I'm falling for Fall!

Autumn is my 2nd most favorite time of year, because as we know, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Coming from South Carolina where we only have two seasons {hot and not as hot}. Then moving to Scotland where there is only one season {cold}, I am absolutely delighted to experience the changing of seasons here in rural England. I was charmed by spring and the green appearing everywhere followed by the explosion of flowers. Summer was full of bumbling bees and blackberries.
But, now, everything is going golden!
The days are growing shorter and the air is becoming crisp! The apple trees are growing very heavy with their bounty! The green grocers are heaving with pumpkins and squash. Sweaters, boots and scarves in rich jewel and earthy colors are appearing in the shop windows. I'm going to burst with the pleasure of it all!
I'm feeling the need to gather & nest. If I could knit sweaters and jumpers I would. Alas I can only knit & purl scarves. I have two on the go! One in a rich purple the other in earthy green.

{i decided to take this chance to show off my vintage yarn holder thingy too!}

Lush.

I visited my Mother in Law on Saturday and Sunday, part of that time was spent at the bottom of the garden picking apples.


One of the US autumn staples I really miss is canned pumpkin. Some people might be gagging right now...but you have no idea how nice it is to have it on hand! I have found it in one shop in Edinburgh and it costs about £3/$6 for one small can! Oh Libby's how I miss your select Pumpkin goodness!
How will I make pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin milkshake without you!?!

Yes, I do go through this every year.
Never-mind. I'll get over it.


Thank you The Graphics Fairy for finding that gorgeous acorn and for letting us have it!

jumble sale treasures!

entry £1.
Mrs Beeton book 50p.
all the rest 60p!

I'm thrilled with everything I found, but here are some close ups of my faves!

the dainty miss x

i just love the shape of this cup!

this tea tin has obviously been well loved - it has signs of having spent years on someone's kitchen counter near the cooker. I wonder if it always housed tea bags...
I've never had such a pretty glass!

I am feeling extremely satisfied and all I spent was £2.10!!!!

FABULOUS FRIEND FRIDAY IS HERE!!!!!!!

drum roll.....

Introducing

Amy, creator of the gorgeous Ponder and Stitch blog, is a woman after my own heart! She loves chocolate, tea, chocolate tea, vintage finds, good books and creating.

I've asked Amy a few questions to help us to get to know her a bit better. These questions will probably become familiar, but the treasure is in the answer ✧

{MW} Hello Amy :) Why don't you introduce yourself and tell as a little about YOU!

{PS} Hi! I live in Woodstock, IL. If I'm not at work (I work full time at a publishing company), I'm sewing, reading or vintage treasure hunting. I'm also just now learning to crochet, which is something I haven't attempted for at least 12-15 years. Scary!

The name of your blog & etsy shop are Ponder and Stitch. Where did that name come from?

Well, I tend to use a lot of vintage and repurposed fabrics. When I acquire a "new" old piece of fabric, I sit and wonder about the life it used to have. How was it used? How did it end up where I found it? I do a lot of pondering while I stitch, and that's how the name came about. :)

I am thrilled by receiving mail, especially any sort of hand written letter or parcel. What was the last treasure that arrived in your mail?

The last treasure that came by mail was my ponder sign! I'm pretty much in love with it!

I'm a bit of a wanderer myself, Where in the world would you like to visit? why?

I have wanted to visit England my whole life- London, to be exact! For some reason I picture it as it would have been back in Dickens novels and would love to experience that- kind of like jumping into a book. I know Victorian London is not the same as modern London, but it's definitely closer than here in the US! {I just had to tell Amy about Dickens World!}

There is a radio program here in Britain called Desert Island Discs. A guest is invited by to choose the eight records they would take with them to a desert island. As I know you are a veracious reader I will ask you for 8 books you would take with you to a desert island?

Hmmm, this question took a lot of pondering. My eight books:
-Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
-The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
-The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
-Villette by Charlotte Bronte
-Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
-Julia Margaret Cameron: The Complete Photographs
-The Chronicles of Narnia (if it's in a box set, it can count as one, right??)
The Bible- I figure if I'm stranded on an island I may need this one to get me through!

If you could go back and live in a past decade or century, when would you choose and why?

Oh, I'd go to Victorian times in London, without question! I really do feel I was born in the wrong century. I'm sure once I was there I'd change my mind since I'd have none of the modern day conveniences..but there is something just so enchanting about being back in that time. I think I've read so many books set in that time period that it has just made me crave it so.

What is your favorite thing about creating something by hand?

The sense of accomplishment, for sure! The payoff is so great when I can wear something I've sewn and know all the hard work that went into it. I also just find handmade items to be so special, no matter the nature of the item. There is a unique aspect to every handmade thing.

Please list three favorite things. Why are they favorites?

1. This tiny key

I LOVE tiny things and it's a mystery what it opened/unlocked. I love imagining the life it had before it came into my possession.

2. My rocks from Greece
I just love having a little piece of earth from somewhere so far away. Plus, these rocks look nothing like any rock I've ever seen here in the US. It's refreshing to see something so perfectly round and smooth and white.

3. My guitar. It is my favorite sound in the world. Of course these are just three of my favorite things!

What could you eat/drink every single day and never grow tired of?

Hmmm... I'd say Thanksgiving dinner for the food and chocolate chai for the drink. Mmmmm!

And finally Amy, what is your favorite place? Will you describe it to us?

Does this mean the favorite place I've been already? If so, I'd say my favorite place is all cozy in front of a roaring fire..wrapped in my favorite blanket and with a good book in hand. There's hot tea by my side and my cat, Finn, sleeping next to me. :)

Thank you so much Amy!
How lovely it was getting to know more about you! Your last answer especially has got me feeling very dreamy. I've GOT to try to find that chocolate chai!

I want to remind people that they can keep reading about and seeing your favorites and gorgeous creations at your blog Ponder and Stitch. Some of Amy's hand made items can purchased from Ponder and Stitch on Etsy and while supplies last, Amy's original vintage label plate art jewelry is available at Julia Belle Vintage.

{p.s. if anyone was looking for pressie ideas for me I do love everything in the Ponder and Stitch shop! ;D}

Fabulous Friends and Ruby Slippers!

I am sooo excited! Tomorrow I'll be starting a feature called Fabulous Friend Friday -taadaaaa!

I can hardly wait!

We'll get a chance to learn a little more about each other in an informal and fun way AND we'll also get a chance to see what gorgeousness our new friends have in their world!
This is going to be SO much fun!

{I'll give you a hint about our first Fabulous Friend: She loves to read & create.
That's all ya get!}

♡

In other news Mr Woo and I are thinking about our costumes for the Haunted Honeys Halloween Burlesque Ball. I haven't even acknowledged Halloween since I was a kid. I can't even remember the last time I dressed up in costume! But since we're going out with friends and it's a special event I'm gonna play along - I'm going to dress up as Dorothy. I already have my ruby slippers {thank you Lindsay!} and my friend Jayne is going to help me make the dress, find a Toto & basket.
Forget Halloween, my new gingham dress and ruby slippers are probably going to become my everyday uniform!

WANTED!

How will I be able to stand so much fabulousness!

Application, application, application!

I'm working on a job application...eeeek! It's got to be in Liverpool by tomorrow! I have 2 hours to get it done and in the mail!