Thrifty Sewing

I have been feeling a bit off colour of late but this has not stopped me from creating.

Let me be the first to admit that I have a thing for thrifting - is there such a word?

Below you can see the pretty dress I sewed for my gorgeous Grand Daughter...Miss Five... who, the other day, declared that now she's turned five...she no longer has bad dreams...instead she dreams about very helpful angels.  Bless her.

The front.

The back. (With zipper).

This is Style Kids Pattern #2838 

which I was lucky to pick up at a garage sale for free.  I'm so happy with the finished result because this has a zippered finish at the back and I was able to stitch in the zipper with absolutely no problems...my first truly successful zipper on a garment!

The zipper was finished off with a hook and eye.

Here is my list of fabrics and notions and their costs.

2 x red & white polka dot fabrics:  50c a piece from Glenbrook Markets "Front Porch".

1 x floral fabric: gifted to me by my neice (no cost).

1 x zipper: 50c (Purchased from Frou Frou Old and New in Springwood).

1 x Hook & Eye:  Hoarded for over 40 years (no cost).

1 x dress pattern:  Free from a local garage sale.

Total Cost: $1.50

Thank you for visiting.

Day 283/366

She looks like a plain Jane doesn't she...

Until you look inside, and you see that she's indeed...

A stunner.

Another added to my collection

Purchased from Frou Frou in Springwood.

Quickly becoming my favourite.

Linking to Artful Affirmations  Tea Cup Tuesday.

Day 158/366

When you're feeling down,

...clean the silver.

I've never made a silver cleaning bath before; using washing soda and aluminium foil.

It caused quite a reaction...in more ways than one!

Here is my latest vintage china acquisition.

A fluted Wedgwood with gold trim.  

Very simple but elegant in its simplicity.

Mr Honey Pie said this is the masculine edition of the very feminine 

Royal Albert trio I blogged about recently.

I purchased this from my favourite vintage shop in Springwood:  Frou Frou, using a gift voucher my daughter gave me for mother's day.

Linking to Terri's & Martha's : Teacup Tuesday.

Day 143/366

Tea Cup Tuesday

Such simplicity, such elegance.

Just what I've come to expect from Royal Albert.

Doesn't it just remind you of a ballerina's tutu?

Swan Lake I'd say.

Purchased from one of my favourite shops in Springwood, Frou Frou.

My Darling Daughter gave me a gift voucher on Mother's Day.  I should have enough left to buy another trio once Parisa finds some more.

The trio is in perfect condition.

The heavily embossed teaspoons are inherited from my Mother-in-law and are from the Netherlands. 

The handle is classical Royal Albert.

I have linked to Terri's Teacup Tuesday.

Do stop by and see what treasures others are sharing.

Teacup Tuesday

Johnson Bros Snowhite

There's nothing fancy about this trio.

I love its simplicity.

Turquoise is probably my favourite colour.

It belongs to my Daughter.

She purchased it from my favourite shop in Springwood...Frou Frou.

I'm not sure how old it is.

I'm  linking to Artful Affirmation's Tea Cup Tuesday and Matha's Favourites Tea Cup Tuesday too.  Congratulations Martha on being published!

Why don't you stop over and visit. You will find the most amazing tea cups imaginable.

Guest Bedroom Progress

It's been a busy week.

Managed to get most of the guest bedroom complete.  

Still need to get a bedside table lamp, a new floor rug and I would like to make some bunting for the blue wall.

The pleated blind is waiting to go to the cleaners so had to make do with the roller shutter for this photograph.

A new patchwork quilt would be nice too!

In this corner I plan to put a small desk which is waiting for a renovation.
The cushion cover is a crocheted cover that I picked up from Frou Frou during a sale...just because I liked the look of it.
The framed embroidery is one I completed in 1997 and has been in hiding a good part of the time since then.

The Bears belong to Youngest Son (who is now 24 year old).

I couldn't resist making new clothes for this one - I knitted a little top and made a pair of bloomers for it.  Grand Daughter loved it and spent hours dressing and undressing both the bears.

In the background are more beautiful lace pillow slips from Frou Frou.

Art works are by Lindy Longhurst. I love Lindy's work and the larger one was one of her first pieces.

They were in the master bedroom but I'm feeling that it's time for them to move on.  I didn't really want to part with them and I think they suit the guest room perfectly.

Still a lot of work to do but I'm feeling very satisfied with how things are turning out.

The room now makes the rest of the house look so dreary that it has urged me on to start on the next room - The Study!

A Girl Can NEVER Have Too Many Tutus

Picked up one more tutu for my darling Grand Daughter!

From where I hear you say?  Well from Frou Frou of course.  Wandered up to see the happenings of Springwood Foundation Day Saturday just gone and picked  up this delightful pink tutu for only five dollars.  Every girl MUST HAVE a PINK tutu!

Tutu Gorgeous.

One More Tutu ...

Yesterday, I found this gorgeous red tutu in Frou Frou .
Frou-Frou is one of my favourite shops in Springwood and a number of items purchased from here adorn my house.
My G-D already has a blue tutu but is always asking for a pink one.  Believe it or not, the blue one belonged to her mother at around the age of eight.
  I'm sure this one will delight her, even if it's not pink.  It's in the wash at the moment and I'm hoping it will have dried in time for her return from pre-school this afternoon.