Childhood memories of the op shop variety

I did pop into one garage sale yesterday however nothing particularly grabbed me so rather than miss out on Flea Market Finds this week I decided to show some op shopping finds from approximately 25 years ago.  My Auntie was pregnant with my cousin and she wanted some woollen baby dresses.  Pretty, fancy heirloom type baby dresses mind you.  So mum used to dig through the baby clothes and would find heaps of ugly, scratchy, out-of-shape items (you know the sort, you probably find the same sort of things yourself) but every now and then she'd find a little treasure...

 

And sometimes they would need a little work around the neckline where they had began to fray and mum replaced all the buttons and ribbons.  Stains were soaked away and they were slowly restored to their former splendour.

 

So my Auntie used them for her girls and then they were loving stored away until the next generation.  When I found out that I was having Chloe, these were among some keepsakes that were passed onto me.

The wonderful thing is, I can remember Mum finding these and restoring them, transforming them from items unwanted into treasured heirlooms.  I look forward to a time in the future that I can pass these onto Chloe for her children and tell her the story behind them.

Here's one I prepared earlier...

I've had this piece on the old embroidery frame for ages.  I really got stuck into it but found the other frame so hard to work at that, thus its been neglected for quite some time now.  I'm hoping now that its on its new frame I'll feel more inclined to sit down and do a little bit.

The pattern is by Teresa Wentzler and is called Wedding Sampler and this is hopefully what it will one day look like...

I love Teresa's work; incredibly elegant with so much detail.  I am a particular fan of the knotwork borders which many of her designs have.  I also love the fact that many of her designs have a medieval or fantasy element which being a bit of a history/fantasy buff appeals to me greatly.

This isnt the first TW design that I've tackled.  The first one I did was The Storyteller...

(This is the picture from the TW website, not my own piece which I haven't photographed yet)

This was the very first counted cross stitch piece I did ever!  Sure in the past I had done a lot of traced embroidery because that is what mum did.  I had to teach myself how to do this though.  Probably not the best place for a complete beginner to start but my love of the design, the richness of the colours and the all over intricacy won me.

Two other designs which I currently have and will (hopefully) one day get to are the Birth Announcement and the Fantasy Triptych...

Unfortunately TW Designworks is now closed but many of Teresa's wonderful designs are still available through patternsonline.com.  I know there are many more that I would love to get.

Just what every blog needs...

... A Giveaway.

I'm pretty much at the 50 post point now (never thought I would get here to be honest) and I've noticed around Blogland it seems that the 50 post point is a good mark to do a giveaway.  I've been incredibly fortunate to be the receiver of a giveaway from Sarah Jo from ideyspidey so I'd like to continue on the bloggy goodness by doing a giveaway too.

But what to give???  If you won a giveaway what would you like it to be?  A gift voucher to spend on fabric and notions or something hand pick by moi?  Are you into cute little bits and pieces or are you one for stubborn practicality?  Would you like to get something made by hand already or something to make up yourself?

Give me some ideas for a giveaway and I'll start getting something organised!!

Some exciting finds todays...

It's been awhile since I've been op shopping or garage sale shopping.  Mum and I used to scour the local op shops together and since she has moved to Darwin it hasn't been quite the same.  In fact I had just said that very thing on Crafty Mamas yesterday.  So imagine my surprise today when I found that we not only had a garage sale happening in our street but also one just around the corner.  It had to be fate right!

First stop was the sale around the corner.  Not only did they have the most magnificent wicker bassinette that I have ever seen in my whole life (which I totally would have bought expect for the fact that its probably not suitable for a 3yo) but hiding at the back they had this charming embroidery stand.  I do have an embroidery stand already but its a cheap, ugly, pine monstrosity which is uncomfortable to sit and work at.  This gorgeous little thing is a hand made beauty but most of all its compact and compliments our home perfectly.  I was thrilled with it and the lovely lady that sold it to me is thrilled that its going to a good home.

At the garage sale in our street I was most disappointed to arrive and find a transaction already under way for a lovely bookcase.  Oh well, these things happen.  I was going through the clothes that they had and found this lovely pink top which I think with a little work should make a perfectly sparkly fairy princess dress for my resident fairy princess.

I'm so happy with my finds today, what a great reintroduction to the world of preloved treasures.  If you'd like to see some other really beautiful preloved treasures step over to Her Library Adventures and check out some of the other Flea Market Finds.

Delightful blog giveaway.

Let me tell you about a gorgeous blog giveaway high on the "awwwwwww" factor.


The Handmaden is giving away a truly divine doll called Lil' Mim.  She is simply lovely!!!  Just look at that sweet face, so simple yet so fetching.  Why not pop over and enter the giveaway as well.