Kate and William Second Anniversary

 Kate and William's 2nd wedding anniversary today and I almost forgot. How could I? I've rushed around and put a few photos together. First, the balcony scene. I was there and lucky enough to be near the front. The royals on the balcony are looking up at the fly past. A never to be forgotten day.

 I gathered together a few souvenirs I don't think I've shown before. Two jigsaw puzzles. Display only, I have no patience with puzzles so will never do them. Two souvenir tins that once held very nice shortbread biscuits. A small calendar on the left and a sticker book behind the jigsaw on the left. I should have bought 2 sticker books, one to play with and one to keep.

 A plate, one of many sold in London at the time.

Mini cup and saucer bought on ebay.

I am so proud of my cross stitch so it deserves another showing.
Happy Anniversary William and Catherine. I am looking forward to the new baby and more souvenirs to collect and cross stitch to be worked.
PS. I haven't finished the wedding cross stitch yet. So many royal events, so little time.

Vintage Aprons and Bothy Threads

 Newest apron for my collection shows a very elegant lady standing in front of a smart car. This was a purchase from an Etsy shop and is my new favourite. the lady's suit is filled in with very tiny stitches all hand done. The apron has never been worn, another one finished then packed away for 50 or 60 years. I would love to find the stories behind these aprons. I know some were made to enter country show competitons and display a talent and perhaps win a prize

Another Ebay purchase, this one was described a a child's apron but when I received I saw it is a full adult size. All the embroidery is finished it just needs lace or bias binding round the edge. The apron has been folded and stored for years. The pocket was folded with it and I will sew that on so it will never be lost.
A very unusual apron for my collection.

 Another recent purchase with the dress all filled with tiny stitches. Very pretty and different.

 A pretty apron with a party girl. The stitcher must be a bit like me-took the easy way and didn't fill in the dress with stitches.

 Now to my Bothy Threads. I've finished all the cross stitches and now I've started the backstitch, french knots and a few beads to be added.It's now confession time. I CAN"T DO FRENCH KNOTS. I've had private french knot lessons, been to french knot classes, been to french knot boot camp and read french knots for Dummies and I have given up. French knots on this sampler are mostly the eyes so I just do a few over stitches and look some have their eyes already. No complaints then. For the dot above the letter i I might use a small bead.

 The rest of the Kings and Queens waiting to be finished. I need a few more weeks yet before completion day.

 Question? Does 4 swans make a collection?. I love swans and can't resist buying one now and then. Three of them are early Australian lustre ware and the green one at the back is plastic. I could look out at the lake and see plenty of black swans but I like these coloured ones.

 I even have a swan apron in my collection with a lady wearing a very pretty dress and hat feeding the swan.
It is illegal to feed seabirds here but I won't tell apron lady and spoil her day.

Charlotte just woke up from one of her long naps and insisted on being in the last pic. Just in time Charlotte, I'm all finished.

Big Day Out Sydney Opera House

 Here I am at Circular Quay station on my way to a concert at the Opera House. The famous bridge, opened in 1932 is on the left and the Opera house on the right. No cruise ships in today, they are moored just on the left in front of the bridge. The city is behind me.

Now I am in front of the Opera house but didn't climb all those steps. The Opera house is 40 years old this year. It was opened by the Queen in 1973.

 I went underneath and climbed all these steps up to the main concert hall. I'm sure there is a lift somewhere, I haven't found it yet. And I would like red carpet on all those concrete steps.

 The side of the Opera House where I came out at the end of the concert. Then it started to rain but there is plenty of shelter back to the station.

 This is the concert I went to hear. Played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The Water Music was written for George I and played by 50 musicians on a barge on the Thames while George and his entourage floated down the river on another barge. For a while I was able to close my eyes and imagine I was trying to push my way through the crowd to see the king and hear the music played at that river party on the 17th July 1717. Wonderful.

 Some buskers on the walk to the Opera house.

 I put some money in the tin. Next thing I know I am sitting on the kangaroo skin (poor kangaroo) banging some sticks together and a passing tourist was handed my camera and told to take my photo. I am laughing because busker on the left told me "you are so pretty". A lot of fun.

 Next busker is holding up 2 fingers meaning I must pay $2 to take a photo of him playing a didgeridoo. These buskers are very firm that you must pay for photos snapped.

Look to the left and under the bridge and you will see the famous Luna Park. Opened in the 1930's still a popular place to visit.

EMILY 8/2/95 to 24/3/13

My beautiful Emily was helped over the Rainbow bridge yesterday.
I am heartbroken and so very very sad.

Get Well Soon Misty and Market Day

 Please send Get Well wishes to Misty, she is a neighbour and friend of Charlotte and Emily. Misty had a hip replacement last week and is doing very well. Too much jumping around as a puppy and being a bit overweight caused hip problems. Misty recently celebrated her 8th birthday She is such a beautiful and friendly dog and I hope will soon be running along the beach again with  her doggy friends.

 Misty doesn't like that collar much but she is being very brave about it and the collar will be removed soon.

 No I won't go and visit Misty and take grapes, I've just settled in the washing basket for a sleep.
AND I sent her a card, that's enough.

 I don't want to visit Misty either, she might bark at me. I signed the card too and anyway I need a sleep.

 My only market bargain yesterday, I hate to go home without a bargain so I was happy with the tray.

 I thought it was against the rules or law to sell puppies or kittens at the market. So when two police spotted Staffy puppies for sale what happened? They rushed over to admire and pat the pups and say how cute they are. I wanted them to rescue the poor pups and drag the sellers off to prison forever. Didn't happen.

Then the police strolled off to look for bargains like the rest of us. Was it their tea break? My cardigan man wasn't there. Was he arrested for selling cardigans that 'fell off the back of a truck'?

More Bargains To Boast and Bore

 A good day at the local markets yesterday. Charlotte loves her new bed. I supplied the cushion and sheet and she moved right in for a sleep.

 Emily refuses to try any new bed and is now spending her old age sleeping in my bed.

 I love anything Laurel Burch and these fabrics came from America. I bought a yard of each (America sells by yards and inches) and they are 42" wide. Not sure what I will do with them, they will go in my fabric stash for now. Haven't been able to find these fabrics in Australia but I'm sure it would be less expensive to buy from America.

 Yes!!! Another Laurel Burch bag, this one from the U.K, love the colour. Yes!!! Another pair of new Hush Puppies from the OP shop. Sadly I can't keep a secret and now friends and friends of friends etc. are saying "oh but I take a 6, I must go and look" so this might be my last pair.

 A cardigan bought at the Sat. market, a bit grannyish but that's OK I'm a granny. This one was $10 and it's Damart brand. Normally about $60 and this one brand new with tags. The seller had more stock. Did the stock fall off the back of a truck???? I asked no questions.

At Last, I have my pens again. These are Charles and Diana Wedding souvenirs from 1981. I had a set in 1981 but used and lost them. These came from ebay at a price I could pay, the pens come up for sale now and then but usually go for a high price.

Queen in Hospital

Get well soon Ma'am. Our thoughts are with you.

Doll House Now Renovated

Remember the old doll house I bought at the OP shop a few weeks. Finished at last.

 Same little house now with windows and a new floor in the attic to make a bedroom. Carpet in the bedroom and living room and lino for kitchen and bathroom. Amazing what paint and wallpaper will do and curtains for the windows. The house is a bit small for 1/12 scale but the furniture is all 1/12 scale and fits well enough.

The living room has a wallpaper frieze, I ran out of wallpaper after a few mistakes.
I did promise to donate this house back to the OP shop when finished. Now I want to keep it, I love it so much. I'm going to compromise, I will keep it for another week to admire then it must go. I don't have the space to keep it or the funds to furnish it. The furniture in the house now belongs to one of the 2 doll houses I've kept and won't be given away with the house. I still have the large 6 room doll house that's been waiting for months to be decorated and moved on so I'll soon forget this one when I give it up.

I like the outside grey and white colours, I bought the grey paint months ago on special then wondered what I was going to do with it. Perfect for this house.

Half Price Day at the OP Shop

Half price day!!! Well I had to be there and I bought this bed base and look at that storage!! Charlotte approves, she is thinking of moving in. This is a spare bed and I tossed out the cheap bed I had there .

 Same bed now made up with pretty OP shop linen. Looks a bit plain, I think it needs some cats or bears....soon solved.

 And I bought this pretty lounge. In good condition it looks much better than my old one and the cushions look better too.

 The poor old lounge. It's had a good life, bought many years ago and recovered twice I fell out of love with it years ago but my cats have always loved it. Now it is waiting for a trip to the tip.

 Charlotte and Emily have been demanding a new lounge for weeks. They've finished with this one.

Yes, Op shop shoes but these are brand new Hush Puppies. Normally sold for well over $100 I bought these for $25 a pair. They are salesman samples and as salesmen always show the smallest size, in this case size 6 (=4 UK or 37) which is just my size-lucky me- they are then donated to an OP shop. The two in front are the same but one pair is black and the other light navy. I also have red sandals I forgot to include. Yes I do have 2 feet I'm only showing one of each pair. There were other shoes I had to leave as a bit unsuitable with very high heels I might have fallen off.

18th Birthday for Charlotte and Emily my Birmans

 My beautiful girls are 18 years old today and they are just as pretty and active as ever. I removed the glass top from my display table so Charlotte could choose some royal jewellery to wear but she decided nothing was good enough for her on her birthday.

 Emily loves shoes so when I came home and kicked off my sandals she said she would take care of them.
Still looking good at eighteen Emily.

 It's tiring being birthday girls at eighteen.

 Both girls needed a rest.

 I wanted a photo of my girls together, this is the most I could manage. I think I heard them whisper HAPPY   BIRTHDAY as they passed each other.

I have the paperwork to prove their age, had to check it myself as they look so good. This certificate also shows their parents and grandparents.

 They received cards and had a cake, unfortunately they wouldn't wake up to party at the same time so I had to blow out the candles.

                             ' Night Night Emily, sleep tight
                              Don't let the bed bugs bite.'