just hangin out with my pal

 Don't let that cute face fool you! He is one naughty bunny! 

  I just found my lime green mary janes under my bed.

Now that they're ruined I might recycle them into a Pea Pendant...

and my red polka dot flip flops....

Oh...and my wallpaper....

and my notebook! 

He's also "customised" most of my pyjamas, and books and magazines...and cables...

If he wasn't so cute he'd be out on his giant ears!!! 

dream kitchen

In my opinion the kitchen is the heart of the home. Especially in my family. We love food! It's not only the food or the cooking, which I also love, we're drawn to that room!
I could look at kitchens from the past alll day. The colors are wonderful! The designs are charming! I just can't get enough!

kitchen 1901. the cupboard ain't the only thing that was bare.

1910 kitchen.

1920s.

1930s kitchen....aren't you lovely in my fave green. 

1940s Americana.

last but not least my fave....

Oh, 1950s kitchen, how I love thee! 

Some facts about Kitchens

* Today, about 74% of affluent Americans use kitchen to talk on the phone

* In 1930s, kitchen was mostly used as place to cook food

* Today, approximately 63% of kitchen users leave notes in the kitchen for other family members

* In 1930s, Kitchen was also used as laundry room

* Today, 58% Americans open mail or catch up on correspondence in the kitchen

* In 1930s, kitchen was considered a haven of women

* Today, 46% of both sexes said that they use the kitchen for airing out disagreements

* Today, as Americans get older, they use the kitchen to hold family conferences

* In 1930s, kitchen was used as a place to spy on neighbours

* Today, 8% of Americans admit to using the kitchens as a location to "spy" on neighbours

 *

What's your favorite or least favorite thing about your kitchen. There's no room for a table or seating in my kitchen - it's not great when people are over - I disappear! 

Second Hand Rose - Coming Soon!

Inspired by the love of vintage &  the song sung by the charming Fanny Brice {and Babs Streisand} may I introduce 

SECOND HAND ROSE CHESHIRE

Second Hand Rose will be located in the Antiques & Collectables emporium in Blakemere Craft Centre. We will be stocking vintage furniture, clothing, jewellery, fabric, buttons, books, recycled & refashioned handmade creations and lots and lots of wonderful English Porcelain and the occasional American treasure!
We specialise in beautiful things!
The majority of our collection comes from the 1950s and before. In retails terms, vintage is anything 20 years old or older. However my friend and business partner Jayne love the 1920s to 1950s most of all! Each item at Second Hand Rose will be hand selected by Jayne or myself.



We will launch online in the future too so people who aren't near Sandiway Cheshire can also snap up a vintage treasure! In the mean time Second Hand Rose Cheshire can be found on Facebook and will soon have a blog :)
Stop by and "like" us!

While waiting for our spot to open up {that's a story in itself} Jayne and I are busy removing stock from The Vintage Shop, picking up new stock when we see it and saving pennies in order to get our insurance and pay our deposits. It's all scary and exciting! It's not full time work, so we'll also be taking stalls in markets, having home sales and attending fêtes and fairs. Maybe even a market near you!
 
Why am I moving forward when I'm still not sure what I want to be when I grow up?
I'm am fed up of not getting anywhere with job applications, it is soooo bizarre how I have not even had a single interview! I've got lots of experience in quite a few areas! I'm a hard worker! I'm hire-able! I have good references and a well groomed CV/resume!  I even sent a request through their website to the management at my husband's job asking if they were hiring cleaners and she didn't even get back to me!One of the existing shops that stocked my jewellery and vintage stuff is closing down. I'll lose that income in 3 weeks time.
So that's it! I'm not gonna take it anymore! I'm pulling up my boot straps and taking matters into my own hands! I've sought wise advice. I've sought guidance from Business Link. And it's positive!

Here we go! Another big ole leap of faith! Look Ma' no hands!

my little projects.

Thought I'd better show you what I've been up to...

Knitting Needle Roll

and.....little house pincushion! 

what do ya' think?!

in a stitchy frame of mind

Since I have been quite into sewing small projects at the moment I thought I would have a look at some pretty pincushions! My next project might just have to be another pincushion!

i've made a ring pincushion really similar to this one! 

i've also made some vintage tea cup & saucer pin cushions! 

I need to take more photos of my own work! 

Here Comes The Sun do da do dooo...

"Here comes the sun, doo da doo doo, Here comes the sun, and I say, It's alright"

My first thought this morning was "I feel a little brighter". 

Can't say the same about the weather, it's rained allll day! But my little black cloud seems to be lifting. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. I'm getting there! 

So in celebration of my little black cloud making some room for a bit of the sun....

by: pennywishes

it's chilly today.

It is a rainy, yucky day. I guess our summer has finished, but I don't mind. I love Autumn. So I'm looking forward to jumpers coming out and baking with apples and cinnamon.
I'm dreaming of acorns and pumpkins today.

by: greenbaboondesigns

by: LoveSugar

by: Dalim

by: PonderandStitch

by: plytextiles

by: retromama

Pretty. I feel like having a hot apple cider. 

Oh yeah! It's my 150th post! Hip! Hip! Hooray!

Cheerful Needle Books Galore and I needs some cheer!

I feel I can be honest with you all. I am feeling really low. I have always struggled with depression {and have been on medication for it for ten years or so}. I've come through a really stressful time and now I'm in the trough. It only usually lasts a couple of days, but it's dragging out this time. So, I need to see color and pretty things and things I enjoy and lots of it! Bring on the needle books!

In case you haven't heard of a needle book, or maybe you call it something else, I'm talking about the little fabric folded "books" with felt "pages" that hold your sewing needles. They also come in paper and were even used as advertising at one time - I am personally partial to the fabric ones, especially vintage! My friend Jayne who is turning fabulously 50 in November said they used to make them in school out of fabric scraps. I've bought and been given a couple of examples that must have been made in school from scraps. We didn't do anything as cool as that! I made boxer shorts in my sewing class!

by Lazy May 

  by Felt Fancies 
{you can buy this one!}

complete with instructions from 1936!

circular needle case tutorial :)

I'd better stop for your sake! I could hunt for photos of needle books all night! I think I'll go have a nice warm bath, make a cuppa tea and drag out my scraps...I think I'll be making some needle books tonight :)