English Spirits Pretty Things

Garage Sales this weekend.......

2012-05-27T20:50:00.001-04:00

I had not intended to go to any garage sales. We passed one on the way to the store on Saturday and just had to stop. Well, let me tell ya.........awesome. The lady had a whole bunch of china. I could not resist at least some of it. She also had an old singer sewing machine table for 40 dollars, said she would come down on it but I could not think where I would put it. Silly me. Oh how I wish I had just got it. I always find a spot and have always wanted one. She was not open next day. Some of the things I found at her place................ This little lamp. Replaces one that needed a new shade. This plate fits right into my environment.............. I had to get this tiny tea set...........its so cute. I will keep it to give to Reina when she is older. I found more Violets, a plate this time and a tiny plate too. I have not washed them yet. Some of the others are really pretty too. I will be glad when I can get back to doing collages so I don't use so much space. Lovely hand painted things This one is a lovely colour and beautiful painting. At that sale I also got some really nice winter tops. She has great clothes and they are lovely. The second sale I found some peach glass like I have been collecting. I wish I could have got more. She said she will be having more sales and you can be sure we will go. Laura got an antique table and chairs for 75 dollars. These are my finds. This lady had really good prices and so I bought quite a bit of stuff. I wont post it all here as its rather diverse. A rock with a hole in it (don't ask)A big basket, a wicker doll carriage that I bought some ivy to put in it. A white bird cage to hold a plant when I get it back together. So much stuff. Why am I thinking of going back I might ask?. I got this plate from my in laws and also the dish and bowl. They went with what I had already collected. I got one other dish from them. I am sharing this post with A Delighsome Life Enjoy some other lovely blogs featured there.

Petoskey Stones..................

2012-05-19T22:28:00.000-04:00

Where we live here in Northern Michigan, one of the fun things we get to do is to search the beaches for Petoskey Stones. This one I found at a building site. A Petoskey stone is a long dead coral that lived in Lake Michigan, unique to our area. It shows that the water was once much higher and inland. There are many sea corals and fossils in our soil here. When we walk the beaches we always have our heads down looking looking looking for the illusive Petoskey stone. It also is a knack. It becomes easier once you find your first one. Why the fuss? Well when polished it is quite pretty and as its so rare it is becoming valuable. When walking on the beach this is what you may often see. It takes just a little getting used to but once your spot your first one it does get easier. Often its easy to find them when they are dry............. When polished they all look different. Some are really worn because they are soft, the wash of the waves rolling them on the beach will wear them down. They are all unique in design and can be made into jewelry and many other things. Find a big one and it becomes worth a little bit. They are becoming more rare each year. A lot of local craft people have made jewelry, usually silver. Clocks and other things are common and pretty for tourists to pick up as a real souvenir. Certainly not made in China..............so if you come to Michigan, to where I live this is a fun thing to do. You will see people walking on beaches with noses down and now you know why.

Beautiful mystery............

2012-05-09T19:40:00.001-04:00

How much more beautiful could anything be than the Unicorn. The mythological beast. Is it really a myth? Take a look and you tell me.......is it wild imagination, or something from a perfect world of long ago? We see the crests of waves break against the shore and can almost see those White horses............... especially when the crests are blowing in the wind throwing up clouds of mist above the wave. It does not take a lot of imagination to see them. This beautiful grove could be the home of any of those beautiful creatures but looks like a fairy is hanging out there today When I was little I remember reading a book "Rupert the Bear" and one of the stories was about the Mare's nest. Well for some reason it really sparked my imagination and so for that reason I must include the Pegasus among those beautiful beasts of yore. Mystic HorsesMystic horse with rainbows run, Golden horn that shines in the sun. She hides from humans watchful eye, The very last refuse to die. They dwell in hidden secret glen. Remnants of a time when..... Eden was right here on earth. Gone now till man can prove his worth. May 2012 JKS

Unfinished business...............

2012-05-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

I never seen to get the time to sit and actually accomplish much these days. Having a two 1/2 year old just does seem to dive into my craft time among other things. I am actually getting lots of photo's done because I can download those and play with them at night. That is usually when I work on my blog. As this is supposed to be about crafts as well as just my collections of "stuff" I am feeling a bit guilty. I did record some 1/2 finished drawings in my photos so I will show some of those for now. Then of course Photobucket changed and so did blogger, so that means relearning everything that came naturally to me before and takes more time. I have to get out into the garden this afternoon so this post will be short and sweet. I just want to show ideas I am playing with. Things I just did for the heck of it so I don't forget the "thought".......... A long time ago I drew this mermaid, with the idea that she would be in peacock colours but more muted than that. This rough sketch is just the idea behind what I would like to accomplish. She has her back turned as I think one would only get a picture of a Mermaid if she were unaware of our presence. She is dreaming and so she was captured by the viewer. This lady caught in April showers is the idea for a cushion to be made and embroidered. A pencil crayon sketch of Geraniums. I need 3 pictures to do a triptic for my bathroom. This one was done long ago and does not have the look I want. SO I think I must do it in watercolour. This is just to remind me I need to get that done A rough sketch of my Granddaughter Alexandra ............In posting this I see the problems with the sketch. I can redo it maybe a little more accurate. I was just inspired at the time but it's just not good enough. I am never happy with my work. This to remind me that all pictures do not have to be realistic looking.............sometimes just draw for fun.

Lavender............. I love Lavender

2012-04-17T11:07:00.006-04:00

Lavender blue dilly dilly
Lavenders green
If I were King dilly dilly
You would be Queen.

Lavender is still one of the most refreshing and clean smells ever......its still as popular as it always was. I just love the look of it, the smell of it and use it for sachet's and soaps. I like it to mist bedding before guests come to stay.

Imagine walking through lavender fields, or passing by on the road. Can you even imagine that?

I love to have dried lavender to make sachets with. I bought some just to keep in jars in the house to look pretty until I make the sachets.

ladies fair, I bring to you
lavender with spikes of blue;
sweeter plant was never found
growing on our english ground."
Caryl Battersby

And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom
shall be, ere-while, in arid bundles bound
to lurk admist the labours of her loom,
and crown her kerchiefs witl mickle rare perfume."
William Shenstone The School Mistress 1742

Lavender
Author: Alfred Noyes
Lavender, lavender
That makes your linen sweet;
The hawker brings his basket
Down the sooty street:
The dirty doors and pavements
Are simmering in the heat:
He brings a dream to London,
And drags his weary feet.

Lavender, lavender,
From where the bee hums,
To the loud roar of London,
With purple dreams he comes,
From ragged lanes of wild-flowers
To ragged London slums,
With a basket full of lavender
And purple dreams he comes.

Is it nought to you that hear him?
With the old strange cry
The weary hawker passes,
And some will come and buy,
And some will let him pass away
And only heave a sigh,
But most will neither heed nor hear
When dreams go by.

_Lavender, lavender!
His songs were fair and sweet,
He brought us harvests out of heaven,
Full sheaves of radiant wheat;
He brought us keys to Paradise,
And hawked them thro' the street;
He brought his dreams to London,
And dragged his weary feet._

Lavender, lavender!
He is gone. The sunset glows;
But through the brain of London
The mystic fragrance flows.
Each foggy cell remembers,
Each ragged alley knows,
The land he left behind him,
The land to which he goes.

New books..............

2012-04-13T19:45:00.000-04:00

I was at Joanne's the other day and I bought two new books. I just can never resist books. I always hope they will inspire me to actually do something.

Here is a glimpse inside. There are some really cool projects.

I like the idea of small projects. Gifts, that sort of thing.

Just a few things to begin with...........just to inspire. I need inspiration don't you.

Dollar Store Find.......

2012-04-08T21:12:00.000-04:00

I really liked this set of plates. I found them at the local dollar store.

Arn't they cute? If they have a set next time I go in I will get some for a gift.

Bunnies....................

2012-03-31T18:40:00.013-04:00

With Easter just around the corner I would like to say this.......PLEASE do not buy bunnies unless you intend to give them a forever home. Not one in a cage at the bottom of the garden but inside with you. Be sure you have a place for them in your heart and home. A warm place for winter and cool for summer. They make wonderful pets, can be litter box trained. They are NOT good pets for small children. Most do not like to be hugged or held unless you sit on the floor. They do not like to be held when they feel insecure and could fall. Never pick up by the ears. You can do that if you have you arms firmly under their bottom. Hold close to your chest if you must carry them. Rabbits like for about five years unless they are special breeds. They may have longer life spans. Rabbits as with all animals are NOT disposable, they are NOT toys they have feelings just as we do. They need love and attention.Most children are not willing to give them that after the novelty wears off and most adults will not follow through and do not have the time.
I once had a couple of rabbits. I raised them from babies after rescuing them from the stew pot. I had a horse at the time and the guy decided to raise rabbits to eat. Well first batch of babies, my friend and I begged for them and took them home. My two were Baby and BoBo and I sure did love those rabbits. They were litter box trained and had a long and good bunny life. I will talk about them again on my other blog.

Meanwhile. I have a few Rabbit items around the house and now seems a good time to take a picture or two. Everyone should know Peter Rabbit?

Maybe they don't tell Beatrix Potter stories anymore?

Then there are these 4. I got those from my Mum's house after she died. I can never seem to get them in the correct order. People are always shuffling them and correcting them. Me? I have no clue so they sit as they are. I used to have them on the coffee table but not anymore since Mr Sticky Fingers lives with us he is at 2 1/2 the master at breakage. A whirlwind of destruction.

These two cuties were reminders of Baby and BoBo.......

More Pretties..............

2012-03-30T19:14:00.004-04:00

I have collected quite a few bits and pieces and it will take a month of Sundays to get through them all, but here is a start.
A honey pot and cup/saucer and some plates in the back. All either garage sale stuff or on the odd occasion I may get something at an antique shop. Not very often though due to the cost.

More cups and saucers.

I found several that had the little legs on the cups, quite unusual.

I like it when the inside is as pretty as the outside.

I love the little cottages for the teapot, milk and sugar.

This is an antique. I'm not sure now what it's markings are. Will have to get back on that.

This little pretty I brought with me from England, its for jam. Was my Mum's

Salt and Peppers are fun and I will have to go through and take some pictures of those next. Here are two that happened to be with this batch of pictures.

Linking up to Table Top Tuesday at A stroll through life

I love Violets............

2012-03-27T16:57:00.009-04:00

When I go to garage sales or even thrift shops I buy pretty things when I see them. I have collected a lot of cups and saucers among other things. I love Violets and so some of them are in a Violet theme. I am trying for a complete set of China tea service in the pattern. Not matching but with Violets on them.

I know why I like Violets, its all about childhood memories. The good times my friend Sylvia and I spent hunting down the first Violets in Springtime. The scent alone is enough to make it one of my very favourite flowers. I do have a sugar and creamer and some pretty cups and saucers.

And a teapot

I need some plates now and maybe some serving plates? I do have one plate that I really like

The cup and saucer that match are also my favourites. I would really love a complete set of them.

I think I only have three plates so far...........but it gives me something to look for.

I am linking this post up with "A Delightsome Life"

Linking up for Tea Time Tuesday

My Second Floral project for my Eons group.................

2012-03-22T12:13:00.003-04:00

For a long time I have had a piece of beadwork that I found at a garage sale. It has been years. I finally decided to make a pillow/cushion because in my Eons group we are doing something floral for this month. So this was the 2nd project I completed.
I made the cushion from my quilting stash, I already had a pillow form. So then I cut the beaded piece to size and hand stitched it on the completed pillow. The next thing was to put a border on it. I also had to hand sew that on because the pillow was already made.

I am not sure if its finished or not. I am thinking it may need some embroidery or something else around the border. I must look and see what I have around that wont take long to do. I want to complete a felt project by the end of the month.

I do think it needs a little something don't you?

I am linking with "Everything Under the Moon" Bedazzle Me Monday

Making a Spring Purse.....

2012-03-20T19:11:00.010-04:00

This is a simple little Spring or summer purse that I made. No pattern needed. Its not too big so not intended for carrying everything we own. Its light and easy. I am making one for my Granddaughter Reina who wants one and when done I will post it on here. I am going to make several and have fun with the fabric and decorations. It a good way to use up all those Fat Quarters that I have collected. I intend to use some patterns as well and make other bags. I just wanted to try this first.

I pretty much made this up as I went along, so should do better next time. I did French seams so that they are stronger. I also put the handles on and then stitched the fabric across them as a contrast that also strengthened the handles. I was quite happy with how it worked out. Next one I will put a pocket inside I think and maybe make it a bit bigger. Although this one is really the ideal size especially if it had compartments.

Linking with Creative Blog........

Also linking with Ninth street Notions for "Make it Monday"

Also sharing on CraftOmaniac Monday

Linking with The Stuff of Success

New Books............

2012-03-14T20:49:00.000-04:00

These two books came the other day. I have had a brief look through and saw several projects I would like to do. They look quick and if I get any done soon I will post some pictures here.

Can't Help Loving Pink............

2012-03-12T19:11:00.003-04:00

I just can not help finding these pretty pink things. I will have to do another Pink Saturday post. Its only Monday but here goes.
These are actual things in my house. I got the cushions at garage sales. Can you believe people would do all that work and then practically give them away. Or maybe they inherited them and they did not fit in. Well, I made space for them and added pink to my colour scheme.

The next pictures are not my own, I gather things I like from the web and so if I do inadvertently use your picture without credit I will be glad to remove it or give credit. I can not help but collect pretty pictures to share with everyone. Here are some lovely roses.

Then the beauty of roses and china. I will some day photograph my own china but for now here are some more borrowed treasures.

The little doll is one that I bought, its hand made and is in my lavender bedroom. Isn't she cute?

Linking up with HomeGardenThursday
Linking also to Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Pink, pretty pink........

2012-03-02T20:16:00.006-05:00

I love the colour pink, I like pink flowers, pink clothes, pink makeup and I enjoy decorating with pink.

I love the bright pinks but I also love the pale pinks.

I will be linking this up with Pink Saturday

Also linking up to The Rose Garden in Malkevik for Saturday Show Off

Cat In The Hat Pillow Cases.....................

2012-02-28T12:52:00.003-05:00

I bought two kits for pillow cases one time I was out at quilt shops. I just finished making them up for Tristen. They went quite quickly and turned out ok. The kit did not really allow enough of the blue fabric to do a larger than standard size pillow case. When I made the first it was just the right size for the pillow and I would have liked it a bit larger. When I came to do the second one it would not work out that way and so I did it differently.
Here is the first one being tried out by Tristen.

The second one I did the other way and so had to fudge it. I made an envelope style but with straight edges and a tie.

He was happy enough. When I make his dinosaur quilt I will make two more pillow cases to use as shams that are usable. All the colour's go together so that's not a problem

I am linking with Show and Tell Friday

Linking with Embellishing Life

Also linking with

Blue.........pretty pretty blue...........

2012-02-27T19:55:00.003-05:00

I love fairies and they go so well with the blue butterfly's. Blue is the colour of the sky, of flowers and birds. It is the pure colour of nature. This Fairy has the things of nature in her hair.

Forget-me-nots and bluebells with a pretty fairy............how blue is that.....beautiful

I am linking this post with Blue Monday.......click on the Blue Jay and he will take you there.

I am also linking this with Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Tristen's Blankie..............................

2012-02-24T17:37:00.000-05:00

I had bought some dinosaur fabric to make a quilt for Tristen's bed. I saw a fleece panel that I thought I would make a wall hanging out of. Well when Tristen saw it he said "That mine?" and I said that it was.......well he wanted it. So I decided to make a small blanket for him to play with. It didn't take much to make it up but he loved it. All I did was to find a backing fleece and some batting. I sewed it right sides together and turned it. The batting right in place. Then I finger pressed it and sewed along the edge and that was it. I did do a few stitches on the surface so that its didn't separate. That was it.

He made a bed on the kitchen floor and snuggled up.

I had him come in the living room and he made his bed there.

February project for my Eons group.........

2012-02-17T14:58:00.005-05:00

I have committed myself to finishing at least one project for my Eons group. The group is called Sewing and Craft corner, its lots of fun with lovely people in the group. So......things did not work out quite as I had anticipated but I did get one heart done. It was not a Valentine project for me but I love hearts so it was a heart project anyway. I ended up doing a small pillow. I did not at first know if it was going to be something I hung on a drawer nob or door. Then I wondered about putting a pocket on the back for potpourri but in the end I just left it plain. I am quite please with the result and I think I want to do a couple more. I did this all by hand. I suppose I could make it go quicker by using my sewing machine. We shall see next time.

I used some silk fabric that I had in a sample book for upholstery (or curtains or something) a very useful thing I picked up at a garage sale. The crochet work is also garage sale finds.

I am going to share this blog for "Pink Saturday" I am glad I thought of it as I am not usually prepared. Woo Hoo I have a pink post. You can join in the fun at How Sweet The Sound

This post is also being shared on "Wow Me Wednesday" at Ginger Snap Crafts

White vintage...........

2012-02-15T21:51:00.007-05:00

I am hooking up for White Wednesday, a bit late but I think I am in under the bar. Faded Charm Cottage
I am selecting a few things I had taken pictures of to do a blog so here are a few of them now.
I have 4 poodles girls so it follows I suppose that I should collect poodles. I have stuffies but have been collecting these vintage poodles as well

I did a post on Vintage pillow cases, I love them all they are so soft. I especially love white with lace or tatting, or anything hand done on them. They make the beds look so inviting

SInce having my two year old great grandson living with us I have been watching a lot of "Shaun the Sheep" and "Timmy Time" well that led to the beginning of my love affair with sheeps. (yes I know its really sheep)

Yes this poodle is pink but well she wanted to come along too.

This little ballarina was a gift from my Granddaughter Danielle last Christmas. The glass pieces I have collected over the years from garage sales and I have quite a few of those. I seem to always find something new to collect. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

For a long time I collected hats, some were really beautiful and this is one of my favourites
That and purses, vintage of course

Painting.......

2012-02-14T19:30:00.003-05:00

The above picture is one I painted a few years ago. It shows my parents house out back, and the blue door was at one time the outside toilet. At the time I painted this it was the coal shed.
The next picture is one I did in a class for acrylic painting.

I like the way the berries can look so real.
This one I did a while ago too............it goes over a door or something like that.

I cant get good pictures but if I can tomorrow I will replace these. Here is another one.

Pillow Cases...................

2012-02-12T19:05:00.002-05:00

I have for a long time collected old (vintage) pillow cases. They are so soft for one thing. Nothing like what you get today. I like to starch them so they look crisp and cool but they are still so soft. The old linens have worn to perfection.

I have some really nice ones and some OK ones but all of them were done with love by someone. I also love those edged with lace. I prefer those to actually use.

Here are a couple more of the embroidered ones. I think I have a few others on my side bar.

Pink Saturday................

2012-02-10T19:12:00.009-05:00

I love to try to watercolour, not always very successful but I have found that I find a lot of inspiration from peoples blogs. So it is that I am joining in this Pink Saturday again. This time I am featuring a couple of paintings that I have done. I want to thank How Sweet the sound for hosting the party.

This on the other hand is a quilt I made.

I have not sewn in a couple of years. There has been so much going on in my life (explained on Bluebell Woods blog) but I am hoping to get back to that very soon.
Meanwhile I have a couple more pinkies for you

I made these when my granddaughter Reina was born.

Thank you Cindy Adkins...

2012-02-10T08:54:00.001-05:00

I want to say a personal thank you to Cindy Adkins for all her help in getting me sorted out. I am somewhat new to blogging, well I have been doing it several months now but have been concentrating more on actually getting stuff out there. Now I am wanting to join others and actually participate in things and find I have no clue. Well Cindy has been a wonderful and generous help to me. She has some great tutorials on her blog and when there was something I still could not understand she did one especially to help me. How cool is that, what a kind lady she is. Do go and visit her and see her wonderful blogs. Stick around because she has more than one and its all worth seeing so take your time.

Birthday.............

2012-02-08T14:11:00.003-05:00

The 7th was my husbands birthday. We invited my daughter and family over and we had Pizza and I made a cake. It was also the one year anniversary of my granddaughters death so it was good to spend some time together.
I made a cake with a lot of help from Tristen, he wanted to "help" then to "lick da spoon". It tells us not to eat the batter anymore but that's the best part of making a cake. He then discovered the frosting and had to sample that too. I made cream cheese frosting from scratch and he just loved that.

I would like to have had time to do something fancy but with so much "help" I just did not have the time to do that.
Besides, we had company arrive and so I had to get on with other things.

Wasn't too bad though and tasted yummy and I suppose that's the main thing after all.

I am linking this post to A Delightful Life for her Valentine party.