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 :)

Today I like...

Bella Dia's Little felt houses.

this one by Charlotte Lyons is pretty neat too

what do you want to be when you grow up?

I don't know about you, but I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. My answer changed quite as I grew up. I wanted to be a lawyer, interior designer, chef, a housewife, national geographic photographer,  an artist...I have a feeling I answered "I don't know" quite a lot. There are SO many choices. So many options. And there is more than one thing I can do well. What now?!
Do I go to Uni and get a degree in counselling so that I can pursue art therapy? Do I pressure my husband to get a higher paying job so that I can stay home and be a house wife and eventually stay at home mom? Do I keep pushing forward and try to be my own boss? Part-time work (if I could get an interview!!!). Why won't the answer just drop out of the sky?! Can anyone relate?

Home Maker?

Vintage retail & craft?

"Mature" Student?

work in a shop?

I just don't know what to do with myself!

While I ponder I'll make a cup of tea and start recovering our dining chairs! 

I would so appreciate your thoughts & your own stories. 

You're A Grand Old Flag

You're a grand old flag

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of

The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,

Where there's never a boast or brag.

But should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

I do love that song! I was in the 2nd grade at Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary when I learned it, along with quite a few other old patriotic classics like America the Beautiful, God Bless America , This Land Is Your Land and of course The Star Spangled Banner!  

I'm feeling very patriotic at the moment. Sunday is the 4th of July & I am one of a very few Americans in our village. Last year I was desperate to celebrate my country's birthday. I begged Mr Woo for weeks "pleeeeease lets do something for the 4th of July"...but I guess he forgot and I was glum. I have the most wonderful memories of celebrating the 4th with my grandparents. I spent my summers with them every year so they always made sure we did something fun! I loved it! County fairs, country bbqs, a couple of times we spent the 4th on Cape Cod - that was really special - I felt like I was in JAWS {which is a good thing btw}!

I'm craving watermelon and long for a proper American Fireworks display. I want my sparklers and to feel overwhelmed when the National Anthem plays over the fireworks at the Statue of Liberty. I know, I know, America is not perfect, but, what country is? My grandparents were Italian immigrants in the 1920s. Their families risked everything to live the "American dream". My grandfather served his new country in the Army Airforce in WWII. He was proud to be an American. Maybe that's why the 4th of July is so special to our family. I'd never really thought about it until just now. Like every other immigrant to arrive in New York harbor on their way to Ellis Island for processing,  my grandfather and his mother and his brothers will have seen Lady Liberty welcoming them "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...". 

For them, the Ingoglios, I celebrate my home country's birthday. For pure hope & strength to take a leap of faith I will remember my great grandparents and think of my grandparents. For Giovanni Giuseppe Ingoglio whom became John Joseph Ingoglia and married Rose Marie Asmundo. They became parents to four daughters including Carol Anne Ingoglia Lowther, my mother. 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! 

Car Booty At Long Last!

First of all....my fun freebie! All I had to do was guess what this was...and the lady gave it to me!

It's a "food-pod". A silicone boil in bag steamer thing! I'd just seen it in a specialty shop for £7 or so and I got it for knowing what it was! Woo Hoo!

 Here is my fave spot. Most of the treasures that I keep live here.

Charming owl bookends...I just couldn't part with them!

 1950s poodle dish. It ticked my poodle box & my perfect vintage green box! 

I love my greens! 

Roses & Lavendar from Mumsie Woo's house. 

My £2 1930s Sylvac vase!

Gorgeous vintage tin with green & roses...there are bows on top but they're hard to see.

1930s Czec brooch & mid-century Mother brooch

this 1930s dish was found buried in a long forgotten rubbish tip! 

1960s or 70s Piano Jewellry box, I just need to replace the music box.

Victorian Sterling Silvery Chester Cathedral Brooch....got it for 25p! 

The freakish vintage Scottish "lucky" grouse foot brooch (obviously not luck for the grouse!). It's probably 1950, possibly earlier. 20p paid! It's worth £20 (at least!)!

I've sold some of my other finds so that I can find more treasures! We're going again this Sunday and making a day of it! Mr Woo will even get to come this time!

What do ya think?