farmhouse Blessings for the link to add snow to one's blog.

It has been soooo hot here that just looking at the snow falling makes me feel so much cooler.

After days of rain and so much moisture around, when the sun is out it is so humid. Today promises to be cooler and thank goodness for that as I know we are going to be busy with customers for their last minute shopping.

I am thankful for so many things,

for the health and happiness of my family and friends,

for the wonderful friendships of many years,

for waking up every morning to a new day,

for the continous support of my customers in these difficult times.

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas.

Only six days to .................

2008-12-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas for my Great Christmas give-away and wow 52 folks have left a comment, I'm thrilled!! If you would like to enter my Great Christmas give-Away, you still have six days left so just click on the link and read all about it.

New Clothes for Santa's Helpers

2008-12-11T10:46:00.000-08:00

Every year I hang up a line of new clothes for Santa's helpers, just incase they get theirs dirty coming down the chimney.

Tiny little knitted jumpers and suits, smoking jackets and shoes, sometimes even a carpet-bag or two - these little outfits are added every year to my Christmas fireside decor.

Its open ... do come in!

2008-12-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

That's the title of my first post on my new blog, Granny's Cottage Shoppe - a blog which will feature items for sale in my shoppe. As well as items for sale there will be pieces just for you to enjoy, so do take a look at my newest blog, Granny's Cottage Shoppe.

Christmas Cards

2008-11-30T16:24:00.000-08:00

Over the many years I have collected greeting cards and amongst some of my favourites are the Christmas ones.

I thought I would share with you a few of these.

I love this one with Mr goose bringing the message.

The Toy Shop has a pop-up inside, its one of those you can look at over and over and see something different each time.
Santa's face is wonderful, this is a cut-out card.

This little sweeper looks so lost and cold, you want to take her home to a warm fire.

Ah now I love the angel choir, a 3 D pop up Victorian card, its sooo Christmas.

Of course one of my most favorites is the card on my blog header, the sides open to reveal a wonderful winter scene.

Paint Palette

2008-11-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

Another wonderful addition to nature's paint palette! These little nasturtions are growing in abundance in our garden, but the wonderful thing about them is the different shades of flowers that appear along the stems. The colours are so rich and varied and make a lovely little bouquet for an arrangement that last for ages too.

From That to This............

2008-11-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

I love taking something that one would normally throw away, and turning it into something one can use.

Here is my Santa Cone............. this is what i did.

I used the inside cone from an overlocker sewing thread, you know those ones one would normally throw away once the thread is finished. I took a page of vintage sheet music and covered the cone. Next I separated the layers of a serviette. I cut out the picture (in this case, Santa) from the top layer and carefully decoupaged this onto the music covered cone. While still wet I sprinkled a little vintage glass glitter. Once dry (and a hairdryer comes in handy here) I sanded any rough spots (joint of music sheet) with a fine sand paper. I then oiled the paper with Burnt umber and burnt sienna, gradually aging it by rubbing the oil paint in gently. I then covered the top and bottom openings of the cone with a round of burgundy felt and finished with a trim of jute (which I aged as well with the oil paints) I finally sprayed all with a matt sealer.

These decorations make great ornament to add to a corner, surrounded by some greenery, berries and a matchless tea-light or add a thread to hang on your tree or turn into a Christmas candlestick and add a matchless tea light on top.

Christmas bells a-ringing............

2008-11-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

ding, dong , dell!

Well almost, but waiting fo them to dry then I can add the ding, dong.

These bells were made on an embroidery machine then hand sewn to form the bell shape.

I have added modge podge and covered in vintage glitter in gold and silver. Once dry I will add all the trims. I am sooooo happy to be crafting again even though in small doses, its wonderful theraphy.

Christmas Tags

2008-11-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

I am working on my Christmas tags, -old fashioned girls and boys decked out for Christmas and sparkling with a little vintage glass glitter.

Although its our summer time here, I always think of Christmas as a time of snowy scenes and decorate our home as such. Christmas meal is a traditional hot meal of turkey, gammon and all the trimmings.

How do you celebrate your Christmas?

The Great Christmas Giveaway

2008-11-19T21:08:00.000-08:00

Well here it is my part of The Great Christmas Giveaway, hosted by Angelina's Trinkets.

I have put together a few original creations made by me, Lynda of Whimsical Prims.

"A Christmas is for Families " hand made journal -a journal bound with string and blank craft pages for you to jot down notes for all your needs to help you through the busy festive season. The journal comes in a separate cover that also has a place to keep your pen handy and comes with a handmade aged Christmas tag.

A small fabric covered kraft page note book for reminders -great to carry in your bag.

A prim hand embroidered heart with jute bow and red berries -great to hang anywhere.

One of my mini chenille stem Christmas angel ornaments with Sing & Dance and gold filigree wings.

A mini red stripe pin cushion

An original design chenille stem gingerbread man pick.

But wait there needs to be a surprise or two so that's all I'm going to reveal.

If you would like to be the winner of this Christmas giveaway all you need to so is leave a comment to this post, make sure you leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

Draw will take place on 24th December and your parcel will be airmail posted to you on Monday 29th December.

T'is the Season!

2008-11-19T19:47:00.000-08:00

The Great Christmas Giveaway hosted by Angelina's Trinkets is a wonderful start to the Christmas season. A number of bloggers have joined Angelina in celebrating the true spirit of Christmas and I will be posting here soon all about my Christmas Giveaway, so watch this spot.

Have you ever.................

2008-11-13T21:08:00.000-08:00

seen such a beautiful flower.

This fuschia plant is growing in a large tub and has over seventy flowers/buds. Its just so amazing to see nature at its best.

Do you know what its name is, would love to know??

Cluck-Cluck Everywhere

2008-11-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

I love chickens, there is just something so fascinating about their simple habits.
We always had chickens of some sort around us, right from my childhood days to the days when our children were growing up.
Now I surround myself with chickens of a different sort, from trays to jugs and ornaments. These new items have just arrived in Granny's Cottage Shoppe. Now i need to finish my hand applique dish cloths -with chickens of course.

Spring Tea Cosies & Jam Preserves

2008-11-02T21:47:00.000-08:00

Some of the many new items added to Granny's Cottage Shoppe -Hand Knitted spring tea cosies in a lovely turquoise shade with roses in dusty pink, light pink, cream and added leaves in moss and lime green.
The large tea cosy will fit an eight-cup teapot and the smaller two fit a two-cup teapot.
The tea cup is from the Maxwell Williams floral range. I have a set of these tea-cups in all the different florals and my club ladies get to choose their cup at tea-time.

Another range in my new additions are the delicious Hillcrest Berry Farm Jams and Preserves.
From Strawberry, Blackcurrant and Raspberry, Marmalade with Whiskey, Morella Cherry, and Cape Fig, all delicious -no preservatives or additives, its hard to choose which one is my favourite.

Happy Halloween Pop-Up

2008-10-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

Have a Happy Halloween

Now you see him, now you don't.

Christmas Pudding Tea Cosy

2008-10-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make something different this year and came up with my Christmas Pudding teacosy. Knitted in double ply brown wool, which has a lovely fleck in it, topped with cream and decorated with pinecones, berries and leaves, it looks good enough to eat.I had four of these in two sizes to fit six cup and two cup tea pots, and am now down to this one two-cup cosy, so I had better get knitting again.

Reunion

2008-10-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we celebrated our 11th year reunion of our club,Hugbeary Den.
I had started Hugbeary Den as a teddy bear club and after about four years or more of teaching members "how to make a bear", from designing a bear to full assembling of bear, we branched out to include crafts of all kinds.
We have learnt about needle felting, wet felting, embroidering, decoupage, tatting, lace making, quilting and patchwork, cross stitch, spinning, clay sculpting, knitting, scrap booking, beading, cloisonne work, and so much more. Most members have been with me from the start and yesterday was a wonderful day spent with these special friends,where we enjoyed a luncheon, photographic session for our 2009 calender, workshop and shopping.
A group photo.

Spring - A Feast of Flowers

2008-10-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

"And in green Underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins"

The garden is bursting with colour, azaleas are blooming, Petra is a-buzz with bees and flowers, hanging baskets are a picture; its a wonderful time of the year to see how nature has coped with our dry winter.

" I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods,
Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook"
Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882

Spring/Summer Dries -Potpourri -part 3

2008-10-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

A useful way to use your flowers for potpourri. Today I picked some spring/summer flowers from the garden. I placed these in a vase without water and there they will remain until the flowers and leaves are dry to make a new batch of potpourri. Some flowers will dry beautifully this way, without tying in a bunch and hanging upside down. I now have an arrangement of fresh flowers for quite a while and at the same time adding to my dries for potpourri.
In this batch I picked bougainvillea, green foliage which has a tiny flower and sprigs of rosemary to add a lovely scent.

How to make Potpourri -Part 2

2008-10-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

Mixing your oils for Potpourri.
Your flowers/leaves are now ready. You can break the flowers/leaves up if you have not already done so, leave some buds whole as they add to the look. Lavender stems should be broken up small, again leave some small lavender sprays to add to the look.
Place your flowers/leaves into a large bowl, I love to use my large old enamel bowls for this. You will also need a wooden spoon to mix, but hands do best.
Choose your oils depending on the scents you want. Remember if you have essential oils, it is concentrated so you will need about 2 drops per cup of dried flowers.
If you use fragrance oils, it is not as concentrated so you will need more drops of oils per cup, about double. When choosing your oil, try and match the flowers natural scents as far as possible. The oils will enhance the flowers natural scents.
You need a fixative, that is something you can use to add the oils to so that it disperses better amongst the flowers. Orris root is probably the best fixative, but if I make a spicy potpourri, I have used ground citrus peels.
Mix your chosen oil into the orris root.
Gradually add the oil mix to your flowers/leaves, mixing well in between each addition. You can add drops of oil straight onto flowers/leaves but this needs to be mixed very well between each drop.
Once your flowers/leaves/oils have been well blended, place all inside an airtight container and leave to "mature" for a about six weeks. I like to open my container every few days and toss mixture around so its all well blended.
Mature potpourri displayed in an open bowl or bowl with some opening, gives a room a wonderful natural scent.
How/where to use your Potpourri.- part 3 to follow soon.
Some of last years dries.

How to make Pot Pourri- Part 1

2008-10-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

There are probably many ways to make Potpourri, but thought I would share with you how I make mine.
The first thing you need are dried flowers, petals and even the leaves,stems (lavender) are suitable.I like to do my dries during our winter as we hardly get a drop of rain and air is very drying.
If you are going to dry your flowers yourself, the best time to pick them is in the morning when the flowers are dry. If you don't have flowers in your garden but would like to dry your own, buy a bunch or two from the flower market. As soon as you get them home, tie into a bunch with some raffia or string and hang upside down in a cool, dry, airy spot. If you have flowers without stems, break the petals up,or leave buds whole (I like to add rose buds), place on a sieve of some sort, preferably a large flat one, spread your petals out and leave to dry in a suitable spot. Toss them around occasionally to make sure the petals dry out all over.
The most suitable flowers for potpourri are roses and lavender, but you can experiment with all types of flowers. Just a tip here is keep the different flowers apart while drying. Once you can see which ones will dry suitable for potpourri, then you can mix them up. I like to keep my different flowers apart until I make my potpourri, that way I can mix the colours together for whatever potpourri I am making.
Here is a picture of my autumn potpourri I made last year, where I used petals and berries of autumn shades.

Your flowers will be ready to make into potpourri when the petals are crisp to the touch.
Part 2- mixing the potpourri oils to follow soon.

Spring/Summer's Potpourri

2008-10-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Today I made my first batch of Spring/Summer Potpourri, a mixture of rose, rose geranium and lavender. The room is filled with the beautiful scent but it will take a few more days before its ready. This past winters dries were the best as we had a long dry winter and not too cold.

Christmas is coming..... and the stockings are hung!

2008-10-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well not quite hung yet, but getting ready for my three day Christmas event this weekend. These burgundy and cream stripe stockings are hand knitted and each one has a winter gathering tag. I wanted to have something different this year for stockings and thought the old fashioned idea of a hand knitted stocking would just be what I was looking for. I am cuffed how they have turned out..now to make some longer ones.

Gift in Autumn Hues

2008-09-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

Here is another gift I have enjoyed wrapping for a friend's birthday. This firend enjoys gardening so I chose a garden theme in lovely autumn colours. I use gold, orange and dark green paper tear ribbon to make the bow, added a bow in a lovely tulle with gold spots, and made a tag from the same wrapping paper used to wrap the gift, accented it with a hand drawn bug and 3D ladybird.

Robin's Wreath

2008-09-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Last spring, our family of Cape Robin-Chats made their nest in a watering-can hanging up on my log cabin shop. This spring they have chosen the wreath that hangs by our front door. I made this wreath about two years ago and it has sat by the front alcove to welcome in our visitors. The robins have built their nest right in the middle, its a lovely deep nest and unless you step right up and look right down on it, you cannot see the mother with her two eggs.
Here are two pictures, one a close-up. We are so lucky to be able to once again enjoy their activies at such close quarters.

Looking Back

2008-09-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

Looking back through photos of things I created, I found one of my favourites. Its not one item in particular but something about how these few items came together, that my heart skips a beat whenever I come across this picture. I sooo.. soo enjoyed making these little characters, born out of inspiration from my first discovery of all things prim.

Ode to Autumn

2008-09-11T15:25:00.001-07:00

As a tribute to one of my favourite times of year, a sort of fairwell to this years' autumn season, I have put together a collage of pictures of items I made. Inspired by the wonderful rich colours of the season, the warmth and earthiness of nature, its always been a great time for me to create.

New and Old

2008-09-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here are more things in Granny's Cottage Shoppe.

Mum had this crystal dressing set as far back as I can remember.
The roses are this years dries.

Some new, some old. The old steamer at the back is really old but still in great condition.

I love enamelware and wire things. I also love collecting moulds.