WOYWW - another rainbow?

Welcome to my table lit by the late evening sunshine!

I can't show you much of what I have been up to this week - secret little items for a certain wedding that is happening soon. Some are actually hiding under the heap in the middle of the table. I will reveal all next week.

So what is out for you to snoop today...

• Tiny collages trying my free machining skills on faces - cute little dolly pics which I might put onto little book fronts or cards (I found the idea on a fab blog - Flutterby Patch)
• Heaped in the centre are the hand embroidered vintage napkins I found at the car boot sale. I think I will make some lavender bags with them or maybe some vintage bunting.
• The woolly stuff is gorgeous ginger hair coloured tapestry wool from the same car boot sale. My brand new little teacher niece to be asked me to make her a Katie Morag dolly ready for her class in September - how could an old infants teacher like me refuse!
• Next to the wool is my latest little poppy dumfling. Shaz in Oz is hoping hers will arrive soon - along with a very tired little owl no doubt!
• Lots of crafty clutter around from other card making and sewing activities.

AND ......

What do you think of this?
A lovely lady at the car boot sale sold me a big bag of chiffon scarves - I really only wanted a couple but the offer was too good to miss and I use lots of chiffon when I am dumfing pictures and brooches.
I popped them all in the washer and the couldn't resist pegging them up on my line like a rainbow.
Now, the question is.......

How many scarves were in the bag?
They are all there on the line.

I will send my little poppy dumfling to the one who guesses the right number or nearest to it.
(Annie - Wipso - You can't enter cos you know already - but that means you can make sure I don't cheat!!)
Have a great sunny week everyone - enjoy everything Olympic over the weekend.
I am late posting today so I had better nip over to Julia quickly and join in the fun!

WOYWW and a few happy memories!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

My desk is full of pretty stuff today. I have had a busy few days dress making and wanted to do something different. I have sorted out some of my vintage bits and bobs and thought I would show and tell.

On the left are my two latest car boot purchases - a table runner with poppies, corn and flowers and a tray cloth with really pretty, beautifully embroidered flowers on one corner.

At the top of the photo is a lovely table cloth which my mum embroidered. Unlike Wipso and I, she was no needlewoman. However, after Dad died, my brilliant little sister spent hours with her and encouraged her to embroider as a way of passing the time and getting her interested in life again. She was soon popping off to town to pick up threads and tray cloths and eventually made pictures and table cloths. I think she was thrilled at being able to produce such pretty things and we were all thrilled to receive one of her pieces as a gift. Sadly, as she aged, her ability and eyesight waned and that too is embroidered into her later ones, but it didn't matter because she was happy with it!!

Now the funny little sampler at the front must be about 44 years old!!!

I know because I made it as part of my "O" Level needlework exam when I was about 14.

Yes, in those days we were actually taught embroidery. We had a brilliant teacher so I guess we were very lucky and I am sure, along with our genes inherited from our paternal Grandma, that the seeds of our love for crafts were sown then.

So there you are - a few pretties to enjoy on this fab Wednesday.

Now before you settle down to enjoy this afternoon's wonderful football spectacle (lol) do pop over to Julia's blog and enjoy visiting the rest of the WOYWers!!!

Thanks for calling and thanks lots to Bleubeard and Elizabeth for making me her blogger of the day - how nice is that!!!!

Old and new - WOYWW

Well, we have had another busy week with lots of crafty activity and fun.

On my desk you can see the gorgeous table linens and vintage mats which I bought at the local car boot. The fine, hand embroidered one at the top left is lovely - I just might keep that one as a little treasure. The rest of the white bits are just oddments and some are looking tatty so they will be used for crafting. I have already shared some with T. on our fun day Monday. I just love all the old hand made lace and crochet.

Now the crochet on the right is something else!!!!!

Wipso found a fab pattern on a friend's blogsite for African flowers and of course being the clever thing she is, she has made loads of scrumptious ones for a little blanket.

Now -I can crochet - nothing too fancy of course - so I thought I would give it a go - ha!!!

It took me four attempts to get one flower more or less right.

Then I was on a roll...lol.

I made four (there they are, above, all creamy pink and lilac). I thought I could give them to Wipso to add to her stash for the blanket.

Wrong!!!!!

When I took them to show her, I realised the error of my ways!! I used a size larger needle and mine turned out HUGE!! Well, at least it meant that I could see what I was doing and make sure the pattern was right. Unfortunately, there is no way they will fit with Wipso's so.......

Has anyone a good idea for using LARGE African flowers!!!

Apart from knitting and crochet, I have helped Wipso (she with the poorly eye). We have made hats and waistcoats - designing and making the patterns and then running them up together. We make a flippin' good team!!!
I have also added my latest "dumflings" to the blog shop and I am rather pleased with them. Pop over to Sisters Crafty Creations if you want to browse our shelves for cards, gifts, pictures etc.
So thats about it.......

Short and sweet today as I am going walking. Thanks for dropping in - lovely to hear from you - please leave a comment and hopefully, I will whiz round and visit all 120 WOYWWers over the next day or two.

If you want to join in with Whats on Your Workdesk Wednesday then hop over to Julia's blog and have fun!