one swallow does not make a summer

Or a couple of linen dresses...... but at least I've started to get things finished! 

So much to do, so little time.

I know, I'm always complaining about it but sometimes it all seems so overwhelming.

Chip, chip, chip, drip, drip, drip, slowly it all gets done.

peg bags

And I've finally had an opportunity to get some peg bags done.

With the north wind we have been having it would be a perfect time to get all those winter things washed and dried and ready to pack away with some lavender bags.

Hint hint.

Of course you don't have to just uses these for pegs, they are great for garlic and onions in the kitchen, sock and undies in the bedroom , sewing things in the workroom and odds-and-sods in the bathroom. All those annoying little things that just pile up, then get lost and can't be found when you need them.

new security measures

You may remember we had a few theft issues a while ago with the kitten burglar stealing a Coconut Lu earring out of the cabinet. We have instigated new security measures and have new staff on the job.

Jethro, aka The Kitten Burglar, is here being frisked in a quack down on possible shoplifting.

Scaring off thieves.

(Jethro actually attempted to abscond with an earring whilst I was changing the display over. He very gently picked one up in his kitten lips, while I watched. Brazen! And cute!)

stuff

Go away for a week and suddenly there is new stock in the shop!

Must have a break more often!

First up- the girls of handmadelife dropped some 'i make stuff ' books off...... and we only have one left! You better be quick in to get the last of these hot potatoes! (Although I am hoping the girls will be able to spare some more copies- hint hint.)

And then these beauties arrived in the mail yesterday ............ the Faux-taches are back- with a vengeance! We have the ever popular 'Barber' and 'Barman' and the new-new-new mini 'Cad', excellent size for pets and children. Check out Shauna and Stephen's Somethings Hiding in Here blog for some fabulous photos of the amazing uses these faux-taches can be put to...... heehee.

And finally just in from the Michael the Framer, a new selection of framed buttons and doilies. The lace doily really needs to be seen close up to be believed- it is needle made lace of a farmgirl with sickle and cornucopia. Brilliant. And the hilarious 'Romance' couple at the top are marvellous too!

Oh and did I let you know we have new tea cosies in as well? Well we do.

the story of the box part 2

Hessian off, the layers peel back.

An apron in salmon-y pink cotton with the cutest little print  'collar'.

Silk crepe dress #1 with cream silk collar.

Silk crepe dress #2 with pleated ruffle detailing on collar and sleeves.

A cotton shirt, only sleeves and collar remaining.

Striped silk faille dress, with large burnt areas .

And the following:-

1x woman's navy wool cardi

1x child's flecked brown handknitted vest

1x woolen skivvy

1x cotton undervest

1x men's navy wool pants, cut into three pieces, legs  and waist/pockets

1x navy silk faille shirt waister with short sleeves, elasticized waist, collar with neck tie, tuck detail at yoke

2 pairs men's woolen socks

1x dismembered pair of wool long johns

1x scrap furnishing fabric

1x scrap red wool fabric

1x dismembered wool cardi with 3 safety pins attached

All from the thirties.

The silk dresses were all made with French seams. The dresses and the shirt waister were beautifully detailed.

What is so lovely about this little time capsule?

Up until the last 20 years or so, every household had a rag bag. (I can remember Mum keeping Dad's Bonds undershirt until they were mere scraps as they made such soft cleaning cloths.) Nothing would be thrown away. In this case these garments were pulled out to pad the seat on the trunk. 

And we think we are so smart with all out recycling! Ha!

the story of the box part 1

I scored this wooden trunk from the Lilydale Anglicare op-shop a couple of years ago.

It is old, it is made with handmade nails and is lined with handblocked wallpaper (floral and faux bois- that's fake wood to you and me). The lid had been padded at some stage to make a seat, hessian tacked to the top and stuffed with something lumpy and bumpy.

I've been meaning to getting around to investigating what the seat was padded with. It was too hard for it to be coir or horsehair and I had a feeling it might be rags. So yesterday afternoon I started to take the top apart. Under two layers of hessian this appeared.......

Clothes!

due to unprecedented demand

I've had a huge number of people over the last year asking if I had any afghan rugs for sale.

I've always said 'hmmmm maybe....'.

You see I have a rather large collection of them (it fluctuates depending on friends giving birth!) but I have been reluctant to sell them. ('The collector gene is strong in this one.') 

Really I have limited space between here and the studio and things are getting a little bit out of control of late!

I had hoped to get them instore before I went away but I just ran out of time and I also had to do some work to the box I wanted to display them in (the story of that box will be my next post!).

But I've finally managed to get it all sorted and they are sitting piled in the window. There are lots of sizes and styles. There are even two quite large ones made in fabulous browns, creams and oranges, they are same-same-but-different, if you know what I mean. There is also two that are lighter and lacier and would be lovely to wear as shawls, made from a mix of wool and mohair.

They are all labelled with the Unsung Queen of Craft swing tag.