{quilt} while you're ahead

58-2015

The big circle of life.

Old house new house

Clean clothes dirty clothes

Eating cooking

 

 waking sleeping

... and another cricket game...

Sigh.

(108)2014 - Arabia Finland -

It was meant to be.

I booked a doctor appt at the wrong address so had to drive across town and walk... which lead me past a new to me charity shop... which lead me to this:

A complete 6 seating set!

6 dinner plates, 6 bowls (bit small, but hey, too many carbs are bad for you), 6 side plates and 6 mugs

with saucers.  Because we are posh like that, dahhhling!

 

Aren't just perfect for Autumn.?  Yes, of course I always match my crockery to the season... ahem... not...

According to the Arabia's website this pattern 'OTSO'  was manufactured between 1971 and 1985.  I'm very relieved it's not old (I'm older, therefore it's definitively not old), I can use the lot without holding my breath everytime I pick something up.

Phew.

(Now... where on earth can I put it?)

(37) 2014 - spoon oil -

I'm starting to get a 'thing' for wooden spoons.

From the utilitarian kitchen variety to the daintily crafted ones. 

But they need TLC, right? So after hearing about 3191 spoon oil for years I decided to give it a try.

Instructions and ingredients are here and I got all the necessary from Amazon.  Basically all you need is natural mineral oil and natural beeswax; you melt/warm both in a bain marie and mix them together.  When the mixtures cools down you rub it into your spoons/chopping boards/bowls with your hands.

Bob's your uncle. (Weird expression, that one)

After a while you rub off the excess with a clean cloth.

And you have beautiful wooden spoons utensils again.

I guarantee you'll love doing it.  The house smells warmly of beeswax and it's a real tactile experience.

Go on... try it!

 

166**2013 - Mandy Pattullo -

Early Christmas present to myself.

A bird by Mandy Pattullo.

I kicked myself since I didn't buy one of her pieces at the Birmingham Festival of quilts... so when she made some more available... well, here it is...

I love it.

 

31**2013

Warming myself up before a 3hr hockey/marathon in freezing temperatures.

(new thrifted cup.  So happy)

5**2013

To me the year doesn't really begin till the tree and all the decorations have been taken down and tidily put back in the garage and the kids are back to school.  Then the house is mine again, it feels more spacious and light and my mind can focus on the hundreds of things in my head.

That day is today.

Two offsprings are packed away, the husband is in the office, the tree is half naked and the hoover ready to roll... (the big offspring is still at home but I'm sure I can barter some help in exchange for extra computer time).

Lilli and I will have a nice walk that won't include scooters/bikes/rugby balls/frisbies etc, and hopefully will find lots of lost things:

No 3 is fascinated by them too and thinks we should build a museum of lost things

and people can come and visit but they're not allowed to get their stuff back if they see it.

How sad that would be!

The weather hasn't been cold lately so our findings are few and far between.  No need to wear hats and gloves...

***

I must go and reconquer the house now... wish me luck!

 

 

 

64//2012

Do you ever buy a book because you like the cover?

Yup, me too.

And sometimes I buy biscuits because of the tin.

145/2011

On Friday, after finishing my first knitting club of the year at school and feeling in need of a bit of 'down-time' (the two are strictly related, by the way) I decided to visit a local charity shop.

A small green pressed glass vase caught my eye.  I thought it might just be the right place to store a small bunch of vintage knitting needles.

The label called it a 'celery vase' (apparently "in the olden days" - as the boys say, people used to keep straight sides vases with celery sticks kept fresh by an inch or so of water out in the kitchen, as ready snack throughout the day.  Must have been before KitKat were invented...)

After a little research I found out that it's not a celery vase at all.

It was produced by a company called 'Bagley Glass'.  They ceased production of this type of glass in 1946.

Some websites call it Uranium glass because it glows bright green close to a light source.

I even found a picture of this exact vase here.

Don't you just love the history of small things?

125/2011

We can't talk about Stockholm without talking about design...

The National Museum has a permanent collection about Swedish Design (1900-2000)

and although I wanted more (I still can't believe that a country like Sweden doesn't actually have a design museum per se)

it was completely fantabulous and interesting and inspiring

Especially the textiles samples.

Just perfect.

(isn't this the most perfect of rugs?)

Another 'delicious' place was a shop full of hundreds types of glasses and cups and plates and jars and other wonderful house items.  Mr M and I walked for miles every day and just fell into the shop by accident..

I could have bought everything...

These gorgeous Gustavsber cups perhaps?

 

 or how about a set of jars? Shame I don't have room for them...everywhere I looked there were treasures

This coffee set from my favourite designer, Stig Lindbery took my breath away.

Sigh.

we spent ages in there, and the owner was lovely and knowledgeable and didn't mind me taking lots and lots of pictures

(blue china, Alice this is for you)

 

We did leave eventually...

but not without purchasing something!

 

My heart skips a beat whenever I look at it. (which is every minute I'm in the kitchen.  And I'm in the kitchen a lot).

 

* 59 * ** tea towel **

Today's post not only is - again - random, but it is sponsored by the Italian Football team (soccer for you across the pond) after all the Football World Cup Final is coming up shortly and we wouldn't want you to start cheering for the wrong team, right? 

So lesson 1.  Let's looks at the colours of the Italian national Flag:

GREEN

 

green for the verdant grassy fields

 

WHITE

 

white for the snow capped Alps

 

RED

 

Red for the blood spilled by those who died defending their country.

BUT of course when it comes to sport Italy plays in 'sky blue'.  The colour of the  'Azzurri''s (the Blue Ones) distinctive shirt is enough to instil terror in the minds of football players all over the world - I'm playing a mind game here, stay with me.  It's kind of like a marketing campaign...)

 

plate weaving by No 2

 

and by me

(Idea 'taken' from here)

And there you go, geography, sport, food, crochet and weaving... have a good weekend!