Queen Elizabeth II Royal Stuff Again

Here is one of my fashion tips, always have in your wardrobe a dress that matches your quilt cover. This is one of my royal outfits that actually fits me but looks so awful on that I will never wear it, not even to the supermarket. Displayed and never worn, I love it. No, I don't sleep in that bed, I don't want to mess it up.

Big Ted had to have a new outfit if he/she was to stay on the bed. I quickly added a piece of Diamond Jubilee fabric to a T shirt and made a matching skirt from the same fabric. I might embroider over the 6 on the shirt to make it a 7 for the Platinum Jubilee. The little red, white and blue bear I released from a cabinet so BT could have a friend. We are in lock down again and somehow that makes me want to dress my dolls and bears.

Found this beautiful crocheted jacket in an op shop and had to buy it  My large celluloid doll is once again dressed in the original clothes my mother made decades ago with the addition of the pretty jacket. The hat was an eBay purchase and can't remember where I bought the small bag she is holding. I've been told I can darken the white bag in cold tea and I might try that

The back of the jacket. Such lovely hand crocheting I felt I had to rescue it.

We are in hard Covid lockdown again and will be for another 4 weeks. My only outing is a quick supermarket trip or a short walk. Lucky I always have plenty of stitching to do and in the last few weeks I have been hard at work on this soon to be finished tapestry. I will change the 2012 year to 2022 To make it a Platinum Jubilee tapestry.

Then I must get back to working on my Andy Warhol Queen cross stitch. I love it but there are so many odd stitches and colour changes I needed a break.

Bought this fleecy throw for my lounge, it is very large so hope I'm not tempted to cut it down and make something else. I don't think anyone can say I won't be ready for the big Jubilee next year.
 

Elizabeth II Longest Reigning British Monarch and Teresa Gil Design

 On behalf of all the household bears, myself and Shibella, Bling Bear and her Consort would like to congratulate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on today becoming the longest reigning monarch in British History. Long may she reign for many more years.

 Teresa Gil has released her latest cross stitch design to commemorate this great event. Lots of beads and pretty colours, I have already made a start using 14ct Aida cloth. I have all the DMC colours and the beads are on their way from SewandSo in the UK. Like all Teresa's designs they look so impressive but are not that difficult to stitch.

 This tapestry (printed not stitched in 1952) shows the famous Dorothy Wilding portrait and Teresa has based her design on the dress. This portrait is up near the ceiling so not possible to take a better pic.

Not sure at first but I have come to like this new Queen portrait.

Shibella if you are not going to use the top level of your tower can I rent the space from you?  Today I'm displaying sweet peas from my daughter's garden. Tomorrow it might be something royal. I think I had in mind a smaller slimmer cat when I bought the tower.

Christmas Wishes

 Charlotte and Big Ted join me in sending Happy Christmas Wishes to all. Ted is wearing a new outfit and Charlotte loves the net skirt Ted is wearing so they are both happy.

The worst/funniest Christmas gift ever?? That's me on the left, my sister on the right and we are wearing the sun hats given to us by our paternal grandmother many years ago. The hats really can't be considered the worst ever gift if we are still laughing about them so many years later. My grandmother had so many grandchildren we were lucky to get anything at all. Some cousins in the same age group would have received the same gift.

Some sad things have been happening in my blog world and 2015 might not be much better but I am determined to do lots more posts next year. One exciting event to look forward to is Charlotte's 20th birthday in February. Still waiting for your party guest list Charlotte!!

Big Ted and Me Share Fame in the Movies

 Yes, we are in the movie. Big Ted and I have shared a lot over many years and now we share a movie. Only for a few minutes but fame is fame and we are pleased. Ted is in because of the child's Royal Visit 1954 T shirt  she is wearing. I am in showing a couple of souvenirs from 1954. You deserve the diamond! necklace and ear rings you wearing. Well Done Big Ted.

 I am seen  in the movie holding and talking about my Royal Tour Surf Carnival ticket from 1954. Held at Bondi Beach the Queen attended. I was there with my sister.
A tea cosy I knitted is seen in the movie when I pour a cup of tea.

 To my shame when the camera crew were here they put these glasses up to photograph and I hadn't dusted them. I think the cameraman used his shirt tail as a duster. But the glasses can be seen in the movie.

 I can be seen talking about this sampler from 1954.

 This banner is not in the movie but I took it to the Premiere just to show off a bit.
I had a wonderful trip to Canberra and the movie is a 'must see'.
Not because I am in it only for a very short time but because of all the old film footage from 1954. Australia was a different place then and almost the whole population tried to get a glimpse of the Queen somewhere. And the Queen worked so hard to admire everything we had to show. The museum in Canberra has the original Daimler the Queen used in 1954 and is raising money to restore it to it's former glory.
The movie is called "When the Queen Came to Town". I think it is in cinemas this weekend.

 Now to 1937 and a beautiful and I think rare  embroidered sampler from the Coronation of George VI. The sampler shows animals from the Empire. The kangaroo is just below the G. Another one I am very lucky to have in my collection.

Another addition to my collection, this one is for the Coronation 1953. Strange how some samplers like this one come with no spare fabric around them which can make framing difficult. Others come as if they have been stitched in the middle of a sheet and I have to cut away spare fabric.

Teresa Gil and My Cross Stitch Challenge

 This is my cross stitch challenge for 2014. This stunning design by Teresa Gil of the Queen in her Coronation robes. I am a very experienced cross stitcher but not an expert so this design will really test me. I have set aside the whole of next year for this challenge, anything else not finished by 31st Dec. will be added to the UFO stash.

 Teresa was featured in Majesty Magazine and when I first read about it I knew I wanted to stitch this designs so was thrilled when I saw the chart for sale.

 The chart is large and clear, there is a lot of backstitching, beads, sparkly threads, some petit point for the face and of course the dreaded french knot. I am having more french knot lessons this week and will be an expert when this heirloom is finished. There are lots of threads involved and I use the small plastic lunch bag method to keep them tidy and labelled. I am stitching on 14ct aida to save my sanity though I know it would look better on linen or evenweave which I think Teresa used. Teresa lives in Spain but I know she is only an email away if/when I strike trouble with my sampler.

Almost finished this easy to stitch Riverdrift sampler for Prince George. Then I have another knitted crown tea cosy to finish then I will be able to start my challenge. I love the little Prince George bear in the photo.

 This is a One Off design that was easy to stitch and is already on my wall.

 This is a little baby carriage charm meant for a Pandora bracelet. I don't have a suitable bracelet but I do have this necklace sent as a bonus gift by a generous ebay seller. I added the cats and now the little carriage.
It says Royal Bay 2013 on one side and a gold crown is featured on the other.

The Queen and three future king - love it - wish I had space to frame it and put on my wall. Sadly all available wall space must be for embroidered samplers only.

Congratulations Kate And William

 I'm back and suffering my usual jet lag and so disappointed that Kate and William waited till I arrived home to have the baby but pleased my prediction of a boy proved right. Congratulations to the happy couple, well done. And look who came home with me! Yes H.R.H herself. She said all this baby talk was wearing her out and she was thrilled to accept the invite to stay for a while in my Royal Household. Charlotte was thrilled to see the Queen and will try not to leave cat hairs on the royal bed. The corgis did not come.

No bling for you Bling Bear but look who I got for you instead. A Man and it's Henry 8th no less. You can be wife#7. Can we now expect Baby Blings? Royal babies are in the news and you must follow the trend.
Apart from the Royal Baby non arrival I had a perfect week in London. More of that later and more souvenirs to show. This short post will do till all the bits of me that are scattered around the world meet up again.

Australia Day Celebrations

Australia Day, 225 years since Captain Arthur Phillip sailed into Sydney Cove with the first fleet, mostly convicts, to form a settlement. Big Ted is celebrating the day with a new shirt, hat and sun glasses. Rescue Bear was asked along at the last moment and had nothing new to wear.

 When it got too hot they arranged themselves on the steps. Lots to see today with many boats and fishermen on the lake. Big Ted and Rescue Bear are now firm friends and often seen together since BT heard of RB's sad start in life. The other bears are too Royal to celebrate Australia day. They will have their turn on Queen's Birthday holiday in June.

 Had a bit of a panic when I thought I had no Australian books among all my Royal and cat books. Have manages to find a fair selection to show. I can include the Royal visit book because it is about the visit to Australia 1954. The small book on the right Transportation and Chains was written by a distant cousin about his convict ancestors.

 Here is a true blue Aussie dog. A brown Kelpie named Gypsy. Gypsy belonged to my father many years ago.

 An old Aussie holiday home. My mother always insisted on a waterfront with a rock pool and a boat included. We had a couple of holidays here as children, we always hoped the tide would come a bit higher and go through the floorboards, it never did.

Another house of mum's choosing. The tide is out here and oysters can be seen on the rocks. These houses never had a bathroom or much of a kitchen. There was always a stiff climb down from the road high above with our luggage. The toilet was a ramshackle building with a pan back up in the bush somewhere and in some of these houses a man and boat would call to take away the pan.

Different times. This is some of my family off to celebrate the day on the lake in their boat. I happily waved them off, someone has to stay behind and do the waving and I love my lake view but I don't want to be on it or in it.

Spring Teddy Bear Picnic

Perfect spring weather today so the bears decided to get together and have a picnic. The Royal bears came too and here they all are posing for a picnic pic.

My best mini teasets were borrowed and the bears promised to take good care of The Golden Jubilee Teaset. I made them a tablecloth from my Guardsman fabric. Emily dropped in to say a gentle hello.

Then disaster! Charlotte wanted to join in too but then she saw that the Queen Mother was wearing THAT HAT that she just cannot leave alone and always wants to get her teeth into the veiling.You win Charlotte, the hat has been put away and I think the picnic is over. Perhaps tomorrow we will have a picnic for Cats then you won't have to gatecrash the next bears picnic.

Doll, Bear and Cats

Happy Valentine Day. The theme at doll club yesterday was pink and I won the raffle prize pictured above, chosen from a selection of prizes because of the fluffy cat.
The competition section I entered was 'Doll Wearing Glasses' so bought my old vinyl 'Patsy' doll a pair of specs and gave her some wool and needles to hold, didn't win but Patsy got an outing after all these years. Patsy is a Palitoy, Made in England doll and was a Christmas gift I received when I was about 14. Her crochet dress and head band were bought at doll club trade table last year.

Yesterday's purchase was the pretty green dress the bear on the left is wearing and was made by one of the clever club members. Next months club theme is green for St Patricks day and though the dress is not emerald green I think if I make you a smart hat to add to the dress Ted you just might do for the 'bear wearing green' section.

Below is Ted before the green dress, all my bears have to be a bit androgynous and dress in whatever my latest FIND is. I do like you in the blue suit Ted but now the green dress is my new favourite.

While on the subject of bears had to show a recent purchase, not strictly a royal bear, the one above is a Gund Canterbury bear. A limited edition bear made in 1993 (the 40th anniversary of the Queen's coronation) and is named Elizabeth and that's close enough for me.

Charlotte and Emily must have a mention here and so they are posing as bookend cats which they often do.

Are you going to do anything about those ducks on your property Charlotte? You are looking a bit annoyed there.

Any of these pics. can clicked on to enlarge, was experimenting a bit, not sure it worked but there is always next time!