69 Years ago today 6th Feb.1952 George VI Dies and Elizabeth becomes Queen

I remember this headline and the day the King died 69 years ago. The Queen was on her way to Australia, she was then Princess Elizabeth but she had to fly back to London and the visit was cancelled.

I remember where I was and what I was doing that day. I should have been at school as the new school year had just started. My mother had hurt her arm and thought she should have a holiday and I think this is the house we spent 2 weeks in and it looks like the tide has gone out here. It had a row boat and a tidal rock swimming pool, top pic. shows mum and my 3 siblings, I took the photo. My father had a shop to run so came at night and weekends. Mum spent her 2 weeks stitching this supper cloth which is now mine. Different patterns in each corner, started and finished in just 2 weeks, amazing. The four of us had a great time but my school wasn't pleased when I turned up 2 weeks late.

Getting ready for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next year and here is my new doona/duvet cover. Big Ted is a bit upset because now he/she has to sit on the side of the bed as it wouldn't be right to sit on the Queen's face.

A new/old handbag in my collection ready for the BIG Jubilee next year.

Working hard on my Andy Warhol Queen cross stitch, it must be finished before the Platinum Jubilee cross stitch charts come out as I'm sure they will. Sometimes I stitch for hours and seem to get nowhere as there are so many odd single stitches here and there. Makes me think this is a computer generated chart and some of those are very difficult to stitch.

I even found a matching bag to keep my cross stitch in.

I know I should be saving my money for Platinum Jubilee souvenirs. Couldn't resist this set of jugs from the coronation 1902 of Edward VII and Alexandra, so pretty and in near perfect condition. Now I wonder if there is another set somewhere in the world showing Edward.
 

Australia Day 2021 With Some Liverpool Australia History

I'll start with a typical Australian, my lovely koala now being used as a planter box. Also typical is the weather today, sunny with a top temp. of 41 deg C. I am staying inside with the air con. on, hiding from the heat and being forced for the first time to wear a mask at the shops. In my much younger days I would have been burning up at the beach.

I'm celebrating Australia Day with a bit of local history. St Luke's church Liverpool celebrated its 100th birthday with this photo taken in 1919.

100 years later in 2019 the same photo (well not quite) was taken. I am in this photo, you will find me near the front on the right if you look hard enough. I was lucky as people kept pushing me toward the front saying you are only small. In the first photo everyone was wearing a hat, no hats in the second pic. The dignitaries such as the Archbishop and the Mayor had seats in the pic and the children were seated on the ground in front.

For such a small church it is very beautiful inside.

Another great book written about early Liverpool and it's first cemetery. Gail Newman's research is amazing. The crimes of convicts and the ships they arrived on also cause of death makes interesting reading. This cemetery is now a park the headstones moved, some lost but the bodies are still there.

This is the "newer" cemetery after Apex was closed and is now known as the Pioneer Cemetery and was closed for burial many years ago. The church and cemetery are now separated by a very large Westfield shopping centre. This is the view from my balcony looking over at the grave of my convict 6 times grt grandmother and 2 of her grandsons.

The old station buildings parts of which can still be seen.

 Spanish flu in Liverpool 1918-1919, now we have Covid so not a lot has changed.

Thanks to Dr Brian Cowling and Gail Newman for the use of their books (without permission) Liverpool has such an interesting history as it was a very early settlement in Australia.

Liverpool was founded in 1810 by Lachlan Macquarie who named it in honour of the Earl of Liverpool then Secretary of State for the colonies.

Royal Collection Catch Up

Have your ever seen a pair of shoes you just had to have? I found this pair in a charity shop for a few dollars and my size. A perfect fit but sadly found about 60 years too late. If I wore them now I would need an ambulance on standby. Found in another charity shop yesterday, the perfect evening bag to go with my shoes. Sadly the Dress, Prince Charming, the Ball and Gold Coach are all missing.

A few new royal souvenirs, have had the pink teapot for years then found a jug to go with it. The yellow vase is also one I've had for years and now have a red one. Love the red vase with the Queen.

The red vase has a coronation portrait by Dorothy Wilding and is from the Diamond Jubilee.

A lovely royal fabric I bought from America, not sure what to do with it yet so it is waiting on the back of my lounge. Trouble is my guests insist on sitting on my lounge and crushing my display. They refuse to sit on the floor.

It is a large piece of fabric and now I am waiting for a duvet cover from the same seller.

Heard, read or was told about this superstition. If you have a gold purse at your front door your purse will never be empty. Worth a try and I found these pretty bags at a local charity shop.

A lovely old sampler commemorating Queen Victoria's death in 1901. So finely stitched it almost looks printed till you look at the back. The words are almost biblical in praise of the Queen. Too fragile to wash.  Sorry it is sideways but blogger is giving me trouble.

My new desk bought with being able to be used for display in mind. It came in a box so I got a very nice young man from Airtasker to put it together for me.

 A bit fancy for my coronation fabric dress but the shoes and bag have found a home.
 

The Queen and Andy Warhol Cross Stitch

My next cross stitch project is from my  Andy Warhol book The Queen in Art and Image. I have the book and a dress made from Andy Warhol fabric and and now I can do the cross stitch.

This will be a large project but it doesn't look too difficult. I found the chart on Etsy and it is from Boston Needle Works in America. The first stitches are in.

I finished my Queen Victoria before I started on Andy W. and am pleased with the result. Another lovely Teresa Gil design.

No I didn't make this one I found her on Etsy. The Queen came from Little Dolly Mixtures in the U.K,had to have her of course. I did add the ruby and diamond brooch to her coat. Hope HRH doesn't notice the rubies and diamonds aren't real.

Big Ted has new clothes at last and is indulging her feminine side. She is wearing a button through top with matching shorts, perfect for the hot days ahead. Although different fabrics the design on B.Ted and Pr. Elizabeth doll are the same. They could almost pass for twins now. (almost) Both outfits came from Big W and Big Ted is wearing a toddler size 2. 
 

Vintage Dolls With A Story To Tell

Here are the dolls from my childhood all wearing new clothes thanks to the Virus and me with too much time at home. The two medium size dolls are wearing hand knitted outfits from eBay, so much choice and such good prices and knitted by other knitters with time to spare and sell on eBay'

My large celluloid doll at the back is wearing an outfit from Big W baby wear department. Small doll in front has had her outfit from eBay for a few months.

My large celluloid doll I was given one christmas when I was about 12. My mother had to buy and dress 3 dolls as I have 2 sisters. My doll was dressed in pink, my younger sister's doll was dressed the same in yellow and I think my older sister's doll was dressed as a bed doll in a silver grey taffeta. All had beautiful hats long since lost, original shoes and socks also lost, we all still have our dolls.

Here is my doll in her original outfit. the dress is made from georgette and is starting to fall apart so I don't dare wash it again. Matching satin underwear of course.

Over the years one arm has discoloured and her face and eyes have faded. Her arms and legs have been restrung once.On her back is stamped Palitoy 55 Made in England. I found out only recently that these dolls are called Princess Elizabeth Dolls. Did my mother know when she bought them?For a celluloid doll of this age she is in great condition.

Now to my oldest doll which I received in 1945 and hers is a great story. At that time in 1945 I had been in bed for months with a serious illness. ( an illness now almost eradicated and fixed with anti-biotics and a few days off school) My father had a shop and in the window he had this doll on display and was selling raffle tickets for the doll as a favour to the local church. Every night when the shop closed he gave me the doll (still in a box) to hold. I really wanted that doll. The day came, the raffle was drawn my father gave me the doll and told me I was the winner. Only found out a few years ago from my older sister I didn't win the doll, my lovely father had bought the doll from the winner. My father and all the customers knew how much I wanted that doll. My mother later dressed the doll in a school uniform (pictured) for a Brownie doll show. She dressed my sister's doll in a brownie outfit. My sister's doll won. I still havn't forgiven my sister for winning. (but don't tell her)

The back of her head is marked A M Germany for Armand Marseille famous for many years for his doll heads. The celluloid arms and legs are stamped made in Japan and I know nothing about her stuffed body. She used to have some teeth and I think I remember a tongue, she also used to say mama. These things have gone now and her eyes are a bit strange. One arm has broken off at the elbow and is taped together and I know if I ever dropped her her head would break.

Australia was at war with both Germany and Japan in 1945 so I wish I knew where the church got the dolls from. There were 2 identical dolls both wearing orange crocheted dress one small and one large doll. I think it was the large doll I wanted and got. My generous father usually made sure I got what I wanted. Hope he didn't have to pay the winner of the doll too much.

My Patsy doll in her new outfit. Marked on her back Patsy by Palitoy Made in England. Patsy came wearing just a nappy but my mother had what she called a patch box, a tea chest filled with leftover fabric so I could always find something to dress my dolls. Also my best friend lived across the road and her mother made and knitted lots of doll clothes for the church fete so I always had a preview and first choice of doll clothes on offer.

Sorry Big Ted I know you have nothing new to wear and I havn't forgotten you but you are a difficult size to buy for. I will look on eBay again later and check the shops tomorrow. Or I could make you something if you don't mind choosing from the cat fabric I have in my fabric stash.

I still have the cane pram(seen on a previous post) I pushed my dolls around in and sometimes a cat and once only (never again) I let my friend push her dog in the pram.
 

Queen of the World Cross Stitch Finished

And a Thank You to Teresa Gil for such a lovely design. I enjoyed every stitch. Well almost as gold thread always gives me a bit of bother but this time I used thread conditioner and it helped. The beading on the skirt was my favourite part. Fits perfectly into a standard size frame, I do my own framing and I think I am pleased with it. Now it's finished I feel a bit lost as this sampler has kept me sane and busy during Covid 19 lockdown and took 4 and a half months to complete.
No time to rest though now I must finish my Queen Victoria sampler.

Queen of the World Cross Stitch and More

Thanks to Covid-19 and staying home a lot I will soon be finished my Teresa Gil Queen of the World cross stitch. Today I will start on the beading on the skirt. Yesterday I stitched the crown, had to send to America for the silver thread as I couldn't find it anywhere in Australia.

Was sure I had given up collecting aprons then this one came up for sale. Can't resist fully hand embroidered ladies or kookaburras.

Already had the sugar bowl, milk jug and one plate in my collection then saw cup saucer and plate for sale, hope one day to have the full tea set. It's from the cancelled royal visit to Australia in 1949. Princess Margaret was coming too but the king became ill and had to cancel.

When I moved to my new address I joined a new craft group. This is a very colourful  and warm coat made by a member. You can see the sleeves are a work in progress.

 Very disappointed in Harry and Meghan and didn't want to read these books but of course curiosity got the better of me and I had to buy them. The library does not have these books.

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Anniversary

 2nd June 1953 the Queen was crowned. She is now 94 and this week was seen out riding her horse, a truly amazing woman. I have been working hard on my Teresa Gil 'Queen of the World' cross stitch and enjoying stitching it and thanks to Covid 19 lockdown I have had plenty of time.

 Teresa named her cross stitch after the book by Robert Hardman. I thought it might be hard to buy but then discovered my local library had it on the shelf. I will renew it as much as I can but think I will still buy a copy

 Then heard about a TV show of the same name in the U.K and wondered if it would ever be shown in Australia. Amazingly while deleting lots of my recorded shows I found I had already recorded it months ago. E II R is most definitely Queen of the World.

 Must not forget Prince Philip who will be 99 on the 10th June. Next year on his 100th birthday he will receive a telegram from the Queen. The small cross stitch of Philip I worked a few years ago and is a Sheena Rogers design.

Lowry, Salford and Family

 I love Lowry paintings so when I saw this cross stitch kit I knew I had to stitch it. This is one of his most famous paintings 'Coming From the Mill'. I would love to stitch another of his paintings though perhaps with fewer people. He is famous for his paintings of mills and working class life and lots of people.

 Last year here was a great movie about his life. He was a rent collector by day and lived with his mother in Salford. There is a song I love about him very popular in the 1970's named Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats And Dogs. It is on YouTube.

 Edward VII and Alexandra made a visit to Salford in 1905 and there is the hanky to prove it. On the left is a notebook I bought online from Salford Galleries, just had to have that to match my sampler. I missed the movie of Peterloo last year and haven't watched my DVD yet. Peterloo happened in 1819 and was called after the battle of Waterloo. There was a rally in St Peter's field Manchester to demand political reform against rising poverty. British govt. forces charged into a crowd of over 60,000 killing and injuring many and sparking a nation wide outcry.

 This is the house in Salford my in-laws left in 1912 to come to Sydney. They had 6 children the youngest a boy of a few weeks old. They named the baby Sydney because that's where they were going to start a new life.  Sydney became my father in-law.Their eldest daughter Flo  was 14 years old and already working in a cotton mill. This pic was taken in about 1973 when Mr Linens was on a business trip in he area. The house has long gone now for slum clearance and Salford has become a very expensive area.

Top photo shows Sydney and 2 of his brothers in 1942. After celebrating Sydney's 30th birthday a bit too much they all went off to join the army. After fighting in the Middle East and New Guinea they all returned home safely.
Final photo shows Martha and Joseph celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in Sydney. 2 more sons were born in Australia making a total of 6 sons and 2 daughters so the Diamond Anniversary was a huge affair.