Grab a cushion, sit down, and read...

Flower Fairies now sold

Housewives now sold

All cushions now sold
I have some gorgeous vintage French cushions for sale right now - all made by hand, including the roses, the lace, the crochet cherries, the cut-out work... all made by the grandmama of the lady from whom I bought a large amount of textiles and linen. You can see the listings for them here - or just clic on my 'Vintage Fabric & Textiles' in my Ebay shop - one has already sold and on its way to Australia.

I have also listed a couple of books this week - all starting at 99p - that are so different, but each fun in their own way.

'Flower Fairies Of The Wayside' by Cicely Mary Barker - such a pretty, nostalgic book with adorable colour illustrations by her - a nice early copy from the late '40s.

'Badjelly The Witch' by Spike Milligan - an very early edition from the nutty genius Spike, illustrated with help from his daughter.

'1000 Hints For Housewives' by Helen Burke, the cookery book writer - lots of frugal tips for running a home, saving money and generally sorting and organising all domestic matters - should keep this one I'm thinking..even though it was written in 1934, there is so much that is relevant now.

Have a good week!

Old-fashioned roses, lavender and fruit trees

As I write this, my sitting room is absolutely filled with the scent of lavender.

A few months ago, I spent the day with a most generous friend who has a rose and lavender nursery down in the Charente, France. Veronica promised me some lavender flowers from the plants she nurtures - the flowers are a bit of a by-product for her and unwanted.

So, I am now the proud owner of a sack of lavender flowers, so I'd better get my sewing machine out and make a few scented bags...

In the meantime, you can check out Veronica Steadman's nursery La Roserie Anglaise here - she grows beautiful old-fashioned roses, full of perfume and colour, lavender plants - as mentioned above - and fruit trees and bushes. She's very happy to post plants, especially bare-rooted stock, anywhere in the world. Take a peek at her website, it will transport you to garden heaven...

Her husband Gordon Steadman is a carpenter and makes the most wonderful one-off kitchens, but due to a back injury is now not able to continue presently on large-scale projects so has turned his hand into making smaller wooden items: sweet little egg stands and salad bowls.

You can see his web-site here with a link to his Flickr page and photos of his work - some really lovely and original designs...

A few new listings for sale

This is a lovely egg-shell/pale turquoise cotton, printed with gorgeous pink roses - it's quite a large print as you can see by the tape-measure


sorry but all this fabric is now sold
It has never been used - probably left over from another project - and the best thing is that it is extra wide - 2.80 metres in fact! I'm selling it in one whole piece - perfect for bedspread or curtains, and my supplier has more if anyone needs extra.


This is a very popular fabric for the Christmas season, especially amongst my American friends, several of whom have made Christmas-tree skirts for their homes.


It has a woven heart with a sage-green twist - all the right colours for a traditional Christmas...


Makes wonderful lavender hearts too...selling by the half-metre.


Such pretty flowers...

and fancy feet...


Sorry, but this clock case is sold
This is a beautiful porcelain clock case, made around 1900 in the Royal Bonn pottery, Germany and was exported to USA to the Ansonia clock factory. A little vintage gem in pink and lavenders - perfect to house that little clock movement tucked away in the back of the drawer...




Sorry, this cushion is sold
This is a frilled boudoir cushion, stitched in blue and white on an oatmeal background. Notice the Gothic-style windows where the background fabric shows through? I just love the lady musicians and dancer, all dressed in Medieval costume.


Sorry, but this is sold
A lovely vintage bag here, perfect for everyday use or storing wool, sewing etc. Handsewn in a chunky printed linen, lined with oatmeal linen and a pair of bamboo handles. Amazing to think everyone is making these bags now, but this one has been around in France since probably the 70s..and still as stylish now as then.


Sorry, this piece is sold
This is a nice piece of cut-out work, in oatmeal linen, stitched in white. It is the top of a boudoir cushion and could be used again as such, or any other re-purpose project...

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For details and further information on any of the items, just press my Ebay shop button on my right-hand sidebar or contact me on my comments page.

Thanks for looking - oh, and enjoy half-term everyone :)