Topping Up . . . Stocking Up

Hello there dear friends & readers

Yesterday was Valentines Day here in my part of the world & possibly, in your part ... it is today

I would like to reach out & wish you all a Very Happy Valentines Day 
in whichever way you might choose to celebrate it

This delightful picture was sent to me by my dear blogging friend & fellow cat lover Willie ... & I would like to share it with you all

Thanks so much dear Willie . . . I adore this picture !!

Sometimes the Cottage can feel like it is ticking along quietly but not really a great deal flying out the door  ... just a kind of steady plodding along.

Then suddenly I can look & there are gaps everywhere ... mostly my "regular stock" ... for example teatowels, handtowels, wheatbags etc ... nothing particularly creative, but just good steady items that slowly flow out the door & that my regulars like to keep on hand for unexpected gifts.

This is what happened last week & after having a small seizure when I saw the amount of gaps ... I thought I had better concentrate a little & fill UP some of those gaps

My handtowels are a regular seller - since taking this photo on Friday, these 3 are gone 

As I had an over-abundance of flouro green handtowels I made up some more kiwiana ones, & sets of my Scented Spice Mats to match them

In total I made 8 sets of the Spice Mats in a variety of different fabrics

The Kiwi & the Pukeko ones are now on their way to the U.K. - a lovely customer who popped in on Friday wanting lightweight, locally made gifts to take home with her  . . .

I made another 5 Golly teatowels to bring the basket total up to 8

After all these years of making Golly teatowels, I still really love them   :-)

Though the weather is certainly not conducive, I have been selling lots of wheatbags lately ... I can only imagine people have injuries or sore areas, that need the heat applied

Mainly I like to use the flannelette fabrics as find these are cosier & more comforting to handle

Just before my Garden Ramble last November, I potted up some of my china cups with delicate babys tears plants ... I wasn't sure how these would sell but had some vintage china cups left over from making my teacup birdfeeders so decided to give it a try ...

The four I potted up had sold, so I decided to do another 3 ... it takes a wee while for the plants to get established enough to sell them

(I must add here that one lady came back recently with hers ... a sorry looking state ... "Ummm my plant died" she said ... I gave her another plant I had growing in a plastic pot so do hope she remembers to actually water this next one !!!!)

In the evenings, by the time I get inside from watering & get to actually sit down my eyes are too tired to focus alot 
I need some gentle handwork that doesn't require too much concentration
The wool blanket hearts are perfect for this & I try to keep a basket full ready by my chair for evening stitching ...

As the bowl in the Cottage only had 3 left, this gave me the chance to do a lovely assortment using up some of my wool blanket scraps ... stuffed with this seasons dried lavender they smell heavenly

My lovely friend Lorraine popped in the other day - she had been on a trip to Perth & had purchased some linens from an Op Shop that was closing down ... she had taken out what she required & my name popped into her head ... what a treasure she is ... just look at these delights ...

Thank You SO MUCH Lorraine for your kindness & generosity ... I shall keep you posted on what I do with them but honestly, some of them are just too beautiful to cut in to

Thanks so very much for your visit today dear friends & readers
I shall leave you with a picture of dear little Miss "butter-wouldn't-melt-in-your-mouth" Jinxy ...  

who sends you all good wishes for the coming week ahead - may it be filled with pleasureable moments
with much love & friendship to you,
Julie, Jinxy & Blackie x0x0x
(p.s  thank you all for your lovely & encouraging comments about Lois's wedding dress doll in my last post ... Lois cried when she collected her doll.  Happy tears I should add!!)