Happy Love Day!

Happy love day lovelies! I hope you are all feeling the love on this sunny Sunday? We are spending it quietly at home today. The last two weeks have packed a few painful punches! We've all had colds, sickness, and general season fatigue me thinks! Mummy bear (that's me!) has been suffering with a tooth abscess, and mixed in with all that the car decided to misbehave too! This all did not bode well for a challenging work schedule! So, hence we are taking time out to take a deep breath and adjust our sails!

The one thing that relaxes me, is spending time at the helm of my sewing machine. Or so it should! I set to work today to sew a little cheerful house, but it wasn't without the odd hiccough! I recycled a beautifully embroidered vintage hankie, making a decorative hanging house by combining it with some favourite fabric. After adding some hand stitching of my own to the front of the house, I set to work to sew the shape for the house. Note to self: Always, always pin right sides together! Grrr...Rookie error! I ended up having to unpick it, and start again! But, I finished it, and I did enjoy getting round to doing some sewing again. How I've missed it!

I also got round to doing a little painting this week. I picked up this sweet metal lantern house in a sale. It was considerably reduced, as it was leftover Christmas stock.

Not to keen on the maroon roof, I took a paintbrush to it, and now it looks a little more cheerful and perfect for spring!

Blessings

Heavenly Angels...

Well, it's a beautiful sunny Sunday morning here in Cambridgeshire, and there is a sprinkling of frost on the rooftops. Just beautiful...You can't help but feel blessed and cheerful when the sun greets you with such a big smile! Have you had a good weekend so far? It's just been more of the same in my valley...sewing morning, noon and night! I've managed to finish three angels, and am quite pleased with how they turned out. Meters of cotton thread later, they are standing proud...









I do feel a little distracted from blogging at the moment, as there is so much to do. Do forgive me for my haphazard posting, and although I haven't managed to respond to all your heartwarming comments, I have read and appreciated every single word! Thank you all for saying 'hello' when you do! Soon the busy-ness will ease off, and normal service will commence! I hope that you are all well, and that life is treating you kindly!

Blessings, Tania ♥

Growing strawberries...

Those of you who know me well, will know that I am not green-fingered at all. I have very good intentions when I start looking after new potted friends...but before long they wilt, hang their shoulders and look forlorn, like an abandoned lover on a train station platform! I'm still trying to figure out if I give them too much love (water) or too little... I have tried talking to them, because that's what you're supposed to do right? You're supposed to talk to your plants and they'll flourish...Perhaps my conversation bores them to death? Anyhow, for now I've given up on compost, gardening gloves and dead-heading plants, and I've 'grown' some strawberries of a different kind. These are magic strawberries! I 'planted' the seeds first thing in the morning, and after some hours of 'cultivating', they had grown to epic proportions!

 

First, there was one...

 

 



 

One turned into many...

 

These sweet smelling fruity friends are for hanging...to look pretty...to shimmy up a dull door or corner...Or, they can be put to good use as pin cushions...and look pretty at the same time! They won't wilt...they won't droop...and THAT is even after they've been poked by pins! Hurrah! For now I hang up my gardening gloves...the plants will thank me...

 

Have a superb, terrific day my blogging friends!

Tania ♥



Getting sorted...

Brrrr...today is a chilly day for us, and a wet one! I had to de-ice the car for the first time this morning, and that always signals the arrival of woolly-sock-weather! Regardless of wanting to hibernate under the duvet, the children are back at school, and a lot needs doing around here! I apologise if I haven't replied to all your wonderful, warm comments in previous posts, but it seems 'Mr. Time' has turned into 'Mr. Scrooge' in it's giving! I do so love hearing from you, and I read and appreciate every word! I'm trying to cram in as much as I possibly can in a day, and the midnight oil has been burning for the last few nights too! Today has seen me do a little Christmas shopping, and I've been sorting out and finishing off a few projects. Oh, and a little reading over a cuppa. I found this edition of 'Homemaker', and in it was a supplement with the loveliest vintage sewing images. Pure eye-candy! I don't quite know what I'm going to do with all the pull-outs, but I'm pretty sure I'll find something to do with them. I was thinking of photocopying the images, and using it to gift wrap pressies...amongst other things!

Apart from swooning over these gorgeous pages, I have managed to list some of my items on my Facebook page. Do pop over and say hello! Just click ♥HERE♥ On there you will find...

'Take a leaf from this book' bookmarks...finally a batch is completed!

 

 

'Posh Pooch Daschund' Keyring/Book bag buddies...

 

 

'Sleepy Cloud' Hair clip tidy...

 

 

 

'Itty-bitty birdie' Christmas ornament...

 

 





 

 So, a little of this and a little of that! What have you been up to today?

 

Tania ♥♥♥

 



Take a leaf from this book...

Hello my lovelies! How is your Monday treating you? Hopefully with kindness? The kidlets are on their half-term break at the moment, so we spent the morning in the lovely town of St. Ives (Cambridgeshire), just pootling around the market, and indulging in a few comforts from home...Home being South Africa, and the treats being sweets and 'dry wors' from 'Die Koskas', a bit of manna from heaven in the shape of a market stall! I've also been doing a little sewing for my very own Christmas market stalls which I will be selling at in the run up to the festive season. I've been sewing leafy bookmarks...I'm not quite finished, but I'm well on my way. I adore books, and it scares me that technology seems to be replacing the use of printed books. Nothing quite beats the turning of pages on a journey through a gripping story. Hence my desire to make some bookmarks!

Just in case you missed it...

 

 

Leafy loveliness...

 

 

 

Apart from sewing, we have also had a wonderful weekend spent in the company of friends. I mentioned in my last post that we were planning a 'Soup Night'. Well, we all had a wonderful time laughing, eating and catching up over steamy bowls of soup. Here are a few piccies!

 

 

Autumnal posies...

 

 

 

 

Set the table...

 

 

 

 

 



 





 

 

'Friends are the family we choose for ourselves...'

 

 

I wish you all a very happy Monday, and an even happier rest-of-the-week!

 

Tania ♥

 



 

 

 

 



Cardi Love...

At this time of year I always do a little stock take in my wardrobe. The spring/summer dresses and skirts are packed off to the back of Narnia, and they make room for tweed, cardigans and winter woollies. This year, I have decided to add some handmade accessories to jazz things up a little, paying special attention to my cardigans as I wear them a lot! Pinterest has been a great source of inspiration for me, and I'd love to share a few of my favourite makeovers with you. Now, I love wearing cardigans. But sometimes they look a little forlorn, like they need a little bit of sparkle or a dash of colour to cheer them up a bit. These are a few of the beauties I have discovered and bookmarked over time, and which are firm favourites on my 'To Do List'!

A PRETTY VINTAGE BOW by the lovely Mrs. B...I think a little Liberty print fabric and I'll be on my way!

 

 Sometimes those woollies just cry out for a fairy godmother to turn their little pumpkin faces into peachy perfect loveliness! A little change is always good, right? How about adding a ruffle? I found this very easy to follow TUTORIAL for adding a rather fetching ruffle...all you need is a little time, fabric, needle and thread. How hard can it be?

 

 

 







I think adding embellishments to a much loved cardigan is a super way of giving it a new lease of life. This BEAUTY is by far my favourite cardi makeover to date! So pretty! Perhaps a little more labour intensive, but definitely worth the effort!

 

Now, if there is one thing that makes my heart go giddy-up, it's lace, lace, oh yes...lace! I think it embodies femininity and girliness, and if I can add it to a cardigan I will, I will! How sweet are the pockets on the ANTIQUE LACE CARDIGAN REMAKE?

 

 

 

Hearts...one can NEVER go wrong with a little 'heartfelt' hearty touch to most things! And elbow patches on a favourite cardi or sweater...oh yes! JUST LOOK AT THIS!

 

 

 

Adding some floral to touches is a brilliant way to lift the look of , well, just about anything! I love this one by THE SISTERS FOUR.

 

 

 





I face a slight dilemma now... Where does one start with such wonderful, inspiring tutorials and ideas? Hmmm...I think it's time to get the cardies out and have a play! Have you been tickled by these? I would love to hear from you if you feel you might have a go, or perhaps you've done something like this already? Do share!

 

Blessings

 

 

Tania ♥♥♥

Autumn leaves...and blessings abundant!

My eyes have really opened to the warmth and beauty of nature's gifts this autumn. Every day, as I'm out and about, the palette changes, introducing deep, warm hues of red, yellow, orange and purple. As I shared in my previous post, we have enjoyed lovely walks and inhaling every detail of creation as it changes. I thought that this harvest season yields the perfect opportunity to reflect on the blessings in our own lives, thinking of the things that we can be grateful for every day. So, for the month of October (at least!), I thought of doing a little display on our mantel, something to remind us of the blessings that we enjoy! Sometimes we get so bogged down by 'normal life' and the stresses of modern day, that we forget that we are fortunate to have so much to be thankful for.

As always, a little sewing to start me off! I wanted to make a simple wreath to hang above the mantel, and used an existing heart twig wreath that had been shoved away in a cupboard. Inspired by the latest issue of 'Mollie Makes', I sewed some felt and fabric leaves to decorate the wreath. I am so pleased with the results!

Autumn leaves...

 

 

And hanging above the fireplace...ta-dah!

 

 

 

With the new wreath in place, a few reminders of autumn and all-year round blessings...

 

 

 

A heart garland to remind us of family, that we are bound together by love...We are thankful for each other...

 

 

 

Pumpkins to remind us that we have plenty to eat...we are fortunate in a world where some many people go without...

 

 

Tartlet candles, to remind us to be light in the darkness, to share the bounty that we enjoy, with those who are less fortunate...



 





The vintage 'Flour' tin and milk can also reminds us of these blessings, harvested all year round. In fact, we are very blessed to just be able to buy these from the supermarket! :)

A vintage toy sewing machine...a reminder that we are thankful for the health, ability and resources to work...

 

But most of all, we are grateful for the faith we have, and the love of God that upholds us every day, and His word...

 

 



 

The cotton reels are little reminders that we are clothed...for that we give thanks!

 

 

And so, we reflect, and give thanks...for the friends that we have in our lives too...and as a reminder? This beautiful red toadstool, made for our family by a dear friend. She hand engraved each of our names, and our family name. We are very blessed to have so many wonderful, selfless people in our lives!

 

 



 

I hope that you can also reflect today on the blessings in your life. And may many more come your way!

 

 

Tania♥