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

Coronation and C and D Fabrics

First an update on William and Kate to show I am still working hard and another few months should see this project finished.

Found this duchess set on my op shop/market hunt on Saturday, a great find for my linen collection.

I now have nine of these Charles and Diana wedding panels plus two in navy which I made into a quilt. Each panel is 3feet square and I have no idea what I will do with the panels but a great addition to my collection. Charlotte just happened to be walking past checking out my activities,

Rare (I think) fabric from the 1953 coronation, this cotton fabric has pictures of Phillip and a young Charles and Anne. I have four repeats of the coronation, 48inches wide and 3 yards long.

Yes I know we went metric years ago but these are old fabrics and imperial measurements
apply. This was an ebay bargain and I was the only bidder.

Also I did mean to show this pic. first but I have been so lazy with my blogging lately I got mixed up and everything is the reverse of how I wanted.

William Kate and Catching Up

These cardboard cutouts of William and Kate were on a magazine display stand in a local supermarket. Lucky for me I have connections in the right places and carried them home when the display was finished. Emily is once again looking worried by my enthusiasms, Charlotte is still making up her mind.
And where have I been for the last 3 weeks? In a Blogger won't let me comment on other blogs/Post Royal Wedding/Post London Trip and now it's Winter SLUMP. Hope Blogger and Me are both over it!!!

HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY Prince Phillip, sorry I missed it last Friday.

Last Saturday was Doll Club meeting and we have moved to a new hall, this was our welcome to new premises cake. Very pretty and delicious with a cup of tea. I think all agreed our new hall a great success.

I said this was a catching up post so I have to show my winning entry in the previous Doll club meeting. I received first prize in the Miniature book section with my tiny coronation book which can also be worn on a chain.

Emily wants to show her new bed. This one has ears and a tail and Charlotte has a matching one.

Of course they share my bed at night but the girls like a bed that can be placed to catch the sun in the day.

Queen Victoria's Birthday

Queen Victoria's Birthday, Empire Day and My 200th Post. Well it used to be Empire Day when I was at school and there was still some Empire left. The Empire was in it's heyday when Queen Victoria reigned and the little cup below has printed around the edge "Queen of an Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets". Queen Victoria souvenirs are hard to find and usually out of my price range but I love the few I do have. The little cup is from the Golden Jubilee 1887 and the mug from the Diamond Jubilee 1897.

Sometime in the over 100year history of the mug someone has cared enough about it to mend it with a little metal cage and new handle. I love it and now It's mine to care for.

I think my first love though has to be this solid silver bangle from Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee 1887. Hallmarked Birmingham silver 1887 it also has a little hard to see inscription 'From A.J June 87.

I have worn the bangle a few times as it has a very strong clasp but mostly I just leave it on display.

Also have a penny with Victoria's head dated 1895 and a little metal badge given to me by a neighbour, it has V.R Jubilee on but no year.
I found the little book of Patriotic poems published in 1908 during the reign of EdwardVII at a garage sale for 10cents.

When I was at school Empire day was always a half day. In the morning we would sing all the patriotic Empire songs such as 'The Maple Leaf Forever' and the Welsh national anthem and lots of other British songs most of which are in the little booklet. Then we went home to get our bonfires and fireworks ready to celebrate as soon as it was dark. I' m sure we would have song some Australian songs too but I don't remember which ones.

Congratulations to me on my 200th bloggiversary. I think I promised my 200th to Charlotte and Emily, didn't know it would clash with another important day. Next one girls, really 201 will be the best one.

Royal Wedding Fabric and More

Made by Makower fabrics I bought a metre each of the navy and the white royal wedding fabric (with the unfortunate W.C initials) from Peter Jones dept. store in Sloane Sqe. The red fabric, I have had for years and it has the initials C.D and is from Charles and Diana's wedding. Not sure what I'll do with the fabric yet, might just keep it as it is. The red C.D fabric has been made into curtains in my Diana room. I also have the C.D fabric in navy as a valance at the top of my bedroom curtains. Not sure I have a spare room for a William and Kate room, they might have to share.

On my long 'to do' list when I arrived in London was to visit a Kath Kidston shop. Very pretty fabrics etc. and very expensive. I bought half a metre of this London fabric. It's a heavy furnishing fabric but I could make a bag or cushion perhaps. The blue fabric, not as shiny and bright as in the pic. is to make my own Kate engagement doll.

The Kate doll in Hamley's Regent st. for 35pounds was very dissapointing, the Franklin Mint doll is very nice but too expensive so I must try to make my own.

A wedding souvenir shopping bag and another paper doll. Now I'm looking for a paper doll in the wedding dress.

Have always wanted some of these brass buttons with the Royal crest, maybe from a police or fireman's uniform and look where I bought them.

This antique shop is just across the Thames from Hampton Court Palace. Many years ago, when I lived in the U.K for a few years this was a Chemist shop and I worked there as an assistant. I only worked 3 hours a day 4 days a week to cover staff lunch breaks. The pay was so poor I don't know why I bothered but the job was such fun and perfect as I had school age children then. I sometimes served people who lived in the Grace and Favour apartments at the Palace, even a Countess once. I was always very willing to deliver prescriptions to The Palace but the pharmacist always kept that job for himself. I used to ride my bike to work and prop it against the wall where those mirrors are now.

Some Wedding Souvenirs

Before I show some souvenirs I must tell about another very good start to my flight to London.....I was upgraded to business class for the first leg of my flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi, the longest leg. And what a treat that was. I had a sort of little cubicle to myself and my seat turned into a bed and I was able to sleep away the long hours. No idea why I was chosen but a big thank you to Etihad Airlines. I din't think my pic. does justice to this Lilliput Lane limited edition of Westminster Abbey. The little plaque on the side has the names and wedding date of the royal couple. The model came very well packed in a large box and was too expensive to post home so I bought a bigger bag and got it home safely.

The bigger bag then allowed me to buy this teapot. Still had to leave my coat and a pair of shoes behind-well who needs a coat in Sunny Australia?

I bought the lovely wedding cushion on my day out to Windsor Castle. I had to throw out the insert so I could fit it in my bag. It is a standard 18" size and I bought a replacement in Kmart.
This morning I'm off to a nearby large shopping centre where one of my well trained spotter friends has alerted me to some Royal dolls.
More souvenirs soon.

Home From The Wedding

Arrived home from my wonderful and exciting Royal Wedding trip on Sunday and am still recovering from a bad dose of jet lag and now trying to find space for wedding souvenirs. Had to buy a larger bag to bring them home.
Charlotte and Emily were very pleased to have me home again and haven't left my side since my return. I was lucky and didn't have to stay overnight in The Mall to get my front row spot. I walked down from my hotel at 5.30am with my little stool and was very lucky to get a perfect position.

And here is the beautiful bride, I thought the dress perfect and I waved and cheered with the rest of the crowd.

The Queen looked lovely in yellow and special cheers for her.

And a thank you to Bridget, a very nice young woman who was standing next to me in the crowd and emailed me some of her photos. Bridget took this one of the Queen, I took one the same but mine was fuzzy.

Here I am cheering and waving at the balcony. I was almost at the front in that huge crowd and once again I was lucky, I am not very tall but a tall young man behind me grabbed my camera, took some photos and then handed it back to me. Everyone was so nice that day, tall young man thank you, whoever and wherever you are.

My daughter and a neighbour watching the wedding on T.V in Australia saw me walking down The Mall. I was wearing a new coat which I had shown to both before I left home. Sadly I had to leave the coat behind to make space for souvenirs.

An equally exciting part of my trip was meeting up with blogger friend Gattina in Brussels. Gattina met me at Brussels station and took me to Brussels 'Grand Place' and what a friendly and interesting tour guide she was. We then sat at an outdoor cafe and how sophisticated I felt drinking coffee and chatting to Gattina. I think blogging wonderful to make the world such a small place. More of this later.

I travelled to Brussels on the Eurostar, only a 2hour trip from London and because of my confusion when booking my ticket I only had 2 hours in Brussels but Gattina made sure I packed a lot into my 2 hours. Thank you Gattina.