Posy

The day the coat went to school

First, I must thank you for such kind comments about my previous post and such boot love! I haven't been able to respond sooner as we have been in Ludlow for a week. My fab-u-lous ribbon-love boots are Dr Martens Triumph 1914. Expensive yes but worth every penny. You do need to allow yourself an extra 20 minutes to lace up the ribbons though but the ribbons 'make' them. My dress was bought from Totnes market and is from Zara Basic. Tights are from Marks & Spencer. I will do a seperate post about my weight loss and my new dresses. xxxxxx

One of my favourite things to do at school is listen to 'news'. This is where the children share anything they feel is interesting with the rest of the class. I love it, mainly because I get to know the children a little better but also because I'm nosey! Anyway, after Christmas we usually do the 'what did you get/do for Christmas thing' and of course I like to have my turn and I told them all about my special coat. 
They were all really excited to see this special coat that Mr Goble had surprised me with, but unfortunately the weather had been rainy for ages and velvet coats (with added silk!) that need dry cleaning don't do rain. But hurray, the other week there was a dry day so the coat came to school with me. 
It was treated like a celebrity. The moment I walked into the classroom they remembered. Ten pairs of hands immediately started stroking.

"Are your hands clean? I ask trying not to panic.

 Later that morning I go out on playground duty. There are children coming up to me with milk cartons that need opening, oranges and bananas that need peeling and horror of horrors..snot. Rivers of it. The cry was heard many times "Don't touch the coat - I need to check your hands first!" Honestly, I was nearly grey by the time playtime was over. 
Later that day I went to put my coat on and went to get it from it's special 'hidden under the desk on a chair out of harms reach' place only to discover this resting on it.

 I couldn't have put it better myself and went off smiling. Well, snot can only enhance it can't it?

Frustrating Alice

"Mum, would you pose for me for my GSCE (photography) coursework?"
"Well, are you sure one of your friends wouldn't be more suitable?"
"Not really, it will be good to have someone different."
"Mmm, well OK." 

I await my instructions.

"Right, can you just sit and not smile."

Oh dear, that is not a challenge I usually win. We start.
The corners of my mouth twitch. 

I cover my face..

 "Mum, don't. Be serious."
"Sorry." Deep breath.

 

"Stop laughing! Try to look away and then look at me. I'll count to 3.."

I didn't even make 2.

 "Look try and control yourself.." getting more cross.
"I can't help it!" I giggle. 

"Can you do this at all without being silly?!! Let's try one more time." 

I try to think of sad things.

It didn't work. We gave up.
She's going to try with Lucy who is a much more suited to be in front of the camera and I'm going to practise trying to keep a straight face when I told to!

Patchwork curtains

Phew - they are finally up and it's only taken at least 5 or 6 years and the most part of the last 2 weeks. It all started with Caroline Zoob's kitchen curtains back in 2003 (written about in this post in 2006) and then a chance buy of my own on ebay not long after. Not quite as faded and beautiful as Caroline's but hey it's a start.

The piece measured 1 metre square with all the paper templates still sewn in and looked like spaghetti junction at the back. It still does really but I didn't want to line them as I felt it would block the light shining through which makes them look like jewels.

Most of the paper templates had been sewn into the actual patchwork and were a nightmare to remove and I won't tell you how long I have been removing tiny threads! And should I tell you I 'lost' them? I turned our freezing attic upside down for 3 hours trying to find them 2 weeks ago only to discover they were downstairs all along..what a saga! But today I finally put them up. Yay!

Now I'll be spending the next week picking threads off my clothes and wishing for some sun to shine through them.

Today I..

..lay in bed for just a little bit longer .

Wore a skirt instead of a dress. Shock.

Actually saw a Greenfinch in the garden for the first time. Oh the excitement - not that you can see it or any birds in the photo for that matter!

Drove to Sainsburys my favourite way - the lanes way.

Treated myself to my first hyacinth of the year in a colourful tin.

And now it's time for some sewing in front of the fire. Bliss...

Latest Passions ~ Adornments Series #4 :: Buttons ::

Oh my. Buttons. I'm so, so, so loving vintage buttons at the moment. Over the last few months I seem to have changed every button on most of my coats and cardigans and I love it. I'm loving the finding of buttons from charity shops (so love that bit!); then the choosing of what goes with what; and then the fact that my clothes are just that little bit different.

And the buttons - my collection is growing. I sit for hours in the corners of charity shops, often on the floor, with their button tins and a hopeful heart. This was me last Saturday taken by secretly by Lucy who was playing with my phone. *Note rather large bag of wooden coat hangers in second photo (it got fuller, see last post for hanger details!)

I have found some beauties. I didn't think anyone could get quite so excited over buttons, but I do. If I feel a little low I just think about either going on a charity run to hunt some down or look through my own tins and glass jars and get a little giddy at my collection! Saddo..! Want a peak at my stash? Bear in mind you cannot see every glorious button but there some hiding in there. 
We will start with the glass ones - with the odd plastic one too.

 

Then move onto my smallish favourites in my rosie tin

 

Isn't it a beautiful tin?

My slightly bigger vintage beauties should be in my Coronation tin but I'm needing a sort out due to a rather steady influx of buttons recently. O.b.s.e.s.s.i.o.n.

And then probably my favourite, favourite..the jar of pearl buttons. I wish I could show you some of the unusual shaped ones- they make my day when I find one of those - but I fear you are probably in some sort of stupor already! 

I have the most wonderful vintage diamanté buttons on my black cardi which I wear constantly (cardi cost £6 from Primark, buttons cost £5 at a flea market!) but hard as I tried they wouldn't photograph in this terrible light. 
So, if you see a woman sprawled out on the floor, or snuck in a corner with her head in a tin in the next charity shop you visit; perhaps dressed like Elton John - do come and say hello!