Happy Easter ! ! !

Hello dear friends & readers,

Just dropping by to wish each & every one of you A Very Happy Easter

from Pinterest

& to share a little of my trip to Mums with you all   :-)

Mum had a very enjoyable 85th birthday - our week together went by in the blink of an eye

As Mum received lots of photographs this birthday I forced, coerced persuaded her to purchase a small table to display them all on, kind of a little gallery

I came across this gorgeous little oak table in Ethel Annes Antique Shop & it did the trick perfectly 

I just loved the detail of the heart shaped legs on this wee table 

Mum was happy with the table runner I made her but preferred to use it an a "quilt" on her 2-seater couch

While I gardened lots for her, the rains came & I was forced indoors ... Mum had quite an overload of courgettes this year so we made a batch of bread & butter pickles one wet day

These 3 traditional gollies came home with me . . . 

This is some of what my Mum knits for my cottage - at 85 years of age she is still knitting away - a little slower now, but still beautiful handiwork

Mum stuffs them all & sews on the buttons & I do their faces & ribbons ... her work is an inspiration to me

No trip to Mums would be complete without a visit with my dear friend Claire - this time it was a quick cuppa on my way home - but I did remember my camera :-)

Although Claires lovely home has been much photographed & posted about on my blog here (& Michelles blog also) I continually find sources of inspiration from Claire

The swag above was a new touch in her country bedroom - she had affixed it along a painted beam ... it was just beautiful & so perfect for the room

curtains = op shop lace tablecloths

I wander around with my camera while Claire makes a cuppa - she is used to me by now clicking away 
(gosh, just as well!!!)

This was an old dark wooden corner unit from the Op Shop which received one of Claires amazing make-overs

I was inspired by the "mirror wall" in her bedroom as I am trying to think of ways to lighten our bedroom as we redecorate it

 more gorgeous Op Shop needlework pictures . . . 

. . .  & fascinating tabletop displays 

I commented to Claire I didn't think I had ever seen her table so "bare" ... this was quite minimalist for Claire ... just a touch of pastel Easter decorating - stunning!!

The last 3 pics are her entry porch where she always has beautiful displays which change & evolve with the different seasons - I am always in awe of Claires amazing ability to put things together so effortlessly


My friend Lois popped in a few days ago with a treasured cup & saucer that had been her late Mums
Lois had poured tea into it & it had leaked from a fine hairline crack around the base

 Lois asked if I could "do anything with it for her"

I decided a pincushion would be the solution as it was still in such good condition apart from the crack
It turned out lovely & dainty ..... Lois was thrilled with it   :-)


I wanted to share with you (some of) my Op Shop finds from my trip down to Mums

Although I usually prefer the plainer vintage linens, for some reason I found myself drawn to the more coloured doilies this trip

Although the Mexican Men arent really my "thing", I just loved & appreciated all the detailed handwork in them

This little number from the Hospice Shop felt like I had hit the "doiley jackpot"  - it is a tray cloth & the cup on the bottom right has a little pocket to tuck a serviette into

The little crochet lace edge is the pocket

(I think it only fair to add however, they were most definately not in this condition when I purchased them & have since had a long soak & a wash & iron)

Lovely Op Shop tablecloth, hydrangeas (from garden), tin bird (from Claire) & berry candle (from Mum)

(And flowers sitting in $2 glass Op Shop Jug)

Thank you all for your very kind comments last post on the anniversary of my beloved dog Nero
After Nero passed away, I confess I dreamed for a good many months about a lovely fluffy little cat curled up on my lap or sitting at my feet while stitching ... a female cat quite possibly named Pearl ??? ... or Poppy perhaps . . .  ???

Instead . . . it appears . . .  this is what I have "inherited"

A feral ginger tom (whom I have named Bob) who sits here on the top step each morning (& evening) waiting for me to feed him on the lawn - we have a gap with a board missing under our deck & he sits here looking out & watching me
I cannot get close as yet but I have managed to get him to stop hissing & spitting at me ... plus he now eats off a plate instead of on the lawn
Not quite what I imagined in my dream ... but I shall persevere with Bob - lets just say its lucky he's cute cos he is quite naughty !!!!

Thanks so very much for your visits today
I hope your Easter is a happy & safe one for you all
with much love & friendship,
Julie x0x0x   (& Bob)xx