FELTING INSPIRATION

For those of you who are interested in felting (even those of you who are not), Elizabeth Armstrong's first book is a visual delight.  Elizabeth is a master at playing with colour and even if you aren't interested in learning to felt, the vibrancy of her art will provide endless inspiration for other forms of art.

The quality of my photos is not so great but below is just one of hundreds of visual examples within her book.  If you would like to know more about Elizabeth check out her blog or her website.  She is one talented lady.  I haven't met her but when you send her an email she always responds and seems very lovely. CONGRATULATIONS  Elizabeth on such a wonderful publication.

ZARANNE'S VINTAGE SHEET SWAP

For those of you who read this wonderful blog, you will know that Zaranne is having a Vintage Sheet Swap.  I decided to join in because I have been collecting sheets for a while now and have been reluctant to cut into them.  I thought that joining in would help me to get started.  So today I dragged them out and took photos and I will start getting them ready to post off to Zaranne this week.  Hope you enjoy looking at them.  I can't wait to see which lovely prints I receive in return.  How exciting..............

NANA'S TEA TOWELS

I consider myself to be very lucky, I am in my forties and I still have a grandparent.  About 12 months ago I was visiting my Grandfather and I was telling him about all of the lovely things I had seen people doing/making with souvenir tea towels.  He couldn't believe it and told me that there were still lots of tea towels that my Nana had collected on their travels in the cupboard.  Apparently my Nana used to berate him if he ever tried to use them to dry the dishes.  He couldn't believe that she would buy them, lovingly wash and iron them and store them in the cupboard, he thought it was a waste.  He said even though she has passed away he dare not use them and we had a laugh.  Anyway I asked him if I could have a few of them, he said that I could have them all but my mum protested and snaffled some for herself.  

I went to the cupboard and sure enough sitting on one of the shelves was a huge pile of pristine, unused tea towels.  These are the ones I chose.

PRETTY THRIFTED DOILIES

The following are some pictures of doilies I have collected on my thrift shop travels.  My favorites are the cross stitch.

DOLLY BLANKET

One finished blanket for a dolly and hopefully one happy niece!

SWEET CROCHETED HAIR TIES!

My son turns 8 this Saturday and we are having a small party with his cousins.  I am having a play with making some handmade prizes for the party games and this is what I have come up with so far for the girls.  I am really happy with the result.

AN EXCITING THRIFTY FIND...........

The op-shop gods have been very good to me lately, but even I couldn't believe my eyes when they set upon these the other day.  They almost took my breath away.  I have never found a complete set before and not only that, they only cost $9.95 AUD.  Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I got home I immediately looked up the pattern, it is called blue horizon.  Then I looked up a set on ebay and they were asking for $60.  Lucky, lucky, lucky me.  I will post more pics of my other recent finds soon.