Charlotte and Emily doin' it tough.

Charlotte and Emily have begged me to get back to blogger and do another post. They are fed up with my domestic dramas and family health issues. They want the rest of the world to take some of the burden of ME off their shoulders. Because I have not posted for 3 weeks they have had to admire every new stitch in a royal sampler, all my so called ebay bargains and exciting op shop buys. Because of the stress this is causing them they have had to fit in even more sleeps, hard to do when each day is only 24 hours long. This post is dedicated to easing the hard life of my 2 girls.

Another coronation embroidery from ebay. This is a cushion cover, a bit worn as it has been used and washed often in it's life. I will frame it as this will help to preserve it. Shows Commonwealth/Empire countries with emblems.

I think this embroidery would have been done for the 1953 coronation too. It is on a small piece of worn fabric, I will stitch it onto a stonger piece of fabric and frame.

I have had to set aside my Kate and William cross stitch after seeing this design on Ruth's blog

http://britsamplers.blogspot.com/ This is the official logo for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and Ruth has turned it into a free download cross stitch chart. Ruth has lots of great links on her blog and on one link I saw the Jubilee design with red background and as I already had some red aida cloth in my stash (an op shop bargain) I decided to use that.

I haven't forgotten about my apron collection and this pretty hand crocheted apron is my latest addition. I have seen similar patterns in 1940's magazines so think it safe to say it is a vintage apron from that era. My collection is really about embroidered aprons but I now have 2 very special crocheted aprons.

Charlotte is threatening to swipe this object to the floor with her paw if I don't show this to the rest of the world, then shut up about it. But look-an EdwardVIII coronation teapot in 1/12 scale to go in my doll house, how exciting is that?? I already have a coronation biscuit tin and a Queen Mother 1/12 scale plate on it's way from ebay U.K.

Is that enough for now Charlotte and Emily? can I go to bed soon and read my library book???

Lake Views and Op Shopping

Once again real life has interupted my blog posts but my Lake views give me something to blog about. Sunday was a bit windy but perfect for skimming along the Lake with a mini parachute or kite, fun to watch but something I would never do. Not sure what this sport is called and mostly done in the ocean but perhaps these were beginners practising on the Lake. There were three kites in total.

Today a professional fisherman was out with his nets and he always has a following of pelicans willing to catch any falling from the net. Behind the pelicans is an island, you can see a white boat going through the channel then I will see that boat again when it comes out from behind the island.

Now for the Op shopping display. I bought these casserole dishes at different times because I love the colours but have since been told some people love to collect these old dishes so now I want more and have another item to look for when Op shopping.

Bought the cardigan last week at the Salvo's store, a brand new bargain still with tags though the size had been cut away but the Keynote Made in the U.K brand was attached. I think Keynote was a Littlewoods brand. I did a google search and found the same cardigan but in a pretty green on ebay advertised as vintage 60's if that's right this cardigan has been stored unworn in someone's wardrobe for many years.

Another new item with tags this very pretty dressing gown Made in Italy I bought last year and still haven't worn it. I think I'm afraid Charlotte or Emily will catch the silky fabric with their claws or I will spill my morning coffee down the front but it was such a bargain I had to buy it.

A queue for tunnel fun, Emily is first in but always has to take time to think about going through to the end or backing out and walking away. Charlotte waits for Emily to decide. Charlotte always goes through and out the other end.
Emily never goes through to the other end, I think she is just teasing Charlotte.

Comment Problem Solved by Genius Grandson

For many weeks I have been frustrated by being unable to leave comments on some blogs. I would compose what I thought a clever comment then want to throw myself on the floor and scream when my clever comment would not go through.
At last a visit from tall, talented and very handsome grandson who found and solved the problem in only a couple of minutes. I won't show his face as I don't want him mobbed in the streets by others with problems. I want to keep him to myself.
The answer for anyone still having problems is......Third Party Cookies.
Here are some of the blogs I want to apoligise to for being out of touch. Sylvia at Cosiness, Fran at Being Me, Mary Anne Tate at Tate Gallery and Cat Mandu to name just a few.
Still busy while not blogging I have finished the Kate and William engagement sampler. This one is pretty and was easy to stitch and came as a kit from Majesty Magazine. Now stitching a much bigger Royal Wedding sampler which will keep me busy until the patterns for the Diamond Jubillee come out next year.

My walls are becoming a bit crowded but still space in the bedroom, the latest sampler is on the right. My mother's wedding photo is left.Look closer and there a two more cats in the mirror. Emily always falls asleep waiting for me to come to bed. Some furniture upheaval recently and the little desk you can see had to find a space in my elastic sided bedroom. The cute little desk has a total of 16 very tiny, very sweet and totally useless drawers in it.

Charlotte heard about International Cat Box Day on Cat Mandu's blog and though she missed it this year she is showing she will be ready for next year.

A family day last Sunday as some birthdays had to be caught up with. I think " 'Elf and Safety has also caught up with us. So, my household tip #789, place the candle in a strawberry or similar, blow candle out, sing Happy Birthday etc, throw strawberry (or similar) out and eat cake. If any of the birthday revellers has a cold there will be no spreading of colds, or similar, easy.

A book I have just finished reading and can thoroughly recommend. Set in Nigeria it is so well written I could see the scene before me in only a few words, the type of book I love and better than TV any day.

Doll Club Day and Luck at the Library

Last Saturday was Doll Club day and this beautiful limited edition Hermann bear was on a trade table along with a note saying that as he was a royal bear I was to have first look at him and of course I had to have him for my collection. He is #5 in a limited edition of 500 made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the coronation. I bought him for a bargain price, made in Germany from mohair he has the Hermann tag at the back of his head.
I would have been able to take a much better photo if Charlotte hadn't insisted on posing with the latest bear for my bear/royal collection.

The first section to enter for a prize on the day was a room of doll house furniture with limited pieces of furniture. No prize for me but I had to lie and tell Charlotte I won or she would be upset on my behalf.

This very nice sewing room won a well deserved prize and now I want a sewing room for my dolls house.

Next section was a bear in a cot. Mine is #9 and I think my bear outgrew his cot but at least I tried.

Luck at the library today when I picked up the latest Ruth Rendell along with some great autobiographies. Called a Fast Back because as it's a new book I only get two weeks to read it instead of the usual four but if it's a good book two days is enough for me.

The book on the left is a new book of cross stitch charts based tattoo art, not my type of stitching at all but fun to look through.

Well I was warned, it does say not for grandma on the back of the book. The book is by Don Ed Hardy and they are his designs. Another quote from the back "Grandma can't wait much longer for that flaming skull tea towel" I don't think so, anyone thinking of stitching for me; remember I like cats...

Here's my tip for anyone thinking of getting a tattoo. Work it in cross stitch first just to make sure you really really like the design.

To be fair to the book it also includes a very colourful butterfly chart but I only have time for Royal stitching.

Royals,Census and My Birthday

9th August was my birthday and also Census day when all Australians had to fill in a form and be counted. Charlotte helped me fill in my form. I wish you had made me sound a bit more interesting Charlotte. Daffodils were on special at the supermarket as they often are for my birthday so I was able to have a treat of my favourite flowers.

A bit of bad news on my birthday when I read that Janet's Royalty rooms are closing next month. Perhaps the largest collection in the world, Janet lives not far from me and her displays are always fully booked and very popular. No I don't think Janet will have a garage sale, she is closing next month then will decide in a year or so what will happen to this wonderful collection.

Janet always serves a delicious morning or afternoon tea to her guests. my collection is miniscule compared to Janet's and I could never cook those cakes she serves.

I bought a cloth panel and made my Charles and Diana dolls some time ago and didn't do a very good job. I was pleased to find another panel on ebay and this one will be left intact. I'll remove the cat and cat hairs later.

I bought this cute little cupboard at the op shop a week ago, it was varnished and oiled in a very dark colour and had chicken wire across the door. A good little project to keep me busy. Three coats of paint, wire replaced by curtains and now a little display case. It will go back to the op shop when I have had enough of it. I wish I had remembered to take a 'before' photo.

This large Royal Visit 1954 tablecloth arrived from Gina in Victoria this week.
I think a rare cloth partly embroidered and with a mix of australian wildflowers and the flowers of Britain. Some sprigs of Wattle can be seen embroidered.

And some of the wording has been worked. The crocheted edge is very pretty.

A Royal Visit tablecloth I have had in my collection for some time. I think Gina has this one too fully worked.

Charles Diana 30th Anniversary and Me

Charles and Diana were married 30 years ago today. I was there and still think it the most amazing event. The procession was much more spectacular than William and Catherines and though Catherine was elegant and beautiful there will never be a bride or wedding to match Diana's.

The two tapestry samplers above commemorate that spectacular day. They were not stitched by me, I bought them on ebay for my collection.

Ruth who commented on my previous post alerted me to this fabric at Spotlight. Thanks Ruth, I only bought half a metre but had to have some for my fabric stash.

Today I was at Hobbysew and found even more had to have fabric. This half metre will go in my cat fabric stash.

When I went to pay for my fabric I spotted these cat embroidery scissors to go with all my other scissors. I hope this is not the start of another collection.

Also bought all the threads for the next cross stitch sampler waiting in the queue. this is a chart from Cross Stitch Collection magazine. Lots of half stitches, back stitch, gold thread and some gold beads. This one should keep me busy until the Diamond Jubilee charts start to come out next year.

Charlotte, you are not after that hat again are you?? Just because I forgot to put it away after my last collection open house.

William and Catherine Finished Cross Stitch

William and Kate, finished and framed at last. Am I the first stitcher in Australia to finish this sampler? Do I get a medal? Or a round of applause? I think I started my stitching about the middle of March so four months of stitching but I was away at the wedding in the middle of that, so I wasn't too slow. I am going to have a coloured surround made to go in the frame and I moved another sampler out of this frame to make way for Wills and Kate.

The back of my stitching, not too bad as there many colour changes, blended threads and half stitches and a tiny bit of back stitching. There was also a generous amount of fabric and threads in the kit.

This is a sampler I stitched for the Golden Jubilee in 2002. This sampler willingly gave up it's frame and wall spot to William and Kate and moved to a cheaper frame.

Here's Wills and Kate on the wall but I think they deserve a more prominent position. I will deal with that upheaval tomorrow.

Already started on my next project, a sampler bought from Majesty Magazine and much quicker and easier to stitch. This one will show the Engagement date.

Charlotte and Emily are showing their usual interest and enthusiasm for my projects.

Rain and wind all day and this is what happened while I was immersed in my Royal sampler display dilemma. A tree from the opposite creek bank fell on my shed. No damage and willing workers soon had it cut back away from my fence. Now they need to take the tree out of the creek before flooding occurs.

Special Lace and Doll Club

This special peice of lace was sent to me by Gina a very generous blogger friend in Victoria. I hope to find out more about it, I think it is most likely needle run lace made in Nottingham for the 1937 coronation but am still doing my research. Too precious to use I will tack it carefully onto fabric and display. Thank you Gina for sharing your 'find'.

Doll club last Saturday and I entered the 3 competions. One being for a doll with blue eyes. Above you can see some of the stiff competition I was up against and received no prizes at all.

My old blue eyed doll usually wears a school uniform made many years ago by my mother. For this comp. I dresses her in a skirt made from Charles and Diana wedding fabric and she was able to wear the school blouse and underwear with it. Oh well, back to the school uniform tomorrow.

Next section was a bear with a ribbon round it's neck. This 'Gund' bear usually wears a cape but I tied some Charles and Diana wedding ribbon round it's neck. Perhaps I overdid the ribbon and there were lots of very nice bears that won.

Next section was a milk jug cover, my Royal Visit 1954 cover is on the left and once again I must admit some nicer covers won.

All was not lost on the day, I won a raffle prize. This table top fountain, as soon as I saw it I was hoping I would win and below you can see why.

I have always resisted buying my 2 girls a water fountain as they are expensive and Charlotte and Emily might walk away and ignore it. But this one is ceramic so no taste in the water, easy to change the water every day and Emily is giving a demonstration of how good it is.
Charlotte and Emily are always happy when I bring them home a present, but I never mention the great afternoon tea served at Doll Club.

Princess Diana's 50th Birthday

Today would have been Diana's 50th birthday. A beautiful woman whose circumstances caused her to lead a sad and lonely life which ended too soon.
I think Catherine will be much better looked after and made happier than Diana ever was.
'Pax Vobiscum' Diana