Teresa Gil Queen Cross Stitch Update and More

 Still a long way from being finished but I hit a bit of a slump with the skirt. Thought I would stitch the face and hair to encourage myself. I am very pleased with the result, the face wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be. No unpicking was involved. Remember this is 14count Aida and not the linen or evenweave Teresa recommends. Anyone thinking of stitching in 14ct, this proves it can be done. Now I must get back to the skirt and face the French knots.

My new rug, perfect in front of my large cabinet. No label stating where it was made or what it is made of but it does look good quality. It came from America and was very inexpensive. The post cost was-well I won't talk about that. I rarely buy from America because of the cost of postage and the length of time parcels take to arrive. This one took 10 days. Not bad America.

 Plastic spoons from the Royal Visit 1954 with Elizabeth and Philip on the top. Very unusual item to have in my collection.

I think I must have been a magpie in a previous life. If something is shiny, sparkly and cheap then I must have it. Two brooches from the op shop for only a few dollars I've decided to display them on my latest tea cosy.
Well I always did prefer quantity over quality. Now on the lookout for more sparkle.
Thursday is half price day at my local Salvos. store. I will be there.

Sad story and advice needed. Christmas before last I decided to dress up my old Patsy doll and placed tinsel around her neck. This is the result. I have tried every cleaning method I can think of but the marks can't be shifted. 'Patsy by Palitoy' Made in England was released about 1952 and I have had her since then. She is made of an early plastic/vinyl and the red seems to have soaked in and is all the way round her neck.
I have ordered her a smart new outfit and will show her again later, dressed and with the marks hidden.
No more tinsel in this house.

Happy 88th Birthday Ma'am and Wills and Kate's Visit

 Long may she reign. Even though some family members are so far away I hope you have a very Happy 88th Birthday.

My day for royal watching did not go well. Was I in this crowd as I had intended to be? No, this is a pic. from a newspaper.

 I was in this crowd waiting at the wrong door!!!. There were children in the crowd waiting with flowers to give and no one told us we were at the wrong door. Have I lost my touch as a royal watcher?? How could this happen??

Should I have been with the protesters who must have known more than I did?

Was I too overdressed so the royal pair slipped out the side door? Or was the side door really the front door?

 Well I had men in tight white pants to watch.

I think this is the royal car going past so the day wasn't totally wasted.

 Too exhausted for a trip to the zoo and by now I think the whole world has seen Prince George and the Bilby. Such a cute boy. There was a move here a few years back to have the Easter Bunny replaced by the Easter Bilby. It didn't catch on. Bunnies are cute, Bilbies are a bit like a large rat.

Today is Charlotte Bronte's birthday. My girls Charlotte and Emily were named after the Bronte sisters. So today Charlotte and I will spare a few thoughts for the Bronte sisters and Charlotte's sister Emily who died last year.. Charlotte is in the middle of a 12 hour power nap, I'll remind her when she wakes up.

Giveaway Mystery Revealed and Royal Fame for Me

 Well no one guessed my mystery object so I will just have to keep it. And here it is revealed. It goes on the end of a broom.

 When you are sweeping and spot a bit of dust or a spider on a picture frame it can be swiftly dealt with by the fluffy thing on the end of your broom.

Dust on the skirting board? No problem just turn the broom upside down (being careful not to knock a rare object to the floor or hit the cat sitting nearby)  and no more dust! Now I know you'll all want one but this is now mine to keep.

 A popular magazine .

 Open it up and here I am. Another 5 minutes of fame for me. I've covered up my last name, my age and my suburb. If you want to know those classified details you will need to buy the magazine. Enlarge the pic. and you might be able to read about me. A journalist contacted me and wrote the story and I was paid $300 not $2000. A lot of fun though and the result isn't too bad

No more wall space so now I must use doors. The blue and yellow towel on the left is a Royal Visit 1954 towel I found on eBay last week. Never seen that one before so had to have it. The green and yellow towel above it is from the Melbourne Olympics 1956. Not Royal I know but so rare and a bargain I had to have it.
The towels on the right are Royal Visit 1954, Coronation 1937 and a Charles and Diana beach towel. Sadly some of my doors are sliding doors so can't be used but the ceiling is still vacant.

Charlotte is a bit sad because she wasn't in the magazine. She posed among the swans last night patiently waiting for me to notice her and get the camera.

My 300th Post and a Giveaway

Yes, my 300th post and I'm still here with something to say and something to show.
The first blogger or lurker to guess what the little crocheted treasure above is will win it. This is a one off prototype and will never be made again. No pattern exists and once you know what it is you will wonder how you ever managed without it. If no one wins I will demonstrate the use of this rare object in my next post. The object is small and light so I am willing to post anywhere in the world if you are willing to email your address.

 No it's not that, or that so guess again. No Charlotte doesn't want it for a tail warmer.
Some bloggers list 10 things others don't know about them but really there is only two things to know about me. I love the British Royal Family and I love cats.

Here is the Queen wearing her bow brooch.

 Now look, the Queen and I share the same taste in brooches and I have one the same as hers. Put side by side no one could tell the difference. I've allowed my old doll to wear mine as I don't want to dazzle people when I go shopping. Or be mugged for the diamonds. My brooch came from a catalogue and I paid $9.99 but really they are identical right down to the last diamond.

 Another crown tea cosy finished. This one was quick and easy to knit, looks impressive but still needs more jewels stitched on. Thanks to Gina who made sure I was alerted to this cosy and Peta whose pattern it is. I am ready as always for any member of the royal family to drop in for tea.

Another bugbear of mine. Who said there was only 2 things to know about me.
I don't like reverse parking but I can do it if I have to, last week I had to.
So I start to reverse, the male of the species in the car with me immediately started to give directions. I gritted my teeth and said nothing. (honestly). Then a man on the footpath joined in with more helpful!! directions. How I didn't jump out of the car and run screaming down the street and leave them to it I don't know. . Why do two men think I need help??? I want one of those cars that parks itself. I think you leave it in the middle of the road, the car finds a spot and parks itself.