Blog Contest and/or Giveaway

I know I haven't been around much. My goodness, over a week since I posted? Wow. I was away all weekend for hockey and am leaving again on Monday for Provincials for the school hockey. Thank you so very, very much for your lovely comments on my crocheted cushion. I will be answering some of your questions, when I have a moment. I LOVE BLOGGERS! We're just so darn nice! And, just for being so darn nice I am having a little contest. Easy peasy. Pop in a comment and you are in. Link to me in a post or in your sidebar and I will throw your name in three times. Sound fair?

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Lisa xo

Added Later: If I am already on your sidebar you are in for three! And if you are one of my faithful followers and comment you are in for three as well. And of course, I would love to see some new faces. Good Luck, Ladies.

Added Much, Much Later:

* * *Disclaimer* * *

It has come to my attention that my lovely blog readers may think I am giving away this chair. I am, in fact, not giving away this chair. This chair has been sitting in my picture folder for a very long time and it was meant to denote my absence from this blog. To avoid any kind of litigation later on I am confirming this fact now. I do, however, have some wonderful gifts set aside for the lucky winner that will not entail a forty dollar shipping charge on my part ;)

Too Granny?

Really, I can take the truth. I know some bloggers have done similar and it looks simply fab at their places but too granny for me? Sometimes I feel dangerously close to those older folks that sit behind the table at the bazaars and church charity things with the loo roll covers and the orange acrylic potholders.

I figured out how to do an edging in a shell (like) pattern. It's only been about two years that I have been crocheting. I made this pattern up. I don't even know if I did this cushion the proper way. I have never done anything in a circle before.

I had a bag of feathers from a previous project that was just the right amount for it. Do you know you really shouldn't try to fill a cushion with feathers inside the house? Ahh, see most of you already knew that, correct? I didn't. Not only that, I made the mistake of not leaving a big enough hole to actually put my hand "in". My oldest was watching me totally cracking up. It was quite funny. Then, brilliantly, I thought "I should do this on the porch". Well, in retrospect, doing this outside on a day with 60-70km an hour winds was probably not a good idea either. So, consequently, as I am filling the cushion, the bag of feathers falls over, just as the wind blows the door back open. Well, you get the picture. Some blew between the houses as well and it sort of looks like the German shepherd next door assassinated something there.

I think I like the flower. Or do you prefer it without? I can't decide. I have another flower pattern but it is knit, not crochet. I may try that one as well.

I do think it is cute though. Maybe not so granny? Maybe they are cool enough if you use the right colours and nice yarn? I mean if this was orange and brown acrylic .99 cent stuff it would be kind of blech.

I really should be off, though.

Gotta vacuum.

Hexagon Knitting

I have a link on the right that will take you to my post with this pattern. These are knit hexagons. If you cannot crochet, or just love these in general, they are the project for you. I can whip two or three of these off in a night, when I am so inclined. The beauty of them is they require very little yarn. So all those bits and pieces you do not know what to do with? Perfect. I have been doing them for a year or two and have amassed probably 20 or 30. The pattern is actually from my mum that had it on a tea stained piece of paper that, as I recall, had no title just "1970" typed at the top. I typed the pattern out and posted it a while back, for your pleasure ladies. Mostly because the most hits I have from google are "Knit Hexagon" and "Knitted Hexagon". I believe the blanket above may be felted a wee bit.

I delivered the baby booties to my nephew and the baby on Sunday and didn't they just love them? So proud. A truly gorgeous baby. My husband held her for a while and gave me that "aw come on, let's have another look". Ever seen that look? It can be very scary when you have an almost 20 year old. (I was married very, very young).

And finally, the most gorgeous Louisa Harding bag. Love.

Have a great week, ladies.


Lisa xo

PS Ladies, if you are looking for a free pattern for a crochet hexagon there is one available here.

Seriously, The Cutest Baby Booties Ever

After going to the doctor on Monday, I have felt marginally better. Oh yes, thank you the sinuses are definitely better. However, there is the small problem of the medication that has a somewhat undesirable effect on my inner workings. But we will not get into that. We will discuss, however, my deep and emotional love towards Debbie Bliss for creating just the cutest darn pattern for baby booties. This particular pattern is from the Quick Knits book but is modified the Knitty, Vintage and Rosy way.

How you may ask? Well I didn't have any Debbie Bliss yarn in stock so I used a beautiful Baby Alpaca I did have in stock. The little problem was it was a bit thicker than the pattern calls for and they came out bigger than they were suppose to. So in my crafty (ha) sort of way I decided to felt them. That is the result. I just love them. I really cannot capture their utter cuteness on my super yucky camera. But they are adorable.

I also finished the Mason Dixon Bib. Simple. Fast. Cute. With a flowery little button for the closure. These little knitted bits will be given to my nephew's new baby. Her name is Madison and she has rosy cheeks like her Auntie. Yes, I know technically I am her great Aunt but we are not mentioning that fact around here.

And the slow progress of my sock knitting. Between the baby items and the ripple blanket, these hands can only do so much ;)

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Thank you so very much ladies for your kind words while I was ill. It does seem there is a general problem worldwide with mummy having any kind of down time. Here I thought I was the only one with these "superpowers".

Darling, Where Have You Been?

I've been on the sofa for the better part of the whole weekend. Another sinus infection that has been waiting in the wings for a couple of weeks now. Everyone has had a cold here and I have been waiting for it, really.

My house has totally fallen apart these last two days. Nobody, I repeat, NOBODY, knows where anything goes when mother is indisposed. Shoes are piled high at the front door. I made the mistake of leaving the dishwasher to be unloaded and NOBODY knew where to put everything. The dog did get fed but such a measly portion, a dormouse could not survive on it. Luckily, I spied that one and filled it properly. The kitchen is not in very good shape either. There is an unidentifiable stain on my lovely ironed tea towel that will surely have been used for some dastardly deed that may involve the floor and/or the dog so that shall be put in the every growing pile of laundry (apparently the washer has a secret combination that only "I" can decipher). The dishcloth, that was bleached to within an inch on Friday has a charming "tea stained" patina to it now that professional dyers could only dream of. Every single toilet roll needed to be changed today because, again, I am the only one with that elusive power.

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Why, oh, why does this bother me so? On a more pleasant note, I have been fed and watered.

Kitchen Windows

I would not be exaggerating if I told you I am jealous of windows. Fiercely. Not in windows generally, just those that are in the kitchen, above the sink. I do not have a window right above my sink, and I think it is so beautiful and calming.

Shouldn't it be mandatory that all kitchen sinks must have a window above them? I have an angled sink that looks at the window but is not directly below the window. Next kitchen, I am telling you right now? Must have the window. They are just too pretty not to.

So just for the record, if you have such a window, I am jealous.

Pretty Flowers

A lovely vintage flower picture. Oh, how I adore these old pictures of roses and hydrangeas.

This is one of the poinsettias I had from Christmas. It still looks gorgeous. Isn't it the most adorable poinsettia? And it has barely dropped a leaf.

One of my many needlepoint cushions. Just because I love it.


A little vintage needlepoint lipstick case Mother gave me so many years ago and for whatever reason it sits in the drawer in the kitchen.

A little painted tin for the porch I picked up thrifting.

And a super crappy picture of cupcakes made last night and almost gone this morning. Which brings me to this week's question, how many cupcakes in one day are too many? My great friend Clara told me if you have to ask it is too many. We decided three is quite enough for one day. What do you think? Five too many? Just for the record, I had three yesterday, one of which, was not iced.

Happy Valentine's Day and a Few Snippets

This is the card I got my husband last Valentine's day. Oh, my goodness, I thought it was just the sweetest looking card ever. I have saved it and was unable to find one as adorable this year so I thought I would post another picture of it. I am sorry to say our day will be spent going back and forth from hockey games between two of the three daughters. There will not be a romantic dinner for us today. But Mr. Vintage and Rosy isn't one to care. And I do not mean that in a bad way. We have a wonderful relationship and appreciate each other every single day, not just on Valentine's. We go to dinner without kids two or three times a month and some evenings or weekend mornings we hide inside our bedroom with pots of tea and biscuits and while away the hours in each other's company reading, cuddling and watching our favourite movies. As a matter of fact, my oldest had to write one of those lists on facebook that they are all getting now and one of her "non-fiction" statements was "my mother is the luckiest woman in the world to have my father as a husband". She also wrote "I believe my parents are the best parents in the world. Truly". Is that not a wonderful Valentine's Day gift?

But I must admit I would much rather be grabbing my true love and wandering the countryside with my picnic basket in hand and pretty thermos full of tea. Wouldn't that be lovely? We will pretend that is possible and totally forget that it is -12 C with the windchill here right now.

We will continue to pretend and stare longingly at the jug of flowers from my garden last year.

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Have a beautiful day, my pretties, whatever you do.

Lisa xo

~PS Rachel Ashwell has written an update on her blog if you are interested~

Things That Made Me Smile Today

my favourite tea towels

my green transferware sink

the blue transferware cup in the girl's bathroom

February Homes and Antiques (thank you Sara)

my kitchen counter

my new vintage tin

I hope there are many things in your home that made you smile today!

Was Price the Problem?

Just an update, ladies. I am not sure if some of you are aware of the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic website that carries her products. The items are/were very expensive (although there is no denying her items are gorgeous) and have led to a discussion type forum on the previous post. Check it out for yourself, I am interested in knowing what you think?

More Sad and Shabby News

Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic fame has filed for Bankruptcy Protection categorised as Chapter 11 in the United States. How sad. You can read her blog entry here. I do not know if this is just for her stores or for the merchandise she sells at Target as well.

I know during these tough economic times there really isn't any company that is safe but I thought there was a real resurgence going on with that kind of decorating and style. I wonder though, as her Shabby Home products were terribly expensive. Perhaps that has bearing on it.

We shall see how much her items increase in value on ebay.


PS I am without my desktop for a few days while it is in for repair. Posts may be sporadic. But I am reading all of you on my daughter's laptop.

Lisa xo

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London, England ~ Closed Today

I found these beautiful photos at BBC.

How did you spend your snow day? I am envisioning cooking, crafting and knitting.

Uncontained Excitement

Are you ever so excited you just cannot contain yourself? That is how I was yesterday. A parcel was delivered and I was so anxious to open it but I had to drive my daughter to her exam and had to wait until I got home. Then when I did open it, I just wanted to stare at it. Oooh, so lovely.

The Cath Kidston flowery dusters I have been drooling over at so many blogs. Look at that pretty pattern. Perhaps too beautiful for dusting? (I don't even want to take them out of the package)

And what is this? Sarah Smith? Does Sarah have a little crush on Cath too? Mmmm. But how cute are they?

And, finally, BBC Homes and Antiques. How fabulous is that? Not easy to find here and when you do it is well over a month behind.

So here is the story of my lovely gifts. I am reading a very cute little blog called Flossie and Tom. She blogs about her lovely dusters. I comment on how beautiful they are along with all her other pretty goodies and what does she do? Writes me back and offers to send me some. How sweet is that? After a little swap arranging, here we are. Aren't we all so lucky to belong to this wonderful place called the blog world?

Thank you so much, Sara.

Does Debbie Bliss Have a Crush on Cath Kidston?

I mean who doesn't, right? But as I'm breezing through the beautiful images of the Debbie Bliss books I'm getting a real Cath Kidston-esque feel.

What do you think? Or perhaps they are the same person?

Have they every been in the same room together?

Cuteness, eiderdowns, fair isle patterns, polka dots?

I wonder...

But seriously, the patterns in these books are wonderful. I am thinking about knitting the most charming little booties in the Quick Baby Knits books. Oh, they are simply darling. I also started some socks with some Trekking yarn I've had for about two years. My imagination is so much more organised than my real life.

source: Quick Baby Knits and Home by Debbie Bliss