Things that make me happy: 1

Happy Monday...the beginning of shiny, new week so full of possibilities!

Primulas just fill my heart with joy!

55 pence for a pot of sheer delight!

What's making you feel happy today?

Rebecca

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Buttons & Flowers

One of my "things to do this year" is to try harder with this blog that I started nearly 4 years ago!  I have just about managed to keep up with Facebook and Twitter, but this has been sadly neglected.  I really don't know how others manage to juggle it all!  I am hopeful that my new camera will make it easier (and quicker) for me to keep things up to date so watch this space!  I have a smart camera that allows me to upload photos straight to social media sites...I just have to be smart enough to know how to use it properly!

Anyway, here I am!  A very belated Happy New Year to you all!  I  am so excited about all that I have planned for the year ahead...some things are business related and others are to do with home.  I hope to share it all with you here!

My first day workshop of 2013 will be taking place this Saturday...it is called Crochet Buttons & Flowers and I so looking forward to it.  The gorgeous colours I have been working with have really brightened up the cold, dark days we've having of late!   So, as you will see, I am still mad about buttons and flowers...

Rebecca
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£1.50's worth of happiness

I love Sweet Williams

Great British flowers in a crochet covered jar


£1.50's worth of happiness!

Rebecca
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A few of my favourite things...

Rain drops on roses...

whiskers on kittens...

strawberries and knitting!

One of my daughter's friends had seen this gorgeous tea cosy in a magazine and wondered if I could knit one for her. It just so happens that I was drawn to Nicki Trench's book Homemade Gifts a few months ago by this very pattern!

I didn't mean to be away from here for so long, but sometimes life has a habit of getting in the way of things like blogging. It's good to be back!

Rx

Summer

One of the things I love about summer is watching the garden come alive with colour. I love the vibrant shades of orange of this gorgeous lily that has come into bloom this week. It was gift from a good friend of mine some years ago and I am always amazed when it bursts back to life from its seemingly empty, weathered terracotta pot that stands on the patio all through winter. This winter its pot was even piled high with snow and ice for days on end, but it's still grown back...the wonders of nature!

Another thing that I love about summer is being able to have breakfast in the garden...I sit on the bench and just watch for while...bliss! Ooh, and another thing I love about summer...the fruit: the other morning I had muesli with yoghurt and nectarine, which was delicious! I know you can buy so many summer fruits all year round now, but I tend not to: I prefer to keep to the seasons. It might be all in my mind, but I think the fruit just tastes better that way!


I do hope the summer weather continues as I shall be at Hooton Pagnell Summer Fete on Sunday and I've been soaked there too many times before! Hooton Pagnell is a gorgeous South Yorkshire village with a fascinating history and the Fete is always good fun...even in the rain!

I've lots to do to get ready so I had better go...

Back soon,

Rebecca
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Quick catch up & I'm off to Wentworth

It's been a busy few weeks...

I've been rummaging for vintage bits and pieces in charity shops, where I found, amongst other things, a delightful pattern booklet entitled "Senior Knitteds - For the rich in years", which includes this pattern for knitted kneecaps!

I've been making hearts using vintage linens, lace, mother of pearl buttons and filled with lavender from my neighbour's garden




I've been preparing for some new workshops and working on my website




My school art clubs have been keeping me out of mischief...


we had lots of fun with salt dough a couple of weeks ago!


I've been enjoying time in the garden...planting, pruning, relaxing, sewing, crocheting...



and picking a few of my favourite flowers for the mantelpiece...buttercups, bluebells, lily of the valley and some of the pink hardy geranium that is beginning to flower near the pond. I am always amazed at the wonderful scent that comes from those tiny, almost ball-like lily of the valley flowers - gorgeous!

And, at the moment, I am preparing for a craft fair in Wentworth on Bank Holiday Monday - more details of which can be found here - I shall be in The Rockingham Arms Barn. I'm looking forward to it and hoping that it will be more successful than the Saltaire fair, where I only just about covered my stall fee! If you're nearby, why not pop along and say "hello" - it would be lovely to see you!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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And the winner is...

Congratulations Becca! I shall be sending the parcel of goodies to you next week. Thank you so much to everyone that took the time to leave a comment - I have thoroughly enjoyed reading them all!

This week I've been making these with the children at art club...

...we've called them "squidgies" and I now have around 35 of the creatures waiting for me in the kitchen! Job for today: to give the Squidgies their squidgy filling and stitch them up!

I don't normally buy craft magazines, but I just had to get a copy of May's Knitting magazine as my Flower Hair Grips are featured in the 'Get Inspired' section (top right hand corner!).

I have to say it is a lovely magazine - I'm particularly looking forward to reading the 'WI Controversial: The Changing Face of the Women's Institute' article and I love this Strawberries and Cream Tea Cosy pattern by Patti di Cagli.

As it's another sunny day outside, I shall be doing a little more weeding, sorting and planning in the garden later. Lettuce, rocket, beetroot and mangetout seeds went in last weekend - a little late, but we always get there in the end! I am planning a good sort out at the bottom of the garden by the pond so that I can scatter some wild flower seeds and just wait to see what happens! Hopefully, a colourful display in late summer! Watch this space...

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Springing back

The garden is 'springing' back to life...these 'Dorothy' crocuses have begun to flower this week:

There's some froggy business going on in the borders:

Fortunately, I heard these two rustling around as I hate being surprised by frogs when I'm hanging out the washing! We have a pond at the bottom of the garden and each Spring we see lots of frogs springing their way back there - it's quite amusing to watch. There's always one that wants to come into the house, which completely freaks me out! I refuse to open the back door until I know that it's gone, especially after having a frog join me in the kitchen a few years ago! Of course, the children think it's hilarious - "look out Mum, there's a frog!"

It's such a glorious day here today - the sun is shining, froggy noises are coming from the pond, Spring flowers are beginning to colour the garden, washing is drying on the line...and all's well! The arrival of Spring may have been delayed, but there's no holding it back now.

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Let mum eat cake...and chocolate

It all began on Friday evening when my lovely daughter came home and presented me with a bunch of freesias (love them!) - "Happy Mother's Day! I won't see you much this weekend, so I'm giving you these today and I'm going to make you a cake tonight!"

A coffee and walnut sponge...my favourite...and very yummy it is too! I hasten to add that I've not eaten all the missing sponge myself!

This morning my teenage son gave me this choccie bar onto which he'd iced 'Love you mum' - apparently, it had all "gone a bit wrong", "it got stuck to the cellophane", but none of that matters to me - I love it!

Thank you my lovely children!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Time

Blue sky...such a welcome sight after so many cold, dark, wintry days!

On Sunday, I decided to move the garden bench into the sunshine and sit for a while with a cup of coffee and a piece of flapjack...and just enjoy! Oooh, it was so lovely to feel the warmth of the sun on my face - the last time was so long ago! It was not sunbathing weather by any means as I was wearing my thick cardi and fleece for warmth elsewhere, but it lifted my spirits no end!

It was lovely to see signs of spring around the garden, to watch the birds come and go, and hear them twittering from the tree tops. It reminded me of one of my favourite poems, 'Leisure' by William Henry Davies (1871-1940):

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

I am so looking forward to spring and more opportunities to sit and stare...it didn't take long and made me feel very happy indeed!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Patterns

I couldn't resist rushing back indoors to grab the camera to take some photos of the amazing ice patterns on the car windscreen the other morning. Such wonderful patterns...like nature's own cut glass!

Neither can I resist a floral pattern when I see one...so these had to come home from the charity shop with me on Tuesday. I think they are supposed to be table mats, but I propose to use for small hand cloths in the kitchen. I'm not sure if they're vintage, but they're unused and of a lovely, thick, barkcloth type fabric and I just love those vintagey roses!

And more gorgeous, vintagey roses to look at on the cover of March's Country Living magazine, which has just arrived...a recurring pattern it seems!

Time for coffee and quick browse through the pages....

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Doing well!

I am so pleased to say that my lovely neighbour B is home from hospital now and doing well. Needless to say, I am checking on her all the time to make sure that she is alright...I just cannot help it! I don't think she minds though...not yet anyway! It's so good to have her back and, of course, the pussies were delighted to see her!

I am also pleased to report that Amaryllis is doing well...

despite having suffered the further trauma of losing a flower bud as a result of the antics of a couple of high spirited teenagers!

I don't whether the broken off flower will do well, but the flower in the pot is just beginning to open today...

and it is so beautiful...I love those colours!

I have been making lots more vintage embroidery handbag mirrors this week...

as they've been extremely popular since they were featured in the Telegraph Magazine! It was lovely to receive this pretty 'thank you' card from a customer saying that she was "thrilled to bits" with her mirrors.

I would also like to say thank you...thank you to everyone who has commented on my blog over the last couple of weeks...I appreciate it so much and I've not forgotten you! I hope to find the time to catch up on what all you lovely people have been up to very soon but, at the moment, it seems that doing well at one thing means not doing quite so well at others!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Pretty, exciting things

It was an exciting start to the day when my son, who is a paper boy, brought home our copy of the Daily Telegraph...my vintage embroidery handbag mirrors that I am selling via http://www.notmassproduced.com/ are featured on page 19 of the Telegraph Magazine! I still cannot quite believe it! The orders have been flooding in! Some of these mirrors have been quietly waiting to be bought for a couple of months or so...the power of the press is amazing!

As I have rushed about in my work area (also my dining room, office and library!) today sorting orders and making more mirrors, I have caught the gorgeous scent of this pretty, creamy white hyacinth as it emerges. It was given to me by W (aged 4, who lives next door) as a birthday present and I love it!

All in all, a pretty, exciting day!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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A Returned Gift

We had sent Auntie Sylvia a neatly potted amaryllis bulb, boxed and well-packaged, on the 18th December. As I saw the postman walking towards the front door, I recognised the parcel in his hands...Auntie Sylvia's Christmas present had been returned!

It was not that Auntie Sylvia had been disappointed with our choice of gift - the parcel never even reached her on the South Coast because it had, somehow, lost its address label! I always tape over self adhesive address labels to avoid this kind of thing, so I cannot understand what happened, but I am so glad that my address, as the sender of the parcel, was still firmly attached, meaning that it found its way back here!

Unfortunately, whatever had happened to the parcel on its travels up and down the country meant that the amaryllis was no longer neatly potted, the soil having found its way out of all the packaging, and the poor, water-deprived bulb had started to grow! Just look at its pale, white shoots!

We are going to choose another gift for Auntie Sylvia - the amaryllis will be convalescing here in Yorkshire, rather than on the South Coast! I am hoping it will make a full recovery!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Busy making...

...new friends, contacts and sales at the weekend at the Wool & Textiles Craft Fair in Sheffield which, combined with a large wholesale order, has meant that I've also been busy making more of these:

Meanwhile, bags of these gorgeous apples and plums are waiting for me in the kitchen so it looks like I shall be busy making jams, chutneys and mincemeat over the next few days too!

My husband returned home from work with a box full of these jars, which were given to him by a work colleague on the proviso that she receives one back full of something!! - I don't think that will be a problem, do you?

I've just been busy making way around the Big Apple...no, not New York...this beauty:

A scrumptious 12oz apple...yes, it really is a standard sized mug in the photo! Delicious and yet another example of fabulous home grown produce that would never make it to the supermarket shelves because of its size!

Well, I should really be busy making more lovely brooches and Christmassy things so I had better sign off for today.....

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Twittering about at Home

The plus side of not going away this weekend was that some things got done around the house!

Hubby made a start on the much needed painting of the outside of the house and managed to complete the sanding and undercoating. DIY is his least favourite pursuit of all, so I'm quite pleased that this job is now a work in progress! Of course, it probably means that it will rain every weekend so that it takes forever to finish the job, but at least it's a start!!

I finished a cushion for the sofa...I know, it has a button and a flower...sometimes I just can't help myself!!

I also listed a few more things in my Folksy and Etsy shops, and found time to explore Twitter! I have to say that I'm still a little unsure about the whole twittering thing...what should I tweet about? Obviously, I would like to use it to promote 'rebeccamaryjane's', but I don't want it to turn into a 'look what I made, buy it here' kind of thing. However, I do need to find a way to increase my sales and I'm finding that a lot of people have never even heard of Folksy and Etsy!! Any tips?

Poorly boy is feeling much better, thank you - indicated by the return of his favourtie words, "I'm hungry" and "What's for lunch?" So, I guess that my cue to go and butter some rolls...

Back soon,

Rebecca
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Buttons and Flowers

When I'm busy making and creating I do tend to make rather a mess and spread myself far and wide all over the house!! So this week, as we're taking it easy, I've started sorting out my work space - no room of one's own here, I'm afraid, just an area of the dining room!!

My son says that his bedroom and the bathroom are the only rooms without any of "mum's stuff" in them! The sewing machine and badge making machine are set up and ready for action on the kitchen table, there are knitting needles, crochet hooks and baskets of wool in the lounge (well, I can't have idle hands when my legs stop moving, can I?), boxes of stock and materials are stored in our bedroom, lots of bits and bobs are stored in the top cupboards in my daughter's bedroom (well, she wouldn't have been able to reach them when I started using them!), I keep all my materials for children's craft workshops in the cellar, and...I can't even begin to say what I might have stashed away in the loft over the years!! So, hang on...that means the hall and the upstairs landing are free from my "stuff" too!

I'd love to hear where you work at home? Messy or tidy?

When I was tidying my boxes and tins, I came across...

these pretty terracotta buttons (with flowers on!) that I bought from the V&A Museum shop on a trip to London with my daughter just before Christmas! These are"for me" buttons, not to be used on bits and pieces to sell! Now I just need to think how I shall use them. I've decided that, during the summer holidays, I am going to try to do a bit of making and creating for just for me and for my home, which is something that I hardly ever get around to doing, always being too busy preparing for workshops, fairs, and making for other people and my little online shops.

I am working on a small wall hanging piece (a flower) using rag rugging techniques, which will be used to promote a rag rugging workshop that I'm doing later in the year. I'd not done any rag rugging for a while and had forgotten how much fabric it uses - this small piece, which measures 6" x 6" has used almost two t-shirts!! I put it down by this month's Country Living magazine...the colours are perfect!

Today is wet and miserable...quite cool too!... but I took this yesterday...

The gorgeous white buddleia with its enormous flower spikes is attracting all kinds of insects and quite a few butterflies - unfortunately, they always seem to flutter off before I've managed to capture them on camera!
Buttons and flowers...see...I just can't get away from them! And that's just how I like it!

Bye for now,

Rebecca
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Memories

My 'Peace' rose (a wonderful, thoughtful gift from hubby a few years ago following a bit of a tiff!) has come into flower this week and I managed to photograph it in between the very heavy downpours of rain we've been having. Its yellowy, pinky tones always remind me of the little fruit salad chewy sweets I used to buy from the village shop as a child!!

Isn't it funny how different things bring back our memories...smells, sights, sounds!! The smell of Guerlain's Samsara perfume always reminds me of being in labour...a midwife that came and went during the long and protracted time I had with my son was rather heavily doused in the stuff!! I also find that music stirs so many memories, which is one of the reasons I'm sad that Playlist.com is no longer available - it's so quiet in blogland too!!

Talking of memories, there's something about these:

Apparently, they are also available in a dark chocolate, blue and gold wrapped, version, but I've not seen those around here!!

Yesterday, I took a trip to my favourite charity shop...wow, a new manager...and boy is she making changes, although she assures me that she will not be increasing the prices!! Quite often, I breeze in... and then out again, just as quickly...but yesterday it was hard to drag myself away...lots of vintage craft books and balls of wool...!!!

I love these from "The Soft Toy Book" from the 70s!!!

The charity shop manager said her main aim was to clear out all the "stuff" from the upstairs storage room...keep on bringing it out into the shop I say, especially after yesterday's fabulous finds!! I'll share some more pictures in another post as this has turned into a longer one than I expected!!

Back soon,

Rebecca x