Emily being a lamp

Feeling totally uninspired this week even with so much of my collections still to show and I'm still collecting. Emily has come to my rescue by demonstrating that she could be my new improved bedside lamp.

Edward VIII coronation

A rare (I think) sampler hand worked for the May 12th 1937 coronation of EdwardVIII before he abdicated on 11 Dec. 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. The souvenirs were already in the shops and I have some of them in my collection including the paper napkin displayed with his picture printed on.
The coronation went ahead on the same date with George VI next in line and I have some lovely samplers and memorabilia of his coronation.

childs disney apron

Today Ted is wearing an apron hand embroidered with Mickey Mouse. A very old apron I bought at an antique fair and looks like it has never been worn.

Also a disney coronation apron, an ebay purchase from America. It has a story on the apron about Donald and his nephews going to the coronation in 1953.
Tried to lay the apron down to take a better picture but Charlotte had other ideas and thought it a good place for a wash.

Thank you Ted for being such a good model again, I hope Charlotte is not becoming jealous. Though not in this post Emily was watching from a nearby chair, maybe plotting her revenge on supermodel Ted.

Charlotte internet dating

No Charlotte, no more cat internet dating sites-it will only end in tears.

childs apron

Ted is wearing a child's apron, a souvenir of the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales on 1st July 1969. The apron is in brand new condition and still has the "Made in Wales" tag. I collect aprons and royalty so this item covers both. Also displayed, a mug from the investiture and a pretty bone china daffodil brooch to represent Wales. The brooch, a birthday gift from my daughter, chosen together from Selfridges London when we were there at the same time.
PLEASE NOTE:) no bears were harmed in the making of this post.

outside decor

Innisfree is the name of my house named after the Yeats poem, Lake Isle of Innisfree and as that is my favourite poem and I live on the shores of a lake I thought it perfect.

Yesterday I had to have the name plate moved as it had been enclosed when one end of my large verandah had been made into a sunroom. That left 2 small holes in the wall, I had long been admiring the koala wall vase in a charity shop so rushed in, it was still for sale and I think covers the hole very well.

The house number has a corgi (perfect for my royal house) and the brass door knocker is a coronation 1953 knocker.

Think I am covering everything here from an Irish poem, Australian koala and British royalty.

Charlotte's pram

Charlotte decided to check out my old dolls pram as a new sleeping spot, she seems to approve as you can see her asleep and she even has a little bear for company. Emily, not being as brave always prefers my bed or her little Queen bed.

The pram was a birthday gift I received as a child and is an exact replica of the prams used by young mothers in Australia in those days. I still have the dolls I pushed around in it and Charlotte is not the first cat to sleep in it.

doll club day

Doll club today and the only category I entered was "bear going to the beach" but the competition was just too good and my old bear did not win. Never mind Ted, when the sun shines you will be ready, sunscreen and all. Tonight you can sleep in my bed with Charlotte and Emily as a treat but tomorrow you must go on display again wearing a crown and royal tee shirt.
I took my newest apron (previous post) for show and tell as I am so impressed with the stitching.

Vintage Apron

Arrived today!! the latest ebay purchase for my apron collection. The hand stitching is so perfect and the stitches so tiny it almost looks painted, the back is as perfect as the front-no knots or loose bits of cotton. Binding on the edges is all hand stitched with tiny even stitches. Another apron that looks never washed or worn but stored away for I wish I knew how many years.
This apron must bring my collection to about 100, will have to do a recount. That includes 5 royal aprons, a couple of children's aprons and lots half finished or not stitched at all.
I think this one deserves a special permanent display, if I can find an empty spot. Click on the picture to enlarge, I don't think my photography does it justice.

charlotte and the king

Charlotte again taking the limelight while her sister Emily is asleep. She is posing in front of two George VI coronation cushions. I'm sure she is admiring them.

spoon bills and swans

The rain has brought some of the lake birds in a little closer to shore and here are some elegant black swans and a couple of spoon bills. These photos were taken from my verandah. I live on the shores of Lake Illawarra just south of Sydney and both types of bird are frquent visitors.

war time sampler

This sampler I think could be from WWII, perfect for an Anglophile like me. Hand embroidered it was an ebay purchase and came from Canada where i'm sure there are lots of anglophiles and royalists like me.

I was lucky enough to join in the singing of this song at the Royal Albert Hall in London on one of my (must go to see the Queen) trips.

pretty china

Did I say I also collect jugs? I've had the one with the kookaburra handle since I was a child and the koala jug was found at an antique fair. Knowing I love cats the cat jug was a gift from a friend, all displayed on one of my tray cloth sets with matching napkin and egg cosy.

Some pretty cottage china displayed on a coronation tablecloth. The china was a gift years ago from my daughter and I am on the hunt now for the matching teapot. Tee shirt at the back was found in a local op shop and had been reduced in price a few times before I snapped it up, well who else in this area would want it? Am waiting for the right occasion to wear it.